Wellness

[gardenman]

I could be wrong (and probably am) but I don't see the Texans taking a quarterback first overall. I think they'd like to get an RGIII type deal to move back a few spots, but I'm not sure any team is that in love with any of these quarterbacks to make that kind of a deal to take one in the top five. None of the top quarterbacks is a 'sure thing' this year. You've got a lot of 'sure things' in the draft, but quarterbacks aren't one of them. Maybe the first four guys taken will all be quarterbacks, but I just don't see it that way. You can't argue that a lot of teams don't need a quarterback, but there are some pretty good guys available in free agency (Vick, McCown, etc.) who can hold the team for a year or two while you develop a lesser guy. I just don't see a mad rush to get a quarterback this year when there are better players available. The difference between a first round quarterback this year and a guy who's likely to be around in the second or third round isn't that big. I'd hate to pass up a 'sure thing' offensive lineman, wide receiver, safety, defensive end, etc. to take a chance on a quarterback who's iffy.

When you look at the guys who have been available in later rounds in recent years (Nick Foles, Russell Wilson, etc.) and see how productive they've been, why use a first round pick on a guy? I've got a strong feeling that the big news on draft day will be how far the quarterbacks fall. I'm thinking at least one guy who everyone thinks will be a sure first round pick may well drop into round two. It's going to be an interesting draft.

[Spurt]

On 3/8/2014 brewhaha said:

It hasn't been a good week for former Hawaii Warriors Davone Bess & Samson Satele. I don't think they will sign with another team. The Warriors had the "strongest" OL when they had "Samson" Satele & "Hercules" Satele back when June Jones was the HC.

I was surprised to see Michelle Beadle back on SportsNation. Max Kellerman also returned to ESPN. He used to host Around The Horn before moving to FOX. I'm waiting to see if Gayle Gardner is coming back. Last I heard, she was on the Food Network and that was a few years ago.

Only two months til the draft. Todd McShay has Jadeveon Clowney going to the Rams with the second pick. If they take the best player available then it might be true. But teams are drafting more to fill needs so I have my doubts. We already have Chris Long & Robert Quinn. I think a more likely scenario is another team trading up to take Clowney if the Texans take a QB.

Hey Brew....WOW Gayle Gardner that's a blast from the past.....I think she paved the way for women broadcasters.....she was even respected by the male viewers from what Ive read. She seemed really interested in sports versus those that only wanted to boost their broadcasting and/or movie careers i.e. Phyllis George and Jayne Kennedy and Jane Chastain....A few years ago ESPN had retro week where they brought the old anchors back and Gayle was one of them....

I like Michelle and she's a SPURS FAN too (she started her career in sports broadcasting with the Spurs and her family has been log time season ticket holders).....

Well Brian Orakpo was on Doc Walker's radio show telling how he has talked to Jay Cutler and DC Jim Haslett and they plan to turn him and Kerrigan loose this year rather than using them for containment.....They were the second worst defense so maybe this will help---no where to go but up....And if we can just improve our Special Teams our record will definitely improve... When asked if Shanny's meddling interfered with what Haslett wanted to do with the defense...he said, "I'm not gonna do the blame game for anything. I had no notion of what was going on. This year we're able to let Haslett run the show and we'll see what happens."

There were 5 free agents they said the Redskins should avoid--

Aqib Talib CB Pats, IL Brandon Spikes, Pats, Hakeem Nicks WR, Giants, TJ Ward SS, Browns, Julian Edelman WR, Pats

They said James Ihedigbo Colts who had breakout year would be better choice at SS (sorry Teganslaw)....Edelman could just be the QB and the system, Nicks inconsistent and injuries, our own Riley would be better to resign than Spikes who struggles on passing downs. Keim suggested Alterraun Verner, Antoine Bethea....

[Spurt]

On 3/7/2014 teganslaw said:

The Colts signed ILB D'Qwell Jackson to a four year 22 million contract, eleven million of it guaranteed. Jackson was released by the Browns, and it didn't take him long to decide on the Colts after visiting several teams. He will replace Pat Angerer, who will not be back next season.

Also, the Colts cut center Samson Satele. That was no surprise, as Satele was unproductive and not worth what they were paying him. I don't know if another team would be interested in him, as he really didn't live up to expectations. I'm not sure who will replace him.

