So is Ben Roethlisburger the pink elephant in the corner of the room that nobody’s talking about?
I don’t know what’s up with that guy…I was reading a linked article from a Bengals fan website earlier, lemme dig it up…
Here it is (not sure I agree completely, but its…interesting):
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/03/07/big-ben-is-officially-brain-dead/
Big Ben Is Officially Brain Dead
3/07/2010 1:30 AM ET
By Terence Moore
*Excuse me for mixing sports metaphors, but for Ben Roethlisberger – who quickly has evolved into the dumbest quarterback ever to win multiple Super Bowls – it’s three strikes, and you’re out.
Yeah, you heard right.
He’s definitely dumb, and he most certainly is out.
That’s dumb, as in how could Roethlisberger possibly put himself in a position to face another allegation of sexual assault within two years? And that’s out, as in, this guy no longer should get the benefit of the doubt regarding anything else that could make his growing list of offseason woes.
If you’re running the Pittsburgh Steelers, you need to do a couple of things, and you need to do them fast. First, even with the judicial system still trying to determine fact from fiction in Roethlisberger’s latest mess, you need to pull the guy aside, tell him to enter a closet at Heinz Field and order him not to leave until further notice. Second, you need to start looking for another quarterback – you know, just in case, or in an attempt to scare Roethlisberger back into reality.
This is lunacy. I’m talking about what Roethlisberger keeps doing, and how the combination of the Steelers, the sporting public and much of the national media keeps dealing with it as just a star player with a frat-boy mentality.*
I read that part, but I can’t wrap my mind around the idea that Brandon Marshall getting MORE money would help the Bengals sign other guys for LESS money. It’s at least as likely that Marshall off the market would mean that T.O. and Bryant would sign for MORE money, because of supply and demand. It’s idle conjecture that just doesn’t make sense to me.
I guess I can’t understand NFL economics, as they exist in a different universe - like when the Panthers gave Delhomme a huge contract right after he tailed off all season and finished the playoffs with a bad game for the ages a year ago.
I may be wrong,but I think the point is that by negotiating with Marshall, the Bengals have an option other than TO and Bryant and gives them some leverage and can hopefully keep the price low iwth that leverage.
I guess, unless Marshall actually signs elsewhere. I just can’t think like a savvy negotiator, I guess.
Yeah, that’s pretty much it, and I also think its interesting to note that Marshall left Seattle without a contract. Word is that he said he’s prepared to go all the way to the NFL draft with this process.
The guy is certainly talented, but he’s also an ass, and he’s been in trouble with the league a couple times before and any team that takes him at such a steep price is going to have high expectations and there’s a high risk factor in him getting into trouble again.
Its not just the 1st round pick, you have to give the guy a contract he wants too, which I expect would be no less than something like 4-5 years, 40-50 million dollars with a boatload of guaranteed money.
Its looking more and more like the Bengals want either Bryant or TO. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually hope its Owens on a 1 year deal and that the team uses a high-ish pick on another WR.
Antonio Bryant seems like a perfect fit for the Dolphins. Wonder where they are in the free agent market.
Well they already have an inconsistent deep threat(thought Bryant would be a big upgrade straight up for Ginn, if Bryant came he would essentially replace him,making Ginn very expensive kick returner.). Personally I like to see them go for dependable over top speed, but they need something absolutely.
I’m not sure I’d compare Bryant and Ginn at all. Bryant is a big guy a polished receiver and generally a decent route runner. He’s by no means a track guy and he’s not strictly a deep threat any more than any other #1 WR around the league.
If he moved Ginn to the off side or the slot and gave that group some size he’d be an ideal fit.
In a somewhat surprising move, the Colts cut last years’ starting left guard, Ryan Lilja. He has 67 career starts. Although he’s on the smallish size and has some injury history, he’s been part of a line that has done a great job of protecting Peyton Manning. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Packers take a run at him, especially after Colledge seriously regressed last year. He’s definitely a better pass blocker than run blocker, though, so there are questions.
