NFL 2022 Offseason, Draft, Free Agency

[thesloppy]

I get the impression that modern pro athletes have a whole cottage industry of social media groupies to choose from and 'fly up' to whenever and wherever they're at, which kind of borders on sex work, depending on the person(s) or situation. Some don't manage to do navigate through that world without scandal or hit to their reputation, but it seems like the great majority do.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

My senior year in high school, I interned for WQAM and worked more than a few Heat games that year. I am fully aware of the temptation that awaits outside the arena.

I completely disagree on the stigma. The Robert Kraft hysteria was not that long ago and I think we all believe that was consensual. I would love for it not to have the stigma but it still does in 2022. I don't believe that the pillar of the community guy that was (is?) Deshaun Watson in 2019-2020 would have escaped condemnation for hiring professionals if word got out. That sort of guy is not supposed to do that.

So he should just whip his dick out and masturbate in front of a woman he hired off Craigslist to give him a massage? (Or take it a step further.)

There are hundreds of pro athletes putting themselves into dangerous PR situations weekly, but it's 66 masseuse therapists and I'm willing to believe at least 24 he at a minimum exposed himself to to their surprise.

The Bob Kraft stuff was only exposed because of a weird vendetta, only blew up because people were anti-Patriot, and very quickly died down because anyone who looked at it saw it was consensual/transactional. This shit isn't, and I'm not sure where the legal system or the NFL can enforce a punishment, but it's not ok and I don't understand why the NFL hasn't imposed one yet.

[21C]

The Bucs Reddit is a treasure trove of these.

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[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

So he should just whip his dick out and masturbate in front of a woman he hired off Craigslist to give him a massage? (Or take it a step further.)

I thought I was pretty clear that where I stood about his alleged behavior. To be clear, I believe he did what is alleged. I find them abhorrent and he should be punished for them. I was specifically commenting on the stigma of him and specifically him hiring professionals to engage with in this behavior a consensual way. Could Antonio Brown do it? Absolutely! Could Jimmy G do it when he heads out to San Francisco? Probably though he still going to get a fair bit of this even thoughall he did was go on a date.

Jimmy Garoppolo is the franchise quarterback of a prominent NFL team. He should have more values and class than parading a porn star in LA. Slam me for saying that, but guarantee someone in his camp said the same thing. https://t.co/TFPL7YOywu

— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) July 19, 2018

Pre-allegations Deshaun Watson? No chance. Because the Deshaun Watson that the public thought they knew before this whole thing started would never engage that sort of consensual behavior. I am including Deshaun Watson as one who would hold that view as well.

[flere-imsaho]

I'd rather my son date a porn star than anyone who works for Fox News.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

I'd rather my son date a porn star than anyone who works for Fox News.

Troll much? Why TRY to shit on a fucking thread?

Dammit, you ought to be better than that.

I'd rip you the new one this sort of statement warrants if I wasn't so disappointed.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by 21C

The Bucs Reddit is a treasure trove of these.

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One playoff win in 65 years... One.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

One playoff win in 65 years... One.

Well, no one could win with Matthew Stafford running the offense.

[JPhillips]

I choose to read that left to right and that way the Bengals are in the top half of the league.

[flere-imsaho]

Jeez, Jon, did I touch a nerve?

[miami_fan]

I guess this is what he meant by wanting to clear his name.

Attorney Tony Buzbee says 20 of 24 lawsuits filed against Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson settled

[Ksyrup]

Ravens LB Jaylon Ferguson passed away at 26. No cause immediately released that I've seen.

[Ksyrup]

Damn. Now Tony Siragusa has died. Bad day for the Ravens.

[Thomkal]

yeah hope bad news doesn't come in threes here.

[PilotMan]

The Browns are going to be so completely and totally fucked if Watson is suspended indefinitely.

They spent all those picks, structured the salary to only have it count for a million this year, burned bridges with Mayfield. For one franchise to completely and totally continue to have mismanagement at this level is beyond improbable. 5 years/230M could be what 3/230M? 4? He's got 4 lawsuits still unsettled as well.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

The Browns are going to be so completely and totally fucked if Watson is suspended indefinitely.

