2015 NFL Offseason Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

As always, money wins

The 2012 NFL MVP will join the Vikings for organized team activities on Tuesday, ending an absence from the team that stretched nearly nine months, back to when Peterson was indicted on Sept. 12 for injuring his child while disciplining him with a switch.

"I'm returning because I want to. I'm a part of this football team and I owe it to the guys I play with and to our coaches," Peterson wrote Tuesday morning in an email to ESPN. "I was planning on coming in this week, and I'm looking forward to getting back on the field. It's what I love to do."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12...nesota-vikings

[Senator Clay Davis]

So, can it get worse for the 49ers? Probably

“After a few years of thought, I’ve decided it will be best for me to take a year or so away from the NFL. This will be a time for me to allow my Brain and Body a chance to heal. I know many won’t understand my decision, that’s ok,” Davis said. “I hope you too have the courage to live your life how you planned it when day dreaming to yourself growing up. Your Life is Your dream and you have the power to control that dream. Im simply doing what’s best for my body as well as my mental health at this time in my life.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ires-at-age-25

[Da_Chief]

Ouch, wonder if its a planned thing by 49er players cause this is just absurd. Couple guys in their prime retiring.

[habernac]

Brandon Spikes released by the Pats after he allegedly abandons his car after an accident

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/...gland-patriots

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by habernac

Brandon Spikes released by the Pats after he allegedly abandons his car after an accident

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/...gland-patriots

Brandon Spikes isn't the smartest player. The first time he was let go by New England, he said things about them on social media and was given a 2nd chance by them, and then this happens. Good player, but not the smartest guy.

[ResAlien]

Who needs Evan Mathis? Certainly not the Eagles, who've released him. OK Chip you're starting to freak me out a little bit, what's the endgame here?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Who needs Evan Mathis? Certainly not the Eagles, who've released him. OK Chip you're starting to freak me out a little bit, what's the endgame here?

Dude didn't want to play for his current contract and they couldn't get anything for him on the trade market. Not really many other options after that.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Good player, but not the smartest guy.

I think you just gave a description for most of the good players in the entire league.

[Cheese]

It's amazing they actually achieved University degrees...or did they?

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Cheese

It's amazing they actually achieved University degrees...or did they?

They earned their degrees, considering how much they are being exploited

[lifetime_flamesfan]

So apparently Brady is seeking complete exoneration for deflate gate.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nfl/...ion/ar-AAbL97D

It seems that Well's report might have been little skewed into what the NFL wanted the report to look like. Although I will admit that the author of the article seems to be heavily anti-goddell as well.

[rubecube]

I'm sure this is all agent smokescreen stuff but wow. Mind you the original source is Bleacher Report, so take it with a kilo of salt.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...t-paid-player/

As Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson enters the final year of his rookie contract, the team and Wilson’s agent have embarked on an awkward negotiation that could result in Wilson leaving the Seahawks. Part of the problem is that Mark Rodgers works as a baseball agent who hasn’t actively represented NFL players in years; his relationship with the Seahawks lacks the immediate trust that would arise from the regular back-and-forth associated with repeated negotiations and communications on behalf of multiple clients, from potential draft picks to existing clients to looming unrestricted free agents to street free agents.

Part of the problem is that Wilson wants to be paid a lot of money. Apparently a lot more than the Seahawks want to pay him.

According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via CBSSports.com), Rodgers does not deny the perception/rumor/speculation that Wilson wants to be the highest paid player in all of football. That title currently belongs to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who signed more than two years ago a five-year, $110 million extension, an average of $22 million per year.

@ProFootballTalk
Been hearing from plenty of folks since posting latest Russell Wilson blurb. Current prediction: He's playing for someone else in 2016.

[Blaster86]

Hasn't it been said multiple times that they're close on everything and are just just hashing out guaranteed money? Or has that changed?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Hasn't it been said multiple times that they're close on everything and are just just hashing out guaranteed money? Or has that changed?

I honestly haven't been following it close enough. It's one of those things that I just always figured would get done (and still do).

[OILFAN #81]

Wilson is a good QB but that defense in Seattle is the main reason why they are a contender for the Super Bowl the past few years.

Luck is up for an extension as well. He will get more than Wilson.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Wilson is a good QB but that defense in Seattle is the main reason why they are a contender for the Super Bowl the past few years.

