2011 NFL offseason thead.

[MickMcGeough]

Texans sign FB Lawrence Vickers.

Didn't see a lot of Browns ball last year but he was blocking for Hillis last season. He's no Vonta Leach but a solid run blocker. Texans fans and Foster owners breathe a sigh of relief.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Marc Bulger retires.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/68...nfl-11-seasons

Thank god, I read some half brained speculation on the Dolphins being interested and almost threw up.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Send 'em my way if you don't.

I think we were just buying them off of the exchange, a bit expensive but can be worth it just to be at the game. Went the last time the Eagles were here and it was a bit of a gong show.

[CofR]

Cadillac Williams has signed with the Rams, best of luck to him... I'll miss him, and that now makes one of my Bucs jerseys outdated.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Pats looking at former Bears DL Tommie Harris.

Colts signed him today

[Drake]

Braylon Edwards is a really awesome dude........... not really


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...olved-in-fight

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Drake

Braylon Edwards is a really awesome dude........... not really


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...olved-in-fight

Edwards is a scumbag, can't believe he wasn't at the top of the Jets FA list. He fits in perfectly there.

[rubecube]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/po...raigslist-well

Taylor Mays is available, according to an email the 49ers sent out to the entire league. Teams need to stop wasting good picks on high-profile Trojans.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by rubecube

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/po...raigslist-well

Taylor Mays is available, according to an email the 49ers sent out to the entire league. Teams need to stop wasting good picks on high-profile Trojans.

Right...because who could use a Clay Matthews or a Brian Cushing or an Troy Polamalu or a etc etc etc....on their team?

There are more former Trojans in the NFL Hall of Fame than any other school.....but who needs em....amirite?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Right...because who could use a Clay Matthews or a Brian Cushing or an Troy Polamalu or a etc etc etc....on their team?

There are more former Trojans in the NFL Hall of Fame than any other school.....but who needs em....amirite?

Cushing's effectiveness can be attributed to the roids, and I wouldn't say Matthews was "high-profile" but the point more applies to offensive players. With the exception of Matt Cassell, Palmer (debatable), and possibly Steve Smith, give me a good list of marquee Trojans who are currently living up to their billing?

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Cushing's effectiveness can be attributed to the roids, and I wouldn't say Matthews was "high-profile" but the point more applies to offensive players. With the exception of Matt Cassell, Palmer (debatable), and possibly Steve Smith, give me a good list of marquee Trojans who are currently living up to their billing?

Polamalu
Sanchez
Mike Williams
Sedrick Ellis
Maualuga

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Polamalu
Sanchez
Mike Williams
Sedrick Ellis
Maualuga

Sorry I should've clarified offensive, but even looking at your list Maualuga is the only one that really stands out. Ellis is on his way and it's still too early to tell with Sanchez. I don't know how Mike Williams could be classified as anything other than a massive disappointment, despite his above-average season last year.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Cushing's effectiveness can be attributed to the roids, and I wouldn't say Matthews was "high-profile" but the point more applies to offensive players. With the exception of Matt Cassell, Palmer (debatable), and possibly Steve Smith, give me a good list of marquee Trojans who are currently living up to their billing?

What does "living up to their billing" even mean? As for steroids....almost all of them have done it at one point or another

And Matthews wasnt "high profile"? The packers traded up to get him in the 1st round....not sure what you mean by high profile either now.

But as a list of former USC players in the league right now?

