1maGoh said:

I know that unions work better when they're stronger. I didn't mean one player abandon the union. Then that player couldn't play.

I'd like to point out to things though, before I stop arguing about economics on a football forum. First, if there is no union then the CBA is irrelevant. The CBA is negotiated and signed by the union and the NFL. If the union doesn't exist, then... there isn't anyone to uphold that end of that agreement. Players would negotiate alone. That's a very bad place for them to be.

Second, you mentioned two groups in trying to refute that players are treated in groups: UDFA rookies and top play makers. The later is a less formal group that's not legally defined, but other groups are. Veterans have one minimum salary, non veterans another. Certain rules apply to RFAs. Players under a franchise tag are grouped by position. The CBA lumps players into groups and applies rules based on those groups. Not always related to salary, but always related to participation and employment within the league. If there's a rookie first round pick who doesn't want the team to have a fifth year option, he's SOL, because he's lumped into the first round pick group. He's not treated like an individual player. He's treated, to a very large extent, like a member of a group.

I'm sorry for ruffling feathers. I'm going to slowly back away now. I didn't mean to derail this so far off topic.

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But he'll have his chance to get paid like an individual down the line because the union exists.

I'm not even sure what you're talking about now. I'm just confused. It sounded like you wanted them to opt out of the union, but the bolded contradicts that.

I recognize that the CBA doesn't exist without a union. That's why I said it would be very bad for both the NFL and the players if they got rid of the union entirely. But as far as I know, players can choose not to be part of the NFLPA. That doesn't change the rules of the CBA, though.

So I'm very confused as to what you were saying? It sounded like you wanted NFL players as a whole to abandon their union to get better deals? Anyways, we can take it to PMs if you want to clarify there.

Tron said:

I like it memento, especially the massive cb run you go on. If two of the three pan out our cb is legit big time like what Wade had in Denver. Would probably replace logan with another WR but that's nitpicking. Love the sprinkle pick.

I say this to both you and Jerry, I don't think Watt makes it into day two regardless of what cbs sports says. I think he goes somewhere late in round 1. I'd love if he was available for us but just have that nagging feeling that it just won't happen. Hope I'm wrong though.

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I have high hopes for Witherspoon and Jones (once he recovers from his Achilles). If Kazee pans out or if E.J. Gaines recovers fully, our cornerback position is great for the next four years at least. Logan is an eventual Dunbar replacement, and I don't trust Brown or Green, to be honest. Sprinkle has an awesome last name, so he gets points based on that alone.

If Watt goes in the first round, that means that some good pass-rusher is likely going to be pushed out. And with Cleveland's pick, I'd go with that pass-rusher or - failing that - go for Lamp or someone else who falls.

OldSchool said:

Love it! Two of my favorite picks in Roullier and Logan. This draft is the basis for a great defense for several years.

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Right. The defense is the strength of the team. Re-sign Donald to whatever the hell he wants for seven years and Ogletree to a fair contract and they have the defensive core filled. And Roullier and Logan are favorites of mine as well.

Riverumbbq said:

Tanoh at # 86 ? I don't think he'll be around.
Love the trade, rather it included the rights to Gordon than the 108 pick.
The late round TE & WR make me a bit uncomfortable on offense. jmo.

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It's fairly likely. He's rated in the lower half of the third round. If not, switch the Jones and Kpassagnon picks.

And I'd rather have a pick than Gordon at this point. I don't doubt that he's wanting another shot (pun not intended), but he could basically be had for nothing.

As for offense, I'm counting on growth from Goff, Gurley, Higbee, Hemingway, Cooper, Thomas, and Spruce in a great offensive system. Add in Reynolds and Sprinkle, and you have something. You don't need a number one wide receiver; you just need guys to fill certain roles on the team.

LACHAMP46 said:

Very well done Memento! Nicely played....Let see if Price is another Donald...undersized motor from Pitt.

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Price seems like a Dumervil clone. Maybe we make up for our mistake in 2006 with the Price pick?

Ramrocket said:

Really like this one Memento. Your best so far in my opinion. Would be stoked to get Kpassagnon in the 3rd. Well done

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Thank you! It's much appreciated. I'd be stoked to get him as well. He's the only one on my wish-list. I'd be saddened to see Seattle or Arizona take him. Don't expect the Whiners to take him with all of the defensive line players they have (with Armstead, Buckner, and possibly Solomon Thomas.)

StealYoGurley said:

Just my two cents, but I don't get the recent trend of not addressing the offense until the 4th round when we just hired an offensive coach who's main objective is developing Jared Goff.

This was the 32nd ranked offense that got rid of its top WR and TE without replacing the TE and signing a guy who has never had a season like the WR we lost. I just cant see an rookie offensive minded coach who is calling plays going from Reed, Desean, Garcon, Crowder, and Vernon Davis (while still spending a first rounder Josh Doctson) to Tavon, Woods, Higbee, and some mid round rookies.

