I'm a SEA fan and I would've bet with you until mid-season. Both Chiefs and Eagles began to show wear and deep weaknesses after awhile. Detroit, too.
He has become my favorite player. There have been several punt returns where he took out the returner. Looks like he played with that other oblong ball in his Down Under youth. Hit them hard. Ray Guy and Freddie Belitnikoff were also heroes in my youth. And there's the Bay Area Diety: George Blanda.Michael Dickson also had Ray Guy smiling down from above (or Crocodile Dundee smiling from afar).
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If he played Aussie rules football, he certainly won't be shy about hitting people in the NFL.
Almost every year the previous season's SB teams start to show wear and tear as the season goes on. Often they start well, looking like they could repeat, then the struggle appears. It's amazing it didn't happen to KC before it did. By this thinking, Seattle, NE, and probably the Rams will struggle. Maybe a wise person looks for teams trending up as the season ends. The Bears would fit that bill for sure. Maybe Jacksonville?
Almost every year the previous season's SB teams start to show wear and tear as the season goes on. Often they start well, looking like they could repeat, then the struggle appears. It's amazing it didn't happen to KC before it did. By this thinking, Seattle, NE, and probably the Rams will struggle. Maybe a wise person looks for teams trending up as the season ends. The Bears would fit that bill for sure. Maybe Jacksonville?
Anyone who has come from a Rugby League, Rugby Union or AFL background has learned to tackle as they have to in a real game. I noticed him make a tackle in the SB. Most punters these days most won't attempt a tackle but the Australian ones usually try and some are good tacklers like Dickson and Wishnowsky..
Isn't this the 2nd player shot in the last couple years? Maybe the players need to steer clear of downtown Frisco?
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Those are some strange predictions: LAR #2? Are they sure Staffy wants to even play another year? He might want to retire with that bad back & ride off into sunset on top of his game (he's won MVP, he's won a SB, he's a future HOF...what else is there for him to prove?).
And the Broncos & Bears only 13th & 14th? Both have established franchise QBs with very high ceilings. And the Commanders at 18th? Lol. Have they forgotten that Daniels led the team to the NFCCG as a rookie? If Daniels can stay healthy, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the league, IMO.
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Dodged a bullet:
www.espn.com
I was wondering if he was actually going to need surgery with the injury being worse than what was revealed in the lead up to the SB. But obviously no structural damage & I would imagine a sprain of some sort? Surgery on his throwing shoulder would have been the last thing the kid needed after that humiliating loss to Seattle.
Patriots' Drake Maye says he won't need offseason surgery
Patriots QB Drake Maye, who said he took a pain-killing injection for his right throwing shoulder before Super Bowl LX, will not require offseason surgery.
I was wondering if he was actually going to need surgery with the injury being worse than what was revealed in the lead up to the SB. But obviously no structural damage & I would imagine a sprain of some sort? Surgery on his throwing shoulder would have been the last thing the kid needed after that humiliating loss to Seattle.
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Jacksonville sure fits that bill until playoff time where it got them nowhere. Lol. In fact, a wasted 13-4 season & division title losing to the Bills at home.
A colossal choke job by Lawrence with those two picks including the big one in the closing minutes of the game where he had an opportunity to engineer a GWD (a FG to tie or a score to win). Coen has got to be going absolutely crazy at the catastrophy of a 13 win season blown with a home playoff loss. Lol.
You know the clock is ticking on Lawrence. You talked about your disgust with the huge amount of "take us to the SB" money they're paying Watson. Well, last time I checked Lawrence is the 5th highest paid QB - definitely take us to the SB type money but yet it ain't happening, Lol.
Quarterback Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap
Ranking the top NFL Quarterback contracts and salaries in the NFL
overthecap.com
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Yep. Though he's played better than Watson has. Still, you'd think with the whole "generational QB" hype going back to him winning a Natty for Clemson (and almost a 2nd), #1 overall, he has to do better than one and done. I mean, he's 1-2 in the playoffs. Better that Herbert, but Herbert is also the one guy he beat.
The other that stands out there is Tua. What a huge boat anchor his contract is. Miami is doomed. $214m guaranteed. He's under contract through 2029, featuring a whopping $56.4 million cap hit in 2026, with $55 million of it guaranteed. They do have a potential out after this season, but I think they should just eat the $56.4m, and be done with him. Unless they honestly think they are going to get high quality play from him (zero chance). Just rip the bandaid off and cut him. Sean Payton showed how it's done with Russell Wilson.
