2010 NFL Offseason Thread - Offseason ends at 6 pm est

[DeToxRox]

So Zorn is gone, the entire Bills staff is gone and it sounds like Mangini is out.

Plus we have an uncapped year that is going to not be as big a deal as a lot of people make it out to be.

Should be a fun thread.

[spleen1015]

It's not the off season yet.

[Kodos]

It is if you're a Detroit Lions fan.

[ice4277]

Originally Posted by Kodos

It is if you're a Detroit Lions fan.

Our offseason started the moment Stafford went down.

[jbergey22]

So who are the Rams taking?

[stevew]

The Steelers offseason started the second that Jamarcus Russell appeared in the 2nd half vs the Ravens. The Raiders offseason started much earlier, basically the first snap that Jabustus took this year.

[RainMaker]

No word from the Bears but it appears Lovie Smith is safe. Disappointing but expected from a franchise that plays it cheap. Hopefully some fans wise up and start cancelling their season tickets. He'll be forced to fire some assistants (again) and we'll go through the same song and dance. Most likely be his 4th offensive coordinator and 4th defensive coordinator since he took over in 2004.

[DataKing]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

No word from the Bears but it appears Lovie Smith is safe. Disappointing but expected from a franchise that plays it cheap. Hopefully some fans wise up and start cancelling their season tickets.

I've been hearing alot on sports radio lately that they expect Turner to be the sacrificial lamb.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by DataKing

I've been hearing alot on sports radio lately that they expect Turner to be the sacrificial lamb.

Yeah, the problem is that it's going to be impossible to find a quality OC willing to take over the team for one season before Lovie is fired. That also means that after next season, Cutler will start with his 3rd OC in 3 years with the Bears.

Lovie is scared of coaches that are a threat to him so it's going to be a no-name coach with no potential to take over the HC job. That or Mike Martz.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

So who are the Rams taking?

Not sure...

[DataKing]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

That or Mike Martz.

That would be...interesting. I'm pretty sure it would be a disaster, but it would be an interesting disaster.

[DataKing]

Sheridan out in New York.

New York Giants fire defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan - ESPN

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by DataKing

That would be...interesting. I'm pretty sure it would be a disaster, but it would be an interesting disaster.

I was hoping Charlie Weis (think he was a crappy college coach but a real good offensive mind) but there is no way he takes a 1-year deal.

[DataKing]

Press conference scheduled for 2pm tomorrow at Halas Hall.

[MrDNA]

Not sure where you're getting that it sounds like Mangini is out. I haven't heard anything either way.

[dervack]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Not sure...

I would almost put dollars to donuts that say Suh does not go to the Rams.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by dervack

I would almost put dollars to donuts that say Suh does not go to the Rams.

Ok, I'm game.

[stevew]

I'd really like to see the Rams sell yet another defensive linemen to their disinterested fans. They probably can score some major value with a trade down, though, and still get one of the top 2 QB's I'd think. Seahawks trade 6 and 14 for #1?

Also, from NFL.COM

Picks 21 to 24 will be the wild-card losers. Picks 25 to 28 will be the divisional-round losers. Picks 29-30 will be the conference championship losers. Pick 31 will be the Super Bowl loser. Pick 32 will be the Super Bowl winner

This is new, right? I must have missed it, but it's actually a really good idea.

[sabotai]

I think that's new. The SB winner always got the last pick and the SB loser always had the next to last, but in previous years they just ordered everyone from 1-29 by record. regardless of playoff results.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by stevew

This is new, right? I must have missed it, but it's actually a really good idea.

Im not sure on 21-30 but the last two picks have gone to the SB winner and SB runner up as long as I can remember.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Ok, I'm game.

It would probably be a huge mistake to pass on Suh but they need a QB and some WRs in the worse way. They cant go another year with Bulger I wouldnt think.

I feel sorry for Jackson every time I see a Rams game. Such a great back with nothing around him.

[Coffee Warlord]

Early word is Lovie is back, Ron Turner is gone, Rod Marinelli is the new D-Coordinator. Meet the new bosses, same as the old.

Money talks. 1 more year of uselessness, at the least.

[dervack]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Early word is Lovie is back, Ron Turner is gone, Rod Marinelli is the new D-Coordinator. Meet the new bosses, same as the old.

Money talks. 1 more year of uselessness, at the least.

The problem with that is that it's still Lovie's defense. Just someone else running the meetings.

[DataKing]

Originally Posted by dervack

The problem with that is that it's still Lovie's defense. Just someone else running the meetings.

Perry Fewell is a name that's being bounced around. If he's hired, then it's definitely more of the same.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

It would probably be a huge mistake to pass on Suh but they need a QB and some WRs in the worse way. They cant go another year with Bulger I wouldnt think.

I feel sorry for Jackson every time I see a Rams game. Such a great back with nothing around him.

You can get good value at 2.1 for a QB, or WR. You aren't finding Suh type of value at 1.1 for those positions.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by dervack

The problem with that is that it's still Lovie's defense. Just someone else running the meetings.

No argument from me. This team doesn't change until Lovie is gone.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Matthean

You can get good value at 2.1 for a QB, or WR. You aren't finding Suh type of value at 1.1 for those positions.

