NFL Draft

[Digby]

The lives of NFL players make footballers look like angels.

Even Kyle Walker?

Even Kyle Walker.

And Kyle is at the level of abusing slaves and spreading deadly disease

[switchskier]

Even Kyle Walker?

Even Kyle Walker.

And Kyle is at the level of abusing slaves and spreading deadly disease

Personal favourite story involves Eugene Robinson. One year he was awarded the Bart Starr award as the player who demonstrated outstanding character. He decided to celebrate by getting himself a prostitute, who turned out to be an undercover cop.

[Mellsblue]

49ers at the Giants in week 3.

Totally unbiased history of the Giants v 49ers here:

https://www.giants.com/video/giants-vs- ... le-moments

[switchskier]

49ers at the Giants in week 3.

Totally unbiased history of the Giants v 49ers here:

https://www.giants.com/video/giants-vs- ... le-moments

Thank you for that. Kyle ferking Williams was a memory that I didnt need brought back. They didn't even show the fateful brush of the knee that really let the giants back in when he just needed to run far away from that ball.

Also note that there's no 2002 wild card game in that little compilation?

Listened to an interesting podcast earlier. Brief synopsis is that multiple teams are banking on the salary cap increasing for 2022, as it was expected to do. However the cap is set based on how much teams in the league make. If games are disrupted or run without live crowds then the teams make less money and the overall league salary cap is lower.

Could mean that later this year a bunch of veterans will be offloaded as teams will suddenly be unable to afford their contexts and stay under the cap.

[Mellsblue]

49ers at the Giants in week 3.

Totally unbiased history of the Giants v 49ers here:

https://www.giants.com/video/giants-vs- ... le-moments

Thank you for that. Kyle ferking Williams was a memory that I didnt need brought back. They didn't even show the fateful brush of the knee that really let the giants back in when he just needed to run far away from that ball.

Also note that there's no 2002 wild card game in that little compilation?

Listened to an interesting podcast earlier. Brief synopsis is that multiple teams are banking on the salary cap increasing for 2022, as it was expected to do. However the cap is set based on how much teams in the league make. If games are disrupted or run without live crowds then the teams make less money and the overall league salary cap is lower.

Could mean that later this year a bunch of veterans will be offloaded as teams will suddenly be unable to afford their contexts and stay under the cap.

Yep. Heard similar. It will interesting what players such a Dak and the tagged players do. Hold out too long and you could shoot yourself in the foot/wallet.

[Mellsblue]

Even Kyle Walker.

And Kyle is at the level of abusing slaves and spreading deadly disease

Personal favourite story involves Eugene Robinson. One year he was awarded the Bart Starr award as the player who demonstrated outstanding character. He decided to celebrate by getting himself a prostitute, who turned out to be an undercover cop.

So....Giants’ cornerback DeAndre Baker, late first round pick in 2019, has an arrest warrant out for four counts of armed robbery. Supposedly, he held up people at a bbq, to which he was invited, at gunpoint for $12k cash and $60k in watches. You’d think a $10mil contract would be enough money for anyone.

[switchskier]

And Kyle is at the level of abusing slaves and spreading deadly disease

Personal favourite story involves Eugene Robinson. One year he was awarded the Bart Starr award as the player who demonstrated outstanding character. He decided to celebrate by getting himself a prostitute, who turned out to be an undercover cop.

So....Giants’ cornerback DeAndre Baker, late first round pick in 2019, has an arrest warrant out for four counts of armed robbery. Supposedly, he held up people at a bbq, to which he was invited, at gunpoint for $12k cash and $60k in watches. You’d think a $10mil contract would be enough money for anyone.

Both him and Quinton Dunbar apparently. Weird story allround.

Definitely leaves the Seahawks short at corner of there's a suspension coming (great) but less sure about the Giants.

Seen this profile/interview with Sammy Watkins? Very different.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndicatio ... s.amp.html

[Mellsblue]

Personal favourite story involves Eugene Robinson. One year he was awarded the Bart Starr award as the player who demonstrated outstanding character. He decided to celebrate by getting himself a prostitute, who turned out to be an undercover cop.

So....Giants’ cornerback DeAndre Baker, late first round pick in 2019, has an arrest warrant out for four counts of armed robbery. Supposedly, he held up people at a bbq, to which he was invited, at gunpoint for $12k cash and $60k in watches. You’d think a $10mil contract would be enough money for anyone.

