NFL offseason thread

It doesn't matter who's blocking for him. Because of the way Griffin has to play to be effective, he will get hit hard. A lot. It happened to him at Baylor (BTW, not to take a shot a Skip Bayless, but some of us were saying that in 2012, too).

Johnny Manziel is the same way. Both of them are injuries waiting to happen.

 

Yeah, Steak, I was more referring to Baron's post, and also to an FB post I saw by Alex Flanagan that made it clear she thought the tweet was from today.

Anyway, Skip is backing up his bet:

Skip Bayless ‏@RealSkipBayless 21h21 hours ago
Here's hoping Skins are dumb enough to cut RG3 and he gets a fresh start elsewhere.

 

The Steelers should sign him, but they will end up going with Archer as their No. 2 running back until Bell returns. He did look a little better in the preseason games, but I wonder if they really see something or if they are just too stubborn to give up on a 2014 third-round pick so quickly.

 

NFL upholds its four-game suspension of Martavis Bryant for substance abuse.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...receiver-Martavis-Bryant/stories/201508310164

I'm not sure what grounds he had for appeal, but the Steelers were clearly preparing for this all along by featuring Markus Wheaton more in the preason. There is even a report that concerns regarding Bryant led to Pittsburgh's decision to draft Sammie Coates in the third round this year.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...t-seize-role-at-receiver/stories/201508310093

Bryant looks like he is ready to take another step forward once the suspension is over, but he is another screw-up or two away from throwing away his career. Maybe giving him Santonio Holmes' old number wasn't such a good idea after all.

The Steelers are looking like a team ready to take a step back and miss the playoffs this year. The defense still looks terrible and the offense is going to have a harder time carrying the team with Bell out two games, Bryant out four and Maurkice Pouncey out at least 10. They are also now on their third kicker, trading for Josh Scobee Monday after losing Suisham to a knee injury in the preseason opener and Hartley in Saturday's stinker against Buffalo.

 

What did they give up to get Scobee? He was only the Jaguars best offensive weapon.

 

A sixth-round draft pick. According to the story I linked, Scobee had lost his job to rookie Jason Myers.

 

Yeah, the defense has been .. not improved.
Flashes of plays, but still giving up the big plays. I think you're right.

 

Some of the reasons the defense might improve were the development of Tuitt and better health for Mitchell. Both have been hurt. Also, that is not at all the same unit when Timmons doesn't play. The question is if the toe injury is serious or if they really are just being cautious.

They may be a little better, but not enough to make up for a drop on offense. Certainly not against a tougher schedule.

 

Raiders cut Trent Richardson.

Maybe he and RGIII can get their "fresh starts" together!

 

Been having an interesting debate on social media related to Richardson. Not counting QBs, is he the biggest draft bust in the modern era?

Some other names that came up:

1. Tony Mandarich
2. Lawrence Phillips
3. Ki-Jana Carter (got hurt, but still)
4. Huey Richardson
5. Vernon Gholston
6. Andre Wadsworth
7. Courtney Brown
8. Brian Bosworth

What say you, sj.com? (Again, QBs don't count).

 

Gholston might lead the list. Some names here (Mandarich, Boz) turned out to be marginal pros who'd been overhyped in college. Trent, on the other hand, never did a thing.

 

Bosworth was actually a pretty good player before he got hurt, but all anyone remembers is the hype and him getting trucked by Bo Jackson on Monday Night Football.