Rubes

Good one. And thanks for reminding me that the Bills didn’t draft Rashad, they only traded a great receiver away.

That's my takeaway as well. I think some first rounders who failed to live up to expectations can resurrect their careers elsewhere, but their ceiling is probably more "very good player" than "difference maker/franchise player," as expected of many first-rounders. I don't think that team situation/system/coaching figures in as much as we'd like to think.

I agree, that was pretty interesting to read. I also thought it was interesting to read about all of the different individuals basically acting in their own best interest, rather than "for the good of the team."

Good one. I think he's about as good as any so far. Still, it's interesting how few and far between the examples are.

Not a bad choice, but I don't think a solid career as a G makes up for being a huge disappointment as a first round pick at T. Dude.

Yeah, I don't think either really counts. Nice try though.

Yeah, @Billy Claude mentioned Alex Smith earlier, but I didn't remember his story until you mentioned it. That's a really good one.

Cheated how? Not a bad choice, though I don't know if I'd say he achieved the success expected of an 8th overall pick. Ew.

Definitely a good one. But also, that's going back like what, 40 years ago? Any others? That's a good one, I think. That fits the argument since the Bucs were a hot mess back then. Still seems like a rarity, though.

Was he really a failed first rounder?

Since we're almost upon the draft, I thought I'd bring up this annual topic: First rounders are believed, by most, to have the best chance of success in the NFL, on average. But as we all know, the draft is largely a crapshoot, and first rounders fail to live up to expectations all the time (looking at you, Elam). Sometimes we chalk it up to poor player evaluation, or poor player adjustment to the NFL, among other things. In some cases, we also think the specific situation they're drafted into is the cause, whether it's poor coaching, poor team culture, lack of supporting cast, and so on. If that latter point is the case it stands to reason those players could be successful in a different situation, on a different team. I'm wondering how often we see that this is the case with 1st rounders. That is, how many first rounders fail on the teams that drafted them, only to be released or traded to another team to become as successful as originally projected when they were drafted? Is the specific drafting team situation really a thing that has been proven by those who have changed teams? Or is it mostly a convenient excuse? What are some strong examples of first rounders who failed to live up to expectations on their drafting team, and then left to go to another team and achieved the success that eluded them? Does Jerry Hughes fit this? Are there others?

I’m not sure I believe that account. I’ve had near-50 yard line seats (47 yd line) about 30 rows up Bills side with lots of seniority, and I won’t get the option to attend the Experience until the Fall. Until then they won’t tell me what’s available or how much it will be.

For what it's worth, I got a call yesterday from my season ticket rep, who offered to answer any questions I have. I have season tickets in the lower bowl, Bills side, about the 47-yard line, 31 rows up. Pretty great seats. Seniority going back to 1977. He told me my invitation to the Experience would probably not come until the early Fall, but couldn't really predict it. I was hearing summer a little while back, but it sounds like it's being pushed back a bit. He said it could still be pushed back more, he just wasn't sure. Wouldn't tell me anything about PSL pricing, just that I would have the opportunity to get seats "comparable" to what I currently have, which I highly doubt. We'll see...

Maybe he was questioning the part about Diggs being great?

Salt Lake City is potentially an option; the Utah legislature just passed some bills aimed at luring a MLB team here.

It does, thank you!

Are there rules about how much you can specify for these bumps, or is this a potential way to manipulate the cap to some small degree?

If you read the Athletic article by Tim Graham on McGovern (recognizing that it's behind a paywall), I think you'd be pretty convinced that it's the right move.

Happy for Tre, but truly shocked at that contract. I’m no orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine guy, but I’d be shocked and amazed if Tre comes back from this injury next year, much less this year. Maybe Rams know something about his rehab that the rest of us don’t, but I can’t see it. Good luck to you, Tre.

Not exactly related, but I've always thought it was weirdly ironic that an offense can snap the ball a fraction of a second late, and the game would intentionally be stopped for a couple of minutes of non-action because of a "delay of game".

I'll admit I feel a lot better about him moving to center after reading that.

One could argue that his trade value decreases by the day.

Am I the only one who initially thought the Vikings had traded with us for Hyde?

Whatever makes you feel better.

How many more full injury-free seasons does Tua have to get through before we can drop the "oft-injured" label?