MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

1) Who says there is going to be a "first sign of trouble"?
2) Allen will be someone else's problem...and yes, I see him being a problem
3) This is the "New Browns", they have built an actual professional roster, with backups and everything
4) Tyrod Taylor can win ball games with a decent roster. He isn't going to carry a team to the Super Bowl on his shoulders, but this will be a welcome reprieve from what we have be subject to the past few seasons...(and by few, I mean since 2007)

 

I think its a good move, good intentions anyway, to make it a clear cut fact that Taylor is the man for now. It eliminates speculation and a sense confusion and confliction, maybe galvanizes this squad of Browns into a team. The higher-ups need to be leaders and not give the appearance of winging it.

 

Just my 2 cents but I think Tyrod plays well enough with the Browns that the Bills go why did we trade him.

 

LOL. The Bills had enough of him.

 

The Bills have a short memory and forgot how hard it was to find someone as good as him. Not that he shouldn't have been upgraded, but find the upgrade before you jettison arguably the best QB since Kelly. Again, I'm not calling Tyrod a great QB, but in this league it's tough to find a good one..and he's a good one.

 

They don't have a short memory. They have been keeping him around for a couple more years because of what you said. And now enough is enough.

 

But they don't have a backup plan...A.J. McCarron? Not sure that's a great plan. I'm not saying give him another 5 year contract, do what your doing and find his replacement, THEN move on..

 

Tyrod Taylor was hurting the development of his WRs. He can't throw anyone open. What he does do is throw incomplete where no one can get it. He's not bad but as much as he was helping them stay in games he was also hurting them. The Bills are the team that relies the most on the running game. They took the draft pick and are glad they don't have to make the decision to keep him and are now forced to move on.

 

Nick Foles: “I would love the opportunity to be a starter again”

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles understands that when Carson Wentz comes back healthy, Wentz will be the starter again.

But Nick Foles is still human, so he can admit being a little torn.

“I know there was some stuff going around, a possible trade, and I would love the opportunity to be a starter again. I know my spot in Philly. I think I’ve shown what I can do.” Foles said during an interview with KVUE in Texas, via Philly.com. “I’m signed for one more year and I love the team, I love the city. I’m excited for Carson [Wentz] to get back on his feet. I’ll be ready to go whenever they need me. But we’ll see.”

The Eagles acknowledged there had been calls about trading for the Super Bowl MVP, who will be a man without a starting job when Wentz returns from his knee injury. But because there’s at least some uncertainty about Wentz’s timeline, the Eagles said they intend for Foles to be on the roster at the start of the season.

There’s also the small matter of compensation, as the Eagles aren’t going to just give away a valuable commodity without a good return. But Foles said he has a good enough relationship with coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Howie Roseman that he’d expect to know if something was going on.

“I think the big thing with Philly is I have such a great relationship with all the personnel decision makers that if there ever does come a day where I am traded or something does happen, it’s going to be an open conversation,” Foles said. “We’re excited to go back to Philly. . . . I don’t know what my career holds from here on out.”

Foles is signed at a reasonable rate ($7 million in base salary and roster bonus), so the Eagles don’t mind keeping him around (especially considering what that money just bought them).

And with most of the chairs filled around the league (at least until next week’s draft), it’s likely that they’re willing to keep him. But if a late injury comes up, there’s still a possibility someone gets desperate and makes a Sam Bradford-like call, at which point they’d have to listen. (PFT)

 

Carson Wentz has started running

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz met with the media to provide an update on his recovery from the torn knee ligaments that ended his 2017 season.

Wentz tore his ACL and LCL in a December game against the Rams, which opened the door for Nick Foles to lead the Eagles on a run that culminated in a Super Bowl title. If all goes according to Wentz’s plans, Foles will be back on the sideline when the team plays its next meaningful game.

