Friday, March 30, 2018

Getting Closer For Gronk


The NFL Network had a good story about whether the Pats might trade Rob Gronkowski. Nobody knows what Gronk has planned for his future. Will he retire of keep playing?

If the Pats had a great offer on draft day, would they make the move? This will eventually come to a head.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Johnny Was Here


Teams are paying attention to whenever Johnny Manziel shows up to throw passes to receivers at College Pro Days.

Apparently, the Pats had him in for a pre-draft interview in 2014 along with Jimmy Garoppolo and Teddy Bridgewater.

It only worked out for Jimmy. Teddy got hurt, but still signed with the Jets for this year. Johnny is on the outside, trying to get back in.


Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Head Rules


The NFL is trying to improve player safety without drastically altering the game. Their new rule about leading or launching with the helmet will have a profound effect on next season.

There needs to be a lot of player education about this new rule. It will probably present a lot of issues during the pre-season games.

Something needs to be done about head injuries.


Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Showdown With Dez


Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones said that he will meet with WR Dez Bryant by next week to talk about his contract. It probably won't end well for Bryant.

He is due to make $12.5 million this season, while counting $16.5 million against the salary cap. His decreased production over the last three seasons got him to this point.

No team can dedicate this much money for his level of production. The hand writing is on the wall, but Dez doesn't want to admit it.


Monday, March 26, 2018

Belichick and Kraft Speak


Fans heard from Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft today, but it wasn't enough to satisfy some people on talk radio.

They are never going to move on from the Super Bowl. There is nothing anyone can ever do about it.

The 2018 season is here. It's time to build a new team from free agents and draft choices.

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Beckham Acts Up Again


It's beginning to get old for Giants owner John Marra. Odell Beckham Jr gets in the news for something stupid and Marra says he needs to act more responsible.

This is coming from the guy who signs Odell's paychecks and has the power to make him the highest paid receiver in the NFL.

The Giants have one more season with Beckham at a little over $8 million. They should let him play out the year before negotiating with him.

His behavior reflects poorly on the team and himself.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Probaly Four Games


Pats safety Duron Harmon was picked up on a pot charge as he tried to enter Costa Rica. They detained him for a short time before expelling him from the country.

Given that it was in a foreign country, he should be glad that was the only thing that happened. He will probably get up to a four game suspension from the NFL, but it pales in comparison from what could have happened legally.

Friday, March 23, 2018

Johnny's Circus


Johnny Manziel has been working with a quarterback coach in his attempt to get back to the NFL. His connection to the coach enabled him to throw to receivers at the University of San Diego Pro Day.The Pats sent a representative, along with twelve other teams.

Sports talk shows in Boston were filled with Manziel discussions about whether the Pats should invite him to training camp.

He got good reviews from those on hand. The Pats have a capable backup in Brian Hoyer, but it might be worth a shot to bring him in for a look.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

A Bridge For Teddy


Former Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater signed a one year deal with the Jets for $6 million. He faces a roster battle in training camp as the Jets resigned Josh McCown. They will most likely draft a quarterback.

The former first round pick in 2014 had a great start to his career and was Rookie of the Year. In 2015, he lead the Vikings to the NFC North title while being selected for his first Pro Bowl.

A freak injury in the 2016 preseason resulted in a torn ACL and missing the entire season. Additional knee problems kept him off the roster in 2017 until Week 15.

It remains to be seen what his future is with the Jets. Teams know what he did in the past. Can he get back to where he was before he got hurt?

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

The Day of Sam


Draft experts make a living at predicting how players will get selected. The NFL Network was all over the Pro Day at USC which featured QB Sam Darnold.

It seems like they are all saying that he will be the first pick overall by the Cleveland Browns. If he is, where will he be a year from now?

The Browns have a terrible history of picking quarterbacks. Success in college doesn't always translate to the next level.


Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Better Slater Than Never


The Pats signed Mathew Slater to a two year contract. The free agent had visited with the Steelers, but left without a contract. There wasn't much interest from other teams.

The ten year veteran has been selected to seven Pro Bowls, but faces a battle in training camp for a roster spot. The team recently traded for WR Cordarrelle Patterson who is also a gunner on special teams like Slater.

One of these players won't be on the roster when the Pats start the season.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Introducing What's His Name


Teams have been throwing money at quarterbacks at a crazy level as they trip over each other to sign the guy they want. Most players will never see all of it, but that doesn't matter.

John Elway of the Broncos got his player in Case Keenum for 2 years/$36 million. At the team's press conference, Elway introduced him as Case Keesum, but quickly corrected himself.

As GM, he should have gotten his name right. Keenum has 36 million reasons not to care what name they call him.


Sunday, March 18, 2018

Jason In The House


Former Titans and Browns CB Jason McCourty will be reunited with his twin brother Devin after the Pats traded for him by giving up a 6th round draft pick.

The brothers played at Rutgers together before their paths to the NFL took a different direction.

Devin has played in four Super Bowls while Jason has never been in the post-season.

It should be a great story line in training camp and throughout the season if things work out.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Bad Jet Deals


Teams that want to move up in the first round of the draft must really want a certain player. The Jets took that route when they traded up to the 3rd overall selection from their spot with the 6th.

They paid a heavy price to the Colts for their move. The Colts gets the Jets 6th overall pick as well as their two second round picks in 2018 (37th and 49th) overall. They also get the Jets second round pick in 2019.

It was a great move for the Colts. By moving down three spots, they pick up three second round picks.

Given their history, the Jets will regret this move. Jets GM Mike Maccaganan knows he won't be around if this doesn't work out.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Same Stuff Next Year


We are seeing all sorts of money being given to free agents in the form of bonuses and salaries. The phrase "guaranteed money" is only true if the player is on the roster by certain dates.

