2013 NFL Offseason thread.

[Red Slinger]

The issues with Von Miller seem to me to be more a case of a guy who is immature rather than a bad guy.

He failed a drug test as a rookie, reportedly for marijuana.
This suspension, from what I understand, is a result of him dropping a sample and then having his second sample be extremely diluted.
He was also recently arrested because he didn't pay a traffic ticket from a couple years ago.
Regarding the homicide, from what I've read Miller was friends with a guy who knows the accused and has met him before.

So, he clearly has an issue with recreational drugs which is stupid when there are millions of dollars at stake. He also is irresponsible. As far as I know he hasn't killed anyone, beat up his girlfriend, robbed a bank or even taken steroids. He is guilty of being immature and he needs a wake up call.

Hopefully, this doesn't affect the Broncos and their very small window of opportunity with Manning at the helm.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Vick named starting QB in Philly. I know its really no surprise considering Chip Kelley was always going to want a really mobile guy as his starter and likely bringing some of his run option and gimmickery from Oregon, but i dont know how any Eagle fan can be liking this idea.

In the last 2 years with Vick at the helm...he has started 23 games...thrown 24 INT's, fumbled an additional 21 times while having a record of 10-13.

Ugly stuff.

He also played behind one of the worst offensive lines in football and for a coach who has steadily become one of the worst game managers in the league. I'm not saying Vick doesn't deserve his share of the blame, but Andy Reid was the bigger problem in Philly over the last 3-4 years. He was too stubborn to create an offense based on the personnel he had and was constantly trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Chip Kelly has already stated that he builds his offense and his gameplans around the personnel he has.

Not only that but by all accounts Vick has been flat out better than Foles in training camp and preseason. He's also been having the best preseason he's had in recent memory. I know preseason isn't the best indicator for overall team performance, but there has generally been some correlation between QBs who have a strong preseason and an above-average regular season.

Regardless, the Eagles aren't going to be good this year. The defense has looked atrocious so far. When my team sucks, I at least like them to be exciting while they suck, and Vick will definitely bring more excitement than Foles.

[ResAlien]

Sounds like the Bucs are having staph infection problems. Didn't something like this plague the Browns a few years back? Carl Nicks and Tynes look to have it so far. No link, read on SI.com

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by rubecube

He also played behind one of the worst offensive lines in football and for a coach who has steadily become one of the worst game managers in the league. I'm not saying Vick doesn't deserve his share of the blame, but Andy Reid was the bigger problem in Philly over the last 3-4 years. He was too stubborn to create an offense based on the personnel he had and was constantly trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Chip Kelly has already stated that he builds his offense and his gameplans around the personnel he has.

Not only that but by all accounts Vick has been flat out better than Foles in training camp and preseason. He's also been having the best preseason he's had in recent memory. I know preseason isn't the best indicator for overall team performance, but there has generally been some correlation between QBs who have a strong preseason and an above-average regular season.

Regardless, the Eagles aren't going to be good this year. The defense has looked atrocious so far. When my team sucks, I at least like them to be exciting while they suck, and Vick will definitely bring more excitement than Foles.

That just doesnt excuse some of the throwing decisions he made nor a LOT of the fumbles that came not while under pressure but after running with the ball.

IMO, he just isnt a very good QB and there is little evidence to dispute it...and i thought he would tear it up in Philly with all the weapons he had at his disposal.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by transplant99

That just doesnt excuse some of the throwing decisions he made nor a LOT of the fumbles that came not while under pressure but after running with the ball.

IMO, he just isnt a very good QB and there is little evidence to dispute it...and i thought he would tear it up in Philly with all the weapons he had at his disposal.

I guess you missed this line.

I'm not saying Vick doesn't deserve his share of the blame

Vick is the better of the two options Kelly has. If Vick struggles, Kelly will replace him with Foles and change the offense to suit Foles.

[Drake]

Armond Smith kicked Albert McClellan in the family jewels tonight. Not surprising he was ejected. Armond Smith sounds like a perfect fit for a Jim Schwartz lead team as well.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Drake

Armond Smith kicked Albert McClellan in the family jewels tonight. Not surprising he was ejected. Armond Smith sounds like a perfect fit for a Jim Schwartz lead team as well.

He might have attempted to kick him in the jewels, but it appears he kicked him in the back of his leg based on that gif.

[transplant99]

Vince Young is officially the GB Packers backup after they released Graham Harrell today.

[Drake]

Baltimore's 6th rounder from last year Tommy Streeter was released today. Kid got absolutely terrible advice and left school way too early. Had first/second round size and speed, if he would have stayed one more year with Jedd Fisch he probably could have put the whole thing together. Guess there is always a possibility he lands on the PR in a week or ends up in Jacksonville with Jedd Fisch again.

Another name that might not be recognizable is Bryan Hall who also got released. They might have ruined his football career as they changed him from DT to LB in the off-season, and he lost a ton of weight to do it.

[Bobblehead]

Parys Haralson to the Saints for a conditional 7th rd pick.

The Saints get a dependable but not flashy player who missed all last season. But he was an important cog in the 49er defense before that, and a good team player.

The 49ers were rumoured to be ready to cut Haralson - the starters are set and the backup positions have been earned by younger players. But the 49ers wanted to find a place for Haralson to play so a needy Saints team was a fit.

