Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Thursday, March 14, 2013

Josh Cribbs Gives A Classy Farewell to the City of Cleveland

With various reports floating around about which team Josh Cribbs will be signing with in free agency, the only absolute certainty is that he will no longer be a member of the Browns organization. Too often in sports, players and fans pander to their allegiances with their city or team, holding grudges of various sorts just for the sake of it.

However, that's not the case tonight, as one of the greatest Browns' special teamers of all time chose to go out with a classy farewell via his Instagram account:

 
Sunday, March 03, 2013

Lauren Silberman's Tryout Likely A "Sham"

A day that was supposed to be a proud one for feminists around the nation has taken a turn for the worse. Lauren Silberman, who had played varsity soccer in high school but had never kicked a football in an organized game before deciding that she wanted to play in the NFL, set an "ambitious goal" to kick "perfect 60 yard field goals." She supposedly had worked with a coach and practiced really hard every day.



Today, Silberman became the first female to tryout for the NFL, and according to Marcy Gonzalez in the piece above, she hoped that her "years of studying sports video games would give her a................. leg up."

... Sports video games? Are you fucking kidding me? Is the media this hungry for inspiration?

What she was doing should not have been celebrated in the first place. There are plenty of talented female athletes actually trying to break into the world of male athletics. This was clearly a woman looking to make a spectacle of herself and, in her own deluded way, mend herself into the very fabric of feminist history, for better or worse.

It's the kind of underdog story that will set back female opportunity in the NFL for years to come while offending both feminists and football players alike.

Via USA Today:
Kicker Lauren Silberman, the first female to participate in an NFL-sponsored tryout, had her session at the NFL's New York/New Jersey Regional Scouting Combine ended by a leg injury -after only two kickoffs Sunday.
Silberman said she aggravated a quad injury she first suffered while training last week.
A former MIT student and club soccer player, Silberman pulled up lame after her first kick, which traveled only 16 yards and barely crossed midfield at the New York Jets' indoor training facility. Silberman landed awkwardly and hobbled a bit as the ball bounced at the 49-yard line.
By the way, she wasn't kicking a field goal. It was merely a kick off. Good job; good effort!




Sam Gordon, the future is in your hands now.
Sunday, March 03, 2013

Manti Te'o is "Obviously Faster" Than His Relatively Slow 40 Time

Via the Chicago Tribune:
Why, yes, Manti Te'o has an estimate of the 40-yard-dash time he will run at Notre Dame's upcoming pro day.
"Obviously, faster than a 4.8," the former Irish linebacker said. "We’ll see what happens."
There will be hundreds likely waiting to see what Te'o can do on familiar ground March 26 in South Bend. He followed a poor performance in the BCS title game against Alabama and a January fraught with off-field controversy not entirely of his doing with a 40-yard dash time of 4.82 seconds at the NFL Combine.
"I think the 40 time measures what the 40 time is supposed to measure," Te'o said. "I think that’s something that I’m going to get better. The only way from here is up, so I’m definitely going to get better at that. I think, as far as play, I think what’s on the film, that’s the play. Obviously, I can get faster in my 40.
"It’s difficult to balance things and to stay as focused on what you got to do," Te'o said. "But for me, I’m glad that the combine is done. I’ve finished that and now I’m focused more on specific things like my 40 and I don’t have to worry so much about other things. It’s difficult. I’m not going to say it’s easy because it’s hard, but it’s definitely something you can work through."
With an announced goal time of 4.6 seconds, either Te'o is delusional or supremely confident. His recent history probably points to the former, but I don't see any harm in reserving judgement until March 26th. He alluded to stress being a key factor in worsening his time at the Combine, but I think it's reasonable to be skeptical of it slowing him down that badly.

Side Note: The article also mentions that Te'o only weighed in at 241 pounds. Von Miller weighs about the same... But he also runs a 4.49 40...

Te'o in the Real World
Te'o in Te'o World
Friday, March 01, 2013

Jim Irsay: Bill Polian Wanted to Trade Manning in 2004



The full interview was just released via the Indianapolis Star. Just one of many topics touched upon was the interesting reveal from Irsay that the Colts seriously considered trading Manning in '04 while working out a new deal for him:
According to Irsay, in 2004, a frustrated Polian was at wit’s end as he attempted to secure Manning’s new $98 million contract and, in a fit of pique, told Irsay, “We need to trade Peyton; we can get a bunch of defensive players and become like Tampa Bay or Baltimore.” Irsay said no. “Understand something, Bill, we are not trading Peyton Manning, period,’’ Irsay recalled telling the former team president.
The tweet from Kravitz also alludes to the fact that Irsay and the Polians were all worried about Curtis Painter's status as a backup. This comes out after Bill Polian avidly defended Painter on public forums for years and even went as far as throwing his defense under the bus to protect Painter.

We'll keep you posted on any further developments, but for now, we highly recommend reading the entire Irsay interview.

Big time H/t to Bob Kravitz for piecing together such a well crafted piece.
Thursday, February 28, 2013

NFL Prospect Profile: Margus Hunt (DE, SMU)

In contrast to the NBA and some other sports, the NFL isn't huge in international scouting, and prospects from foreign countries aren't that common.  Certainly, Estonia isn't known as a hotbed for NFL talent, but every now and then, we get a huge talent from the most unexpected places in the world.

Enter Margus Hunt:  A 6'8, 277 pound mountain of an athlete.  Margus was originally brought to the states to resurrect SMU's now defunct track and field program.  The standout Olympic level discus and shot putter would then turn his attention to football, where his immense size and athleticism have the entire draft community buzzing.

