Beck Water

But by that same logic, it's impossible to evaluate Burrows with Chase, Higgins, and Boyd not to mention Mixon. Maybe it's impossible to evaluate Tua with Hill, Waddle, Achane, and Mostert. etc etc. These are all QB playing within a system that tries to make their job easier, and with top notch skill players. They still have to make the right reads, choose the correct receiver, and put the ball in the right place while avoiding 'interceptable balls' and mistakes and anyone who thinks that's simple while 3-6 behemoths are chasing you full speed ought to strap one on. It seems to me that you want to re-define "NFL QB" in a way that rules out some very competent, good players. You know, Josh Allen has wide open players at times he doesn't choose to throw to, in favor of a higher degree of difficulty deeper throw.

I can see why it strikes you that way (see what I did? har har) but that wasn't my intent. My point is that you can't lay it out that simply for non-players and inactives. They're going to want to put their hands on an opposing player to keep him from further going after and potentially injuring "one of their own", or to help break up a fight etc. No question that it shouldn't have happened and it crossed a line, I'm just saying I don't think you can boil it down as simply as "if you're not one of the active players dressed for the game, hands off". It's simpler to just say "you don't mix it in and escalate, ever."

Um, no? I don't think any NFL GM has the option to rework a player's contract for "underperforming". Contracts get renegotiated (as far as I know) three ways: 1) the player's salary is converted to signing bonus and amortized over the length of the contract or even beyond. This is called "kicking the can down the road" and the Bills did it with Tre White, Von Miller, etc. 2) The player is owed a substantial salary, none of which is guaranteed, and the "dead money" the team will accrue is minimal if he's cut. (Mitch Morse a few years back). So the player accepts a salary cut in exchange for guaranteeing most or all of the lower salary. 3) A player who retires while he's under contract, in principle, can be asked to repay the unamortized portion of his signing bonus. In practice, players file grievances over this and it's disliked as a practice, so teams seldom seem to request this In 2024, the Bills owe Von $32M in dead money if he's cut, $23M if we keep him. The only relief we're likely to get on that is $1.3M/game if he's suspended, so $7.84M if he's suspended the "minimum" 6 games for DV after the league completes its investigation. Agreed. And don't "bet the rent" on that retirement re-negotiation favorable to the team occurring. It didn't with Eric Wood. It didn't with Andrew Luck. I can't think of a case where a retiring vested veteran did this, actually - I believe there was a LB with SFO who retired before he'd played a down in the league who repaid his signing bonus, but that's about all.

I don't know if I believe that "the game is fixed" in the sense that the NFL says "we want Team Bird to win the game over Team Turd" or the like. I think that the word is out at times to "protect the stars of the game" leading to star QB like Mahomes getting the benefit of the doubt on roughing calls. I also think there may be a mandate to "keep it interesting" by giving the underdog the benefit of the doubt early in the game. I also think individual refs have personal biases that interfere with their judgement. As the saying goes "let a man get a reputation for rising early, and he may sleep 'til noon without changing it". MVS is a 50% catch rate guy. If he were CeeDee Lamb or Tyreek Hill with a >70% catch rate, maybe he gets the call. I also think betting can influence things - I don't think refs are allowed to bet, but what stops their buddy Fred from betting on their behalf and quietly sharing the loot?

But @Simon, all respect for your personal experience but, don't we see all the time coaches putting their hands on players? To stop them running into sideline equipment, to help them up, to keep them on the sideline, to separate them in a developing brawl, etc etc?

I give this a lot more credibility than Benjamin Albright's Broncos-based "insider knowledge"

Purdy is a real QB. He is leading the league in completion % and Y/A, #4 in passing TD, and top 10 in total passing yards and YPG. His TD/INT is >2. He is executing the SF offense as it's designed to be executed and can make enough deep and sideline throws to take advantage of what he's given. Purdy is a real QB, just more in the mold of Brady or Montana than Favre or Rodgers. I remember you. 🧌

I understand the point you're making, but the counterpoint is, they're discussing the calls or no-calls as soon as feasible after they happen, then moving on. The "unnecessary roughness" on Jonathan Owens was called and discussed earlier in the drive, so re-hashing it would look like debating the officiating game-long. Meanwhile, they didn't have a pause to really discuss and replay the no-call DPI with their "officiating expert" before the game ended. If you want agreement that Collinsworth and Co have a narrative and are biased, I absolutely can agree with that - all game long.

