WhitewalkerInPhilly

I should also point out, this can majorly backfire for the Rams. One of the reasons I was ok with the Bills not picking up Sammy's option is that OBJ, Mike Evans and Bradin Cooks all will be coming up for contract. All have a much higher production history than Watkins. If I was the Rams, and I were serious about wanting to keep him, I would try to get at least a bridge contract. Maybe a two year deal designed with the expectation that you will rework it in offseason 2019 if things go well, and cut him loose if they don't.

That's where I am on this. I like Watkins, and was devastated when we traded him. He probably does more than the stat sheet shows. But he's not Antonio Brown, AJ Green and Julio Jones good. That's what he'd be getting paid.

Ok. I confess, I admit that I got the picks wrong. My bad. But you completely disregard the thrust of the argument. Is it worth throwing the resources that we would need to get Smith for a marginal upgrade? Your Reliance on an ad hominem attack shows how poor your position is.

I posted this elsewhere, but here is where I see the opportunity. Unless we get my fantasy of trading a bevy of draft picks for Andrew Luck, here is my reasonable prediction of what happens. 1) Dorsey gets hired as our OC 2) Taylor is retained 3) The McBeane duo selects a rookie to be "their guy", and moved heaven and Earth to get him. 4) Open competition in TC. Likely Taylor holds it down, but if not, some team has had a QB emergency, and they can at least clear the books for a token pick. 5) At some point within the season, the rookie takes over 6) Taylor is off the books in 2019, with our dead money rolling over to bid on a new crop of FAs Does that compromise piss off all the fanboys equally, while most of us nodded our heads?

People keep saying that. But, as I went over in that Alex Smith thread, there are some real problems. We don't have the draft capital to get into the top 2 spots, and even if we did, the top 2 QB's taken in the last two years were not supposed to start Week 1 and most didn't. Wentz did, because Philly fleeced Minny by trading Bradford, and his uneven season in 2016 should be a warning. And that was with very high picks. Goff and Trubinsky were tire fires their first years. Cutting Taylor gets dead cap of $8.6 million. Toss that on top of paying a schlub second rater like Smith, Cousins, or Bradford a going rate of $22 million a year on the open market and you are in cap hell. Unless we get my fantasy of trading a bevy of draft picks for Andrew Luck, here is my reasonable prediction of what happens. 1) Dorsey gets hired as our OC 2) Taylor is retained 3) The McBeane duo selects a rookie to be "their guy", and moved heaven and Earth to get him. 4) Open competition in TC. Likely Taylor holds it down, but if not, some team has had a QB emergency, and they can at least clear the books for a token pick. 5) At some point within the season, the rookie takes over 6) Taylor is off the books in 2019, with our dead money rolling over to bid on a new crop of FAs

That sounds like the general overall trend in the NFL right now. Reich got the nod as OC in Philly 2 years ago after being QB coach, and now their QB coach Defillipo is getting buzz as an OC or HC

I'm not shocked if TT is back to start the year. But they absolutely are going to go looking for someone

I know it's reading between the lines, but I think we swoop in on Shula and/or Dorsey. We seem to be intent on building Panthers North, so we might as well.

I can't watch at work. Let me know if anything juicy happens.

We might as well. They fit our philosophy well enough.

So coaching that was good enough to beat the Patriots in Week 1 wasn't good enough to beat the Titans? Dude, I moved to Philly a few years ago. I don't know how many times I have been told that this is Reid's entire trademark: excellent regular season preparation, excellent 1st half planning, but a massive Achilles heel of not making second half adjustments and abandoning of the run game. It's the book on him. You don't get to credit Smith with the benefits he reaped because of it, and spare him from criticism from the downsides.

So...its not ignorance (correctable), just willfull idiocy (not) ANNNNND BLOCKED

Oh god no! Having a diva Pro Bowl CB, the lack of a safety they haven't had most of the year and still won of the division and a coach who's entire hallmark is not running the ball when he should? Lol, you are ridiculous. and it's not JUST the Taylor money, it's paying Smith AND the money for dumping Taylor

Again. I repeat now yet again: Do people understand the cost of bringing in Smith and dumping Taylor? Financial cost. Asset cost. Because it is impossible under the rules to simply swap one for the other without consequences. As for the bolded points: One, it was that USA today shill who predicted four wins. Few in national media have looked dumb by picking on the Bills the last decade. Even if we beat expectations by numerous wins, they could always fall back and say "Well, they didn't make the playoffs, did they?' Two: Again, I ask you what are Kansas City's problems other than Alex Smith. I will again reference you to a list of greater or equal NFL starters. Tell me what they are (other than the obvious Andy Reid problem). I'm waiting.

...I know you are being sarcastic, I just don't know what about.