Both him and Quinton Dunbar apparently. Weird story allround.

Definitely leaves the Seahawks short at corner of there's a suspension coming (great) but less sure about the Giants.

Seen this profile/interview with Sammy Watkins? Very different.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndicatio ... s.amp.html

Leaves us up s**t creek with the next cab off the rank a third round supplemental draft pick from 2018 (Giants graded him as worthy of second round) but he’s only managed a handful of games in two seasons, with all of 2018 on IR the first half of last season on IR and the last three games out injured. The rest are day three players or udfa.
One of the Giants journo Twitter accounts made the very good point that this time last year one of Baker’s fellow cornerbacks and 2019 draft picks was lying in hospital recovering from a gunshot wound and seeing his best mate killed in the same incident. That was a case of wrong place wrong time.
Given the weight Gettleman and Judge both place on “high character players” and the above, I don’t see how he comes back even if he gets off somehow, other than mistaken identity. We’ve been linked with Logan Ryan as a potential replacement which I’d be more than happy with.

[Mellsblue]

Seen this profile/interview with Sammy Watkins? Very different.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndicatio ... s.amp.html

The NFL’s answer to Jonny May.

[cashead]

What about this forum? Do we need your approval to post in here as well?

[switchskier]

So....Giants’ cornerback DeAndre Baker, late first round pick in 2019, has an arrest warrant out for four counts of armed robbery. Supposedly, he held up people at a bbq, to which he was invited, at gunpoint for $12k cash and $60k in watches. You’d think a $10mil contract would be enough money for anyone.

Both him and Quinton Dunbar apparently. Weird story allround.

Definitely leaves the Seahawks short at corner of there's a suspension coming (great) but less sure about the Giants.

Seen this profile/interview with Sammy Watkins? Very different.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndicatio ... s.amp.html

Leaves us up s**t creek with the next cab off the rank a third round supplemental draft pick from 2018 (Giants graded him as worthy of second round) but he’s only managed a handful of games in two seasons, with all of 2018 on IR the first half of last season on IR and the last three games out injured. The rest are day three players or udfa.
One of the Giants journo Twitter accounts made the very good point that this time last year one of Baker’s fellow cornerbacks and 2019 draft picks was lying in hospital recovering from a gunshot wound and seeing his best mate killed in the same incident. That was a case of wrong place wrong time.
Given the weight Gettleman and Judge both place on “high character players” and the above, I don’t see how he comes back even if he gets off somehow, other than mistaken identity. We’ve been linked with Logan Ryan as a potential replacement which I’d be more than happy with.

So Baker has turned himself in, maintaining he's innocent, Dunbar is going for trial by media and Washington receiver Latimer has now been arrested for assault. Lockdown has been going well.

[Mellsblue]

Both him and Quinton Dunbar apparently. Weird story allround.

Definitely leaves the Seahawks short at corner of there's a suspension coming (great) but less sure about the Giants.

Seen this profile/interview with Sammy Watkins? Very different.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndicatio ... s.amp.html

Leaves us up s**t creek with the next cab off the rank a third round supplemental draft pick from 2018 (Giants graded him as worthy of second round) but he’s only managed a handful of games in two seasons, with all of 2018 on IR the first half of last season on IR and the last three games out injured. The rest are day three players or udfa.
One of the Giants journo Twitter accounts made the very good point that this time last year one of Baker’s fellow cornerbacks and 2019 draft picks was lying in hospital recovering from a gunshot wound and seeing his best mate killed in the same incident. That was a case of wrong place wrong time.
Given the weight Gettleman and Judge both place on “high character players” and the above, I don’t see how he comes back even if he gets off somehow, other than mistaken identity. We’ve been linked with Logan Ryan as a potential replacement which I’d be more than happy with.

So Baker has turned himself in, maintaining he's innocent, Dunbar is going for trial by media and Washington receiver Latimer has now been arrested for assault. Lockdown has been going well.

Let’s just hope someone is keeping an eye on Tyreek Hill.

[Mellsblue]

a) I’ve just realised that Redskins wide receiver Latimer is Cody Latimer who started last season with the Giants. Given Gettleman’s statement that he only wanted ‘high character players’ in the locker room this is another bad look. Latimer was released for on, not off, field reasons.
b) In an attempt to outdo his 2019 first round draft buddy, Ed Oliver has been arrested for drink driving and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

[Mellsblue]

Baker and Dunbar pleading not guilt to all charges. According to his lawyer, a night in the cells has turned Baker from a very naughty boy in to the messiah.