I don't know a lot about Jackson, but other fans on the Colts website seem to like the signing. There is a Browns-Colts connection what with Jackson, Chudzinski and Richardson. That might prove to be helpful in the long run.

Now they have to concentrate on resigning Vontae Davis before next week's deadline.

Hey Teganslaw....so will the Colts draft a new center or pick up a free agent.....

[brewhaha]

Gardenman, you could be wrong? Say it ain't so.

Spurt, I forgot about the other women you listed. I remember Gayle because she made a joke that has stuck with me all these years. It was during the baseball season and the pitching matchup was Mike Witt vs Bobby Witt. She said it won't be a "Wittless" game. You know me, that's my kind of humor.

[gardenman]

And we have more players cut today. Antonio Cromartie of the Jets is the latest big name to bite the dust.

[teganslaw]

According to NFL Network, it looks like Adam Vinatieri will be hitting the free agency market Tuesday. He was talking with Indy, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him go. Have to see if that turns out to be true.

They aren't getting any closer to a deal with Vontae Davis, last I read. I might be wrong, but I have a feeling that Davis will be leaving. They don't have much time to work things out.

At least the Colts were able to resign Punter Pat McAfee; there was really no question of him not returning. I was glad to see that.

Hakeem Nicks has mentioned that the Colts are one of the teams he'd be interested in. The Panthers were another, and I don't remember the third. So I'm watching the NFL news closely. There are going to be a lot of changes by next week.

[gardenman]

Hakeem Nicks is an interesting guy to take a chance on. (The Chargers and Phillip Rivers were his third choice.) He's got a lot of potential, but he's never really been a dominant player and he's often injured. There have been games where he's given the Eagles fits and then there are games where he's just disappeared. I don't think I'd give him a big contract, but he's one of those guys who has the physical tools to be dominant and who will get the attention of a few teams. In the right situation he could be a big win, but he could also turn out to be a colossal flop. I'm not sure how big of a market there will be for him this year. There are a lot of good kids coming out of college and the free agent wide receivers in recent years haven't vaunted their teams into the playoff hunt as hoped. I kind of found it interesting that he didn't list an NFC East team as a potential landing spot. The Redskins need a WR and the Cowboys could use someone opposite Dez Bryant, but he seems more focused on those other three teams.

The Eagles seem to be holding steady right now. I expect to hear them resign Donnie Jones our punter, after free agency officially kicks off, but other than that I'm not expecting a mad rush to sign players. We'll likely sign a safety somewhere in the process but I'm not sure that will happen very early. They may wait a week or so and let things settle out a bit before making a move.

[gardenman]

Things got a bit crazy yesterday and today things get crazier. Many of the high paid players in the league were rumored to be on the trading block yesterday. Those not rumored to be on the trading block were either cut, threatened to be cut, or accepted a pay cut, or restructuring of their contracts. Revis is said to be on the verge of being traded/cut. A bunch of other players are also rumored to be available. It's definitely a shopper's market right now. Some of the supposedly coveted free agents are finding out that they're not so coveted. Guys who were hoping to make nine to ten million a year might end up having to settle for half that. Official signings of free agents can start this afternoon at four and it's going to be interesting to see what goes down.

[gardenman]

And the new NFL year officially kicked off with a flurry of free agent signing. DeMarcus Ware of the Cowboys was released when he wouldn't agree to yet another pay cut/restructuring. Lots of rumors of one of the safeties coming to Philly, but nothing official yet.

[teganslaw]

Vontae Davis is staying with the Colts, after all. He signed a four year 39 million dollar contract. It didn't look good at first, but they setttled things so he could stay with Indy.

Antoine Bethea is now with San Francisco. There wasn't much news on him other than he was going to be a free agent. I never found out how his contract talks were going; they kept any news about Bethea under wraps.

Adam Vinatieri was re-signed. I was glad to see that. He is still a valuable player.

DeMarcus Ware was cut from Dallas. Reports have him maybe going to the Broncos? Have to check back.

Jonathon Martin is with the Saints now. Not sure what is going on with Cromartie yet.

SPURT, what's the latest news on Orakpo? I haven't heard anything on that.

The Colts fan boards are going to be exploding today with all the free agency news. Too many things happening.