Year in and year out, we always have these guys with limited football experience, or mediocre production who crush the athleticism drills at the combine.  Some of them blossom into incredible players (Jason Pierre-Paul, and his infinite backflips!).  Others look like Tarzan, but they play like Jane.(Vernon Gholston, I'm looking at you, JANE).

So where does Margus the mountain fit in with all of this?  Lets take a look at his strengths and weaknesses as a prospect.

Strengths:

Obviously the first thing that pops off the game tape is how massive Margus is.  He's 6'8 and 277 pounds already, with really long arms, and a huge frame capable of adding much more weight, and cranked out a 4.6 second 40 yard dash, along with a nearly 35 inch vertical and 38 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.  He has a similar body type to Calais Campbell, who was a similar weight, but is now near the 300 pound mark.  Margus runs much faster, but he can play as a left end in a base 4-3 right now, kicking inside on passing downs, and could easily fill his frame out to fit as a 5 technique in a 3-4 defense.

Margus has decent ability to bend and get low on the edge to generate a rush, despite not having much in the way of counter moves yet, he does have strong hands and the long arms necessary to keep linemen out of  his chest.  For a guy with his height, he is also pretty quick off the snap.  Hunt has huge potential as a pass deflector in the passing lanes, Ala J.J. Watt.  He needs to be coached up in this area, as he is only set in his mind on getting to the QB at this juncture.  The potential is definitely there, as he's been a dominant special teams force, blocking a whopping 17 kicks in his 4 years of football.

Weaknesses:

At his current weight, Margus will have a tough time setting the edge in the run game.  He has a tendency to let himself play a little too high, which is the first thing coaches will have to address at his height.  Despite his pure speed, he's not someone you will want playing in space or his lateral agility and change of direction speed will be exposed. 

Although he has only been playing the game of football for 4 years, Margus will be 26 before the season starts.  For a player who has so much to learn, it is a bit concerning that he will be 4-5 years older than the average rookie.

Final Thoughts:

Margus Hunt has some incredibly impressive physical gifts that can't be taught, and virtually all of his weaknesses that can be taught.  Such an inexperienced player being 26 years old will be the biggest scare, as is perceived upside might not be as high as some think.

How quickly Margus takes to coaching and how hard he hits the weight room (judging by his incredible 38 reps of 225 pounds with really long arms, means he works VERY hard.) will ultimately determine how good Margus can be.  I think he is an interesting prospect that more than a few teams would be willing to develop, even if they have to spend their first round pick.

Ultimately, I think he grows into being a 300+ pounder, playing as a 3-4 defensive end, one that can actually generate a good pass rush with his rare speed on the edge.  I don't think he has the hips or flexibility to ever be a dominant pass rusher, and should be kept with his hand in the dirt as well.  Calais Campbell with more pure speed is a good comparison, and Campbell had a lot of the same concerns.

HOMER ALERT:  Margus might be a bit of a reach at 15 for the New Orleans Saints, but his upside justifies it if the staff feels he'll take to NFL level coaching in ample time.  I expect him to fall into the final 3rd of the first round once the dust settles.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Saints Have Restructured Jahri Evans Contract






Aside from Triplett turning the reporting into a full on Times Picayune circle jerk at the end, excellent reporting by both.

With the Saints passing on the option of using the franchise tag on Jermon Bushrod earlier in the week and the report that talks were not even under way, Who Dat Nation rightfully grew anxious that the team would lose its 4th lineman in four years this offseason.

The plethora of moves, first reported by Holder, indicates that Loomis isn't planning to let that happen.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Brandon Weeden "Completely" Expects to Remain the Browns Starting QB in 2013

Via Pro Football Talk:
The Cleveland Browns have undergone a complete overhaul of their front office with Michael Lombardi being hired as general manager and Rob Chudzinski named the head coach.
Both have been reluctant to discuss the future of quarterback Brandon Weeden since taking control of the Browns last month. Lombardi said he needs time to evaluate Weeden while Chudzinski said it would be “premature” to call Weeden the team’s starting quarterback for next season.
However, Weeden “absolutely” intends on keeping the job. According to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, Weeden is supremely confident he’ll win the Browns starting job next fall.
“I completely expect to be the starter,” Weeden said. “That’s my mindset going in. I’m confident in my ability to be the guy, to lead this football team.”
First and foremost, Spin IT should note that we might be slightly biased on this topic due to our affinity for all things Brandon Weeden, so obviously, we're passionately rooting for his successful underdog story to come to fruition. It would be difficult for him to make that happen from the bench.

However, the honest truth is that all signs, for now, seem to point to him being given a chance to redeem himself in the upcoming season. So far, the Browns have only expressed interest in drafting a quarterback in the middle rounds and have shown no inclination towards trading for Alex Smith or signing anyone else at the position in free agency.

Without any apparent competition, Weeden remains the front-runner for the starting job and has no reason to believe otherwise for now.

On an aside, if he does end up regressing this year and finds himself out of a high paying job in the NFL, there's still always acting.  >>>
Monday, February 25, 2013

The Patriots Won't Tag Wes Welker And Also Won't Rule Out the Possibility of a Long Term Deal Being Done Soon

Via NFL.com:
The New England Patriots have one of the more intriguing free-agent decisions to make regarding receiver Wes Welker. Easily the most productive NFL receiver over the past several years, he's a first-down machine. He's also, however, a slot receiver, and he's a little older, making it tougher for him to be paid like an elite pass-catcher. The Patriots won't apply the franchise tag to him, we know that. And yet ... Albert Breer and I have both heard that we can't rule out a long-term extension being reached before Welker hits free agency. The door is still open for him to get his money and retire a Patriot. What would a deal look like? In my mind -- just trying to gain an understanding of the market -- if Welker can get a five-year deal worth more than $8 million per year, that'd be impressive. It just makes too much sense for both sides to get something done. If you have the best slot receiver in the game, and he's also one of Tom Brady's best weapons, how can you let him leave?
The news confirms what was already popular consensus. Slapping the franchise tag on Welker would have eaten up around $11 mil of New England's $18.6 mil in cap space. It was an option that most had ruled out from the beginning.

