The NFL Offseason/Pre-Draft Thread

[Angel_Grace_Blue 0]

Yeah, but what if they pay him, and this season he falls apart completely, can't catch anything, what he does catch, he fumbles away, etc.? Can the Packers decide to pay him less?

 

(Yes, I know this was covered in Mr. Deeds, but I thought the point was similar)

[Guest El Satanico]

Why do people even use the "he's making more than the average fan, so he should just shut up about money" argument? It's a silly argument that has no bearing on the discussion.

 

Would you want to be paid less than a person that has your same job and you both do equally well at the job? The majority of people would say no, regardless of how much they're currently making.

[Damaramu 0]

http://www.titansonline.com/news/newsmain_....php?PRKey=2740

 

There's the Jason White story. Man I'm happy but I don't want to root for the Titans....

[MrRant 0]

Why do people even use the "he's making more than the average fan, so he should just shut up about money" argument? It's a silly argument that has no bearing on the discussion.

 

Would you want to be paid less than a person that has your same job and you both do equally well at the job? The majority of people would say no, regardless of how much they're currently making.

I wouldn't be happy. But you signed a legal document.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Which your boss can tear up whenever he or she wants...

[Angel_Grace_Blue 0]

Why do people even use the "he's making more than the average fan, so he should just shut up about money" argument? It's a silly argument that has no bearing on the discussion.

 

Would you want to be paid less than a person that has your same job and you both do equally well at the job? The majority of people would say no, regardless of how much they're currently making.

Yeah, but did you get your current job by being selected along with the other graduates in your field by companies in order from least successful to most?

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Which your boss can tear up whenever he or she wants...

This is basically how I feel.

[MrRant 0]

But it's in the contract that he can do that.

[tominator89 0]

Freddie Mitchell was cut today...big surprise.

 

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3596770

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

But it's in the contract that he can do that.

But it's not like the players have much of a choice in having a contract that doesn't allow that. Also, most of the time it's done unfairly, because money isn't paid that the player deserves, not because he has a bad season.

 

I like the NFL's salary structure more than any other league because of the tight cap alone, but this practice is something I disagree with.

[MrRant 0]

But it's in the contract that he can do that.

But it's not like the players have much of a choice in having a contract that doesn't allow that. Also, most of the time it's done unfairly, because money isn't paid that the player deserves, not because he has a bad season.

 

I like the NFL's salary structure more than any other league because of the tight cap alone, but this practice is something I disagree with.

Come on now, you know better than that.

 

Most cuts for a high dollar amount are for people who are underplaying what they were signed for. An example is Chad Brown.

 

Granted there are some that are cut for salary cap reasons but generally they aren't current superstars, and are generally decent players who had one or maybe two super years and signed a big money deal and pocketed a huge bonus.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I think my point was rather well-covered, but let me re-iterate. I believe that Walker does deserve to be getting paid more money, but I agree with Favre and Flanagan in that he's going the wrong way about trying to get a contract extension. Instead of pushing the team to sign him to a long-term, big-money contract (which he hasn't exactly proven he's worth- one Pro Bowl season does not necessarily guarantee another) and keep working hard and showing up to practice and all that, he sits back and says "Pay or I won't play." He's got two years left on his current deal. If Walker thought he was worth more money than he was getting paid, he should've pushed for more money when he was drafted. It's not like you can't demand it being the 20th pick overall in the 2002 draft. But yet he agreed to what he is getting paid now. If I think I deserve a raise at work, I don't tell my boss I'm not coming in to work unless he gives me one. You have to earn a raise, and wait for your employer to pay you when the time comes.

 

And using the example of how much an NFL draftee makes compared to the average college graduate is an excellent argument in this case, considering that not everyone is entitled to a job in the NFL if they do well in college. They should consider themselves lucky to get to that point, and instead of being grateful for the opportunity they have, they bitch and want even more money when some of their hard-working peers in school make far, far less.

[the max 0]

http://tsn.ca/nfl/news_story.asp?id=124048

 

FredEx will have to start delivery elsewhere. But I don't think he delivers on sunday.

[therealworldschampion 0]

I'd laugh if Belichick picks him up and uses him as a tackling dummy..

[Guest Vitamin X]

Ravens release linebacker Boulware

May 11, 2005

 

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens released often-injured linebacker Peter Boulware on Wednesday to give the team some salary cap relief.

