Good point, though I have the impression that Flynn to Miami is probably a near certainty. I’m also of the opinion that Manning’s career is over, or at least he won’t be ready to go this year, based on reports of a 4th neck surgery, bone spurs and little to no improvement in arms strength since December. In any case, I’d be surprised if Manning were to go to a rebuilding team like the Browns or Redskins with so few weapons and with strong willed offensive guys like Shanahan and Holmgren running the show, nor would either of those teams really want a short term fix like Manning.
I would love it if somehow the Bengals manage to land Mike Wallace from the cap-strapped Steelers. I believe he would require giving up a 1st rounder for him, but man…AJ Green and Mike Wallace on the same team? Sick.
Giving up the 21st pick to get a superstar WR and pay him top dollar, I think that’s a pretty defensible move when you factor in the damage it would do to your key rival. That said, I worry that Wallace would be a bad fit for the Bengals offense and Dalton’s arm. They just aren’t vertical enough to have 2 guys like Green and Wallace.
I think Dalton’s arm strength is just fine, and I was kinda pipe dreaming anyway.. Actually what I really hope the Bengals do is manage to accrue a shitload of additional picks in the second and third rounds somehow, ala the Patriots, and use them to fill depth in areas of need like OG, S, RB, WR and LB. I think the Bengals will undoubtedly pick a CB with one of their first rounders, with the departure of Johnathan Joseph in FA (a huge blunder IMO, they should have tagged him/paid him…one of the best CB’s in the league right now), the serious achilles injury to the other starter Leon Hall and the doubt surrounding his ability to come back from that 100%, the uncertainty of Pacman Jones (whom is an FA) and the age of Nate Clements.
I like Mel Kiper - he’s fun and has that hair thing going, but if he thinks the Packer’s biggest need is in the defensive backfield, he just hasn’t looked at the roster. The Packers need pass rushers, pass rushers, and more pass rushers - at DE, OLB, ILB … wherever. The Packers defensive backfield would have looked much better if they hadn’t had to cover receivers for five, six, or seven seconds (or more) on every pass play.
I’m not saying the Packers couldn’t use a safety or cornerback, it just isn’t their primary need.
I’d say it’s perhaps need 1A and 1B for them, and DE/OLB is a much deeper position in FA than CB/S is. Similarly the DB crop is really thin in this draft, though the pass rushing crop isn’t exactly a gold rush either.
Thanks for the update, Omni. I am not familar with the pick you’ve mentioned, but he seems to be a match for Shaun Cody/Earl Mitchell. Not that they’re bad, mind, but I’d prefer shoring up some deficiencies with the first rounder, rather than adding depth. Further, given their poor Power Ranking (according to FO: 25th), I’d prefer a Ngata/Washington-type 0-technique to soak up blockers and firm up the middle. Accordingly, I’d like Dontari Poe, but I’m interested in what y’all think about Josh Chapman, (DT/NT) Alabama.
The Bengals have so much cap room, it’s silly. Should I order my Bengals Mario Williams jersey now, or wait to see if Mike Brown is going to take profits for yet another year?
I’ve heard rumors that Hampton is coming back, either via being released and resigned, or having his contract restructured. I’ve also heard retirement talk about Hampton, which if true, would suck for the Steelers. They have no one to really take his place. He’s an 11 year vet, and well over 300 lbs. that’s a lot of wear and tear on his body. If he wants to end his career in Pittsburgh, he will probably take a restructured deal. I can’t imagine he will command much on the open market, and I can’t imagine he’d want to learn a new defense at this point in his career.
As for the pick, I don’t know much about Poe, but I like what the Steelers are thinking. If they hit a home run with that pick like they did with Pouncey, they won’t have to worry about that position for a decade.
Wallace is a different problem. The Steelers have a philosophy that receivers are a lot easier to find than other skill positions. Wallace was a 3rd rounder. And he has his head screwed on straight (at least so far), which means that the Steelers would love to keep him but if they lose him, they will be compensated well.
I don’t want Wallace to leave, and Big Ben has already indicated he’ll be willling to rework his deal to keep him, but if he goes, the Steelers won’t panic. I doubt they’d waste anything higher than a 3 on a receiver at this point since Holmes and Burris were first rounders (and good players, but head cases) and Limas Sweed (second round bust from Texas), while Wallace was a 3, Antonio Brown was a 6. and Ward was a 3rd rounder. There is a lot of value in wide receiver in lower rounds.
Wallace would be a loss, though. He’s stretches the field like no Steeler receiver has in a long time. So I’d hate to see him go.
Bringing up the depth of free agency is a good point - for any team but the Packers.
Ted Thompson just doesn’t go there unless someone goes unsigned for so long that he gets them at ‘his’ price. The Packers need anyone and everyone who can get to the QB. If TT addresses the lack of pass rush, it will be primarily through the draft. Plus - any FA money might have to go to re-signing Wells, otherwise they don’t have a center.