With it officially out of the question, though, the discussion can now completely move on to whether or not the Patriots and Welker can come to terms on a new deal. New England can always lean on the fact that they're fully capable of re-signing Edelman, a receiver who has proven that he can take on a similar role as Wes Welker in their offense but is far less durable.

Last season, Vincent Jackson decided to test the open market and came away with an $11 mil/yr contract. Robert Meachem, free agent bust, received one for $9 mil/yr annually. If we assume that the market hasn't changed drastically within the last year, Rapport's suggestion of a 5 year, $8 million per year contract for Welker would require he leave a lot of money on the table.

[UPDATE] It now appears as though there might be some wiggle room for a more realistic long-term Welker deal after all... Via Peter King of SI.com:
Tom Brady took a huge step today to ensure he'll retire a Patriot, agreeing to a three-year contract extension that will keep him under center for New England through the 2017 season, when he will be 40 years old.
For the second time in his illustrious career, Brady is doing something players in this day and age simply do not do: As he did in 2005, Brady, a league source told SI.com, is signing a contract with New England that will pay him significantly less money than the market will bear, in large part to help the Patriots stay competitive for the next five seasons.
Amazingly, according to the source, the deal is for an eye-poppingly conservative $27 million, which is less than half his worth by any measure.
The extension will pay Brady a $3 million signing bonus immediately, in addition to salaries of $7 million in 2015, $8 million in 2016 and $9 million in 2017. Brady told Sports Illustrated five years ago he wanted to play until he was 40, at least, and this will accomplish that. He turns 40 on Aug. 3, 2017.
The upshot of the deal is to give the Patriots massive cap relief in a flat-cap era. He was due to count $43.6 million on the New England salary cap in 2013 and 2014. Now, his cap numbers will add up to $28.6 million in the next two years, a savings of $15 million in cap dollars at a time the Patriots have free agents they want to sign to help keep the team atop the AFC East, which they have dominated since Brady took over at quarterback in 2001.
After the Patriots move money around to lessen the blow of Brady's money in a flat-cap era -- the NFL's salary cap is expected to be virtually the same in the next two years as it was last season, about $121 million a year -- here will be Brady's cap numbers over the next five seasons, according to a source with knowledge of the contract:
2013: $13.8 million
2014: $14.8 million
2015: $13 million
2016: $14 million
2017: $15 million
 
Sunday, February 24, 2013

T.J. Moe Might be an NFL Wide Receiver

T.J. Moe, from the University of Missouri, has turned the heads of a few scouts so far in this year's NFL Combine. Yesterday, the 225 pound WR bench pressed 26 reps, which is roughly on par with what your average offensive lineman will manage to achieve.

Here is the scouting report on him via Rotoworld:
Former NFL scout Bryan Broaddus said Missouri WR T.J. Moe "might be a hard guy to get rid of if you brought him on your squad."
Moe has "dependable hands and does a solid job of getting open," writes broaddus, who project him to the slot. "Really has more quickness than true speed. He is not afraid of running routes inside but can also work along the sidelines." This all reads a lot like a Danny Amendola scouting report.
His 40 time was an unimpressive 4.74 seconds, but probably more telling about his skill set is the fact that his time in the 3 cone-drill was 6.53 seconds. Receivers are usually expected to run this task in approximately 7 seconds. He was the Combine's top performer in it.

Coming into the Combine, some scouts projected that he would go undrafted. Currently, T.J. Moe's draft stock has him being drafted in the 7th round of this year's NFL Draft.

Via NFL.com:
Weaknesses: Doesn't have any truly remarkable qualities. Only one year of great production. Lacks ideal height, and is limited to being an inside receiver in the pros. Not the widest catching radius.
Sunday, February 24, 2013

The Jaguars, League Revolutionists, Have Invented a New Position

Leave it to the Jaguars to officially coin a term for a type of player that has been in existence and used in different systems for years. Via the Florida Times-Union:
It will be part defensive end, part outside linebacker and all pass rusher.
Which players fill that role for the Jaguars this year will be determined.
But their position will be called Leo.
Since coach Gus Bradley was hired last month, the guessing game has begun about what type of personal stamp he’ll add to what he picked up working for Monte Kiffin in Tampa Bay and Pete Carroll in Seattle.
Bradley is already committed to bringing the Leo position to the Jaguars defense in an effort to spark a pass rush that was last in the NFL in 2012 (20 sacks).
“Not that the last scheme wasn’t any good, but we have to move guys around and manufacture a pass rush,” said defensive line coach Todd Wash, who followed Bradley from Seattle.
The term Leo stands for “open side end” (non-tight end side of the offensive formation).
What the player must do: Set a decent edge in the run game and create a pass rush.
What the player must weigh: Around 240-265 pounds.
What the player must run: Fast
Ryan O'Halloran, writer of the article, might have a future as an NFL scout with his ability to break down every facet of the game. I wish Ryan would have taught us which positions in the NFL require that its players run slow. Are there any? We need answers, Ryan!

