JP-era

So I watched the East West Shrine and the North South. I was VERY impressed with a few players. I will rank them from most impressive on down: 1) Jerome Mathis-WR-Hampton-6' 0" 180- runs a 4.4. This guy was stellar. Big, fast, catches everything thrown his way, gets lots of YAC, and is quick enough to break all kinds of tackles. Heres the comments: For the North, Hampton receiver Jerome Mathis scored on a 26-yard reception and a 38-yard run off a reverse. Mathis had 108 yards of total offense — 59 yards receiving on two catches, and 49 yards rushing on two carries. “Every time I step on the big stage, I get even better,” said Mathis, one of just 10 players who didn’t come from Division I-A programs. Id love to spend a 3rd rounder on him (thats an assumption on where he is after shooting up from nowhere). We have other players we want early but Id love for us to get a true 3rd WR since Josh is stinking up the joint. 2) Chauncey Stovall-WR-Florida State-6' 2" 210- runs ?- I had this guy listed as a sleeper about mid season. He reminds me of Moulds so much (at least when Moulds was coming out). Big, strong, makes all the catches, battles for the ball. He has been in the shadow of CRaphonso Thorpe because Thorpe has sprinters speed. I still believe that Stovall was the best WR on that team!!! Hes another guy who goes late day 1 and instantly is an upgrade to Reed. Had a highlight film reverse, reverse, reverse then run for the TD. 3) Calvin Armstrong-OT-Washington State-6' 7" 322- Looks thinner than 322 but still well built. Absolutley dominated the DE's. He has this technique where he gets into the pass block, holds the block, and as the DE is just ready to turn the corner on him, he tosses them to the ground. He must have had about 12 pancakes (not really a pancake because he was standing over the DE looking down at them after he tossed them like a rag doll). I loved watching the kid. He so light on his feet adn obviously has the strength to get the job done at LT. Id love for us to land him. Again, this is a sleeper player who is ranked as the 14th best OT by some draft rags. A great find inthe 4th or later. 4) Rian Melander-OT-Minnesota-6' 7" 295- Looks more like 340. He is absolutely HUGE, not fat, HUGE. Yet he has nimble feet, locks on and isolates his guys. He is a stud in the making. Again a quality pick in the 4th or later, I can see him as a LT. 5) Stefan Lefors-QB-Louisville- 6' 0" 201- The question on him was arm strength but he wowed the stands with some very accurate long throws, one to JR Russell for a TD. I was impressed overall, he has some escapability but is by no means Vick or Losman, just that he isnt a statue. I liked his humble attitude. Could be a good guy to add as our #3 QB and develop. Problem is, he helped his cause enough to go above the 5th probably. We have more pressing needs but you never know. Thats it so far. I love the drafts where we get sleepers, personally. Although we have been nailed by many of these picks- Jamie Nails, Erik Flowers, Sammy Morris. But onthe flip side we have had some steals too- Terrence McGee, McGahee, Shaud Williams Anyways my dream draft, at this point, would go like this: 2 (1) (henry pick) - CJ Brooks OG Maryland 2 (2)- Mike Nugent K Ohio State 3 - Jerome Mathis WR Hampton 4 (1)- Calvin Armstrong OT Washington State 4 (2) (winfield compensatory) - Chauncey Stovall WR Florida State 5- JJ Arrington RB Cal 6- Diamond Ferri S Syracuse 7- Stefan Lefors QB Louisville Im taking 2 WR's an no TE because I think we get a stud TE in FA, and I also feel that our current WR's past Moulds and Evans need to be upgraded. Id like to see us keep Reed but I believe BOTH these draftees (Mathis and Stovall) could beat out any of the rest of them Aiken, or Smith. So Id like it to be 1) Evans 2) Moulds 3) Mathis or Stovall 4) Reed 5) Aiken or Smith (probably Smith because of ST). Thoughts?

Did you go to TO.com to get that analysis of Garcia?

Really? I really havent paid that close of attention. All I knew about Garcia is the ability to escape from the pressure with his feet. Thats a dimension that I hope we add and stick with on our offense.

