K Gun Special

Yes it is. But they are always one of the best teams in the league because of him year in and out. You arent going to be a solid playoff team without a bona fide QB.

+1 Fitz isnt the long term answer. People saying they dont need a qb have their head in the sand. There are busts in the draft all over. Its funny how beating two awful football teams makes the board change its tone like a bunch of lemmings.

Most other sporting events, mainly NHL and NBA have tons of games. They are less of an "event". Take a look at soccer matches across the world. Its not as uncommon you think.

Right. So is it worth it to forgo being picked #1 this year and return to stanford and risk injury and possibly lose millions or end a career? He's not in a position where returning might mean a national championship, it probably doesnt mean he'll be in the running for a heisman either.

Yes, the owners get TV money during a lockout, but its a loan that needs to be repaid with interest. http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/07/22/nflpa-cries-foul-over-tv-contracts Yes, the 10% might be sticky, and those issues are not small, but once those terms are agreed to, the finalizing wont be tim consuming. Im not saying it wont apply to this draft class. Im just indicating there should be some consideration to kids who declare prior to any agreement on a cap. If there is cap that applies it would probably be deescalating. Theres too much money at stake for a lockout, its unlikely to happen.

The CBA requires an NFLPA agent to sign a contract. With no CBA there is no longer a requirement. Its technical yes, but its still unlikely a former union player crosses. Roughly 90% of the former CBA will be re-incorporated into the new one whenever it is signed. The basic structure will remain in place. Things will be modified like rookie scale, season length, and % of shared revenue. To imply they are starting from scratch is wrong. You can keep taking shots i dont mind, i can assure you ive negotiated many contracts, and not one of them starts from scratch, especially when you are basically modifying a previously existing deal. Of course all sides are saying there is going to be a lockout, its called posturing. Do you really think they Yankees arent going to sign Jeter because they told him to test the open market? no, its posturing. Do you really think powerful owners like Jerry jones, who has enormous debt obligations from his new stadium is going to forego all that TV and ticket money ? cmon man dont get caught in the hype look at the big picture.

Im not out of tune. Negotiations are ongoing; the PA just made a counter proposal. http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/18/thursday-and-long-why-would-players-give-in-on-18-game-season/ http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ys-nfllabor111810 http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2010-09/nfl-labor-talks/story/nfl-nflpa-release-joint-statement-on-cba-negotiations I understand that the owners opted out of the current CBA. But when crafting a new CBA they simply incorporate 90% of the old one and change only the relevant parts. So taking 6-12 months to a year to finalize inst correct. As for the uncapped year point, owners knew the uncapped year wouldn't result in a spike in costs bc there are more severe rules for player movement in an uncapped year. Besides, there was no ticking clock to negotiate against, as there is now. To the article you cited, there is nothing preventing owners from signing players after the CBA expires. They certainly could sign replacement players for next year. Additionally players have voted to approve decertification giving them a status that will prevent owners from legally locking them out. There is a lot of posturing going on for sure.

I dont think there's a strong chance of a lockout. The owners are making too much money to do that. Besides, Luck could declare and purchase insurance in the case of a lockout.

Is it a fact? where are you getting that from? would current players contracts then be voided? I have seen nothing to show that teams would be precluded from signing players during a lockout, although it is unlikely they would. I think the reality is that 6-12 for a CBA to be finalized is an exaggeration. They would only be modifying the agreement that was in place and it wouldnt take anywhere near that long. There will be a 2011 draft, and depending on the new CBA a rookie cap might not even apply until the following draft. It would be unfair to declaring recruits to impose a cap after they declared, as it is unlikely any deal gets finalized until after the season. A new CBA is being discussed, and they are not as far off as you might think. The owners have no interest in letting the agreement expire in the spring, precisely when Season ticket holders have to renew.

His yards per att is pretty much near the top of NCAA and would put him in the top 5 in the NFL. Unless his dumpoffs turn into lots of YACs i dont see how that can be true.

he aint perfect but many are considering him one of the most polished QBs in years. All picks are a gamble but this is one you make bc its low.