Dak Prescott's contract is also starting to look ugly. An incredible $78m cap hit this year, and $68m next year! That's over 1/4th of their entire cap going to just him! Talk about "win us the Super Bowl" money!
The other that stands out there is Tua. What a huge boat anchor his contract is. Miami is doomed. $214m guaranteed. He's under contract through 2029, featuring a whopping $56.4 million cap hit in 2026, with $55 million of it guaranteed. They do have a potential out after this season, but I think they should just eat the $56.4m, and be done with him. Unless they honestly think they are going to get high quality play from him (zero chance). Just rip the bandaid off and cut him. Sean Payton showed how it's done with Russell Wilson.
Dak Prescott's contract is also starting to look ugly. An incredible $78m cap hit this year, and $68m next year! That's over 1/4th of their entire cap going to just him! Talk about "win us the Super Bowl" money!
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Klint Kubiak official press conference as Raiders HC. Didn't say much. A quiet, taciturn man. Everything about work.
Perhaps the most telling thing was Mark Davis wasn't part of the presser at all. Sat in the back row with the media and guests. Didn't talk at all. Wasn't directly interviewed. Basically later tracked down and he said Klint was hired by GM John Spytek and Brady, and would report to Spytek directly. "Tom and John are now running the football side of the building. That's been pretty clear."
Perhaps the most telling thing was Mark Davis wasn't part of the presser at all. Sat in the back row with the media and guests. Didn't talk at all. Wasn't directly interviewed. Basically later tracked down and he said Klint was hired by GM John Spytek and Brady, and would report to Spytek directly. "Tom and John are now running the football side of the building. That's been pretty clear."
Pearsall was shopping when a kid pointed a gun at him and demanded his Rolex. In the struggle he was shot through the chest near his shoulder. Doctors said the bullet went straight through and said he was very lucky. Took him a few months to get back but his main problem has been the PCL injury. The chest hasn't been an issue. The case is still going . They decided not to charge the kid as an adult so I guess the sentence won't be much. The kid had a bad background and Pearsall spoke to him after he got out of hospital and was pretty forgiving !
As for White he was at a private function at a club and some rapper tried to crash the party. When White spoke to the club manager the rapper and an offsider both shot at him and one bullet hit him in the ankle. He had his op already. Hopefully nothing too damaging to the ankle. The last thing they need of course is more injury problems although it seems that both Warner and Kittle will be back early while Bosa will take longer. Warner's ankle has healed well while Kittle's Achilles was a relatively good one. Not as much damage as usual. Bosa on his third ACL not so lucky. Second time for that leg.
Lawrence hasn't played better than Watson - virtually identical as far as team performance is concerned - if we compare Watson's 4 seasons at Houston with Lawrence's 5 seasons at JAX.
Watson - 53 starts (28-25) 2 division titles. Postseason (1-2).
Lawrence - 77 starts (35-42) 2 division titiles. Postseason: (1-2).
On career numbers, Watson has a slight edge on Comp% (66.2) vs (63.8) for Lawrence & a big edge on passer rating (98.8) vs (86.3). Watson, a pure dual-threat, also has a big advantage on rushing yardage 2142 (5.4) vs 1442 (4.6) for Lawrence.
Deshaun Watson - Wikipedia
Trevor Lawrence - Wikipedia
IMO, they both have significantly underperformed given their high draft status, especially Lawrence being a #1 OA pick & coming into the league with "The next Payton Manning" label.
Granted, Lawrence should have a lot of years ahead of him, barring injuries, so maybe things will change & we'll see a better postseason performance. But right now, he hasn't lived up to anything close to the type of money they're paying him. And losing to Buffalo at home after an impressive 13-4 season is a major setback & has to be a big concern for Coen.
In fact, if you take the top-10 highest salaries (Prescott, Burrow, Allen, Love, Lawrence, Tua, Goff, Purdy, Herbert, Jackson) only two have lived up to expectations. Using a conference championship & SB appearance as a metric, only Burrow (5-2) & Purdy (5-3) have accomplished this. And with the exception of Allen, the other 7 guys all have losing records in the postseason. That's pathetic, IMO. Lol. C'mon, these are thee highest paid QBs and only two have reached the SB, and only three have winning records?
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Good info, I wasn't aware of those details. How lucky are Pearsall & White - a more fatal wound & the organization would be attending funerals.
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Meanwhile, Maxx Crosby wouldn't be caught at any of those parties. Dude is in the gym around 5am every morning. Including this week. "There is no off-season".