Did...did you not read the part about where he lost his WR1, 2, 3 and 4, and was pushed into a system that does not suit his talents? Because that perfectly explains why he regressed, yet we won more games. Scoring offense from 10th to 22nd. That's something. Again, I am agreeing that Smith might be a marginally better QB. I am also agreeing that we need to move on from Tyrod. But as I posted later, cutting Tyrod is a cap hit of 8.6 million in dead money, plus a $22+ million a year on the open FA market or $17M and trade assets for a one year rental via trade. It's a terrible deal for a guy we would looking to be gone from in 2019

Perhaps as a better question: Is he better than Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Big Ben, Rivers, Luck, Wentz, Rodgers, Carr, Newton or Russell Wilson? Because he ain't in my eyes. Would the Chiefs likely have fared similarly or better in playoff distance with Flacco, Dalton, Bortles, Cousins, Prescott, Stafford, Winston, Matt Ryan, or Goff? I think they would. That's 20 starters in a 32 team league. If your guy hovering around a group between 12th and 20th best in the league, that is the definition of average to sub average.

Really? Because, the way I see it, both have the exact same number of playoff wins over the past three years. Smith had the benefit of a more talent cast, and a defense that covered up his short comings. Pray tell, what IS the problem in Kansas City? It looks like a massive case of Andy Reid to me (wonderful preparation in the regular season, piss poor adaptation in the playoffs).

Amen. I am sorry for the herky jerky posting, my phone was wonky. I don't think you are listening. Tyrod is not the same player as Smith. Smith is much more of a pocket passer. He is a better fit for Rico's offense. But when I look side by side at the two in the years when they both had competent OC's (I see you left out 2015 good sir) they are far closer. Again, we are talking about "let's pass short to the goal line on first and goal" Rico. "10th in scoring to 22nd in scoring" Rico. I won't fight too hard about Smith being a better QB. If he is, it's marginal. Let's also talk about the realities of getting him. Do you want to chase him on the open market? He wants to be a long term starter. What kind of money are you throwing at him to lure him to the Bills? Going rate is probably +$22M a year. Do you want to trade for him? What assets are you going to give up to the Chiefs (who paid 2 firsts for him, and another to move up for his replacement) to pay him $17M a year, on top of the $8.6 in dead money to Tyrod? For a one year rental on a QB likely disgruntled at being the bridge two years in a row. Either way wrecks the cap and requires immediate cuts and causes succession problems. I am seeing people who hate Tyrod so, so very much, that they are willing to jump at ANY alternative, no matter how foolish long term, to see him gone. Smith is NOT the answer. I have. He ain't.

Hahahaha, that's a good one... Or were you serious? Look, I fully expect us to draft a rookie (emphasis for Wayne and Joe). But unless we throw all of the picks in the world at the Colts for Luck, hoping Irsay is high enough to take it, you better believe that it will cost is through the nose for whatever scrub we get. We live in a league where Sam Bradford and Brock Osweiler get paid like kings. Do you honestly think that Smith takes a deal that is less than that? If we are trading for him, what assets are you giving up for the same level of play as Tyrod? It's a bad idea. How do people not see this?

Thanks . I really appreciate the summation but...let's ignore the madness that Wayne and Savior Peterman. put out. We kind of have a cheaper bridge in Tyrod. He can do with his legs what Smith does with his arm, when he isn't forced into whatever you call Rico's system. If you look over the numbers from 2015 and 2016 (when he had an OC who knew how to use him) he has similar completion %, Y/A and TD:Int ratio as Smith. Smith has more yards, obviously, coming from the Andy Reid philopspohy of Pass, Pass, Pass, and when you get tired of that, Pass (Sorry, that's what I hear nonstop from fans here in Philly) This was the first year Tyrod had a halfway decent defense to help him out. It also was a year with an OC who tried to make him a drop back, three second passer at the same time that they shipped out his WR1, 2, 3 and 4 and brought in a gaggle of entirely new guys. We know Tyrod isn't the answer. But why on Earth would we spend MORE money by putting a new guy who we know is not the long term answer on the roster to be a bridge for the rookie it seems we are to inevitably take?

I agree with Cousins, Smith and Bridgewater. But, dude, Rodgers (when healthy) has dragged a cast of rejects to the playoffs on the strength of willpower time and time again. Not that I disagree with your premise. Like I mentioned, Dennison is a major problem, and I really, really, really want to see our WR group upgraded. I just don't know where we get a better OC, unless it's poaching one from a HC group which got fired. No one I can think of inspires much confidence.

Tony Kornheiser? You are reaching man

That's fair. McDermott really had no leverage other than inspiration. I suppose the point I was trying to make is that we criticized Rex for something very similar with Mario, so it should be addressed. I am happy at the wins, and I am willing to change my position based on evidence. If Peterman comes out and rips for Brady like numbers, I will humble myself and bask in a decade of prosperity. If Dennison gets his guy and proves himself a genius, I will behave likewise. I do agree: we absolutely end this season with a new culture and a new mindset, along with four picks in the first two rounds and a decent amount of cap space. We have blocks to build with. I don't know, did either of them call for a passing play on first and goal from the one? I do agree that an offensive czar would be welcome. It just might be tricky. Offensive minds are at a premium in the NFL, and they get a lot of head coaching nods. Plus, I think teams can deny moves that aren't to HC.

You are aware that they lost their starting QB in training camp, right? I mean, I thought they were overrated anyway, but let's not pretend that had no effect.