2025 NFL Offseason/Free Agency/Draft thread

[GrantDawg]

You don't think the NFL has good data policies?
Probably. If not, we would have team playbooks everywhere. I will give that Ulbrich probably has been in a yearly class where he is told never to leave his computer unlocked unless he is actively using it. So technically he has some fault, but considering this was in his own secured home it was pretty minor. IDK how the team had fault, because there no chance that league policy doesn't allow coaches to work from home.
Just a FYI, this is far from the only time such a prank has occurred. It happens almost every year to some players with no fines or big headlines. The Falcons are getting slapped because this was Deon's son.

[miami_fan]

Probably. If not, we would have team playbooks everywhere. I will give that Ulbrich probably has been in a yearly class where he is told never to leave his computer unlocked unless he is actively using it. So technically he has some fault, but considering this was in his own secured home it was pretty minor. IDK how the team had fault, because there no chance that league policy doesn't allow coaches to work from home.
Just a FYI, this is far from the only time such a prank has occurred. It happens almost every year to some players with no fines or big headlines. The Falcons are getting slapped because this was Deon's son.

Don't forget the whole "recording the whole incident and posting it online" piece. It has happened to multiple players this year but so far, there are no videos and no identification of the culprits. My guess is they only did the video because it was Shedeur. If there is no video, there is probably no identification andthere is probably no punishment.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I thought I saw that someone pranked Abdul Carter during the 2nd pick.

[miami_fan]

Props to the friend and his family for him actually being the one who made the prank call and probably posted the video and somehow avoided all the backlash. To use a reference for the old folks, that is some high level Eddie Haskell type work right there.

[GrantDawg]

Congrats Saints. Got that albatross off your neck.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25194618-saints-derek-carr-retires-nfl-age-34-amid-injury-after-discussing-wife

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[albionmoonlight]

Carr: $195,000,000 career earnings
1 playoff start

He won’t make the NFL Hall of Fame. But he has a good shot of getting into the “get that bag” Hall of Fame.

[CrimsonFox]

Congrats Saints. Got that albatross off your neck.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25194618-saints-derek-carr-retires-nfl-age-34-amid-injury-after-discussing-wife

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Hellooooooooooooooooo Kirk Cousins!

[albionmoonlight]

Hellooooooooooooooooo Kirk Cousins!

As a Saints fan, I have no desire to send assets to Atlanta so Cousins can turn our three-win team into a six-win team.

Play the young guys. Enjoy the top-five pick next draft.

[miami_fan]

Congrats Saints. Got that albatross off your neck.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25194618-saints-derek-carr-retires-nfl-age-34-amid-injury-after-discussing-wife

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Even bigger congrats to Kellen Moore. Enjoy what should be your redshirt year as a head coach.

[bhlloy]

Talk about a get out of jail free card for an awful extension. Congrats Saints fans.

[RainMaker]

I was wondering why he would retire with so much money on his contract but I'm guessing he gets paid it and the Saints get cap relief because of the injury?

[JonInMiddleGA]

I was wondering why he would retire with so much money on his contract but I'm guessing he gets paid it and the Saints get cap relief because of the injury?

Apparently not

"Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Saints won't have to pay Carr's $30 million guaranteed salary for the upcoming season and the club won't seek reimbursement for his $10 million roster and signing bonus that was paid in March."

So, yeah, he gave up $25m in order to ... I guess avoid having surgery?

[Danny]

Apparently not

"Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Saints won't have to pay Carr's $30 million guaranteed salary for the upcoming season and the club won't seek reimbursement for his $10 million roster and signing bonus that was paid in March."

So, yeah, he gave up $25m in order to ... I guess avoid having surgery?

This is critical but Carr has seemed to have a pretty fragile ego and has never had to compete for his job. He wants to be the guy. I read insider reports from a former defensive player, that the defense was told to not intercept him during training camp. I dont think he had it in him to actually go out there and compete to actually be the starter.

[QuikSand]

I have no desire to send assets to Atlanta so Cousins can turn our three-win team into a six-win team.

Play the young guys. Enjoy the top-five pick next draft.

co-sign, take your medicine, and see where you are

[JPhillips]

Yeah, if this was Detroit with a strong roster but an injury to the QB I think you do whatever you can to compete, but NO isn't going to be good enough even with Cousins.

[Danny]

Shough turns 34 soon, may as well see what he can do

[miami_fan]

I don't know. I listened to Derek Carr talk about the whole Henry Ruggs situation and after that the Gruden situation and how his faith led him to respond in the way he did. If Carr believed the surgery was no guarantee and he had no chance of coming back at his current level, I can see Carr deciding to retire instead of going through surgery, rehab etc. just to get another $30 million. I could be wrong but if that is what he has done, kudos to him.

[GrantDawg]

Saints are setting to pick number 1 next year when who could be the top QB in the draft? Arch Manning. Will there be another number 8 in New Orleans?

[Swaggs]

From everything I have read, there is no guarantee that Arch is in a hurry to turn pro. A lot of people think he will play out his college eligibility. Maybe, if he has favorite landing spot(s), that impacts his decision, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him as QB1 at Texas for the next couple of years.

[Atocep]

From everything I have read, there is no guarantee that Arch is in a hurry to turn pro. A lot of people think he will play out his college eligibility. Maybe, if he has favorite landing spot(s), that impacts his decision, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him as QB1 at Texas for the next couple of years.

Yeah his family supposedly loves Sark and is 100% bought in on his QB development.

[Ksyrup]

Carr ended his career tied for 27,933rd place with -9 receiving yards.

Not surprisingly, the bottom of the list is filled with QBs who caught their own batted passes.

[Swaggs]

Yeah his family supposedly loves Sark and is 100% bought in on his QB development.

Plus, reports are that he is already making north of $5M per year through his NLI deals (he apparently has national deals with Red Bull, Uber, Vuori, and various card/collectible companies, plus the typical collective and local type of deals).

[GrantDawg]

From everything I have read, there is no guarantee that Arch is in a hurry to turn pro. A lot of people think he will play out his college eligibility. Maybe, if he has favorite landing spot(s), that impacts his decision, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him as QB1 at Texas for the next couple of years.
There is also no guarantee he would be the number 1 rated QB in next years draft either, but it is a fun idea of having him go to the team where his grandfather was a star.

[Ksyrup]

I may be alone on this issue, and it's not limited to the NFL, but I find the marketing/TV frenzy around schedule releases to be ridiculous. We already know each team's opponents for the season. And sure, if I'm a season ticket holder or plan on trying to go to a game or two during the season, or even synching up an overseas trip with one of the international games, I'd like to know as soon as possible who is playing when and where. But outside of that, who the fuck cares?

As we get close to Week 1, sure, it will be of some interest to more closely analyze schedules - predicted hardest, easiest, etc., and see if there are any particular runs of easy/hard games for the team you root for. But right now? And to spend an hour or more watching a TV show dedicated to breaking down schedules 4 months before the season begins? Hard pass.

[cuervo72]

Same, and I think I've ranted on this in the past.

(Speaking of rants, I cursed at the TV the other day when the news had another ward of nurses who were all pregnant at the same time. Gee, only have had THAT story about 80 times! Fuckers.*)


* literally, I guess

[Honolulu_Blue]

I may be alone on this issue, and it's not limited to the NFL, but I find the marketing/TV frenzy around schedule releases to be ridiculous. We already know each team's opponents for the season. And sure, if I'm a season ticket holder or plan on trying to go to a game or two during the season, or even synching up an overseas trip with one of the international games, I'd like to know as soon as possible who is playing when and where. But outside of that, who the fuck cares?

As we get close to Week 1, sure, it will be of some interest to more closely analyze schedules - predicted hardest, easiest, etc., and see if there are any particular runs of easy/hard games for the team you root for. But right now? And to spend an hour or more watching a TV show dedicated to breaking down schedules 4 months before the season begins? Hard pass.

Yes. It's all nonsense. It went beyond ridiculous when they made a big announcement during the draft in which they simply announced the date the schedule would be announced.

I dislike an announcing of when another announcement will take place.

[Passacaglia]

They teased the release of the schedule a ton during the draft, and I ranted about that, until I realized I was watching multiple days of teams choosing players. So I can see where they are coming from.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Yeah, I fully understand any criticism about the draft and why it's silly to watch it, but I just enjoy it and love it so.

[Passacaglia]

Yeah, I fully understand any criticism about the draft and why it's silly to watch it, but I just enjoy it and love it so.

I'm not saying you're wrong to do it - I love it too - but I get why some exec would think "we can make a show about anything" - there's already the draft, shows about who gets in to the CFP, the NCAA tourney, why not this, right?