Some of these free agents will go through the same thing next year because their team doesn't want to guarantee the money. Other players under contract will get released because their numbers don't fit under the salary cap.

This happens every year.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Joe Thomas Is Done


Cleveland Browns LT Joe Thomas never missed a snap in his eleven year career. His iron streak of 10,363 plays and 167 consecutive games came to an end early last season when he tore his left triceps.

Thomas announced his retirement yesterday, ending his brilliant career. His time in Cleveland was challenging. He never appeared in a post-season game. The Browns were 48-128 during his career. He went through six head coaches and twenty quarterbacks.

His ten Pro Bowls and amazing streak should get him to Canton.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

More Than Four Will Leave



Danny Amendola, Malcolm Butler, Dion Lewis and Nate Solder are all a lot richer tonight after moving to other teams. The Pats were never going to give them that type of money. They have all moved on. Their time here was awesome.

Everyone knows they will never get all of the money from those contracts. The key is the first year and signing bonus. It's all part of free agency.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

No Johnny Here


Johnny Manziel can never stay out of the news. He wants to get back into the NFL, but teams are not falling over each other to sign him. He even said he would play for free.

He was asked whether he would like to be Tom Brady's backup. He would jump at the chance, he said.

The Pats have a very capable second quarterback in Brian Hoyer. They don't need the drama that Manziel would bring with him.

He should sign with any team that offers him a contract.

Monday, March 12, 2018

Money Gone For Su


NFL free agents should look at Dolphins DL Ndamukong Su to see how money can just disappear.

Su bagged a 6 year/ $114 million contract in 2015, including a $60 million signing bonus. His salary cap this season was going to be $26.1 million, with a $2 million increase next year. There was no way they could commit to that much money.

We will see some crazy numbers this weeks, but very few players ever collect all the dollars they signed for.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Too Many Head Injuries


The Boston Globe had a great on-line story of concussions suffered by the Pats during their great Super Bowl run starting with the 2001 season.

The numbers are not good for 100 players reviewed. It seems like 40% report post-concussion symptoms from their playing days 15 years ago.

This is not good for the NFL. They want this story to go away.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

The End of the League Year


Only the NFL could turn the Scouting Combine into a major interest for fans. The coverage by the NFL Network gets decent ratings.

Every player has their own story. Some will never get drafted or have a short career. There are a few players who will be with the Pats this season or maybe in five years.

The league moves on to the 2018 season.

Friday, March 9, 2018

March of Sherman


It was not a surprise that the Seattle Seahawks released CB Richard Sherman. After having two surgeries on his torn Achilles tendon, the team was not about to pay him $11 million. He is now a free agent.

Will he end up in Foxborough? Speculation has him coming here, but at what price?

The team should give him a 1 year/ $5 million contract, with added incentives to double that.

There is still a question whether he can get back to his prior level of being one of the best defensive backs in the league.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Head Numbers


The NFL has a problem with concussions and head trauma. They have taken many steps to establish a concussion protocol that is consistent at every game and stadium.

In 2017, medical personnel identified 281 incidents compared to 243 in 2016.

I think the system in place is doing a better job in identifying them. It's a far cry from pervious decades when they used the term "he had his bell rung". They are taken more seriously now. The goal should be to decrease the amount and to identify every time it happens.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

No B&B In Foxborough


The Pats are no different from any other team. Players are being released in order to save money and increase salary cap space.

TE Martellus Bennett and DL Alan Branch are among the first to go. There was no way the team was going to pay them a roster bonus. If they want to play here in 2018, it will be at a greatly reduced price.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

The Annual Spending Spree


Free agency starts on Monday. Large sums of money will be thrown at players who will never see all of it. They try to max out their signing bonus as a way to get the money up front.

There will be outrageous signings of players who are not worth it. Others will be waiting for a call that will never come. Their career is coming to an end. They just don't know it yet.

Monday, March 5, 2018

The End For Antonio Cromartie


After not playing in 2017, Antonio Cromartie retired from the NFL after 11 seasons. He had a productive career with the Chargers, Jets, Cardinal and Colts.

He will be best known for fathering 14 children with several different women.

How is his financial situation? He has been involved in child support issues in the past. What does the future hold for him?

I hope he is able to take care of his family.



Sunday, March 4, 2018

Lamar Jackson


Louisville QB Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 2016. In three seasons, he threw for more than 9,000 yards and rushed for more than 4,000.

There is talk at the NFL Scouting Combine that he should switch positions. Jackson said he has no plans to do so.

You can't blame him, considering the money they pay to quarterbacks. Even if he holds the clip board on the sidelines, he would be making pretty good money.

Not everyone can be a Julian Edelman who quickly switched positions from quarterback to receiver.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Waiting For Dollars


Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is making a good decision by waiting to see how much Kirk Cousins signs for in the open market. Cousins will set the new standard for the position.

Things will fall into place once the new league year begins. Rodgers will get a ton of money. It's a question of how much.

Friday, March 2, 2018

Combine 2018


The NFL Scouting Combine is far from perfect. Not all of the 336 players invited will get drafted. Some will never even get a tryout with a team.

Many uninvited players will have their name called on draft day. It happens every year.

Alabama leads the list with 14 players attending, followed by Ohio State (11). Louisiana Tech and Georgia each sent 10.

It's a great chance to showcase talent, but bad personnel decisions will be made.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Too Much For Odell


Giants WR Odell Beckham has made it official. He wants a new contract paying him at least $20 million annually. Good luck with that on his part.

The team would be foolish to pay him that much money, but the salaries for quarterbacks are impacting the wage structure of the league.