BuffaloRebound

I don't care if you think he's the 2nd coming of Brady, it's not sound business to make him the highest paid player in the NFL after 7 starts. I'm sure their hand was forced since Garoppolo and his agent were promising them the Cousins treatment if he got tagged, but it's still bad business.

Pre- Cousins, it would've been a no brainer to franchise Garropolo and make him prove it for more than 5 games before making him highest paid player in the game. Garropolo probably would've accepted the tag and signed a long term deal if he had a good year. Now, QB's and agents can point to Cousins and say 'if you don't believe in me to pay me now you can franchise me but I'll never sign a long term deal with you and you can watch me walk out the door in 2 years'.

So that's the going rate now for 5 straight wins and 7 starts? SF would be the laughing stock of the league right now if Cousins hadn't shown other QB's how to use the franchise tag to their advantage.

Can you get lucky?... yes. But you're counting on a bunch of QB needy teams in front of you passing. So I'd say it's not a sound strategy to land your guy.

He can thank Cousins for that deal. SF would've franchised him for a year to make him prove it over another season before giving him that kind of money prior to Cousins giving the Skins a big F U for trying the same strategy.

At least the timing was kind of interesting. Doubt SF wouldn't have explored all possible options before committing that kind of money to a guy who's started 7 games in his career.

The agents job is to find out what his clients' market value is. If Cousins or Garropolo take less than that, it makes the agent look bad. Yes, they can take less than market value, but why would you accept less than market value from a team with $110m in cap space? Nobody is that stupid.

Can't put the genie back in the bottle. Cousins blew up the tag strategy at least for QB's. You play 2 years under the tag at top 5 QB average plus 20% and then you're essentially a free agent. His agent won't let him sign for less than market value, which right now looks like $30m per year with $90m in guarantees. The franchise tag doesn't work as a team bargaining chip any more. All it does is set a floor for the player that increases 20% every year.

I wouldn't want you as my agent. If that's the tactic 49ers are using with $110m of cap space, I'd offer to frontload all my money. Pay me $50m right now, don't amortize it, and I'll take $20mil salary for 5 years. $20m cap hit years 2-5 is low for a top QB. Or they can start playing the Cousins franchise tag game where his price tag goes up 20% every year.

Thats hard to sell when the 49ers have $110m in cap space. It'll take the 49ers years to spend that.

So that means Lynch is just gonna give Garoppolo whatever money he asks for? That contract was gonna be difficult before the presence of Cousins on the free agency market.

Sometimes a ridiculous rumor sparks a good conversation. If Garoppolo wants Cousins money, it absolutely makes sense for San Fran to consider signing Cousins and getting a bunch of picks for Garoppolo.

Why would the 49ers care? The Pats do what's best for them and so will the 49ers.

Garoppolo's contract negotiation will be extremely tricky despite the kumbaya BS coming out of San Francisco. He's not gonna accept less than the franchise tag projection of around $24m per year. Yes, he played well for 5 games, but is San Fran gonna commit Cousins type money to Garoppolo when they could sign Cousins who has a longer track record and land a bunch of picks for Garoppolo. It's not a slam dunk. Garoppolo isn't gonna take an Osweiler contract.

Even though this rumor is nonsense, the presence of a free agent Cousins is a game changer. Maybe Garropolo is asking for $30m per year and SF is balking. Meanwhile they could get a guy with a longer track record for that, and get at least a 1st rounder for Garropolo. Garropolo's contract situation will be fascinating to follow. SF basically holds all the cards until Cousins is no longer an option.

It's not absurd that Cousins ends up in SF, and then Garropolo ends up somewhere else, but it won't be a 3 team trade. If somebody offers SF a bunch of picks for Garoppolo and Shanahan likes Cousins just as much and can get him for nothing, then it's possible they deal Garoppolo. Redskins won't be getting anything.

Or maybe somebody in Giants Front Office is checking what the Patriots Front Office is doing. Is the Patriots Front Office enough for you?

How old was the MVP this year who also had an epic performance in the Super Bowl? Brady and Brees are playing at a championship level right now and are both older than Eli. Pats traded away a younger franchise QB.

I think the Giants will absolutely demand a #1 pick next year to justify passing on a QB this year.

Playing well into their 40's means what Brady and Brees are doing right now. Manning is younger than both of them. Will those guys fall off a cliff? Maybe, but they are still championship level QB's and I think Giants would be foolish to put a premature end date on Eli's career which is what they'd be doing drafting a QB at #2 overall.

21, 22, Glenn and next years 1st for pick #2.

So you prematurely close the door on a 37 year old QB you've won 2 Super Bowls with when other QB's are playing well into their 40's? Brady is 4 years older and Pats let Garoppolo walk. Smart move for Giants is to build around Eli and acquire a 1st next year as insurance.

Unless Eli is telling them he's gonna retire next year, why would Giants voluntarily move on from a QB who's won 2 Super Bowls and has at least another 4 good years left?

I don't see the Giants taking a QB at #2. Brady is still playing at a high level into his 40's. Same with Brees. Eli's got at least another 4 years if you're using those 2 guys as an example. I think Rosen/Darnold could be had in a trade up with Giants. If Cousins goes to Denver, that leaves Jets as other serious trade up partner. No way Giants make that kind of trade with Jets. Would you trade Shady if he was the trade deal-breaker for Giants?

Belichik and Krafts word that he'll be coach are worthless. Belichik will coach until he wants to just like Parcells. McDaniels most likely got cold feet about Colts organization.