NFL Football - 2012 Season Thread

[Al B. Sure!]

By trading for Marshall, who is a better WR than V-Jax, the Bears clearly are going to push for Williams and go OL heavy in the draft.

GREAT move by new Bears GM Phil Emery!

Where was my support when I had an argument with Ben about this very issue? Marshall is a top 5 WR. Jackson is overrated.


Marshall for two 3rd rounders is a huge steal. A 27 year old 3x Pro Bowler with five 1000 yard seasons. He may be a headcase but his talent is undeniable.

[Donegeal]

You didn't need support. Ben was talking out of his ass and everybody else knew it, so we didn't bother.

[demonbinder]

Great move by the Bears and at a good price, too. Really looking forward now to what other moves they make. Still have lots of cap room, too so maybe they can still get Williams. I've also heard a couple of names of OL they are talking with.

[Ming]

Gee... It's nice having a real GM for a change.

[-Jrabbit]

Looks like Mario is headed to Buffalo. The new GM there is promising to make him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.

Redskins have now added Garcon, Josh Morgan and Eddie Royal. They REALLY overpaid for Garcon -- $42.5MM for 5 years. That's more than Colston got.

[Ming]

True enough...

By Dan Pompei, Tribune reporter

6:44 p.m. CDT, March 13, 2012
Mario Williams proved to be a bit rich for the Bears’ tastes, but they may have found a defensive end more in their price range.

The team has set its sights on former Jaguar Jeremy Mincey and is moving to try to secure a deal. They may not be alone in their pursuit of Mincey, who came into his own last year.

The 28-year old had eight sacks and was a productive run player for the Jaguars. His try-hard style would fit in well with the Bears.

Mincey was drafted by the Patriots and also was with the 49ers before joining the Jaguars.

Signing him could preclude the Bears from re-signing Israel Idonije, who is a free agent.

Williams is visting with the Bills tonight.

[-Jrabbit]

I'll say one thing for the new GM, Phil Emery -- he's decisive.

Bears signed QB Jason Campbell to a one-year contract.

The Bears appear to have learned from the ghosts of Caleb Hanie after the lack of a suitable backup to Jay Cutler doomed their 2011 season. It's a poor landing spot for Campbell from a playing time perspective, as Cutler had missed just one career start since becoming a starter in 2007 before his freak thumb break last season. He'll llikely be paid as one of the league's top backups, however, and will get to test the market again in 2013.

[-Jrabbit]

Also, I'm officially upgrading this first day of free agency in importance on my annual NFL calendar.
Much more fun than the boredom of the draft!

[Al B. Sure!]

Jason Campbell is probably the best backup QB in the league. It's always good when you have a borderline starter as a backup.

[-Jrabbit]

Wow, quite the feeding frenzy today. Now the V-Jax sweepstakes are over...

Bucs agreed to terms with Vincent Jackson a five-year, $55.555 million contract, including $26 million guaranteed.

Jackson will earn $26 million over the first two years and $36 million over the first three, topping Santonio Holmes' $24 million guaranteed from last year. The Bucs jumped in feet-first, causing V-Jax's other suitors to fall by the wayside. Jackson will immediately slot in as the No. 1 receiver in Tampa, sending Mike Williams to No. 2 and Arrelious Benn to a situational role. Expect Jackson's fantasy stock to decline with a quarterback downgrade and coach Greg Schiano's traditionally run-heavy offensive attack.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mar 13 - 8:24 PM

Note to self: Upgrade Josh Freeman's upside...

[OzzyKP]

Looks like Mario is headed to Buffalo. The new GM there is promising to make him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.

Redskins have now added Garcon, Josh Morgan and Eddie Royal. They REALLY overpaid for Garcon -- $42.5MM for 5 years. That's more than Colston got.

What?! The Skins overpaid for a player?!

[-Jrabbit]

I know, right?

The Morgan and Royal contracts are actually pretty reasonable.
Don't the Skins still have Santana Moss and Gaffney as well? Seems like somebody's gotta go.

[Al B. Sure!]

I know, right?

The Morgan and Royal contracts are actually pretty reasonable.
Don't the Skins still have Santana Moss and Gaffney as well? Seems like somebody's gotta go.

And Donte Stallworth. And Anthony Armstrong. And their 2nd year guys, Leonard Hankerson and Niles Paul.

Guess Armstrong, Stallworth, and Gaffney will be out. Probably preseason cuts since Josh Morgan and Eddie Royal may not work out either.