In other news, the Jaguars are also set to add another new position to their roster. The player would be similar to a punter, but instead of moving the ball down the field with his foot, he'll do so with his arm. Which players fill that role for the Jaguars this year will be determined, but their position will be called the quarterback.
Friday, February 22, 2013

NOLA, In Case You Didn't Know, Rob Ryan is Kind of an Asshole

Via ESPN approximately 3 weeks ago:
The St. Louis Rams will not hire Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator after a second visit with the coaching staff Monday determined that his addition was not a good "scheme fit," according to coach Jeff Fisher.
Fisher noted the team did not make an official announcement on the hiring of Ryan, but his team will publicly confirm that Ryan will not join the staff.
Last week, a source had told ESPN that Ryan would be hired as the Rams' defensive coordinator.
The write-off by the media was that the split was due to nothing personal between Rob Ryan and Jeff Fisher with both sides essentially acknowledging their defensive philosophical differences.

While that may have been one of the reasons, Rob Ryan, the man who claimed he would have a new job in 5 minutes after being fired in Dallas, was actually a bit more boisterous than initially reported in his departure from St. Louis after being with the team for only one week.
What does Werder's tweet tell us? Well, two things:

1.) Rob Ryan is a dick, which we kind of already knew.

2.) Either Ryan is a psychic or he had already been in touch with Sean Payton even when he was about to sign on with St. Louis. While I don't want to hastily cast off the idea of Rob being capable of seeing into the future, I'm leaning towards believing the latter.
Friday, February 22, 2013

Greg Jennings Wants A Lot of Money That GB Probably Won't Pay Him

After making two consecutive Pro Bowls in 2010 and 2011, Greg Jennings sat out a large portion of 2012 due to a groin injury. He didn't exactly light it up in the games that he started either, but we have to assume that his play was limited throughout most of last season.

In the time that Jennings was out, though, a couple of young WR's stepped up in a big way for Green Bay. With Jordy Nelson set to stay with the team's corps, Randall Cobb emerging as one of the most versatile skill players in the league, and James Jones already talking to the media about being the team's number 1 wideout in 2013, Jennings' rumored price tag would essentially seal his fate.

Circumstantially, with their remaining options, it would be unnecessary for the Packers to re-sign Jennings even if his initial request were slightly more reasonable.

Last season, Vincent Jackson signed with the Buccaneers for $11 M/year, and Calvin Johnson re-signed with the Lions for $18 M/year, so it's not as if the kind of money he's asking for is completely unheard of for a WR, especially on the open market.

He'll get a solid payday, but it's doubtful that he'll be earning it in Green Bay.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Johnny Patrick, a Horrible NFL Football Player, Has Been Cut by the Saints

Spin IT really isn't a large enough entity at this point in its existence to have drawn the ire of any of the athletes or media figures whom we criticize.

Individually, however, the outspoken, if not slightly egotistical, attitudes of each of our writers has helped us to make a few personal friends and enemies, and once you're an enemy to one of us, you're immediately labeled as an enemy of the blog.

While our public enemy of the blog list is actually pretty extensive, there are many more whom we just don't talk about.

Enter ex-Saint Johnny Patrick, corner back.

Johnny Patrick's playing time grew increasingly limited as the season progressed. Bear in mind, the Saints situation at the position was one of the worst in the NFL, yet Patrick still managed to be consistently leap-frogged on the depth chart by newcomers like Elbert Mack.

When he was on the field, he was a Grade A fuck up. The clip below was the only good play I could find online by him. Don't believe me? Just Google "Johnny Patrick Saints" and enjoy the hilarious JP32 lowlight gallery.



Spin IT co-founder Jonathan Palazzolo, who played in a flag football league with Johnny Patrick last summer, was especially critical of him over the course of the season in Spin IT post-games and on Twitter.

While I'm not exactly sure what, or if, other exchanges occurred between the two, as there are no other texts documented on Twitter, Palazzolo eventually posted the following tweet the next week.

Fast forward to less than two months later... Today:



David Thomas, you will be missed. Johnny Patrick, on behalf of all Saints fans...

Monday, February 18, 2013

Which QB Would You Take in the First Round of the 2013 Draft? Don't Ask Kansas City's John Dorsey.

Via Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star:
The Chiefs spent the last several days setting their draft board in preparation for this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The process merely confirmed for new general manager John Dorsey that when it comes to quarterbacks, their homework is only starting. 
Opinions on the top available quarterbacks in this year’s draft are that varied.
“There is no quarterback where personnel guys can definitely say, ‘He’s a first-round pick,’ ” Dorsey said. “There were so many inconsistencies in the collective group. There was not one guy that stood up and said, ‘I’m the guy in the position this year.’ There really wasn’t one clear-cut guy.
“There are too many technical flaws, scheme flaws. There are so many different variables that there are a lot of people all over the place on naming the top four or five guys and who those guys would be.”
The Chiefs aren’t the only team having trouble sorting through the top quarterback prospects. From the natural ability of West Virginia’s Geno Smith to the smooth leadership skills of USC’s Matt Barkley to the willingness to take a hit in the face of a strong pass rush of Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson, there are plenty of things to like.
There are reasons to pause just the same. Smith faltered late last fall against better competition. Barkley and Wilson had disappointing, injury-marred senior seasons.
This is a particular problem for teams like the Chiefs, who have a gaping need at quarterback. Dorsey didn’t say so specifically, but he didn’t sound like the Chiefs were planning to take a quarterback with the first pick in this year’s draft.
More likely, the Chiefs will select a quarterback later in the draft — if they take one at all.
Dorsey said both he and coach Andy Reid would be in attendance at the workouts of most, if not all, of the top available quarterbacks.
“I think Andy is a really good evaluator of quarterbacks,” Dorsey said. “I want him and I to go to as many quarterback workouts as possible and actually set our own up.”
If the Chiefs do plan to draft a quarterback in one of the later rounds, there's a very slim chance that Andy Reid would look to that player to start for his new team in 2013. Their options from there become increasingly limited, though.

