HoosierCat

Kapernick was absolutely blackballed, no argument there. Lamar OTOH is just a guy whose price tag is way too high. The escrow thing definitely needs to be revisited, but I’m not sure getting rid of it is the way to go. The more deals get guaranteed, the less free agency there is, because teams can’t cut guys and create space. At least that’s my first thought.

And the deal looks even better now… https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35895322/sources-cowboys-trade-texans-wr-brandin-cooks

A 25 year old QB whose play style has a proven short shelf life in the nfl (see Randall Cunningham, Mike Vick) and who has already missed 10 games over the past two seasons. And to get him you have to give up two first round picks and hand this oft injured guy a fully guaranteed $50 million a year contract. And even then you might have just wasted all your time because the Ravens can match and so all you do is their work for them. Gee, I can’t imagine why there’s so little interest.

No, it’s not.

OK, the Lamar Jackson thing is just becoming sad now: Lamar teases upcoming video of interview with…himself. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/03/18/lamar-jackson-teases-upcoming-interview-of-lamar-jackson/

So there’s this story on the Scott signing on bengals.com here: https://www.bengals.com/news/nick-scott-agreement-follows-roster-formula and I’m looking at the picture at the top and I have to ask if I have missed something. Are pockets like not cool anymore and all the hip kids just stuff things down the front of their pants now? Is there a name for this? Are there rules? I have a feeling COB probably knows…

ESPN ranks this as the second best deal of FA. https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/35872447/2023-nfl-free-agency-signings-ranking-best-deals-contracts-fits-values For those wondering no. 1 was the Raiders stealing Jakobi Meyers for just $11m a year.

I’m sure they will grab a vet TE and he won’t cost much. There’s no TE market to speak of this year. I think Hurst was about the only guy to get paid. Gesicki had to settle for a 1 year deal in NE. Dalton Schultz is still out there for heaven’s sake.

Rapoport has been saying that since five minutes after Jonah asked for a trade. Feels like his agent trying to drum up interest.

He’s not going to hold out. He’s going to be a dick for a bit and I get it, they just hired someone for his job and that sucks, but such is the business he chose. Eventually he will get over it. As for a trade, I don’t see it but who knows. Like army says it just takes one team to fall in love.

Oh, there are plenty of good RBs and I think they’ll draft one. He can then take over the Chris Evans spot on the bench. I don’’t know what it is about this team, they’ll draft em but won’t play em.

Thing is, Mixon actually has more miles on him. 300 more carries over 6 seasons. And Fournette’s arguably a better receiver. We don’t need him to be the man, just a number 2 who could handle the starting role for the couple games Mixon seems to miss every year.

Board has been flakey all day. Server hamsters might have gotten into the weed stash…

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/leonard-fournette-landing-spots-buccaneers-parting-ways-with-rb-after-veteran-requests-to-be-released/

Good they got the deal done. Fingers crossed that Scott continues to improve.

Foster Moreau was in town. He’d be an interesting pickup. Has a history with Burrow. https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/17/bengals-host-free-agent-foster-moreau-visit/ Cethan Carter apparently paid a visit as well.

Looks like it’s finally official, so good job Bengals. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-roster-moves-orlando-brown-jr-free-agency-2023

Volson was No. 2 in performance based pay last year. Note that’s more than his base salary ($705k) for 2022.

Bucs just released my old draft crush Leonard Fournette. He never lived up to his draft hype but production-wise he’s pretty comparable to Perine. Would be worth kicking the tires there I think.

Reportedly they are letting Ford compete for the RT job as well. Helps explains why Jonah is butthurt.

I had the same reaction.

Yeah, we all like it. Which is why it doesn't make any sense. Let's say you are Orlando Brown's agent. Brown had a $130m offer on the table from Kansas City last year. You told him not to take it, he could get way more in March. How do you turn around now and tell him to take a $60m offer from Cincy? You just cost him $70m! If Brown signs this deal, how are the next two words out of his mouth not "you're fired," and how are you not a laughingstock who will never get another client again? (And yes, maybe you told him to take the deal and he was just pissed at the Chiefs and declined, but even so, who is he going to blame now? You, of course. Stopping him from making dumb financial decisions is your job after all. You are still hosed if he takes this deal.) So how did it even come to this? Curious, I decided to google "Orlando Brown Jr agent" and hoo boy is there a story here. Y'all remember Moobs' rookie holdout? His babyfaced noob agent rolling up to PBS in a limo like he was King Shit? Him getting eviscerated by Katie? Ah, good times. Well, as ABBA once sang, "mama mia, here we go again." As it turns out, Brown hired a new agent last June, Michael Portner. Now, did he hire Portner for his depth of experience and track record of success at representing top-tier athletes? Ha ha ha no. In fact, Porter has never negotiated an NFL contract before! In fact it appears he has never negotiated any pro deal in any league! STOP LAUGHING!!!! No, he got hired because of the feels, man. He and Brown had a "deep connection" blah blah blah. It's all in the glorious press release linked above, which straight up declares that his total lack of experience is a plus! SERIOUSLY STOP LAUGHING!!! It's Moobs all over again. This guy is meat under Katie's knives. I imagine that they came in looking for a one-year deal, something structured like the one Reiff got a couple years ago, just for more money, so they could try FA again next year. But Katie dropped $34 million in year 1 money on the table and basically trapped them. Tough to take a 1 year deal for, say, $17-18m after that. Anyhow, just a thought, but it's the only way I can make sense of such a steal of a deal.

Apparently he isn’t signed yet, they are just “working towards” a deal atm. So may not happen. I don’t think I will be upset either way.

I wouldn’t object.

Well, the contract details are out, which is a good sign. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/orlando-brown-jr-25182/ Looks like it’s basically a 3-year, $50m-ish deal. Year four he would have a $22 million cap hit versus $8 million dead money, so if they want him beyond year three that will get redone.