They spent all those picks, structured the salary to only have it count for a million this year, burned bridges with Mayfield. For one franchise to completely and totally continue to have mismanagement at this level is beyond improbable. 5 years/230M could be what 3/230M? 4? He's got 4 lawsuits still unsettled as well.

I don't get the significance of the indefinite suspension. From what I can tell, you have to apply for reinstatement to return from an indefinite suspension. What would that entail in this case? That he has learned to wear a bigger towel when he gets massages now? I also don't see how the NFL can justify a heavy punishment for Watson's behavior while they delivered fines to Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder.

[Solecismic]

I don't know if it's the team officials practicing CYA or if it's true, but the rumor is that they expected Watson to be suspended for 2022 when they made the trade.

This doesn't explain the Brissett signing (someone who can run Watson's playbook, but not nearly as well) instead of simply being upfront with Mayfield that he was the quarterback for 2022, then would be a free agent.

Or why, when the gold standard is Mahomes and $45 million per season, Watson got $230 million for five years ($46 million - OK, that's what you do when you're competing for a top-level talent) instead of $184 million for the five years?

The only question I'm interested in, at this point, is whether Cleveland is viewed as being so incompetently managed that the Watson guarantee won't carry over to the rest of the league.

If it does, then league contracts are again out of balance, and we will see teams enter free agency looking to cobble together 30-35 roster spots because they can't afford to sign anyone but their rookies and a core set of very well-paid perceived stars, some of whom will have failed in their new roles but have pricey guarantees.

It's still rumored that Seattle wants Mayfield. But as long as no one else does, the Seahawks can keep trying to drive up the amount the Browns pay from his 2022 salary (I think the ship has sailed as to whether the Browns get more than a 7th-round pick in return). Once exhibition games start, and teams like Carolina, Houston and Atlanta know whether they have anyone who can run their playbooks, a market might re-emerge. The timing may never be better than now for Seattle.

[Ksyrup]

Is it possible Cleveland baked into the timeline as a positive that he'll have that extra year to settle any remaining legal issues, start the rehab tour, and generally speaking, benefit from the way NFL fans/media have a short-term memory on this stuff? I mean, Cleveland picked up Kareem Hunt and all it got them was a good RB with little to no backlash. The Bengals took Mixon and have been richly rewarded.

That said, expecting a guy who will have sat out for 2 full years to be the player he was, is a huge risk.

[PilotMan]

I think that Cleveland was expecting 4 to 8 games, not the entire season. I really think they thought he'd get on the field this year.

[Carman Bulldog]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Once exhibition games start, and teams like Carolina, Houston and Atlanta know whether they have anyone who can run their playbooks, a market might re-emerge.

Not a Davis Mills fan?

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Carman Bulldog

Not a Davis Mills fan?

He showed some signs of life at the end of the season, which probably saved his job. Not that unusual for a rookie.

List of starting quarterbacks drafted after the first round making less than $25 million per season (Tom Brady's compensation level):

Seattle's starter
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia (2nd round, 2020)
Davis Mills, Houston (3rd round, 2021)

The next lowest draftee on that list is Lamar Jackson, playing on the fifth-year extension of his rookie contract, then Mac Jones (15th overall last year).

It's nothing personal about Mills. It's becoming rarer and rarer for quarterbacks drafted outside the top dozen picks to get much more than a look as a starter.

[JPhillips]

If my choice is potentially Stroud or Young or go with Baker, I want my shot at the rookie contract stud rather than drop 20 mil+ on Baker.

[GrantDawg]

RFK stadium is on fire.

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[cuervo72]

Eh, they don't use RFK for the NFL anymore.

[GrantDawg]

I know that. Just the most relevant thread.

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[Solecismic]

Giving away the number one pick in the 2018 Draft...

The Baker Mayfield hostage crisis is over, and he's now a Carolina Panther.

The Browns have agreed to pay about $10.5 million of his guaranteed 2022 fifth-year salary, receiving a fifth-round pick which could rise to a fourth.

And so continues this chapter in how to destroy a franchise... word on the potential suspension for Deshaun Watson should come soon.