[sovereignstar v2]

Sure, but the point was we know who plays who as soon as the previous season ends. The same can’t be said for tourney selections and drafts.

[GrantDawg]

Falcons have 5 Primetime games this year. Yeah, exposure. Boo, having to stay up late. I wish we would have won more, but the season 2 years ago when we had 90% 1pm Sunday games was just perfect. Heck. I get cranky about 4pm games.

Now get off my lawn!

[Ksyrup]

Please, NO SPOILERS!

[RainMaker]

New story about Bears. Takeaway is Caleb Williams' dad is smart to not want his son to play for the Bears. Also the Bears just didn't coach Caleb and he had to ask the general manager during the season if he could hire someone to help him with film study. Clown franchise.

Book - Caleb Williams sought way around going to Chicago Bears - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45161794/caleb-williams-sought-way-going-chicago-bears)

[albionmoonlight]

Falcons have 5 Primetime games this year. Yeah, exposure. Boo, having to stay up late. I wish we would have won more, but the season 2 years ago when we had 90% 1pm Sunday games was just perfect. Heck. I get cranky about 4pm games.

Now get off my lawn!

100%

Saints have zero primetime games, and my reaction is "I'm gonna watch them lose a lot, but at least I'll be in bed by midnight"

[Passacaglia]

Also the Bears just didn't coach Caleb and he had to ask the general manager during the season if he could hire someone to help him with film study.

I'm having so much trouble wrapping my head around this.

[RainMaker]

I'm having so much trouble wrapping my head around this.

It's the Chicago Bears and quarterbacks. It actually isn't that surprising. No clue how Ryan Poles wasn't fired for this outside of it being the Bears and they are an incompetent organization.

[RainMaker]

If you're the owner of the Bears and you just added the best QB prospect your franchise has ever had, how could you not be utterly irate at the fact they didn't coach him or care that he developed? I would be so fucking mad.

[Passacaglia]

But why put the blame that high? On a lower level, what OC or QB coach is not sitting and watching film with their QBs? If I'm Ryan Poles, I'm assuming that's happening and that I don't need to make sure.

[Bobble]

How can you not do everything you can for your QB? Especially when that is your specific job. His success is your success.

[bhlloy]

Well, Purdy got paid as expected. In a vacuum my mind still tells me he's overpaid, then you look at the list of top 10 QBs in terms of salary in the league... yeesh.

I'd take Allen and Burrow over him, the rest is an exercise in good timing and agents.

[flere-imsaho]

I think RM's point, with which I would agree, is that it's indicative of an entire organizational culture that lacks accountability, and there's no evidence that the owners have ever really tried to instill it (not surprising, given that none of them have ever held a real job in a real organization).

[albionmoonlight]

Well, Purdy got paid as expected. In a vacuum my mind still tells me he's overpaid, then you look at the list of top 10 QBs in terms of salary in the league... yeesh.

I'd take Allen and Burrow over him, the rest is an exercise in good timing and agents.

When you get a guy, you pay him and keep him. As a fan of a team that has been in the quarterback wilderness since Brees retired, I get it. These guys don’t grow on trees and you can’t just assume you’ll grab one in the draft or fall into a Sam Darnold in Minnesota type situation.

[bhlloy]

I just saw something that says Purdy is paid 2m AAV less than Trevor Lawrence, despite the cap going up 24m since then.

On face value, that’s a pretty good indication of the difference between a well run team and the Jags.

[albionmoonlight]

https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/493061564_1101117395380507_3558719014644924442_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=c0vAMkYExHYQ7kNvwGLKGyr&_nc_oc=AdnU6_Pb4eNeC6nbJ6gPS-X73sg8kzM5Chlv24Gj9PX-MyvoCyJeRbOsqN3hRdpb4xg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&_nc_gid=kdxwIoAnKXupv1_Cfs0vng&oh=00_AfJf5dg1D9pbuKgQdPv4aFihjZx27sTjxV9f9JQcdcczfA&oe=6831072D

I know "Tom Brady won a lot of football games" is kind of obvious. But sometimes seeing the numbers laid out is still unbelievable.

[miami_fan]

But why put the blame that high? On a lower level, what OC or QB coach is not sitting and watching film with their QBs? If I'm Ryan Poles, I'm assuming that's happening and that I don't need to make sure.

Based on everything I have read and heard since the story came out, a player's independent film study is different than the film sessions with the coordinator or position coach. The preferred method is for young players to learn how to do independent film study from the film geek vet at their position or in their position group on the team. Brady credits Bledsoe for helping him with it, Mahomes credits Alex Smith for helping him. Ed Reed was famous for holding group film study for either the Ravens secondary or the Ravens entire defense at his house where he would teach the young guys how to watch film properly. If the plan was for Tyson Bagent to be that guy for the Bears and Caleb, that is ridiculous and is on Ryan Poles. My guess is the Bears signed Case Keenum mainly to fill that role for the Bears this year.

[CrimsonFox]

oooooo the colors!

[RainMaker]

But why put the blame that high? On a lower level, what OC or QB coach is not sitting and watching film with their QBs? If I'm Ryan Poles, I'm assuming that's happening and that I don't need to make sure.

He's the guy who hired the coaching staff. Also the guy who stuck with the staff after 2 terrible years when everyone else thought they should start fresh. And this was his 2nd OC after his 1st spectacularly failed.

I guess if I'm drafting the best QB prospect we've ever had, I'd make sure he is getting everything he needs to develop. Just feels like something that wouldn't happen in Kansas City or Philadelphia.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Am I missing where there's been any corroboration to the claims about the film stuff (or anything else really)?

Are we just assuming this is anything other than yet another meddling parent with a desire for 15 minutes of fame?

Cause, frankly, at this point those seem to be at least as common as really bad front offices.

[miami_fan]

Am I missing where there's been any corroboration to the claims about the film stuff (or anything else really)?

Are we just assuming this is anything other than yet another meddling parent with a desire for 15 minutes of fame?

Cause, frankly, at this point those seem to be at least as common as really bad front offices.

I'm not sure how and who would be an suitable source for corroboration to the claims of not being told what to watch for when watching film. There have been confirmed reports that veteran players asked Shane Waldron to coach the offense harder a few weeks into the season. The vets also seemed to be ones who requested Waldron's firing.

Inside Bears' frustrations leading up to Waldron's firing (https://www.audacy.com/670thescore/sports/chicago-bears/inside-bears-frustrations-leading-up-to-shane-waldron-firing)

Add in the below comments from Tyson Bagent on the differences between last year's staff and this year's staff, I would say it is more likely than not that what was said about last year's staff was true.

"The biggest difference that I'm seeing right now is the mixture of Ben and everybody that he brought with him and the way that they are teaching us what we are responsible for on every play, I think has been the biggest difference," Bagent told Kaplan and Ryan McGuffey.

The emphasis right now is making sure they understand the what and why now rather than the live game application.

"He puts a lot of the focus not necessarily on the defense but what is our job on the play and how perfect can we do that job each and every play," Bagent said. "And it's just very detail-oriented. Everything, all the dots connect.

The stuff with the dad was pretty much an open secret before the combine last year at the latest. I am pretty sure someone actually mentioned the father being a issue on here back then.

[Passacaglia]

Based on everything I have read and heard since the story came out, a player's independent film study is different than the film sessions with the coordinator or position coach. The preferred method is for young players to learn how to do independent film study from the film geek vet at their position or in their position group on the team. Brady credits Bledsoe for helping him with it, Mahomes credits Alex Smith for helping him. Ed Reed was famous for holding group film study for either the Ravens secondary or the Ravens entire defense at his house where he would teach the young guys how to watch film properly. If the plan was for Tyson Bagent to be that guy for the Bears and Caleb, that is ridiculous and is on Ryan Poles. My guess is the Bears signed Case Keenum mainly to fill that role for the Bears this year.

So the "allegation" here is that for his independent film study, different from the film sessions with the coordinator or position coach, he was given no guidance? Well that's some bull shit and not really what the articles I read were claiming. And I don't think some seasoned vet needs to be there to teach him how to watch film and who that vet is (honestly, it feels like if you end up with a vet that's super willing to teach your rookie how to watch film, you're just lucky) when it sounds like he's already actually watching film with a coach.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And I don't think some seasoned vet needs to be there to teach him how to watch film

Maybe you're just underestimating how poorly coached, trained, prepared a lot of the brats in the league posing as professionals are these days.

[JPhillips]

It's amazing to me how most of the NFL refuses to spend small amounts of money on things that would seem to make a very cost efficient difference to the wins/losses. I don't think a team is obligated to help with film study, but why wouldn't they? The cost, compared to other things they are spending money on, is minimal. It just seems like there are a lot of things that a million dollars in expenditures could greatly improve.

