NFL 2021 Regular Season Thread

[Thomkal]

Cards/Saints cancelled due to the incoming hurricane. Now kinda wish they had a 4th preseason game-Murray hardly played at all. Surprised they didn't try to move the game elsewhere given the fact they had fewer preseason games this year.

[Ksyrup]

Some teams aren't playing their stars at all. Some are treating it like a regular preseason front-loading some minimal playing time for stars and then sitting them. Some are holding their stars until the last game (I believe Baker Mayfield is playing this weekend after not playing at all).

Interesting to see if any particular strategy works better.

[Atocep]

Reports are that a Watson trade should be finalized within the next couple of days and the Dolphins are the frontrunners with the Panthers in the bidding as well.

3 firsts and 2 seconds is the rumored price

[Ksyrup]

What's his status as far as the legal stuff?

[NobodyHere]

It looks like the Eagles have traded for the best 70s porn mustach in the NFL. Gardner Minshew was also involved.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Reports are that a Watson trade should be finalized within the next couple of days and the Dolphins are the frontrunners with the Panthers in the bidding as well.

3 firsts and 2 seconds is the rumored price

So the team that drafted a QB in the top ten in the past two years and a team that just picked up a fifth round option on a former top 5 pick basically making him uncuttable for 2 years. And the next 3 years worth of draft picks for a guy nobody really knows when he will play again.

That’s definitely gambling on talent over common sense. The NFL QB market is pretty nuts right now in terms of teams doing basically whatever it takes to get a guy who can help them win this second (although not in this case for obvious reasons)

[molson]

I wonder if that has anything to do with the extra wild card spot. The playoffs are a pretty tangible metric of success that the Dolphins have reached maybe twice in 20 years.

[Ksyrup]

That was a heck of a throw by Fields.

[Coffee Warlord]

That one means we get 2 more weeks of Why Isn't Fields Starting.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Reports are that a Watson trade should be finalized within the next couple of days and the Dolphins are the frontrunners with the Panthers in the bidding as well.

3 firsts and 2 seconds is the rumored price

Panthers seem to be a weird choice to be interested. And man if Watson goes to jail/kicked out of the NFL, that's a pretty heavy price to pay for him.

[Ksyrup]

I was surprised it got caught but he put it where no one else was going to be able to make a play.

[Coffee Warlord]

If there's one thing about Fields has really stood out in the preseason - he's got an incredible touch on his passes.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Panthers seem to be a weird choice to be interested. And man if Watson goes to jail/kicked out of the NFL, that's a pretty heavy price to pay for him.

Rumor seems to be that there will be language in the deal to revert the picks if he's eventually unable to play for legal reasons

[GrantDawg]

I wonder if the trade price can be made conditional? It still seems like too much.

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[GrantDawg]

Ha, Jon answered that.

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[albionmoonlight]

Minchew is going to end up playing for more teams than Fitzpatrick when it’s all done. He fits that model of good enough to trade for or sign when you need somebody. But not so good that he’ll establish somewhere.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Minchew is going to end up playing for more teams than Fitzpatrick when it’s all done. He fits that model of good enough to trade for or sign when you need somebody. But not so good that he’ll establish somewhere.

Also, similar to Fitzpatrick, seems to have a personality that has to get old after a year or two.

[albionmoonlight]

I think that Odell Beckham has the highest variance of what I am expecting from any player over the next few years.

If you were to tell me that he'll never be the same after the injury and that after losing his generational athleticism, he ends up bouncing around for a few more years as a replacement level WR before retiring early, I'd believe you.

If you were to tell me that he will come back at a Pro Bowl level and help lead Cleveland to a top 2 seed in the AFC and be the main reason that Baker takes the next step, I'd believe that, too.

[Thomkal]

Shaq Larson, who I think never played a down for the Texans after being traded from Miami, has been traded to the Jets for a 6th round pick

[Edward64]

Watch a little of the Jags game. Trevor Lawrence is looking pretty good. I know its just pre-season but he looked pretty poised.

Watching the Bengals-Dolphins game now. QB Brandon Allen just threw a pretty TD. Hope he keeps the backup role.

[QuikSand]

The Texans have been running a strange angle... grabbing a gaggle of decent and maybe intriguing players, presumably hoping for a few breakthrough players who can be part of a medium-term rebuild.