[Mellsblue]

This brought a smile to my face:

[switchskier]

This brought a smile to my face:

Loved seeing Frank Gore psyçing him up before his first action. Don't think that he's going to make it though with the Bills drafting another running back in the third round this year. He just made the transition a bit too late and in hindsight Buffalo wasn't the right team with the importance they place on running backs picking up blocks to allow Allen to run.

One of the things I love about the NFL is the amount of data that you can get into. Not sure that Mells is going to like this chart though

[Mellsblue]

Meh. It’s like telling a homeless person their cardboard box isn’t up to scratch.

[Mellsblue]

Thoughts on 4th & 15 possibly replacing the onside kick.
Personally, I think it’ll be more exciting for fans but will certainly punish some teams and favour others without them making huge changes. It will certainly benefit the likes of the Chiefs with track team receivers and a QB like Mahomes. Not so much the teams with a more prosaic QB and more emphasis on a running game,
Can’t see the Giants going for it. Second year QB with questionable pocket presence who thrives in getting the ball out quickly and a special teams HC in a team whose special teams was, by far and away, their best unit last year.

[Big D]

Loved seeing Frank Gore psyçing him up before his first action. Don't think that he's going to make it though with the Bills drafting another running back in the third round this year. He just made the transition a bit too late and in hindsight Buffalo wasn't the right team with the importance they place on running backs picking up blocks to allow Allen to run.

One of the things I love about the NFL is the amount of data that you can get into. Not sure that Mells is going to like this chart though

Of the 4 options Buffalo was by far the best landing spot for him. The Pats don't really give a monkeys about their backs and the Jets and Dolphins were dumpster fires.

At Buffalo he got to sit behind an experienced running back who is by all accounts happy to share his experience and the Bills have one of the better environments in the league. His inability to block isn't why he was placed on the practice squad, Singletary isn't especially good at blocking and often on designed QB runs they would put their blocking TEs out there. They took Wade and then basically drafted a better, younger more experienced version of him in Singletary. Both are 5ft 7 or 8 on their tip toes.

The deck is stacked against international players through that pathway system. Not only are they mostly starting from having played no or little American football, they are given a protected 11th spot on the practice squad only to be used for pathway players. So unless you are going to play them rather than stash on your roster it makes sense to punt them to the PS. IIRC only the guy at the Pats who is a full back played any games last year.

[Mellsblue]

The NCLeast are the IPP teams this year. The Giants have a Belgian running back who has been tearing up the German league. He also has an amazing name - Sandro Platzgummer. Given his highlights, athletically he doesn’t look a patch on Wade.
Which got me to thinking......I wonder if Wade would’ve been better off if he’d had the luck to be with the Giants last year. Learning off Barkley in the main but given he missed 5/6 and the dearth of other option, Wade may have seen some meaningful game time and certainly played a bigger part in practice. As you said, it’s already an uphill battle and where you get placed is v important. I don’t understand why the NFL don’t place the IPP players in the most advantageous situation.
That said, by all accounts, the Bills is a great place for players to improve. It’s also my brother’s favourite US city.....so there’s that. He’s also getting over six figures to live out his dream.....

[switchskier]

A couple of IPP players have made it. There was a defensive end who played regular season snaps for Carolina last year and the eagles signed a 21 year old rugby league player to a four year contract to play OT before he went on injured reserve.

Am I right in thinking that, once an IPP player clears wavers then he can't be signed by a different team until the next season? Can understand teams not taking a risk on Wade at the start of the season, when everyone is fit, but there always a couple of teams that run out of running backs throughout the year.

[Mellsblue]

Am I right in thinking that, once an IPP player clears wavers then he can't be signed by a different team until the next season?

I think so but isn’t the extra IPP squad place only for one season?

[Big D]

I wonder if Wade would’ve been better off if he’d had the luck to be with the Giants last year. Learning off Barkley in the main but given he missed 5/6 and the dearth of other option, Wade may have seen some meaningful game time and certainly played a bigger part in practice. As you said, it’s already an uphill battle and where you get placed is v important. I don’t understand why the NFL don’t place the IPP players in the most advantageous situation.

