He didn’t even have to ask, it was obvious something happened between them in the Ladies room (hair out of place, smeared lipstick, tossed clothes), after all he was the one who introduced Brenda to Erika.
“Ok we can leave now, take us back to your place”, Brenda said to him as they approached.
Being the gentleman he is he politely opened the door for them and escorted them to his car.
“You’ll get a participation trophy tonight”, Brenda whispered to him as he opened the car door.
Whoa hold-on, wait a minute-wrong blog!
A Sonny Postmortem
Excuse me, that wasn’t supposed to be on here, that was for something else…
But now that you mention it – Should the Dolphins get a participation trophy for making the playoffs this year?
How about a proverbial trophy, or is it just an atta-boy.
Don’t make me list all of the accomplishments of this season, I know we started 1-4 and then a firecracker went off in the teams ass, they were pumping out wins so fast no one had time to notice the injuries piling up, the young players maturing but also struggling, a coaching staff taking hold with a clear direction, followed by consequences when someone tries their own direction. We just kept winning, it was glorious.
So what are we left with?
Are good or are we lucky?
I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it’s both. – Forrest Gump
Are we better because we made the playoffs or are we better and made the playoffs?
I think a solid core is emerging that will lead this team to become a perennial playoff contender no matter how bitter yesterday’s loss was. I think in large part it starts with Jarvis Landry, it starts there and spreads through guys like Wake and Suh, Albert and Pouncey followed by a host of 1-3 yr players. We’ve had some decent success in the draft recently and we’re beginning to see it evolve. Injuries took their toll on a fragile roster and clearly defined the cracks that need to be addressed and that will be discussed profoundly over the next several months.
So we enter at least this post season with a bit of a hop in our step for at least participating in the playoffs. Equal growth into next season would make the 2017 Dolphins pretty formiddable.
If you want to crown ’em – crown ’em
They’re who we thought they were…
Thanks Coach Gase. You gave us hope what more could we ask for.
Finsmob Unleashed 
Keeping Jones is a must. Our safety play without him was horrible.
But he’s not a UFA. We have a lot of other players we need to re-sign who are FAs and we need to add some upgrades at other positions.
I’m just playing Devil’s advocate here. We’ll see if the team looks to give him a raise/extension this year. They didn’t this past season.
Tim
There are a handful of players that are even worth listening to if they did say they want a raise. He wants his last big contract, it’s not so unreasonable. He’s been a very good player for us, and even when he was hurt, he was still there helping his teammates. He’s a team player, and I think he deserves it. Besides maybe 4 or 5 players on this team, if they asked for a raise, I’d tell them to go F themselves.
Tim
Go play devils advocate with the Jets roster, I want to keep one of our own good players! 🙂
I actually don’t see a rush in signing Jones unless its leads to freeing up more money
he’s under contract
we don’t know if he returns to form after injury
he will be a year older next year
why not wait
Well he has a shoulder injury so it shouldn’t slow him down or anything, unless it becomes and ongoing issue. I worry more about leg injuries with guys because if they can’t move well they can’t play.
We told him we’d take care of him, and so far we haven’t. He’s 28, and in his prime. Just sign him for 4 years, do the right thing so we don’t have a holdout situation. Not that I think he’s right for holding out, but if they said they would take care of him, then he’s not completely wrong either.
They did take care of him with a new deal in 2014. That’s what I don’t understand why this is a big issue.
The contract is up at the end of next season. If I were him, I’d want another contract in hand, Wouldn’t you?
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article126354644.html
Not that I wish bad weather on anyone, but an inch of ice could make it interesting to watch. Could be Ice Bowl 2.
—————————-
Sunday’s Steelers-Chiefs divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium remains on schedule as Chiefs, NFL and Kansas City, Mo., officials monitor an approaching ice storm.
On Friday morning, The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning which forecasts the possibility freezing rain that could last through Sunday afternoon. The storm may lead to as much as an inch of ice accumulation that would make travel “dangerous or impossible. The Chief said, “We are monitoring the weather situation closely with the league office.”
“Citing “public safety concerns,” the NFL moved kickoff of the Pittsburgh Steelers-Kansas City Chiefs AFC divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, originally scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET Sunday, to 8:20 p.m. ET. ”
Weather coming must be real bad. Might turn out less than predicted, but the new kickoff time shouldn’t.
I agree. Bring on the ice!
Thanks Stanger, I think I’ll pass on DR. Was looking for a place to go in the Caribbean. Been to Bahamas and Aruba.
Check out San Juan (Caribbean with city and culture) and Costa Rico (even if that is based just on good reports).
All depends on what you want…..but Saint Martin’s is a better Aruba and US or British Virgins are awesome.
