2018 NFL thread

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

As I said before, despite Trubisky being one of the five worst starting QBs in the league, the Bears should be 3-0, and that's beating Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Elite defense and league average QB play can win the Super Bowl. The Raiders will struggle to find two pass rushers who make up Mack's impact from those two draft picks. And if the Bears win their crappy division and the Raiders go 5-11, the first part of this trade could be swapping 12-15 places in the draft (with the Bears somehow netting a second round pick). So add in a first round pick, and trading a HOF talent has huge debacle potential for the Raiders.

He wasn't traded because he is a bad player...he was traded because he wanted too much money for a defensive player

Bears being an average team and winning some regular season games doesn't change that.

Raiders have 4 first round picks and and ton of money to spend before Vegas...They weren't gonna win the super bowl this season anyway.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Given that Gruden's history of roster building is abysmal at best, trading proven, elite talent is a rather horrific idea. I also have a hard time believing Gruden was given $10 million a year to do a rebuild (especially since he's proven he can't, you know, actually build). Yeah Mack wanted crazy money, but elite talent isn't free last time I checked. I'd rather have Mack and an average QB than Carr and an average defense.

[ResAlien]

It’s been pretty widely reported (video and radio media, sorry no links) that a major factor in the trade was that the raiders are cash strapped and literally couldn’t afford to pay Mack the guaranteed money he’d get. Until they get to Vegas they’re relatively cash poor so after Donald got paid Mack was on the way out.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Imagine if the Raiders had an elite pass rusher to help close out games? I hear those are really hard to find. Hopefully you didn't trade one recently, that would really suck.

You realize that's been done to death right? The Raiders were right up against the cap with Mack making $13 million. There's just no way they could have fit him in at $24 million without cutting players on the offensive line which is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Their 2nd round pick PJ Hall has been injured since the opening game and that's hurt them but they are rotating in a few rookie defensive linemen who should get better as the season progresses. Everyone so quick to call out the Raiders for not paying Mack all that money despite the fact no team has ever had two $20+ million players on their pay roll. I'm sure if they gave him that money football media calling them out for trading Mack today would be calling them out in the offseason for salary cap mismanagement. It was just a difficult situation as remember Mack was under contract for $13 million this season so if he does the honorable thing and plays out the contract he signed we aren't having this conversation. He held out and got his big money. Good for him but I'm happy with four 1st round picks over the next two seasons as that opens up a lot of opportunities.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Given that Gruden's history of roster building is abysmal at best, trading proven, elite talent is a rather horrific idea. I also have a hard time believing Gruden was given $10 million a year to do a rebuild (especially since he's proven he can't, you know, actually build). Yeah Mack wanted crazy money, but elite talent isn't free last time I checked. I'd rather have Mack and an average QB than Carr and an average defense.

He was given a 10 year contract...what part of that says win now to you?

I would bet a large sum of money they are a better than average team year one in Vegas

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

He was given a 10 year contract...what part of that says win now to you?

I would bet a large sum of money they are a better than average team year one in Vegas

A lot of local Oakland fans are upset that the team looks to be retooling now in to be ready to compete in game one in Vegas. At first I was skeptical but after the Mack trade it certainly doesn't look like an organization that is doing whatever it takes to win today.

Originally Posted by ResAlien

It’s been pretty widely reported (video and radio media, sorry no links) that a major factor in the trade was that the raiders are cash strapped and literally couldn’t afford to pay Mack the guaranteed money he’d get. Until they get to Vegas they’re relatively cash poor so after Donald got paid Mack was on the way out.

Those were theories only. I don't believe that cash availability had anything to do with it and more that Gruden didn't want to pay a defensive player that much money. The Raiders value has grown in only three years from 1.43 (28th) billion to 2.24 (18th) billion today largely because of the move to Vegas. Behind the scenes Davis and Reggie McKenzie both wanted to keep Mack and the decision was Gruden's alone.

[devo22]

49ers confirm Garoppolo tore his ACL. Brutal.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

A lot of local Oakland fans are upset that the team looks to be retooling now in to be ready to compete in game one in Vegas. At first I was skeptical but after the Mack trade it certainly doesn't look like an organization that is doing whatever it takes to win today.

Those were theories only. I don't believe that cash availability had anything to do with it and more that Gruden didn't want to pay a defensive player that much money. The Raiders value has grown in only three years from 1.43 (28th) billion to 2.24 (18th) billion today largely because of the move to Vegas. Behind the scenes Davis and Reggie McKenzie both wanted to keep Mack and the decision was Gruden's alone.

