NoSaint

Theres no sense in cutting his pay and handing him a 7 figure pay check up front to force him out. You just cut him.

Goes back long before the rams...

Amy number of simple explanations- couldve gone off meds, or changed meds, or started drinking/drugs, or maybe he really had health issues that were traumatic to him (maybe the kidney/liver issues are real), or maybe he’s just in an extreme swing of a mental illness these things aren’t always all day every day all the time. It’s not crazy to think he might have things in check and swing off the deep end. He’s 24-48 hour twitter benders were a big red flag (beyond content, simply that it seemed he wasn’t sleeping for days at times)

Yup. This is a multi year public negotiation. Can’t ride the roller coaster of every comment. At some point all parties will have to throw in money though or you will start to see the comments escalate and possibly even an actual move, though not likely. If the teams winning and an icon of the region it’ll be much easier to bring everyone on board.

He also gets by with one of those LBs being a thumper ala Brandon spikes. That guy comes super cheap. For him paying a LB isn’t just a luxury - it’s damn near impossible when paying 4-5 guys on the line.

He can definitely be a well spoken guy and has a unique perspective... but I think there’s a wide gap between lets have him on set for an interview and let’s sign him to a contract to represent a major network day in and day out. maybe one of the edgier cable or radio programs give him a chance to build his resume and get the ratings boost associated with possible shock value. I can’t see him going major network anytime soon though. He keeps digging his hole deeper.

I suspect that he’s a 3 down guy and Milano/Zo share package duties. I’m not an expert on him but it seems he’s a better 3 down player and allows them to bring the young guy along with favorable situations still.

I think he’s a real long shot to transition from “too extreme for nfl locker rooms” to “corporate America in an already on guard environment” He’s ultra high risk given his resume, and would have to be a huge upgrade over the next best guy. The Jacksonville story followed by this offseason really hurt the outside chance of him being able to argue that he is 100% trustworthy

Why do you assume he’d be the 3rd lb?

The beauty of creating this storyline is that you can never be proven wrong. No matter what, you can just say oh well Buffalo didn’t match 30-whatever his new salary was would put him spot on average for starting guards. At 34 and given his laundry list of trouble.... I don’t think it’s a crazy offer and given he signed it- his behavior reinforces that he’s damaged goods and you need to have him at a discount

And ritchie does this out of honor or?

I use 2 lb as “starters” depth charts haven’t caught up but truth is that the majority of snaps are definitely in nickel. Once you pull out dine, goal line, etc... we are only in a “base” 43 so often. Milano and Zo, are good role players for that.

I think you are likely low balling on all fronts

All it takes is 1-2 teams to have money and desire.

I don’t know his play well but a good vet and elite rookie would be a nice starting pair and a guy like milano is a nice off the bench player. If they like him as a long term piece this would really solidify the defense for 2-3 years

What do you think he signs for now?

From a handful I think it’s less about football and more so identity politics. If ritchie is a schmuck and relic of the past - we have a few posters that aren’t far removed from that status. Have to keep him a viable person or it’s a slippery slope to not being viable themselves. Dude agreed to reduced pay and no one wants to trade for him... seems the bills pay cut was pretty fair. Ritchie’s pay will never match his skill because he comes with mountains of baggage.

Which cuts to the “what’s his value” question a lot of folks are saying he didn’t deserve the pay cut but we couldn’t get anyone to drop a 7th for his reduced contract with signing bonus already paid?

So let’s say Hughes wants out. He goes on a 4 day twitter bender and drunk dials the pegulas- that gets him out of his contract? i only mentioned the pats because you did

Im sure they’d double check his health but probably not thaaat different than any 30+ year old OL. he pulled that comment practically in concert with that for the right price he’d play. It felt like a child flailing around to try to get out of trouble. That he said different things to different people doesn’t make me think any Avenue was particularly different. Just that he was throwing a tantrum and we had multiple ways to witness it

It seems it was a guy that was throwing a tantrum more than anything, no? Even in the moment it appeared that way

Agreed. I suspect for less than we offered. Which will Be frustrating for everybody but thats the risk when you pick up a guy like this. Odds were it was going to end ugly but if you can get A few good years for cheap...

So you’re cool with it at what age cutoff? And whats the mechanism for blocking the pats signing? Do we make them pinky swear prior to release? I hope we win the super bowl. But my loyalty tends to be towards the team ... not so much the meatheads of the league.

In theory if we release a willing to play player, we would be on the hook for that bonus. Yea, that’s probably what happened...

He has admitted to drug use in his past and has also been acting pretty erratic soooooo I don’t think it’s a crazy thing to wonder