2012 NFL Offseason Thread

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by rubecube

This is what I don't understand. You have 3-4 teams with excellent defenses, who seem to be married to average QBs (SF, BAL, NYJ, TEN) when an elite QB like Manning could bring them a Super Bowl.

It just sounds like the price tag for an uncertain commodity is going to be way too rich for the 49ers philosophy.

They have faith in Alex Smith, and if not him then Colin Kaepernick who is the heir apparent.

[North East Goon]

Do you think RGIII is going to Cleveland?

[BigBrodieFan]

............... Peyton = Class Act. What a leader.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Do you think RGIII is going to Cleveland?

I hope so.

How will Peyton Manning's release affect the Cleveland Browns?
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...ngs_relea.html

Several of the teams reportedly interested in Manning were also expected to be in on the bidding for Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, particularly the Washington Redskins.

The Browns (No.4) and Redskins (No. 6) are believed to be the frontrunners to trade up with the Rams at No. 2 to draft Griffin III.

If the Redskins sign Manning, the Browns would have a much better chance of pulling off the trade with St. Louis, which has had talks with multiple teams, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

According to nfl.com's Jason LaCanfora, the teams most interested in Manning include the Cardinals, Dolphins, Jets, Seahawks and Redskins.

It remains to be seen if the Browns will pursue Manning, but he's expected to choose a contender with a lot of weapons, his former coach Tony Dungy told NFL Network today.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has been reporting that the Rams would like to have a deal in place for the No. 2 pick by the time free agency starts Mar. 13 at 4 p.m.


Robert Griffin III sits No. 1 of Top 100 NFL draft prospects
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...ts_atop_o.html

Robert Griffin III or Matt Flynn
http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/20...the-dunc-tank/

football pundits think he is a perfect fit for the West Coast offensive system

http://www.drafttek.com/CMDRound1.asp

The Browns are the team best situated to trade up for the right to select Griffin. They possess an extra 1st rounder (#22 overall) and 4th rounder resulting from their draft day trade with Atlanta in 2011. Although the Browns are said to be uwilling to part with #22 at this point, this model has Cleveland giving up the #22 pick, and well as their additional 4th rounder (#118). Additional compensation not relevant to this 2012 draft simulation may or may not also be involved.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by rubecube

This is what I don't understand. You have 3-4 teams with excellent defenses, who seem to be married to average QBs (SF, BAL, NYJ, TEN) when an elite QB like Manning could bring them a Super Bowl.

Well paying a QB that top dollar is going to mean making sacrifices elsewhere, and apparently these teams don't see that as a route they want to take.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

It just sounds like the price tag for an uncertain commodity is going to be way too rich for the 49ers philosophy.

They have faith in Alex Smith, and if not him then Colin Kaepernick who is the heir apparent.

Yeah, it just doesn't make sense to me. Kapernick isn't going anywhere, and having him sit behind Manning for two years probably wouldn't hurt. Smith had a decent season last year, but was primarily a game-manager, and if we've seen anything over the past decade it's that you don't win the big game without a big ticket QB. If the Niners were to sign Manning and Wayne, with that coaching staff and defense, they'd be the team to beat in the NFC.

[North East Goon]

Cleveland has got to make a splash, they owe it to there great fans to try and swing for the fences with this Griffin kid. Did anyone else catch this kid do the standing broad jump - that blew me away, how effortless he made it look.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Yeah, it just doesn't make sense to me. Kapernick isn't going anywhere, and having him sit behind Manning for two years probably wouldn't hurt. Smith had a decent season last year, but was primarily a game-manager, and if we've seen anything over the past decade it's that you don't win the big game without a big ticket QB. If the Niners were to sign Manning and Wayne, with that coaching staff and defense, they'd be the team to beat in the NFC.

The thing is there is nothing wrong with being a game manager and they think he can be more than that if he gets a decent group of receivers. The throw to Davis against the Saints shows that Smith CAN do it. The perceived next step is to get him more weapons so he can do it more often.

Smith can do all the throws, his biggest issue right now is he thinks too much. He was bludgeoned by so many defensive head coaches that he can't turn the ball over that it has become ingrained in him to only make the sure throws. But sure throws rarely happen, especially when he was scrambling for his life and when he did throw them the receivers often gave up.

That is one of the reasons Braylon Edwards was released even when the 49ers badly needed receivers. Edwards was dogging it, complaining about not getting throws, and when he did come back they tried targeting him in the red zone and he shied away from contact and didn't even make attempts on some the passes thrown his way. And that poor attitude was spreading to Crabtree who doesn't have the best attitude himself. So Edwards was cut.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by troutman

Can you imagine Brady playing for another team?

I couldn't imagine Montana, but it happened there as well. The competitive drive is strong in these guys. Tough to walk away when it's all you know.

I tip my hat to Manning. Seattle would be interesting.

[flames_1987]

I'd go all in on Peyton Manning if I'm the 49ers. I don't think he's going to be asking for that much money up front at all, his biggest thing is going to be about winning.

Alex Smith can be an average and slightly above average Quarterback in this league. I'm not putting much stock into him making one throw against a weak Saints D in the playoffs. The guy could not come close to getting a 1st down for almost 3/4's of the NFC Championship. The only thing Alex Smith has going for him was that he had one decent season playing in a weak division with a last place schedule on a team with a great defense and a team that settled for a record amount of field goals.

