So the Packers re-signed James Jones and John Kuhn. I’m pretty happy with that. Jones is an enigma, he seems to drop passes he should catch and catch passes he should drop. But overall I think Rodgers likes him, he is a good fit in the system and he knows it well. With the emergence of Jordy Nelson and rookie Randall Cobb, along with star Greg Jennings, the Packers certainly seem set at WR even with Driver getting on in years.
As for Kuhn, what can you say, he does everything and a little more, that is asked of him. It’s nice to know that we will have the continuity on Offense and with Finley and Grant coming back, its like getting two new players, IMO.
There are reports that Broderick Bunkley didn’t show up to Cleveland and now the Browns are being very vague on reporting the deal at all. Very strange situation here.
An embarrassment of riches. Having Rodgers throwing to them certainly helps them too.
I like Kuhn a lot and he’s done everything asked of him, so I’m glad he got a contract. I’m just not sure, with all the younguns, all the TE’s (I think Finley is gone after this year), and the depth needed on the O Line and D line, I’m not sure he’s worth a roster spot. We will see.
The two biggest weaknesses left for the Eagles are the O-Line and the linebacker group. The left side of the line is pretty damn stout with Peters and Herremans. Jamaal Jackson at Center isn’t exactly what Howard Mudd may want, but he’s a borderline Pro Bowl talent when healthy and should be fine. The right side is suspect. They drafted Danny Watkins for the RG spot and he should be able to come right in and play well from the get go (he’s finally in camp), but he’s a rookie and thus unproven. Right tackle is a nightmare. This is doubly concerning as this is lefty Vick’s blind side. The Eagles still have cap room, but I think only enough to get Desean extended. I think the free agent splurging is done. They’ll have to figure something out there.
The linebackers are a seemingly bigger hole - they have nobody there. But I’m actually confident about them. Jamar Cheney was pretty good when he took over last season (ESPN ranks him the 4th best “prospect” in the NFL). If he continues to develop the Eagles would really only need a couple guys to step up.
People scoff, but I think Casey Matthews will start day one and never relinquish the spot. The coaches love his play so far in practice (he’s already leading the defensive play calls and scooping offensive play calls pre snap). They’re going to give him every shot. And why not? What’s the knock against him? He’s small? Maybe so. But word is he came to camp ten pounds heavier and that put him at the same size as Patrick Willis, Jerod Mayo, Stephen Tulloch, London Fletcher, Takeo Spikes, and James Harrison. Maybe it’s that he isn’t as athletic, but it always seems to be in comparison to his brother Clay. That’s hardly a knock on Casey. I think I’ve said here before but I think Casey is the next Zach Thomas (another undersized, underdrafted high-instincts LB).
I’ve never been so excited to see this team in preseason.
Rumblings from Asante Samuel about wanting a trade yesterday. I’d love to see him come to the Bucs for Jeremy Trueblood and a draft pick, but I think it’s just Samuel reminding everyone who The Man is in the Philly secondary (which seems kind of pointless, considering Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie have been genuflecting to him all week).
Notice the teams I highlighted which might have particular import to several Dopers. The article discusses in some detail the misconception that there’s a salary cap floor that teams much reach.
I’m particularly frustrated with the Bears. They’ve got 3 key needs as I see it: OG, CB and LB. All three positions were rich with talent in free agency and the Bears pretty much neglected it entirely. I know they have young guys they are afraid to stunt, particularly at CB, but if they aren’t ready and/or there are some key injuries they are going to be really thin. Carlos Rogers is still out there as a CB and while he’ll command a decent salary he won’t break the bank. If Zach Bowman steps up and forces Rogers to the bench so be it, hell the wheels could come off on Tillman this year so maybe he’d be the one getting benched or moved to FS/NB. OG is pretty much done in the market, there’s a few guys out there that might offer depth but they are just guys. The Bears should have backed the Brinks truck up to Logan Mankins door after seeing how the rest off free agency played out. He’d have provided the mean streak and leadership that Kreutz’s departure leaves and removed any question about who the starting interior lineman will be. LB wasn’t as flush with talent as the other two spots and the Bears did manage to retain 2 of their own key backups in Roach and Iwuh, but there’s still a big hole at the starting Sam spot. Rumors are that they are going to bring back the porcelain doll that is Pisa Tinoisamoa at that spot, the lack of interest he’s drawing around the league should be educational.
I loved the moves to bolster the DT, DE, WR and RB spots on the cheap with boom or bust, 1-year prove it contracts. Doing things on the cheap with high upside is brilliant when done in concert with a few solid impact deals at core spots.
Mr. McBride is a depth guy. He’s best played in limited snaps and, like you pointed out, things better for his skillset. He’s a solid guy. Need guys like that on every team.
I imagine a good chunk of that $23.6m that the Cardinals have is going to be dangled in front of Larry Fitzgerald in an effort to get him to sign to an extension. If I was him, I’d be waiting to see exactly how good Kevin Kolb (and the line trying to keep him upright) is going to be before putting pen to paper though. Fitz is too good to be wasting prime seasons on a team that can’t contend and he’d earn a boatload in free agency, one assumes.
Anyway, I went away for a long weekend, came back and discovered that the Bidwells had thrown a load of money around. First time for everything I guess. I like what it appears they are trying to do - provide Kolb a set of short and medium passing targets to give him something to check down to when he gets skittish in the pocket, and seemingly improving the line and blocking TEs to try and run the ball a bit more - but we don’t know exactly how it is going to work, so the season has to start under a question mark.
The NFC West is not a good division and they might be good enough to contend in it but I’m still concerned about the pass rush. St Louis has not been noisy but their moves look reasonable to me and I still make them favourites to get out of the division, given the QB issues elsewhere in the division.
Yeah - but his agent was smart and went for a 4 year, $40m deal, banking on Fitz maintaining his standard of play (which he managed, even with Derek Anderson throwing him the ball) and not getting injured. This is the last year of that deal. Smart work, as it effectively means he will get another set of contract offers whilst still in his prime.
ETA: $30m of his last deal was guaranteed. So yeah, Fitz is probably going to get offered a large amount of cash. Apparently the team are looking to get an agreement done even as I type. As I said up thread, I’d be keen to wait if I was Fitz; see what he’s got on his hands first and then work out if he can get a big contract elsewhere with a chance of a ring if it’s not looking so good.
The Browns already have 5 major starters out of camp due to injury. The fucking punter just went down with a non-contact injury and had to be carted off the fucking field.
Bad ass punter too, underrated, and he might be lost for the season because he… did… the thing he has done a million times.