[Passacaglia]

Maybe you're just underestimating how poorly coached, trained, prepared a lot of the brats in the league posing as professionals are these days.

Not at all. I just disagree with the notion that replacing Tyson Bagent with Case Keenum is some kind of key to success, or even potentially a key to success. If the Bears coaches last year didn't put in the time to coach him properly, that's on them. If Caleb whines that "yes I watched film with coaches, but for my independent film study I was left alone" that's on him. Case Keenum isn't going to make a difference here.

[Danny]

Not at all. I just disagree with the notion that replacing Tyson Bagent with Case Keenum is some kind of key to success, or even potentially a key to success. If the Bears coaches last year didn't put in the time to coach him properly, that's on them. If Caleb whines that "yes I watched film with coaches, but for my independent film study I was left alone" that's on him. Case Keenum isn't going to make a difference here.

You may be underestimating this. The whole idea of a vet to help others kept Bryan Hoyer employed for like 15 years.

[RainMaker]

Am I missing where there's been any corroboration to the claims about the film stuff (or anything else really)?

Are we just assuming this is anything other than yet another meddling parent with a desire for 15 minutes of fame?

Cause, frankly, at this point those seem to be at least as common as really bad front offices.

In fairness, the greatest advice you can give to your child is to not be employed as the QB for the Chicago Bears.

It was mostly corroborated. The story came out during the season and Waldron was fired a week or two later. There were some other vets who spoke out about how there was no accountability from the staff and how they were basically on their own in training camp.

Not sure if Waldron is just a really bad coach or if he realized this was a dead end job with a lame duck coach and decided to mail it in. He was hired as a favor to an agent anyway.

[Honolulu_Blue]

What we really need now is for Ben Johnson to have a Robert Saleh-type arc. He goes to Chicago, everything turns out terribly, he leaves after a couple of years and returns to the warmth and safety of being Detroit's OC again.

[Bobble]

What we really need now is for Ben Johnson to have a Robert Saleh-type arc. He goes to Chicago, everything turns out terribly, he leaves after a couple of years and returns to the warmth and safety of being Detroit's OC again.

Subscribed.

[GrantDawg]

Jim Irsay has died at 65.

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[NobodyHere]

Jim Irsay has died at 65.

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Death always picks on the poor billionaires

[Passacaglia]

Caleb Williams gives his "response":

Bears QB Caleb Williams insists ‘I wanted to come here’ in response to book details - The Athletic (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6388834/2025/05/28/bears-caleb-williams-book-response/)

“That was a funny one that came out,” Caleb Williams said Wednesday. “It wasn’t that I didn’t know how to watch film. It was more or less the sense of …. learning ways to watch film and be more efficient, learning ways to pick up things better. So that was a funny one that came out, that in context, in how that was trying to be portrayed, didn’t get portrayed that way.”

[flere-imsaho]

This is one of the dumber controversies. We can take three things from it, none of which are remotely surprising:

1. The Bears' rookie QB was looking for ways to get better at his job and didn't get a lot of help, especially the kind of help that is routinely given to rookie QBs in other organizations.

2. The Bears didn't know how to upskill their rookie QB.

3. The Bears organization, from the top down, doesn't know how to run a modern football operation.

Compare and contrast all the things the Commanders' organization (with new ownership & leadership, importantly) did to help Jayden Daniels.

[albionmoonlight]

Even at the time, it was obvious that keeping Eberflus was a stupid idea.

[flere-imsaho]

Drafting a high-potential QB needs to be treated the same as giving someone the keys to one of those Ferraris or Porsches that routinely kill their drivers because they can't handle it. Are you 100% certain your HC/OC absolutely/positively knows how to develop your new blue-chip QB?

[albionmoonlight]

Rational Brain Me: The Saints simply lack talent. Wins are gonna be few and far between. The history of second round QBs is a graveyard; Shough is not the answer. The best thing we can hope for this season is that the recent high draft investments in the O-line will appear to have paid off and that Moore does not look outclassed as a head coach, even as the losses pile up. Those developments will provide a good foundation for rebuilding in 2026 and beyond as the Saints' cap situation finally normalizes.

Me Upon Reading Local Reporters Gushing About Shough and Rattler Looking Great in Non-Contact 7-on-7 Drills at OTAs: We are BACK baby!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Are you 100% certain your HC/OC absolutely/positively knows how to develop your new blue-chip QB?

Conversely tho, how certain are you that this even IS a blue-chip QB, versus a "well, nobody has a better idea that doesn't seem riskier public sooooo ..."

Could be that the lovechild of ghost Lombardi and Walsh couldn't develop the player. In which case, dont' change coaches now, wait and use the change as a way to save your own (GM) job a year down the road.

[GrantDawg]

Drafting a high-potential QB needs to be treated the same as giving someone the keys to one of those Ferraris or Porsches that routinely kill their drivers because they can't handle it. Are you 100% certain your HC/OC absolutely/positively knows how to develop your new blue-chip QB?
How about not drafting a blue-chip prospect, say maybe a third rounder, without hiring a QB coach or providing any actual extra instruction to him, and then naming him the starter without any competition? Then when the guy fails so badly you lose your job, and having missed evaluated the player so poorly that he is probably out of the league two years later, you still get OC job to be underwhelming in?

[flere-imsaho]

Fair, Jon. I was speaking from the POV of an owner, though.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Fair, Jon. I was speaking from the POV of an owner, though.

Hell, I wonder sometimes if THEY know they're fucked from the jump too.

[Passacaglia]

Conversely tho, how certain are you that this even IS a blue-chip QB, versus a "well, nobody has a better idea that doesn't seem riskier public sooooo ..."

Could be that the lovechild of ghost Lombardi and Walsh couldn't develop the player. In which case, dont' change coaches now, wait and use the change as a way to save your own (GM) job a year down the road.

If you draft a guy #1 (and really, anywhere in the top half of the 1st round), you're all in on that guy. I don't think there's anything to be gained from speculating about whether or not he's that good. You've already decided he is. He's your franchise now.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Lions center, Frank Ragnow, just announced his retirement. He’s suffered a ton of injuries during his career and his body just couldn’t do it anymore. A great player. He’ll be missed and it’s a huge loss for the Lions.

[JPhillips]

Wow.

He was the guy the Bengals wanted but everyone knew it so the Lions jumped up and got him. The Bengals went with Billy Price and, well, that didn't work out.

[albionmoonlight]

The Lions didn't use the draft or FA to find a replacement, so I suspect that he only recently came to the decision himself.

[Danny]

It sounds he wanted to go but his body said no

[Honolulu_Blue]

Yeah, I think he was planning on giving it a try, but just couldn't do it. The Lions did draft two guards and already had one taking reps at center during the rookie mini-camp, so I think they may have had some inkling he might retire.

The Lions running metrics with and without Ragnow in the line-up are pretty stark. He's a key cog in the machine. A multiple pro-bowler and a 2nd team All-Pro. It's going to be tough sledding without him.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tough day for Centers I guess, David Andrews announces his retirement as well

[RainMaker]

That's a tough position to play in the NFL from a physical standpoint.

[Edward64]

A great Hog. Happy retirement for him

[BishopMVP]

The Lions didn't use the draft or FA to find a replacement, so I suspect that he only recently came to the decision himself.
You don't think that played into picking Tate Ratledge so high? I know he played G not C at Georgia but size wise he seems a lot closer to Ragnow (and I'm assuming what Dan Campbell wants) than <300 pound Jared Wilson the C who the Pats took a round later. I'm sure they still wanted Ragnow to play and could have started Ratledge at G or just had him back up all the IOL this year, but I think they were aware it was a possibility.

Sad about Andrews too, stalwart for a decade in New England and seems like a great guy too.

[albionmoonlight]

You don't think that played into picking Tate Ratledge so high? I know he played G not C at Georgia but size wise he seems a lot closer to Ragnow (and I'm assuming what Dan Campbell wants) than <300 pound Jared Wilson the C who the Pats took a round later. I'm sure they still wanted Ragnow to play and could have started Ratledge at G or just had him back up all the IOL this year, but I think they were aware it was a possibility.

Sad about Andrews too, stalwart for a decade in New England and seems like a great guy too.

Fair enough. That might have very well been the plan. I just didn't hear anything about it during the draft, so I missed that Ratledge might have been that plan.

[albionmoonlight]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Comp update: Ravens signed WR Rashod Bateman to a three-year, $36.75 million contract extension that includes $20 million guaranteed. <a href="https://t.co/VCHZOkmLJe">https://t.co/VCHZOkmLJe</a></p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1930618880667295790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Certain teams are just the kings of the quiet moves in June that no one talks about but that keep them relevant year after year.

