Agreed, and I expect Brees & CO to come in with a large chip on their shoulder after losing to Atlanta. The Shanahan approach, with all it's complexity is not helping this developing team to find it's way, and it would seem apparent that pace, and simplicity works better, at least at present. Regardless of the complexity, the "calling of plays" needs to be streamlined. If you can't communicate it without a dictionary and an interpreter, can it. It's like a doctor who performs a surgery, perfectly, but the patient dies. No awards for the "theory", just the results.
The NFL could be a day away from a new drug-testing policy. The 32 player representatives will vote on Tuesday on whether to accept the owners? latest proposal, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN. A source with knowledge of the NFLPA?s thinking tells PFT that whether a vote occurs tomorrow depends on whether there?s an offer good enough to be voted on, but the current sense is that there will be such an offer. If a new policy is approved, players will be subject to blood testing for human growth hormone for the first time. A new policy would also change the threshold for what constitutes a positive marijuana test, and would make the use of amphetamines in the offseason a violation of the substance-abuse policy, rather than the performance-enhancing substance policy. Those changes have the potential to affect some high-profile suspensions including those of Browns receiver Josh Gordon and Broncos receiver Wes Welker. The NFLPA has expressed caution in the face of reports that an agreement is close. But if it has reached the point where the player representatives are voting, then a deal could be very close ? close enough to get done tomorrow.
lol! Well I guess I'm "negligent" Irish, because sorry, but I'm not going to sit here and sugar coat my early evaluation of Justin Gilbert. I didn't say I was "throwing in the towel" on him. I just mentioned the blatantly obvious, and that I was worried. Pretty sure anyone can see that Gilbert, at this point, looks like anything BUT a top 10 overall draft pick....The thing is though, he WAS a top 10 overall pick....and he looks completely lost in every facet......Thus the criticism.
Try not to "worry" too much. Troy Polamalu looked lost for most of his rookie season as well. These kids come out of college and have to learn an entirely new system that is significantly more complicated than the ones they had in college and high school. They have to adjust to the speed of the game and the better talent all around them and across from them. Its natural for there to be a learning curve and I think its pretty normal for them to look a bit lost early in their rookie seasons. The anomoly is the guy who comes in and plays great right off the bat. Those are rare individuals. Ryan Shazier made quite a few mistakes on Sunday, but I certainly am not on bust alert with him. Way too early for that.
Ryan Shazier knocks people on their ass at least....Gilbert is playing flag football or something, I don't know. I expected more at this point from a player that was so highly coveted. I know all rookie CB's struggle to some degree, but this kid looks like the absolute definition of BUST ALERT if ya ask me....He doesn't cover or tackle. I think that's reason for concern, which is all i said in the first place....
I think you guys might be too sensitive to the term "bust alert". IDK. Anyway, just an f.y.i.; it also applies when scouting the cheerleaders.
Not too sensative, it's jusy that by definition or mistakes in their first game, Ever, all but maybe 3 first round draft picks are on "bust alert". If that is the criteria, is it really a bust, or simply reality? You say, I'm too sensitive, I merely say you are too cavalier in your usage of the phrase and I called you out on it...actually I think I called bluez out on it to be honest, all you did was respond to him with a bit of agreement.
The entire defense performed poorly on Sunday -- not just Gilbert the rookie. 128 yards on the ground and another 390 through the air? The tackling was abysmal for the first, second and fourth quarters. I also don't care that he pushed off every chance he got, Antonio Brown abused Joe Haden, who looked particularly stinky in that game. Karlos Dansby is the only player getting a pass for that game on defense in my book. We'll have to see what improvements they make against Brees & the Saints, but the Steelers were a 20th-rated offense, Saints were 4th last season and are 3rd to start this young season.
Only one of the Browns? two first-round picks saw the field in the team?s loss to the Steelers last Sunday, but cornerback Justin Gilbert didn?t appear to be any more ready for prime time than quarterback Johnny Manziel. Gilbert, who played on 83 percent of the Browns? defensive snaps, was targeted often by Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers found good success throwing his way during a 30-27 victory. He also picked up a penalty that wiped out another penalty on Steelers receiver Justin Brown and generally looked overmatched in his first NFL action. Coach Mike Pettine acknowledged Gilbert?s struggles on Monday and said that the team would ?maybe scale back? Gilbert?s reps in Week Two. Pettine won?t bench Gilbert altogether, saying ?there is no substitute for playing? and that he doesn?t want to totally erode Gilbert?s confidence. ?There?s that fine line of what?s best for the team, but at the same time, you still want the kid to get some confidence,? Pettine said, via the Akron Beacon Journal. ?It?s tough. Life in the NFL for a rookie corner is tough. There?s not many, if you go back through the years, that have come right out of college and been special right out of the gate. You walk that fine line of, ?Do we play him?? I think we?re going to try and find that middle ground.? Aaron Berry and K?Waun Williams would be options to take some of Gilbert?s playing time. Berry didn?t play a snap in the opener and Williams is another rookie, so there?s little guarantee that they?d turn in a better performance against Drew Brees and the rest of the Saints offense.
