Sports

[gardenman]

The whole Pickens thing is weird. Someone (his agent? the Cowboys?) leaked that he had signed it before the draft and was tradeable, apparently hoping some team would come forward with a big offer to get him, only to have no one come forward. So, yeah. That worked well for whoever did it.

I guess the hope was that a team would offer a boatload of picks/players for Pickens and he'd get his long-term deal from the new team. You don't get as much trading for a guy who wants a new deal.  Jonathan Greenard is a top-ten edge rusher (when healthy), and the Vikings only got two third-round picks for him, one in 2027, which means it's the equivalent of a fourth-round pick this year. 

Teams won't part with a lot of picks if they then have to pay the player a boatload of money. It just doesn't make sense for anyone to do that. You will find an occasional player-for-player trade where two guys on the last year of a deal and tagged get swapped.

The Cowboys insist they won't do a long-term deal with Pickens this year. Eh, okay. But there's a pretty big dropoff from Pickens to Marquez Valdes-Scantling or KaVontae Turpin. They drafted  a kid in Anthony Smith that people say is fast, as he ran a 4.43 forty. (Makai Lemon is being dissed in Philly as being slow as he "only" ran a 4.48 forty. Uh, guys? Five one-hundredths of a second isn't a lot of a difference.) But you never know what you'll get from a kid receiver. They need Pickens. They know it, or they wouldn't have tagged him. JJ just doesn't want to part with a pile of cash upfront when he can hold onto it for a bit longer. It's smart personal/business money management, but dumb football management.

Pickens wants his cash up front. JJ prefers to mete out the $27 million over time. And another tag next year is a real possibility for Pickens, which is also bad for Pickens. JJ is kind of a mess at team management, but good at money management. 

[Spurt]

---

@gardenman wrote:

The whole Pickens thing is weird. Someone (his agent? the Cowboys?) leaked that he had signed it before the draft and was tradeable, apparently hoping some team would come forward with a big offer to get him, only to have no one come forward. So, yeah. That worked well for whoever did it.

I guess the hope was that a team would offer a boatload of picks/players for Pickens and he'd get his long-term deal from the new team. You don't get as much trading for a guy who wants a new deal.  Jonathan Greenard is a top-ten edge rusher (when healthy), and the Vikings only got two third-round picks for him, one in 2027, which means it's the equivalent of a fourth-round pick this year. 

Teams won't part with a lot of picks if they then have to pay the player a boatload of money. It just doesn't make sense for anyone to do that. You will find an occasional player-for-player trade where two guys on the last year of a deal and tagged get swapped.

The Cowboys insist they won't do a long-term deal with Pickens this year. Eh, okay. But there's a pretty big dropoff from Pickens to Marquez Valdes-Scantling or KaVontae Turpin. They drafted  a kid in Anthony Smith that people say is fast, as he ran a 4.43 forty. (Makai Lemon is being dissed in Philly as being slow as he "only" ran a 4.48 forty. Uh, guys? Five one-hundredths of a second isn't a lot of a difference.) But you never know what you'll get from a kid receiver. They need Pickens. They know it, or they wouldn't have tagged him. JJ just doesn't want to part with a pile of cash upfront when he can hold onto it for a bit longer. It's smart personal/business money management, but dumb football management.

Pickens wants his cash up front. JJ prefers to mete out the $27 million over time. And another tag next year is a real possibility for Pickens, which is also bad for Pickens. JJ is kind of a mess at team management, but good at money management. 

---

@gardenman 

YOU NAILED IT!!! 👍 

JJ just doesn't want to part with a pile of cash upfront when he can hold onto it for a bit longer. It's smart personal/business money management, but dumb football management.

[Spurt]

@PARedbird 

HOW BOUT THOSE SPURS!!! Movin on to the second round! 114 to 95!!! GO SPURS GO!!!