In two years when guys like Rashid Shaheed are getting $15+/year, this contract will seem like a bargain.

[Thomkal]

Looks like Aaron Rodgers is going to sign with the Steelers, Probably the end of Tomlin's time as head coach if it doesn't work

[QuikSand]

Certain teams are just the kings of the quiet moves in June that no one talks about but that keep them relevant year after year.

In two years when guys like Rashid Shaheed are getting $15+/year, this contract will seem like a bargain.

Looking at the caliber of guys out there who got paid $10m this year (Tutu Atwell, Dyami Brown, Josh Palmer) it makes a guy like Bateman look like a pretty reasonable investment at just a couple clicks more than that. I think he is a far more complete player than any of those guys.

[flere-imsaho]

Wonder what they'll give Flowers.

[dubb93]

Anthony Richardson is already hurt again. Same injury that ended his 2023 season although that one required surgery and they are saying this one just needs rest. Red flags on top of red flags. If there was one thing THIS guy needed it wasn’t to miss OTAs and training camp.

[henry296]

How could the Steelers not be in the position to have to play 41 year old Aaron Rodgers. Today, I was curious what different realistic decisions could they have made and drafting Brock Purdy in round 7 is not one of them.

In 2019 of course Ben hurts his elbow and the Steelers decide to trade the following 1st round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick.

2020: Jordan Love was taken a few picks after that trade pick. Or they could have taken Jalen Hurts a few picks after Chase Claypool in round 2. Assuming Ben players the next 2 years, both would sit for 2 years.

2021: Steelers take Najee Harris at 24 overall. Mac Jones went 15th and was a possible trade up. The next two QBs taken were Kyle Trask at the end of round 2 or Davis Mills in early round 3. Neither probably was a real option at the top and not in hindsight.

2022: Try to address the position with signing Mitch Trubisky and drafting Kenny Pickett. Didn't pass over obvious option in draft. Jamies Winston was highest ranked free agent.

2023: QBs go in top 4 not realistic option with the #14 pick. Could've taken Will Levis at top of round 2 instead of Joey Porter Jr.

2024: Similar to 2023, top QBs all go in top 12 with pick 20 in the first round, so trade up would have been costly.

With the benefit of a little bit of hindsight but also with good future planning, the mistake was in 2019/2020. The Green Bay plan to draft the future and let them sit for 2 years was the right approach even if it pissed off the franchise icon.

However, once that opportunity passed, there wasn't a reasonable chance they would have found a starter since then without tanking or giving up significant capital to move up in 2023 or 2024.

[JonInMiddleGA]

How could the Steelers not be in the position to have to play 41 year old Aaron Rodgers. Today, I was curious what different realistic decisions could they have made and drafting Brock Purdy in round 7 is not one of them.

Good shit IMO. This is the sort of rabbit hole I like to fall into occasionally, sometimes reality isn't quite what popular opinion/general sentiment suggests.

[BishopMVP]

Good shit IMO. This is the sort of rabbit hole I like to fall into occasionally, sometimes reality isn't quite what popular opinion/general sentiment suggests.I think 2021 is where they messed up, should have traded up for Mac Jones instead of drafting Najee Harris.

[bhlloy]

The guy with a lower career passer rating than Trubisky, Minshew, Mariota etc…?

The same guy the Jags just said wasn’t good enough to be a backup?

Finding a QB has got to be the most impactful and difficult thing in pro sports.

[flere-imsaho]

I really don't understand what the Steelers are doing here. If they had Rodgers last year, they probably still lose to the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs, and by most accounts the team, unit-by-unit, is generally worse this year.

I know no one likes to tank but at some point you have to realize that it's going to be tough to get a good QB if you're always picking in the late teens and 20s. Or maybe they're just scarred by their misses since Roethlisberger left.

On a related note, if you wanted to make QBs less impactful, how would you restructure the game (in-game rules, mainly) to make it happen?

[GrantDawg]

I really don't understand what the Steelers are doing here. If they had Rodgers last year, they probably still lose to the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs, and by most accounts the team, unit-by-unit, is generally worse this year.

I know no one likes to tank but at some point you have to realize that it's going to be tough to get a good QB if you're always picking in the late teens and 20s. Or maybe they're just scarred by their misses since Roethlisberger left.

On a related note, if you wanted to make QBs less impactful, how would you restructure the game (in-game rules, mainly) to make it happen?
Allow more contact on wide receivers. Basically the level of holding and harassing they did in the seventies.

[cuervo72]

Yep, that.

[RainMaker]

I don't like that as it just neuters athletic players. Kind of like how bogged down hockey got at one point.

I'd say cut back on the ridiculous roughing the passer calls. Sure if you launch yourself at someone's head or rip a guy down 2 seconds after they throw it's a penalty. But hands grazing a helmet or the other nonsense calls just make it easier to be a QB and throw. It'd at least make offensive line play more important compared to QB and add more risk to the passing game.

Also illegal contact should not be an automatic 1st down.

[Danny]

As much money as the NFL is making why on earth would they consider anything that significantly alters the game unless they had to.

[albionmoonlight]

I think that defensive penalties should give the offense the yardage and reply the down. If the yardage is enough to get a first, then you get a first. Otherwise, just replay the down 5 or 10 yards closer.

[Passacaglia]

Maybe change formation rules? Force teams to use a true TE, two WRs lined up right at the LOS, and two RBs who have to line up inside the tackle box. Or have 7 OL and just three eligible receivers.

[RainMaker]

I think that defensive penalties should give the offense the yardage and reply the down. If the yardage is enough to get a first, then you get a first. Otherwise, just replay the down 5 or 10 yards closer.

They also need to come up with an unsportsmanlike conduct that isn't 15 yards. Taunting shouldn't be the same penalty as ripping a guys helmet off and beating him with it. Or when guys get chippy after a play, just make it 5 yards.

Another change would be not allowing offensive tackles to essentially line up in the backfield. This would force teams to keep tight ends in or running backs to help. It's neutered a lot of the speed rushers. This rule is already on the books but refs rarely call it.

[Danny]

That sounds super boring and a great way to stifle offensive creativity. A sublte change to say defensive pi being a 15 yard max foul and pulling back slightly on defensive penaltiies in general (pi, roughing etc) would be enough to help without a major change.

[RainMaker]

It's already a rule. They just don't enforce it and let tackles line up further and further off the line.

[Passacaglia]

I've read that defenses don't mind when the rule is broken anyway since it's a tell.

[Ksyrup]

That rule was a point of emphasis last season, as I recall. I recall it being called quite often.

[Ryche]

Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold are all free agents they could have signed who would be better than Rodgers. But that's definitely hindsight (or maybe foresight in the case of Cousins)

That's the problem with being stuck in mediocrity in the NFL. It's hard to find that franchise quarterback. You just have to keep taking swings until you do. I'm guessing they will be in a better position to do that in what should be a fairly deep QB class next season.

[GrantDawg]

Chris Conely has retired from the NFL to go to film school. I have a feeling we are going to be hearing a lot about him in the future. What an amazingly talented guy.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45470011/veteran-wr-chris-conley-retires-nfl-attend-film-school

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[albionmoonlight]

Shemar Stewart leaves Bengals minicamp amid contract dispute - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45498593/source-shemar-stewart-leaves-bengals-minicamp-amid-contract-dispute)

It must be insanity-making to be a fan of a team that won the draft lottery twice with Burrow and Chase and to see that opportunity being squandered by the most penny-pinching ownership in the league.

[JPhillips]

Honestly, Stewart doesn't bother me as much as Hendrickson, which doesn't bother me as much as relying on a third-round draft pick and some journeymen for guards when they have 30 mil in cap space.

[BishopMVP]

Stewart seems entirely based on the Bengals trying to set a new precedent with contract language not a money issue though, good on him for not caving in so now the Bengals can look dumb or he won't be ready at all for this season... and the guy with great measurables but only 4.5 sacks in college is probably someone you want practicing as much as possible.

[Danny]

Shadeur really setting in a team leader and face of the Browns organization.

[Kodos]

101 mph? He's got speed to burn!

[Danny]

And apparently another ticket that he didnt show up to court for.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Wouldn't have happened if he had more protection from his OL.

[flere-imsaho]

You owe me a new keyboard, Jon.

[Carman Bulldog]

And apparently another ticket that he didnt show up to court for.

Can you blame him? Was probably counting on 1st round pick money to be able to pay the ticket. But 5th round pick money instead? Fuhgeddaboudit.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The missed court appearance is totally understandable.

He's not used to hearing his name called that early.