Suh is setting up nicely to be the next Brian Bosworth.

[Dr. Sak]

Ken Laird just reported on ESPN radio from the Southside that Bruce Arians is going to be out.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

It would probably be a huge mistake to pass on Suh but they need a QB and some WRs in the worse way. They cant go another year with Bulger I wouldnt think.

I feel sorry for Jackson every time I see a Rams game. Such a great back with nothing around him.

They could find a QB in the 2nd round, I would believe.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Ken Laird just reported on ESPN radio from the Southside that Bruce Arians is going to be out.

There is a god!

Then again hopefully we don't hire Mike Martz.

[DataKing]

Listened to the Bears press conference this afternoon. My summary:

• Ron Turner and 5 position coaches have been canned.
• Lovie Smith will no longer be acting as Defensive Coordinator.
• Ted Phillips may be fine when it comes to being an executive, but he should stay the hell away from a microphone at all times.
• Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo still have currency with the Bears organization, presumably from the Super Bowl run. It wouldn't surprise me if they've now used up the last of that currency.
• Winning the last two games of the year helped Lovie survive for another year.
• Whoever comes in as DC will be running the Tampa 2, and will probably end up being little more than a yes-man for Lovie.

[Coffee Warlord]

So, much as expected...

Turner is the sacrificial lamb, and it's business as usual for another season.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

They could find a QB in the 2nd round, I would believe.

Well they could but many times them 2nd round QBs are project types.

They are going to need a player that will keep the fans coming to the games since they likely arent going to be winning many games for a few years. Im not sure if a great DT is on a lousy team is going to keep the fans excited.

[Eaglesfan27]

I wonder if Jeremy Bates leaves USC to be reunited with Cutler in Chicago (either as OC or QB coach.)

[Warhammer]

The Rams problems are not so much the D.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

They could find a QB in the 2nd round, I would believe.

Not much of one I'm afraid. Just picking a list to work from, regardless of rank order this at least provides the possible names.
NFL Draft - 2010_QB Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

The top 10 seniors this year are McCoy, Tebow, Pike, Canfield, Lefevour, Brown (WVU), Crompton, Skelton, Skull (Fordham), and Kafka. Add Clausen & Bradford into that list as well, and I guess Snead if he declares.

Assuming Claussen & Bradford go in the first then the only shot might be probably McCoy and that's assuming he falls through the first. Otherwise, are you really prepared to hand a team over to any of the other names on the list besides Tebow & he doesn't seem like a fit for the Rams to me.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I wonder if Jeremy Bates leaves USC to be reunited with Cutler in Chicago (either as OC or QB coach.)

Martz is already publicly lobbying for the OC job, but I've seen Bates' name mentioned a couple times.

[DataKing]

Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, do not hire Mike Martz. Please? I'd like Jay Cutler to live to see the year 2011.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by DataKing

Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, do not hire Mike Martz. Please? I'd like Jay Cutler to live to see the year 2011.

Marinelli + Martz = SUPER SUCCESS!!

Do it! Come on, Chicago! DO IT!

Martz is a mad genius. Look at the kind of numbers Jon "Jesus" Kitna put up under Martz? Think of what Cutler could do in that system. Between Marinelli and his pad level and Tampa 2 and Martz's air attack... It would be unstoppable!

Also, St. Louis needs to draw fans. Draft Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford, Dez Bryant, or someone like that. The people love that kind of thing. Haven't they had enough defensive linemen over the past several years?

[Logan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Not much of one I'm afraid. Just picking a list to work from, regardless of rank order this at least provides the possible names.
NFL Draft - 2010_QB Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

The top 10 seniors this year are McCoy, Tebow, Pike, Canfield, Lefevour, Brown (WVU), Crompton, Skelton, Skull (Fordham), and Kafka. Add Clausen & Bradford into that list as well, and I guess Snead if he declares.

Assuming Claussen & Bradford go in the first then the only shot might be probably McCoy and that's assuming he falls through the first. Otherwise, are you really prepared to hand a team over to any of the other names on the list besides Tebow & he doesn't seem like a fit for the Rams to me.

Yes, in my opinion at least, as to me Pike and LeFevour are a hair behind Clausen and an injured Bradford. There are enough questions about these guys where they don't look anywhere close to be locks to be successful. Add in the tremendous amount of guaranteed money a QB gets for going #1, and you can sure as hell say I'd take my chances with Suh + Pike/LeFevour.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Well they could but many times them 2nd round QBs are project types.

They are going to need a player that will keep the fans coming to the games since they likely arent going to be winning many games for a few years. Im not sure if a great DT is on a lousy team is going to keep the fans excited.

I'm excited at what's about to come! These fans here are all baseball F them!

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Not much of one I'm afraid. Just picking a list to work from, regardless of rank order this at least provides the possible names.
NFL Draft - 2010_QB Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

The top 10 seniors this year are McCoy, Tebow, Pike, Canfield, Lefevour, Brown (WVU), Crompton, Skelton, Skull (Fordham), and Kafka. Add Clausen & Bradford into that list as well, and I guess Snead if he declares.