 

The former Pro Bowl player missed the entire 2004 season with knee and toe injuries. He hasn't played in a game since late in the 2003 season against the Cleveland Browns, when he injured his knee. He suffered a turf toe during a November practice in 2004, and was placed on injured reserve.

 

The Ravens were unable to agree on restructuring Boulware's contract in negotiations with his agent, Roosevelt Barnes, ending Boulware's tenure with Baltimore after nine seasons.

 

Boulware's contract carried a $6 million base salary, the highest on the team, for the next four seasons. He received a $13.5 million signing bonus in 2002.

 

Because the Ravens released Boulware before June 1, the prorated portion of his 2002 signing bonus nearly $7.6 million, will count only against this year's salary cap instead of the next two season's cap.

 

The Ravens drafted Oklahoma defensive end Dan Cody in the second round and expect him to be a strongside linebacker, where Adalius Thomas started last season and recorded eight sacks.

 

Cody is expected to fill the situational pass rusher role initially slated for Boulware with Thomas starting.

 

``Peter has been a major contributor to the success of our organization both on and off the field,'' Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. ``As others who have departed this year, whether it has been by termination or free agency, we feel that Peter will continue to be a successful player in this league.''

 

A first-round draft pick in 1997, Boulware is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and the franchise's career leader with 67 career sacks.

 

He led the AFC and was second in the NFL with a career-high 15 sacks in 2001, when he switched from linebacker to defensive end for the final six games of the season.

 

Boulware played with a shoulder harness to support his dislocated shoulder in 1999, and recorded 10 sacks. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1997 after getting 11 sacks.

 

I will forgive Sherman/Thompson's abysmal draft on defense if only they'd pick up Boulware. I don't care about the injury issues, if he's signed to a decent deal (obviously taking into account his age as well as the injuries) I'd love to see him in Green Bay. Maybe this is what the Pack were waiting for, considering they didn't do much to upgrade their defense there. And drafting Craig Bragg and Terrence Murphy, both receivers, seems a lot smarter now with the Walker holdout.

 

There's that pesky optimism again. Damn.

[Red Baron 0]

New England signed three-time pro bowler Chad Brown from FA.

[nogoodnick 0]

Jason White was on Cold Pizza this morning and he looks and sounds like a dumb hick.

[Guest Vitamin X]

No wonder Dama likes him.

[Robert 0]

As a general NFL Fan, I think that the whole Walker/Pack thing will get solved. If not, they'll porbably trade him and hope they don't get screwed with the McKenzie trade and get some caliber talent on the D. Signing Boulware would be good, but he'll cost money, unless he takes a lesser deal. I went to the Javon Walker Softball Event, and it was just horrible. It was a bunch of half-ass celebrities like Tara Reid, and it was just painful. A real slap in the face was Rosenhaus being there. He was just boo'ed, and when he got a hit, and was tagged out: Miller Park cheered. I did get to meet Rugermeyer and Barnett though.

 

I just got a question while watch ESPN News. Drew Pearson was on it shilling the book "Hail Mary" and he bought up a good point: Is there a bias against Cowboy players getting into the HOF. Is Irvin even going in this year? Better yet, why are safties not getting in?

[Damaramu 0]

No wonder Dama likes him.

Hey fuck you. I don't even have a god damn accent.

 

He's from a very very small town. Of course he's going to sound like a hick. We are in the south. No different than if he were from a small town in Alabama or Arkansas or hell Texas.

 

Anyways what did he have to say on there anyways?

[Guest Vitamin X]

Just a few updates. The big story was the Vikings have definitely been sold to Zygmunt Wilf, a New Jersey businessman. They've gotten rid of Red McCombs and Randy Moss all in the past year- maybe the Vikes are trying to exorcise their demons. They're giving me less and less reason to dislike them. There's that, and the owner's meeting which, among other things, banned the "horse-collar tackle", used frequently by Roy Williams, most notably when he took Terrell Owens late in the season last year. A horse collar tackle is grabbing the inside of a player's shoulder pads from where the neck area is, and will now result in a 15-yard penalty. Couldn't find a link for it though, but here's an article detailing the Vikings sale and a few other things:

NFL owners approve Vikings sale to Wilf

 

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer

May 25, 2005

 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Instead of introducing its first black majority owner, the NFL unveiled a substitute feel-good story: a son of Holocaust survivors who looked and sounded a bit nervous -- and who vowed never to move the Minnesota Vikings.