[teganslaw]

The Ravens signed QB Diego Pavia to a three year contract. HC Jesse Minter said that he is willing to give Pavia "a clean slate." Minter isn't concerned with Pavia's attitude problems or locker room issues. He thinks that Pavia has enough talent to make it in the NFL. Time will tell. Maybe the Ravens will help straighten him out. 

[PARedbird]

@Spurt - I am beyond SO thrilled and happy!!  I fought hard to stay awake until halftime, which I did, and when I got up this morning, I immediately checked the score!  It was nice to see Manu last night too!  The way they were playing, I knew there was no way they were going to lose!  What a great team!!  

Let me know if you hear when they play next.  I Googled but couldn't find anything!  

I just loved the enthusiasm of the crowd last night, wishing I was there!  

Yes, GO SPURS  GO!!  

[teganslaw]

@PARedbird I.m not SPURT, but the Spurs upcoming schedule depends on the Nuggets-Timberwolves games. MN leads Denver 3-2, game 6 tomorrow, game 7 (if necessary) Saturday. 

The Spurs probably won't play until next week, when they face either Denver or MN. Schedule should be set when their opponant is known. 

BTW, congrats to the Spurs! (I've been following the NBA playoffs.)

SPURT, I hope you don't mind me answering the question. 

[Spurt]

---

@teganslaw wrote:

@PARedbird I.m not SPURT, but the Spurs upcoming schedule depends on the Nuggets-Timberwolves games. MN leads Denver 3-2, game 6 tomorrow, game 7 (if necessary) Saturday. 

The Spurs probably won't play until next week, when they face either Denver or MN. Schedule should be set when their opponant is known. 

BTW, congrats to the Spurs! (I've been following the NBA playoffs.)

SPURT, I hope you don't mind me answering the question. 

---

@teganslaw @PARedbird 

No problem with you answering, feel free anytime.....the Spurs get a mini rest and can game plan a bit...Denver is the tougher of the two opponents for the Spurs.....

I bet Washington's chief investor, Josh Harris, is happy with his 76ers in the playoffs they are giving Boston all they can handle, beat them and forced a game 6!!!

[PARedbird]

@teganslaw - thanks so much for that!  When I was looking earlier, it did seem like it depended on their next opponent but wasn't sure if that series was over and then not posted.  I'm so excited for their upcoming series!  Of course, I'm not expecting miracles this year but they are surely on the right track!  Very glad they get some rest!  

@Spurt - as you know Josh Harris's team is my territory but I can't stand them except for the one player so I do not care if they lose!  LOL!  Our Flyers are in the playoffs as well but I do not follow hockey whatsoever!  I only hear what's on the Philly news about them.  

[gardenman]

George Pickens has now officially signed the franchise tag that he'd reportedly signed last week. Now we'll see if he shows up for the OTAs, minicamp, and training camp.

The Eagles have their rookie minicamp this weekend. The draft picks, undrafted free agents, and other invited players should all be in attendance. The Eagles reportedly have $28 million in cap space right now with 82 players on the roster, so eight more guys could get added over the weekend. Still a bit thin at safety and edge, so if you can play those positions, there's a decent chance you get a contract.

[Spurt]

---

@gardenman wrote:

George Pickens has now officially signed the franchise tag that he'd reportedly signed last week. Now we'll see if he shows up for the OTAs, minicamp, and training camp.

The Eagles have their rookie minicamp this weekend. The draft picks, undrafted free agents, and other invited players should all be in attendance. The Eagles reportedly have $28 million in cap space right now with 82 players on the roster, so eight more guys could get added over the weekend. Still a bit thin at safety and edge, so if you can play those positions, there's a decent chance you get a contract.

---

@gardenman 

Oh those Cowboys 🤠.......

Washington still has 49 mill in cap space.....and 81 players signed, I have feeling they are holding a spot for 28 yr old 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk....Jayden Daniels old college buddy.....

The Cowboys have 12 mill in cap space and 78 to 80 players signed......

The Colts have 26 mill in cap space and 84 players signed