2011 NFL offseason thead.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by valo403

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.

No argument here that many media types were gushing uncontrollably about Trojan players for a while and certainly some of them deerved it while others didnt, but again thats only media hype. Every successful school will see guys taken in the draft that shouldnt be...just part of the way the system works.

Again though...the argument was made that teams shouldnt use "good picks" on USC players....and thats simply ridiculous. USC routinely offers as many NFL caliber players as anyone else depending where they are at in the cyclical nature of NCAA programs.

[transplant99]

A "new" stat for NFL junkies....the TQR (total quarterback rating) is explained.

I really like the thought process behind it all and how they take different plays into context....its a complicated deal for sure but hopefully its a stat that will reflect more accurately who is playing well and who may not be as good as it seems.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/68...terback-rating

[transplant99]

LOL...Sparano opens up a can o worms via twitter.

"I can't rule anything out...I'm giving you the only answer I can give you," Tony Sparano said about possibly exploring Brett Favre.

I highly doubt BF will come back again...but if the Dolphins throw some ungodly amount of money at him, he may be tempted. With the current duo of Henne and Moore, it may actually be more "real" than imagines as well.

[Bobblehead]

I wasn't pleased with the Braylon Edwards signing, but it turns out it is only for one year and only $1 million is guaranteed. To get the full 3.5 million he needs to catch 90 passes and make the Pro Bowl.

So it is a low risk, low cost; let's see if the alligator armed malcontent can reach some of that potential he flashes every so often.

Edit: I was incorrect. There is NO guaranteed money to Edwards.

[rubecube]

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.

valo pretty much covered it, but I think the record for offensive players coming out of a "football factory" like USC over the last 10 years is piss poor, especially when those players have been taken in the first two rounds.

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

I already acknowledged this.

[OILFAN #81]

Jets sign former Ravens WR Derrick Mason after Cotchery asked to be released from the Jets.

[Cheese]

Pats sign Linebacker Andre Carter. Pass rushing specialist

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/8/8...ee-agency-2011

The Pats have also signed Shaun Ellis (NYJ) and Mark Anderson, (Chic) so it seems like beefing up the pass rush through any means necessary was a priority for Bill Belichick in the offseason.

[rubecube]

And for those who were making noise about the Eagles needing to trade one of their CBs for cap space, I hate to say I told you so but:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...sct=nfl_t11_a0

Question I've gotten from tweeters, e-mailers and even one general manager I respect a lot in the last few days, in the wake of Philadelphia signing so many top free agents: How is it possible the Eagles are under the salary cap? Or, as the GM put it to me: "The cap for the rest of us is $120 million. It feels like it's $220 million for them. I really don't know how they did it, but I'm very curious.''

Be curious no more. Be stunned, though. The Eagles, as of this morning, still have $7.79 million of cap room available, easily enough to extend dissatisfied wide receiver DeSean Jackson and to turn the one-year franchise tender of Mike Vick into a long-term deal without severe cap ramifications.

Understand this principle to start: The Eagles were not in bad cap shape to begin with. When free agency opened they were at $99 million in commitments to veterans and draft choices. (More about those later.) They had shed big veteran salaries over the last couple of years -- including quarterback Donovan McNabb's -- and by opening day 2010 had the third-youngest 53-man roster in football. Young means salary manageable.

As of Sunday morning, the Eagles' projected roster (there's some guesswork here, but it's close) consisted of 35 players with cap numbers of $1.5 million or less. And only six players -- quarterback Mike Vick ($16.1 million cap number), cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha ($10 million), cornerback Asante Samuel ($9.34 million), tackle Jason Peters ($6.54 million), and defensive ends Jason Babin ($5.3 million) and Trent Cole ($5 million) -- had cap figures of $5 million or more.

[Spuds_Buckley]

Ravens sign RB Ricky Williams to a 2 year deal:
http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/n...o-back-up-rice

I like this signing a lot as it fills the spot nicely that McGahee had last year. Now if only they would sign a #2 WR....

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by rubecube

And for those who were making noise about the Eagles needing to trade one of their CBs for cap space, I hate to say I told you so but:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...sct=nfl_t11_a0

The arrogance from Eagles fans before a single game has been played is astounding.

It is going to be fun watching every other NFL team gunning for the Eagles and many of them succeeding. When your defense is one-dimensional and won't stop the run or tackle well, and given that Vick has never won anything, it is going to be 31 other teams saying "I hate to say I told you so" when someone else wins the Super BOwl.

[d_phaneuf]

can't remember the last time the pre season champ actually won the super bowl

that's a good division too, it wouldn't absolutely shock me if they missed the playoffs, Dallas and the Giants are good enough to make the playoffs

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by arloiginla

The arrogance from Eagles fans before a single game has been played is astounding.

