Rocky Landing

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit...

I think that also, with the departure of Roberts, Beane will be loathe to diminish ST any further. I assume this would give Jaquan Johnson a leg up, as well.

They happen every year. I didn't see this as its own thread, and I thought it deserved one. Who are your surprise cuts, and your surprise guys to make the 53? One caveat: I think it's going to take a couple days after Tuesday for everything to come out in the wash, vis a vis IR, waivers, etc. For those posters who really follow the rest of the league, please include other team's cast-offs in your predictions, if you have any. I'll start, Surprise Cut: I've said for a while that I think Addison will be a surprise cut. I know they value him, and I know he's currently listed as a starter. But, especially when one considers the future (as Beane most certainly does), Hughes, Epenesa, Rousseau, Basham, Obada, and Johnson all provide more long-term value. Surprise 53: (Get ready to flame) Nate Becker. That's right, Nate Becker. Honestly, this would surprise me as well. But, consider: They've held onto him on the PS for two years, and signed him to futures contracts at the end of the '19, and '20 seasons. They've been developing him since they acquired him in '19. IMO, like Ike Boettger, I think they take these developmental guys seriously, and I also think they look at the time they put into their development on the PS as an investment. Obviously, he's been traveling well under the radar, and nobody has been talking about him (and to be fair, no one has been asking about him, either). I think this may be his year. If not now, maybe later in the season. So, who do you got?

FWIW, I would be pretty surprised if there weren't one or two "surprise" cuts this Tuesday that weren't really cuts. I can't remember who it was last year (McKensie, maybe?) who was cut with the promise of re-signing them after moving another player to IR. I don't remember the player, but I do remember the story, and how there was a lot of trust the player had to afford Beane to not entertain other offers, and follow through with the promise. Especially with the continuation of some players getting special designation on the PS that protects them, I think there are several who are not subject to waivers, in lieu of some who are, who could be involved to help get a couple valuable players to the PS. Right now, there are eight WRs, eight DEs, and five backs whom I believe McD/Beane would love to keep around. Some of them include core ST players that are routinely undervalued on this site. But, with the departure of Roberts, I'd be surprised if they were willing to let go of a single one of them. So, I'm going to assume we won't really have the final 53 until a couple days after Tuesday.

He's definitely not one of the "glue guys." More of a solvent, really...

Knowledge is power.

"Check out my camel toe!"

Nope, it was Mitch.

Our backups will destroy the Jets.

I'm not entirely sure that's true. The NFL can't impose a mandate that violates their contract, and I'm not sure the agreement reached regarding Covid is contractual. I belong to a union in the motion picture industry (IATSE). I'm currently working on a TV show at Warner Bros in Burbank, and they just last week mandated that all department heads be vaccinated.

No. You're a Bills fan.

I have worked on several of his music videos, and I can tell you that Sean Puffy Combs can't dance to save his life, has lousy rhythm, and is tone deaf. For reelz.

AD has always struck me as a clean player, also. He's not like an Ndamukong Suh, or a Burfict.

There's a picture of him sitting in his car/MRI machine posted to the instagrams.

Can someone post a screenshot, or something from this? I don't do the instagram.

Diggs was used for gadget plays in Minnesota, also.

If he's throwing up as a result of a concussion, that could be serious, and represent a vestibular issue, which would be a very bad thing for a professional athlete. Hopefully, it doesn't become a long-term issue for him. I'm really looking forward to the AFCE being a competitive division, but man... the Jets can't catch a break!

"Believe" is a strong word there, for a bold prediction. I suspect Cam Lewis is going to make the 53, and McCloud might go to the PS.

Maybe not "weird hate," but weird insult, and disrespect for a player who really doesn't deserve it. It's actually kind of a common way that these things evolve. Duke had some really dedicated fans here for a while, and that will always spur others to be anti, and then that starts to snowball. People often allow their desire to be "right" cloud their judgement of a player-- in both directions. I was a supporter of Duke when he first got here, and I, like many, was quite vocal about it. That sort of dialogue seemed to inspire others to be very vocal in their opposition.

I wonder if that isn't just the way some people's knees are structured? I knew a stunt man who claimed to have no ACL, and I never really believed him. I've snapped my left ACL twice (skiing), and while I could carefully walk on it before the repair, there is no way in hell I could have run on it. My lower leg would sort of roll out from under my upper leg.

I agree. Lenoir, Gentry, Hodgins, Powell, all had decent camps.

Thank you for that clarification.

It's an interesting question. My first thought would be-- not very much. I mean, they have their own players to deal with, but I wouldn't be surprised if Daboll would once, or twice a season invite Frazier to the QB room to explain the logic behind certain defensive schemes, and how they might be recognized. Likewise, I wouldn't be surprised if Allen had the occasional question for Frazier. Anything to gain an edge, right?

I don't believe it is because he actually hit him above the knee.