starrymessenger

I didn't want Brown either but I wind up in a different place regarding Beane. I like the job Beane has.been doing so far, but I think this would have been a mistake. Not good for the team and actually not good for Brown either for that matter.

Based on a quick and relatively uninformed assessment I was sceptical of Murray's prospects as a starting calibre NFL QB, not to mention as an actual franchise guy. But if his combine height/weight is legit (and I assume it is) then if he fails it won't be because he's too small (he has the raw talent/physical ability and could potentially perform very well in the right offence). In any pics I had seen he always looked to me more a midget wrestler than a pro football player and I was assuming he fell into an extremely limited sample size of legit NFL QB's who were that small (basically a sample size of 1, being Doug Flute). OTOH Jeremiah can say what he wants about brains and experience being Brady's, Rivers, or Brees' saving graces, but the reality is that the mental attributes needed to play the position well, which are rare, are at the end of the day more important than athleticism. And those great players prove it conclusively. I don't know if Casserly is being unfair to Murray, but if he's voicing even a preliminary consensus on intangibles and blackboard smarts that does not bode well for the player. And even if one concedes Murray's top flight athleticism and even putting to one side the issue of football smarts, there are other important parts of the pro QBs skillset (which are a combination of physical and cognitive abilities) that Murray, unlike Mayfield coming out, has yet to prove: can he read a defence pre and post snap, can he find passing lanes, can he lead a receiver with accuracy, can he go through progressions etc...So far, for me, the jury is pretty much still out on Murray.

Really don't know about Hoch. To me there is little doubt that he projects as a top shelf receiving TE, but I've seen his weight listed as anything from 220 to 250 with 230 being the most often seen. He's touted, with justification, as a complete player at the position, but if he's light I have to wonder how well he'd be able to execute in line blocking assignments at the pro level. He's a big kid so maybe he can put the weight on if needed. Waiting for the Combine.

Kyler Murray is no Baker Mayfield if what your looking for is a rookie with the type of demonstrated ability to start, let alone shine, on an NFL playing field. Baker showed that he could go through his progressions, throw his receivers open, hitting them with pinpoint accuracy. It is irrelevant that Murray put up even more impressive passing stats in Lincoln Riley's offence. Murray is for now pretty much a see it/throw it passer. And he's small, like Flutie small. Being a dual threat QB is great but you have to execute consistently from the pocket. Will he be able to see/find the passing lanes the way Brees and Wilson can, both of whom, already smaller QBs, are taller than he is? Nobody knows. If you worry, quite reasonably, about preserving Josh Allen's body, well.... I will be more amused than surprised if some QB needy team blows it's brains out moving up to take him early in the first or a team like the Dolphins take him with their first pick. He's a another second round prospect at best who will go in the first. Murray has great tools but he needs to be developed to execute in an offensive scheme designed for him. I don't think Zona takes him but it would be hilarious to see them trade down because some team thinks they're looking at Baker Mayfield.

He is by no means better than projected first or early second round WRs in this year's draft. He's not DK, Harry or Butler. He is Juwan Johnson with an edge and probably somewhat better hands, so a third round equivalent prospect. Having successful pro experience, albeit not NFL, is also a plus. Having seen some of his Eskimo games I think he makes the roster, but that's JMO. I think it's also fair to leave open the possibility that he pleasantly surprises. He is talented and nasty (in a good way). Anyway they picked him up for nothing and if he works out kudos to McBean. Absolutely worth a hard look.

Exactly. Even BB was only able to shut him down for 30 mins. Second half PM basically cleaned BB's clock (but for Ford) and like Goff never could. PMs a fantastic talent and a great kid. He's a credit to game like few others and I'm happy for him. He's obviously an outstanding athlete but his best attribute for playing the game resides above the shoulders, not below. Game speed is like slo-mo for him. A fastball looked like a grapefruit to Rod Carew. The Babe could pick out the numbers on a distant licence plate when normal mortals didn't know what colour it was. You just have to be there when the Man Upstairs is handing out gifts like that.

Lousy ratings is what you can get when horrendous officiating and a d- lineman's inexcusable brainfart causes you to field a couple of backup teams in the championship game. I get that the Wade-BB matchup delivered something worthwhile for the football purist but Brees vs Mahomes would have been more fun to watch.

Yeah not saying they take him (if available) but they have shown a penchant for that kind of player. A little raw with things to learn but with absolutely all the tools you could dream of.

DK is the Tremaine Edmunds/Josh Allen of this year's draft. Not saying we take him (we could do worse) but the athleticism/demonstrated ability/potential is other worldly. Now that he's cleared medically I wouldn't complain. Not at all. Falcons traded their whole draft for a guy like him.

