NFL offseason thread 2009

[Flames24Rulz]

Preseason football is the worst thing in the world.

 

Spring training is far worse.

[Splendid_Splinter]

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2009/08/post_17.html

 

Top draft pick Malcolm Jenkins has agreed to terms on a five-year year contract with the New Orleans Saints and is expected to report to training camp Monday, NFL sources confirmed Sunday night.

 

The agreement ends the cornerback's 10-day contract dispute, the longest by a Saints rookie this decade. The previous longest had been eight days by running back Deuce McAllister in 2001 and receiver Devery Henderson in 2004.

 

Terms of the contract were not disclosed. But it is believed to be worth approximately $19 million with guarantees around $11 million and includes a $4.3 million escalator clause in the last year.

 

Any of you guys who follow that Yankee conference know anything about Jenkins?

Malcolm Jenkins Scouting Report

 

The link should have all the information you need.

 

I've read his scouting reports before. I just want to know the opinion of people who watched him for years.

In that case, after following the Big Ten for most of his career, I am glad that the Packers did not draft him with the ninth pick in the draft. He is too slow to be anything more than a slightly above average cornerback, and he is not strong enough to be an elite safety. He is the perfect 'tweener defensive back. The silver lining for Saints fans is that as long as Gregg Williams is defensive coordinator the team will run a system that plays to Jenkins' strengths. Other than that, the Saints probably should have traded down and drafted Vontae Davis.

Edited August 11, 2009 by Splendid_Splinter

[SouthSideRyan]

Preseason football is the worst thing in the world.

 

Spring training is far worse.

 

Not even [expletive] close.

[Flames24Rulz]

Preseason football is the worst thing in the world.

 

Spring training is far worse.

 

Not even [expletive] close.

 

"Agree to disagree."

[David]

I'm with Flames... ST baseball is far worse. Not even close.

[David]

Research shows Marino should be Comeback King

 

While I was immersed in Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend in Canton, Ohio, a few items I normally would have blogged about didn't get addressed.

 

Here's one.

 

Fittingly, it rewrites NFL history.

 

Mike Tanier of "The Fifth Down" blog at NYTimes.com directed us to some fascinating research performed by Scott Kacsmar at Pro-football-reference.com.

 

What Kacsmar recently discovered is that John Elway's distinction as the greatest fourth-quarter comeback quarterback of all-time is a myth.

 

The honor belongs to Dan Marino.

 

It was so often referenced that Elway conducted 47 fourth-quarterback comebacks. Problem is, comebacks aren't an official NFL stat. Kacsmar found that teams defined a fourth-quarterback comeback differently. The Denver Broncos were liberal with their interpretation, while the Miami Dolphins were conservative.

 

The Broncos gave Elway credit for a fourth-quarter comeback if they went into the fourth quarter tied and then pulled ahead. Included in that oft-referred to 47 was a game that ended in a push.

 

The Dolphins, meanwhile, considered only games in which Marino took the field in the fourth quarter while behind and he engineered a winning drive.

 

Kacsmar standardized a definition and crunched the data again.

 

Final tally: Marino 36, Elway 34.

 

If you're into stats and historical data, I recommend clicking on the links to Kacsmar's research for other intriguing info. His analysis shows Johnny Unitas also had more fourth-quarter comebacks than Elway.

 

Around the AFC East, Kacsmar has New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady down for 20 (Drew Bledsoe finished with 24) and Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington down for seven so far.

 

 

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-10-105/Research-shows-Marino-should-be-Comeback-King.html

[Banedon]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-10-105/Research-shows-Marino-should-be-Comeback-King.html

 

I hope this gets posted over on broncosforum.com. I've been lurking there a lot since the Cutler trade. :P

[Mark Priors Calves]

I'm with Flames... ST baseball is far worse. Not even close.

At least preseason football doesn't have players who have been removed from the game running wind sprints in the outfield as the game is going on.

[Soul]

I'm with Flames... ST baseball is far worse. Not even close.

 

Unless you're there. Because you can sort of bounce between the camps, hang out at the practice fields, etc. etc. It's a fun little winter vacation.

 

I think ST baseball is a better trip than TC football, just because of how they have it set up.

[David]

I'm with Flames... ST baseball is far worse. Not even close.

At least preseason football doesn't have players who have been removed from the game running wind sprints in the outfield as the game is going on.

 

 

And at the ends of the games you get to watch rookies who will actually be on the team and often wind up being starters and/or significant contributors... I don't have any idea what to make of ST baseball performance (besides nothing) and it's easier to eye test football.

[Guest]

I like checking out the younger minor leaguers late in ST games plus checking out the actual minor league camp at Fitch.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm with Flames... ST baseball is far worse. Not even close.

At least preseason football doesn't have players who have been removed from the game running wind sprints in the outfield as the game is going on.

 

 

And at the ends of the games you get to watch rookies who will actually be on the team and often wind up being starters and/or significant contributors... I don't have any idea what to make of ST baseball performance (besides nothing) and it's easier to eye test football.

 

Yeah it's riveting watching those guys compete to be the 3rd down lineman on the punt team. At least the ST guys might become something some day. The 2nd half of presseason football is horrible football played by guys who will never do anything anywhere.

 

And that's without getting into the sportsradio buffoons that swear by this stupid [expletive].