He can stick with Cassel and Quinn or go after Matt Moore or Derek Anderson in free agency.

Not satisfied with those scenarios, Chiefs fans? Well, as SFGate.com and Trent Dilfer speculate, there's always Alex Smith:
The 49ers, of course, are expected to attempt to trade Smith. If Smith remains on the roster on April 1, $7.5 million of his $8.5 million contract for the 2013 season will become fully guaranteed.
Before the Super Bowl, (ESPN analyst) Trent Dilfer said Reid, then with the Eagles, expressed interest in signing Smith when he was a free agent after the 2011 season. Dilfer and Smith are former teammates and remain friends.
“There was a courtship last year, to a certain degree,” Dilfer said.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/02/16/4070696/no-clear-choice-for-chiefs-if.html#storylink=cpy
Sunday, February 17, 2013

Mickey Loomis is Still a Salary Cap Wizard

Via NOLA.com:
The New Orleans Saints apparently have started making room to get under the salary cap. Linebacker Curtis Lofton has restructured his contract to help free up some salary cap space.
Lofton confirmed the move to NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune Friday afternoon after it was first reported by ESPN.com.
Lofton's cap figure was scheduled to be $7.1 million in 2013. But the Saints were able to drop that number to $3.1 million by replacing a scheduled $5 million roster bonus with a $5 million signing bonus that will be prorated over the remainder of the contract, according to ESPN.com.
The Saints were expected to be about $20 million over the salary cap. But General Manager Mickey Loomis appears to be working to do away with that number.
The list of Saints who are free-agents-to-be is a long one: QB Chase Daniel; RB Chris Ivory (RFA); WR Devery Henderson; WR Courtney Roby; TE Michael Higgins (exclusive rights); OT Jermon Bushrod; OT William Robinson; C Brian De La Puente (RFA); C Justin Drescher (RFA)
C Eric Olsen (exclusive rights); DL Sedrick Ellis; DL Turk McBride; LB Scott Shanle; LB Ramon Humber; LB Jonathan Casillas; LB Junior Galette (RFA); DB Elbert Mack.

(LIST FROM PFT VIA ROTOWORLD)

With the emergence of Joe Morgan and a healthy Nick Toon, rumors have already surfaced that Henderson and Roby could be well on their way out of the Big Easy. The long-term future of LT Jermon Bushrod remains a top priority for the organization, as losing him would leave RG Jahri Evans as the last remaining OL from the team's Super Bowl run.

Another name that will continue to covet a good deal of speculation around it is RB Chris Ivory, who has had his share of breakout games over his last few years in New Orleans. While there have been plenty of fan written pieces about why the team should re-sign him, there's been little in the way of actual reporting. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation speaks to Ivory actually having some decent market value. With the team already significantly over the cap, a fourth running back appears to be a luxury that the team won't be able to afford.

That's not to say that he doesn't have the most potential of the current players at the position on the team's roster, but it should be noted that the Saints' other 3 RBs are signed to deals for at least the next couple of years.

Going forward in the off-season, expect Mickey Loomis to continue to work on re-structuring the contracts of veterans like Roman Harper, Will Smith, and Jonathan Vilma.

Also, a couple of situations worth more closely scrutinizing in free agency are those of DB Elbert Mack, who came on nicely towards the end of last season, and Junior Galette, who could be an interesting hybrid DE/LB in new Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan's system.
Friday, February 15, 2013

Ed Reed is a Raven... For Now.

A few hours ago, Reddit user underclass4 posted a tweet from Ed Reed, who's apparently frustrated by the immense amount of speculation surrounding his future in Baltimore. For whatever reason, the tweet was taken down, but it's still preserved on Reddit:

@TwentyER:
2013-02-15 02:48
Just for the record I'm a RAVEN unless business say otherwise until then only 1 team that matter and that would be the 1 who won in N.O2013
This isn't the first time he's complained about rumors in the media either. Also, the following retweet can still be found on his feed:
Darn reporters. Ruining everyone's good time with their reports and crazy chimp stories.

