Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

So the way I understand it, if a new CBA isn't agreed to by the beginning of the new year March 18th, teams can then use both a transition and franchise tag on two separate players. So I'm hoping it's all signed sealed and delivered prior as would make more potential FA's available. Dallas couldn't protect both Dak and Cooper.

True, in hindsight everyone was ripping the Bills for the pick, but pre-draft almost all the mocks had Williams up at the top. There was much debate about who should be selected higher him or McKinney, and there were enough experts out there who also rated Williams higher, so the Bills weren't completely crazy with the pick.. Again in hindsight neither ever panned out as well as expected, though McKinney certainly was the better of the two.

I don't know, I think it still would have happened. My thinking is Beane and McD planned to have Knox pretty much sit and learn behind Kroft last season, play some in 2 TE set's, then this coming season let Knoxtake over as the starter, but keep Kroft for 2 TE sets and in case it turns out Know wasn't ready. But last years injuries accelerated everything and one year later you know Knox can take over as the starter, so does make Kroft more expendable. Smith I'd keep at least thru training camp as don't save a ton by cutting him, and keep him in case of injury. Bates was a very versatile lineman, could play all positions. I wonder how he'd be a blocking TE and an occasional like 4 to 5 times a season catch a ball, kind of like Smith was. I'd think as a lineman should be as good if not better blocker. Don't know if he has the size though for TE?? Would be nice to use only one roster slot toy be your backup swing tackle and blocking TE.

Certainly tend to agree with the Brady Kraft part. BB not so sure he's on board, but will find out soon enough.

I'll see your Aaron Maybin and raise you Mike Williams!

Let me rephrase that, I understand the concept, but question the value in giving up very much to jump one spot when likely the outcome will be the same either way as the top 3 players selected will all be the same, just in a slightly different order. Seem to recall the other top pick wasn't someone San Fran was that interested in. This draft to me seems like there are 2 really really top picks, Young and Burrow. After that little bit of a drop. So would Washington really want to give up on Young which they would be if they trade with anyone other than Detroit. Unless they trade/cut Stafford prior to the draft, Detroit also isn't in desperate need of a QB so would they be that bad off instead drafting Young. And BTW how have the Bears done since then? Maybe if they hadn't given up multiple picks they'd be in better shape. If the Lions gave up a 4th rounder to move up one slot, fine, but to give up a second, when likely Washington is just bluffing that they'd trade the pick, I have trouble with that one. Unless start hearing that Washington is in a full rebuild and wants many picks, then that changes things. In the case of Buffalo giving up 2 rd's for JA, they were moving up multiple slots and already a number of players picked.

Never really understood the logic there. Happened was it 2 or 3 years back when the Bears traded up for Tribitsky one spot. If Washington wants Young, then why does Detroit need to trade up and give up picks, let them take Young and then you grab who you want a #3. Could someone else trade with Washington and then grab Tua, sure, but then Washington is likely losing out on Young as likely the Lions would grab Young or trade with another team who'd want him at #3. So why would Detroit give up assets to move up one pick when very likely they will get the guy they want at #3 anyway. Would only make sense if Washington didn't want Young, but even then whomever they do want could be gone by the time they do pick unless they are looking for many multiple picks in return.

Yeah but SU was there first. Plus Ernie Davis died at his peak so a little more significance there I'd say.

I saw that too and had to look it up. Kind of like a poor mans 44 at Syracuse

They already have one drafted in the 3rd round. By the time you add in dead money to either Kroft and/or Smith, plus what the new person wants you're way over paying the overall TE group. If they can sign Olsen I'd be OK with that as he's a short term solution, give him a year or two to coach up Knox and Sweeney , then he retires. If Walker could be signed for the same money short term, then OK there too, but don't do anything that reduces Knox development time on the field. Will Knox be at the top level, no one knows, though many here think they know. Other than the drops this past year, he played very good for a rookie. Give him another year, lets see how the drops plays out. If next off season still a problem, then look at TE's available then. Beane has stated multiple times he wants to build through the draft. Bringing in any type of player that reduces Knox's playing time goes against that. I think any team in the league would tell you that they wand players drafted in the first three rounds to be starters, plus a few later round successes. You don't then a year later make moves to reduce his playing time unless you already sense a mistake in the pick which is highly unlikely with him. To use a term used more in baseball's front office you need to look at WAR, wins above replacement and by the time you sign the "star" cut whomever is no longer needed, and push last years rookie to the side, I doubt there's any value there, likely would be a negative gain whomever you were to sign unless a very low $$ contract.

I will say this the first time I walked into that place I couldn't believe how high up the roof was above the last row of seats, never seen another arena like it. The way that place was built was pretty amazing IMO. So don't knock her for that!

