2011 NFL thread

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Ravens aren't going anywhere in the playoffs with Flacco at QB. If I'm Baltimore, I hope the Colts win the Luck sweepstakes and then look at selling my draft for Manning.

One of Brian Billicks downfalls was his inability to let go of Kyle Boller after he drafted him with a high pick. I wonder of John Harbaugh could suffer a similar fate. His first pick was Flacco, and 4 years in, I think he's far too inaccurate of a passer for the Ravens to be able to count on him to win them a big game. But will Harbaugh be able to recognize this? I think offseason is where the Ravens are more or less having to make a decsicion on Flacco contractually. I think he has one more year left on his rookie deal, and he'll be wanting his extension. Do the Ravens get another QB and move on...or do they stick with him, hoping to be the team who wins the Superbowl twice with a Trent Dilfer type QB?

I'd try to go get myself a new QB.

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

One of Brian Billicks downfalls was his inability to let go of Kyle Boller after he drafted him with a high pick. I wonder of John Harbaugh could suffer a similar fate. His first pick was Flacco, and 4 years in, I think he's far too inaccurate of a passer for the Ravens to be able to count on him to win them a big game. But will Harbaugh be able to recognize this? I think offseason is where the Ravens are more or less having to make a decsicion on Flacco contractually. I think he has one more year left on his rookie deal, and he'll be wanting his extension. Do the Ravens get another QB and move on...or do they stick with him, hoping to be the team who wins the Superbowl twice with a Trent Dilfer type QB?

I'd try to go get myself a new QB.

tough call, not a lot of great QB's available out there, regardless of last night, he gives them the best chance to win when you consider who else might be available... eg. McNabb. But he would probably want to be paid as a high end guy which i dont think you should do if you are baltimore

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

tough call, not a lot of great QB's available out there, regardless of last night, he gives them the best chance to win when you consider who else might be available... eg. McNabb. But he would probably want to be paid as a high end guy which i dont think you should do if you are baltimore

Looking at next year, I think your veteran QB options are going to be McNabb, Campbell, Vince Young, Henne, Gradkowski, Flynn, Moore, Clausen, Orton, and Grossman. I don't really know if any of those guys are an upgrade over Flacco.

Baltimore's biggest problem is that they do need to spend some picks on their aging defense, as well as their offensive line. That being said, of all the teams that I would consider a "contender" who else needs a big game QB for than Baltimore? Loading up for Manning (or Luck) could make a lot of sense.

[CaramonLS]

Do you think the Colts would seriously trade Manning if they got Luck?

[Cheerio]

With the new rookie salaries coming into play and the possibility of restructuring Manning's deal if he thinks he can only play one more year due to his neck, I think it makes the most sense for the Colts to keep Manning if they get luck, and have Manning mentor him and save him a year before he gets NFL action.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Do you think the Colts would seriously trade Manning if they got Luck?

Not right away, but after a year they absolutely would. Manning will be 36 when next season starts. Plus with 4 year rookie contracts the Colts wouldn't want to keep Luck off the field for any longer than that.

[KTown]

I am thinking Indy might trade the first pick and ensure they get a top running back to try and get a few more superbowl rings with Manning.

[Cheerio]

It all depends on how Manning's neck really is. Because if he thinks he will only be able to play one more year, or thinks that one more hit could change his post football life then it would be stupid to trade Luck

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by KTown

I am thinking Indy might trade the first pick and ensure they get a top running back to try and get a few more superbowl rings with Manning.

How many times has the house been traded for a top running back and that back absolutely fail? Who is worth Luck out there? Johnson and Peterson are on teams with 1st round qbs from the last draft. I don't think Foster gets traded by the Texans as I don't think they see qb as the big issue. Jamal Charles has injury issues. Any others I am missing? Also, Indy seems to be a running back graveyard. They've wasted how many 1st and 2nd round picks trying to get a top running back? I just don't think that their scheme lends well to a running back putting up big numbers. I think you keep Luck or try and trade him for multiple 1st rounders and shore up the defense which is terrible.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Do you think the Colts would seriously trade Manning if they got Luck?

They'd be really stupid not to. By all accounts Luck is a generational talent and you simply don't pass up on that in the draft. If you can get some strong pieces for your aging franchise QB that sets up your future franchise QB for the next 5-10 years then you do it. Anything else is just terrible asset management.