You never know what the future may hold but I see no flaws in PMs game and he routinely does things that you rarely if ever see even starting calibre QBs do. He's in a very good situation no doubt but I don't think it will ever be easy to scheme to shut him down. Today's game should be instructive in that regard though given he's going against BB.

cha-ching!!!

Either it was sarcasm or I wouldn't sign him.

Going easy on a guy who hits women (or beats his wife with a mop - remember him - Greene?) suggests the subservience of women to men. So IMO more going on there than when men (or just women) are involved in a physical altercation. I'm not politically correct. A little scuffle between guys doesn't faze me. Played hockey growing up so been there myself. Stuff happens. Mustn't get out of hand tho.

Im 100% for gender equality and I agree actions speak louder than words. I would do my due diligence. If this incident was out of character and I could reasonably believe he understood that it was completely unacceptable I would aggressively pursue him. Otherwise I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole.

He's probably the GOAT so there's that. Funny that anywhere else than on a playing field he can seem like such a goof at times. Roger Maris was more my kinda guy. He was born surly. Stengel once said if you asked him a question he would stare at you for a week before answering. But I digress. Really looking forward to tomorrow's game. Could be a landmark, historic event.

Under the radar: Mathieu Betts DE, Laval (Canada). Athleticism/measurables somewhat below par. Technique well above average. Constant motor. Best Canadian college defensive lineman. Will be of greater interest if good showing leads to combine invite.

Living in Canada I follow the CFL in my "spare" football time (their season starts before the NFL's does). Comparing Inman with Williams is apples and oranges as to receiver type. Dontrelle is talented and was productive in the CFL the two years he was here and he helped Toronto to a championship. But last year Williams was literally twice the player Inman ever was. Way more versatile and complete in terms of skill set. Inman was very good. Williams was dominant. Think TO. Will it translate to the big stage where DBs and linebackers are bigger, badder and better? Idk but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Agree. If he winds up being a reliable contributor it will take awhile. He's not going to be a day one difference maker.

There are actually a number of players on NFL rosters & practice squads, including WRs with CFL playing experience. Hard to compare the WRs because they have different skillsets (eg I think Dontrelle Inman runs a sub 4.4 forty if memory serves. Duke will never do that). My thinking is that Williams may well pleasantly surprise.

Agree the ability to catch Allen's ball is a very important, though of course not the only consideration. To me Foster has a habit of trapping the ball into his body. While this is fine w/respect to certain types of throws (eg over the shoulder basket catches - that incidentally Fosterhas shown he can accomplish) it can be problematic obviously on slants and crosses and other important routes. So I suspect this is something RF is working on. As for Duke I am less concerned. He has strong hands and uses them to catch the ball. One caveat though is that his Edmonton QB is known for throwing a receiver friendly ball. Not sure we can say the same about Josh at this stage in his development.

I like Harry too but I've been asking myself whether if Duke works out these two guys would more or less be candidates to fill the same role in this WR corps. I saw some of Duke's Edmonton games last year and he looked to me to have some YAC ability. Not to say that Duke is the prospect Harry is but if they like him the Bills might go in a different direction re skillset to round out their complement of receivers. Or maybe not. Not a lot of time for them to make these assessments but maybe their interest in Duke suggests they are thinking of going in a different direction in the draft. I guess time will tell.

Apparently he was generating interest after his breakout 2018, so the Bills were early. To me he's like Juwan Johnson, a talented guy with potential worth a 4th or 5th round pick - except we didn't have to burn a pick. I also give him some credit for starring in a pro league, even if it's not the bigs.

Yeah they are the two you would start with, with Wake not far behind. Wake almost signed with Buff out of BC Lions but the Dolphins 4/3 was thought to a better fit for him. Back in Cookie's day there really wasn't so huge a difference between NFL/CFL play, and maybe as late as when Cousineau or Johnny Rogers went north of the border out of school. But the NFL is now a much bigger, better organized league than it was back then so that the gap between the two leagues is now enormous. I think Wake once had like 23 sacks one year. Fact remains though that there are always a few players there who can help an NFL team and Williams could well be one of them. Nothing wrong with the CFL being like a triple A franchise to NFL teams.

Croom is at least 2 inches taller and 20-25lbs heavier. Yes he has to improve his blocking. I think they are probably looking at Williams as a big bodied wide catch radius possession/red zone receiver. I think he just might be a bit more than that - seems to have some YAC in him. Looks to be a physical, aggressive player with good hands, and the ability to track and high point the ball. Looks to me like he's got a chance. The Bills seem to think so anyway. Hope for all concerned that it works out.

...and Dontrelle Inman, who helped Toronto to a Grey Cup just caught a TD pass from Luck yesterday. There are always a few guys in the CFL who can play in the bigs. Not many, but a few.