I expected more out of him . I expected more out of this defense . they all got abused . it doesent get any easier this week with Brees coming to town . the last time we played the Saints we destroyed them in NO . Brees had a terrible day . can it happen again ?
I don't know if it will happen that quickly, but any time off that suspension would help thus offense!!
Irish they are meeting today . all 32 team reps to vote on it . pretty sure it will pass . after the league totally blew the Ray Rice suspension they will make this right . Gordon still has the DUI hanging over his head . that hearing is in November from what I have read . Keep selling cars Josh. I might be in the market myself for one . is there a " rebate " in the trunk
Here's an article from Mary Kay Ambulance Chaser: BEREA, Ohio -- Josh Gordon could take another big step on his comeback route Tuesday. The NFL's 32 players reps will vote on the new drug policy Tuesday, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. And depending on the way the new policy is written, Gordon could have his suspension overturned and return to the Browns as soon as the agreement is reached. Under terms of the new agreement, Gordon wouldn't have tested positive for marijuana, and therefore, he wouldn't have been banned indefinitely. The NFL and NFLPA are reportedly set to bump the marijuana metabolite threshold up from 15 ng/mil to 50. Gordon's positive test was a 16, sources have told cleveland.com. Gordon, whose appeal was rejected on Aug. 27, is currently suspended indefinitely, but at least for the entire 2014 season. Whether or not Gordon is re-instated will depend on what the two sides agree on: allowing players back in that tested positive in the new league year beginning March 11, or players that were ultimately suspended in the new league year. A source told cleveland.com that Gordon tested positive no later than February, which was in the previous league year. Mortenson also reported that a late point of contention is that if the NFL allows suspended players such as Gordon and Denver's Wes Welker back in, other NFL owners will fight to have their suspended players re-instated. The NFL has already begun receiving complaints from owners who want their players re-instated. Even if Gordon's drug ban is rescinded, he might still be suspended for his pending DWI charge in Raleigh, N.C. According to profootballtalk.com, the NFL is seeking a minimum two-game suspension for a first-time DWI conviction. Gordon's hearing in Raleigh for the July 5 DWI was postponed from Aug. 26 to November while he went through the appeals process. In addition, the league wants players to be de-activated with pay for the game following any DUI arrest -- before due process. So as it stands, Gordon might make it back as early this week's game against the Saints, but could miss two games in November for the DWI. Last season, Gordon was also suspended for two games -- for what he said was codeine in his cough syrup -- and still managed to lead the NFL with 1,646 yards. It's unclear who the Browns' new player rep is now that D'Qwell Jackson is gone.
The NFL Players Association is huddling with player agents today to discuss the possibility of a new drug-testing agreement. Although there is no agreement currently in place, talks have progressed to the point where the player representatives could vote on a proposal today. The call involving the NFLPA and player agents takes place at 1:30 p.m. ET today. Among the changes in a new drug-testing policy would be blood tests for human growth hormone, as well as increasing the threshold for a positive marijuana test and changing the classification of amphetamine use in the offseason from a performance-enhancing drug policy violation to a substance-abuse policy violation. It remains to be seen whether the players will go along with the league?s proposed changes, but the NFLPA wants to make sure the players? agents understand exactly what the league is proposing.
Hmm, that's funny, I am reading many conflicting things about this new drug policy. I read something about 20 minutes ago that said as of the writing (approximately 2:00 pm) there wasn't even one to vote on. But rather, the conference call scheduled for tonight would discuss the minimum that the players would accept to get a deal done. Then I also read, where the suspensions could be overturned almost immediately...then another stating that the league is fielding multiple calls from NFL franchises complaining that if the big name (Gordon and Welker) suspensions are overturned, they too expect THEIR suspended players to be overturned. It doesn't go into specifics on whether those suspensions are related to the changes in the new drug policy. But, it is stating that the NFL will have to endure some major headaches if they try to overturn certain suspensions...namely Josh Gordon since he technically failed the test during the 2013 season and the new policy would be in effect during the 2014 season... That is why I said, I don't believe it will happen that quickly. there are numerous issues to work out, especially for Josh.
The league is a mess . Goodell is a Azzhat that needs to go *ROSE* . Mark Cuban may be right and God that pains me to say . the NFL is becoming a run away train
In my book, things started spiraling downhill for Roger Goodell when he all but eliminated the kickoff return from the NFL. So Im glad hes under fire for his stupid drug and domestic violence policies........ Whatever it takes to get him out.
