NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - 2010 Offseason

[Ben Kenobi]

Brees was a free agent.

The Chargers should never have let him go. Always have loved Brees. I would have picked him this year, but you asshats got him before I did.

[DirtyMartini]

RB 21 Tomlinson, LaDainian CAR 223 YDS 730 AVG 3.3 TDS 12
RB 23 Thomas, Pierre CAR 147 YDS 793 AVG 5.4 TDS 6

You be the judge. Pierre also only played 14 games and started 6 or so.

TDs are largely a function of ego appeasement, especially when it comes to a declining back such as LT.

[Lord Avalon]

The Chargers should never have let him go. Always have loved Brees. I would have picked him this year, but you asshats got him before I did.

He had just suffered a significant shoulder injury, and they're paying big bucks for Rivers. Why would they then go and re-sign Brees for big bucks?

[Grandpa Troll]

RB 21 Tomlinson, LaDainian CAR 223 YDS 730 AVG 3.3 TDS 12
RB 23 Thomas, Pierre CAR 147 YDS 793 AVG 5.4 TDS 6

You be the judge. Pierre also only played 14 games and started 6 or so.

TDs are largely a function of ego appeasement, especially when it comes to a declining back such as LT.

Tis teh truthiness

Thanks so much for the info

[Grandpa Troll]

He had just suffered a significant shoulder injury, and they're paying big bucks for Rivers. Why would they then go and re-sign Brees for big bucks?

Great point

Afterall, its about a business decision, not based upon star struck fanboys!!!

[DirtyMartini]

They would have been crazy to keep Brees after they got him injured in the last game of the season.

I don't see a huge difference in productivity between Brees and Rivers. I see a huge gap in coaching between Payton and Turner.

[Ben Kenobi]

He had just suffered a significant shoulder injury, and they're paying big bucks for Rivers. Why would they then go and re-sign Brees for big bucks?

Why?

Because of timing. Brees and LT are the same age, so is Gates. All your weapons maturing on the same timeline means they are far more likely to peak at the same time.

As good as Rivers is, he is still maturing, still getting the hang of things. By going with Rivers over Brees, you lose 4 years of development.

You be the judge. Pierre also only played 14 games and started 6 or so.

TDs are largely a function of ego appeasement, especially when it comes to a declining back such as LT.

LT also only played 14 games, and started maybe 12. He was pulled late in the game. The only difference is that LT was successful when put in short-yardage situations, whereas Pierre Thomas was less successful.

This also has an effect on YPC. If you are doing short yardage, it will hurt your YPC as even a successful run may be only a yard or so. If Pierre Thomas was the back that LT is, they would not have used Bell in short yardage.

As for coaching, no argument there from me. Wish Marty were back, Bolts would have a ring already.

[Ming]

I don't see a huge difference in productivity between Brees and Rivers. I see a huge gap in coaching between Payton and Turner.

Now dats true

[DirtyMartini]

He was pulled late in the game because Sproles was much more effective.

Let's assume all of LTs TDs were 0 yard gains. Let's assume it took him two tries to score each of them. That would give him 730 yards on 199 carries for a 3.6 yard average in anything other than goal to go situations. Not stellar.

Don't get me wrong -- LT in his prime was the most electrifying runner I had ever, personally, seen. He just does not have it any more. Not even close. I'd rate him an average back at this point. He would be an excellent value as a change of pace back someplace like Cincinnati or Cleveland.

[SlowwHand]

According to the Indianapolis Star, 11 fans greeted the Colts as they returned to town Monday afternoon.

But that Midwestern spirit always shines through.

"We wanted to show our civil pride," said Paul Calhoun, Karen Calhoun's husband. And another onlooker, Marilyn Kurek, added "We still beat out 30 other teams."

They should put that on a t-shirt.

Exactly right. Better than most. Better than all but one.

There should have been more fans, and the team should have not sequestered itself from the fans.

[Ben Kenobi]

He was pulled late in the game because Sproles was much more effective.

Late in which game?

Tolbert got the late carries, not Sproles.

Let's assume all of LTs TDs were 0 yard gains. Let's assume it took him two tries to score each of them. That would give him 730 yards on 199 carries for a 3.6 yard average in anything other than goal to go situations. Not stellar.

Lets assume that he took 3, and that he was successful 2/3rds of the time. That gives him a total of 54 carries in 'goaline' situations, inside the 10. This gives him a 4.14 average in non-goalines situations.

Don't get me wrong -- LT in his prime was the most electrifying runner I had ever, personally, seen. He just does not have it any more. Not even close. I'd rate him an average back at this point. He would be an excellent value as a change of pace back someplace like Cincinnati or Cleveland.

He's a starting value. If Pierre Thomas is an unquestioned starter, than LT with twice as much production is within the top 10 of Running backs out there.

[Lord Avalon]

@ Ben.

The Saints scored 510 pts this season. They're hardly in need of an over-the-hill running back who might score a few more TDs.

Let's go to Football Outsiders and see their 2009 RB ratings:

Out of 50 backs with over 100 rushes, Pierre Thomas is 5th in DYAR and FIRST in DVOA; LaDanian Tomlinson is 42nd and 41st. Not even close to top ten.

[DirtyMartini]

I admit the goalline carry bit I came up with is quite the abstraction, but you can't seriously argue that scoring 12 touchdowns in 54 goalline attempts would make him an effective short yardage back.

[SlowwHand]

@ Ben.

The Saints scored 510 pts this season. They're hardly in need of an over-the-hill running back who might score a few more TDs.

Let's go to Football Outsiders and see their 2009 RB ratings:

Out of 50 backs with over 100 rushes, Pierre Thomas is 5th in DYAR and FIRST in DVOA; LaDanian Tomlinson is 42nd and 41st. Not even close to top ten.

What was Bell? As good as Bush is, do you consider him a feature back?
If the Cowboys take him instead, to go with Barber, Jones and Choice, guess what? I'll be thrilled ****less.

[Tuberski]

RB 21 Tomlinson, LaDainian CAR 223 YDS 730 AVG 3.3 TDS 12 Age 31
RB 23 Thomas, Pierre CAR 147 YDS 793 AVG 5.4 TDS 6 Age 25

You be the judge. Pierre also only played 14 games and started 6 or so.

TDs are largely a function of ego appeasement, especially when it comes to a declining back such as LT.

Yes, Ben I'd take Thomas.

ACK!