It is going to be fun watching every other NFL team gunning for the Eagles and many of them succeeding. When your defense is one-dimensional and won't stop the run or tackle well, and given that Vick has never won anything, it is going to be 31 other teams saying "I hate to say I told you so" when someone else wins the Super BOwl.

All this talk about the Eagles and none about the Packers. GB is the team to beat IMO. They have one of the best players in the game in Aaron Rodgers, won the Superbowl last year with a ton of injuries, and their core pieces are back. Green Bay is a solid football team. GB is the team to beat in the NFC IMO.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by arloiginla

The arrogance from Eagles fans before a single game has been played is astounding.

It is going to be fun watching every other NFL team gunning for the Eagles and many of them succeeding. When your defense is one-dimensional and won't stop the run or tackle well, and given that Vick has never won anything, it is going to be 31 other teams saying "I hate to say I told you so" when someone else wins the Super BOwl.

How is there arrogance? I was replying to all the posts about the Eagles being over the cap and not being able to sign Jackson or Vick. Is it wrong to be excited when your team makes some big offseason acquistions. I don't think they'll be in as much trouble on defense as you believe. The line has a number of guys who are very good at stopping the run, including Cole, who may be the best run-stopping DE in the NFL. Chaney and Fokou are very good, fast outside LBs. My only concern is at MIKE, where Casey Matthews is untested. Nnamdi has proved he can tackle as a corner and, with the talent at the corner positions, the Eagles should be able to bring safeties up and stack the box.

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

All this talk about the Eagles and none about the Packers. GB is the team to beat IMO. They have one of the best players in the game in Aaron Rodgers, won the Superbowl last year with a ton of injuries, and their core pieces are back. Green Bay is a solid football team. GB is the team to beat in the NFC IMO.

Actually, the Eagles coaches and owner came out and said Green Bay is the team to beat. I think the Packers are going to be as good if not better than they were last year.

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

can't remember the last time the pre season champ actually won the super bowl

2010 was only a year ago. The Pack were the team to beat during the preseason and up until the major injuries struck.

that's a good division too, it wouldn't absolutely shock me if they missed the playoffs, Dallas and the Giants are good enough to make the playoffs

No, it's not. The East is crap this year. The Giants are hurt and old all over the place, and couldn't improve during the offseason due to salary cap problems. Eli is going to get hit a lot and that's not good for a guy who also tosses 20 picks/year. The Redskins are still rebuilding and won't be anywhere close to the playoffs for another two years. Dallas will have Romo back, but that offensive line has a lot of question marks and so does the running game. Dallas' D might be better with Rob Ryan as coordinator, but it's not like he can single-handedly fix that secondary, especially with Newman being hurt again.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by Spuds_Buckley

Ravens sign RB Ricky Williams to a 2 year deal:
http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/n...o-back-up-rice

I like this signing a lot as it fills the spot nicely that McGahee had last year. Now if only they would sign a #2 WR....

I was hoping the dolphins would find a way to squeeze him in. I just don't have much confidence yet in Reggie staying healthy and an unproven 2nd round draft pick.

[Sylvanfan]

Green Bay is the team to breat in my books. The Eagles will challenge for sure, but the Packers have more continuity with their players, and with no offseason programs I think that's going to be an overlooked advantage. But the Packers could be in a real nasty division with three opposing teams who can terrorize the QB. I think the Eagles are in a much easier division.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by KTown

I was hoping the dolphins would find a way to squeeze him in. I just don't have much confidence yet in Reggie staying healthy and an unproven 2nd round draft pick.

Based on everything I have read from camp the best back has been Kory Sheets. They have worked several older guys for depth but no one who would be able to step up and carry the ball on a regular basis imo.

[Displaced Flames fan]

So, who wants Tim Tebow?

I am fairly confident the Broncos would give him away at this point.

[d_phaneuf]

I have no problem with the Eagles personally, I will cheer for Nnamdi and I really hope he gets a ring. He is not only one of the best players in the league but one of the best people.

I haven't seen any real cocky attitude outside of any Eagles players either except VY

they are getting a ton of media hype which brings about the hate

Originally Posted by rubecube

2010 was only a year ago. The Pack were the team to beat during the preseason and up until the major injuries struck.

Steelers, Colts, Jets, Cowboys, Chargers all had lower odds from a search of 2011 super bowl odds

Pack were in the next group with the Ravens, Pats, and Saints

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Steelers, Colts, Jets, Cowboys, Chargers all had lower odds from a search of 2011 super bowl odds

Pack were in the next group with the Ravens, Pats, and Saints

Pats and Packers are the favourites right now, with the Eagles in third place.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

So, who wants Tim Tebow?

I am fairly confident the Broncos would give him away at this point.

I will take him back at UF in a heart beat!