RLflutie7

I just read a story from yahoo that says track officals at IMS (Indy Motor Speedway) say that they are extremely disappointed that 110,000 fans did not show up and buy tickets for the Brickyard 400. They now are saying that they'll lower ticket prices by 25 percent on some seats. Three thoughts: 1. I think this is a trend that will start sweeping across all sports. 2. Sports people never saw this coming. 3. Keep lowering ticket prices because they don't match income levels and companies are no longer going to buy them.

Just happened to check out the stadiumwall on my phone and noticed something about DF. Flutie was drafted by the LA Rams in the 11th round. Flutie signed a 5-year deal with the NJ Generals before the 1985 draft, which killed his draft value. I think it's the biggest mistake Flutie made. If he would have waited for the NFL draft he could have made the decision about which league to go to. But Trump put the full court press on him to sign now or never. I guess the feeling in the NFL was why waste a third-rounder on a guy that wasn't going to be available. Although the NFL was expecting the USFL to fold, Flutie's draft status was not that high to begin with and he was rated as a third-rounder by some and higher by others. I think the Bears gave the Rams a fifth rounder for Flutie and they might have also gave a conditional pick which ended up being a third round pick. The deal was made a couple of minutes before the trading deadline in 1986, which was in late October. McMahon was injured. The Bears traded Flutie to the NE Pats during the NFL players strike in 1987. Flutie had to agree to cross the picket line. Something that Joe Montana also did. A good source of info on Flutie's career can be found on SIVault.com. Also: Art Modell of the Cleveland Browns wanted to draft Flutie No. 1 in the draft but the GM Ernie A. wanted Bernie Kosar.

I heard Mayock say that in Path to the Draft and that's an over the top number. He's by far the best player in round 1. The Bills did the best in round one.

Buffalo has one quality running back. The Bills have two now. I think Lynch is overrated. The Bills did themselves right. Not another "shutdown corner".

I think Buffalo did the best in round 1. I think the biggest need in Buffalo was a running back. I know that doesn't seem the case here on this board, but I can't help but think Lynch is way overrated. I thought Cleveland or KC should have drafted Spiller and he wouldn't be there, but he was. Cleveland needs a running back badly and every draft publication said Spiller was the best. KC has an ok RB, but they could have really improved their offense with this guy. Buffalo did themselves well. They didn't waste a pick on another DB. I see many teams did. Did San Fran make the playoffs with Clements?

I think the Cards might have taken him too. Tebow, with his questionable arm, is better off in the thin air of Denver. Plus he gets to go to San Diego and Oakland once each per year. If he's in Buffalo, I think the wind knocks the ball down too much.

I think you summed this up well. It seems really risky to me to do what they did. I think they almost tried to outsmart themselves and maybe that's what Buffalo did too. I think it's better to take the guy you really want and don't worry about what people will say. Teams didn't want to reach for Tebow so they played this litlle game for him. Buffalo could have had Tebow at #9 but they wanted the running back too. There's other QBs available and there are some real quality guys at the QB position.

Me neither and I don't like the pick of Tebow but I'll support it for now.

First off, I didn't want him. And I view him as a third-round selection. I think he'd make a good utility player but that's not what the Broncos took him for. Right now, he's not ready. His numbers look great in college and he's a first class person, but he's not ready to start. The Broncos out maneuvered the Bills to get Tebow in the first round and I don't think it's a good move. But it's what I've asked for. I want my team to take the QBs and RBs first while they try to rebuild, rather than waste time with DBs and kickers. Last year we got the RB. This year we got the QB. He's our guy and I'll support him, but I'd rather have had a Colt McCoy. Tebow's numbers helped him. He's such a big kid at 240 lbs, it's no wonder why NFL teams are going to jump at him. That whole thing about a bad release gets thrown out the window when a guy is 240 lbs.

He does have a good eye for RB talent.

Mike Shanahan is showing the NFL how to build a team that has fallen on hard times and he's proving it with his rebuilding job in DC. Take note NFL. You don't build a team with DBs and Kickers and WRs like the Raiders like to do. It's refreshing to see a coach fix the real problems rather toy with stupid ideas like "shut down" corners. The first thing Mike did was fix the QB position: Donovan McNabb and Rex Grossman. Both guys have gone to the Superbowl and I wouldn't be surprised if the Redskins drafted a kid also. McNabb is the starter and Grossman will play if McNabb doesn't do well. They still have Jason Campbell for trade bait and the have a young guy in Colt Brennan. Mike added Larry Johnson and Willie Parker even though Clinton Portis is a good running back. Plus Mike signed Ryan Torain and I knew he'd do that. I was waiting for it. Torain's only played in one NFL game, but he looked good in his one half of play before he got injured. I wouldn't be surprised if Torain ends up the starter in Washington. Mike also has PJ Hill, Anthony Alridge and Darrel Young on the roster and Mike will probably take a running back in the draft or have several free agents. I'm sick of NFL teams not having enough RBs and teams thinking they only need to replace one guy. As far as the Bills are concerned they need a QB and RBs and hopefully for the Bills fans no DBs.