Needs:
1A - OLB
1B - DE
1C - OLB
1D - DE
1E - NT
2A/B - ILB who can blanket a TE and be a force against the run.
-
- An operation to remove Jerk’Michael Finley’s brain and replace it with the brain
of anyone who understands the process of earning your keep.
- An operation to remove Jerk’Michael Finley’s brain and replace it with the brain
2A/B - Safety or CB who can cover and support against the run.
3 - RB who can pass block and has the speed to get around the corner so the
opposing defense has to respect the sidelines and can’t bunch up against
the run game.
4 - Another QB to develop.
5 - Everything else.
From Pro Football Focus:
"Maurkice Pouncey, C, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF Rating: +1.8
PFF Conference Ranking: 12th
Analysis: Steelers fans will be up in arms about this (as they always are) and accuse us of hating on the younger Pouncey. Nothing could be further from the case. It’s just when you compare Pouncey to his peers there’s absolutely no way any player with a sane mind could pick him over some of the excellent centers in the AFC. That doesn’t mean Pouncey is a bad player, but just because we’re told he should be a once in a generation player doesn’t make it so. You only need to watch him to see how little impact he has on games, while players like Chris Myers are creating the kind of consistent running lanes that sees your team finish with two guys close to or above the 1,000 yard rushing mark.
Key Fact: Pouncey isn’t even the best Pouncey in our eyes. His grade is inferior to that of his twin brother Mike Pouncey (+2.9)."
No problem there, those grow on trees.
Please PM TT then. The Packers haven’t had one for a long long time.
The same goes for most teams.
Damn I miss football already. Is it July yet?
Wow. Thanks for posting this. I can’t say I’m angry or “up in arms” because it’s not like I sit down and grade out each position on the field. Offensive linemen are rarely noticed by me unless they make a mistake. But the 12th best center in the league? Didn’t he make the pro bowl as a rookie? I know he was injured this year, and down the stretch he was missed, but I don’t think there are 12 Centers in the AFC I’d choose over Pouncey.
That writer either knows his centers so well that he’s above reproach, or he’s a Ravens fan who hates all things black & gold. Either way, I personally am happy with Pouncey, and if they get a DT who impacts the D-line and anchors it as quickly as Pouncey has done for the O-Line, I’ll take him no matter what people want to rate him.
Pouncey has always been way overrated. Most people can’t evaluate line play, so they just hear from someone else how good linemen are and repeat it. Some reporter starts a report praising a lineman because he saw him have one really good game, and then if it hits the right channel suddenly everyone convinced he’s great. This is also why linemen with a reputaton make the probowl year after year even when they have terrible years. I remember Ogden got sent to the Pro Bowl in his last year despite playing 3 games and playing badly in them.
I think that’s true. But it’s one thing to repeat something like “Pouncey is great” and another to see him elected to the Pro Bowl.
I don’t understand how you are saying Pouncey is “way overrated”. I’m not saying you are wrong. But what is your basis for your claim? You admit that most people can’t evaluate line play. And with all due respect to your Fantasy Football league championship ( 
), I doubt you can evaluate line play any better than I can.
just checked.
Pouncey was pro bowl for both 2010, and 2011.
I don’t see how you or anyone else can say he’s over-rated, unless someone has already put him in the hall of fame. He’s apparently impressed enough of his peers and played consistently over his first 2 years in the league to go to two straight pro bowls. Over-rated seems to be a sour grapes comment if you are looking at him objectively.
Spoken like a true Steeler fan. You admit to not watching line play, yet if your opinion is different from a site that does watch and grade each and every play of each and every player, the site/writer must be a Steeler hater. Classic.
[Quote=SFP]
Either way, I personally am happy with Pouncey, and if they get a DT who impacts the D-line and anchors it as quickly as Pouncey has done for the O-Line, I’ll take him no matter what people want to rate him.
[/QUOTE]
I’d expect nothing less.
That was kinda the point of the article, that he was voted to the Pro Bowl, but didn’t deserve it.
[Quote=SFP]
I don’t see how you or anyone else can say he’s over-rated, unless someone has already put him in the hall of fame.
[/quote]
Huh? The quote was about the fact he made the Pro Bowl, but didn’t deserve it, not that anyone put him in the HoF.
[QUOTE=SFP]
He’s apparently impressed enough of his peers and played consistently over his first 2 years in the league to go to two straight pro bowls. Over-rated seems to be a sour grapes comment if you are looking at him objectively.
[/QUOTE]
Again, that was the point. Objectively, his play didn’t warrant the Pro Bowl. Calling their findings “sour grapes”, while completely expected, is simply an ad hominem.