[-Jrabbit]

First day of free agency is almost like a fantasy draft.

Waiting for the RB run...

[Al B. Sure!]

First day of free agency is almost like a fantasy draft.

Waiting for the RB run...

Not the most exciting bunch, headlined by bruisers Michael Bush, Cedric Benson, Brandon Jacobs, and Mike Tolbert.

[SlowwHand]

Michael Bush did well when he had the chance. The problem with Benson isn't on the field.

[-Jrabbit]

Meachem to San Diego btw...

[rah]

And the sideshow begins. I hope he didn't punch that lady in a bar. But welcome to Chicago. All that noise he made saying he would like to reunite with his buddy had some impact.

[SlowwHand]

Wayne returns to Colts on three-year deal.

[Al B. Sure!]

And the sideshow begins. I hope he didn't punch that lady in a bar. But welcome to Chicago. All that noise he made saying he would like to reunite with his buddy had some impact.

Happened on Sunday, too. Looks like that motivated the Dolphins to make the trade.

[SlowwHand]

The Cowboys have found their backup quarterback to Tony Romo.

The team agreed to a three-year contract Wednesday with Kyle Orton, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Orton, of course, spent the final three games of last season starting for the Chiefs after he was waived by the Broncos.

The Cowboys have invested in Orton, and this is a good move.

I'm glad he thinks so.

[rah]

Kyle is a very serviceable back-up.

[Al B. Sure!]

Orton may now surpass Jason Campbell for best backup QB


Desean Jackson signed a 5-year $51 million deal. Considering how he acted in a contract year, let's see how he acts now that he's been paid.


And for Lori, maybe Robert Griffin will bring change to Washington:

[Al B. Sure!]

Saw this picture of Calvin Johnson presumably signing his contract:



And it occurred to me that two of the greatest WR's (with Larry Fitz) of this era both wear glasses off the field. Nothing much to it but interesting. I remember one play that Larry Fitz had to come out because his contacts fell out or moved or something.

[Al B. Sure!]

Ochocinco treated 200 fans to dinner in Harlem:

He tweeted: "Dinner in NY tonight --> 1st 200 people at Sylvia's Restaurant by 7 pm in Harlem. Leave ya money/credit cards at home. I got you this time."

The icing on the cake Monday night was Chad giving his new cell number to all his new "family members."

Although on Tuesday afternoon, he was upset more people hadn't actually used it. He went to his Twitter account to let them know: "I gave 200 people my number and only 13 people have texted me. That's rhino drpppings!!! I gave you my number to use it [expletive], let's go."

Is he really that lonely he wants random people texting him a lot?

Then, I remembered:



Ocho

Slowwhand for hating on Ocho

[SlowwHand]

Whatever, Al.

Peyton Hillis leaves Browns for fresh start with Chiefs

[Donegeal]

That's a very potent 1-2 punch for KCs running game.

[-Jrabbit]

Assuming Charles' rehab goes well, yes, absolutely.

[Al B. Sure!]

And Laurent Robinson is off the board, as well.

The Jaguars and Laurent Robinson agreed to a five-year, $32.5 million contract Wednesday evening. The deal includes $14 million guaranteed.

The Jags also added Chad Henne on a 2-year deal.

Laurent Robinson is making a lot for a guy who was a bust until spot duty last year.

His five-year, $32.5 million deal includes $14 million guaranteed. We don’t know details of the structure.

But DeSean Jackson reportedly got $15 million guaranteed on his five-year deal. Pierre Garcon's guarantee amounts to only $600,000 more per year over the life of the deal than Robinson is getting. And Reggie Wayne's three-year contract includes 7.5 million guaranteed.

Is Robinson in their class? I don’t feel like he is.

Neither does Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.

“They paid way too much,” Williamson said. “He has skills for sure, but wow is he brittle. So slender, and if he is forced into a prominent No. 1 receiver type of role, he is going to take a pounding.”

Mario Manningham is visiting the 49ers but that's becoming a quickly crowded WR corps with Randy Moss and Crabtree in a run-first offense.

Oh yeah and Eddie Royal did NOT sign with the Redskins. He's still looking... also, at the 49ers.

[-Jrabbit]

Laurent Robinson did the right thing -- let the market shake out ta bit, then sign the biggest guarantee out there.
A journeyman player only gets one shot to cash in. Good for him.