[albionmoonlight]

"Second careers in retirement are becoming more common as people maintain health into older age. Some people go back to school and become substitute teachers. Others turn hobbies like gardening into small businesses. And Jon here has become a very successful standup comedian specializing in Shedeur Sanders jokes."

[GrantDawg]

Good golly almighty. I hate summer. I need football with every fiber of my being right now. Is it time for camp yet!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Didn't someone predict Jonnu to the Steelers in this thread somewhere?

The Miami Dolphins have traded three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a pick swap, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.

As part of the trade, the Dolphins are sending a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Steelers and will receive a 2027 fifth-round pick back from Pittsburgh.

[Glengoyne]

Boy I'm not sure who is going to catch all of the balls in Miami now. Last season the receivers were completely MIA. I guess Achane might catch a hundred balls this season. Did they do anything to upgrade their line or scheme a way to get the ball down field?

[flere-imsaho]

I guess Achane might catch a hundred balls this season.

Well, when Tua's not hurt. Zach Wilson is the backup QB.

[RainMaker]

That was a very short rap career.

[miami_fan]

Nothing on the NFLPA executive director potentially being a double agent and resigning?

Amid scrutiny, Lloyd Howell out as NFLPA executive director - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45766841/amid-scrutiny-lloyd-howell-nflpa-executive-director)

TL;DR

FBI starts investigating the NFLPA and MLBPA.

NFLPA starts to investigate what Lloyd Howell is doing.

Howell is found to be a part time consultant for a private equity trying to own an NFL team.

Howell signed an confidentiality agreement with the NFL to hide the details of arbitration case. While the arbiter found there wasn't sufficient evidence of collusion by owners in contract negotiations with quarterbacks after the record, fully guaranteed contract signed by quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022, he also found that the NFLPA showed "by a clear preponderance of the evidence" that commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's general counsel Jeff Pash had urged owners to restrict guaranteed money in player contracts.
After that news broke, Howell decided to appeal the ruling.

Finally, Howell was sued and settled a sexual discrimination lawsuit and some players are saying that they did not know about this before they voted for him.

I think it is clear the part time consultancy and the confidentiality agreement are the bigger deals. I'm not sure why the union would want to keep any of this confidential. I have no idea why the owners and the league would have enough evidence to meet the "clear preponderance" line re: guaranteed contracts unless they thought that a fellow owner might be ready to sign another QB to a guarantee contract.

Per Droney's decision on July 22, 2022, Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos texted Bidwill to congratulate him on signing Murray and let him know that the parameters of the contract (not fully guaranteed) would help Spanos' upcoming negotiations with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

"I think many teams will be happy with it once they have a chance to review. Cleveland really screwed things up, but I was resolved to keep the guaranteed relatively 'low," Bidwill said in the text exchange.

Do owners congratulate fellow owners for signing players regularly?

[JPhillips]

So frustrating being a Bengals fan. Looks like they are going to start camp without their best DE and their 1st and 2nd round picks.

[Carman Bulldog]

Do owners congratulate fellow owners for signing players regularly?

Feels like you missed the best part of this...

Spanos: “Congratulations on signing Murray.”

Bidwill: “Thanks Deno! These QB deals are expensive but we limited the fully guaranteed money and have some pretty good language. Thankfully, we have a QB that’s worth paying.”

Bidwell gives Dean Spanos the "Deno"?

[albionmoonlight]

First season-ending injury announcement of training camp season:

Will Levis getting season-ending surgery.

[Ksyrup]

Actually, one of the Lions' DL is already out for the season. Apparently bad luck doesn't just end when the previous season ends.

[flere-imsaho]

To take nothing away from Devin Hester, an amazing athlete and HOF returner, but those Bears special teams really knew how to block: - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGVx3uL7D1g)

[albionmoonlight]

I follow the NFL pretty closely, and I was shocked to learn that Eli Apple is still playing and that's he's still under 30. It feels like he's been a mediocre CB in the league for 20 years now.

49ers Sign CB Eli Apple to One-Year Deal; Release a Wide Receiver (https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-cb-eli-apple-to-one-year-deal-release-a-wide-receiver)

[Lathum]

Something really cool just happened.

I am a University of Washington alum. Every summer we vacation on Nantucket where Bill Belichek owns a house. They have a great brewery here. Last summer I was at the brewery and the bartender noticed I had a Washington shirt on. He asked if I went there. I said I did and he told me Steven Belicheck goes to the brewery often and gave them a helmet as he was out D coordinator..

Fast forward this summer and there is now a UNC helmet there, for obvious reasons. I ask the bartender what happened to the helmet and he wasn't sure. I told him if it turns up I would totally take it off his hands.

As we are leaving an hour later a woman walks up to me, points at my UW shirt, and asked if I was the guy looking for the helmet. I assume she works there and says that I was and if it turns up I would love to have it. She then says "I'm Stevens wife" and I was like, hoy shit, this is Bill Belicheks daughter in law. We chatted for a bit and she was lovely, and no, I did not ask her about her new mom.

[albionmoonlight]

Neat!

[CrimsonFox]

You owe me a new keyboard, Jon.

Did you spit out your dr pepper blackberry zero on it?

[RainMaker]

To take nothing away from Devin Hester, an amazing athlete and HOF returner, but those Bears special teams really knew how to block: - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGVx3uL7D1g)

Dave Toub is a brilliant special teams coach. He went on to Kansas City and has been running their special teams for over a decade now. Maybe the best to ever do it.

[miami_fan]

Source - Christian Wilkins' kiss made Raiders player uncomfortable - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45843460/source-raiders-player-was-offended-wilkins-playful-kiss)

I have so many questions.

[HerRealName]

Source - Christian Wilkins' kiss made Raiders player uncomfortable - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45843460/source-raiders-player-was-offended-wilkins-playful-kiss)

I have so many questions.

He has a history. The source sucks but it shows the incident in a quick short:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BLjvii_LxZs

[Danny]

Raiders (including all coaches and players) have been super tight lipped about Wilkins (one other DL did say players should seek therapy when needed without directly naming Wilkins), so its likely there is more than this one report.

[miami_fan]

We do know it is more than that though.

Carroll: Raiders' decision to release Wilkins 'took a long time' - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45823859/carroll-raiders-decision-release-wilkins-took-long)

He has been recovering from a Jones fracture, which he suffered in his left foot last October. Based on how Wilkins treated the rehab from his injury, the Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money left on his contract on June 4, sources said.

The belief was that Wilkins needed another surgery on his foot; he went against it, sources told ESPN. The Raiders then voided the guaranteed money left on his deal due to "failure to maintain his physical condition to play."

I am not familiar with labor law and the CBA but I assume a player can choose not to have surgery and the team can not force him to do so. This seems like a winnable case for Wilkins and the NFLPA.

A few days later, the report comes out about him kissing a teammate on the head and the teammate took enough of offense to go to file an HR complaint.

First off let's be honest, an NFL defensive linemen going to HR because a teammate kissed him on the forehead goes against the stereotype. I find that interesting. But more seriously, if Wilkins is going around giving out unwanted kisses to his teammates, sure cut him. I would understand that being something that would void his guaranteed money more than just refusing to have surgery especially if this is something in his contract because of history. It just feels like they wanted to cut him and not pay him the guaranteed money, weren't too sure about how the injury claim grievance might go so the kiss on the forehead incident was put out there.

[bhlloy]

I’m pretty sure NFL teams can easily not pay a player for not getting a surgery. If somebody tears their ACL and decides “nah, just pay me the rest of my three year contract, I’m good” rather than surgery and rehab then that’s an obvious cut with justifiable cause.

The question is, where’s the line between what the Raiders wanted and their doctors thought was needed for Wilkins to be the player they were paying for and what Wilkins and his doctors thought, and that will be argued about by lots of very expensive lawyers.

Or the Jack Eichel argument again, just instead of one of the most valuable assets in the league Wilkins is just an overpaid DT on the downside of his career the Raiders are quite happy to get rid of.

[Danny]

Usually when a player is released you see some former teammates comment how they will miss so and so or say something generally supportive while acknowledging its a business. Not a single raider teamate has come out with a word of support for Wilkins. I think its likely he was doing a lot of inappropriate shit beyond this one reported incident and his refusal to get surgery.

[miami_fan]

I’m pretty sure NFL teams can easily not pay a player for not getting a surgery. If somebody tears their ACL and decides “nah, just pay me the rest of my three year contract, I’m good” rather than surgery and rehab then that’s an obvious cut with justifiable cause.

The question is, where’s the line between what the Raiders wanted and their doctors thought was needed for Wilkins to be the player they were paying for and what Wilkins and his doctors thought, and that will be argued about by lots of very expensive lawyers.

Or the Jack Eichel argument again, just instead of one of the most valuable assets in the league Wilkins is just an overpaid DT on the downside of his career the Raiders are quite happy to get rid of.