USC Players in the NFL in 2011

ARIZONA CARDINALS
Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, G
ATLANTA FALCONS
Sam Baker, T
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Ryan Kalil, C
Thomas Williams, LB
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Rey Maualuga, LB
Carson Palmer, QB
Keith Rivers, LB
Frostee Rucker, DE
CLEVELAND BROWNS
*Jordan Cameron, TE
Kaluka Maiava, LB
DALLAS COWBOYS
David Buehler, PK
*Tyron Smith, T
DENVER BRONCOS
Jeff Byers, C
LenDale White, RB
DETROIT LIONS
Lawrence Jackson, DE
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Clay Matthews, LB
HOUSTON TEXANS
Shaun Cody, DT
Brian Cushing, LB
Matt Leinart, QB
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Fili Moala, DT
Kevin Thomas, CB
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Matt Cassel, QB
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Everson Griffen, DE
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Charles Brown, T
Reggie Bush, RB
Sedrick Ellis, DT
NEW YORK GIANTS
Cary Harris, CB
Steve Smith, WR
Terrell Thomas, CB
NEW YORK JETS
Joe McKnight, RB
Mark Sanchez, QB
Patrick Turner, WR
OAKLAND RAIDERS
*David Ausberry, WR
Alex Parson, OL
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
*Stanley Havili, RB
Winston Justice, T
Mike Patterson, DT
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Troy Polamalu, S
ST. LOUIS RAMS
Chauncey Washington, RB
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
*Shareece Wright, CB
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Nick Howell, G
*Ronald Johnson, WR
Taylor Mays, S
Chilo Rachal, G
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Anthony McCoy, TE
Josh Pinkard, CB
*Malcolm Smith, LB
Lofa Tatupu, LB
Mike Williams, WR
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
*Allen Bradford, RB
Kyle Moore, DE
TENNESSEE TITANS
*Jurrell Casey, DT
Stafon Johnson, RB
Damian Williams, WR
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Fred Davis, TE
*2011 Rookie

USC has had more first round NFL draft picks (75) than any school (Ohio State is next with 69). USC is tied with Notre Dame for most players (5) selected as the top pick of the NFL draft (Ron Yary in 1968, O.J. Simpson in 1969, Ricky Bell in 1977, Keyshawn Johnson in 1996 and Carson Palmer in 2003). USC is the only school to have the No. 1 pick for 2 consecutive years (Yary and Simpson).

But yeah....avoid those Trojans!!

[MickMcGeough]

adbrandt: Player approval of CBA complete. We have liftoff!

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

adbrandt: Player approval of CBA complete. We have liftoff!

yup....now everyone can practice with their teams starting this evening.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Cushing's effectiveness can be attributed to the roids

Please explain.

He was busted before he'd even played an NFL game, and appealed. He apparently passed 4 more tests during the 2009 season while his appeal was underway. This is the basis by which he re-won the DROY award in 2009 - he'd used HCG but had played the season clean.

Truly, I loathe Cushing for his excuses. A cancer scare Brian? Really? But - he did not play his rookie season on roids like most assume.

[rubecube]

Here, I did the hard part for you and separated the offensive and defensive players. I also took out the undrafted players. And this list cracks me up a little bit because it only includes USC players who are still active and doesn't even show some of the other busts from USC (i.e. Jarrett, etc.). As for "living up to their billing" I'm referring to the hype surrounding them when they went into the draft and where they were drafted. And I never said avoid the Trojans, I was saying stop wasting good, high draft picks on them.

Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, G - 41st overall; cut by the Cardinals this year, failed physical with Bengals.

Sam Baker, T - 21st overall; in danger of losing his starting job

Ryan Kalil, C - 59th overall; Pro Bowler

Carson Palmer, QB - 1st overall; two very good seasons, no playoff wins, losing record as a starter, retired

LenDale White, RB - 45th overall; average player, conditioning issues

Matt Leinart, QB - 10th overall BUST

Matt Cassel, QB - 230th overall; starting QB

Reggie Bush, RB - 2nd overall; decent player but a bust considering where he was drafted

Steve Smith, WR - 51st overall; one good season, see how he comes back from injury

Joe McKnight, RB - 112th overall; Too soon to tell

Mark Sanchez, QB - 5th overall; consistency issues but good record as a starter, too soon to tell

Patrick Turner, WR - 87th overall, cut after second year

Winston Justice, T - 39th overall; one average season, big disappointment

Chauncey Washington, RB - 213th overall, special teams player

Chilo Rachal, G - 39th overall; don't know enough about him

Anthony McCoy, TE - 185th overall; too soon to tell

Mike Williams, WR - 10th overall BUST

Damian Williams, WR - 77th overall; too soon to tell

Fred Davis, TE - 48th overall; ranges from disappointment to bust depending on which Redskins fans you ask


Not a very impressive list and, like I said, leaves out several other guys who were considered stars at USC.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Please explain.

