The OtherArena

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5007 Location: LI

There's franchises that can be classified as trainwrecks. And then there are the Browns.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25038103

In the past few days, they've had Manziel volunteer to go to rehab, Josh Gordon suspended for the year, and a possible multi-game suspension in the future. And unlike the Pats, I can see the Browns getting punished. Because they're the Browns.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

New Year, New Thread!

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

This Dez video thing is odd... and probably coming to a head on whether it exists or not:

http://deadspin.com/if-the-dez-bryant-video-exists-well-buy-it-1688021515

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5007 Location: LI

There's been reports of Dallas being leery about giving Dez a big contract. With Ian Rappaort of NFL Media/NFL Network reporting that police were at his house on 6 separate occasions.

http://deadspin.com/records-show-cop-visits-to-dez-bryants-home-were-mostly-1658958475

I still think regardless of what happens, he'll stay with Dallas. After all, they kept a player who killed one of their teammates. Despite the fear that this might have for them, I dont think Dallas will sever ties with him.

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5007 Location: LI

The first big FA signing goes to the Browns who sign Josh mcCown. So Johnny Football will be holding clipboards/tablets this year. And Brian Hoyer will be a QB somewhere else.

This is a loss for the Bills. They needed QB help bad. And McCown would've been an easy starter.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

McCown will be 36 at the start of the season, and has had one good stretch of play in his career: the second half of 2013.

My guess is that the Browns look at his as nothing more than a patch and hope something else turns up. It's basically an indictment of how horrible they think Hoyer and Johnny Football are.

Bob Morris · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2885 Location: New Mexico

They gave McCown $8 million in guarantees. That's a sign they want him to start.

The Bills do need a QB, but it's not worth giving a 36-year-old $8 million in guarantees. They'd actually be better off with Hoyer, and that's no joke.

Bob Morris · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2885 Location: New Mexico

Jay Cutler talk!

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/162747/former-coaches-doubt-bears-can-win-with-jay-cutler

The Bears are stuck with Cutler through 2016. Nobody will want to take that contract off the Bears' hands. Way too much fully guaranteed money for an average QB.

I don't envy what Fox and Gase will have to go through.

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5007 Location: LI

a big big trade will occur next week, with the Eagles trading LeSean Mccoy to the Bills for LB Kiko Alonso.

This might be a win-win for both teams, but in the long run the Eagles could be the winners here. Kiko was out last year, but was a star on the rise before that. Plus he's another Oregon player, where Chip was from. And this could free some more money for the rumored Mariota to Philly trade to happen. Of course also Philly needs an RB now.

Lesean fits the Ground +Pound mold that Rex champions. Even though he's on the decline, he should have a good year. Esp with the unclear QB situation in Buffalo.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

Kiko is coming off an ACL and missed all of last season. He's a guy who was a 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft.

Seems that this was largely about moving McCoy's contract off the books in a way that doesn't take a cap hit. One suspects Chip knows and likes Kiko, and was looking for some return on McCoy. It's possible he would have preferred a 1st or 2nd round pick, but the Trent Richardson deal has killed off the notion of trading 1st round picks for backs. It sounds like McCoy was shopped around elsewhere too. So likely the "return" in the trade is $$$, with Kiko as a flyer if he comes back from the ACL well.

The money doesn't have much to do with chasing Mariota. They're going to have to trade up to get him, and from the 20th pick that's a fair distance to move (say up to the Top 8 or so) unless they think he's going to fall. To move up that far would cost a good deal.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

Barnwell on the trade:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/lesean-mccoy-kiko-alonso-trade-philadelphia-eagles-buffalo-bills

Bob Morris · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2885 Location: New Mexico

Bills follow that up by trading for Matt Cassel.

The Vikings were likely releasing Cassel, so the trade seems to be about getting him before he can talk to other teams.

It's an odd fit for Buffalo, though. I don't think he's the guy you want at the helm of a Greg Roman-run offense.

Clearly Doug Whaley is in "playoffs or bust" mode with these moves. The problem: They're now likely losing Jerry Hughes, who was a big part of the defensive line.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

Also looks like they can limit the hit: $4,150,000 base, $500,000 roster bonus and $100,000 workout bonus. If they signed him, they probably would have had to give him a two-year deal, with a certain amount of signing bonus and the potential for dead money next year if he bombed. This way they can hedge their bets: if he sucks he's gone, if he passable and there are no other options they can extend him, and if he plays his way into being overpriced to extend they can walk away.

tdcheetah · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 7:07 am Post subject:

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5007 Location: LI

With Cassel though, he was with the Pats for years, and Rex is going to pick his brains a lot. That could be a minor factor as well. But with Mccoy's big contract, the odds of Revis reuinting with Rex got smaller.

The Pats freed up money by releasing Vince Wilfork. To perhaps make sure Revis doesnt have reunions with Rex and also the Jets too.

Elsewher, the Giants have been rumored to be interested in Suh. But I wouldn't. Not with whatever contract he'll sign, and his constant suspensions. Plus they just gave the franchise tag to Jason Pierre Paul and I cant see them breaking the bank for two defensive linemen. Big need or not.