Wentz said he won’t skip any steps or rush any parts of his rehab, which may mean he remains on the bench during the team’s preseason schedule. He is still targeting a spot in the lineup for Week One of the regular season, though, and gave some positive news about his progress.

“We’ve started the running progression, and all those things,” Wentz said, via Philly.com. “I feel good. … I’m happy with where I’m at.”

There’s a lot of time to go before the Eagles take the field on the first Thursday night of the regular season and more for Wentz to do before there’s real reason to start thinking about his Week One availability, but good news of any kind is better than the alternative for a player on the comeback trail. (PFT)

 

Joe Flacco: Eventually, at some point, Ravens will draft a quarterback



Joe Flacco, like Philip Rivers and Case Keenum this week, said all the right things about his team potentially selecting a quarterback early in next week’s draft.

“It is what it is. It’s a business,” Flacco said Tuesday at the start of Baltimore’s offseason workouts, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “Eventually, at some point, that’s going to have to happen. It’s not really for me to worry about.”

Lamar Jackson‘s pre-draft visit to Baltimore combined with Flacco’s contract status has fueled speculation that the Ravens could use the 16th overall choice on a quarterback. The Ravens have played into the possibility with assistant G.M. Eric DeCosta saying the team would pick a quarterback if one is available “really too good to pass up.” G.M. Ozzie Newsome hinted at a “surprise” in the first round.

Flacco, 33, is scheduled to count $26.5 million against the cap in 2019. The Ravens would save $18.5 million in cap space next season by designating him a post-June 1 cut.

Flacco has never made the Pro Bowl. Since the Ravens’ Super Bowl title to end the 2012 season, Flacco has a 38-36 record with one playoff appearance, throwing 98 touchdowns and 74 interceptions.

“I come in here, and you worry about what’s here and now and doing your job, which for me now is getting guys out there working hard and making sure we’re moving toward our goal of getting to that championship,” Flacco said. (PFT)

 

Despite talk that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady could retire this offseason, Brady’s agent doesn’t see it happening.

Agent Don Yee told Adam Schefter of ESPN that Brady’s plan is to play.

“Tom’s intentions have not changed,” Yee said. “He’s consistently said he’ll play beyond this contract and into his mid 40s, or until he feels he isn’t playing at a championship level. I understand the constant speculation, but this is one point he’s been firm about.”

The 40-year-old Brady has two more seasons on his current contract, at salaries of $14 million a year — which is an absolute bargain for an MVP quarterback. Although some see Brady’s decision not to participate in the Patriots’ voluntary offseason work as an indication that he wants more money, Yee downplayed that.

“He customizes his preparation to each season in order to maximize his performance,” Yee said. “His training methods are always evolving and getting better. The year he missed the first four games — that month of training on his own was particularly efficient.”

So from all appearances, Brady will still be the Patriots’ starting quarterback in Week One. And in 2019. And maybe for many years beyond that.

 

Honestly maybe he is just tired of the constant turnover of offensive players, so he figures this is his way of showing displeasure? Don't think the Patriots are concerned about this season, but any season after that retirement talk will get louder.

 

I think you may be right and he's just waiting to see how he feels and how life in general is going before writing things in concrete.

I also think a lot of the hype we read about is fabricated by the media to get stories. A lot of 'mountain out of mole hill' stuff going on.

 

Maybe he is just old and doesn't want to come to camp until he has to

 

Kirk Cousins spent time working with, getting to know Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs

New Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn’t been able to officially work wit his new teammates until recently. Earlier this month, he unofficially worked with his top two new receivers, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, in Atlanta.

“Stef and Adam came down and spent a couple of days together, and I thought that was productive,” Cousins said Tuesday, via the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “More than just the football. Just to get to know one another a little and build somewhat of a foundation before we started with the whole crew.”

Now that Cousins and the Vikings have commenced the offseason program, players are noticing something special about their new quarterback.

“He’s a great leader,” tight end Kyle Rudolph said regarding Cousins. “You can just see that kind of naturally he has that aura about him.”