1989 Troy Aikman Quarterback UCLA Dallas Cowboys 1990 Jeff George*** Quarterback Illinois Indianapolis Colts 1993 Drew Bledsoe Quarterback Washington State University New England Patriots 1998 Peyton Manning Quarterback Tennessee Indianapolis Colts 1999 Tim Couch Quarterback Kentucky Cleveland Browns 2001 Michael Vick Quarterback Virginia Tech Atlanta Falcons 2002 David Carr Quarterback Fresno State Houston Texans 2003 Carson Palmer Quarterback USC Cincinnati Bengals 2004 Eli Manning Quarterback Ole Miss San Diego Chargers (traded to the New York Giants) 2005 Alex Smith Quarterback Utah San Francisco 49ers 2009 Matthew Stafford Quarterback Georgia Detroit Lions 2010 Sam Bradford Quarterback Oklahoma St. Louis Rams its an even different picture when you look at QBs taken #1 overall. if you exclude stafford and bradford since theyre too new, in the last 20 years, three QBs taken #1 overall are busts. Smith carr and couch. the others were worth the pick

Aaron Rodgers, Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez and Matt Cassel are Pac-10 QBs who seem to be doing fine. The Mannings, Jason Campbell and Cutler came from the SEC. When selecting a QB the pac 10 and sec seem to be on par

Yea this is true. As for the dumpoffs, he's at 8.4 yds per att. Mallett is 9.4, so unless he's doing the same thing dont see what you mean. As for underthrowing, the guy is completing 70% of his passes which is tops(tied) for the best in the top 10 passers in NCAA. So he's not an unpolished passer i think you are being a little picky, especially considering he is running a pro style timing offense. There's a reason he is considered the #1 pick whenever he decides to come out, its bc the reasons you listed either dont exist or are not there to the extent you perceive them. I'm not taking sides on this luck issue it just seems silly so many people are trying so hard to knock the kid. If he comes out and the bills have the #1 pick they will take him, bc he will be considered the closest to a no miss pick.

You could have a player that every single GM agrees is the best prospect ever, guaranteed to be a HOF'er, who wanted to win super bowls only for Buffalo and the wingnuts on this board would criticize him for playing in a mickey mouse conference, or not running a 4.5 or being too short, or growing up where it doesn't snow, or he only played so many games.

Unless you are an Arbitron/Nielsen household your listenership will not effect ratings.

Well like Bradford, I don't think he would be sitting on the bench next year. Even if a new CBA is put into place it will likely not change the rookie issue until the following draft. There needs to be enough time for the system to adjust and with player having to declare by january its not a lot of time. I know you are on a crusade about this Luck thing, or more so Mallett, and you make some good points, but lets assume there is a rookie cap for the next draft. Luck comes out this year, he's gonna be #1, so even with a cap he will get the most he can get bc the #1 pick will still get the most $$$. If he doesnt come out this year, and waits another year, he may not be #1 anymore, see Locker, he could blow his knee etc etc. The rookie cap issue should effect his decision the way you say it would. It will likely hinge on him being the #1 pick and what hes hearing from those around him.

but an inside source said 6-8!!

Yea but that's Todd McShay, he's universally panned for being an idiot. Not a good source for accurate drafting.

The article is from July and before the season started. Also before everyone considered him the consensus #1 pick if he comes out. Not much to see here.

Yes that was very sarcastic. Really it makes no sense for him to return to school, especially for being rated a #1 pick. He can only get hurt or have his stock drop. Theres a looming rookie cap too.

BUt dont you understand?? College degree > $80M contract with about 20M guaranteed

Yup.

The bills were in the pistol for 8 plays Sunday, which was the first time they've used it all season.

He also didn't come straight to the NFL. My point isnt that its impossible to be a good NFL qb running shotgun/pistol spread offenses but that these guys typically have longer adjustment periods. Jim Kelly is not a good example.