Rubes

Yeah, @Billy Claude mentioned Alex Smith earlier, but I didn't remember his story until you mentioned it. That's a really good one.

Cheated how? Not a bad choice, though I don't know if I'd say he achieved the success expected of an 8th overall pick. Ew.

Definitely a good one. But also, that's going back like what, 40 years ago? Any others? That's a good one, I think. That fits the argument since the Bucs were a hot mess back then. Still seems like a rarity, though.

Was he really a failed first rounder?

Since we're almost upon the draft, I thought I'd bring up this annual topic: First rounders are believed, by most, to have the best chance of success in the NFL, on average. But as we all know, the draft is largely a crapshoot, and first rounders fail to live up to expectations all the time (looking at you, Elam). Sometimes we chalk it up to poor player evaluation, or poor player adjustment to the NFL, among other things. In some cases, we also think the specific situation they're drafted into is the cause, whether it's poor coaching, poor team culture, lack of supporting cast, and so on. If that latter point is the case it stands to reason those players could be successful in a different situation, on a different team. I'm wondering how often we see that this is the case with 1st rounders. That is, how many first rounders fail on the teams that drafted them, only to be released or traded to another team to become as successful as originally projected when they were drafted? Is the specific drafting team situation really a thing that has been proven by those who have changed teams? Or is it mostly a convenient excuse? What are some strong examples of first rounders who failed to live up to expectations on their drafting team, and then left to go to another team and achieved the success that eluded them? Does Jerry Hughes fit this? Are there others?

I’m not sure I believe that account. I’ve had near-50 yard line seats (47 yd line) about 30 rows up Bills side with lots of seniority, and I won’t get the option to attend the Experience until the Fall. Until then they won’t tell me what’s available or how much it will be.

For what it's worth, I got a call yesterday from my season ticket rep, who offered to answer any questions I have. I have season tickets in the lower bowl, Bills side, about the 47-yard line, 31 rows up. Pretty great seats. Seniority going back to 1977. He told me my invitation to the Experience would probably not come until the early Fall, but couldn't really predict it. I was hearing summer a little while back, but it sounds like it's being pushed back a bit. He said it could still be pushed back more, he just wasn't sure. Wouldn't tell me anything about PSL pricing, just that I would have the opportunity to get seats "comparable" to what I currently have, which I highly doubt. We'll see...

I feel like I've read this somewhere before...

Maybe he was questioning the part about Diggs being great?

It does, thank you!

Are there rules about how much you can specify for these bumps, or is this a potential way to manipulate the cap to some small degree?

If you read the Athletic article by Tim Graham on McGovern (recognizing that it's behind a paywall), I think you'd be pretty convinced that it's the right move.

Happy for Tre, but truly shocked at that contract. I’m no orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine guy, but I’d be shocked and amazed if Tre comes back from this injury next year, much less this year. Maybe Rams know something about his rehab that the rest of us don’t, but I can’t see it. Good luck to you, Tre.

Not exactly related, but I've always thought it was weirdly ironic that an offense can snap the ball a fraction of a second late, and the game would intentionally be stopped for a couple of minutes of non-action because of a "delay of game".

I'll admit I feel a lot better about him moving to center after reading that.

One could argue that his trade value decreases by the day.

Am I the only one who initially thought the Vikings had traded with us for Hyde?

Whatever makes you feel better.

How many more full injury-free seasons does Tua have to get through before we can drop the "oft-injured" label?

You mean the D that managed to lose to both Mac Jones and Zach Wilson in the same season?

Unrealistic and silly but I do think Von is going to be better this year, and I really really want to see him at full speed opposite Floyd. Pipe dream, though.

Well, I guess that's true for me, too, then...

Damn, that's almost half of my life. That would be fun to make it back for...

Bingo.

Yeah, I meant basically either Thomas or Mitchell as the 2nd tier guys. I agree that Legette and Worthy are tougher to envision being in that group, and that Beane would probably only take them if they drop down to him at 28—unless there's someone else he covets who dropped down to him.