Howie, have you noticed the difference the TE has made in KC this year? Keller has pushed them to elite level .
It can be dangerous outside of tourist areas like many of the Caribbean destinations. No worse than most, but you just have to not venture too far trying to explore culture, which is sad since that’s the cool part of going to those places.
Mike I see McKinley as you and Piggy. I don’t think his coverage skills are evident enough to see him as a safe 4-3 OLB. I think he is more a 3-4 OLB than anything.
If you want a true 4-3 MLB you probably want Beckwith. He is about as much if a prototype at the position as anyone I have seen in this class that has 3 down potential. It’s all about what we are looking for. Beckwith is going to man the MLB, I don’t think he has as much position flexibility as maybe Foster or Cunningham. I think Cunningham has tge best football IQ of all prospects and that is a big deal IMO. I also think that Cunningham showed well despite not having a team of first rounders around him like Davis and Foster had. Davis is the best pure leader of the bunch. He really commanded that gator defense. Da h if these guys have their things that they are top at, which is great because no matter which we get tgey will bring something special to our team. I prefer Cunningham the best, but if it’s any if these top guys I’m going g to very happy for us. Only guy that’s rated hugh that I think is severely overrated is McMillan. I am not a fan of his.
Jones was looking for 12per btw. I don’t think he has the leverage for that now, but he isn’t looking for 9. We need to take this next season to look at this situation. I wouldn’t try negotiating with him until mid way through the year next year. Let him get back and bring it, and then pay the nan what he us worth. I’d be all for keeping him, but I’m not ignoring last year when I make my offer, and he is going to hold out for more than that. It’s best we just let the upcoming season dictate this.
^
D, if we retain Alonso, what LBs would you like to play alongside him – one from FA and one from the draft?
Collins or Minter from. FA to be the SLB, and Cunningham or Beckwith to man the MLB, move Alonzo to WLB. I gave you two, because I’m not sure Cunningham will be there when we pick. We would have really solid blitz, containment and gap stuffing package with those guys, and a WAY better coverage group.
I have several different sets of pairings including some that would be get a more pure fun stuffer MLB like boulware, but we would need to keep Jenkins or draft a coverage specialist to pair with him because he us weak there
I like to be fluid in my draft strategy so I can miss O. A guy yet still keep on trucking in the draft. That’s one of the reasons I’m e cited by this draft. So much talent, it’s easy to just pick up a BPA and still hit on a fall back option
Go to Cuba….
My niece and her girlfriend just went there and had a great time, although the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting delayed them for quite a bit coming home. The pictures they took takes you back in time, it looks like the 1950’s with the cars etc.
Yeah it’s kinda neat, it’s like the land that ti.e forgot.
As far as TE discussion. Look if they take a TE, the felt like they needed one and if we improve our team in any way that makes us more viable, I’m all for it. I think TE actually could open our offense up done so I don’t see it as a waste or unneeded, even if I may prefer us picking otherwise
I don’t think targeting a play making TE hurts addressing other needs. He doesn’t have to be a star either, but a guy who can bust the seam from time to time and get some chunk yards. It can’t hurt. Hopefully Duarte become a playmaker as well. The more skill you have the harder it is to defend.
D, I’m not a fan of 2-down LBs in today’s game. If you have one or find one at low cost that’s fine, but I wouldn’t target one. You want all your LBs to be able to cover some ground. I like the group you picked though. I think you can also move that group around and not just be set in stone at any one position. We need more speed both mentally and physically.
D
What if he starts off the first half of the season really well, a few INT’s, 60+ combined tackles, are you willing to give him $12M like he wants, or lose him? Maybe he would take 4 years of about $9M per.
I just don’t get creating a need when you have what you’re looking for, and keeping him.
So he’s gonna hold out all of 2017 and then demand top dollar with no game tape for 27+ possible games?
IDK. I see A LOT of Kelvin Sheppard in Kendall Beckwith. A LOT. I also see a lot of Odrick in Solomon Thomas.
The more I watch Ryan Anderson the more I like him as the first choice for LB for this team. I like Foster better but I like Anderson more than Cunningham at this point. I think you put Anderson at SOLB and it’s going to be nearly impossible to run to his side. He also covers well and can rush the passer. He’s relentless in his pursuit and plays to the whistle. Non-stop motor.
Those Alabama LBs are awesome
I can’t remember seeing 3 like that it no one college team ever
Tim
I’m not worried about his end of the issue, I’m worried about ours. We’re better with him in there, and if we want to go further next season, he will probably be a big reason why we can.
So does he play under contract or holdout if we say not this year? Our record with him is below .500.