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That's very much true, but let me address this personally. I'll be quite frank: I expect this to be a mini-rebuild. The offense hasn't gotten much of a chance to show off because of the poor system of Fisher and Boras. McVay is going to be evaluating all of the guys we've selected to see who fits and who doesn't. Tavon, Woods, Higbee, Hemingway, Cooper, Thomas, Spruce, and possibly others.

The best way to help Goff right now is with Gurley. We've beefed up the offensive line, we're likely going to be selecting a center in this year's draft and cross-training Wichmann as a center. Gurley and Dunbar are going to be getting a lot of touches to help out Goff.

The best way to help out what will be a running/play-action team? Build a dominating defense. The more three-and-outs we have, the better. Phillips is going to be wanting pieces for his defense, too. With this draft, you build a dominating secondary with Witherspoon, Webster, Kazee, Gaines, and possibly others at corner, Joyner and Alexander as safeties, Watt, a healthy Quinn, Barwin, Price, Tree, "The Executioner" Barron with Forrest and Hager as backups. That's not even counting the solid depth we have on the defensive line. Donald, Brockers, Easley. Those three will start, in my honest opinion. Add in a Kpassagnon to eventually replace Easley, and you have something.

I expect offense to be addressed next year. McVay realizes that he has to build a defense to help out a struggling offense. It's like they say: the best offense is a dominant defense.

Let's see how he does with the Skins.

Hopefully Benny can ball out with the Bears...except when they play us, of course.

Best of luck to him.

Snaz said:

4-1 disputes that.

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They started 3-1 and lost 4 games before the 3 FG game against the jets where Keenum got the game ball,followed by 7 more losses. Regardless the move to LA had less to do with the Rams problems than the lack of a move at the OC position.

Prime Time said:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/23/report-bears-finalizing-deal-with-mark-sanchez/

Report: Bears finalizing deal with Mark Sanchez
Posted by Michael Gehlken on March 23, 2017

Getty Images

Whatever cure is required for the quarterback situation in Chicago, it seems, won’t be found at this late stage in free agency. The best hope for remedy on the current roster comes in the form of Mike Glennon, he of 11 passes the past two seasons combined.

Depth, though, is depth.

The Bears appear on the brink of adding some.

Veteran journeyman Mark Sanchez is on the cusp of signing with the Bears, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. This will be the fifth NFL team for the ex-USC quarterback, who has bounced from the Jets to Eagles to Broncos to Cowboys and now Bears since 2014.

Sanchez, 30, completed 10 of 18 passes in his lone season with the Cowboys, notching 93 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

But it’s all relative.

Elsewhere on the Bears’ QB depth chart today, Glennon threw 11 passes in 2016, and Connor Shaw threw none. So 11 compared to Sanchez’ 18.

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Anyone want to make any Bets Da Bears Pick a QB in the 2nd round of the Draft!!?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/24/all-halftimes-will-be-13-minutes-30-seconds/

All halftimes will be 13 minutes, 30 seconds
Posted by Mike Florio on March 24, 2017

As the NFL looks to tighten the belt regarding the amount of time it takes to play a game, the league will be adopting a one-size-fits-all approach to halftime.

The duration of intermission will expand from 12 minutes to 13 minutes and 30 seconds. While on the surface that could make some games longer, the 12-minute intermission currently has some play in the joints. Moving forward, all halftimes will last precisely 13 minutes and 30 seconds.

“Halftime currently is 12 minutes, but there is built-in delay time that involves teams getting to the locker room and the infrastructure of our stadiums and how they’re configured,” Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said during a Thursday conference call. “So we’re going to eliminate all of those discretionary periods of time and just have a clock, 13 minutes and 30 seconds, and at the end of that period, the ball will be made ready for play for the second half kickoff.”

The change doesn’t appear on a lengthy list of proposed rule changes for 2017. Apparently, this is the type of administrative matter that the league office can handle without a vote of the owners.

Pretty good read, even though I got the jest of it by 9:22 am lol

Interesting stuff. I live near CNN headquarters and the tours are pretty cool, with the tour path taking you behind the scenes, behind the live news desks, elevated above camera sight and behind plate glass viewing. This sorta reminds me of that. The amount you see and the daily/hourly changes make it something worth doing more than once.

Chevy Chase was the drummer for a jazz trio that also had Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The latter two later became the founders and driving forces behind Steely Dan.

RamsVA said:

You might be right about Engram and Pocic being gone but it's not out of the question that they won't be there - meaning not too far of a stretch like thinking Garett Bolles makes it to the 3rd. Those early 2nd round picks are valuable to trade to teams looking for those that slipped out of the 1st round and looking for QBs in this draft class - kind of like how the Raiders grabbed Derek Carr. I'm very interested in what Cleveland does with the 1st pick of the 2nd round. If Cleveland's GM can't trade that pick for several he should resign.

