starrymessenger

2015 NFL Draft Scout reports his "low" 40 time as 4:36. For what it's worth.

Have to wonder about that 4:36. I had heard about it, can't remember from where. If he had done it at the Combine, even unofficially but with lots of evaluator butts in the seats, I have to think he would have gone well before the seventh.

He needs an NFL strength and conditioning programme and maybe another 10 lbs which his frame would permit. Then he needs to find some nasty in fighting DBs for the ball. If he can do those things, he's Marques Colston. Went into his pro day looking to improve on his combine 40 time, which was respectable. Ran once, hand held 4.48 I believe.

Yeah baby! That's the ticket! Kraft for Commissioner!

I think he will miss a game or two but maybe not four (unfortunately for Dallas who have supported the league office while reminding folks that the commish has come down hard on them - meaning they don't want to play against TB if they can avoid it and applying a little moral pressure). A groundswell of opinion from respected former players with a national audience has somehow now mobilized in support of reducing or eliminating the penalties, especially the Brady suspension. Prior to the penalties being announced, Terrelle Davis for example was very critical of Brady. He focussed on his lack of candour and unwillingness to come clean and fully cooperate with the investigation. Now he says that he understands the reason for the suspension being those very factors but that the penalty is disproportionate to the offence. IMO he is losing sight of the reason for the suspension while continuing to acknowledge it. In other words, in his view the penalty is disproportionate even if it is being levied for the players disengenuous behavior. Well the most powerful man in the world was driven from office not because of the actions of a bunch of clown hackers breaking into an office, which had no influence whatsoever on his landslide election victory, but because he knowingly lied about what went on. Only his credibility was impugned and that was enuf to bring him down. So such things matter and what this is mostly about now is a personal integrity issue, not whether a material advantage was secured. Generally, unlike Davis, folks like Heath Evans and Willie McGinest (the latter at least being a generally stand up guy) defend TB on the basis that all QBs like their game balls in a certain personalized way, that game balls get aged or seasoned (or not) depending upon such preferences, etc...Sorry, all of that relates to the "material advantage" issue, which is in fact a non issue. But their views are captured by a national audience and can influence (unthinking) public opinion. McGinest also makes the point that the Patriots are held to a very high standard of compliance by their coach and accordingly he never saw Brady once break any rules. Wasn't the super corner Revis sent home for being late to a team meeting? Well there is no doubt that a very well run team like the Pats is going to have the players adhere to team rules. The question is does the team feel the same way about league rules? It was the enforcer BB who was spying after all. Willie is a good man, a better man than his former teammate, but maybe he is blinded by loyalty or being a little thick between the ears in this case. TB's defence is basically the following - you can't prove it. The league can't prove that he knowingly conspired with the equipement guys to have the game balls deflated below the regulation psi. Brady's strategy can work only due to the much lower level of discovery that applies to league investigations than to all other investigatory procedures, be they criminal, civil or indeed congressional in nature. Poor Tom was asked to turn over relevant info from his phone. The nerve. Well people who argue along these lines have really no clue of what a real discovery process is like. It is a virtual colonoscopy. Tom Brady may well be able to get away with the sort of thing Richard Nixon and Martha Stewart did not (Martha went to jail not for trading on the basis of material non public info, but for not cooperating with federal prosecutors conducting the investigation) indeed even if the evidence fully justifies the Wells report findings on the balance of probabilities. And all this hogwash about the evidence being "circumstantial". Circumstantial evidence is frequently more probative than direct evidence. Just ask Ronald Cotton. They can stick a needle in your arm on the basis of evidence that is circumstantial. If the Brady campaign succeeds in any of its objectives the credibility of the league as a self governing and rule making authority will be irrevocably compromised.

Great post. My guess is that it's the balls (meaning a conspiracy was afoot that had much more probable impact on game results than whatever advantage they got in the passing game). We should be able to better understand this "statistical anomaly" now that the game balls will no longer be under inflated.

The Pats, all of them, Kraft, BB, Brady, the talking heads who know and love Brady, and the Patriot fans live in a bubble, a small one, and then there is the rest of the known universe, which is a radically different place. The longer this goes on, the worse it will be for what's left of their reputation.

Wells has just told Brady and Yee to put up or shut up. They have nothing to put up so they will now probably just have to shut up. They are going 9/7 IMO, assuming the suspension remains in place,and won't win before their date with the Jets.

Not at all. TBH I would rather TB and the Pats were not liars and cheaters. Thing is they are not quite up to the picture perfect image that they themselves probably believe they are and would like the rest of the world to also believe they are. IMO deflating the game balls is not a big deal and in no way detracts from their on field success (although I do question the remarkably low rate of Patriot fumbles since 2006). But the more they aggressively deny, insult and threaten the league authorities (Yee = Brady), the more damage is done to the player's and the team's legacy and the worse they look and in fact are.

