2017 NFL season thread

[Erick Estrada]

Matthew Stafford officially the highest paid player in league history;

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2...ic-5-year-deal

I suppose it's only going to get higher and higher for franchise QB's. It seems like he's been around forever but he's only 29 so it's not a bad deal on term but I would consider him a fringe top 10 QB. Still though in the NFL if you don't have a top 15 QB you aren't going to be a very good team on a regular basis so I understand why they overpaid him as the alternative is praying to hit one in the draft or recycling free agent QB's annually and never getting a good one like the Bears for instance.

[troutman]

Why is the opener KC vs. NE?

Don't they usually match-up the Superbowl teams?

Edit: Not often actually:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation...e_Kickoff_game

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by troutman

Why is the opener KC vs. NE?

Don't they usually match-up the Superbowl teams?

Edit: Not often actually:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation...e_Kickoff_game

League schedule is essentially determined years in advance in terms of which teams play each other. Of the 16 games on the schedule 14 have been predeterminded with only two of the games based on strength of schedule (ie where a team finished in the previous season). The actual order of the games is what varies year over year (ie when teams play each other)

http://operations.nfl.com/the-game/c...-nfl-schedule/

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by troutman

Why is the opener KC vs. NE?

Don't they usually match-up the Superbowl teams?

Edit: Not often actually:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation...e_Kickoff_game

Can't really do that when AFC teams only play each NFC team once every four years.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Browns have released Joe Haden. Tried to trade him but clearly was tough moving the contract. Enjoy New England Joe.

[Hockey]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Browns have released Joe Haden. Tried to trade him but clearly was tough moving the contract. Enjoy New England Joe.

They say Saints and Chiefs have most interest.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Hockey

They say Saints and Chiefs have most interest.

Steelers are favourites, per Schefter and others.

[Hockey]

Originally Posted by devo22

Steelers are favourites, per Schefter and others.

Ya saw that. I guess earlier reports had Saints and Chiefs

[Sylvanfan]

Chiefs traded for OL Cam Erving that Cleveland took in the first round of 2015. The Browns are certainly moving anyone and everyone. Will be interesting to see how it works out. The NFL in general is a trade averse league. Stubborn old codgers who hang onto players to their own detriment. Maybe Cleveland is onto something.

[ResAlien]

Seems to be happening all over, lot of chatter about TJ Ward being traded or cut. I'd be bummed out but it's a cold business.

[devo22]

Ian Rapoport ✔ @RapSheet
The #Steelers are signing CB Joe Haden to a 3-year, $27m contract, source said. $7m guaranteed in year 1.

holy cow, that's a lot of cash.

[Hockey]

Seahawks just traded Jermaine Kearse and picks to the Jets for Sheldon Richardson. That Seahawks front 7 looks goood

[devo22]

Browns release Osweiler.

[Cortez]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Can't really do that when AFC teams only play each NFC team once every four years.

It's weird though because the Pats actually do play Atlanta this year (week 7). I thought it was a no brainer to have them open the season but I guess the league thought differently

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by devo22

Browns release Osweiler.

Pretty much the ultimate test of "Is Kaepernick being blacklisted" will be does Osweiler get a job before him? Because as we know Osweiler absolutely sucks, sucks far worse than Kaepernick, so if he gets a gig and Kaepernick doesn't then we know whats up without question.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Pretty much the ultimate test of "Is Kaepernick being blacklisted" will be does Osweiler get a job before him? Because as we know Osweiler absolutely sucks, sucks far worse than Kaepernick, so if he gets a gig and Kaepernick doesn't then we know whats up without question.

don't we already know the answer to this question?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Pretty much the ultimate test of "Is Kaepernick being blacklisted" will be does Osweiler get a job before him? Because as we know Osweiler absolutely sucks, sucks far worse than Kaepernick, so if he gets a gig and Kaepernick doesn't then we know whats up without question.

So many variables left out of that assumption.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by devo22

don't we already know the answer to this question?

Of course, but this would leave no doubt. Whatever you think of either of them off the field, I know Kaepernick can complete a 5-yard out pattern. Brock? Pretty sure we saw ample evidence he cannot.

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

So many variables left out of that assumption.

Kaepernick's worst season as a starter is still much better than Brock's season last year, and in all other measurable (like, you know, completing a 5-yard out pattern), he's better too. There's no logical football reason to give Osweiler a job ahead of Kaepernick.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Seems to be happening all over, lot of chatter about TJ Ward being traded or cut. I'd be bummed out but it's a cold business.

official now.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Kaepernick's worst season as a starter is still much better than Brock's season last year, and in all other measurable (like, you know, completing a 5-yard out pattern), he's better too. There's no logical football reason to give Osweiler a job ahead of Kaepernick.

First of all, you're talking about a back up role. You don't judge backup QBs on the same metrics as a starter. Other factors come into play in that equation especially because you have 20X more options to fill the position.

• Advantages to signing Osweiler over Kaepernick

Salary: Osweiler makes $16M no matter what this year and the Browns are paying whatever any team that signs him doesn't. He's going to sign on the cheap if he signs. For all we know, Kaepernick's camp is trying to get him signed for $10M per.

Leadership/dedication: Osweiler has been universally praised as a teammate. Teams have legitimate reason to question whether football is Colin Kaepernick's first priority. He knowingly put his cause ahead of his team. That action and the possibility of similar actions in the future have more to say about why he's not signed than anything else. You don't have to disagree with his motivation to do what he did to question his dedication to team. This is huge.

Scheme: Anyone who used a pro-style drop back passing attack simply can't sign Kaepernick. He's incapable of running such an offense. Osweiler isn't the best fit in this type of offense either, but he has at least demonstrated an ability to run it.

Not saying that Osweiler is better than Kaepernick. What I'm saying is that he is signed before Kaepernick it is most certainly not irrefutable proof of Kaerpenick being black listed.