After the whole COVID era and refusal to seek medical treatment on religious grounds, I am not sure any of that stuff is cut and dry. I know players have chosen different options instead of surgery for various injuries without consequences from the team. That was the official reason for Kobe going to Germany and Steph chose to do stem cell therapy instead of having surgery for an MCL sprain so he could play in the 2016 Finals. Not saying Wilkins is Kobe or Steph but if there is another option to fully recovering from his injury besides surgery, I would be shocked if he was forced to do the surgery against his wishes.

Usually when a player is released you see some former teammates comment how they will miss so and so or say something generally supportive while acknowledging its a business. Not a single raider teamate has come out with a word of support for Wilkins. I think its likely he was doing a lot of inappropriate shit beyond this one reported incident and his refusal to get surgery.

I would not be shocked to hear that he was an absolute dick behind the scenes. I'm not saying he should not be cut and have his contract voided. I just have a hard time believing that an NFL team especially the Raiders would get rid of a high priced defensive player because he kissed a teammate on the head and the teammate felt uncomfortable enough to go to HR. That reason is a bit more "wokeness" than I expect from an NFL team. That's all.

[bhlloy]

Not saying Wilkins is Kobe or Steph

This could have been the post, he’s not, he’s a player the Raiders don’t want playing for them in regards to on field production or off the field for that money, and they think the medical reason is cut and dry enough that they don’t have to pay him.

We will see if they are right, it’s the Raiders in 2025 after all, but it’s not really any more complicated than that.

[dubb93]

His season last year wasn't that bad for 5 games. PFF had him as DT #21 and was on pace to have numbers really close to his numbers the year before. The Raiders did overpay him by quite a bit though so I'm sure they want to take that contract back.

[Passacaglia]

All a misunderstanding -- they wanted to know if he had That Dog in him.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NmFfQH1kOqk?si=PJ_9BOeS4CQ6nsas&amp;controls=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[bhlloy]

I’d take a shot on Trey Lance if I was a QB needy team. He’s still younger than some picks in the latest draft and the raw talent is there.

[RainMaker]

So RedZone, one of the last great things in sports will be moving to ESPN and likely ruined with commercials and crap.

NFL deals Red Zone, NFL Media assets to ESPN in blockbuster billion-dollar agreement: Sources - The Athletic (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6530655/2025/08/01/nfl-espn-media-deal-tv-broadcast/)

[Honolulu_Blue]

I hope they don’t mess with NFL+ too much. I use it all the time to watch games or the Red Zone on my phone or iPad.

[Lathum]

I was talking with my buddy last night. As most know I am a monster Giants fan and a Washington Alum.

I said I think I will spend more actual minutes watching Falcons games this year than Giants.

[GrantDawg]

I'm excited to see what Pennix does this year.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[flere-imsaho]

Hahahahaha. (https://www.theringer.com/2025/08/04/nfl/micah-parsons-jerry-jones-dallas-cowboys-negotiation)

According to Parsons, he’d hoped to negotiate a contract extension after his third season—which ended with him becoming a three-time All-Pro. (Note that, at the time, the absolute top dollar for a premier defensive end was Nick Bosa’s $34 million per year.) But back then, the Cowboys weren’t interested.

Parsons said he initially wanted to open negotiations again after last season but, on the advice of his agent, David Mulugheta, ultimately chose to wait for several other top defensive ends, like Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, and T.J. Watt, to reset the market with their new contracts. That advice was sound; all three have since signed new deals that, at signing, made each player the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL and pushed the threshold for a record-setting deal by annual value into the low $40 millions. Crosby’s deal is for three years and $35.5 million per season, Garrett’s is for four years at $40 million per season, and Watt’s, completed two weeks ago, is for three years and $41 million per season. In the past four years, dating to his rookie season, Parsons leads Crosby, Garrett, and Watt in sacks (52.5) and leads Garrett and Watt in pressures (330, tied with Crosby). There’s no sound logic for Parsons’s marketplace to do anything but build on those record-setting deals, so this should have been simple.

Let's say Parsons eventually signs for 3 year & $42M/season. Ignoring the concept of guaranteed money for the time being, Jones will have cost himself ~24M.

~24M could plug a lot of holes on the Cowboys right now.

Jerry Jones is the Donald Trump of the NFL.

[miami_fan]

Hahahahaha. (https://www.theringer.com/2025/08/04/nfl/micah-parsons-jerry-jones-dallas-cowboys-negotiation)



Let's say Parsons eventually signs for 3 year & $42M/season. Ignoring the concept of guaranteed money for the time being, Jones will have cost himself ~24M.

~24M could plug a lot of holes on the Cowboys right now.

Jerry Jones is the Donald Trump of the NFL.

I want to believe Jerry is just being a playful douche in trying to the meeting about "leadership" with Parsons without his agent into a formal contract negotiation and think it would stick. On the other hand, I don't remember Jerry holding "leadership" meetings with Dak or CeeDee so I guess he sees Micah as Boo Boo the Fool.

[albionmoonlight]

If you know that you are going to pay a guy, do it sooner rather than later.

If you don't plan to pay a guy, trade him sooner rather than later.

Waiting is almost never to the team's advantage.

[bhlloy]

Rashawn Slater done for the year. So Chargers to invest massively in building the best offensive line in the game and then lose the left tackle a couple weeks after making him the highest paid at his position.

OMG it’s football finally so I’m going to overreact to the slightest thing I see - Riley Leonard will get some play for the Colts this year and could be the best QB on the roster

[QuikSand]

Riley Leonard will get some play for the Colts this year and could be the best QB on the roster

there we go

[flere-imsaho]

Worst QB situation is quite a race between New Orleans, Indianapolis, and Cleveland. Any others?

Even more amusing, two of those three had great QB situations in living memory.

[QuikSand]

Cleveland keeps loading up the clown car... are they up to six signed QBs?

[JPhillips]

The Bengals are who we thought they were. That offense is going to put up a lot of points unless the guards cause Burrow to get killed early in the season. The defense is terrible. Should be fun to watch shootouts.

[albionmoonlight]

I understand that the high-end running QBs probably are still the smarter play. But I'm leaning toward Burrow as my fantasy QB1 just because it will be fun to have my QB throw for 400 yards.

[bhlloy]

The Bengals are who we thought they were. That offense is going to put up a lot of points unless the guards cause Burrow to get killed early in the season.

Bold strategy leaving the starters in for 2 series in the first preseason game in that case. Did we really need to learn that Burrow and Chase are really, really good and have chemistry with each other?

[bhlloy]

Cleveland keeps loading up the clown car... are they up to six signed QBs?

I guess you do technically need 3 QBs to get through a preseason game and they really don't want to put Flacco in the firing line, but if they do anything else other than give Shedeur the entire game they are the worst run franchise in football for a reason.

Overall I tend to think the smoke around him is real and he will be out of the league on the same schedule Johnny Football was, but there's also not a worse franchise he possibly could have gone to... even before they started drafting and signing other QB's like they were going out of stock in early August.

[JPhillips]

Bold strategy leaving the starters in for 2 series in the first preseason game in that case. Did we really need to learn that Burrow and Chase are really, really good and have chemistry with each other?

They've had a few years now of poor starts and both the players and the coaches think part of the issue is light work at camp and in pre-season games. Camp has been notably more vigorous and the plan is to play starters in the pre-season games a lot more than previously.

It's not without risk, but there is a plan.

[flere-imsaho]

I understand that the high-end running QBs probably are still the smarter play. But I'm leaning toward Burrow as my fantasy QB1 just because it will be fun to have my QB throw for 400 yards.

If I get the #1 pick in my fantasy draft I'm picking Chase in the first, Higgins in the second, Burrow in the third, and the RB (name escapes me atm) in the 4th, Gesicki in the 5th, their kicker in the 6th, and then auto draft.

[GrantDawg]

Touching scene in Atlanta, as a Lion's CB goes down with what looks a terrible head/kneck injury. After he was taken off the field in ambulance, the Falcons took one more snap and then stood hand in hand with the Lions players as the clock ran. They finally called the game after the clock ran 6 minutes on the play.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[NobodyHere]

Someone just made the team...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CAM LITTLE 70-YARD FIELD GOAL<br><br>Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/OCIZ1W5M5f">pic.twitter.com/OCIZ1W5M5f</a></p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1954338776349815211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Thomkal]

Crazy FG. my beloved Cards beat the Chiefs last night, too bad it didn't mean anything

[Edward64]

Someone just made the team

Go Hogs!