 

NFL owners on Wednesday unanimously approved the $600 million sale of the Vikings to a group led by Zygmunt Wilf, a soft-spoken New Jersey shopping mall magnate who has an enthusiasm for old-time football and the real estate acumen necessary to get a new stadium to replace the Metrodome.

 

``To me, this is not a matter of economics. This is a matter of passion. I've always been a strong NFC fan,'' said Wilf, a decades-long supporter of the New York Giants. ``We will be in the Minneapolis area forever. Look, I'm not changing that at all. We will do our best to make sure that we get the best venue and right location.''

 

Wilf will purchase the team from Red McCombs, with the closing date expected in June. McCombs has owned the team since 1998.

 

The image-conscious NFL hoped the Vikings sale would break the color barrier among its lead owners. Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler was the original leader of the group that agreed to buy the team from McCombs, but Fowler didn't have the liquid assets available to complete the purchase and cede control to Wilf. Wilf said Fowler will remain an active investor in the group, which also includes Wilf's brother Mark, cousin Leonard and East Coast real estate businessmen Alan Landis and David Mandelbaum.

 

``I think everybody feels it would be nice to continue to diversify our ownership and to have an African-American businessman in the general partner position,'' commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. ``But I think we ended up with a very strong ownership group.''

 

In other developments Wednesday:

 

-- Tagliabue said there will be five special meetings over the next five months to deal with revenue sharing and labor issues, with hopes of reaching a new collective bargaining agreement with the players' union by late October.

 

``Hopefully by then we will be signing an agreement and not looking like pumpkins,'' Tagliabue said.

 

Tagliabue said progress was made on revenue sharing, a delicate issue which has split large-market and small-market teams. He said possible compromises include a plan to share previously unshared revenue beyond a certain percentage, and a plan to have a ``blended rate'' percentage for sharing all revenues.

 

The revenue sharing dispute has stalled talks with the union, and Tagliabue hopes these plans will jump-start the discussions.

 

``We're still kind of at a dead end with the players' association,'' Tagliabue said. ``It takes two people to dance, and it takes two people not to dance, so each side has to look in the mirror.''

 

-- Tagliabue said he was going to call the governor of Louisiana, and New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson to see if he can get talks resumed over the Saints' stadium situation. Benson on Tuesday left open the possibility that he could move the Saints after this season if he can't reach a deal for a new stadium or a renovation of the Superdome.

 

-- The 2009 Super Bowl was awarded to Tampa.

 

Wilf, 55, was born in Germany and was two months old when his family moved to the United States. His father had a chance to buy the AFL's New York Titans in the early 1960s, but the family had yet to get a full appreciation for football. The Wilfs soon became fans, buying Giants season tickets and later a luxury suite. Zygi, as he prefers to be known, went to the Giants' three Super Bowls. He still has a football given to him in the Giants locker room after a game in the 1960s as well as a Lawrence Taylor jersey. He'll hang on to those, but he has a new favorite team.

 

The Wilfs have also built a business that is among the largest owners of shopping centers in North America. Garden Commercial Properties has 109 sites in at least five states, primarily in New Jersey.

 

On his parents' experience in the Holocaust, Wilf said: ``I draw upon what they went through and how they were able to be successful in this country, and I draw upon their optimism in life and transfer that to the people who work for me.''

 

During his news conference, Wilf exhibited the unease of someone not used to the spotlight, even when he made an emphatic point -- such as his desire to have an outdoor stadium so the Vikings can re-establish a home-field weather advantage.

 

``It is a good advantage to have some of the other teams come up to our nice, warm Minnesota winters,'' he said facetiously, ``so they can enjoy playing football up where it hurts -- a la Green Bay.''

[Sass 0]

Jerry Rice signed with Broncos on Tuesday.

 

Shananhan is just trying to show off now. Rice should be a good #3 or #4 WR to have and he can also mentor the young fellas. If any of them try to learn his training routine then that experience can become as great as gold if they stick with it.

[Robert 0]

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Former NFL quarterback Todd Marinovich has been arrested after being found in a public bathroom with apparent drug paraphernalia.

 

Marinovich, who has acknowledged that drug addiction derailed his once-promising football career, was being held in an Orange County jail for investigation of violating his probation pending on a drug court hearing scheduled for next week.

 

A police officer found Marinovich in the bathroom May 20 with a bent spoon and syringe. The former quarterback fled on a bicycle but was arrested 15 blocks away, police said. On the police report, he listed his occupation as "unemployed artist."