Perhaps but he would have to have been on the roster at the start of the season or as part of the normal 10 man PS. That 11th spot is a locked in for the season type deal.

A couple of IPP players have made it. There was a defensive end who played regular season snaps for Carolina last year and the eagles signed a 21 year old rugby league player to a four year contract to play OT before he went on injured reserve.

Am I right in thinking that, once an IPP player clears wavers then he can't be signed by a different team until the next season? Can understand teams not taking a risk on Wade at the start of the season, when everyone is fit, but there always a couple of teams that run out of running backs throughout the year.

Yeah, Obada had at least played Britball iirc. Mailata is a freak, isn't he like 6ft 7 and 350lbs+?

IIRC they can be signed but it takes up a full roster/practice squad spot. He is hard to really scout as he was mostly playing 2nd/3rd string players during the preseason.

He is at a massive disadvantage to the likes of Obada, Mailata, Christian Scotland-Williamson who I think is on the books of Steelers and Gray was at the Falcons because of his age and position. Running backs below the top couple of tiers are brought in and cut a lot more than perhaps they were a few years ago. Defensive end, offensive tackle and TE are positions that people are always looking for good options in so coaches will invest a lot of time in them. Wade is already 29 so realistically wont have that long in the league even if he makes it.

As a Bills fan I hope he does, but they hype from some of the Bills fans just from plays v 2nd and 3rd string (and worse) players is a little out of hand IMO.

Will be interesting to see if Gray gets picked up by another team.

[switchskier]

I wonder if Wade would’ve been better off if he’d had the luck to be with the Giants last year. Learning off Barkley in the main but given he missed 5/6 and the dearth of other option, Wade may have seen some meaningful game time and certainly played a bigger part in practice. As you said, it’s already an uphill battle and where you get placed is v important. I don’t understand why the NFL don’t place the IPP players in the most advantageous situation.

Perhaps but he would have to have been on the roster at the start of the season or as part of the normal 10 man PS. That 11th spot is a locked in for the season type deal.

A couple of IPP players have made it. There was a defensive end who played regular season snaps for Carolina last year and the eagles signed a 21 year old rugby league player to a four year contract to play OT before he went on injured reserve.

Am I right in thinking that, once an IPP player clears wavers then he can't be signed by a different team until the next season? Can understand teams not taking a risk on Wade at the start of the season, when everyone is fit, but there always a couple of teams that run out of running backs throughout the year.

Yeah, Obada had at least played Britball iirc. Mailata is a freak, isn't he like 6ft 7 and 350lbs+?

IIRC they can be signed but it takes up a full roster/practice squad spot. He is hard to really scout as he was mostly playing 2nd/3rd string players during the preseason.

He is at a massive disadvantage to the likes of Obada, Mailata, Christian Scotland-Williamson who I think is on the books of Steelers and Gray was at the Falcons because of his age and position. Running backs below the top couple of tiers are brought in and cut a lot more than perhaps they were a few years ago. Defensive end, offensive tackle and TE are positions that people are always looking for good options in so coaches will invest a lot of time in them. Wade is already 29 so realistically wont have that long in the league even if he makes it.

As a Bills fan I hope he does, but they hype from some of the Bills fans just from plays v 2nd and 3rd string (and worse) players is a little out of hand IMO.

Will be interesting to see if Gray gets picked up by another team.

Yeah, I agree that Wade left it too late. He still has the speed and burst to play a season but needs his opportunity now, which is why the IPP rule that he couldn't be signed off the practice squad actually hurt him. There was probably more chance that someone with injury issues last year took a chance on him than now.

Mailata is definitely a physical freak. can't wait to see of he works out. But then so was Okorye and he couldn't get there despite having Tomsula as his position coach.

Must be optimistic as a Bills fan though? My dark horse to go all the way this year of Allen continues his growth, though I think that they overpaid for Diggs. Could have used those picks to move up and get more potential on a rookie contract.

[Big D]

Never optimistic as a Bills fan

The Diggs trade was ok given the situation I think. With off season activities limited and the Bills being in their window to make their move I'm not sure we could rely on a rookie receiver. I'm not a huge Diggs fan but he will demand the attention of defences and that should help Brown, Knox, Beasley etc.

Most of the pieces are good enough, up to Allen to become more consistent. This and next year is time for him to do something or we might be looking for a QB.