John Harbaugh, any further words of encouragement for the fine fans in Baltimore?
"I want him back; he wants to come back. Ed's a Baltimore Raven."
That quote came to us via a post-SB press conference. There's no shortage of wanting Ed Reed to remain a Baltimore Raven, but the logic of it actually happening is what continues to add fuel to the fire in terms of speculation. Via Baltimore Sports and Life:
This year, Ed Reed’s cap figure is around 9.5 million and he is a free agent to be in 2013. You have to think if the Ravens are going to re-sign Reed, that the cap number would be about the same. He has always fought for a contract rewarding him for what he has done in the past. The Ravens will want to pay him what he will be worth currently. Ed Reed isn’t a 9.5 million dollar a year player anymore.
The Ravens are currently only 1.2 million, give or take a few dollars, under that salary cap right now. No Lewis and no Reed next year would clear up 16.8 million dollars in cap space. That might be about as much as it would cost to franchise Flacco.
Remember, that would be the price of a franchise tag. Flacco's current $20 million asking price wouldn't exactly be cap friendly either. According to NFL.com, the Ravens began contract talks with the NFL's dopest QB earlier this week:
The Ravens' goal should be to avoid the franchise tag at all costs. King espouses a theory that the team might be confident enough to eschew the salary-cap prohibitive exclusive-rights tag, which could in turn entice a quarterback-needy team to front-load an offer the Ravens can't match.
It's a scenario that is hard to imagine after general manager Ozzie Newsome recently acknowledged the importance of a franchise quarterback to a football executive's success and job security. As Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff once said, "Until you find your quarterback, the search for him consumes you."
If contract talks hit a snag, the Ravens have until March 4 to utilize the exclusive-rights tag. Although that option will ensure no other team can negotiate with Flacco, the roughly $20 million guaranteed salary would play havoc with the 2013 salary cap.
If Flacco doesn't agree to a long-term deal that's cap friendly for the next couple of years, the implications are severe. It could mean losing free-agent pass rusher Paul Kruger, emerging inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, and/or future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed.
I want him back, he wants to come back,” Harbaugh said. “Ed’s a Baltimore Raven.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/02/ed-reed-told-john-harbaugh-after-super-bowl-that-he-wants-to-be-back-with-ravens-next-season/
want him back, he wants to come back,” Harbaugh said. “Ed’s a Baltimore Raven.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/02/ed-reed-told-john-harbaugh-after-super-bowl-that-he-wants-to-be-back-with-ravens-next-season/
want him back, he wants to come back,” Harbaugh said. “Ed’s a Baltimore Raven.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/02/ed-reed-told-john-harbaugh-after-super-bowl-that-he-wants-to-be-back-with-ravens-next-season/
“I want him back, he wants to come back,” Harbaugh said. “Ed’s a Baltimore Raven.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/02/ed-reed-told-john-harbaugh-after-super-bowl-that-he-wants-to-be-back-with-ravens-next-season/
I want him back, he wants to come back,” Harbaugh said. “Ed’s a Baltimore Raven.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/02/ed-reed-told-john-harbaugh-after-super-bowl-that-he-wants-to-be-back-with-ravens-next-season/
“I want him back, he wants to come back,” Harbaugh said. “Ed’s a Baltimore Raven.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/02/ed-reed-told-john-harbaugh-after-super-bowl-that-he-wants-to-be-back-with-ravens-next-season/
Friday, February 15, 2013

Dennis Dixon has Agreed to Terms with the Philadelphia Eagles

A couple of weeks ago, we reported via the Examiner that Eagles' HC Chip Kelly had a keen interest in acquiring Dennis Dixon, former star quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. It looked as though that became an afterthought with the re-signing of Vick a few days ago... Via ESPN earlier today:
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Dennis Dixon to a two-year contract Thursday, reuniting the quarterback with coach Chip Kelly.
Kelly was Oregon's offensive coordinator when Dixon was the Ducks' quarterback. He spent last season on the practice squad of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.
Dixon, 28, was drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers after throwing for 2,136 yards with 20 touchdowns and four interceptions, completing 67.7 percent of his passes under Kelly at Oregon before tearing his ACL in the 10th game of the 2007 season. He also rushed for 583 yards.
In the NFL, Dixon has appeared in four games, all with the Steelers, completing 59.3 percent of his passes for 402 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. He also has rushed for 24 yards and a touchdown.
With a roster currently sporting four quarterbacks (Vick, Trent Edwards, Nick Foles, and Dennis Dixon) all with experience, as an outsider, it looked as if the the team's recent transactions were contradictory of one another.

However, Kelly's support continues to be with Michael Vick, for the most part, and their latest signing of Dixon was shortly followed up by reports that other teams are currently dialing up the Eagles about Nick Foles:
The same day the Eagles make their QB plans clear as day by signing Dennis Dixon off Baltimore’s practice squad, the Kansas City Chiefs are already calling about likely third-stringer Nick Foles according to a report by USA Today.
The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t publicly began shopping Nick Foles, and USA Today reports that the Chiefs plans are only internal so far. But this match would make sense; the Eagles have two quarterbacks who can run Chip Kelly’s system better than Nick Foles, and Andy Reid, who drafted Foles in the third-round last season, wants another chance to groom the Arizona product. If the Eagles do indeed go with Vick as the starter and Dixon as the backup, it makes sense to deal Foles and get something in return. The Chiefs OC is also the Eagles former QB coach, Doug Pederson, who is reportedly “very high” on Foles.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The Jacksonville / Gabbert Yuckfest Lives On

A message to Shahid Khan: Everyone makes mistakes, and that's okay.

There's a good deal of Stage 4 denial taking center stage in Jacksonville right now. Maybe it speaks to our own cynicism that the only time this site makes mention of Blaine Gabbert or the Jaguars is when we have the opportunity to make fun of Blaine Gabbert or the Jaguars, but I'm an even bigger fan of cutting off the spread of misinformation and contrived propaganda when I see it beginning to take precedent.

