2009 NFL Off Season Thread

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

They needed more time to complete his bust because of his gigantic horse face.

Seriously, he's a first ballot guy, no question.

They may have been trying to figure out a way to make the bust talk, continuously...forever.

[Sylvanfan]

I'm pretty surprised that Derrick Thomas got in. Great player, and everything, the best Chiefs player of those really good 1990's defences that they had. But in no way shape or form should he have got in over Shannon Sharp.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I'm pretty surprised that Derrick Thomas got in. Great player, and everything, the best Chiefs player of those really good 1990's defences that they had. But in no way shape or form should he have got in over Shannon Sharp.

I think McDaniel could've waited. I think Woodson and Sharpe are about equal in relevance. Bruce Smith HAD to be in this year IMO.

You watch, 5 years after Tony Gonzales retires he will be a unanimous first ballot choice.

Something about the Broncos....

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I'm pretty surprised that Derrick Thomas got in. Great player, and everything, the best Chiefs player of those really good 1990's defences that they had. But in no way shape or form should he have got in over Shannon Sharp.

Never tell anybody outside the family what your thinking again. I have to disagree, Derrick Thomas deserves to be in the hall. DT had 126.5 career sacks in 169 games for 1.336 sacks per game. Lawrence Taylor had 132.5 sacks in 184 games for an average of 1.389 sacks per game. Pretty comparable and LT was a first ballet hall of famer. DT also had 45 forced fumbles (although it wasn't counted as an official stat until 2001 I believe), compared to LT's 33.

As a Chiefs fan it was a pretty emotional moment. I'm really glad that things like this are televised on the NFL Network now. I am really looking forward to the induction in August. Who will introduce and accept on Derrick's behave?

[Montana Moe]

NFL off season key dates:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3818981

Feb. 18-24: NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Ind.

Feb. 19: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players.

Feb. 26: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.

Feb. 26: Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired.

Feb. 27: Veteran free agency signing period begins.

Feb. 27: Trading period begins.

March 22-25: NFL Annual Meeting, Dana Point, Calif.

April 17: Signing period ends for restricted free agents.

April 24: Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal torestricted free agents.

April 25-26: NFL Draft, New York City.

May 18-20: NFL Spring Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22.

June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.

June 15: Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year's salary.

June 28-July 1: NFL Rookie Symposium, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Mid-July: Training camps open.

July 22: Signing period ends at 4 p.m. ET for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 tender.

Aug. 9: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.

Aug. 13-17: First preseason weekend.

Sept. 1: Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.

Sept. 5: Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

Sept. 10-14: Regular season kicks off.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Sept. 10-14: Regular season kicks off.

The longest seven months of the year.

[rubecube]

From a couple days ago, but still interesting. McNabb wants to renegotiate his contract and retire as an Eagle.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3874582

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3874838

Absolutely stunned that Shannon Sharpe didn't get in on his first ballot. I don't understand it to be quite honest.

Originally Posted by Peter King

Sharpe retired in 2004 as the all-time leader among tight ends in catches, yards and touchdowns, and he won three Super Bowl rings in a four-year span with Denver and Baltimore. He belongs. My only question is whether the voters will look at the gaudy numbers being put up by Tony Gonzalez and those behind him and wonder if Sharpe's totals will be passed by three or four tight ends in the next decade or so.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200.../walkup/3.html

So I could see voters wondering if maybe he was just one of a new breed of Tight End. I still think he will get there, just not this year.

[burn_baby_burn]

He will get in for sure. Some people think that being a first ballet is a big deal. I guess initially it is. Twenty years from now nobody will remember. Except for the NFL nerds like me.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Never tell anybody outside the family what your thinking again. I have to disagree, Derrick Thomas deserves to be in the hall. DT had 126.5 career sacks in 169 games for 1.336 sacks per game. Lawrence Taylor had 132.5 sacks in 184 games for an average of 1.389 sacks per game. Pretty comparable and LT was a first ballet hall of famer. DT also had 45 forced fumbles (although it wasn't counted as an official stat until 2001 I believe), compared to LT's 33.

As a Chiefs fan it was a pretty emotional moment. I'm really glad that things like this are televised on the NFL Network now. I am really looking forward to the induction in August. Who will introduce and accept on Derrick's behave?

DT is absolutely a HOFer. No question about it.

Presenter? Neil Smith? His Mom? Clark Hunt? Marty Schoettenheimer? Mitch Holthus?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by rubecube

From a couple days ago, but still interesting. McNabb wants to renegotiate his contract and retire as an Eagle.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3874582

Great news for the Eagles.

I'd love to see the fans embrace him just a tad more.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200.../walkup/3.html

So I could see voters wondering if maybe he was just one of a new breed of Tight End. I still think he will get there, just not this year.

I would answer King's concerns with the fact that Sharpe was a 7th round draft pick from a Division 2 school who was cut in his first training camp.

None of the guys he's talking about overcame anything like that.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I would answer King's concerns with the fact that Sharpe was a 7th round draft pick from a Division 2 school who was cut in his first training camp.

None of the guys he's talking about overcame anything like that.

You don't need to preach to Peter King, he voted for Sharpe.

That being said, I don't think it matters how much you overcome, it is whether you had a Hall of Fame career. The backstory makes it interesting, but I don't think it should enhance your ability to make the HoF.

But as I said, he'll get there.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Great news for the Eagles.

I'd love to see the fans embrace him just a tad more.

It'll be even better if they pick up an elite WR in the offseason. Word is that they will be going after Anquan Boldin very aggressively. What I'd actually like to see them do is package one of their first round picks to move up in the draft and get Michael Crabtree but Reid would never do that.

My dream offseason for them would be to draft a solid back to spell Westbrook, a decent OT, and a safety to eventually be Dawkins replacement. They also need to re-sign Dawkins and go after one of the big name receivers that are going to be available this year, while also cutting some of their own dead weight at that position (Lewis and Brown).

[Sainters7]

^^^
Whatever happened to Reggie Brown anyway? Didn't he have a huge rookie year just a couple seasons ago?

[Displaced Flames fan]

So any predictions on what happens with LT and Sproles in San Diego?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

^^^
Whatever happened to Reggie Brown anyway? Didn't he have a huge rookie year just a couple seasons ago?

He put up pretty good numbers in his second season but he's been really inconsistent. The guy is very athletic but is not nearly physical enough and has had way too many costly drops. He was a healthy scratch for most of the end of the season and the playoffs this year.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Sept. 10-14: Regular season kicks off.

Wow, that later then usual it seems.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Wow, that later then usual it seems.

It has been the first weekend after Labour Day for a few seasons now.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by rubecube

From a couple days ago, but still interesting. McNabb wants to renegotiate his contract and retire as an Eagle.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3874582

I didn't see this. Fantastic news! He has had a rocky relationship in Philly and what a character guy this reveals him to be that he can handle the town and wants to retire there. Props to Donovan...and great news for the Eagles and Eagle Fans.

On a related note, they signed former stamps LB Charleston Hughes to a 3 yr deal. Bad news for the Stamps, but he should contribute on special teams at the very least.