And throwing multiple darts at the same spot, sometimes... like I understand and even like signing RB Philip Lindsey... but why did they hurry to sign RB Mark Ingram? (Though to be honest, them spinning Ingram back to the Ravens for some modest compensation does seem like it could work right now)

Anyway... their trade to get Shaq Lawson was in part motivated by them wanting some value back from LB McKinney, and the Dolphins wanted a stable veteran for their off-ball LB slot. So, in this case, I'm not sure the Texans look awful.

But they are going to trot out a fair number of players who are at least credible NFL types this year, in what is very likely a lost season. If they can indeed spin Watson into a huge slew of serious picks (I remain skeptical) then maybe this franchise is un-doomed.

[cuervo72]

So wait - the last preseason games are tonight, and then no more NFL until 9/9? Who the hell thought this was a good plan?

[Ksyrup]

The only thing I can figure is that with one less game, they didn't want to waste a week's worth of preseason TV ratings going up against a full weekend of college. Now, I have no idea if preseason TV ratings would be a primary reason for everyone but 2 teams to take a full 2 weeks off before the first game, but it's about all I can come up with.

[cuervo72]

Also, whose idea was it to put Adam Archuleta in a broadcast booth?

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Watch a little of the Jags game. Trevor Lawrence is looking pretty good. I know its just pre-season but he looked pretty poised.

Watching the Bengals-Dolphins game now. QB Brandon Allen just threw a pretty TD. Hope he keeps the backup role.

He's pretty much guaranteed to b QB2 as they don't have anyone else remotely capable. I guess it's possible they sign someone that gets cut, but that isn't at all Bengal-like.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Also, whose idea was it to put Adam Archuleta in a broadcast booth?

That was mine, sorry about that.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

.. but why did they hurry to sign RB Mark Ingram? (Though to be honest, them spinning Ingram back to the Ravens for some modest compensation does seem like it could work right now)

Saints RBs (non-Kamara edition) have looked old and slow this preseason.

Assuming no bad blood between the team and player, I'd love for the Saints to trade a 6th or 7th for him. I've always really liked his personality. He'd be fun to have back on the team.

[JPhillips]

Lots of obvious jokes when there's a trade with a guy named BJ and a guy named Price.

[thesloppy]

It dawned on me earlier today that with a 17 game season no NFL team can ever finish with an even record (without a tie). That offends my sensibilities.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

It dawned on me earlier today that with a 17 game season no NFL team can ever finish with an even record (without a tie). That offends my sensibilities.

Imagine how Jeff Fisher feels.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Reports are that a Watson trade should be finalized within the next couple of days and the Dolphins are the frontrunners with the Panthers in the bidding as well.

3 firsts and 2 seconds is the rumored price

Here’s the guy at the center of the DeShaun Watson rumors basically stating he tweeted his news based on a process of elimination. & he doesn’t believe the Miami Dolphins have spoken to the Texans in days & no imminent trade.

So basically a regurgitation of the past 6 months. pic.twitter.com/8uiPvsJa00

— Big E the Second ©© (@ian693_) August 30, 2021

So, maybe not so much of a story after all? MIA Coach Flores sua sponte issues a to-the-press diatribe today just generally about high moral standards within the organization... hmmm.

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Imagine how Jeff Fisher feels.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Here’s the guy at the center of the DeShaun Watson rumors basically stating he tweeted his news based on a process of elimination. & he doesn’t believe the Miami Dolphins have spoken to the Texans in days & no imminent trade.

So basically a regurgitation of the past 6 months. pic.twitter.com/8uiPvsJa00

— Big E the Second ©© (@ian693_) August 30, 2021

So, maybe not so much of a story after all? MIA Coach Flores sua sponte issues a to-the-press diatribe today just generally about high moral standards within the organization... hmmm.

It would be really strange for someone trade for him right now. Even with heavy protections on the draft picks. It just doesn't seem worth the PR nightmare and circus that's sure to follow without knowing his status.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Saints RBs (non-Kamara edition) have looked old and slow this preseason.

Well, Murray is 31 with over 1,000 NFL carries
Freeman is 29 with over 1,000 NFL carries.

There could be good reason they look old & slow.