And I'm sure I don't need to tell the Jags fans this. It is extremely apparent that the team is selling Gabbert as if he were freshly drafted this year as opposed to referencing his track record at all. Via NFL.com:
Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell isn't ready to give up on Blaine Gabbert, saying instead the team will shape its roster around the young quarterback.
"That was his second year," Caldwell told The Florida Times-Union this week. "What were they saying about other quarterbacks after their second year? We're looking for improvement (in his third year). We need to build around him. We'll upgrade whenever we can upgrade."
Caldwell told the newspaper the Jaguars aren't about to dazzle society in free agency, but instead build "slow and steady" through the draft. He spoke of growing the team over the course of a decade, which gives us a window into his thinking on Gabbert. Caldwell's Jaguars are not about the quick fix. Had Jacksonville hired another general manager, Gabbert might be bound for the street.
New head coach Gus Bradley has met with the quarterback and told The Times-Union, "(Gabbert's) been very impressive so far in our conversations."
The hazard is falling for offseason illusions. Tale after tale was told of Gabbert's growth last spring, but we didn't see enough of that on the field. Caldwell can make the argument that few second-year passers generate buzz, but this comes weeks after a string of rookie and sophomore-year quarterbacks -- Colin Kaepernick, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III -- fascinated the nation and led their teams to the postseason.
We highly doubt the Jaguars -- behind closed doors -- are content with what they've seen under center.
When I read the report from Marc Sessier, I left it alone and felt it wasn't worth posting on here. To blatantly sell out their own quarterback and ruin his reputation in the league going forward wouldn't help the team's cause and would only hurt Gabbert. I thought Sessier hit the nail on the head.

This morning, though, the following was released via PFT:
Frank Scelfo, the new quarterbacks coach in Jacksonville, told Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union that Gabbert, who left Missouri early after one year as a backup and two years as a starter, could easily just be entering this year’s draft after finishing college as a fifth-year senior. And if he were, Scelfo says, Gabbert would be the top quarterback in this year’s draft.
“If you graded him out right now, this is his draft class. If he were coming out and the quarterback draft class the way it is, would he be the top guy taken? I think the answer is yes,” Scelfo said. “Ask the scouting departments and the general managers around the league and I think you would end up with a yes on that. Basically at his age, 23, the number-one pick in the draft with two years of experience already under his belt. That’s pretty good.”
In other words, Scelfo thinks Gabbert is a better quarterback talent than USC’s Matt Barkley, West Virginia’s Geno Smith, North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon, Tennessee’s Tyler Bray, Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib, Arkansas’s Tyler Wilson or any of the other quarterbacks in this year’s draft. If that’s how the Jaguars feel, that’s another sign that they remain committed to him as their starter.
That won’t necessarily please Jaguars fans, but when Scelfo was asked about fans thinking Gabbert is a bust, Scelfo said he wasn’t aware of that.
“I hadn’t heard that. I’m being honest. I’ve met some great people and nobody’s told me all those bad things,” Scelfo said. “I don’t hear all that stuff. I look for the good in everybody.”
For those of you who don't vigorously follow the Jacksonville Jaguars, that's a new GM, new coach, and even a new QB coach in Jacksonville clearly overselling the former first round pick.

In two years as the team's starter, he's only amassed a total of 3876 yards, thrown 21 TDs, has had a completion percentage of, and after an 8-8 season in 2010 for the Jaguars, has since led his team to declining records of 5-11 in 2011 and 4-12 in 2012.

Yeah, I'm sure nobody is thinking "bust."

Most casual fans lean on wins and numbers, so a possibly flawed QB like Philip Rivers will fly under the radar as long as the numbers and wins are there. I bring that up because suggesting that fans are that stupid, so much to the point that even complaining about Gabbert is viewed as ludicrous and unheard of by Scelfo, is insulting.

Having said that, the record and numbers, obviously, aren't the source of his poor play; they're the end result of it.

Coming into the NFL, here were some of the flaws noted in Gabbert's game via New Era Scouting:
Decision making: Coming out a spread system, Gabbert doesn’t have to make a lot complicated decisions with the football. Particularly, he doesn’t make his own check downs at the line of scrimmage. While you don’t expect a college junior to be Peyton Manning pre-snap, you have to wonder how well Gabbert will be able to go through his reads. Will he be able to tell when a safety is faking or blitz only to drop back or if a lineman is working in zone blitz coverage underneath?
Field vision: Is typically asked to go through only one read in the Missouri system. Will need a lot of training camp and practice repetitions to improve this flaw. However, when that one read is open, he can hit it. Has carved defenses up with pro-style nine routes and crosses. Will need to do much better trusting his check downs instead of looking for the deep ball. Gabbert’s draft placement may hinge somewhat on how he interviews and breaks down plays for coaches on the dry erase board.
Pocket awareness: This is where Gabbert will need to improve. He doesn’t have the best poise when he feels the rush around him and will start moving his feet around him. Needs to trust his linemen more and sit back in the pocket. At the same time, there were occasions in games this year where Gabbert held the ball too long and got sacked. The bottom line here is that he has to improve mental clock of when exactly he needs to release the ball. With his quick throwing motion, Gabbert could be a star if he rectifies this area of his game. Played in a system with a long line using deep splits.
For those of you who haven't figured it out, many of those same flaws are still prevalent in his game today. Many will point to the poor play of his offensive line and a lack of proper weapons as being the root of all evil for Blaine Gabbert, but these aren't excuses for the fact that he still frequently makes poor reads due to his inability to properly go through his progressions and has the kind of poor foot mechanics that will lead to him throwing off of his back foot at times even when he's not under pressure. His pocket awareness improved slightly from a year ago when he would basically go down almost untouched if a defender was anywhere near him, but that's not saying much. Even his most vaunted quality coming out of college, accuracy, has proven to be inconsistent on mid-range throws.

Some of the issues for Gabbert have come via the team's conservative play calling in the passing game, and while this may be the reason that we haven't seen Gabbert's accuracy on the deep ball on display as often as we'd probably ought to, again, these things aren't excuses for the other problems that consistently show up on film of him.