Not to start of course But rather to back up JP and be a viable option if JP fails. Browns | Will Garcia Return? - from www.KFFL.com Sat, 22 Jan 2005 16:01:15 -0800 ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports the Cleveland Browns are keeping an open mind about the future of QB Jeff Garcia with the team. However, there are not many in the league who believe Garcia will return to the team in 2005.

I, and many others are thinking that TD is playing the tight wad game with his vets to get enough cash to grab a superstar. I still think its most likely a LT, but it could be the best damn DE in the league IMO, John Abraham. Heres Lenny P's take on the situation: Word is that Jets officials, soured now on Abraham, might indeed allow him to escape as an unrestricted free agent in two months. Earlier, the team had indicated it intended to retain him for at least one more season by designating him a "franchise" player, a marker that carries a qualifying offer of at least $6.503 million. But in the wake of the public relations disaster with Abraham, and some hard feelings inside the locker room and the executive offices about his attitude, there have been reports New York might instead use the "franchise" label to keep tailback LaMont Jordan, a guy who continues to make big plays when he is on the field. Jordan was the subject of the sideline tiff last week between Herm Edwards and running backs coach Bishop Harris. It seems Edwards, who all but ignored Jordan the first three years of his career, despite annual promises of enhanced playing time, suddenly has fallen in love with the reserve back and wants him to get more snaps. It's difficult to conceive, though, that the Jets would budget at least $5.16 million, the cost of the "franchise" tag for a tailback, on a backup. Starter Curtis Martin, even at age 31, is coming off a career year. Sure, the tailback position is one where a player could lose a critical step very quickly. But spending $5 million on a backup, even if the gambit is made with an eye toward retaining his rights to trade him, is a big swallow. And it's one that, rumors aside, the Jets probably won't make. Anybody else stoked over the thought of our next Bruce Smith?

A little more fuel for the Walter Jones fire: According to the always-reliable ProFootballTalk.com (insert giant rolling eyes here) the Seahawks are done playing with Walter Jones. The main conjecture for this argument comes from the Hawks other needs at free agency. Namely re-signing guys like Hasselbeck, Alexander and Ken Lucas. If Jones would not sign long term, and the franchise tag were to be placed on him once again, his cap number would jump from $7.1 million to $8.5, a 20% increase. With the Hawks other needs, that just doesn't seem reasonable or possible. PFT also believes that Seahawks brass has tired of the whole camp skipping act and will also not even try to sign Walter long term. It's their belief that they'll let Walter walk. We here at TalkHawks do indeed feel that this may be Big Walt's last season with the Hawks, but we see no reason why Seattle wouldn't again franchise Walter and seek some recompensation via a trade.

That was what I said last week. I think this is exactly what he is doing. I bet its Jones, I think Sea uses the tag on Alexander and lets Jones hit the FA market.

Sorry Bill but I still think this is the best move for the Bills. The McGahee move worked as did the McGee move IMO, he isnt an all pro YET. Evans proved that is you give him the damn ball you will reap the rewards. I think TD thinks its now Losmans turn. No matter how you feel about Drew, the stats dont lie and he was pretty mediocre overall and pretty bad against good teams. Im sure TD thinks that JP can AT LEAST be as good as Drew, and has the upside to be much better. Why not make the lateral which could end up being an upgrade? Did I mention that we end up saving cap cash?

LOL, thats frikkin hilarious!

Nice bait on the Harrington crack, but I aitn biting. Besides that rumor has already been squashed. Your concept of a SB equation is failed and always has been. This year proves that you MUST have an all world system to have your low round or undrafted QB get you in. Where exactly ARE those guys that you claimed were ALL we needed at QB? Where is: Warner Garcia Delhomme And yet, on the flip side, you have: Manning Pennington McNabb Vick Roth It was 6 of 8 last round, 1st rounders to non 1st rounders, now (thanks ONLY to INdys crappy D) its 3 of 4! Ill take those odds if Im building a team over the 1 guy on the 1 team that can compete every year in Peter Brady. Like I said and have always said, your equation is flawed and Peter is the exception to the rule.