[Sylvanfan]

I see a lot of talk about the Red Skins with Manning, but to me that seems like an absolutely terrible fit. Shanahan wants the offence done his way, and Manning is not the style of QB that fits his offences. Really guys like Luck or RG3 who are athletic QB's who can bootleg and run are more along what his offences need. Peyton is a pocket passer, and the offensive coaches need to let him implement his stuff. Shanahan is a stubborn guy who'll want things done his way. Not to mention that I think the Skins don't have very good personell on offence, and he'd be in a big media center playing his brother twice a year, which I don't think would be something Peyton would want.

I think he has 2 good years left in him for sure, so he will be looking for a team who's close to having the pieces in place to make a run at it. I think chosing any of the Seahawks, Niners, Cardinals, or Chiefs would give him the best chance to be in the playoffs the next two years.

[Bobblehead]

The 49ers have an "offer on the table" to scheduled free agent Alex Smith and the club is not interested in signing veteran quarterback Peyton Manning, a well-placed source told CSNBayArea.com on Wednesday.

http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niner...02&feedID=5936

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

The thing is there is nothing wrong with being a game manager and they think he can be more than that if he gets a decent group of receivers. The throw to Davis against the Saints shows that Smith CAN do it. The perceived next step is to get him more weapons so he can do it more often.

I doubt he repeats the same season he had last year because defenses will be scheming for him this year. Look at what the Giants did in the NFC Championship game.

I would say the last two "game-managers" to win the Super Bowl would be Eli's first win and Big Ben's first win, and both of those guys had incredible defenses and a lot of luck to help them out.

I don't know, I just think the window to win a Super Bowl is pretty small, and I'd be going all-in on Peyton Manning 100x over Alex Smith.

[Otsy]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

I'd go all in on Peyton Manning if I'm the 49ers. I don't think he's going to be asking for that much money up front at all, his biggest thing is going to be about winning.

Alex Smith can be an average and slightly above average Quarterback in this league. I'm not putting much stock into him making one throw against a weak Saints D in the playoffs. The guy could not come close to getting a 1st down for almost 3/4's of the NFC Championship. The only thing Alex Smith has going for him was that he had one decent season playing in a weak division with a last place schedule on a team with a great defense and a team that settled for a record amount of field goals.

How many 80 yard field goals did Akers make? Smith had troubles in the red zone. Not all his fault, doesn't have that big red zone receiver. Smith still moved them into position for all those field goals. Harbough opened up the playbook more and more as the year went on. He's not Peyton Manning by any stretch of the imagination, but Crabs is not a #1 receiver and with a bunch of number 3 receivers or worse opposite crabs, they were bound to fail eventually when they met a smart defense. That being said they lost in OT of the NFC Championship game. Far cry from where a lot of people predicted them to finish and that was largely due to the way Smith led them. That weak division thing just is a cop out. They play 16 games, but only 6 against their division. They had 8 non division wins, 2 against playoff teams on the road.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Otsy

How many 80 yard field goals did Akers make? Smith had troubles in the red zone. Not all his fault, doesn't have that big red zone receiver. Smith still moved them into position for all those field goals. Harbough opened up the playbook more and more as the year went on. He's not Peyton Manning by any stretch of the imagination, but Crabs is not a #1 receiver and with a bunch of number 3 receivers or worse opposite crabs, they were bound to fail eventually when they met a smart defense. That being said they lost in OT of the NFC Championship game. Far cry from where a lot of people predicted them to finish and that was largely due to the way Smith led them. That weak division thing just is a cop out. They play 16 games, but only 6 against their division. They had 8 non division wins, 2 against playoff teams on the road.

There would be no issue with a bunch of number 3 receivers if Manning was throwing them the ball. I'm with Rube, SF should be all over this.

Alex Smith is not the answer.

[Otsy]

I'm not saying Smith is the answer. Who wouldn't take Manning over Alex Small Hands Smith? Just all the hate on smith saying he's nothing more then a game manager is dumb, he made more plays then just the two against new orleans that everyone remembers. Even with P Manning you can't have Crabtree/Williams/Swain as your championship game receivers. Even Manning can't overcome that. Look at his last year in Indy throwing most INT's since his 4th year with better receivers.

[transplant99]

Manning to the Texans sure sounds intriguing. Thats one place that has everything in place for him to succeed and may be willing to jettison the current QB as well. A dome team with a game breaking WR and one of the best RB in the league, a defense that played lights out last year, and play in a dome.

Other than that the other place that makes the most sense to me is Arizona...so he will probably end up in Miami.

[OILFAN #81]

Pretty sure Peyton will be a Miami Dolphin.

Second guess would be Arizona.

But Miami makes too much sense, he has a home there already, they already have Marshall and they will probably sign Wayne. Bush in the backfield, warm weather.

[Sainters7]

Ya I could see him in AZ too. One factor for Manning is he's played his entire career in a home field with perfect weather conditions. I could see him interested in going to a team with similar conditions, where he can fling it. I just can't see him signing somewhere like NY, where he'd be playing the entire last half of the year in potential cold, windy, wet weather.

With that in mind Miami would make sense too. That'd be kinda cool to see him as a Phin (especially out of the NFC), I already followed them a bit last season with Bush there.

[Flickered Flame]

I believe it will be Miami who lands Manning. Ross will throw everything he has at him imo and if it becomes public knowledge that Ross makes an offer, he cannot afford to swing and miss again. Miami fans are losing patience with Ross and Ireland, lots of empty seats already.

It has been speculated that if they do indeed land Manning, the Fins will also be in on Nicks if/when he becomes available, they will sign Wayne as well. The defense is good but they will try to add another pass rusher opposite of Wake.

The only other team with a chance imo is the Cards.