Lurker

Double Ouch!!! "According to a report from Chris Mortensen of ESPN, [Peters and Suggs] may also be at risk of losing money. Both players fit the criteria for being placed on the Non-Football Injury list. Players aren’t entitled to any compensation while on the list, although the report says that the teams aren’t prepared to do anything that drastic. The Eagles have reportedly already “amicably discussed” a salary reduction with Peters and his agent. Per Mortensen, Peters would be subject to the loss of at least the $3.25 million that the team is paying Demetress Bell, who they signed after Peters’ injury."

Saw George W. Bush at a White House press briefing I got invited to as a member of the "canned applause" audience. Stuck out my hand as he was leaving but he just looked blankly at me (to recall if he knew me from some place) and kept on walking. Of all the damn Presidents, I get Cement Head...

And another one bites the dust...

I miss the draft already...

Dream Team 2.0, baby...

Nothing to see here. Leo's just trying to attract some eyeballs, now that he's got his columnist gig...

Ditto. Hopefully, it's just off-season boredom that will go away once camps open...

I wonder if he's kicking himself for not attending the Steelers tryout the week before...

I wonder what the hang time was on those passes...

How the hell does a guy that big use one of these things???

At this point, every draft pick is being talked up by their coaching staffs. It's part of the post-draft afterglow / ticket sales hokey pokey...

He must be busted up that the remake of Hollywood Squares fell through. At this point in his career, he'd be perfect in the Paul Lynde center square role...

We have hijacked the thread, haven't we. Anyway, as I said before, the Narwocki video that's the subject of this thread is a recap of what "others around the league" (scouts, GMs, etc.) have said--NOT his own opinion. Just as what he wrote about Newton was what his league sources were saying about his personality (not his athletic ability) prior to the draft. I'm not sure why this distinction is such a hard thing to get one's arms around...

I have no axe to grind with Newton. But that last link I posted--from a Panthers fan site, no less --hits on exactly the points Nawrocki was eluding to in his profile... Fun reading...

I wasn't just Nawrocki. The line was long before the draft...

Not a bit. If the same or worse can be said about the White House occupant and his opponents on a daily basis, then no, I don't see a problem with Narwocki's opinion of a professional athlete...

Gloria Allred is such a piece of ****...

For it to be defamation, you'd need to prove it hurt him professionally (which it obviously didn't). Opinions are still protected speech. And who's to say it doen't come to pass once he's more fully ensconced in the "NFL Star" cocoon...

That wasn't the whole report, just the summary (although the second half of the 'negatives' throws even more bombs... Positives: Very well-built with big deltoids and a strapping physique. Excellent arm strength — can make difficult throws off-balance while on the move and air out the deep ball, hitting receivers in stride 50 yards downfield. Throws with velocity. Composed in pressure situations and found ways to come through in the clutch. Big, strong, physical runner. Pounds defenders and can push a pile — almost always falls forward. Smooth-striding, fluid-moving athlete. Highly competitive and productive against top Southeastern Conference competition — rose to the occasion against Alabama and Oregon on the biggest of stages. Very savvy — confident, charming and charismatic and can light up a room. Highly competitive and plays with passion. Negatives: Played in a simplified, run-first, dive-option read offense with very basic high-low reads. Worked exclusively out of the gun and was very quick to run at the first flash of coverage. Limited field vision — does not process the passing game. Inconsistent throwing mechanics with a flick delivery — generates all of his power from his upper-body strength and too often arms the ball. Streaky passer with spotty accuracy. Makes his receivers work hard and throws into coverage. Does not spin a tight spiral. Very disingenuous — has a fake smile, comes off as very scripted and has a selfish, me-first makeup. Always knows where the cameras are and plays to them. Has an enormous ego with a sense of entitlement that continually invites trouble and makes him believe he is above the law — does not command respect from teammates and always will struggle to win a locker room. Only a one-year producer. Lacks accountability, focus and trustworthiness — is not punctual, seeks shortcuts and sets a bad example. Immature and has had issues with authority. Not dependable.

Makes me think we'll see more of Jackson and Spiller on the field at the same time this year...

You mean the year he threw ten (count 'em, ten TDs), averaged 157 yards in passing and ran for 281 yards (5.1 YPC)? In which all eight of his wins came against opponents with a combined record of 53-70 (.431 winning percentage)? Or who went 4-4 as a starter in 2010 (with a whopping 139 yards per game in passing and 125 yards rushing)?

Uh...I believe he wasn't referring to his physical abilities (which he correctly assessed BTW), only his perceived personality. I know reading comprehenion's a dying art, but it's eye-opening to see how many posters seem to miss the gist of what Narwocki was saying.

Damnit! Now I've got to clean the coffee off my monitor...

Fighting constantly with Jeff Littman and being brusk with the front office staff (including Linda Bogdan, Ralph's daughter) probably sealed Polian's fate, since Ralph's always been big on "everone getting along." He let Bill announce his own "restructuring" in 1993, as it was probably a painful decision for Ralph. I don't think there was ever any personal animosity between them (unlike with Ralph's ire with Saban)

"The Bills, who signed the former Jets receiver Brad Smith, a college quarterback, specifically for direct-snap plays, used the tactic 21 times, the most in the N.F.L." Forcing Smith to play WR when the injury bug hit probably reduced the number of wildcat plays Chan could use. With a full training camp to refine the mismatches that can be exploited with the formation, I suspect it will still be part of the playbook this year...