Running NFL Preseason Thread

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

so by this logic you wouldn't trade Orton for Andrew Luck if he had come out, since Luck has "never proven anything"

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Look, this is a simple thing to explain. If an NFL GM is forced to trade for a quarterback, he will ALWAYS take potential over proven mediocrity even if the failure risk is higher, because the price is the same, high, for each commodity, and at least with a guy like Kolb there is a CHANCE you wind up with a superior player. The idea is to build a Super Bowl team. You know Orton is a Super Bowl QB only if you go out and acquire three or four Hall of Famers for your defense.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Exactly. The thing about Orton is he has already shown his limitations. Right or wrong, teams are more likely to trade for upside.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

It's Rob Johnson all over again. Jacksonville liked that deal.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Why is Kolb Rob Johnson?

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Johnson started a handful of games for Mark Brunell in Jacksonville back in the day. Just enough to cause Buffalo to salivate, and the Bills overpaid the Jags grossly to get Johnson, who was languishing on the bench in Jax because Brunell was firmly entrenched as the starter.

Could Kevin Kolb be better than Rob Johnson? Sure, and I hope that's the case. But for those who think Kolb might be overrated and/or those who think the Cardinals might have overpaid the Eagles, it's a stark reminder of the Rob Johnson deal. IIRC, Jax got a first-round pick for Johnson among other things. Johnson signed a fat deal with the Bills, didn't do very well and lost his starting gig to Doug Flutie.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Acquiring a winning NFL quarterback, let alone a quarterback who means you're a consistent playoff team, means taking some sort of risk no matter what you do. Yes, Rob Johnson blew up in the Bills' faces. Yes, Kolb might do the same. But what are the Cardinals supposed to do, hope they go 0-16 and get Andrew Luck? Free agency has robbed NFL teams of the little time to build they once had. They must gamble on an immediate payoff at the risk of long-term damage.
Draft a QB number one, there's risk. Trade for one, there's risk. When Bill Belichick made Brady the permanent starter in 2001 even though Bledsoe was healthy again, that was a hair-raising risk. Brady craps out, Belichick might never be a head coach again.
But you can't win in the NFL unless you're willing to go all in when that's what the cards say you'd better do.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Excellent opportunity to highlight the principle, forget what was said, remember the source.

Romanowski (though I cheered for him in a 49er uni oh so long ago) is a proven 'roider who has had absolutely no direct knowledge of anything about McNabb.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Based on observations so far from a rebroadcast airing on NFL Network, Ryan Mallett has looked very good. Gabbert had some happy feet at times, but threw well for the most part. Todd Bouman, of all people, taking the Jags snaps now.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Was that last sentence an intentional pun?

No doubting the rest of the post. Must usually take the risk to realize the gain. Hope the Cards are right about Kevin Kolb ... if so, Larry Fitzgerald can continue to be one of the truly underrated players in the league.

I didn't bring up Rob Johnson to tear down Kolb or anyone else. But, make no mistake, if Kolb doesn't work out, the comparisons are already in place. Guy with big upside potential plays well for a few starts. Team with no QB of worth takes chance, gives up a lot for other team's supposedly-talented No. 2. Signs to big deal.

Could be another Matt Schaub. Could be another Rob Johnson. Stay Tuned ...

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Realize my most recent take doesn't belong in an offseason thread. Humble apologies.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Jennifer Floyd Engel with a good take on Tebow, something that matches what I've always felt: People get a little too giddy waiting for him to fail so they can throw his religion back at him.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Time-for-us-all-to-have-a-little-faith-in-Tim-Tebow-081111?gt1=39002

I am about the farthest thing from a Bible-thumper. And a lot of the anti-Tebow feeling is people just wanting to be right about their opinion on whether a QB will succeed or fail, a curious trait among sports fans. But there's a definite feeling of "God can't help you now, boy."