NFL - Random Opinions

I can foresee Gabbert running the Cardinals' offense for the entire 2018 season, depending on the off-season battle, of course. He just seems like a career backup guy.

 

CHICAGO BEARS

Jon Fox should have been left in Philadelphia when the Bears left to come back to Chicago.

There is no way the Bears will move forward as a franchise with Fox at the helm.

Pace gets just a little bit longer of a leash for now considering the situation with Trubisky and the opportunity to tap a new coach that can maximize that young man's potential. Bringing in another GM might set the quarterback position back, especially if the new regime didn't have the same view of Mitchell.

But that leash is very short for me...

 

ARIZONA CARDINALS
I can foresee Gabbert running the Cardinals' offense for the entirety of 2018. He will be in a battle for it, so that could put him back into his usual backup role. The message from Arians seems to point toward a Carson Palmer retirement announcement this winter.

 

ATLANTA FALCONS
The Falcons overpaid for a "part-time" RB. His production is solid, but he is not "RB1-$$$" worthy. And Atlanta with their fool-hearty spending ways has inadvertently fucked up the Le'Veon Bell situation in Pittsburgh.

 

BALTIMORE RAVENS
F**k 'em. Only thing good about that team is that Rod Woodson played for them.

edit: The Ravens don't have the money to bring in Cousins after this season. Flacco has it all.

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Just how awful of a quarterback is A.J. McCarron.

You read that right... I'm attacking the back-up quarterback.

If the Bengals were willing to give up McCarron for a second and a third in this upcoming draft it tells us a little about his possible market value. Kudos to A.J. for being worth more than a PB & J with the crust still attached as I would have expected his real market value to be somewhere in the neighborhood of a late third or early fourth, no kick in pick needed. But watching Andy Dalton play and knowing that having a quarterback that is just marginally more capable than the 'red rocket' could have netted a potential playoff win, doesn't it speak more to A.J.'s value that Cincy was willing to deal him at all?

If Cleveland were to let Hue have his way this off-season and bring in McCarron to compete with Kizer, I fear it would be the most unwatchable preseason quarterback showdown in the history of the game.

As for the Andy Dalton led Bengals, only time will tell if all the time that Marvin has given to his red headed stepchild will pay off.


To put it politely... I have my doubts.

 

It would require the trading of Flacco instead of an outright cut.

 

BUFFALO BILLS
I'm wondering if that will be the entirety of Peterman's career. Was that not the worst QB debut ever?

 

Who's gonna bite on that?

 

CAROLINA PANTHERS
Your assessment on the fix there is spot on. Its odd to see this team struggle, because they are only a player or two from being really good. Cam does need to draw it in a bit.

 

CHICAGO BEARS
Not much of an opinion. They should maintain the course this year, and can Fox at the end of the season. A change now could possibly drag Trubisky's development a little. Let him work with what's in front of him now, then with a coaching change, he can pick up whatever a new regime throws at him. I recall reading about him having a good football brain.

 

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Over the years I have probably followed the Browns more than any other franchise because of their unique relationship to the NFL draft. No other team is more scrutinized for their picks or has as much hope attached to their selections. The fans are looking for that one guy that turns it all around and analysts look to bash them for any slight missteps.

It's a near impossible situation for a coach or GM to be successful in.

For the months of February, March, April and May, the Browns are some must watch TV. For Cleveland fans, they hope to change those roughly 120 days on the calendar to represent the latter stages of the NFL season, including the playoffs and an eventual Super bowl run.

But will any of that get done with the current regime in place?

Originally, I had expected Hue Jackson to get 3 years to identify his franchise quarterback. That clock got sped up when he tapped DeShone Kizer for that job and attached his tenure in Cleveland to Kizer's future. It was a mistake, and likely one that will see him fired at the end of the season.

Or not?

Now it looks like there is a possibility that Hue will remain while Sashi and Podesta get the hook.

I'm not a fan of that move. If we are going to play the blame game, then put me down as pointing my finger directly at Hue Jackson.

Has the front office made some questionable personnel decisions? Yep, but compare that to the most recent sample of what was happening with building the roster in Cleveland and to call what this group has done anything other than a success when compared to that metric would be a gross miscalculation of what has been accomplished at this point.

If I'm forced to choose I'm firing Hue, no hesitation.

 

I'm not sure anyone will, but I can think of at least one team with a ton of cap room and a major hole at quarterback.

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS
^^^See Baltimore Ravens^^^ (sans the Rod Woodson part and subsequent edit)
You nailed that one anyway. Why is McCarron more valuable than Garropolo? Here Cincy, hold my cinder blocks... now swim.

 

DALLAS COWBOYS

In a season that should have been a race to the playoffs the Cowboys find themselves back in the mire with fans calling for Garrett's head and questions about whether or not Dak is really the answer at quarterback.

Man, fans can be some emotional folk...

To be sure, Dak has struggled when the ground game has been less than adequate, but the play-calling in Big D has been less than stellar in many a situation. Dallas and Garrett are kind of like Reid and the Chiefs. If it's working, they forget it exists. If it's broken, they try to fix it by repeating it with a stubborn approach. They will get cute when power is working, attempt power when being out willed and scrap a functional portion of the offense in a knee-jerk reaction to a simple miscue.

So, how do the 'Boys fix what ails em?

Get back to running the damn ball for starters. It's not as if Morris has been some kind of monumental failure when filling in for Zeke. Remember play-action? Yeah, that works pretty well for Dak's skill set, especially when you get him rolling out and on the move.

Dallas pretty much has all the answers already there. Now, if Garrett would just go back to what works and play what everyone thinks 'Cowboys football' should look like then maybe Dallas can get back to their winning ways.

 

CLEVELAND BROWNS
Its hard to fault the Head Coaches of the Cleveland Browns when season after season is so abysmal. I respect Cleveland Browns fans like no other. I have a cousin who is a Browns fan and has been since the 1970s. Mad respect. Something is wrong with Cleveland and after so many years of suckage throughout the entire organization, I honestly can't really pinpoint the blame. Fire Head Coach <insert last name>... Rinse... Repeat...

 

Couldn't agree more. Gabbert is just there because that's all they got for now. Backup, yes... clipboard holder, yes... starter no way, at least not the QB of the future, in my opinion. They should and better go high pick on a QB or they will be average, like Gabbert, for years.

 

Flacco's cap hit next year is 24M. His dead cap hit if traded or released, to my knowledge, is 28M. He simply can't be cut unless they have a rookie, or someone on a rookie deal, they are 100% ready to start. Kirk Cousins and his contract demands are a near 0% possibility imo.

And yes, Flacco sucks currently and may never recover

 

DALLAS COWBOYS
Dak Prescott is fine. Better play-calling and adjust with what you do have available (Morris). With McFadden's retirement, going to Morris (5.8 YpC) should be an easier choice. Dallas is only 2 games out of a possible Wild Card push.

 

I eluded to this earlier. The talent is there, but the play calling and decision making has been sub-par. Dallas needs to simplify things and get back to the bread & butter part of the game and make sure they focus on the run game. You establish the run in the NFL and that will open up the passing game for even an average QB and in my opinion, Dak has proved he is above average.

I like your point on Morris and the play action aspect of the game too. What kills me is, if we can see it, why cant these multi-million dollar football minds see it and address it? lol, for crying out loud it not brain surgery... pound the football.

I'm curious... how healthy is that offensive line? Wernt they supposed to be one of the better o-lines? If Dallas can get back to the basics and simplify they will rise up, but I'm afraid they have squandered this season already.