So, what's Jacksonville trying to achieve in playing the "Gabbert is still a work in progress" card? It's hard to tell right now. All signs point to them not looking to select a QB in the draft this year. The move would be logical. I think it's a stretch to say that none of the QBs in the 2013 draft will be more successful than Gabbert, which is setting the bar extremely low, but it's likely more a matter of them knowing how badly they need to improve elsewhere.

It's not a question of whether or not a rookie QB in this year's draft class would be better than what they've got; it's still about whether or not a rookie QB in this year's draft class could be their franchise QB. If Jacksonville's scouting team feels that's not the case, the wise option for the long term success of the franchise is to draft the BPA, give Gabbert one more year to miraculously make his case for having been selected in the first round a couple of years ago, and if the team's situation at the position is still murky at this time one year from now, Jacksonville will draft another QB in 2014.

In the meantime, Jaguars fans will just have to be patient and deal with an entire offseason of hearing about the "improvements" made by Blaine Gabbert, the second coming of Joe Montana.

Of course, there's always hope that Jacksonville's knight in shining armor, Alex Smith, will save the team from another abysmal year in 2013, but that's exactly what it is for now: just hope.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Michael Vick will Remain with Eagles in 2013

Much to the chagrin of Philadelphians and via ESPN's Adam Schefter:
The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed Michael Vick on Monday to a one-year deal for the 2013 season, the team announced. Vick could make as much as $10 million next season, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
This contract replaces the long-term contract Vick had signed in 2011 and he now is scheduled to be a free agent after next season.
But this season he will quarterback new coach Chip Kelly's offense. Kelly will address the media at a news conference later Tuesday.
"I feel like this is the perfect situation for me. After talking with Chip and looking at the offense, I wanted to be here," Vick told Yahoo! Sports.
He was scheduled to make $15.5 million in base salary in 2013 under the six-year, $100 million extension he signed with the team in 2011.
With a $10 million dollar salary in 2013, the Eagles have made it clear that not only will Vick be staying in Philadelphia, he will be Chip Kelly's starting QB.
Vick seems equipped to run Kelly's aggressive, up-tempo offense that he is bringing to the Eagles from Oregon.
However, Kelly's offense is predicated on designed runs and Vick has struggled with designed runs. Over the last two seasons, Vick has averaged 6.7 yards per rush on scrambles but just 1.7 yards per rush on designed runs, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
We've already seen Vick's raw athleticism take the team no where over the last couple of years, and maybe he and Kelly could have worked in 2004, but in 2013, Vick is 33 years old, has clearly lost a step, and will have to continue to work with a football acumen that's proven to be below average.

However, with the quarterback situation now solved, for better or worse, expect for Philadelphia to turn their attention to improving what was a horrendous offensive line in 2012 through the draft.

[UPDATE] Via Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com:
Speaking at a press conference Monday, coach Chip Kelly stressed that second-year pro Nick Foles has a shot to start.
"There's open competition. Both of them are outstanding quarterbacks. Who the starting quarteback is will be decided on the practice field," Kelly said.
Asked to guarantee whether both quarterbacks would be on the team heading into the season, Kelly said he hopes so. Vick's mobility seems to fit Kelly's system better.
"There's a skill set that Mike has that really excites me. ... I look at his skill set, how he can throw the football, how he can beat you with his feet," Kelly said.
Kelly also said he took the quarterback "landscape" in the league into consideration. Translation: Kelly knew he wasn't likely to find a better option behind door No. 2. Vick's injury history surely was a factor too.
"In this league, you gotta have two (quarterbacks)," Kelly said.
That's especially true when Vick is the favorite to win your quarterback competition.
I guess the biggest take away in all of this is that when your options are Dennis Dixon or Michael Vick, Vick is (probably?) the better choice.

[UPDATE] 
According to Pro Football Zone, Chip Kelly did not rule out the idea of trading Vick, and the specifics of this deal also indicate that.
Sunday, February 10, 2013

Drew Stanton Could Become a Cardinal

Via PFT:
Everyone knows that one of the biggest tasks on the Cardinals’ to-do list is finding a quarterback.
Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune reports that they could find a contender for the job in Drew Stanton. Stanton was a backup in Indianapolis in 2012, so he’s a familiar face to Colts head coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin. Per Pompei, Arians liked what he saw from Stanton in both preseason and practice and also likes that Stanton knows what Arians is looking for offensively.
Stanton has a good reputation as a backup quarterback, eliciting interest and a job from the Jets last season before moving to Indy in a trade after the Jets decided to bring Tim Tebow to town to watch Mark Sanchez’s on-field exploits. He’d likely draw similar levels of interest this time around, but the chance of competing for a starting job isn’t something he’s likely to find in a lot of places.
Guaranteeing Stanton, who started four games for the Lions in 2009 and 2010, anything more than a chance to compete is a tough sell, but he could wind up being a name to watch in the desert this offseason.
In truth, assuming that this was the only move Arizona made in terms of patching up their messy quarterback situation, which I'm sure it won't be, Drew Stanton would be a certain upgrade from Lindley as a 3rd string QB at the very least and could even surprise in camp against Kolb and Skelton. Basically, there's not much to lose in terms of signing him to a minimum salary. His biggest issue has always been his health, not so much his skill set. People tend to forget that.

Pro Football Talk's Josh Alpert probably made too light of the fact that it's been quite some time since we've actually seen Stanton in action, though.

I know what you're thinking, "Mejdy, 2010 really wasn't that long ago."

In response to that, allow me to provide you with better perspective by showing a clip from Stanton's last start in the NFL:




The Cardinals hold the 7th pick in this year's draft... so there's always that, too.
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