# 2012 NFL Pre-Draft Discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 8, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215 "2012-02-08T18:05:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/541 "2012-03-20T14:41:56Z")
The RB market is really that soft. Arian Foster only got $44 million and he’s arguably the best back in the league. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/542 "2012-03-20T14:45:23Z")
The Dolphins signed David Garrard to a one-year deal, which must mean they expect Alex Smith to go back to San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/543 "2012-03-20T15:48:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The Dolphins signed David Garrard to a one-year deal, which must mean they expect Alex Smith to go back to San Francisco. Not so sure about that, is Garrard all that different from Jason Campbell? A one year deal sounds like a backup deal to me. That said, I suspect Smith is only in Miami to drive up his price and will be back in SF regardless. No one wants to play for Miami. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/544 "2012-03-20T15:52:01Z")
They already have Matt Moore, so they wouldn’t have bothered to sign Garrard if they thought they were going to get Smith. They’re apparently planning to let Moore and Garrard compete for the starting job. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/545 "2012-03-20T15:56:37Z")
Alex Smith has no leverage and no other options. He needs to get over being all butthurt about the 49ers kicking the tires on somebody better than him. He had a contract he could have signed well before any of this went down. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/546 "2012-03-20T16:03:29Z")
Yeah, seriously. People keep saying “he had a great year”, but he really didn’t. He just didn’t throw many picks. He barely topped 3,000 yards, which is pretty much the mark for not-quite-total-offensive-futility at this point. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/547 "2012-03-20T16:04:58Z")
Alex Smith has tons of leverage. What other option do the Niners have at this point? They’re going to end up with Tebow at this rate. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/548 "2012-03-20T16:29:53Z")
So what? In the Niners’ offense it just doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/549 "2012-03-20T16:32:51Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Alex Smith has tons of leverage. What other option do the Niners have at this point? They’re going to end up with Tebow at this rate. I firmly suspect that Jim Harbaugh is going to suit himself up and play this year. He’s just crazy enough to try it. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/550 "2012-03-20T16:34:30Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Alex Smith has tons of leverage. What other option do the Niners have at this point? They’re going to end up with Tebow at this rate. I’ve heard that, but I don’t buy it. They’re prepared to go with “my” guy, Colin Kaepernick. But really it’s not so much that the 49ers need Smith, it’s that he’s not going to get an offer anywhere else (maybe the Browns?). It’s just better for all those involved if they get together. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/551 "2012-03-20T17:19:22Z")
Hines Ward announced his retirement today. Sure it’s not getting hit by a drunk driver, being blindsided, or being thrown under a bus by his teammates, but I’ll take what I can get. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/552 "2012-03-20T18:40:28Z")
So will Jeff Saturday follow Peyton to the Broncos or will he sign with the Packers or Titans instead. The conventional thinking is he goes to the Broncos, and I can buy that, but the Packers are going to make a serious, serious push, I think and could prevail. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/553 "2012-03-20T18:49:58Z")
Why would the Broncos bother? Saturday has always been small, and now he’s old and slow. JD Walton has started every game at center since he was drafted and has done rather well. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/554 "2012-03-20T19:15:07Z")
Saturday has over a decade of experience working with Peyton Manning… That would pretty much be it. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/555 "2012-03-20T19:18:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why would the Broncos bother? Saturday has always been small, and now he’s old and slow. JD Walton has started every game at center since he was drafted and has done rather well. Primarily because Peyton is comfortable with him. There’s a question about how important this is in practice, but that’s the logic. Maybe Saturday can snap the ball on Peyton’s cadence and make the line calls exactly how Peyton wants and provide the same sack free results he had in Indy. If they buy into the logic that Peyton is the offensive coordinator on the field you might make the case that Saturday is the O line coach on the field. Plus Peyton makes so many line calls and audibles having a Center who reacts predictably may be far more important than on most teams. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/556 "2012-03-20T19:38:43Z")
The Detroit Lions signed cornerback Jacob Lacey and resigned Andre Fluellen. Solid roster moves, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/557 "2012-03-20T19:50:31Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > …Is the RB market really that soft or is there something up with Tolbert and the Caroline coaches? Rivera and Chud have brought in a handful of ex-Chargers who they seem comfortable with. All the local scuttlebutt is that Tolbert is just insurance in case they can’t re-sign Stewart. I personally think that’s a smokescreen and they are trying to move him. On the other hand, as someone noted above, Marty Hurney is not the brightest bulb on the GM chandelier, so who knows? They had to restructure a few contracts and cut some people to get under the cap. They have so many needs on defense I can’t imagine they’d waste money on a position of strength. That’s nothing against Tolbert. I like him as a player, he just not a need. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/558 "2012-03-20T20:03:07Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Rivera and Chud have brought in a handful of ex-Chargers who they seem comfortable with. All the local scuttlebutt is that Tolbert is just insurance in case they can’t re-sign Stewart. I personally think that’s a smokescreen and they are trying to move him. On the other hand, as someone noted above, Marty Hurney is not the brightest bulb on the GM chandelier, so who knows? They had to restructure a few contracts and cut some people to get under the cap. They have so many needs on defense I can’t imagine they’d waste money on a position of strength. That’s nothing against Tolbert. I like him as a player, he just not a need. I thought the Panthers were one of the teams that was WAY down on spending last year and would have a hard time making it to the required minimum coming next year. When did that change? ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/559 "2012-03-20T21:29:17Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I thought the Panthers were one of the teams that was WAY down on spending last year and would have a hard time making it to the required minimum coming next year. When did that change? No, no. You may not remember, but they spent a TON of money to resign a lot of their veterans. ETA: People were amazed they spent so much to retain 2-14 talent. ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215/560 "2012-03-21T00:10:34Z")
The Eagles have traded for Houston’s 2-time Pro Bowl MLB DeMeco Ryans. They gave up their 2012 4th rounder and swapped 3s in exchange. The move is pending a passed physical. But if he’s healthy (tore his achilles in 2010), that would seem to solve the biggest lineup hole the Eagles have. Awesome move, amazing price, really excited about this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-pre-draft-discussion/612215.md?page=29)