[stevew]

I’d gamble on Mayfield for a 4th for sure.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by stevew

I’d gamble on Mayfield for a 4th for sure.

Not only that, but you get him on a one-year trial for about $8.3 million. If he works out, you pay him. If not, Matt Corral may work out, and is now positioned properly for a third-round backup/may-break-out draftee.

Sam Darnold may get dealt, though the Panthers would have to pay even more to get rid of him since he hasn't yet shown he can play at this level. He's on an identical 2018 fifth-year first-rounder guarantee deal.

From the media reports here, Mayfield calmed down a lot when he got married in 2019. The fans were very responsive, looked like he was breaking out in 2020. Then he got hurt in 2021, earned a lot of locker room respect for gutting it out, but he didn't play nearly as well.

If he's healthy now, and since it wasn't his throwing arm, he should be, this could be big for Carolina.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by stevew

I’d gamble on Mayfield for a 4th for sure.

And no long-term money?

Heck, yeah.

If he fails, then your cap is clear in 2023, and you miss out on drafting a backup linebacker in the 4th/5th round.

If he succeeds, then you sign him long term.

Super low risk play by the Panthers.

[Solecismic]

Since they were at the top of the 2018 draft (the one where Josh Allen went 7th and Lamar Jackson went 32nd), and currently under identical fifth-year guarantees, Mayfield and Darnold are closely linked (and, for now, teammates).

In my QB Metric:

2021: Mayfield - 48 average in 14 games (6-8 record); Darnold - 43 average in 12 games (4-7).

2020: Mayfield - 54 average in 18 games (12-6); Darnold - 45 average in 12 games (2-10), traded after the season.

2019: Mayfield - 46 average in 16 games (6-10); Darnold - 50 average in 13 games (7-6).

2018: Mayfield - 53 average in 14 games (8-6); Darnold - 45 average in 13 games (4-9).

The NFL average for starting quarterbacks is about 52. At this stage, it's reasonable to assume Darnold is going to be a career backup, but Mayfield may end up being a franchise guy, taking last season's injury into account.

[albionmoonlight]

I'll give myself credit for being high on Lamar that draft.

But I was ferociously wrong about Allen. "You can't teach accuracy," I proclaimed confidently to anyone within earshot.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

But I was ferociously wrong about Allen. "You can't teach accuracy," I proclaimed confidently to anyone within earshot.

same here, for certain

[NobodyHere]

So the Browns just basically paid $10,000,000 for a conditional 5th round pick?

[Solecismic]

I'm reminded of a story I read a while back about cryptocurrency. It could be urban legend.

In the early days of cryptomining, it was obviously possible to create huge chunks of Bitcoin on a home computer (we're all thinking - wish I'd gotten in on that, no doubt). But it wasn't worth anything. Nowhere to spend it, no guarantee you were doing anything other than heating up your CPU and using electricity.

In exasperation, someone apparently posted on a message board much like this one, focusing on mining or some aspect of crypto, that he wanted something, anything, for all his efforts. He was getting out. If someone would arrange to deliver him a couple of pizzas, he would pay 10,000 Bitcoin.

If true, the most expensive pizza run in the history of mankind. Probably not.

Anyway, this Mayfield trade somehow reminded me of that story. Mayfield is worth nothing to the Browns, is a distraction at this point, and Carolina is giving them something - cap relief and a low-round pick (in 2024, not even next year).

[PilotMan]

I'm sure the Browns feel awesome about all this and the Watson drama as we head into camp. They are firmly in grasp of the direction of the franchise now.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

So the Browns just basically paid $10,000,000 for a conditional 5th round pick?

No, 5th year options are guaranteed when exercised (April 2021 for Baker). So the Browns saved $8 million vs releasing him outright.

Sounds like the Panthers also got it restructured to where it's a $4.5m base with $3.5m in incentives for this season. Darnold trade is still gross, but it's a sunk cost, I'm happy with this one.

[miami_fan]

Just a reminder.

Colts receive:

2022 third-round pick
2023 third-round pick that escalates to a second-rounder if Carson Wentz plays 70% of snaps
2022 second-round pick

Commanders receive:

Carson Wentz
2022 second-round pick

[BishopMVP]

San Francisco 49ers give Jimmy Garoppolo's agents permission to seek trade, sources say

Did he not have permission before?

