# NFL offseason discussion thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 17, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344 "2016-02-17T15:25:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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 16, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/81 "2016-03-16T14:07:58Z")
Yeah, this is just Richard Seymour The Second for the Pats. Not sure what they wanted Cooper for - hasn’t he been a huge bust? - though I suppose they can always use more OL depth. ---
**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 16, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/82 "2016-03-16T20:41:50Z")
I loved Cooper coming out of college. Not sure exactly what his issues have been in AZ but I’d say this is probably a “throw in” player and the deal was all about getting a 2nd round pick for a guy they didn’t intend to resign after his rookie deal expired anyways. They just rolled the dice with Chris Long too so that back fills the Jones vacancy somewhat, we’ll have to see what Long has left in the tank. I had kind of hoped that Long would join up with his brother in Chicago for one more run at it, but I can’t blame him for chasing the ring with Brady and Belichick. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/83 "2016-03-16T21:09:26Z")
Cooper had injuries at a very bad time in his development, and never got on track. The Pats do have a good record of getting that kind of guy cheaply and just letting him fit in the system. Jones is a huge talent from the neck down, of course, but that drug issue (synthetic marijuana? Really?) right before the AFC championship suggests some much deeper problems of a sort with which Belichick has exceptionally little patience. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/84 "2016-03-18T19:33:25Z")
Ravens cornerback Tray Walker is in critical condition after an motorcycle collision. What an incredibly stupid man Walker is. He was riding a dirt bike on an urban street in Miami at night with no lights on the bike and not wearing a helmet. Yes, a man that plays pro football was not wearing a helmet. What kind of idiot rides a dirt bike on a city street in Miami? He’s 23, not 13. Of course , he was also wearing dark clothes to make things worse. This guy may have literally thrown his life away being stupid in addition to NFL money and a career. You just can’t fix stupid. I don’t think the media should call this an accident, it’s the inevitable result of someone’s stupidity. > **[Ravens' Walker in critical condition after accident](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/15001345/tray-walker-baltimore-ravens-critical-condition-motorbike-accident)** > > Tray Walker, who saw limited playing time as a rookie for the Ravens in 2015, is in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami following a motorcycle accident in Florida. ---
**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 18, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/85 "2016-03-18T19:44:30Z")
Well, you’re just a fount of sympathy, huh? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/86 "2016-03-18T19:47:15Z")
Zero sympathy for an idiot riding a dirt bike at night on an urban street without a helmet or a light on the bike. He damn well better not have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Total sympathy for any innocent bystanders. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/87 "2016-03-18T20:03:24Z")
He better not, or god help me I will be _irate_ on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/88 "2016-03-18T22:41:44Z")
He passed away. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/89 "2016-03-19T15:44:44Z")
Patriots continue a free agency signing spree, adding: [ul] [li]RB Donald Brown[/li][li]DE Chris Long[/li][li]LB Shea McClellin[/li][/ul] Brown is a journeyman who’s had some decent seasons in the past. Didn’t do much for San Diego last year. This seems like just adding some depth. Long helps fill a need after the Chandler Jones trade. One year deal to see if he has much left in the tank. McClellin is another former first rounder who has not lived up to his potential. Looks like a good scheme fit for the Pats if nothing else. They also traded a 4th rounder to the Bears for Martellus Bennett. He had an injury-plagued season last year, but the previous three years were very solid. I like the move - it gives the Pats another great 1-2 TE punch. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/90 "2016-03-22T12:57:20Z")
I’m very interested to see this Amazon video special on the 2015 Arizona Cardinals. It’s nice to see the Cards getting some coverage and that it’s not on HBO or NFL Network. [http://news.yahoo.com/amazon-nfl-films-announce-exclusive-series-213548898.html](http://news.yahoo.com/amazon-nfl-films-announce-exclusive-series-213548898.html) ---
**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 22, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/91 "2016-03-22T13:02:35Z")
If I was in the AFC East I’d be _terrified_ about that Martellus Bennett trade. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/92 "2016-03-22T13:47:47Z")
Peyton Manning has spurned the Colts, declining to sign a one-day contract with them. He chooses to retire as a Bronco. If I understand the Hall of Fame rules correctly, that means that he’ll go into Canton as a Denver player, where he played 4 seasons and won a Super Bowl (and lost one), instead of as a Colt, where he spent 14 seasons and won a Super Bowl (and lost one). As a die-hard Colt fan, this really stings. I can’t blame him, but I don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/93 "2016-03-22T13:51:28Z")
You don’t go into that Hall “as” anything - the display is a bronze bust, with no helmet or logo on it, unlike in baseball. The label lists all of your teams. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/94 "2016-03-22T16:10:59Z")
No mention of the Raiders. They will shock the world next season. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/95 "2016-03-22T17:24:04Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > No mention of the Raiders. They will shock the world next season. Post #52. In other news, [Cowboys sign Alfred Morris to a 2-year deal](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000646487/article/cowboys-sign-alfred-morris-on-twoyear-35m-deal). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/96 "2016-03-22T17:57:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You don’t go into that Hall “as” anything - the display is a bronze bust, with no helmet or logo on it, unlike in baseball. The label lists all of your teams. Ignorance fought. Thanks for the correction. I was under the impression that it went by the last team you played for, which is why some people would sign one-day contracts. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/97 "2016-03-22T18:01:54Z")
You do only get to represent one _position_, though, the one you played the most. Lou Groza and George Blanda aren’t listed there as kickers even though that’s why they’re both in. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/98 "2016-03-22T20:17:19Z")
Some rule changes for next season: -The moved back extra point is now permanent. -No more chop blocks, period (previously allowed on run plays). -Horsecollar foul expanded to include grabbing back of jersey, around the player name (Will it apply to hair tackles?). -Ineligible receiver going out of bounds and coming back in is now a loss of down penalty. [http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25526663/here-are-the-seven-nfl-playing-rule-changes-for-2016](http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25526663/here-are-the-seven-nfl-playing-rule-changes-for-2016) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/99 "2016-03-22T20:21:47Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Post #52. > > In other news, [Cowboys sign Alfred Morris to a 2-year deal](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000646487/article/cowboys-sign-alfred-morris-on-twoyear-35m-deal). A lot of people thought they might draft a RB, probably Ezekiel Elliott. That seems unlikely now. Morris is a solid player. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344/100 "2016-03-23T17:11:56Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Some rule changes for next season: > > -The moved back extra point is now permanent. > -No more chop blocks, period (previously allowed on run plays). > -Horsecollar foul expanded to include grabbing back of jersey, around the player name (Will it apply to hair tackles?). > -Ineligible receiver going out of bounds and coming back in is now a loss of down penalty. > > [http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25526663/here-are-the-seven-nfl-playing-rule-changes-for-2016](http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25526663/here-are-the-seven-nfl-playing-rule-changes-for-2016) A couple more, [apparently approved](http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/15049406/nfl-moves-touchbacks-25-yard-line-approves-automatic-ejection-two-unsportsmanlike-penalties) as the owners headed out the door:[ul] [li]Kickoff touchbacks now come out to the 25-yard line. Kickoff returns, if not dead, are at least gravely wounded[/li][li]Automatic ejection for accumulating two personal or unsportsmanlike-conduct fouls. I want to call this the Josh Norman/Odell Beckham Memorial Rule, but strangely enough it wouldn’t have been applicable at that event.[/li][/ul] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-thread/746344.md?page=6)