NFL 2013

[shiznitz]

That article begs the question.  When the 49ers got that 7th round pick this year from the Bengals in 2011, did they know what number in the 7th round it was?  Did the Bengals 2012 record impact the draft pick's placement?  Or is there so much horsetrading with draft picks that the answer isn't worth the time to understand?

[HaemishM]

In the 7th round, it's usually not going to matter much anyway. 7th rounders are usually practice squad depth picks at best.

[Ingmar]

In the 7th round, it's usually not going to matter much anyway. 7th rounders are usually practice squad depth picks at best.

But we could find the next Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

[HaemishM]

I didn't think turnovers were that hard to find. 

[Hoax]

That article begs the question.  When the 49ers got that 7th round pick this year from the Bengals in 2011, did they know what number in the 7th round it was?  Did the Bengals 2012 record impact the draft pick's placement?  Or is there so much horsetrading with draft picks that the answer isn't worth the time to understand?

When you trade for future picks you are taking the pick that the team earns with its record that year in the future. Its like that in all American sports as far as I can think of.

Decent link the lists seem ok if you wan't to catch up on things:
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/freeagents19-ha970pa-198866041.html

[WayAbvPar]

I didn't think turnovers were that hard to find. 

But Harvard! Also sexy beard!

[HaemishM]

So, Carson Palmer is an Arizona Cardinal now and Matt Flynn is the Raiders new starting QB.

Does anyone remember an offseason that has seen so much of a QB carousel like ever? It's crazy how many QB's have been shuffled around. As for these trades, this just shows how bad the original Palmer to the Raiders trade was (and how wrong I was about it). The Raiders mortgaged their future on a guy who should have been able to take them to the playoffs that year but didn't. Now they can barely get a sixth rounder and a conditional for him. Of course, he instantly made Arizona a better team because holy fuck was that a greasefire of a QB situation last year. I feel bad for Matt Flynn as he's got NO ONE to throw to. He had better be as good as advertised because he could end up being a huge disaster on a team with this little talent at wideout.

And yet, somehow the Jags, who have possibly the worst QB situation of all the teams (even worse than Arizona did I think), have done nothing on the QB front of note. Gabbert, Henne and whoever they draft will compete to get plastered non-stop because no one will be fucking open.

Of all the shuffled QB's, I actually think Alex Smith has the best chance to be good this year. Low INT's, O line is not a complete disaster, they have some offensive weapons and a coach who has a history of getting absolute fucking streetwalkers to catch passes from competent QB's (Freddie Mitchell, James Thrash, Todd Pinkston anyone?).

[Paelos]

One day people will stop betting the franchise on a USC quarterback. Until then, I will scoff at any GM that doesn't learn from the past. They are a QB fail factory.

Now we get to see somebody make a stupid decision on Matt Barkley. My bet is the Vikings draft him in the late first round, because their QB situation is a complete mess.

[HaemishM]

I'm still not convinced Christian Ponder is a mess. He may be Sanchez level of inconsistency but if he can smooth out the performances, he might be decent. A lot of that will depend on how healthy Jennings can be.

[Segoris]

Free agency has been insane this year, so no I don't remember another year like this with the swapping of QBs. I said the same thing about KC before - they are not far from being a good team, and they [imo] fixed pretty much all of their gaping problems if they can stay healthy.

I think Ponder can become decent, he's not being fed bullshit and requiring ego-boosts like Failchez.

Also, just because it's a great story, Brian Banks is a Falcon.

[WayAbvPar]

Glad to see Banks get a shot. He tried out in Seattle last year and I was rooting for him.

[Paelos]

I'm still not convinced Christian Ponder is a mess. He may be Sanchez level of inconsistency but if he can smooth out the performances, he might be decent. A lot of that will depend on how healthy Jennings can be.

He's an interception machine. He had 58 yards passing against Arizona with 2 picks. Twice he's had QB ratings in the 30s. In 9 games he's had less than 200 yards passing, 3 of which were less than 100 yards. WHAT?

They've turned him into a checkdown Charlie to increase he completions, but he's still throwing picks. They were the 31st passing offense in the league, BEHIND THE JETS. The worst part is that he had time to throw. He only got sacked 32 times (his protection is 10th ranked in the league)

He's ass. Cut bait now before he goes UFA, and save yourself a 3M cap hit.

