Richard Noggin

Driving While Interwebbing is a serious offence, especially during draft season. Please abstain. Granted.

Well I live in Buffalo, and I don't see a "fit" issue here. Wins and losses determine how good a fit is. Just because he has a decent brain doesn't mean he has an attitude problem. It just means many people in the world of sports don't know what to do with him. He won't just shut up and entertain us, like a good boy. That moral tire fire actually benefitted from the lack of attention people paid to his personal affairs in our small market. Bigger city might have meant bigger gossip. And there was much to gossip about... Take it easy, Francis.

I like words. So, thanks for this.

Watched him first-hand power down over a dozen stiff cocktails during a two-hour dinner, on several different occasions. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Actually read the article. This kid is fascinating. Some won't like him because he's obviously left-leaning. But that's dumb. He is a thinker, and probably is therefore more misunderstood than anything.

That's what she said?

Fair question. I imagine either of us could do ten seconds of research to shed a little light on the matter. Meh...

Was it the new regime who opted against Sammy's 5th year? Definitely wasn't Beane. He inherited Watkins on the final year of his rookie deal. (Unless I've been dead in a cave somewhere...which has been known to happen.) So, was it McDermott? I mean, officially, it was Doug Whaley. But, was it really coach's call? How do you know?

Having just now, late at night, watched the youtube "film" on all the relevant LBs, including #3 from FSU, I would like to offer the following very technical and high-level analysis: Derwin James looks fast and capable against the pass; nearly his entire highlight package contains him making plays against called passes and QBs improvising off of called passing plays. He flashes brilliantly against the pass. But very few of these highlights reveal downhill run stops and gap integrity. You know, boring, traditional linebacker stuff. Rashaan Evans, on the other hand, has a youtube reel filled with shooting gaps, setting and/or blowing up the edge, sifting through traffic to make plays at or behind the LOS, etc., in ADDITION to zone drops and buzzes to the flats and passing game disruptions all over the field. Looks like Evans, just for example, is already primed to be a MIKE on any and every down. Looks like James is ready to play a hybrid/nickel role whose game is less multifaceted, at least early on. Agreed, but at 12? At 12 you're looking for an EVERY down impact LB, no? A guy who excels against the run and the pass.

That's a smart take. Thanks for sharing.

You mean Showbiz Pizza?!

First, thank you. That being said, I agree. Give the Bills Rudolph at 12. Watch him have success. Just because he doesn't "wow" anyone with physical tools while wearing gym shorts, doesn't mean he can't do the nuanced things good QBs do: manipulate the pocket, throw accurately under pressure, etc.

The first page of this topic makes me smile.

Well played.

Have you heard John Murphy's (no relation to our new DE) impression of Wade? Truly, surprisingly amusing. He shared a short bit of it on the air some time in the last year; sounded like something he had honed in private back in the late 90s. I'd look for a clip of it if I was more useful. You'll have to forgive me.

Oh boy. While I might privately agree with your suggestion, I try to avoid that kind of discourse on a sports discussion forum. Generally leads to less-than-brilliant discussions...

So to speak...

Doctors recommend cutting down salt intake to maintain a healthy blood pressure. This post, then, is not physician approved.

Preach.

The cap exists as an actual thing, though. An NFL team can't just "go over" it. Being in cap hell means other valuable players have to be moved off the roster. It results in a less consistent model for roster building, and sudden talent purges. I, for one, DO care about the roster and cap management of my favorite professional sports team. I find it interesting, and it is an inarguably essential facet of NFL team building. Why are you railing against this? It's weird.

Well, not really... I think fans are conscious of the salary cap implications of various players and positions. There's this emphasis (among managers on winning franchises) on VALUE. And that value has nothing to do with the actual paychecks being issued, but rather the share of available cap each player/position group consumes. It's really not weird at all to add that into the analysis of football players, much like the actual decision makers do.

Yeah, he has issues defending passing routes. Ideally he'd be moving forward on those downs.

He was, however, our very BEST player on defense in the playoff game. The guy flashed repeatedly.

You are forgiven.

That's my line.