 

Marinovich, who lives in Balboa, was first arrested on drug charges when he was a student at the University of Southern California. He earned nearly $2.3 million as a first-round draft pick of the then-Los Angeles Raiders in 1991, but was removed from the roster after two seasons due to his drug problem.

 

He later played football in Canada and the Arena Football League. He was arrested on drug charges in 1997, 2001 and last August. In last year's arrest, he was caught skateboarding in a prohibited area carrying methamphetamine and three syringes, police said.

 

He pleaded guilty to those charges and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years' probation.

 

Source: JS Online

 

Anybody else remember RoboQB? Programed by his dad to play QB in the NFL, and when he didn't have him at his side, he burnt out. Sad because he had a deep threat at receiver (Tim Brown) and had an amazing deep ball in college.

[MrRant 0]

Koren Robinson most likely to be released for fucking up... again;

 

It used to be so innocent, the way Koren Robinson would habitually show up late for Seahawks team meetings during his rookie NFL season, 2001.

 

But the problem continued. And it wasn't just his tardiness. Four years later, suspension, humiliation and even rehabilitation for alcohol abuse — plus Robinson's public acknowledgments of his problem and the promises to not take his opportunity to be in the NFL for granted — never seemed to be enough.

 

Robinson is in trouble again, and he might have run out of second chances with the Seahawks.

 

Today, or very soon, the athletically gifted wide receiver could be released because of his latest transgression. Robinson, 25, was arraigned Tuesday in Kirkland Municipal Court on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving that stemmed from an incident early on the morning of May 6.

 

Robinson pleaded not guilty to both charges and is scheduled to stand before Judge Albert Raines at a pre-trial hearing on July 18.

 

Robinson was arrested just after 3:30 a.m. on May 6 after Medina police officer David Obermiller stopped him for excessive speeding and unsafe lane travel eastbound on SR 520. Obermiller, according to a statement from Medina police, smelled alcohol on Robinson's breath and asked him to take a field sobriety test.

 

Robinson was cooperative, police said, then was arrested after he failed the test. He was taken to the Kirkland police station and was charged and released to a friend on $1,000 bail.

 

The former first-round draft pick has a long history with law enforcement in his native North Carolina, establishing a pattern that pre-dates his arrival in Seattle.

 

Charges dismissed by prosecutors since 1998 include first-degree kidnapping, attempted first-degree sex offense, discharge of a firearm in the city, carrying a concealed weapon, driving while license revoked, no operator's license, operating a vehicle with no insurance and failure to disperse on command.

 

Robinson was never convicted of any of these crimes, nor were any of the charges ever taken to trial.

 

The most serious of his arrests occurred in April of 1998. According to a North Carolina police report, Robinson was arrested on suspicion of "kidnapping a person under the age of 16 years, by unlawfully confining for the purpose of committing a felony, first-degree sex offense. (The victim) was not released in a safe place."

 

Police charged Robinson with an attempted first-degree sex offense, first-degree kidnapping and discharging a firearm in the city. Charges were dropped because, according to the report, police were "unable to locate the prosecuting witness."

 

On March 19, 2002, Robinson was pulled over on his 22nd birthday in North Carolina for driving 90 miles per hour in a 60-mph zone. The police report lists his blood alcohol level at .16, but police charged Robinson only with exceeding safe speed. The report lists the verdict as "responsible" and Robinson paid $90 in court costs and a $10 fine.

 

The most recent case against Robinson in North Carolina came after he was arrested by the Raleigh police on March 14, 2003, for carrying a concealed weapon. That case was dismissed.

 

In Kirkland, Medina prosecuting attorney Russell Joe would not say what Robinson's blood alcohol level was when he was arrested in May, but that the penalty he seeks to have enforced is consistent with a 0.15 content. If convicted of the DUI, Robinson faces a mandatory sentence of 48 hours in jail or no less than 30 days of electronic home monitoring and a fine of up to $5,000. The maximum for conviction on a reckless driving charge is one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

 

Jon Scott Fox, his attorney, released a statement that said Robinson is "cooperating fully" and "remains entitled to the presumption of innocence afforded to all citizens while this case is pending."

 

On April 30, during the Seahawks' first offseason minicamp, Robinson showed remorse for his drinking and partying lifestyle and admitted he was in rehabilitation for alcohol abuse.

 

"You want to be in the NFL, or you don't," he said. "And I do. So I gotta do everything I got to do to stay here. I'm not going to be one of the players people talk about where he had the potential to be a great player or whatever but he had this, that and the third, so many distractions."