2 years into his new 4 year deal he wanted a raise. Like D said, I look at a mid-season extension if he’s balling, not in the offseason
Is there any reason to think he won’t play under his current contract?
I really don’t know where this is all coming from…
Tim Knight says:
January 13, 2017 at 10:12 pm (Edit)
So does he play under contract or holdout if we say not this year? Our record with him is below .500.
************************
This post is so unlike you, a total oversimplification of the situation. Really, we’re 1 game below .500 with our best safety? Our record is dependent on 1 player, our S? I’ve seen you type a thousand times you can’t put a team record on a QB, but you can put it on a safety?
By that logic, we don’t need to upgrade our LB’s, because we won 9 out of 10 with them. We’re good.
Just answer me this. Is he one of the 3 best defensive players on our team, considering quality of play, age, etc.?
I can see taking a chance, having him play for a contract, you usually get your best play out of players in those spots, but I would just hate to have a protracted holdout. In my opinion he deserves the contract, but that’s just my opinion.
Mike E — I want Reshad here long term, but the situation is different than firt time around with him when he was a playing for 5th round money but putting out like he went in the first. Dude has $7 mil coming his way next year, which will finish of a contract in which he got paid $28 mil.
So his needs for a big cash-in and life-time security aren’t there nearly like before, which makes a deal at a discount less likely. But I’m all for locking him down. Since his cap hit is already $8 mil…..might actually lower it next season even if his per year money goes up.
Mike, I think Reshad is thinking too much about poor Reshad. Yes $8,037,938 is just no way to live. Go out and play in 2017 and earn that $12-14M per that you seek. I guess I don’t think he’s all that. He’s not that much of a difference maker.
If he is asking for top $
You have nothing to lose by letting him play out his contract
Jones is not priority IMO
Stills, Simms, Landry
Then you can turn to Jones
I think jones could and should be in the top 3 highest paid safeties in the league. I would rather have him on the team than not. It’s not our money so why do we care.
Salary cap
Steve, the contract I mentioned doesn’t kill the cap, and it’s also commensurate with what he should be paid
Maybe I’m wrong on this, but I think if we offered him a 4 YR/$35M deal, he would take it. I don’t think he’s worth $12-14M either. On the other hand, defense is a weakness on this team, and I know everyone thinks it will magically get better with 2 more LB’s, but Reshad is the guy who will clean up those missed tackles by the LB’s. Reshad is OUR guy, homegrown here, and he’s the best guy we have on the backend. I would hate to not have him. We saw how bad the coverage was in the middle of the field when he wasn’t there, he helps there. He does have 16 INT’s, not to mention 3 TD returns on INT’s. Not sure why Tim says he’s not a difference maker, I think he clearly is.
I don’t think he would take that at all. That’s not even 9 mil. Only way he would jump on that is if that was fully guaranteed and even then I bet he would hesitate. You are basically asking him to play the next 4 years and same rate he is being paid now. Also 4 years as an extension included this coming year so we’re you looking for 4 more years or 3 more that the current?
My thought would be fallback options. Like I might resign Jenkins as a back and rotational starter at MLB as well as a coverage specialist in certain down and distance packages. Once I had him the options open up for a guy like boulware to be a guy who might be a steal. His coverage isn’t good but if it’s a point of training with him and not a physical limitation, the we got a steal and Jenkins gives us a chance e to evaluate.
Boulware and the way he plays reminds me a lot of keuchkly, with the one exception that keuchkly was better a better coverage LB.
Reshad is a top 5 NFL strong safety
That’s right and he also knows that which is why if you don’t pay him what he believes he is worth, he lets someone else do it. 9 mil per isn’t going to cut it and personally I don’t pay him right now, I pay him once I see everything is OK, and that he is ready to ball out next year. I wouldn’t let him hit FA, but after injury I’d for sure test the goods before buying. Last year I would have made him an offer early no problem. I’m not doing it this year until I see him back on the field and can evaluate
His current contract is 4YR/$28M, $15M guaranteed. – Give him 4YR/$35M, $20M guaranteed – That’s a $1.75M raise per season, plus $5M more guaranteed.
D
Just hypothetical, because neither of us know what he plans to do, but say he decides he’s going to hold out unless he gets an offer, and he misses training camp and the preseason, and maybe a couple of games. Is it worth it to try and negotiate with him so that doesn’t happen?
He won’t hold out, he doesn’t have to be just refuses the contract he doesn’t want. Im not talking hold out man, I’m talking about what it takes to resign. Be holds the cards right now and he only signs if he gets what he wants from us. Otherwise he just balls out next year and goes to highest bidder. Only thing we can do right now to sweeten the resign is to offer guarantees that make it less risky for him to gamble getting the 12 from someone else. So if you know all his asking price, it’s going to have to come with heavy guarantees. That’s always the trade off with players, big contract or bigger guarantees.