Shanahan says he wants to keep Jones. That also means he's looking for a high price in return for a trade. Really smart by Lynch to sign him to a two-year deal. They knew Mac had talent that previous coaches didn't tap into, and got him on a steal of a deal. Plus, lets just say Purdy, who isn't the most durable (or fragile) QB plays 11 games this year, and they want to rest him at times to allow him to be really healthy when playing. Who else is going to start the other 6? Especially when they are not in any sort of rebuild. 2024 was their rebuild, and McCaffrey only has so much left in the tank.
Didn't realize Lawrence was that bad, but I should have. Definitely not going to defend the guy.
Goff went to a SB with the Rams. Granted, different team, not same contract he's on.
By this metric Hurts is "underpaid". Darnold as well. One can argue every NFL player is overpaid as to a reflection of society. As Antonio Pierce said, you should be highly motivated. You're making millions of dollars playing a kid's game.
Shanahan says he wants to keep Jones. That also means he's looking for a high price in return for a trade. Really smart by Lynch to sign him to a two-year deal. They knew Mac had talent that previous coaches didn't tap into, and got him on a steal of a deal. Plus, lets just say Purdy, who isn't the most durable (or fragile) QB plays 11 games this year, and they want to rest him at times to allow him to be really healthy when playing. Who else is going to start the other 6? Especially when they are not in any sort of rebuild. 2024 was their rebuild, and McCaffrey only has so much left in the tank.
Didn't realize Lawrence was that bad, but I should have. Definitely not going to defend the guy.
Goff went to a SB with the Rams. Granted, different team, not same contract he's on.
By this metric Hurts is "underpaid". Darnold as well. One can argue every NFL player is overpaid as to a reflection of society. As Antonio Pierce said, you should be highly motivated. You're making millions of dollars playing a kid's game.
Good correction, I forgot about Goff getting to the SB with the Rams. But he's 4-5 in the postseason & a #1 OA.
Of course, NFL players are grossly overpaid as to the reflection of society (I think the only guys who actual play for the true love of the game these days are the UFL guys who get paid peanuts. Lol).
And the guaranteed money & signing bonus up front for the rookies is absolutely egregious. Giving these guys ten of millions of dollars no matter if they play well or not, get demoted to a backup role or cut from the league altogether is ridiculous. This nonsense will continue though as long as owners are willing to open up their checkbook & pay these enormous amounts of $$$ for the mere "potential" of a player (I can hardly wait to see the signing bonus the Raiders are going to give to Mendoza. Lol).
That's why it was so refreshing to hear Flacco's little rant on how today's QBs are coddled & spoiled having no idea what it was like playing in previous generations. Like he said none of these hot shots coming out of college have been battle tested buy yet demand big $$$ up front:
View: https://youtube.com/shorts/uM9COalY_3w?si=Tquif9IqhH4DcbBq
Of course, NFL players are grossly overpaid as to the reflection of society (I think the only guys who actual play for the true love of the game these days are the UFL guys who get paid peanuts. Lol).
And the guaranteed money & signing bonus up front for the rookies is absolutely egregious. Giving these guys ten of millions of dollars no matter if they play well or not, get demoted to a backup role or cut from the league altogether is ridiculous. This nonsense will continue though as long as owners are willing to open up their checkbook & pay these enormous amounts of $$$ for the mere "potential" of a player (I can hardly wait to see the signing bonus the Raiders are going to give to Mendoza. Lol).
That's why it was so refreshing to hear Flacco's little rant on how today's QBs are coddled & spoiled having no idea what it was like playing in previous generations. Like he said none of these hot shots coming out of college have been battle tested buy yet demand big $$$ up front:
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Well, it was worse before the new CBA. In fact, the contract Sam Bradford signed (after missing his entire senior year in college) was so big at 6 years and $78m, even today no one has matched it. The worse example though is JaWalrus Russell. 6 years at $68m, with $32m of that guaranteed. And Russell held out until the Raiders paid him. Then, once he had his cash, he became the biggest bust in NFL history. Haunting the Raiders to this day walking away with some $40m in cash, and leaving the team in a massive hole of dead money. In fact, it was these two contracts, nearly 20 years ago now, that led to the 2011 (and 2021) CBA with rookie pay all but fixed.
The difference is today many rookie contracts, while lower, have even more guaranteed money. My quibble is the CBA is too loaded at the top for rookies. The 1st round guys (top 10 especially) are overpaid, and the mid and lower round guys "underpaid".
The issue with pay though, is if it didn't go to the players, all the money would go to the owners, who are pretty much all billionaires. This is why I think having the CBA split pretty close to 50/50 owners/players has proven to be fair, even if the entire amount of cash is outrageous. We've also reached the point where the NFL is so successful they may as well have their own money printing machine. The worst owners, and there are some bad ones, and cheap ones, still make big money.