[Spuds_Buckley]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

One of Brian Billicks downfalls was his inability to let go of Kyle Boller after he drafted him with a high pick. I wonder of John Harbaugh could suffer a similar fate. His first pick was Flacco, and 4 years in, I think he's far too inaccurate of a passer for the Ravens to be able to count on him to win them a big game. But will Harbaugh be able to recognize this? I think offseason is where the Ravens are more or less having to make a decsicion on Flacco contractually. I think he has one more year left on his rookie deal, and he'll be wanting his extension. Do the Ravens get another QB and move on...or do they stick with him, hoping to be the team who wins the Superbowl twice with a Trent Dilfer type QB?

I'd try to go get myself a new QB.

I think Flacco gets way too much blame. Keep in mind they only have one veteran receiver (Boldin) since Lee Evans has been hurt all year. The rest of the receivers are young and inexperienced (Torrey Smith, Williams, Dickson, Pitta, etc).

That and the fact the O-line was pieced together at the last minute and had not played a snap together before the regular season started, and Flacco has not had good pass protection as a result.

[Lil Pedro]

I think the loss of Todd Heap has also hurt Flacco this year. Always need a go to short yardage receiver and usually your TE fills that gap

[Frank MetaMusil]

Some interesting stuff to consider

There’s no change in our weekly update of the quarterbacks on pace to break Dan Marino‘s single-season passing yardage record. But here’s a little extra food for thought: If Patriots QB Tom Brady is held to 62 yards passing this week at Pittsburgh, he will still be on pace to break Marino’s mark of 5,084 yards. Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are still hot on Brady’s trail.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/10/25/data...-for-the-show/

[Sylvanfan]

Speaking of one in a lifetime players

The_Best_Generational talent ever speaks

"I stuck my neck out for him," Russell said. "Didn't complain when he benched me as the starter. Didn't complain when he called the same plays five damn times. Didn't (badmouth) him to other coaches. When the (media) asks me, I say, 'He's a good coach, a good guy.' Then I hear he says I was the worst thing that ever happened to the Raiders, if it weren't for (me) we'd be in the playoffs? ... It just got to where the game wasn't fun for me."

Apparently though, he's been quite generous in Mobile Alabama, so although he might end up broke, it seems that he did do a few good things with Al Davis' money.

He's still awesome if he ends up in the NFL again I have a new avatar.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by rubecube

They'd be really stupid not to. By all accounts Luck is a generational talent and you simply don't pass up on that in the draft.

Some thought Leaf should be drafted ahead of Manning. There is no guarantee Luck will be a great NFL player - Manning might be the best NFL QB ever.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by troutman

Some thought Leaf should be drafted ahead of Manning. There is no guarantee Luck will be a great NFL player - Manning might be the best NFL QB ever.

Except that people are comparing Luck to Elway as far as a 99.9% guaranteed franchise player. So if you're the Colts your options are to watch Manning try to drag a rapidly declining team to another Super Bowl for at most another 4 years, leaving you with a good 4-5 years of rebuilding after that, or you draft your next franchise QB and trade Manning for other pieces you can build into an elite squad that could contend for a Super Bowl 2-3 years from now, and be a powerhouse for another 5-10 beyond that.

Even if you bust out on Luck, you still gain some pieces to start rebuilding.

[CofR]

An MRI confirmed the worst fears of the Buccaneers — veteran running back Earnest Graham is sidelined for the rest of the season because of a torn Achilles' tendon.

http://www2.tbo.com/sports/bucs/2011...nt--ar-274470/

[troutman]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Except that people are comparing Luck to Elway as far as a 99.9% guaranteed franchise player. So if you're the Colts your options are to watch Manning try to drag a rapidly declining team to another Super Bowl for at most another 4 years, leaving you with a good 4-5 years of rebuilding after that, or you draft your next franchise QB and trade Manning for other pieces you can build into an elite squad that could contend for a Super Bowl 2-3 years from now, and be a powerhouse for another 5-10 beyond that.

Even if you bust out on Luck, you still gain some pieces to start rebuilding.

It did work before:

Montana -> Young
Favre -> Rodgers

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by troutman

It did work before:

Montana -> Young
Favre -> Rodgers

Yep. The Pack got some great pieces in the Favre trade and Manning would be worth more than Favre.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Yep. The Pack got some great pieces in the Favre trade and Manning would be worth more than Favre.

What if the Packers had caved in and taken Favre back? Would Rodgers have been a Jet?