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

San Francisco 49ers give Jimmy Garoppolo's agents permission to seek trade, sources say

Did he not have permission before?

Since he's been rehabbing from surgery, he would be unable to work out for a team. Probably just a formality, as they benefit from his agents talking to as many teams as possible. Maybe he's close to being able to show off every route. No one will trade for him until their doctor clears him.

I think his value can go higher by waiting. The best current potential opening is in-division, so the 49ers would require a premium from Seattle. There might be training camp injuries, or even early season injuries. The 49ers are in no hurry. At this point they want picks and could even benefit from waiting until near the trade deadline as long as they don't play it as badly as Cleveland did. He's their own insurance policy for Lance, as well.

[albionmoonlight]

I could be wrong about this, but isn’t “permission” a formal thing that is invoked to prevent anti-tampering rules from coming into play?

Maybe we didn’t have that level of formality before even as everyone knew that talks were happening under the table.

[albionmoonlight]

https://twitter.com/themaxmeyer/stat...94ZvN4d__tO72A

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

https://twitter.com/themaxmeyer/stat...94ZvN4d__tO72A

Huh.

Taking a look at the Lions schedule, over six wins isn’t crazy. I don’t see Campbell having any shot at coach of the year and Swift is too injury prone to win the rusher title.

There a lot of good vibes around the Lions at the moment, but they still have no linebackers or quality defensive backs and their quarterback remains Jared Goff. The limitations are real and significant.

I am looking forward to Hard Knocks. I haven’t watched it in ages, but I am intrigued. I liked Campbell and the staff he’s put together, especially on the defensive side of things. Brad Holmes seems to be the real deal at GM, though too early to truly say yet. I want this team to be good, but I’m, also, a realist.

[JPhillips]

I can't imagine Campbell could win with less than 10 wins. That seems like a tall mountain to climb, but if they get double-digit wins and go to the playoffs I'm sure he'd be a top candidate.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Huh.

Taking a look at the Lions schedule, over six wins isn’t crazy. I don’t see Campbell having any shot at coach of the year and Swift is too injury prone to win the rusher title.

There a lot of good vibes around the Lions at the moment, but they still have no linebackers or quality defensive backs and their quarterback remains Jared Goff. The limitations are real and significant.

I am looking forward to Hard Knocks. I haven’t watched it in ages, but I am intrigued. I liked Campbell and the staff he’s put together, especially on the defensive side of things. Brad Holmes seems to be the real deal at GM, though too early to truly say yet. I want this team to be good, but I’m, also, a realist.

If the Lions win more than 6 next year then I'll drink my rum.

[miami_fan]

Per Schefter. Kyler Murray is getting a 5 year, $230.5 million with $160 million guaranteed.

EDIT: Link https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...bs-source-says

[Thomkal]

They really had no choice but to do this. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite them if he repeats his playoff performance from last season. So happy for my beloved Cards, but also a little worried that this might send them back to the dark ages if he doesn't have success now.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I could be wrong about this, but isn’t “permission” a formal thing that is invoked to prevent anti-tampering rules from coming into play?

Maybe we didn’t have that level of formality before even as everyone knew that talks were happening under the table.

The 49ers granted Jimmy Garoppolo permission to seek a trade - in March - ProFootballTalk

[JPhillips]

Just read that Murray’s AAV is only 2.4 mil less than the entire A’s payroll. He picked the right sport.

[QuikSand]

Lamar Jackson has intermittently gotten dragged for his seemingly lackadaisical approach to securing his own extension.

But to be honest, barring a serious injury to him, it just feels like his hand gets strengthened by every move that happens elsewhere. If Murray "sets the market" here at $43m/yr with a bit more than half guaranteed... then surely Lamar Jackson can gather a click higher than that, right? I think the guess on Lamar's contract average was "close to 30" at one point... now maybe it's 44.

[Ksyrup]

Whoever gets the most money is not necessarily the most valuable asset, it's who is among the best and has the best timing. To the extent you can influence the timing, you should do so.