What I found odd is that the Colts paid him his roster bonus of $1.7 million, and then cut him. He was due 3.05 million this year, which is a bit high, but he’s certainly got some good years left in him.
Intriguing move.
Oh, and any team that pays heavily for Antonio Bryant get what they deserve.
I wonder if it has to do with the final 8 rules. Perhaps by cutting him and letting another team sign him will open the door for them to add a player at another position. I’m still not sure what the rules are for final 4 teams as it applies to released players but if they have depth at OG and need to find a cheap safety or LB this might help get them there.
Why would there be questions about a lineman that played for the Colts that was a better pass blocker than run blocker? Shit, if you’re a Packers fan, you should be slobbering all over yourself to try to get a guy like that, considering Aaron Rodgers had a prolific passing season last year IN SPITE of a terrible oline. The Packers like to throw the ball.
I see your point, but perhaps the scouts attribute his success more to Manning’s ability to get rid of the ball quickly as opposed to his blocking skill. If that’s the case and he can’t run block at all he might be a huge liability for a team that wants to be balanced and has a QB who likes to go deep and hold the ball.
The Panthers made 2 moves today. First they released Brad Hoover. Never a big name, he’s been a really consistent FB for them for many years. He’ll be missed.
The 2nd thing they did was make their big splash into free agency by signing…
ex-Jets WR Wallace Wright? He has a whopping 8 career receptions. Special teamer, I 'spose…
ESPN has a nice roundup of the day’s free agent moves.
Some of the interesting points.
The Raiders continue to act all crazy and released Greg Ellis, who tied for the team lead in sacks to save a paltry $2.5M. Maybe they think Seymour will be able to play defense all by himself.
The Seahawks traded Seneca Wallace to the Brownies. Holmgren obviously wanted to get comfortable with his backup QB situation and Wallace fits the bill. I will be very interested to hear what that 2011 draft pick ends up being. I’m curious what a backup QB goes for in this market.
Kevin Walter resigned with the Texans and Ryan Clark resigned with the Steelers taking two popular FA options off the market.
Well, Holmgren has a history of bringing in a QB he has a history with, with Favre and Hasselbeck, and it worked out great obviously. Of course, Wallace is not the unknown young player with upside type guy - he’s a fairly known quantity. So I’m guessing he’s holding down the fort for a year or two for another guy.
I haven’t had a chance to see him play much - is he any good?
Not really. He’s got far less downside than your average backup I suppose and he’s mobile enough to make broken plays salvageable. Still, he’s not much of a passer. His arm is average and his height is frequently an issue. He’s very secure with the ball however and he doesn’t turn the ball over very often which is rare for a backup. He seems to be very adept at the short passing game but doesn’t have the chops to go downfield when needed and struggles on 3rd and long. He’s been in productive offenses and has gotten quite a few starts and has never had a passing game over 260 yards even though he’s had a bunch of 100+ passer ratings.
I’m not sure that anyone still cares, but this article that details the specifics of the Peppers contract is very interesting. It essentially explains that much of the “guaranteed” money in this deal actually isn’t at all. If Peppers turns out to age like he has progeria the Bears can dump his ass next year so long as he’s not injured. Basically they can cut him for “skill” reasons after any season and they aren’t obligated to him whatsoever, and if Lovie and Jerry get kicked to the curb after next season and a incoming coach doesn’t see Peppers in his plans he can cut bait if he wants.
I like knowing that we’re able to avoid a potential financial catastrophe and that Peppers has all the motivation in the world to earn that money.
If they cut Peppers “for skill” after this year, he’ll have been paid $20 million for one year. That’s almost double what Haynesworth got last year from the Redskins. And if Peppers has a year like last year, that’ll be about $2 million a sack. Interesting.
It is good, though, that the Bears were smart enough to add 22 million reasons for Peppers to continue to work hard on every play. Maybe someone in that front office has a clue after all.
To nobody’s surprise, Browns release Derek Anderson.