Assuming Claussen & Bradford go in the first then the only shot might be probably McCoy and that's assuming he falls through the first. Otherwise, are you really prepared to hand a team over to any of the other names on the list besides Tebow & he doesn't seem like a fit for the Rams to me.

Suh is > than any player, reguardless of position

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Marinelli + Martz = SUPER SUCCESS!!

Do it! Come on, Chicago! DO IT!

Martz is a mad genius. Look at the kind of numbers Jon "Jesus" Kitna put up under Martz? Think of what Cutler could do in that system. Between Marinelli and his pad level and Tampa 2 and Martz's air attack... It would be unstoppable!

Great post, in large part because of the source and also because I second the thought as a Packer fan.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Suh is > than any player, reguardless of position

I don't disagree, but that's different than them being able to get an NFL starting QB in R2 this year.

[dervack]

Originally Posted by DataKing

Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, do not hire Mike Martz. Please? I'd like Jay Cutler to live to see the year 2011.

I'm not sure why anyone of substance would come to coach the Bears O. It'll be a one-year deal only as another bad season and the entire coaching staff and GM gets overhauled.

[miked]

Suh looks good, but is DE worth taking at 1.1? I look at all the sack leaders and the majority of DEs in there were taken in later rounds. Dumervil, Allen, Cole, Schoebel, Mathis, Edwards, etc. Not saying Suh won't be a stud, but I'm trying to think of DEs that have gone #1 overall and had great success. I guess Peppers is the closest I can think about.

[weegeebored]

Originally Posted by DataKing

Listened to the Bears press conference this afternoon. My summary:

• Ron Turner and 5 position coaches have been canned.
• Lovie Smith will no longer be acting as Defensive Coordinator.
• Ted Phillips may be fine when it comes to being an executive, but he should stay the hell away from a microphone at all times.
• Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo still have currency with the Bears organization, presumably from the Super Bowl run. It wouldn't surprise me if they've now used up the last of that currency.
• Winning the last two games of the year helped Lovie survive for another year.
• Whoever comes in as DC will be running the Tampa 2, and will probably end up being little more than a yes-man for Lovie.

Yeah, this press conference surprised no one. It's more of the same crap this organization has done through much of its existence in the NFL. Their words say that they want to win but their actions say something different. They are at the bottom of the league when it comes to football smarts. And taking money out of the equation, what can proponents of Lovey/Jerry cite as being reasons to keep them? Oh..it must be that great track record of making it to the playoffs.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by miked

Suh looks good, but is DE worth taking at 1.1? I look at all the sack leaders and the majority of DEs in there were taken in later rounds. Dumervil, Allen, Cole, Schoebel, Mathis, Edwards, etc. Not saying Suh won't be a stud, but I'm trying to think of DEs that have gone #1 overall and had great success. I guess Peppers is the closest I can think about.

Mario Williams?

edit: Courtney Brown was a miss in 2000, but the prior #1 overall DE was Bruce Smith in '85.

edit #2: As I look on wikipedia, going back further...

1976: Lee Roy Selmon - 6 Pro Bowls
1974: Too Tall Jones - HoF
1973: John Matsuzak - Miss
1967: Bubba Smith - HoF

So it looks like 1.1 DEs have been pretty damn successful. Of course, all this is contingent on Suh actually being a DE, and he's looking more like a DT.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by stevew

There is a god!

Then again hopefully we don't hire Mike Martz.

I don't get the hate for Arians this season. Big Ben threw for over 4,000 yards, had 26 TDs to 12 INTs, and finished the season with a rating over 100. Holmes and Ward each went for over 1100 yards receiving, Miller had a career year w/ over 700 yards, and Mike Wallace came out of nowhere to give, pretty much, a prototypical 3rd receiver/deep threat season. Mendenhall went over 1,000 yards and both he and Parker averaged over 4 YPC. All of this with an offensive line full of late picks and undrafted/afterthought offensive linemen.

It sucks that we missed the playoffs and dropped to 9-7, but it wasn't the offense's fault and certainly not Arians' fault. It isn't Arians' fault that the kickoff team allowed 4 TD returns (all in games that were very close) or that Troy Polamalu was only healthy for a handful of games this season or that Roethlisberger had some poorly timed injuries that directly lead to losses (do we lose to KC or Baltimore, both in OT, if Roethlisberger is the QB rather than a rusty Batch or Dennis Dixon?). He is an easy scapegoat and I haven't been his biggest fan through the past few seasons, but I don't see a whole lot more that he could have done with this offense, given the offensive line situation, Sweed's seeming to forget how to catch the football even though he has the ability to consistently get open and the inherent flaws in Roethlisberger's game.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by miked

Suh looks good, but is DE worth taking at 1.1? I look at all the sack leaders and the majority of DEs in there were taken in later rounds. Dumervil, Allen, Cole, Schoebel, Mathis, Edwards, etc. Not saying Suh won't be a stud, but I'm trying to think of DEs that have gone #1 overall and had great success. I guess Peppers is the closest I can think about.

Suh is 6'4, 300 lbs. He is a DT through and through. Very comparable to Kevin Williams, both size and skill wise.