If we're going to discuss blatant and obvious officiating mistakes, how about the "personal foul" late hit on Mahomes who was running for the first down marker and contact by Jonathan Owens was clearly initiated prior to him reaching the marker in an attempt to prevent reaching it? Then the clock stoppage when the runner (I think that was the pass to MVS) went out of bounds backwards? If those football moves are correctly officiated, maybe it's 3rd and 1 from the KC 39 and we never get to that no-call PI (which, IMobservation, is often a no-call) My point is if people want to call out mistakes that change the course of the game, need to look at all the mistakes, or even just the mistakes on the final drive.

I mean, they did consult their officiating expert about the phantom late hit that was actually in bounds and a solid football move. I don’t recall them saying the KC player was going backwards. Is it just that they didn’t bring it up at the end that chaps your grits? I don’t think I’ve ever heard commentators recap all the questionable calls or non-calls at the end of the game - wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the NFL has “guidelines” against that for broadcasts. I think it’s gone a bit far for a crush, or even a first date, personally

Eh. There’s a cream cheese-containing buttercream frosting that’s a pretty common frosting and decorating icing. I find it hard to work with but my friend uses it all the time. Her signature cake is white chocolate with white chocolate ganache filling.

I mean, how would you know it’s “silence as usual”? The questions on the officiating take place internally between the team and the league - I’m sure they’re not silent in raising questions there.

Nice replay of 4th and 1 conversion with the OL’s hands in the KC defender’s face

Does it date me to acknowledge I have an unreasonable love for that “what’s in your wallet?” Ad with Santa channeling John Travolta?

Memo to Green Bay: cover the TE

Maybe she’s getting bored with Kelce. Or maybe Simone Biles has taken the shine out of her

That’s kind of my gut reaction. I’m sure there’s confirmation bias at work and it’s an emotional, not a logical, reaction. Similar reaction to Pacheco, Good God.

.but.a sweet old fashioned notion. 🎶🎵 But seriously - to paraphrase something a friend used to say about federal regulations….”These are Laws and Legal Proceedings. You‘re expecting logic and common sense to be involved here. That’s your mistake. That’s where you’re going wrong.”

I’m a little depressed watching the Packers. Jordan Love is taking the quick lateral to the RB when he’s in trouble. The Packers receivers are diving and jumping and coming back and reaching for off-target balls and hanging on to them. On the other hand, it would be nice if the Packers could figure out how to cover Kelce a little better. I think ultimately KC wins this. IF they manage to keep enough players on the field, that is.. When the networks won’t replay an injury you know it’s gruesome

Muppy, You know I love ya, but this “logical thought vacant” crack seems like unintentional irony in this context. Google “does being arrested mean you are charged?” And you will literally turn up dozens of hits explaining that the two are different, and being arrested does not necessarily lead to charges. First hit: “In short, arrests and charges are usually, separate. Generally, police arrest for suspicion of a crime, and prosecutors charge. Not all arrests lead to criminal charges or convictions.” Second hit: “An arrest is typically a detention of an individual by police officers with probable cause; it is not considered to be either (i) sufficient for charging the person with a crime”……”Police do not file charges against you. Instead, a prosecutor reviews the evidence and determines what charges should be filed against you. Sometimes, a prosecutor will ask police to investigate more before filing charges. Other times, the evidence the police gathered is enough.” etc etc

You'd think, but I wouldn't bet a red cent that one of the best defense lawyers money can buy couldn't come up with a 'perfectly logical explanation' for that.

I don't think that's right. A judge needs to find that there's "probable cause" to believe that the crime named in the warrant took place, but charges do not need to be filed prior to arrest. Charges can be filed prior to an arrest but don't have to be. Just probable cause that the crime took place and "whodunit". But I could be wrong too, so I'll shut up now and let people who know more about the legal system talk. Edit: this from ProFootballTalk, implies Von has not, in fact, been charged (and remember Florio, the founder and driver of PFT, is a lawyer)

I believe that would fall under the part of my post you deleted in your response: "But, if your basic point is that prosecutors rarely pursue a case without the alleged victim's cooperation, you're right. It's so much harder to win, so especially if it's minor injuries they tend to let it drop." Exactly. See, we agree. Von has more than enough money to send her on a nice vacation out of the country, incognita, so that she "disappears" like the alleged victim in Greg Hardy's case did.