The aura may have something to do with getting a record-setting, $28 million-per-year contract. Regardless, the Vikings have gone all in at the quarterback position, and soon enough we’ll see if the move pays dividends.

 

Report: Dolphins told Ryan Tannehill he’ll start if they draft a first-round QB

The Dolphins are sufficiently interested in drafting a first-round quarterback that they’re doing some damage control with their current quarterback.

As they consider the possibility of taking a quarterback, and perhaps even moving into the top 10 to get one, the Dolphins told Ryan Tannehill that they’re committed to him as their starting quarterback in 2018 even if they draft another quarterback, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Realistically, however, if the Dolphins draft a first-round quarterback, their actions say they’re ready to move on from Tannehill. Although Tannehill could start another season with a rookie behind him, just as Alex Smith did in Kansas City last year, it would signal that Tannehill is on the way out, just as Smith was traded by Kansas City this year.

Whether a quarterback falls to the Dolphins at No. 11, or whether they move up to get one, the mere fact that they have to assure Tannehill he’s their starter in 2018 suggests that there’s a good chance he won’t be their starter in 2019.

 

Ben Roethlisberger: If Mason Rudolph’s the guy, it won’t be for a while

After being drafted by the Steelers in the third round, rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph said that he doesn’t think it is Ben Roethlisberger‘s job to help prepare him for life in the NFL.

Roethlisberger sees things a bit differently. Roethlisberger said “it’s a good thing” to play a teaching role with younger players, although he stressed that one of the rookie’s lessons will be about patience because Roethlisberger isn’t planning on giving way anytime soon.

“Well, that’s fine. He can [take over someday],” Roethlisberger said to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “But I plan on playing for three to five more years, depending on how the line goes and staying healthy, if I can stay healthy. If he’s going to be their guy, that’s great, but in my perfect world it’s not going to be for a while.”

The only time Roethlisberger didn’t play last year was when he rested in Week 17, but he missed time due to injuries in the previous two seasons. That underscores the need for a capable backup in Pittsburgh, which is a role the Steelers will be hoping Rudolph can fill in the immediate future while questions about what’s next remain on the back burner. (PFT)

 

Carson Wentz plans to still be aggressive while being cognizant of protecting himself



It certainly doesn’t come as any surprise that Eagles head coach Doug Pederson wants to make sure his quarterback that was the MVP favorite entering the final month of last season is available and playing every Sunday. He won’t always have a backup capable of picking up the slack quite like Nick Foles managed to last season.

With that thought in mind, Wentz understands that he needs to do everything he can to ensure he remains healthy. The trick is walking that line while still playing with the aggressive edge that has made him the player he is.

“We’ve talked about it quite a bit,” Wentz said, via Sal Paolantonio of ESPN.com. “I think we’re all on the same page.

“I think there is always things I can learn from, ‘OK, maybe I shouldn’t have been so aggressive there.’ There is a time and a place for it. Injuries happen. I believe this one was kind of a freak incident and that is just part of the game. There is always a learning curve. But overall, as an aggressive player, I am not going to change in that sense, I am just going to keep learning. I’m going to be learning how to preserve myself, how to be smart, when to take those chances, when it’s worthwhile, it’s a constant learning throughout my career, but it’s definitely something I am taking seriously at the same time.”

While Wentz’s knee injury last December against the Los Angeles Rams was a rather fluke non-contact injury as he planted to dive for the end zone, he was still putting himself in a vulnerable position diving headfirst between a pair of defenders. Wentz did take numerous shots last year and has the mobility to create yards on his own when opportunities are presented to him. The trick is finding the balance of avoiding the big hits – like Russell Wilson manages to do with the Seattle Seahawks – as opposed to taking numerous shots – like Robert Griffin III did in Washington before injuries piled up. (PFT)

 

What is PFT talking about? Non-contact? He hurt it when one defender hit one side of his leg while another hit the other side.