[David]

I fail to see the difference between the guys playing the ends of exhibition football games and those playing the ends of ST baseball games, especially in baseball's favor.

 

Plenty of 1st, 2nd and 3rd round rookies play in the second half of the football games...guys who often contribute significantly in their first seasons... it's not just roster filler/fringe guys. And like I said, the eye test means a lot more in football than it does in baseball. Speed is speed. Hands are hands. I'll get to see what Johnny Knox looks like running a route and catching a pass and it can actually tell me a little bit about him (maybe not much, but more than seeing minor league baseball players hit in tough fielding conditions against a mix of bad old players, fringe prospects, career minor leaguers, and some actual prospects). They may be up against crap competition, but athleticism and physical tools actually mean something in football and you can get an idea of what some of those draft picks can do in these games.

 

Granted, I don't feel all that strongly about this, as I rarely can manage to watch full games of either, but if I had to watch one of the two all the way through, it would be football, hands down.

[David]

Maybe I have enjoyed it more than fans of other teams because the Bears seem to (not really sure if it's true or not, but it does get me excited to see some of those players) have more later round players turn into useful and even great players. *shrug*

[Banedon]

If you were into the minor leagues as much as many on this site are, I can see how you would really enjoy ST, but I'm going to guess that the average fan couldn't name more than one or two minor league players in their home team's system.

[OleMissCub]

and most NFL fans can name the guys who play the majority of preseason games?

[Banedon]

and most NFL fans can name the guys who play the majority of preseason games?

 

I suppose not...I guess my point is that football the focus is who will or won't make the team. In baseball, it's not just about that. It's about trying out for different levels of the minor league system, which a lot of fans just don't care about.

 

Baseball has a much, much larger system of player development that is in play. There's nothing wrong with that, it just doesn't make for compelling viewing, imo.

 

But for those on the site that are into the minor leagues a lot, then obviously that makes a difference. I just don't think for the average fan that is the case.

[Keener98]

and most NFL fans can name the guys who play the majority of preseason games?

 

Id guess more could name the football guys than they could name the minor leaguers who play late in spring training games. With college football on every Saturday, and very popular, and the NFL draft being broadcast on TV, Id say they are much more known than the minor leaguers.

[David]

BJ Raji has left the Green Bay area

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/52995532.html

[Soul]

Each day that goes by increases the chance that the Bears will face a weak sister @ NT come opening day, so this is a good thing from my perspective. Hope he stays gone :)

[shnsajax]

Lawrence Phillips, he doesn't deserve his own thread.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4392900

[Flames24Rulz]

Each day that goes by increases the chance that the Bears will face a weak sister @ NT come opening day, so this is a good thing from my perspective. Hope he stays gone :)

 

He's a nose tackle so it's not like he's going to learn much. Basically, he's going to have a month to get ready for opening day. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't worried but if he signs within the next week, I don't think it'll be that big of a deal.

[Soul]

Each day that goes by increases the chance that the Bears will face a weak sister @ NT come opening day, so this is a good thing from my perspective. Hope he stays gone :)

 

He's a nose tackle so it's not like he's going to learn much. Basically, he's going to have a month to get ready for opening day. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't worried but if he signs within the next week, I don't think it'll be that big of a deal.

 

If he doesn't get back soon, I could definitely see McCarthy holding him out for the first couple games. But I think you're right. If he's back in the next week, I think he can catch up enough to be in there. Any longer than that and it starts to get dicey.

[Warpticon]

Research shows Marino should be Comeback King

 

While I was immersed in Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend in Canton, Ohio, a few items I normally would have blogged about didn't get addressed.

 

Here's one.

 

Fittingly, it rewrites NFL history.

 

Mike Tanier of "The Fifth Down" blog at NYTimes.com directed us to some fascinating research performed by Scott Kacsmar at Pro-football-reference.com.

 

What Kacsmar recently discovered is that John Elway's distinction as the greatest fourth-quarter comeback quarterback of all-time is a myth.

 

The honor belongs to Dan Marino.

 

It was so often referenced that Elway conducted 47 fourth-quarterback comebacks. Problem is, comebacks aren't an official NFL stat. Kacsmar found that teams defined a fourth-quarterback comeback differently. The Denver Broncos were liberal with their interpretation, while the Miami Dolphins were conservative.

 

The Broncos gave Elway credit for a fourth-quarter comeback if they went into the fourth quarter tied and then pulled ahead. Included in that oft-referred to 47 was a game that ended in a push.

 

The Dolphins, meanwhile, considered only games in which Marino took the field in the fourth quarter while behind and he engineered a winning drive.

 

Kacsmar standardized a definition and crunched the data again.

 

Final tally: Marino 36, Elway 34.

 

If you're into stats and historical data, I recommend clicking on the links to Kacsmar's research for other intriguing info. His analysis shows Johnny Unitas also had more fourth-quarter comebacks than Elway.

 

Around the AFC East, Kacsmar has New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady down for 20 (Drew Bledsoe finished with 24) and Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington down for seven so far.

 

 

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-10-105/Research-shows-Marino-should-be-Comeback-King.html

 

This isn't riveting or shocking to anybody who was paying attention...been saying the same thing for years. Even that standard is arbitrary, considering how much can happen over the course of a quarter of football.

[Magnetic Curses]

good thing there's no alternative definition of super bowl victories.