UFL players make maybe $65k a year. About the same as any other job of, call it, experienced, physical labor, where injury is possible (construction for example). The ownership group says they can't afford more, and the league barely breaks even, and they may be right. From what I can gather CFL players make noticeably more, with the top players making well over double that (UFL pay is fairly equal per position). At some point the UFL may sell limited partnership/franchises, similar to how MLS operates, which could bring in more cash. Time will tell. MLS is a good guideline because they actually lost money for several years, millions, before slowly starting to break even, find their sweet spot, and start turning a profit.
The difference is today many rookie contracts, while lower, have even more guaranteed money. My quibble is the CBA is too loaded at the top for rookies. The 1st round guys (top 10 especially) are overpaid, and the mid and lower round guys "underpaid".
The issue with pay though, is if it didn't go to the players, all the money would go to the owners, who are pretty much all billionaires. This is why I think having the CBA split pretty close to 50/50 owners/players has proven to be fair, even if the entire amount of cash is outrageous. We've also reached the point where the NFL is so successful they may as well have their own money printing machine. The worst owners, and there are some bad ones, and cheap ones, still make big money.
UFL players make maybe $65k a year. About the same as any other job of, call it, experienced, physical labor, where injury is possible (construction for example). The ownership group says they can't afford more, and the league barely breaks even, and they may be right. From what I can gather CFL players make noticeably more, with the top players making well over double that (UFL pay is fairly equal per position). At some point the UFL may sell limited partnership/franchises, similar to how MLS operates, which could bring in more cash. Time will tell. MLS is a good guideline because they actually lost money for several years, millions, before slowly starting to break even, find their sweet spot, and start turning a profit.
Get the feeling that some desperate team might be willing to overpay, due to the shortage of good QB's in the draft and free agency, and the 49ers will have no choice but to trade him. If they keep him they get a third round compensatory pick anyway but I think it's late in the third round. I think he's gone. 49ers need to accumulate picks for their rebuild and they will need some good FA signings as well. They basically sat out the last FA and only signed some depth pieces on defense and some vets on the offense. They are probably going to lose Jennings at WR as he wants more money than the 49ers offered him even though he did get a pay rise last season. Think they will draft two WR's. Free agency has plenty of WR's coming off contract as well but the best ones will be looking for big money as usual. They also need to rebuild their O line. Trent Williams will be 38 this year, they are are going to lose their left guard Burford to free agency and they also need a right tackle.
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To me, Prescott, Herbert and Lawrence are not Tier 1. In pure physical talent? Sure. But their inability to lead their teams to important victories, over and over, knocks them from that ledge.
On the flip side of that, arguments can be made that Purdy and Hurts are Tier 2.
It wasn't just the Raiders OL, Geno Smith was absolutely terrible belongs in Tier 6 or 7.
Shedeur gets too much credit, and Gabriel too much blame for where they are. Like Herbert (and Dak) the media loves Shedeur. Also, Carson Wentz gets somewhat of a pass as he was pretty much injured the entire time he was wearing a jersey. I honestly think he should retire.
As to the SF 49ers, wasn't 2024 their rebuild year? With this past season the first step forward? Now only some holes need filling? (OL mostly, but Shanahan isn't too big on drafting high or spending in FA on the OL).
On the flip side of that, arguments can be made that Purdy and Hurts are Tier 2.
It wasn't just the Raiders OL, Geno Smith was absolutely terrible belongs in Tier 6 or 7.
Shedeur gets too much credit, and Gabriel too much blame for where they are. Like Herbert (and Dak) the media loves Shedeur. Also, Carson Wentz gets somewhat of a pass as he was pretty much injured the entire time he was wearing a jersey. I honestly think he should retire.
As to the SF 49ers, wasn't 2024 their rebuild year? With this past season the first step forward? Now only some holes need filling? (OL mostly, but Shanahan isn't too big on drafting high or spending in FA on the OL).
49ers will be good, but don't you think they need fresh blood at receiver and perhaps running back? One of the reason the Rams do so well on offense against the Seahawks is the ability of their receivers, especially Nacua, to get open (sometimes just a small window) and make the really tough catches. Although that's also about Stafford being able to get it into those small windows. And as you said, it's unclear how much McCaffery will have left in the tank. He's still be able to pile up a lot of yards, especially in the passing game. But we saw how much of a difference it makes having a back with explosiveness at the line of scrimmage and speed on the outside, like Walker, against the best teams and tough defenses.
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