I think the NFL draft is a little overrated. Most players don't last that long and calling some of these guys a bust is a stretch.

As usual, someone makes my point better than I do. The Broncos beat writer made it seem like a POSITIVE thing that one of the bright spots on Denver's team was the kicker. I'm a Bronco fan, and I never want to hear that. I want to hear about great QBs and RBs and DL. The core of a team, not some fancy pants DB and kicker. I'm going to make another thread about this so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle, but think about what Mike Shanahan did with the Redskins. He brought in QBs and RBs to build his team. He didn't go out and sign the most expensive DB and draft a bleeping kicker in the first round, something the Raiders like to do. Everyone here knows I can't stand McNabb, but he did play in the Superbowl and so did Rex Grossman. And don't think McNabb won't be benched if he plays bad. Mike's attitude is "prove it".

I'll trade you Quinn for either one of your two.

When the beat writer for an NFL team starts talking about how good the kicker is and how good the team's secondary is, you know your team is in trouble. I've never seen this team so low before. They got rid of their franchise QB, traded their best receiver, got rid of their best running back Peyton Hillis (my favorite Denver Bronco) and got rid of their defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. They brought in two half butt QBs in Orton and Quinn. The only good thing Denver has done is draft the running back. But you need more than one running back to make things go.

Jack Lambert smoked. Not pot. But his did smoke cigs.

I couldn't agree more. He had one bad year and everyone hates him. Just one bad year! And his teammates are speaking the truth. He had one bad half-year, according to Deangelo Williams. Actually, Delhomme is two years post surgery. He returned to lead the team to a 12-4 record after he hurt his elbow in Atlanta. And when he hurt his elbow, he had 9 TD passes in the first three games that year. I think the biggest problem is Delhomme lost his self confidence and he lost his accuracy and in Cleveland he'll probably regain his form for a couple of years and give Cleveland a chance to compete for the playoffs. They'll probably draft a QB and let Delhomme run the team until the new guy is ready.

And he's been very stupid according to reports. The girl is said to be 20. What was she doing in a bar and drinking? Why did Ben want to be around a girl who wasn't of legal age to drink? Big Ben is 28 years-old and he's hanging around a college bar with underage drinking going on? Ben went "in the VIP" with a girl that couldn't even drink? Unbelieveable if true. Very stupid indeed.

I do think race is an issue because Ben's actions, according to witnesses, were aggressive. And I think if a black player did this it would have been getting more aggressive media coverage. I think the tame media coverage comes from the fact that black males commit more violent crime then white males. So maybe the media coverage is different from that perspective. Ben is white and the media doesn't know what to make of the case yet.

Actually, this guy is a good athlete who has been stuck at special teams. I thought he could get some things done at WR but he has never really been given a chance. Money wise, he's had a good career. Seven years in the league is pretty good.

They touched on it in the Charlotte Observer. A writer there thinks it's BS to cut a guy for money in an uncapped year. Some reader responded that they do save some money. He was owed a large bonus too. I don't know what to think. I hope someone jumps on him to teach Carolina a lesson. I hope they don't go after Vick, but I think they might. He said he likes their uniforms and I must admit they are great. Best uniform in the league.

Thanks man. Makes me feel good about the guy I love to watch. I can't get Carolina. I know Fox loves the guy. I don't know. What's the deal? The owner's kids got pushed out of the running the team (by Dad). I think that has something to do with it. The guy's a winner. I have four of his jerseys.

"Jake's Flakes" sounds good to me.

I just got the news that Jake Delhomme just got released by the Panthers and I went to the Charlotte newspaper site and they said it was a surprise move. If there was ever a guy like Flutie, it's Jake Delhomme. I've been watching Panther games for a few years now and Jake is the real deal. Man, can he throw the long ball. He had some great years for Carolina and John Fox loves the guy. Besides the Superbowl, the Panthers also went to two NFC Championship games. A lot of people forget that. I've read some other posts that Jake lost his arm strength and accuracy since his Tommy John surgery, but I don't think that's entirely the case. The Panthers got real conservative with the game plan when Jake returned from surgery and he didn't throw the ball that much when the Panthers went 12-4. Then he had a terrible playoff game and everyone turned on him. He lost his confidence and had some pretty bad games the following year. But, like Kurt Warner, if a coach will let Jake do his thing again, he can lead a team to the playoffs and he can be successful again in the passing game. I really love this guy like Flutie and I'd hate to see him retire. Kurt Warner and Delhomme have kept me excited about the NFL the past few years and now one is gone and the other needs a new team. How about it Buffalo? Need a Delhomme. Keep an open mind. I'd take him in Denver in a second.

This is shocking news to me. This guy is a great back and he still has a lot left. Six or 7 teams will bid for his services.