[bhlloy]

Zach Wilson wearing #0 might be a bit too on the nose

[albionmoonlight]

Touching scene in Atlanta, as a Lion's CB goes down with what looks a terrible head/kneck injury. After he was taken off the field in ambulance, the Falcons took one more snap and then stood hand in hand with the Lions players as the clock ran. They finally called the game after the clock ran 6 minutes on the play.

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I went to the replay of the game mainly because I wanted to see that six minutes and they cut it from the NFL plus rebroadcast. I wonder if the league for some reason does not like that the players did that.

[GrantDawg]

It is embarrassing to the League that it took them that long to call the game.

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[JPhillips]

Crazy that the guy yesterday released a statement that he's fine.

[Bobble]

It is embarrassing to the League that it took them that long to call the game.

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It's not a good look but I can't imagine that there's a streamlined process to get the appropriate sign-off especially considering ad revenue. I mean, they should be prepared for this ever since the Hamlin incident but a corporation not being prepared for an emotional situation is not a surprise.

[JonInMiddleGA]

It's not a good look but I can't imagine that there's a streamlined process to get the appropriate sign-off especially considering ad revenue.

And considering fans who paid to be there.

And considering that there might be players losing out on roster slots due to the abbreviated playing time.

[GrantDawg]

Considering it was those very players that snapped the ball and stood there, it was their call. And the fans have reacted very positively to the decision to call the game. I'm sure the pocket change they would have made on one of the lowest rated quarters of football of the season be hard for the NFL to make up, but I imagine they will go on somehow.
The players watched Norris take a hit to the head so hard that he had a seizure on the ground. They weren't interested in continuing.

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[JonInMiddleGA]

They weren't interested in continuing.

Except that isn't really their call to make. Contrary to the delusion, they're employees not bosses.

Just another example of why the NFL going out of business would fill me with delight.

[Passacaglia]

Except that isn't really their call to make. Contrary to the delusion, they're employees not bosses.

Just another example of why the NFL going out of business would fill me with delight.

I dunno man. I guess we are supposed to wait until our corporate overlords tell us to jump before we say "how high" but I feel like if someone in any of our workplaces gets hauled off to the hospital, we'd all probably just be phoning it in for the rest of the day and doing the bare minimum without waiting for our bosses to tell us it's okay.

Also, I guess we need to clarify who "they" is. I thought I read that Morris and Campbell were the people who made the call. So the players were "just following orders" and listening to their bosses, and if anyone is to blame, it's the coaches.

[miami_fan]

I dunno man. I guess we are supposed to wait until our corporate overlords tell us to jump before we say "how high" but I feel like if someone in any of our workplaces gets hauled off to the hospital, we'd all probably just be phoning it in for the rest of the day and doing the bare minimum without waiting for our bosses to tell us it's okay.

Also, I guess we need to clarify who "they" is. I thought I read that Morris and Campbell were the people who made the call. So the players were "just following orders" and listening to their bosses, and if anyone is to blame, it's the coaches.

But for people in that workplace from the time they were in high school or even lower, teammates have watched one of their own be hauled off to the hospital and have just moved to the other side of the field to continue practicing or waited until after the giant prayer circle before continuing the game. That is the game. That is why we comfortably call those guys(along with hockey players) warriors, soldiers, troopers, etc. as opposed to the mere mortal athletes who play other team sports.

I don't think anything was lost by not playing that entire quarter. I don't see it as being any worse as a quarter being lost to a lightning storm or the lights going out in the stadium. Staffs seemed to be leaning more and more heavily on the joint practices than the actual preseason games.

[NobodyHere]

Except that isn't really their call to make. Contrary to the delusion, they're employees not bosses.

Just another example of why the NFL going out of business would fill me with delight.

If this happened during a regular season game, I wonder if the ticket holders could sue the NFL and/or the teams.

Having players not play for a significant portion of a game would be like a movie theater just deciding to stop a movie partway through.

The ticket holders could claim they didn't get what they paid for.

[miami_fan]

If this happened during a regular season game, I wonder if the ticket holders could sue the NFL and/or the teams.

Having players not play for a significant portion of a game would be like a movie theater just deciding to stop a movie partway through.

The ticket holders could claim they didn't get what they paid for.

Well we did just have the Damar Hamiln game so we have actual proof as to what would happen. IIRC from the aftermath of that game, purchasing a ticket only guarantees someone entry into an event not a guarantee of the full event.

[albionmoonlight]

Interesting question. Do NFL owners have more contempt for players or for fans?

[JonInMiddleGA]

I thought I read that Morris and Campbell were the people who made the call. So the players were "just following orders" and listening to their bosses, and if anyone is to blame, it's the coaches.

That is NOT how is was portrayed at the time/ in the immediate aftermath (at least not in anything I saw). That was much more in the vein of "players standing around, then coaches react to that, then officials talk to coaches about wtf"

I have seen the coach-determined version of events since however, and if it's accurate in its portrayal then one or both* should be facing suspension afaic.

*(the latest version I've seen made it sound like it was Campbell and Morris just went along with it)

[JonInMiddleGA]

but I feel like if someone in any of our workplaces gets hauled off to the hospital, we'd all probably just be phoning it in for the rest of the day and doing the bare minimum without waiting for our bosses to tell us it's okay.

We've apparently worked in some very different places.

And touch on miamifan's point, I've seen games as low as middle school continue right on after an extended injury my entire life, with delays up to 45 mins.

The only cancellations I've seen in person involved severe injury in games with 50 point margins and no more than maybe 5 minutes left and those are rare (I think only once, maybe twice if I could remember better about one probably 40'ish years back)

[Atocep]

Used the wife's school email to get sunday ticket for $120. First time having it since '05.

[JonInMiddleGA]

You'd like to think that this would be somebody would might know better. Yeah, right.

How he didn't end up playing at UGA is the real mystery to me

Browns' Myles Garrett cited for driving 100 mph in 60 mph zone - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45949332/browns-myles-garrett-cited-speeding-clocked-going-100-mph-60-mph-zone)

[sovereignstar v2]

Only 100? Jordan Addison was caught doing 140 in a 55 around the Twin Cities area his rookie year, the bonehead

[miami_fan]

Interesting question. Do NFL owners have more contempt for players or for fans?

Fans.

Owners are still feel the players are worth paying more and more money overall while the fans are not worthy of having more and more money taken from them.

[cuervo72]

OOH BOY FALCONS STADIUM HAS A NEW MOVIE THEATER LOBBY ER I MEAN LOUNGE WITH A REALLY DISTANT VIEW OF THE FIELD

(I mean seriously, the game broadcast did a whole bit on how great the “Sports Illustrated Lounge” is and how the stadium is fantastic and…it looks like really expensive standing room only to me, with a movie theater concession stand at the back.)

[GrantDawg]

Daniel Jones has been named starter over Anthony Richardson. Sounds like things in Colts-land is going well.

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[NobodyHere]

Daniel Jones has been named starter over Anthony Richardson. Sounds like things in Colts-land is going well.

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I think I can speak for all of Colts-land when I say:

https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZzVtNTlmcTJiOWlrcWs1OTdpdWxubXVteGhobHcyYmR6NGtoZmQ0MyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/3o6MbhYjXivHHMrLSE/giphy.gif

And maybe the river of the future will wash away the stench of Jim Irsay.

[dubb93]

Daniel Jones has been named starter over Anthony Richardson. Sounds like things in Colts-land is going well.

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All you have to do is watch the play in the first preseason game where AR got hurt to understand why he can’t start. Base defense with no disguise the defense is bringing six and he has 5 blockers. He makes no adjustments and never looks at the side of free rusher who absolutely wrecks him and knocks him out of the game.

He reads defenses at a high school level or even below.

[B & B]

All you have to do is watch the play in the first preseason game where AR got hurt to understand why he can’t start. Base defense with no disguise the defense is bringing six and he has 5 blockers. He makes no adjustments and never looks at the side of free rusher who absolutely wrecks him and knocks him out of the game.

He reads defenses at a high school level or even below.

And yet... you know in your heart danny dimes will falter and AR will start at some pt this year. Its not a choice.

[GrantDawg]

I don't think I ever doubted Anthony Richardson sucked. I never understood why they thought he was worth a fourth rounder, much less the fourth overall pick.

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[dubb93]

I don't think I ever doubted Anthony Richardson sucked. I never understood why they thought he was worth a fourth rounder, much less the fourth overall pick.

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Our GM is absolutely terrible. Don’t believe me? Review his draft picks and compare that with his free agency QB signings and like most of us in the Indianapolis area you will wonder what kind of blackmail he has on who to keep his job.

He’s been drafting since 2017 and has drafted two players that have made a pro bowl. One of them isn’t even here anymore.