[Nevermore]

And yet, somehow the Jags, who have possibly the worst QB situation of all the teams (even worse than Arizona did I think), have done nothing on the QB front of note. Gabbert, Henne and whoever they draft will compete to get plastered non-stop because no one will be fucking open.

Cecil Shorts was my best fantasy free agent pickup.  He was playing really well until he started getting those concussions.  Almost 1,000 yards receiving and 7 TDs and I don't think he was even starting until after their week 6 bye.

[HaemishM]

One thing to remember about Ponder though is after game 9, he had no receivers. Once Harvin went out, they were so shit-scared of the absolutely terrible set of receivers they just started handing the ball off to Peterson all game and only throwing when necessary. Yes, he has bad numbers, but when Harvin was in, those numbers were good.

That said, it's year 3. We all know if he doesn't improve by week 6, his backup will get the nod.

[Segoris]

Yeah, but with Shorts the problem was you never knew which Jac (if any) WR was going to have a decent day. It kept switching between him and Robinson

He's an interception machine. He had 58 yards passing against Arizona with 2 picks. Twice he's had QB ratings in the 30s. In 9 games he's had less than 200 yards passing, 3 of which were less than 100 yards. WHAT?

They've turned him into a checkdown Charlie to increase he completions, but he's still throwing picks. They were the 31st passing offense in the league, BEHIND THE JETS. The worst part is that he had time to throw. He only got sacked 32 times (his protection is 10th ranked in the league)

He's ass. Cut bait now before he goes UFA, and save yourself a 3M cap hit.

The "interception machine" would be part of the inconsistency even though he still was not all that bad for TD:Int of a 2nd year player without a lot of WR to throw to for a lot of the season. The other part of that imo is him being the guy who gives AP the ball and gets the fuck out of the way. Overall, he still had a respectable throwing yardage number around 3,000, and he really can show some decent consistency (see weeks 1-5 2012). Additionally, and this is important imo, his worst games were during AP's best games, but Ponder's best games where he picked up his game were when AP was not doing that great (during AP's 6 sub-100 yard games for instance). That is why he's workable, whereas Sanchez never really was imo. Although it is completely obvious that he is not a franchie QB without some MAJOR improvements, he isn't really someone you just dumb on a 2012 season unless Minn can pick up Palmer or Flynn for cheap.

As for stats and what not - Ponder did have 2 games in the 30's for QBR, and 4 games under 60, he's also had 4 games over 100 with one of them being 120+. Now to give credit where due - 3 out of 4 of those sub 60 QBR were against top defenses (Sea, Chi, Hou) and the Cardinals passing defense for a lot of the season was not that bad at all and finished with the 2nd most picks, and either the 4th or 5th least passing yards given up. Ponder's +100 QBR games were against Jac, Ind, Det and GB. with his best performance against a good team be in the 90s against SF.

[Nevermore]

Yeah, but with Shorts the problem was you never knew which Jac (if any) WR was going to have a decent day. It kept switching between him and Robinson

I disagree.  For a non-top tier receiver he was pretty consistent when he was starting.


I'm not saying he the second coming of Calvin Johnson or even Wes Welker, but he seems pretty productive to me (when healthy, of course).

[Segoris]

Oops I said Robinson, but meant Blackmon and even that was way off as my reasoning is just not right. The ups and downs were still a problem, just not because of other WR. Yes, he was red-hot during the midseason after the bye, and he only had 1 "bad" game with week 9 in that stretch, but he still had a lot of playtime early in the season (I think he even started once or twice). That is where the highs and lows are from.

I'm not saying he was bad or anything, in fact he got me through some mid-season weeks when a number of my WRs and Flex options were on bye weeks, just that it wasn't always easy trusting him with the early highs and lows

[ghost]

Seems like this is going to be a trainwreck of an NFL draft if Geno Smith and Matt Barkley are chosen in the first round. 

[01101010]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9179704/legendary-broadcaster-pat-summerall-dies-82

John Madden's partner in crime, Pat Summerall, passes away. I grew up with him and Madden explaining the sport to me... They were the Laurel and Hardy of the NFL broadcast boost.

[HaemishM]

Now that is a damn shame. 