Believe it or not I would NEVER want Peter on this team! I am convinced that Brady without Belicheck is like Lance Armstrong on a tricycle. I dont believe we have a Belicheck in Mularkey or that any other team in the league does. I think, on this team, you need a star at QB to win. Right now, there is only 1 team that doesnt have a 1st rounder as there starting QB in the playoffs, that of course, is NE. I tsill believe Brady lays an egg against a fast paced D like Pitt, Philly, or ATL.

hey screw em, there is a long line of fans waiting to be worthy of the 12th man title

Sorry for the downer hate fest but I cant STAND Peter Brady at all. And Drew coughing up the ball for a TD against them still makes me sick. I hate the fockers and cant wait till I dont here anymore crap about them. I want it replaced with Bills talk!!!!!

I still say its more the system than Brady. We saw Warner do the same thing and then do jack sh-t for the Giants.

Its a great question. I think Dillon is still aticking time bomb. This is his 1st year with the Pats. Wait until they win another SB or he gets into a contract dispute or if the Pats act like they normally do and draft another promising back who plays well enough for a competition to ensue. Guys like Dillon with ego's like that simply WONT keep their yaps shut for ever! Really id rather not take EITHER in hindsight.

I say its Vick. They guy will run and throw all over the field on the Patsies who wont be in bad weather in Schick lady razor stadium! Id love nothing more than for Peter Brady to get stomped into the dirt by Brooking, or Kearse. I still swear that this ass pirate Brady would stink up the league for a team like Cleveland or San Fran. We will never know, because the Pats will never let Peter go. Anyways, if the Patsies do manage to win the superbowl, a Drew-less Bills wipe the slate clean against the Pats and with our D and our emerging studs on O, I think we can win both against them or at least split and have a shot at the division title.

To me Drews replacement needs to NOT be another version of him! I think its crucial for our #1 option at QB, JP, to be shown that the front office is behind him. I do not want him to not have to compete, that would put him in too much of a comfort zone. But I dont want him to be looking up at another guy who was brought in to start the season either, that send the wrong message to the guy you drafted in the 1st, and then showed faith in by forcing Drew out or to take a big pay cut. To me, I dont see jack squat in FA. MY mold for Drews replacement would be a young guy with some experience and some upside. Id also like a guy who can scramble to get out of the statue mess we have been in. Mike McMahon might be the best option. If we sign a Mike McMahon, he really cant be viewed as a day one starter at QB and only presents an outside shot for competition to JP. It should have no effect on JP's confidence but should at least have him keeping 1 eye over his shoulder. McMahon has fiery play which I think we have needed since Kelly left, has a decent but not great arm, and can scramble. I liek him alot as our #2 alot more than some retread washup who is cut from a team without a supporting cast because he didnt get squat done (see Warner). Anyways, JP has the 1st shot at the team and unless he pulls a monumental f-up he wins the job but he DOES have a viable guy on the bench who could not only represent a starter in a picnh but also is young enough to leave open the possibility of being the future if he plays well or if JP fails. If your response is that Drew is our starter in 05, or that some guy who isnt even on the team yet will start because JP isnt ready, dont bother to respond. I dont at all agree and wont waste the time to argue about it. If you respond with serious discussion on adding a guy from some other team as our #2 who is an upgrade to Mathews, go for it, lets talk.

I have some favorites: Peter Warick TJ Housh Plax Burress (I say Hines is the #1) Anybody catch the north-south game? Damn Jerome Mathis looks good!!! I dont think this is a NEED but rather a would-be-nice. How sweet would it be to have a 2000 Rams like WR corp? Evans/Moulds/Burress WOWWWWWW!!!!!!!

His attitude, like TD said, is the BEST thing about him! I would have LOVED to see him have some damn emotion against the Steelers rather than the 10,000 miles of dirt road stare we got from you know who.

That is the single greatest response ever!

or coughed the ball up for a TD against NE. I seriously dont know what goes on in that guys head. You watched him on the sidelines as they were losing that game and he has this look like he is watching a movie...blank stare...no emotion. Are you kidding me? this was our shot to go to the playoffs dammit! And then says that its HIS team with all this swagger? where the hell was that swagger when we needed it on the field? The guy has become a real head scratcher.

pretty good.

Maybe he does that "scootch" thing that my dogs does across our carpet when she has tapeworms.

damn, and i have ESPN with 3 thumbs up, there goes my hard drive!

drags his bare balls across the end-zone. DHEEZ-NUTZZ!