2014 NFL off-season thread

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24471647/punter-pat-mcafee-signs-five-year-deal-with-colts

Colts keep punter Pat McAfee for $14 million over five years. It was never realistic, but still would have loved to see the Steelers bring him home. (He is from the suburbs of Pittsburgh).

 

After the way Kansas City's season ended last season, I don't think placing Alex Smith on a pedestal is the wisest thing to do.

Smith has also started 90 games in the NFL. CK has started 23. CK has a decade of great football ahead of him - if his speed holds up. Once he stops running really fast, his value is cut in half. But as long as he stays fast, he can win any game he starts at QB. Heck, SF only had 31 yards of offense in that playoff game at Seattle, which they almost won, that was not CK running or throwing the ball.

I do understand what LTL is saying about stretch the process out, but once he hits the free market, there will always be a Dallas or Oakland willing pay him so much that you cannot possibly hope to resign him.

 

Adrian Peterson was quoted as saying he'd like to see Vick with the Vikings.

As a fanboi, I have mixed feelings. In the short term, I think Vick (or Matt Schaub) would do more than any of the rookie QBs. But it's a 1-2-year fix at best, sort of like Warren Moon, Jim McMahon, Brett Favre, Donovan McNabb and all the other retreats that have worn purple in the last 20 years.

So...... if you really fall in love with one of the rookies and believe he's the long-term answer, take him. But you've got to treat him better than you've treated the last savior (Christian Ponder). If you don't like any of the rookie QBs that much, draft defense and either live with Ponder or sign a veteran free agent for the short-term and see where you're at a year from now.

 

Did you watch any Kansas City games down the stretch? Smith was pretty damn good. He was very good in the playoff loss. It's their defense that went to shit.

 

Who put Alex Smith on a pedestal?

 

Smith was a major step up for Kansas City and a big reason why they had a winning season.

It seems no matter what you accomplish, there are going to be detractors. See all the Peyton Manning hatred, for a five-time MVP. Oh, well, life goes on.

 

Vick isn't any kind of fix. In the first place, he's way past a prime that wasn't ever that great in the first place, and he's all but guaranteed not to make it through a full season anyway.

 

Which of the following would you rather have as your opening day QB: Vick, Ponder, Josh Freeman, Matt Schaub, Blake Bortles, Derek Carr, Johnny Manziel?

(I left Teddy Bridgewater off the list, because I don't think he's a viable option unless you move up in the draft and that appears to cost a king's ransom.)

 

I think Smith is a solid NFL quarterback. He is not a star, but he is considerably better than anyone I can think of off the top of my head that SF could bring in right now.

 

I'd rather have one of the kids because there's a chance he might become something. There's no chance of that with Vick.

 

The chances Vick will get hurt if he plays regularly verge on absolute certainty.

 

I'm just not sold on any of the rookies. Haven't seen much tape of Derek Carr. If you draft a QB, you have to commit to him. If you bring in a veteran free agent, it's more of a stop-gap deal. OTOH, I could live with Ponder for now. I don't think he's that bad and the team is a run-first offense anyway..... as long as you don't fall behind every freakin' game.