The NFL Offseason/Pre-Draft Thread

[Guest Vitamin X]

Hey all of a sudden I don't feel so bad about losing Marco.

 

Losing Sharper is going to STING like a bitch, though. I hope they don't draft a single offensive player in this upcoming draft unless it's to beef up the O-line, where quality guys can still be found in the mid to late rounds.

 

More on Favre coming back not just for 2005, but as he said a couple years back, as long as he can still play:

AP NewsBreak: Brett Favre will return to Packers in 2005

 

By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer

March 10, 2005

Brett Favre is returning to Green Bay for the 2005 season, Packers coach Mike Sherman told The Associated Press.

 

Sherman said Thursday he had a two-hour conversation with his quarterback on Wednesday night. Favre informed him his wife is doing well in her cancer treatment, so he's planning to play at least one more season, maybe more if his own health holds up.

 

``It came down to his wife and she's doing well in her recovery,'' Sherman said. ``She wants him to play. He said he's looking forward to playing -- hopefully without any off-the-field situations and 'enjoying the journey.'''

 

The three-time MVP said after the Packers' playoff loss to Minnesota in January he wanted to reflect before committing to playing a 15th NFL season following a year of personal tumult.

 

His wife, Deanna, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, a week after the death of her 24-year-old brother in an ATV accident on the quarterback's property in Mississippi.

 

And Favre was still dealing with the stunning news of Reggie White's death on the day after Christmas, which came about a year after the death of Favre's father, Irv, from a heart attack.

 

``After the season, he just needed to think about some things,'' Sherman said. ``Any man would have to contemplate his future when his wife is fighting cancer. It's not like he had to work to make money. He didn't want to be a part-time husband and a part-time football player. It came down to his wife. If she's not healthy, it's obviously a different ballgame. But now she's doing good. She wants him to play.''

 

It never was a question of diminished ability because even at 35, Favre is still near the top of his game.

 

He topped 4,000 yards passing last season and recorded his eighth 30-touchdown season, twice as many as any other quarterback in NFL history, and the Packers set franchise records for total offense and net passing yards in 2004.

 

``He's always been excited about playing football,'' Sherman said. ``He's never lost his enthusiasm for the game. It's just his family situation was pulling at him.''

 

Next season won't necessarily be Favre's farewell, either.

 

``As long as he can play at a Brett Favre level, he will,'' Sherman said, ``unless some situation off the field, outside of football, affects him or his family.''

 

Deanna Favre has completed her chemotherapy and is undergoing radiation treatment.

 

The Favres are helping put on a Faith Hill concert back home Saturday night to benefit breast cancer patients. Favre is scheduled to appear at the Packers' inaugural fan fest that morning in Green Bay.

 

After the Packers were upset 31-17 by the Vikings in the wild-card round of the playoffs -- Green Bay's second playoff loss at home in three years -- Favre said he needed some time to figure out his future.

 

Last season, Favre extended his record of 225 consecutive starts at quarterback, despite being on the injured report three times. Since his first start on Sept. 27, 1992, 183 other quarterbacks have made their NFL debut.

 

Because Favre hasn't spoken publicly about his plans, it wasn't known before Thursday whether the retooled coaching staff, the stripping of Sherman's GM duties in favor of Ted Thompson or the loss of starting guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle in free agency would play a role in his decision.

 

Rivera signed with Dallas and Wahle with Carolina last week, leaving two gaping holes in an offensive line that allowed a franchise-low 14 sacks last season.

 

Sherman said the only thing Favre had to say about the loss of the guards was they deserved the multimillion-dollar bonuses they received.

 

``I told him we'll get that fixed,'' Sherman said. ``It never was an issue. Brett said he was excited about what we did on offense last year and he thinks we can do more this year.

 

``Obviously, his major thing is to win another Super Bowl and he's excited about having that chance.''

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Just so I don't accept credit that isn't due to me.

 

Whoever. You people all blend together when I'm scrolling anyway. A good point regardless.

 

Their second and third string RBs have done fine when James wasn't playing, so their running ability wouldn't change drastically.

 

Denver scenario. That attack is fueled by an excellent blocking scheme. No way Rhodes is as good as James though, but that goes without saying.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Pats sign Tim Dwight

 

Link

[the pinjockey 0]

Eagles sign Mike McMahon to a 2-year deal.

 

I like the signing, as I think McMahon can be a solid backup and it also saves them a first day pick that they were rumored to be using to get a backup.

[MrRant 0]

Eddie George returning to the Titans?

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2010620

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Eagles sign Mike McMahon to a 2-year deal.

 

I like the signing, as I think McMahon can be a solid backup and it also saves them a first day pick that they were rumored to be using to get a backup.

McMahon is the poor man's McNabb. Got a good monopoly on semi-scramblers, I see.

[sfaJack 0]

Eddie George returning to the Titans?