Think I just counted 45 replies to this thread and only 4 people make any sense! Amazing. Well not really, typical response from fanatics here. I've also read on both the Athletic and BN similar questions about TE position and both sites basically say the same. If we can sign Olsen, great as he's a short term solution and can help both Sweeney and Knox improve in 2020 and maybe 2021. But don't make any moves that could potentially reduce Knox's playing time. Knox needs to develop and has the skill set that very few TE's in the league have. Did he drop too many balls yes, but the one area he's had the least experience in is catching passes, so lets see how he does in his 2nd year before bringing in his replacement. He could become the next Eric Ebron who basically has been a bust or he may be the next Gronk, no one here knows for certain either way. If by the end of next seasonhe's still dropping way too many balls, then look for an alternative. Multiple responses argue we don't have good WR so sign one of these guys to make up for it. Why not just sign actual WR's instead? Beane has stated he wants to develop through the draft, so why put Knox a 3rd round pick back on the bench or relegate him to 2 TE's sets only? Not sure how well a blocker Olsen is compared to Lee Smith, if he's even close and with likely improvement from both Knox and Sweeney, I'd be OK with a TE group of Knox, Olsen, and Sweeney. When you draft guys and a year later look for his replacement, you'll quickly find yourself back in salary cap hell and will become the next Cleveland instead of the the Steelers. They already have the guy who has the potential to learn and play in the offense the next 4 years, his name is Dawson Knox!

We just signed four new TE's last year, but lets bring in another. I really can't think of a positional group on the roster that someone new brought in less than TE. The one thing I know for certain is that no one knows in 3 to 4 years who'll be better Knox or Njoku, but lets bring in someone different this way Knox will spend less time on the field. One of the articles I read the other day about signing Olsen and his point which I tend to agree with is bringing in a guy like Olsen is OK as he's only a short term solution to help Knox improve, but should not make any moves that would reduce Knox's playing time. Went on to say how there's very few other TE's in the league with the potential talent set he has, admitted that the drops are a concern, but do everything you can to help him develop. And oh BTW as a 1st round pick, likely is being paid much more too. It just is amazing here how no one ever has any patience, if the guy's not all pro after 1 season, may as well cut him is what seems like the theme here all too often. That works in Madden, but not in the NFL.

I do remember the pick. I was rooting for Pittsburgh and was watching the clock in the background as knew if he were to get tackled time would expire, not time even for field goal. Was that the game Hines Ward had a big day or was that in the later SB appearance by Pitt?

Don't recall much about the game to be honest. Kind of funny as if you were to ask me what teams played in the 1983 SB I can tell you just about every game. And honestly I have better reccollections of the games prior to say 1995 than the ones played in the last 10 to 15 years, though I did watch them all.

So a controversial call impacted the outcome of the game? In other words just a typical game!

Don't remember a controversy around it it? What happened? I see that was 2005, quite awhile back.

Comparing their records, Cowher is much stronger, more total years coaching , twice as many winning seasons, won a SB in his next to last season coaching, both had a losing season streak in the middle and came back to win again, but Flores had a second losing streak, last 4 seasons coaching all had poor records, never won more than 6 games his last 4 years, admittedly was in a rebuilding mode, but never got them over the hump. Johnson is a bit tougher argument as less seasons coaching, but no losing seasons after his 1st 1-15 record. But he also did win 2 SB's and also had success with a 2nd team something Flores failed in rather badly. Flores also suffers from much of the Raiders credit going to Al Davis, particularly prior to free agency Davis had a dynasty for many years. Flores may have had a better chance of making the HOF if he hadn't come back to Seattle to coach as all were bad years and probably convinced more that it was all Al Davis doing with the Raiders. It tended to show he could only win when he was handed a very strong team.

Honestly, when I saw the headline of the post, that was the first guy I thought of

So who exactly is that guy, can you give a couple of names of pending FA kickers who are an actual improvement?

Yeah, at this point, think they are better off keeping the interim guy for this coming season and hire the long term guy the end of this year. Bills would have the same issue too if he left now.

Yes but before he said: " Go F-yourself!" He called Antonio Brown for some advice on how to handle this.

Looking at your list the only one I'd really cal la head scratcher at all was hiring Rex. While fans may have hated it, his reasons for firing Polian and getting rid of Thomas, Reed, and Smith were pretty valid. Even firing Wade wasn't really a shocker considering what lead up to it. I know he wasn't the GM at the time of drafting Kelly, but thought he was here in some front office scouting position prior?

One thing I will say about video boards, I don't care how big you make it, I find it really screws you up when you're sitting on the opposite side of the stadium that the video is shot from. Half of the people in the stadium end up watching everything in reverse of what you're seeing in front of you and I found it became very annoying. I had really good seats too, club level, but still could see better looking at the replay, except it's in reverse of what I just saw with my eyes.

For years I've always said there a 32 teams in the league, but only about a dozen very good to elite top QB's so easy for the Fitz's of the world to keep finding a place to play and even start. I will say though in the past 3 to 4 years that list of places is getting much shorter. Ironically the places that may be heading onto that list are New Orleans, NE, Giants, and San Diego. (sorry always going to be San Diego to me)