(Jones is likely the #2 anyway)

[Thomkal]

Saw a tweet from someone who covers the NFL for a pro football site and he says the Texans plan to have Watson on the 53 man roster and keep him inactive in hopes of some one getting desperate enough to trade for him due to an injury in Wk1 or 2. Good luck to them I guess (let it not be my beloved Cardinals who need him)

[Ksyrup]

Cam Newton was released.

[QuikSand]

I could see someone trading for Watson, I suppose, but not at pre-incident pricing like 3x1sts+

Someone trying to really buy low to take advantage of Houston's distress and hoping "for all this to blow over" and then they have a big bargain... sure

[albionmoonlight]

I don't see Cam going somewhere as a backup.

I guess sit at home and wait for a phone call after an injury to a QB1?

[molson]

Mac Jones has looked great so maybe it was a forgone conclusion, but when your veteran stopgap QB won't get vaccinated, struggles to comply with the enhanced protocol, and can be deemed ineligible at any moment, it makes sense to go with the younger guy right now. And when there's basically a 50/50 QB battle, it can't be great when you're banned for the facility for 5 days near the end and other guy shines in your absence.

Or maybe Cam just still sees himself as an MVP and didn't want to be a backup. He was awful last year but probably still better than Hoyer and Stidham. So this wasn't purely a football move that kept him off the team entirely.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Saw a tweet from someone who covers the NFL for a pro football site and he says the Texans plan to have Watson on the 53 man roster and keep him inactive in hopes of some one getting desperate enough to trade for him due to an injury in Wk1 or 2. Good luck to them I guess (let it not be my beloved Cardinals who need him)

They have to play him don't they? I have not kept up with the story but I don't think he has refused to play. This way seems like a unnecessary fight to have with the players association while still having little to no leverage over the player.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by molson

Mac Jones has looked great so maybe it was a forgone conclusion, but when your veteran stopgap QB won't get vaccinated, struggles to comply with the enhanced protocol, and can be deemed ineligible at any moment, it makes sense to go with the younger guy right now. And when there's basically a 50/50 QB battle, it can't great when you're banned for the facility for 5 days near the end and other guy shines in your absence.

Or maybe Cam just still sees himself as an MVP and didn't want to be a backup. He was awful last year but probably still better than Hoyer and Stidham. So this wasn't purely a football move that kept him off the team entirely.

The Colts could use a temporary QB as Wentz has a foot injury and is on the covid list and their 3rd stringer is also injured. Of course you have to think about how this would affect Wentz's psyche.

[spleen1015]

The Colts don't need another key player that's unvaccinated. They should cut Wentz and suck this season with Eason or ride with Foles then draft a good QB next year.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

That one means we get 2 more weeks of Why Isn't Fields Starting.

And now since Cam was released, we get even more of this.

[albionmoonlight]

Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa are the oldest and second oldest starting QBs in the AFC East this season.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Denver Bronco's fans: Who is Trinity Benson?

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

They have to play him don't they? I have not kept up with the story but I don't think he has refused to play. This way seems like a unnecessary fight to have with the players association while still having little to no leverage over the player.

I don't think he's played in any preseason game (correct me if I'm wrong), so technically they don't have to play him. I don't think the PA gets involved if/until the NFL/law enforcement investigation is over

[Coffee Warlord]

Sad tidbit from Bears twitter.

Ryan Pace has now drafted 7 WR's. 6 have been cut. One drafted 7th overall, one traded up for.

And they've already cut 2 draft picks from this year.

[Thomkal]

wow

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

I don't think he's played in any preseason game (correct me if I'm wrong), so technically they don't have to play him. I don't think the PA gets involved if/until the NFL/law enforcement investigation is over

I think the PA has to get involved in order for the Texans or the NFL to say that Watson is not playing due to the investigation. I know he was in camp on time. I am guessing he has been at every practice and every meeting. He is eligible to play and he is one of the top ten QBs in the league. The idea that the Texans are just going to put him on the inactive list until they get a trade offer they like is not a precedent the PA wants to see set IMO. If he is inactive because of the investigation, that is fine if it is part of the CBA. I still think the NFL will put him on the exempt list before the season starts. Outside of that, the Texans need to give him a chance to play or explain why they won't.

[molson]

I get why they can't suspend him, but why can't they just start someone else and leave him on the 53-man roster as one of the inactives? Is there a rule that someone has to be dressed and on your active roster if he's good enough to be talent-wise? That seems kind of arbitrary.