Value growth has nothing to do with cash, it's a hypothetical accounting tool that can be used for leverage. It's widely reported that Davis is throwing all his money to the Vegas move and didn't have the cash to pay Mack the guarantees. And if Gruden made the Mack decision, well, LOL, then you know you're screwed. Trusting Gruden is insane, his track record is uggggggly. Fully expect him to cut Carr and sign Kaepernick this offseason.

[devo22]

Mayfield and Rosen confirmed as starters for week 4.


Never thought all four top 10 QBs would already start by week 4, but here we are.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Patriots will probably be fine once Edelman comes back and if Josh Gordon can avoid weed in a state it's legal (guuuuuuulp). But right now it's very easy to beat them, take Gronk away and watch Brady struggle. So if Gronk gets hurt for instance, then it's take Edelman away. Trading Brandin Cooks is looking mighty stupid right now.

Brady is missing Amendola a lot more than Cooks. Brady and Cooks struggled to get on the same page. This will be a different team with Edelman. They need some of their other receivers to step up.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by habernac

Brady is missing Amendola a lot more than Cooks. Brady and Cooks struggled to get on the same page. This will be a different team with Edelman. They need some of their other receivers to step up.

And yet despite "struggling to get on the same page", Cooks put up 1,000 yards receiving last year. He's currently third in the NFL in receiving this year and looks likely to hit at least 1300 yards receiving. He's a borderline elite WR, if not one already. Given that Brady's window is literally maybe this year, seems like it was dumb to let that kind of player go.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by habernac

Brady is missing Amendola a lot more than Cooks. Brady and Cooks struggled to get on the same page. This will be a different team with Edelman. They need some of their other receivers to step up.

Eventually time will catch-up to Brady, maybe this year, maybe next. The Patriots are often slow out of the gate in September as they test out their new young players. If they are still losing games in October then maybe we can say they are finally in full decline.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Value growth has nothing to do with cash, it's a hypothetical accounting tool that can be used for leverage. It's widely reported that Davis is throwing all his money to the Vegas move and didn't have the cash to pay Mack the guarantees. And if Gruden made the Mack decision, well, LOL, then you know you're screwed. Trusting Gruden is insane, his track record is uggggggly. Fully expect him to cut Carr and sign Kaepernick this offseason.

His record is pretty solid actually...you obviously don't like him but he has won more than he has lost and has a ring.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Yeah and as a Bucs fan I got to see his "roster construction" far more intimately than you did. If he actually has roster control as it appears he does, I'd be scared ####less if I were you. I'll always be grateful for him taking Dungy's roster over the top, but he sucks at actually building a team that isn't full of veterans. Expecting him to develop a young team is not something I'd be wanting to put my hopes on.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Deegee

Don't care. Doesn't make this week any less awesome.

You're going to be that fan that posts that picture years from now like an Oiler fan.

Lol.

Dave

YOU BET! It took30-40 years of pure crap teams, worse than the Browns, to get to this point and I will forever ride this out!

Quite frankly, ANY fan of any team would do the same thing given the same circumstances!

[RyZ]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1043959950941310976

[DropIt]

Stolen from Thad Castle

[troutman]

It is official.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Value growth has nothing to do with cash, it's a hypothetical accounting tool that can be used for leverage. It's widely reported that Davis is throwing all his money to the Vegas move and didn't have the cash to pay Mack the guarantees. And if Gruden made the Mack decision, well, LOL, then you know you're screwed. Trusting Gruden is insane, his track record is uggggggly. Fully expect him to cut Carr and sign Kaepernick this offseason.

Widely reported where and by whom? I follow the Raiders every day and haven't seen any proof or evidence this is true. Are you really trying to say that an NFL owner could be so cash strapped that he wouldn't be able to afford to pay an extra $11 million in up front money to a player? Really? I know for a fact that Davis is cash poor compared to the rest of the billionaire owners across the league but he's not bouncing checks and could easily pay Mack that money had Gruden decided to go that route.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Widely reported where and by whom? I follow the Raiders every day and haven't seen any proof or evidence this is true. Are you really trying to say that an NFL owner could be so cash strapped that he wouldn't be able to afford to pay an extra $11 million in up front money to a player? Really? I know for a fact that Davis is cash poor compared to the rest of the billionaire owners across the league but he's not bouncing checks and could easily pay Mack that money had Gruden decided to go that route.

Why is this so hard to believe, especially when said owner needs a lot of cash for his very expensive move? And it's not like the Raiders have been the stewards of wise financial decisions over the years, so the shoe certainly fits.