Lance was a more hard core and serious offender by far IMO and is the extreme case, but I agree that the situations are in the same category.

The NFL has basically come out and said that Brady and the Pats are liars and cheaters. It's the sport itself saying this about its star player and most successful franchise. That has turned this into a player and franchise legacy issue more than anything else. The stakes are actually sky high. That's why TB can't do the honourable thing, admit guilt and accept the discipline. It's too late. That's why Kraft (and Yee) has now come out with guns blazing. I don't see any common ground here for a compromise as between NE and the league.

It would be a very poor optic for the league to back down here, unless TB is able to table new info/evidence that clearly exonerates him. Pats are repeat offenders and the offence is tarnishing the integrity of the game. They got their butts kicked hard and they fully deserved it.

Brady and the Pats are prisoners of their arrogance and sense of privileged entitlement. If they were smart they would have had TB admit wrongdoing, apologize and take his lumps. For a top shelf organization (at least in terms of demonstrated ability) they are really very stupid in managing reputational risk. The more Kraft and Yee complain, whine, threaten and insult the league office the more they confirm that body of opinion that questions their character and mindset as an organization. Through their behavior they are proving the essential elements of the wrongdoing they have been accused of. Given that they are already perceived as repeat offenders their actions can very well tarnish their image permanently in the minds of the general public. Probably doesn't help that they drafted the NFL's version of Ted Bundy either I suppose, tho who could have seen that one coming.

True his receivers got the job done but that was partly him leading them and generally showing good ball placement over all. He's a big kid who throws a very receiver friendly catchable ball with good touch but I'm not sure I saw the zip that say Flacco can generate when he has to. I'm not sure about his deep ball either, not so much for accuracy but depth and velocity. These were things that Tom Brady was able to improve on so maybe with a similar frame this guy can too. No harm in turning over every stone. Romo was undrafted. I have seen lots of college ball receivers way more wide open. Think Baylor for example.

Teflon Tom no more. At least Ahern had enuf sense to destroy his phone.

I tend to think 4 games is what will stick after the inevitable appeal, tho one might think the appeal will be somewhat compromised by Brady's refusal to cooperate with the investigation.I also expect repercussions at the HC and team levels. A fine and maybe a draft pick -first round. While BB may not have been in on this the low rate of Patriot fumbles since 2006 when teams were given control of the game balls suggests otherwise. And the Pats are repeat offenders.

He would never get out of Philly alive and he knows it - so BS IMO.

Still can't help wondering if some contractual shenanigans can't make this guy whole. The CBA seems to focus on his cash compensation while under the UDFA contract. But what if the team committed now to offer a first level tender after three years (yielding the second round comp he was allegedly seeking) and/or he was given a player option to enter into a new deal following expiry for an extra year (resulting in a 5 year deal usual for a first round pick) that made up the difference between a mid first round pick and an UDFA. While that might run afoul of the CBA policy it might also comply with the wording and would work some justice for the kid if innocent. Sorry, I just can't help it.

Should be a no brainer then I would imagine.

Well that totally sucks for him if he's innocent. So he's locked in for three years both as to salary and bonus and can only get paid if his performance justifies a first or second level tender after the three years. Even then as a first round talent he's getting the shaft financially. I guess we should forget about Collins. Does the one year in Canada thing work for him? Might be his best move.

So there is no way to pay this guy? Is he really locked into a dirt cheap contract for x# of years? He can't reenter 2016, he's not eligible for the supplementary draft. So off with him to the Siberian gulag? Or can he sign a contract with escalators, player or team options or containing terms that in effect morph the contract into something more in line with his actual draft value depending on certain contingencies. Unless a contract like this contravenes league rules or the CBA that is exactly the type of deal I would expect him to get once he is exonerated.

We have to find a way to throw some serious dollars his way and find a way to make his agent, who also got stiffed, some money too. He may be limited by the UDFA pool but hopefully you can draw up a creative and alluring contract. Assuming of course that he's not Ahern's next door neighbor for the next 100 years. We had a good draft. Land him and with Ritchie, Miller and what we had last year our coaches would have what they need to vastly improve the O-line.

Have to think so, tho people who bet against him are almost always wrong.

I generally like to see young players succeed, but if you're right the Bills will be a lot further ahead. I just have a fear of us falling further behind the curve in the AFC East at the all important position. For the running game to work in the NFL you need to be able to throw the football and one thing we do know is that Petty has superior arm talent.

Lots of college QBs don't play in a pro system. Some get drafted high regardless. True the Baylor system is super simple and tells us that he has a lot to learn, but he's got a good head on his shoulders and playing where he did doesn't prove that he can't make the adjustment with good coaching either. I would prefer a guy like that than a guy who played in a pro system and basically proved that he had serious issues that typically prevent him from transitioning.