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2010620

Why would they bother? This would be a really dumb move for the Titans considering all the holes they have and how washed up Eddie is. He was HORRIBLE for the Cowboys last year.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I'm too lazy to click on the link. It's not one of those sign the guy, so he can retire.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Eagles sign Mike McMahon to a 2-year deal.

 

I like the signing, as I think McMahon can be a solid backup and it also saves them a first day pick that they were rumored to be using to get a backup.

McMahon is the poor man's McNabb. Got a good monopoly on semi-scramblers, I see.

I'd always compared to him to being the poor man's Favre, funny enough. Guess he doesn't have a strong arm, then.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Eagles sign Mike McMahon to a 2-year deal.

 

I like the signing, as I think McMahon can be a solid backup and it also saves them a first day pick that they were rumored to be using to get a backup.

McMahon is the poor man's McNabb. Got a good monopoly on semi-scramblers, I see.

I'd always compared to him to being the poor man's Favre, funny enough. Guess he doesn't have a strong arm, then.

When I saw McMahon vs the Bears, McMahon was all scrambles. In no way did I go "That's a Favre, ladies and gentlemen."

[Guest Vitamin X]

I saw him in a game against the Packers a couple years back, the Thanksgiving game in Detroit where he nearly lost the game for them only to lead them to a comeback win in the final seconds using both his mobility and arm. Sounds like a poor man's #4 to me.

[Sass 0]

The Jaguars still have some money to spend. I wouldn't be surprised to see them pick up Burress since they have the cash to offer him. The Bears and the Vikings also still have a good amount of bank left that they could spend on guys. Dallas and Jerry Jones looks as if they've spent all the money they're going to on FA's until the draft happens.

 

Maybe the Vikings will pick up Sharper to spite GB.

 

I'm just hoping someone takes Charles Woodson off the Raiders hands. He's outstayed his welcome with the team.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I saw him in a game against the Packers a couple years back, the Thanksgiving game in Detroit where he nearly lost the game for them only to lead them to a comeback win in the final seconds using both his mobility and arm. Sounds like a poor man's #4 to me.

I think I remember that game. Mike McMahon didn't really show poise though. It looked more like he was just trying to make things happen, force things, etc. If you think Brett Favre is that kind of person (indecisive, panicky, etc), then ok.... McMahon is a poor man's Favre.

 

 

Oh and I thought the Lions lost that game (due to a missed 2 point conversion in the end)?

[Guest Vitamin X]

I saw him in a game against the Packers a couple years back, the Thanksgiving game in Detroit where he nearly lost the game for them only to lead them to a comeback win in the final seconds using both his mobility and arm. Sounds like a poor man's #4 to me.

I think I remember that game. Mike McMahon didn't really show poise though. It looked more like he was just trying to make things happen, force things, etc. If you think Brett Favre is that kind of person (indecisive, panicky, etc), then ok.... McMahon is a poor man's Favre.

 

 

Oh and I thought the Lions lost that game (due to a missed 2 point conversion in the end)?

Oh no, not at all. Everyone here knows that Favre does try to force the ball a little too much, though, and has amazing mobility. Ironically, I was watching a special on NFL Network earlier on Holmgren and his staff in Green Bay (which consisted of Andy Reid, Steve Mariucci, Jon Gruden, and Mike Sherman along with Marty "We'll Take the Wind" Morninwheg and that guy who was head coach of the Bears, first name was Dick (I can't remember his last name for some reason)), and they showed this game against Atlanta a long long time ago where there was 14 seconds left, it might have been a playoff game or a game to get into the playoffs I forget. Either way, play broke down, Favre ran right and dove into the endzone, getting the Pack the game-winning TD and it reminded me of the playoff game against Minnesota where he infamously did the exact same thing except instead of diving for the TD, he idiotically THREW the ball in there, the score that would have tied the game going into the half at that (and then Ryan Longwell missing a chip-shot FG on top of it all too). Ah, well.

 

No, the Lions usually beat Green Bay at the Silverdome, but at Ford Field it's been a bit of a different story..

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Strange, I have this vision in my head where McMahon is leading the Lions to the end, hits a receiver for a TD. It's like 28-26 or something, and McMahon overthrows his receiver in the endzone to lose the game. Everyone was raving how McMahon showed promise and everything, but I was never impressed.

[KingPK 0]

Doug Flutie got cut by the Chargers today. The Boston media is all over him finishing his career in New England. I say.....why not? I'm still not sold on Rohan Davey, so I'd like something better on the off chance Brady goes down.

[therealworldschampion 0]

Reports are coming out now that Plaxico Buress will visit the Eagles and possibly take a one-year, incentive-laden deal to play with Philly.

[Sass 0]

Flutie said he doesn't want to relocate his family and that if he got cut from the Chargers then he would retire. Unless he lives out in Boston still, I don't see him coming back.