[albionmoonlight]

I do not think that Anthony Richardson will be an NFL starter. But if I’m the Rams, I am calling the Colts and seeing what they might be willing to take to give Sean McVay a crack at it.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Back before the 2023 draft, I remember hearing some people argue that the Lions should have packaged the draft capital they had from the Stafford trade to move up and take a big swing on Richardson, because Goff was not the answer.

Even now, some are blaming the Colts and how they have handled Richardson more than Richardson himself.

He could be headed for Trey Lance territory. Traded for a mid-round pick, float around as a potential backup for some teams, especially those with running QBs, and grind out a career like that.

[flere-imsaho]

Hasn't Richardson now had 3 offseasons under the same OC?

[Bobble]

He could be headed for Trey Lance territory. Traded for a mid-round pick, float around as a potential backup for some teams, especially those with running QBs, and grind out a career like that.

My exposure to Trey Lance was to watch him tear up the Leos in preseason. Is that where he's at -- a mobile, you-never-gameplanned-for-THIS kinda backup? Or is there rumblings of possible starter potential?

[dubb93]

Back before the 2023 draft, I remember hearing some people argue that the Lions should have packaged the draft capital they had from the Stafford trade to move up and take a big swing on Richardson, because Goff was not the answer.

Even now, some are blaming the Colts and how they have handled Richardson more than Richardson himself.

He could be headed for Trey Lance territory. Traded for a mid-round pick, float around as a potential backup for some teams, especially those with running QBs, and grind out a career like that.

What exactly is the Colts situation? Dude has had the Eagles offensive system, an elite RB, one of the top offensive lines in the NFL and atleast one productive receiver his entire career so far.

[dubb93]

What exactly is the Colts situation? Dude has had the Eagles offensive system, an elite RB, one of the top offensive lines in the NFL and atleast one productive receiver his entire career so far.

They won 8 games with a QB that completed 48% of his passes.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I wonder how different Richardson would be if he'd had capable, or even more compatible, coaching in college

[Ksyrup]

Or played more than, what, a dozen or so college games?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Or played more than, what, a dozen or so college games?

24 games but only 13 starts, the others being almost entirely spot duty as a running threat for a few plays.

[dubb93]

I wonder how different Richardson would be if he'd had capable, or even more compatible, coaching in college

Maybe you can teach things that I don’t believe are teachable? He subbed himself out the game as a QB on the other teams 23 yard line because he was tired. I don’t think he’s teachable.

That is just a cherry on top of all of his obvious issues. That being said I’ve love for y’all’s favorite teams to give the Colts compensation for him.

[Drake]

Our GM is absolutely terrible. Don’t believe me? Review his draft picks and compare that with his free agency QB signings and like most of us in the Indianapolis area you will wonder what kind of blackmail he has on who to keep his job.

He’s been drafting since 2017 and has drafted two players that have made a pro bowl. One of them isn’t even here anymore.

I don't know any Colts fans (myself included) who were excited by the AR drafting. Unfortunately, I think this is one of those situations where the generally easygoing Hoosier paradigm bites us in the ass: "Well, I'm not sure you made a good choice, son, but I'm willing to wait and see how it turns out."

If we were in Philly, we would have probably burned down Lucas Oil on draft night, because that's what were were secretly all really thinking.

That said, I hope Daniel Jones can turn himself around in Indy. Or maybe we'll burn down his house. But most likely we'll just think about it while blessing his heart.

[bhlloy]

Rough game for Shedeur against a team that sat pretty much anybody who was projected to make the roster. Pretty much the opposite of the first game. You can really see some of the negatives on the scouting report and why he he was sacked at a historic rate in college.

Anyone who has the slightest clue what the Browns can do with their QB situation from here, answers on a postcard. There is not the reps or game time during an NFL season these days to develop two young QBs, barely one and both guys clearly need reps and game time.

[RainMaker]

AR feels like a guy that should have gone in the 3rd or 4th round and been a long term project behind a competent starter.

Question, has one of those high upside QBs who had lackluster college careers ever panned out in the 1st round?

[bhlloy]

The guy that all these high upside physical freak QBs are supposed to be Josh Allen had a 56% completion percentage and threw 21 picks in two and half seasons in the MWC.

I don’t disagree with your premise though. There just isn’t the time or patience to develop a QB in today’s NFL. Trey Lance was picked second overall, got hurt, has thrown 140 odd passes in various good and bad situations and is totally washed at 25 years old. If you aren’t it halfway through your rookie year, you might be done. Interesting to see if Bryce Young can buck that trend I guess.

[JPhillips]

The overall evaluation for a QB seems pretty easy, can he win a Super Bowl. If the answer to that is, no, you need to play for the draft. Especially in the AFC right now.

[Atocep]

The guy that all these high upside physical freak QBs are supposed to be Josh Allen had a 56% completion percentage and threw 21 picks in two and half seasons in the MWC.

I don’t disagree with your premise though. There just isn’t the time or patience to develop a QB in today’s NFL. Trey Lance was picked second overall, got hurt, has thrown 140 odd passes in various good and bad situations and is totally washed at 25 years old. If you aren’t it halfway through your rookie year, you might be done. Interesting to see if Bryce Young can buck that trend I guess.

Yeah teams aren't as patient and the reason, at least partly, is that coaches and GMs have a 3-4 year window to show something or they're fired. The time isn't there to invest in most of these projects.

Lance and Richardson were both really bad picks though. Richardson had a single season as a starter and Lance was a single read QB playing in a very simple system at a lower level. Both needed either more time in college but but going top 5 is impossible to turn down. Every time a guy gets drafted and turns out to be a 1 of 1 type of guy, NFL teams waste a ton of money and draft picks trying to find the next one.

[bhlloy]

The overall evaluation for a QB seems pretty easy, can he win a Super Bowl. If the answer to that is, no, you need to play for the draft. Especially in the AFC right now.

Did we know Josh Allen could win a Super Bowl after 2 years when he hadn’t come close to breaking 60% completion rate and had 30 TD to 21 Int?

That’s the point, because today’s QBs aren’t getting that long to prove themselves. It’s like they want to find an Allen but aren’t willing to actually give them the time he needed to show they can be him.

And that’s not to say Lance and Richardson weren’t bad picks, although watching Lance I’m not totally sure there isn’t something there if a team was willing to struggle and let him develop for 18 months. But it just makes zero sense to pick these kinds of players and then move on if they don’t look like a Super Bowl QBs in their first 6 months, because it’s obvious they aren’t.

[RainMaker]

Wasn't Allen's college stats bad because he played in a place that is notoriously difficult to throw the ball? There is like a wind storm for every game I've ever seen in Laramie.

[JPhillips]

I have no idea if Richardson can develop, but if the Colts have decided he can't I don't know why they would then move to Jones. He can win enough to get them out of the top five picks, but I can't see any way he gets them to the playoffs.

[RainMaker]

Guessing a coach and maybe GM trying to save their jobs. Also at some point you just have to accept a player doesnt have it and go with the best option.

[dubb93]

I mean compare Allen’s year one stats to year two and you can eliminate most of these Josh Allen opinions straight up. I mean if any QB goes from 2k yards with 10tds ans 12 picks to 3k+ with 20 and 9 and improve the completion percentage by 6% they getting a third year right? Year three Allen was at 4.5k and nearly 40 TDs to 10 picks. Do we really think Allen didn’t show year by year improvement?

[JPhillips]

I don't understand why the Browns were giving Huntley reps the day before they released him when they have two rookie QBs.

[albionmoonlight]

I don't understand why the Browns . . .

Evergreen

[albionmoonlight]

Cutdown day always makes me think of a story that Chase Daniel told on a podcast:

He talked about how weird it was to be on the bubble. You have to just act like everything is normal. You come to the facility, and you're lifting and you're looking at film, and you are planning to go into week 1. But you also might be five minutes away from being cut.

I never quite thought of that. It is one thing to get cut. But having to do something as intense as prepare for an NFL season while knowing in the back of your head that it might end before lunch is kind of insane.

[Passacaglia]

Can anyone here suggest a good weekly recap show for NFL games (and for college for that matter)?

[cuervo72]

"The Washington Commanders and cornerstone wide receiver Terry McLaurin agreed on a three-year contract extension.

McLaurin’s extension will pay him $96 million with the chance to escalate, making him one of the highest-paid wideouts in the NFL."

Thoughts on this? I know there's been some local handwringing on the thought that McLaurin might not have been available for the Commanders, but my general idea of him as a WR has been that he's...ok? Yes, 1,000 yard seasons but also, we're in the 2020's so *yawn*.

[Danny]

Good WR, not elite and will be overpaid. But with Daniels on his rookie deal you 100% have to sign his #1 WR. His contract will expire when you have to pay the QB so it works out ok.