The Frankish Reich

Wow. I guess that’s what “all in” really means. I’m generally not a fan of doing this, preferring to do the let’s build a consistent winner thing. But with the Rams, Stafford is clearly the guy they needed and he’s not getting any younger. And as in baseball, some of the big contracts are in line with performance now but will be a drag as players age. They do have a short window; the future really is now. Now as for Vonn: he has literally lost a step or two and hasn’t been the kind of disruptive force this year that he used to be. Fair gamble that he’ll get some of that back on the Rams defense, particularly if they can rest him and get him healthy for the playoffs. Broncos? They were going nowhere this year (again) so this is the deal they should’ve made before last season, when Vonn’s value was greater.

Exactly. Having agreed in principle, I still have to say that if I’m the Jets I’m more than intrigued or pleasantly surprised. He was so good (not just kinda good) and against a previously solid defense that I’m gonna go with the “let’s make sure Wilson is 100%” line just to give him 2 or 3 more starts. Seat of the pants Analysis: - 60% chance he’s just a guy after all - 30% chance he’s more than that, and that you may have found, say, the next Kirk Cousins - a guy who can really play and who may develop into a big money Qb in a couple years. - 10% chance you’ve just stumbled upon a true franchise QB.

So .... you're saying that EJ Manuel is back in the lead (best QB of the 2013 draft). I knew time would tell that we won that one!

Right. And RBs peak really early in the modern era and tend to wear down fast. Which is the only reason I wonder whether he'll make it to HOF numbers.

Well, maybe not the Lee Smith, but a block-first TE does have value. And they're always out there and available ...

Yep. Kind of like Russell Wilson in the last few years of the Seahawks. His immense talent and escapability hide some huge problems on the O line and with the running game in general.

Ouch. Teddy: I'm not sure, but I think he may have just outplayed Case Keenum. Which means he's right there with Keenum: very good backup to have around, always will have a nice run that convinces some GM somewhere that he can be at least a bridge starter, that never works out. Is Mitch Trubisky cut from the same cloth? If he gets a chance (I hope not) to start a few games this year on a good team, I'd expect a bunch of GMs to decide he should become their starter.

Colorado media is focusing on Broncos leisurely pace on that final drive (not that it would have mattered). Playing like they were focused on covering the spread rather than actually winning the game. Fangio should be gone.

Well the Broncs sure are taking their time. No sense of urgency. Maybe a little quicker tempo wouldn't hurt?

There was Myles Garrett too. Pre-game he was honored as St. Myles.

I think that's it. One of those teams that just picks up any and every problem player out there. I mean, you don't need to have a team of all choirboys, but there's a big difference between that and signing the Kareem Hunts of the world. Or Johnny Manziel ...

Agreed. That's how I am with teams that aren't "my" teams. Red Sox when they finally got past the Yankees? Loved it. Arrogant Red Sox spending like the Yankees and acting like they're now the perennial favorites? Not so much. OK, now I'm back at "fire Fangio."

I can't make up my mind about them. Do I want them to step up and finally finish off Pittsburgh's reign? Or would I prefer them to be the pathetic Browns again. I tend toward the former since I just really don't even enjoy watching Ben & Co. anymore.

Remember when we thought Robert Foster was finally emerging as the #1 guy? And he was probably the best of that lot. We've come a looong way. OK, enough. Is there any way to back out of this wormhole? I have seen the future and I don't want any more of it.

What did Teddy get in the locker room? Different guy on this drive.

Good point. Josh was thrown into about as dysfunctional an offense as you'll ever see in the NFL. And yet ... he persevered.

I'll admit it - I wanted us to sign him as a bridge (hah!) QB. Can't remember which season. He is what he is, which is a kind of a boring Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Total yards: 214-76 TOP: 21:11 - 8:49 Score: 10-0 Browns, you're setting up an epic collapse.

You mean instead of AJ McCarron?

Broncos are basically the pre-McBeane Bills. Never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Now Vonn Miller goes down. Should've been traded in the offseason (think: Dareus). Should've drafted a QB in the Greatest QB Draft Class Ever (well, so they said). Instead they got Bradley Chubb. And about half a dozen CBs.

That makes sense. Teddy will pad the stats in the 2nd half! Umm, not exactly. Lock is more like Lock(er). Another guy I think could've been somebody in the right system.

For those of you fortunate enough not to see the Broncos frequently (I live here) ... I hope you get to see Drew Lock. You know how I mentioned that alternate universe where the Broncs selected Josh? You'll see the poor man's Josh. Not quite as big, not quite as athletic, not nearly as big an arm (but still big), but mostly a victim of horrific coaching.

Some imaginative playcalling, young Mr. Shurmur!

So the new Broncos Interim Coach pretty much has to be the Special Teams Coordinator. Whoever that is. It's the only competent unit.

I think we did. I'll have to go back through that wormhole to find out. But I think I see that it was Greg Roman and Lamar Jackson as SuperTyrod. We also brought back Mike Gillislie and he's averaging 6 ypc.