 

Bad breaks derailed what could have been a great run as QB if someone had given him the chance. I think Flutie would have made an excellent heir to Dan Fouts and the Chargers after Fouts retied in '87 if Flutie had gotten the chance. He wasn't going to start in New England (Grogan) and there was no chance he was going to become the starter in Chicago (McMahon).

 

He really did get fucked over though during the Rob Johnson QB debacle with the Bills. Height was all Johnson ever really had. Flutie had talent and could have excelled if he had all the guys working for him.

 

He's a CFL legend but an NFL never-was. Too bad. I think he could make a great QB coach somewhere if he wanted to become one.

[Sass 0]

TO/Burress on the same team?

 

Yep, the Eagles are going back to the Superbowl if this happens. That's a hell of a WR combo.

[Brett Favre 0]

The Vikings now have a secondary of Chavous, Smoot, Sharper, and Winfield, to go along with Williams, Williams, and Hovan at the line. They also have the 7th pick in the draft. I could see them going to the Super Bowl as well.

[Gert T 0]

Tice would be cool with that since you probably get more tickets if your team makes the Super Bowl.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Vikings sign S Sharper to four-year deal

 

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer

March 12, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran safety Darren Sharper to a four-year contract on Saturday.

 

Sharper, cut by the Green Bay Packers in a cost-cutting move earlier this week, started at free safety the last six seasons and ranks fifth in team history with 36 interceptions. He led the team with four interceptions last year and scored three defensive touchdowns.

 

``Darren is very excited to be going to Minnesota,'' agent Joel Segal told The Associated Press.

 

The Packers tried to get Sharper to restructure his deal, but he balked at a pay cut, hoping he could make more on the open market than the approximately $2 million Green Bay was offering for 2005.

 

The Vikings were only too happy to have him fall into their laps.

 

``He's a great playmaker and has been a nemesis of ours for years,'' Vikings vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski said. ``He's an outstanding leader and will be a tremendous addition to our defense.''

 

Segal would not comment on the terms of the deal, only saying Sharper received ``a significant signing bonus.''

 

The signing was the latest move in a busy week for the Vikings, who also signed cornerback Fred Smoot to a six-year deal and resigned tight end Jermaine Wiggins.

 

Free agent receiver Plaxico Burress also visited the Vikings this week, but left without a contract. While Brzezinski didn't rule out resuming negotiations with Burress, he said the Vikings have no immediate plans to bring in any more free agents.

 

``We have significantly upgraded our football team this week,'' Brzezinski said. ``Now we'll start turning our attention toward the draft.''

Et tu, Darren?!

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I just saw the thing about Darren, and it figures that VX would be here before me.

 

Why couldn't they make all of these moves when they still had Randy Moss? Was his contract that bad? The Vikings have no offense at this point however, without a solid running game and no one for Culpepper to throw the ball to. They still have that seventh pick though. The Vikes have a lot of overrated guys on D too, particularly Hovan, and Williams.

 

If Kerry Collins doesn't suck, the Raiders could have the most productive offense in the league.

 

I still hope the RAIDAZ~! do better than the Vikes, although I think barring a complete breakdown the Vikes have that division in the bag.

[mike546 0]

Fuck, Burress NEEDS to sign with Minnesota, hell, sign anywhere.

 

Just not with the Eagles. If he does, the NFC East is beyond dead.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Fuck, Burress NEEDS to sign with Minnesota, hell, sign anywhere.

 

Just not with the Eagles. If he does, the NFC is beyond dead.

edited for accuracy.

 

 

For some reason, I get that feeling that Burress will make a fool out of whoever signs him (injury, holdout, etc).

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Unless he lives out in Boston still, I don't see him coming back.

He doesn't live directly out in Boston but near-by. He still goes to alot of BC Eagles events as well.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I love Flutie. He was fucked over by Wade Phillips, which is one of the main reasons I hate that fucker. Fuck him, he's the son of a bum, literally.

 

I wouldn't say he was a never was. He never won a championship, but he brought Buffalo some hope after the horrible Todd Collins experiment. He brought us back to respectability, with two playoff seasons back to back, one of which was off of a 0-3 start. So of course Wade Phillips replaces him for the big Playoff game in Tennessee, based on what Rob "I'm a pussy" Johnson (I can't believe he has a fucking super bowl ring) did against a JV Indy Colts team. People like to think that he made the right decision because of how close the Bills came, right down to the *forward pass*, but I like to point out that if Douggie was in there, there wouldn't have been a need for late field goal/forward pass. Take that with the fact that the Titans were a yard short of a Super Bowl and...well...fuck.

[strummer 0]

Jeff Garcia signs with the Lions

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Oh, and how could I forget...

 

 

EDIT: Last one was too fucking big.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Take that with the fact that the Titans were a yard short of a Super Bowl and...well...fuck.

I hope you're not honestly insinuating that had the Bills won the Music City Miracle game instead of the Titans, that they'd be close in the Super Bowl?