 

In 2003, Robinson was suspended for one game for being late to another meeting. Last season, he was suspended for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy, which includes alcohol abuse. The Seahawks also benched Robinson for two more games for violating team rules.

 

Through it all, coaches, teammates and front office staff pledged their support for Robinson. Robinson seemed to know his Seahawks career was hanging by a thread, dependent on him getting through rehabilitation and focusing on football. He told reporters that his mother, Suzette, was moving to the area to be with him.

 

Suzette Robinson did not return phone calls yesterday, nor did Robinson's agent, Alvin Keels.

 

The Seahawks also released a statement yesterday, saying that they are "extremely disappointed and concerned with Koren's situation. We have established several programs, both league- and team-sponsored, to support and help him. We will continue to encourage him to use this support network and believe he should be held accountable for his actions."

 

League policy prohibits the team from commenting on the specifics of an individual case, or his standing within the league's various programs.

 

Today is the day the Seahawks can release players and not take as big a hit against future salary caps. Robinson was purported to be a candidate to be released regardless of the recent charges.

 

The team has plenty of options at wide receiver if Robinson is released. Free agents Joe Jurevicius and Jerome Pathon were brought in for their sure hands, and the team is overloaded at the position.

 

The Seahawks also need salary-cap space to make a run at free agent defensive end Peter Boulware, who is still on the market though several teams are interested in the four-time Pro Bowler. Veteran cornerback Bobby Taylor, who missed half of last season because of injury, is also expected to be released to save money.

 

Robinson is due $1.35 million in salary this season, but his cap number is about $2.55 million because of bonuses received in previous years.

 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seah...03_koren02.html

[Sass 0]

Atlanta should take a look at Robinson. They need a guy who can be a #1 WR stat.

 

Robinson will find work somewhere. Freddie Mitchell on the otherhand...

[Guest Vitamin X]

I wouldn't touch that shit at all. Athletically gifted? Dude, you need HANDS to be a good receiver in this league.. While Robinson has all the physical tools necessary to succeed, him and Darrell Jackson have had the most drops combined in the past couple seasons that I've seen... wouldn't know how it stacks up statistically, but it's pretty bad watching the Seahawks receiving corps.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Darrell Jackson is weird. He'll drop the easiest pass, then follow it up on the next play with a circus catch in double coverage. He's not dependable enough to be a #1, but he's a fairly solid player because he can make those catches. If Jurevicius and Pathon work out for the Seahawks, they could be ok at WR.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Funny enough, that was exactly the case with Javon Walker up until this past season. If he didn't have the season he did this past year, he would've gotten the dreaded "bust" label since ALL he did was catch difficult circus catches, but was unable to run routes, make the gimme plays, and keep going. His confidence was VERY easily shaken.

 

Now he's all "I'M A FUCKIN PRO BOWLER GIMME CASH BITCH"

[Guest Rrrsh]

Yo, VX.

 

As a Packer fan, what do you think about Walker no-showing?

[Guest Vitamin X]

I think I've already made my feelings on this matter apparent from posts in this thread and this sig I had for a while..

 

 

I just agree with Favre in that he should just honor the contract that he signed, and show up to work and get it done in a quiet, humble manner rather than being brash and holding out. While he does deserve to get the money he's entitled to, he should also remember that holding out isn't doing him any favors. The Packers will do just fine with or without him, as they still have a full-strength Ferguson and Driver coming into next season, and Terrence Murphy now is looking like a great pick.

 

What makes me happier is now that Cletidus Hunt decided to no-show this mandatory minicamp, he could get cut which would free up almost 4 million dollars of cap room to sign an impact defensive lineman or safety. Walker is still under contract for 2 more years, if this becomes a season-long holdout, his skills and athletic conditioning are going to diminish and he won't be even near the level that he once was. Like Favre said, Walker's a good guy with good intentions, but he's going about this thing completely the wrong way, especially after we just dealt with essentially the same bullshit last year with Mike McKenzie.

 

Note, this is also a really bad sign for Owens as well, if he doesn't end his holdout, considering he's on the wrong side of 30 and on a team that is taking the same approach with him. He's already one of the best-paid players in the league, and he wants more? Fuck that. Look at guys like Tom Brady and Marvin Harrison last year, both top-tier players on top-tier teams, who were able to get big contract extensions done quietly; no bitchfest holdouts, no ruining team chemistry, just getting it done and doing it the right way.