[Senator Clay Davis]

In the new issue of Rolling Stone, contributing editor Paul Solotaroff delivers a detailed investigation into Aaron Hernandez's life, tracing his path from affable high school football star to deeply troubled NFL player to murder suspect. Solotaroff conducted interviews with family friends, high school teammates and NFL sources to help explain why the potential NFL great was ensnared by drugs, guns and a life of violence. Here are five revelations about Hernandez from "The Gangster in the Huddle":

• Hernandez was a heavy user of angel dust, and had become so paranoid over the last year that he carried a gun wherever he went.

• He surrounded himself with a cohort of gangsters, and cut himself off from his family and teammates.

• Hernandez had so infuriated his head coach, Bill Belichick, with missed practices and thug-life stunts, that he was one misstep from being cut.

• Both his parents, Dennis and Terri, had criminal records, as did much of his extended family.

• Terri allegedly cheated on Dennis before his death with a violent drug dealer named Jeffrey Cummings, then married Cummings after Dennis died and moved him into the house she shared with Aaron.

• In college his coach (then-University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer) may have helped cover up failed drug tests, along with two violent incidents — an assault and a drive-by shootout outside a local bar

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/...#ixzz2dDy7PFQa

[Senator Clay Davis]

NFL settles concussion lawsuits.

Former United States District Judge Layn Phillips, the court-appointed mediator, announced that the NFL and NFL Properties will contribute $765 million to provide medical benefits and injury compensation for retired NFL players, fund medical and safety research, and cover litigation expenses. The settlement still must be approved by United States District Judge Anita Brody.

“This is a historic agreement, one that will make sure that former NFL players who need and deserve compensation will receive it, and that will promote safety for players at all levels of football,” Judge Phillips said in a statement. “Rather than litigate literally thousands of complex individual claims over many years, the parties have reached an agreement that, if approved, will provide relief and support where it is needed at a time when it is most needed. I am deeply grateful to Judge Brody for appointing me as mediator and offering me the opportunity to work on such an important and interesting matter.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...wsuit/#respond

Works out to about $170,000 per player.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Two questions:

1. Saints fans: Opinions on Kenny Stills requested. I think it is obvious he's going to make the team. How large of a role do you see and how soon? I love the kid, so fun to watch him and Broyles together at OU.

2. Titans fans: Is there any chance Marc Mariani doesn't make the 53 man roster? I'd love to see Denver grab him and let Trindon Holiday have a holiday.

[browna]

For the very little it's worth, Seattle with 9th straight preseason win.

Interesting choice to go with Jackson or Quinn as the backup...most likely Jackson but Quinn through the preseason showed that he still has ability, albeit in flashes...if Young can be the GB backup, Quinn after this week should get on somewhere with this preseason performance.

First SEA preseason game I caught more then 5 minutes...pretty solid depth on defense at every position...I am guessing the late cuts will get scooped up from another team.

Hauschka looks solid...5 FG's today, but more of note, 3 of them over 50yd. Only one he missed in the preseason was a 61 yarder off the cross bar.

[Red Slinger]

Yeah, Seattle looks good thus far. I understand that Pete Carrol has been stressing the importance of winning every game, including pre-season. The players are buying into that and they're clearly playing hard even when the games don't really count.

Watching them, I get a distinct feeling that perhaps they're peaking too early. It's really hard to sustain that level of effort for 4 pre-season games, 16 regular season games and then the playoffs. Last year's SB champs are a good example of a team that peaked (and got lucky) at the right time.

[Senator Clay Davis]

^ You realize thats the norm now right? The best team in the regular season just doesn't win the Super Bowl anymore, its usually the team who peaks at the right time. Outside Pittsburgh and New Orleans, they're all Wildcard teams or played on the first weekend. With injuries and the one and done playoff concept, thats just the way it is now.

2005: Steelers
2006: Colts
2007: Giants
2008: Steelers
2009: Saints
2010: Packers
2011: Giants
2012: Ravens

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

Yeah, Seattle looks good thus far. I understand that Pete Carrol has been stressing the importance of winning every game, including pre-season. The players are buying into that and they're clearly playing hard even when the games don't really count.

Watching them, I get a distinct feeling that perhaps they're peaking too early. It's really hard to sustain that level of effort for 4 pre-season games, 16 regular season games and then the playoffs. Last year's SB champs are a good example of a team that peaked (and got lucky) at the right time.

I'm not sure why you'd include 4 pre-season games. Most of the guys who will see the field in week 17 didn't touch it tonight.

Pre-season games are about individual and small unit performances. QB decision making, LB reads, OL communication etc. Attempting to break down a pre-season game beyond that is just silly.

[troutman]

The NFL does not need 4 pre-season games. The Browns and Bears played their back-ups last night.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by troutman

The NFL does not need 4 pre-season games. The Browns and Bears played their back-ups last night.

Most every team played their backups last night.

I am on the fence about it myself. I understand for coaches that last game has real meaning in evaluating your bubble guys and generally starters dont see the field at all or maybe for a few snaps. Then again they could probably get the same info from 3 games and use that last game or 2 to increase the regular season where that means more revenue for everyone including players. My only concern there though is the extra wear and tear on the players, so maybe the roster would have to be expanded.

Years ago, training camp was for getting in shape as much as it was for implementing playbooks etc. Now with these guys staying in top shape all year round (for the most of them) TC is far too long IMO particularly because of OTA's etc.

Shorten camp, lose a couple pre season games and add them on to the regular season and everyone wins.

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by troutman

The NFL does not need 4 pre-season games. The Browns and Bears played their back-ups last night.

and then Chicago cuts Palmer who looked good.

I was actually quite surprised the number of starting players that were playing last night. I thought week 4 was reserved for backups for all teams