He was busted before he'd even played an NFL game, and appealed. He apparently passed 4 more tests during the 2009 season while his appeal was underway. This is the basis by which he re-won the DROY award in 2009 - he'd used HCG but had played the season clean.

Truly, I loathe Cushing for his excuses. A cancer scare Brian? Really? But - he did not play his rookie season on roids like most assume.

Fair enough. I'll retract. USC has produced some pretty good defensive players so I guess the Mays thing is a bit more of a surprise, but the offensive stars have been nothing to brag about this decade.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Here, I did the hard part for you and separated the offensive and defensive players. I also took out the undrafted players. And this list cracks me up a little bit because it only includes USC players who are still active and doesn't even show some of the other busts from USC (i.e. Jarrett, etc.). As for "living up to their billing" I'm referring to the hype surrounding them when they went into the draft and where they were drafted. And I never said avoid the Trojans, I was saying stop wasting good, high draft picks on them.

Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, G - 41st overall; cut by the Cardinals this year, failed physical with Bengals.

Sam Baker, T - 21st overall; in danger of losing his starting job

Ryan Kalil, C - 59th overall; Pro Bowler

Carson Palmer, QB - 1st overall; two very good seasons, no playoff wins, losing record as a starter, retired

LenDale White, RB - 45th overall; average player, conditioning issues

Matt Leinart, QB - 10th overall BUST

Matt Cassel, QB - 230th overall; starting QB

Reggie Bush, RB - 2nd overall; decent player but a bust considering where he was drafted

Steve Smith, WR - 51st overall; one good season, see how he comes back from injury

Joe McKnight, RB - 112th overall; Too soon to tell

Mark Sanchez, QB - 5th overall; consistency issues but good record as a starter, too soon to tell

Patrick Turner, WR - 87th overall, cut after second year

Winston Justice, T - 39th overall; one average season, big disappointment

Chauncey Washington, RB - 213th overall, special teams player

Chilo Rachal, G - 39th overall; don't know enough about him

Anthony McCoy, TE - 185th overall; too soon to tell

Mike Williams, WR - 10th overall BUST

Damian Williams, WR - 77th overall; too soon to tell

Fred Davis, TE - 48th overall; ranges from disappointment to bust depending on which Redskins fans you ask


Not a very impressive list and, like I said, leaves out several other guys who were considered stars at USC.

Every single big school will have guys that make it and guys that wont.

I guess the NFL should shy away from LSU as well huh?

I mean with Jamarcus Russell and Glen Dorsey not having "lived up to their billing" just in the last 5 years....no one should waste picks on them either.

Or how about Ohio State (Ted Ginn)...and Florida (Jarvis Moss)....i can go on and on.

And to begin with you were saying that you shouldnt pick USC players using Mays as an example....and he plays defense!

[valo403]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Every single big school will have guys that make it and guys that wont.

I guess the NFL should shy away from LSU as well huh?

I mean with Jamarcus Russell and Glen Dorsey not having "lived up to their billing" just in the last 5 years....no one should waste picks on them either.

Or how about Ohio State (Ted Ginn)...and Florida (Jarvis Moss)....i can go on and on.

And to begin with you were saying that you shouldnt pick USC players using Mays as an example....and he plays defense!

The difference with those schools is that their players weren't hyped up beyond belief for years regardless of their actual NFL capabilities. USC players in the mid 2000's were routinely talked about as if they were locks for the hall of fame, and teams seemed to be falling for it. There were without a doubt a number of good players to come out of USC during that period, the talent level there was incredible, but there will also a lot of guys who were made out to be much more than they were.