[my example of a case where a guy got off 1st degree murder using a "consensual sexy times gone wrong" defense for tying his wife up with duct tape and setting the garage where she was tied up on fire) Jury verdict. He was tried for 1st degree murder, but in some manner that allowed the jury to find him "not guilty" of the highest charges but guilty of the lesser (this goes way beyond my level of legal understanding). My point here was that even if there's evidence that Von pushed her, pulled her hair out, and choked her, there's always the "this was a consensual BDSM scene gone too far" defense. If a jury bought it for a woman viciously bound with duct tape including across her mouth then found in a burning garage, they'll buy it here from a handsome personable "nice fella" like Von. Miller's salary this season is league minimum. So his game check is $72,000. He would lose a maximum of $360,000 if he's suspended after the bye. (plus playoff $$ if we get there). But the league doesn't usually suspend quickly. Miller will be paid if he's placed on the "Exempt" list, and Bills roster replacement. If he's suspended the minimum 6 games under the league's DV policy, his salary next season is $17.145M or $0.925M per game plus, pro-rated signing and restructure bonuses of $6.37M or $.354M per game. So he would lose $7.67M in salary and bonuses. My expectation is that the DA will not charge Miller with DV, because if the alleged victim is not cooperating, it opens the case to the "consensual sexy times gone awry" defense, so why even bother? So my prediction is Miller will not go on the Exempt list. The league may still suspend him, but that would place the Bills in a tough spot because they can't operate with his cap space until the suspension is made and the inevitable appeals grind through. Which, I believe, historically happens right before the first games get played. Total suckage for Bills and Bills fans, IMO.

Exactly. I believe the league stated at the time that they would not use the Exempt list without criminal charges...when those weren't forthcoming, it was left ot the team. Watson stating that he would not play for the Texans again and the team keeping him inactive, allowed the NFL that luxury. If it had come to a point where the team was OK, dress, you're up and Watson put his pads and his jersey on, would the NFL have decided that 20+ civil cases might be the equivalent of 1 criminal case? We'll never know. Miller had a warrant out for his arrest, turned himself in, and was released on bond. Will the league place him on the Exempt list? For those of us who don't do this for a living, steps in a criminal case are: 1) investigation - enough evidence exists for probable cause that a crime occurred 2) arrest warrant issued by judge. Subject is arrested by LEO or turns themselves in. 3) Subject is charged with crime after a charging document ('indictment', 'complaint', or 'information' depending upon jurisdiction). If the charges are felonies, a grand jury may be involved (this is required for federal charges) 4) arraignment - the initial court hearing where the defendant formally hears the charges, enters a plea, and future court dates are set 5) discovery - each side discloses evidence to the other 6) trial (may be preceded by plea bargaining and preliminary hearings) (It's well known that the best way to get right info on the internet is to post wrong info, so, I'm certain if I've got it wrong, someone will correct me.) 7) Verdict (can go directly from Step 4 to Step 7 if defendent pleads guilty or Step 5 to Step 7 if, after seeing evidence, a plea bargain is agreed) Miller has completed step 2. A judge issued an arrest warrant, he turned himself in, and he was released on bond. If Miller's case proceeds through Step 3 where he's charged with a crime of DV, I believe the league would put him on the Exempt list, because he is high profile and their publicized NFL/NFLPA Domestic Violence Policy would be loudly and widely criticized as a "paper tiger" applying only to the little guy, if they don't. Previously, the NFL has not suspended players until after Step 7 has played out. But, they have suspended players (Bills own Tyrel Dodson; Panthers/Cowboy's Greg Hardy for two examples) where a guilty plea to a misdemeanor (not involving DV) was made, or where the court case was actually dismissed. If they hadn't restructured, I don't believe they would have been able to make a number of the signings that have contributed this season so 🤷‍♂️