[Tannhauser]

Aw shit, I too grew up with Pat Summerall!  I can hear his voice in my head right now.  I bet I heard his games more than all others of his era combined.

Broadcasting legend indeed.

[Segoris]

Well shit, that sucks

[Paelos]

He's certainly one of the sports voices of my childhood. He had a good run into his 80s. I have fond memories of his game calls.

[ghost]

So what do you think, does Vince Young deserve a look see by some team or not? 

When I look at his stats, he's marginal, at best, but he does provide the intangibles.  But then again he's been a clusterfuck both off the field and on with his mental status. 

I still can't help thinking that he would be a better choice than Fitzpatrick or Ponder or maybe even Bradford.  There are a lot of chuckleheads in the NFL playing QB, and with the transformation into a spread option league seemingly becoming more of a reality, could VY be worth a look for some team? 

[HaemishM]

he's been a clusterfuck both off the field and on with his mental status.

The only worse option is Jamarcus Russell.

[ghost]

But.....if he's pulled his shit together there is certainly some talent there.  I'm actually surprised that some of the idiots that play QB in the NFL can retain a job yet VY can't even hold a clipboard.

[Malakili]

But.....if he's pulled his shit together there is certainly some talent there.  I'm actually surprised that some of the idiots that play QB in the NFL can retain a job yet VY can't even hold a clipboard.

VY has proven to be a total liability.  The chance he goes and does something to earn the team negative press means I wouldn't even take him as a backup if he agreed to play for free.

[ghost]

Has he?  I think Jeff Fisher was as much to blame for the Tennessee Fiasco.  Not that VY was blameless in the situation, but Fisher was a complete cunt.  And it's not like he was out killing dogs.  Vince made a few bad choices (not really bad, just questionable) and acted like a 2 year old a couple of times.  He seems to be willing to put in the work now. 

So convince me that he's not a better choice than:

1.  Christian Ponder
2.  Matt Cassel
3.  Mark Sanchez
4.  Chad Henne
5.  Brandon Weeden
6.  Jake Locker
7.  Ryan Tannehill
8.  Blaine Gabbert
9.  Mike Vick
10.  Nick Foles
11.  Any clipboard carrier

Hell, if nothing else you'd gain a shitton of UT fans pulling for your team in Tebow-esque fashion.  I don't think Young is a risk to do anything really stupid, like shoot someone or molest a dog.

[HaemishM]

He's shown that when adversity strikes, he acts like a goddamn baby and pouts. His passing numbers aren't much better than Tebow's. I'd take him over Tebow if based just on numbers, but I'd be wary of his locker room presence. For a team looking for a QB, even of the backup variety, he's just not "the answer."

[01101010]

Now listing Weeden there might be pushing things a bit. He only has one year under his belt and, more importantly, he plays for the Browns.

[ghost]

He's shown that when adversity strikes, he acts like a goddamn baby and pouts. His passing numbers aren't much better than Tebow's. I'd take him over Tebow if based just on numbers, but I'd be wary of his locker room presence. For a team looking for a QB, even of the backup variety, he's just not "the answer."

Many of his former teammates have come out to support him in the past.  That issue where he basically quit a game for the Titans will haunt him, for sure.  I dunno, man, if he interviewed well and showed reasonable work ethic I think (If I were a GM) that I'd rather take a chance on him than any of the chucklefucks available in this year's draft.

Addendum-  Goddam his mechanics and footwork are awful.   

VY "highlights" are tough to watch.

Another thing....when reviewing his stats (from college and pro) he really only had one spectacular year-  his third year at UT.  Otherwise he has been a 50/50 interception to TD guy with a running game. 

[HaemishM]

VY is Michael Vick with a worse arm. But at least he loves dogs. 

[ghost]

Quarterback is a putrid fucking position in the NFL. 

[Hoax]

He's had his chance and shown he cannot at all hack it. Not only does he not hack it he makes it very difficult for the rest of the team to function like professionals thanks to his bullshit drama. If he wants to be in the league he should fuck off to Canada and show that even outside his comfort zone he can play football and be a professional.

[Tannhauser]

VY is a good QB and had good stats with the Titans at first, but I'm sorry to say he's a head case.  I was really pulling for him, but he just couldn't hack it.

A cautionary tale to Cam Newton.