Jauronimo

What they really need is to actually collect taxes, reign in public sector pay, slash existing entitlements, and then prosecute about every public official who held office over the last 20 years (at least) for massive corruption.

Its bad opinion Tuesday.

Which is exactly why I wouldn't want to start a team centered around him.

Basically. I don't what you're arguing with that last post. Is it: 1. That Russel Wilson is elite? 2. That RW will get paid top dollar? 3. Did you just want to segue to Dilfer and McMahon and get a head start on utter madness? Either way, I'm having trouble reconciling your respective positions. You posit RW is elite but the Squawks' philosophy doesn't emphasize the passing game otherwise we might see that elite level production. So why would they pay top dollar for something that they don't intend to fully use? If I'm GM, I am not going to pay someone like Aaron Rodgers if the plan is to use that player more like Alex Smiff. Especially when paying a QB a max contract basically prevents me from sticking to the philosophy and assembling/retaining a "smothering defense" and top run game. Furthermore, if I'm GM and I've got an elite QB on the roster and my coach insists on using him more like Alex Smiff, I'm probably looking for new coaches and coordinators. I don't think the above jives well. I think its far more likely that Wilson is NOT an elite QB at this stage in his development which is why he isn't used as much as any other starting QB in the NFL. I think its highly UN-likely that any franchise with an elite QB would choose not to exploit that players talents in interest of adhering to a dogmatic offensive philosophy. I think Russel is a solid player and will ultimately get paid near top dollar but with a team friendly structure. I believe that he will get paid handsomely NOT because hes an elite QB but because he is young and still may grow into a premier passer and also due to the implicit cost (as measured financially and in wins) to replace a scarce commodity is just too high. Plus its basically career suicide for an exec to let him walk after a super bowl (he isn't Dilfer, after all) unless you've got a future hall of famer waiting to replace him. This set of statements strikes me as far more cohesive and plausible.

Cool. Is there a point?

I don't think he will get the richest contract either unless its a marvel of team friendly engineering and richest only at first glance. It really doesn't make any sense to pay the kid top $$ if the team's dogmatic offensive philosophy dictates that the they won't use their franchise QB to his full potential.

It matters a little bit when you're predicting that he'll sign the richest contract in football history.

I had no idea the two sides were so close. I guess the media chatter and predictions that RW will be playing for another team next year is all just posturing for contract negotiation purposes? If so, its being handled strikingly different than when other franchise QB's contracts have reached maturity.

No, it isn't.

I'm not sure why its so hard for you to have an intellectually honest discussion. You can choose to believe that Wilson can do everything that Rodgers can but the Squawks just don't feel like its value add and want to play nail biters rather than blow teams out in the first half. Carroll and his staff must just be the most incompetent f@#$wits on the face of the planet. Yes, that IS more plausible when you really think about it.

Hasn't the debate over the last few pages been whether RW is currently elite rather than is he going to be elite?

I don't think A Rodg, Brady, Brees, and Manning have always been needed to blow teams out and put up crazy numbers, but for some reason, those teams that are particularly blessed at the QB position tend to use the tools they have. I find it difficult to believe that Seattle is the anomaly and just chooses not to let Wilson blow our minds so that they can grind out those 4th quarter comebacks.

Correct. So elite QB, best defense in the game, and one of the best backs in the game and they're still having to come from behind in the 4th and don't score many points. Something seems inconsistent here. You've laid it all on their WRs. I think maybe the first point is worth reconsidering.

The Tebow defense is alive and well. All he do is...

Oh. Throwing to a bunch of nobodies never seemed to slow Brady down but I guess elite comes in many shades. That must be it.

Blue Light

Why is an elite QB playing in front of an elite defense having to stage so many 4th quarter comebacks? His defense gives up 16 points per game.

Nice breakdown. Helpful to have a few stats and figures to add context to the general sentiment that Marrackett had no idea how to use Watkins.

I'm leery as well, but pizza isn't one of those things that benefits from a slow cook. I don't think any franchise concept is going to get the dough right. These types of places cater to people who are more focused on the toppings, in my opinion.

Can I gay marry a woman? Regular marriage seems very 90s to me. Plus my parents got regular married and it was a disaster.

The JA bat signal.

bull ****. Name one team, just one team, in any major sport, that has been able to overcome superior talent and win a championship. Just one.

I tend to agree. I think a prime example of too many playmakers was the Dallas Cowboys of a few seasons ago. They had Dez, Austin, Felix, Murray, Witten (I think), but despite loads of talent there was no identity on offense. Play calling seemed more to me like an attempt to get everyone involved or even appeasement at times rather than actual strategy. Instead of sticking with what This is just my opinion on the matter, but I think with a star studded roster there's a diffusion of responsibility. How often do we see players who were the focus of an offense get picked up by a team trying to buy a championship and never put up real numbers again? The Yankees have made that their business model. When you're surrounded by All Stars, suddenly the pressure is off. If LeBron isn't on tonight, no problem, Wade will pick it up. And if Wade is off too, then Bosh will step up. When its everyone's responsibility to lead the team, its no ones' responsibility. Dream teams never seem to equal the sum of their parts and I think its partly for a reason resembling this sentiment.

Its still around. Theres a bunch of them and every one is different. Bushnell's Basin is my favorite of their locations. In Rochester hit Pizza Stop and Brooklyn Joe's for NYC style, Nino's for sicilian and foccacia pies, Chester Cab for Chicago style stuffed, and Fiamma for Neapolitan pizza. If you've been to those places and ordered correctly and still hold the opinion that Rochester pizza sucks then you just don't like pizza.

Where are you going in Rochester? Pretty random choices of cities.