They don't get to the last two superbowls with someone else under center.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

They don't get to the last two superbowls with someone else under center.

Yes and no. He's been clutch at the right times, no question. But the Seahawks had some tough stretches the last two years where Wilson has done nothing for 2 or 3 quarters in a game, but comes through in the end.

However, to come through, he's also needed an absolute stud runner which he has, and even more importantly, a fantastic defense, which he's had the last two years especially as soon as they got some pass rush help up front to aid the great secondary and young athletic LB's. There are games where that defense won them games (I think of Houston in the 13-14 season) outright, and at very least kept the score close in a large number of games, so there could be a comeback.

Basically, that GB playoff game was a microcosm of RW and his up and down success. No one remembers the poor play (multiple INT's and ineffective play in general) of Wilson for 3.75 quarters of that game, or the fact that Seattle's defense (with help of McCarthy's chicken play calling) kept GB to FG's a few times earlier in the game instead of TD's, where it wouldn't be close at the end for him to come back. Instead they recall the improbable comeback in the last 3 mins and OT, that Wilson (and Lynch) had a big part in.

Two years ago he had a great SB, but the defense and ST had them out comfortably in the first half. Same with the playoff games that year.
Last year, same things...ok playoff games. Last year, not until he started running the ball (usually not until the second half) himself, did his offense get on track...either by design or out of necessity, but he's not a solid pocket QB. Doesn't throw the dangerous balls like Hasselbeck did, but just doesn't have the strength or timing to be that. When he lost his TE last year ealry, he got even worse with decision making. This year he has a good TE again in Graham. Last year, with Lynch as a decoy/option, he didn't use that, but then had to start running. All in all 20+ teams in the league would like to have that guy if he could produce those two or three plays a game to win that game.

Don't get me wrong, in the NFL you get paid for past success (ie Flacco) more than future, and given the paltry salary he gets for as many playoff games as he's won in his 3 years in the league, he deserves to get paid....but his attitude this offseason is troubling, talk is he wants $25+ a season....well, that's at the expense of an extra couple good players (if he "only" gets paid $17m per season), never mind the $24+ raise he'd be getting in general.

And part of the reason that defense has been so good is that Seattle could spend money on it instead of Wilson the last couple years. PC and JS pride themselves on defense and having strong athletes, and competition (heck they gave up on Matt Flynn after he got hurt in the preseason, and didn't play a game that Wilson rookie year), so paying the QB, who can legit be argued is a product of the team as much as his own ability, a king's ransom could set that team back huge in other areas, and not sure if PC and JS are too keen on that. That said, the guy is young, had huge success that many, many QB's in the league never have had and never well, and works hard at it more so then a lot of QB's, (his record vs SB winning QB's is almost perfect, barring that bad throw a few months ago) and is squeaky clean and marketable off the field, so it's a tough situation for Seattle.

Not sure how it's going to play out. Something may well get done, but I do think with the words that Wilson has used and Seattle not running out and giving the keys to vault, it may not be a slam dunk this offseason, and if he starts this season without a deal, look out.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by browna

Yes and no. He's been clutch at the right times, no question. But the Seahawks had some tough stretches the last two years where Wilson has done nothing for 2 or 3 quarters in a game, but comes through in the end.

However, to come through, he's also needed an absolute stud runner which he has, and even more importantly, a fantastic defense, which he's had the last two years especially as soon as they got some pass rush help up front to aid the great secondary and young athletic LB's. There are games where that defense won them games (I think of Houston in the 13-14 season) outright, and at very least kept the score close in a large number of games, so there could be a comeback.

Basically, that GB playoff game was a microcosm of RW and his up and down success. No one remembers the poor play (multiple INT's and ineffective play in general) of Wilson for 3.75 quarters of that game, or the fact that Seattle's defense (with help of McCarthy's chicken play calling) kept GB to FG's a few times earlier in the game instead of TD's, where it wouldn't be close at the end for him to come back. Instead they recall the improbable comeback in the last 3 mins and OT, that Wilson (and Lynch) had a big part in.

To be fair, his receivers have been below-average to hot garbage in both seasons. The guy has nowhere to go but up.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Suspensions galore today....

Sheldon Richardson, 4 games (pot)
Rolando McClain, 4 games (pot)
Datone Jones, 1 game (undisclosed)
Antonio Gates, 4 games (PEDs)

[troutman]

Roger is taking his sweet time with the Brady appeal.