2024 NFL Off Season thread - Part II

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Just heard the Texans moved the rest of Diggs bonus to this season & voided the remaining 3 yrs of his contract so that he can become a FA in '25.

They weren't doing him any favors, he didn't have a choice.

[Cobra Mgr]

I want players to have a high quality of health after they retire. But what's left to hit? If you choose to play tackle football, they you choose to risk your health.

[Syd Thrift]

I wasn't sold on the hip drop tackle being outlawed until I saw Seahawks GM John Schneider make a case that it is a very specific thing that is very easy to see and react to. I just don't see a way to legislate away *all* leg tackles in a way that wouldn't just increase concussions, which quite frankly is the main thing I'm worried about. Like yeah it sucks when you tear your MCL and ACL and can never walk quite right again. You know what sucks worse? Having constant headaches and seeing your entire personality change because of CTE. That crap's not just a bummer, it's *scary*. Mike Webster went from being a guy everybody thought was going to have a long career in broadcasting after he was through like, say, Dan Dierdorf or John Madden (both offensive linemen) to a guy who was basically an invalid the last few years of his life. And you know, at least Webster didn't murder his family before he passed away the way Chris Benoit did.

CTE is the #1 issue football has and in my mind is still an existential crisis. It was horrific 10 years ago, the league hasn't done much to lower instances (they might not be able to; there's increasing signs that a lot of guys get CTE from college or even high school ball), and it only takes another high profile player a la Junior Seau killing himself to put it right back into the public limelight. Already a lot of middle class families aren't allowing their kids to play the sport in school. If you had a thing that lowered ACL tears by 30% but raised CTE cases by 15%, I'm sorry, I'm going to stick with the lower CTE risk...

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I wasn't sold on the hip drop tackle being outlawed until I saw Seahawks GM John Schneider make a case that it is a very specific thing that is very easy to see and react to. I just don't see a way to legislate away *all* leg tackles in a way that wouldn't just increase concussions, which quite frankly is the main thing I'm worried about. Like yeah it sucks when you tear your MCL and ACL and can never walk quite right again. You know what sucks worse? Having constant headaches and seeing your entire personality change because of CTE. That crap's not just a bummer, it's *scary*. Mike Webster went from being a guy everybody thought was going to have a long career in broadcasting after he was through like, say, Dan Dierdorf or John Madden (both offensive linemen) to a guy who was basically an invalid the last few years of his life. And you know, at least Webster didn't murder his family before he passed away the way Chris Benoit did.

CTE is the #1 issue football has and in my mind is still an existential crisis. It was horrific 10 years ago, the league hasn't done much to lower instances (they might not be able to; there's increasing signs that a lot of guys get CTE from college or even high school ball), and it only takes another high profile player a la Junior Seau killing himself to put it right back into the public limelight. Already a lot of middle class families aren't allowing their kids to play the sport in school. If you had a thing that lowered ACL tears by 30% but raised CTE cases by 15%, I'm sorry, I'm going to stick with the lower CTE risk...

I played a ton of football in my youth. Both organized and sandlot. Way more sandlot. I'm only 5'11 175 pounds and never had to land on someone's legs to tackle them. So the new hip drop rule doesn't bother me.

I would agree with you on head injuries. I think the rules they have now is the best way to minimize it. But you can't stop kids from playing tackle football. Of the multiple concussions I've had have always been sandlot football. No helmet. I've always been of the opinion that organized football was safer.

[Syd Thrift]

I probably got my bell rung weekly when I played in high school. The job of a lineman involves butting heads on every play.

[dsvitak]

Dunno where this belongs..but what the hell is Antonio Brown's problem?

"Cracker of the Day."

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...192043439.html

[Syd Thrift]

He has obvious mental issues, that’s why he’s out of the league.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Dunno where this belongs..but what the hell is Antonio Brown's problem?

"Cracker of the Day."

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...192043439.html

He is obviously mentally ill. The rumors are he hasn't been the same since the Burfect hit.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

He is obviously mentally ill. The rumors are he hasn't been the same since the Burfect hit.

The Burfict hit was one of the most egregious in league history. Darryl Stingley comes to mind.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

The Burfict hit was one of the most egregious in league history. Darryl Stingley comes to mind.

That hit was brutal. But does it get flagged in the 70s or 80s?

I can't find the clip. I think it was a Cowboys/Chargers game where either Charlie Joiner or Wes Chandler gets hit over the middle. He's lying on his back out cold, but still holding on to the ball.

He came back in later in that game.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

That hit was brutal. But does it get flagged in the 70s or 80s?

I can't find the clip. I think it was a Cowboys/Chargers game where either Charlie Joiner or Wes Chandler gets hit over the middle. He's lying on his back out cold, but still holding on to the ball.

He came back in later in that game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8iFSP_S5h8

Eleven thousand upvotes, for the comment "this is the day Antonio Brown became AB."

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

That hit was brutal. But does it get flagged in the 70s or 80s?

Does it matter?

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Does it matter?

Only in regard to post 29.

[Cobra Mgr]

Ugh. Now I can't hate on the Pats.

[Ragnar]

The Chicago Bears just transformed their entire team thanks to the Carolina Panthers.

Is Virginia still alive? God bless her. She needs to send Tepper a big bottle of champagne in thanks. He'll not only drink it, he'll share it with the fans.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

The Chicago Bears just transformed their entire team thanks to the Carolina Panthers.

Is Virginia still alive? God bless her. She needs to send Tepper a big bottle of champagne in thanks. He'll not only drink it, he'll share it with the fans.

I still haven't seen proof a QB can develop in Chicago.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I still haven't seen proof a QB can develop in Chicago.

Oh, everything I said in my last post was an assumption. We actually have to see them play. I'd be shocked if I saw good QB play from Chicago.

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I still haven't seen proof a QB can develop in Chicago.

I don’t think there’s like anything intrinsic about the team or the city. This time around they seem to have their guy set up well to succeed. We’ll see, I guess.

The big move of course was the Falcons, fresh off of signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract, going out and drafting WASHINGTON GOAT Marcus Penix at 8. This had been roundly panned but…

a. I think Penix might actually be in the best situation of any of the first 6 guys going in,

b. I think that if the assessments of the guys I read are right - Rob Staton of seahawksdraftblog especially - Drake Maye in particular is a 3rd round talent overdrafted into 3rd overall, which is a bust situation waiting to happen,

c. For all the talk of the huge Cousins deal, it’s essentially a 2 year guaranteed deal with options. If Penix beats Cousins out next year, the Falcons can wash their hands of that deal swiftly and easily.

Honestly I think Maye, McCarthy, and Nix all have higher chances to become busts than Penix does. It’s still a weird move - another parallel is Jordan Love but the selling point of Nix is that he should be an NFL ready guy, not a project at all (plus he’s basically 24 already) - but if I’m being honest, not half as weird as nobody drafting defenders until pick 15 and allowing Seattle to take the best defender in the draft at 16 (Latu could turn out better of course but he also has an injury history).

[pilight]

The number of QBs in this draft who are ready to step in and start on day one is approximately zero, just like every year. NFL teams used to understand this and didn't expect rookie QBs to play much, if at all.

[Ragnar]

The Penix pick didn't surprise me all that much. Cousins is in his mid 30s. But releasing him after 2 years won't be totally painless. Right now his 2026 dead cap is 25M. At the start of 2025 it goes up another 10M. So his base pay will match his dead cap at 35M. But they'll save 22M on the cap hit.