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While I love the idea of trading back, I worry that we will see a big run on cornerbacks at the top of round 2. I know this is a deep corner draft but if teams suddenly start thinking they better grab the one they want the depth could go away pretty quickly. Position runs are quite common. Often they start near the end of round 1.

Excellent points Soul Surfer and welcome aboard! Two of our free agents are going to be huge in this transition in Barwin and Webster will play an especially huge role. Barwin being the elder statesman of the defense and a veteran of Wades system could see him being a silent type of captain. Also Webster will be huge with helping the DB's change to the more press style that Wade employs, our guys will be too used to Williams' soft/zone system. I said in the Barwin signing thread but I think he'll be as important in the Defense as Whitworth will be fore the Offense.

den-the-coach forgetting it takes two to tango:
WTH? That trade should not be allowed @DaveFan'51 is not really losing anyone, he just wants more picks...If we are going to play that way anyone up for Andrew Luck for your whole draft? What say you Cleveland?

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Again I have to say, how does this effect you? So the saints aren't drafting at #11 and the Vikings are. So? Why would Cleveland do that? It would end their draft.

Dave got a trade partner who was amenable and who is to say a trade is one sided? Maybe the GM has replacements in mind for a much lower cost to make improvements in other areas of need. I can't stick my head in on a trade and say a trade is a bad one for his team or another team or even that it's bad for the mock. Which IMO this isn't. The only thing I've stipulated is that you can't trade draft picks that you don't own which means any draft pick from 2018 or later. That's because you probably won't have the same team next year.

Things happen in the real draft that forces GMs to change their plans and this is no different. Though again, I don't see how this effects anyone else. Other than minimally.

Prefer lowering OT during the regular season to 10 mins. Not a fan of college football rules, feels very artificial and wouldn't be surprised if implemented; it'll be a wet dream come true for fantasy football junkies.

I'm no fan of Jeff Fisher but I'm not comfortable with members mocking him. If one of the admins or mods wants to unlock this then fine.

I am not a fan of this center class at all. Guys I do like a little more like Efflein and Roullier only have 1 more year of experience playing center than the guys on our roster who we are cross training and have never played center before. Others like Pocic, Toth, and Fuller are JAGs at best IMO. Brown, Wichman, or Donnal could easily be a JAG at center with upside for more without spending a draft pick. IMO the best course of action is signing vet insurance like Sullivan and let him compete with the guards we are cross training at center. The majority of last season Kromer and McVay played tall career guards at center with very good results. I like the potential of the guys we currently have on our roster more than pretty much every center prospect in this class

dolphinlover123 said:

I thought this was news. But it's not. But I totally missed this hiring. Sorry ya'll.

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Yeah you are two thousand and late.

jrry32 said:

Dave, you're missing the most important information...is he good at football?

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Oops! My Bad!! I'll try to be more accurate as we progress!!:shades::cheers:

tiger1971 said:

I'm just surprised they realise there are venues outside of London!

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They might not want to come at all after yesterday. Going about your business and mowed down on the pavement. Great times.

ScotsRam said:

I'll be at the Edinburgh event.

I met Isaac Bruce at an event before the London game in 2012 too. I think it's really cool that the NFL brings this sort of thing over to us.

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Did he understand anything you said??!

South Bronx Paradise diet?

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Riverumbbq said:

More than likely, I'd probably only change the 2'nd round pick from Njoku to CB Fabian Moreau, another potential late first rounder that just might slide down to us. I considered this when making the Sparq mock as Moreau graded at #2 in analytics among all CB's. Choosing Njuko over Moreau was more about TruJo returning to the lineup and the lack of experience & depth at TE, my thinking being that Njuko would likely bring a more immediate impact. jmo.

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Yes and no. Someone posted a piece on here a while back that basically proved that good corners are more necessary and impactful than ever before. The Rams currently have a huge hole at Corner, since Phillips scheme is designed to be played with press man corners. I am happy they signed Kayvon Webster but there still isn't another corner of that type on the roster. If they can get a very good one, then they should.

I also agree though, and have said myself that I would love an offensive playmaker, and they most likely would need to pick one at the top of round 2. I like Engram, but would be happy with Njoku. I would also be fine with Godwin. But, I am starting to think that they will go corner. Phillips defenses seem to hinge on great corner play. It really feels like a necessary element.

den-the-coach said:

Who do you think it is?

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Dunno. Just wasn't impressed by him.

Id like to see them enforce the already written laws of our country. The first being, it's felony to come into this country without permission. Once Ortega KNOWINGLY stepped over that international border, he became a felon. What other of our laws is he willing to break? Obviously theft.

Selassie I said:

Yeah... having a kicker on this list is laughable.

They aren't even real people.

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