Lou I have been a fan of Anderson for a while, have liked him better than Tim Williams since I started really watching him. I liked Foster better than Ragland last year and was hoping he would come out then. I don’t like him better than Cunningham if you are talking about the MLB position, as an ILB, sure, but I’m thinking MLB for Cunningham. Hell if Anderson stays a second round option, skip LB if FA and draft both, use FA for something else. My thoughts right now though is SOLB in FA, because there are some real good ones out there this year, and getting our MLB from draft. Alonzo at WOLB but able to shift into MLB position, a guy like Collins at SOLB who can do the same and a MLB like Cunningham who can go sideline to sideline. That’s a sick LB unit.
Tyrann Mathieu is the top paid safety in the league.
He gets $12.5 mil per year
5th best paid safety is Devin McCourty.
He tabs in at $9.5 mil.
Know their is inflation, guarantees (plus back-ended fake ones) and agree that Reshad deserves top 5 money in the next class if we re-sign, but also think if he does we should get a discount cause he is coming off injury (way it works).
So if we go with locking up Reshad long-term before next season……my range is $11-12 per for like four years.
And btw — he was already the 10th best paid safety last year.
Do you really think he considers himself 5th best. Come on guys. He considers himself the best, as do all these guys when they are the top guy in FA. You base the thing off where he ranks vs the FA class, and he us the top. Your leverage does include where people see you compared to other to players, but more so supply and demand rules, so he gets paid a lot based upon the fact that he is the best option at safety next year. Woukd actually have been better if he was a FA this year with Eric Berry and cyprien to compete with, his injury with their performances would have made him a more manageable negotiation. He balls out next year, he’s the top guy and he makes top money.
Hell Eric Berry and cyprien probably make as much or more than what you guys are saying us what reshad would accept.
D — wasn’t going to what Reshad thinks……was going to what I think ($11-12 mil). No way I would give him #1 S money after the injury. And actually might be best for the team next year to put him into a contract year incentive.
Also wouldn’t mind taking a safety high (they come cheap in the draft). Might both make us better next season and give us more leverage in contract negotiations with Jones.
L
In think to go along with the statement of why do we care it’s not our money when talking about the team spending also start to ask yourself if I’m in their position, not yours where millions a year is already a crazy amount of money, do I hold out for what I believed I’m worth, for as much as I can so that if I get hurt and they cut me i got the most I could for that time, do I take what they want or hold out for someone to give me what I want. It’s dog eat dog in the NFL, so you get guarantees or you wring every dime out if them you can.
If I’m regard an the team says extending you 4-35 fully guaranteed I’m probably really close to putting ink to papers. The guaranteed amount it really all they can count on so that means more to them than anything. You could say 12 mil per, 4 years 35 mil guaranteed and bits the same flipping contract to me because you are probably planning on cutting me after I’m done with most my guarantees anyway (or at least that’s their thoughts on it) and team is thinking same things. We are fans we want there to be a relationship there that isn’t when it comes to contracts. Players are going to do what’s best for them and sign whatever contract is best for them an team us going to offer what’s best for them. It’s just the reality if all this.
Reshad not regard
I guess Mike what I’m saying is I could see maybe 4-40, 30 guaranteed bring enticing, likely getting a signature, 4-35 35 woukd almost guarantee a signature, but again we are tied to that number for next 4 years. He us dead money any year he doesn’t play so it means we have now work around his contract with other negations instead of having any flexibility towards the end of it to count it as a “might be off the books”
You also have to think about what that contract says to him being he is 28. He has to consider that if the team does keep him 2 years of the contact, he edits it as a 30 year old at a skill position. This is generally where contracts get smaller and the guarantees get much smaller, so thus contract has to be his money maker. He has to get guarantees he will get his money before he us kicked to the curb.
Damn I broke the blog
D,
I’m hoping we sign one of the better OG’s in FA so we could double down on D in the 1st two rds. Right now I’m leaning heavily towards McKinley as a SOLB. DBolt has me watching tape of Tanoh Kpassagnon from Villanova at DE but I’m not so sure I’d want to take him in the 2nd.
There’s a strong possibility Anderson doesn’t make it out of the 1st rd. Ideally, I’d be thrilled with Tak in the 1st and Anderson in the 2nd but that’s a pipe dream.
However, if we could get Tak in the 1st it’s going to be tough to get a DE in the 2nd and get the value. May want to trade back a bit and then go that way.
In any case, right now, Tak is the guy I’m wanting in the 1st. There’s a few guys who I think could b really good for this team: 1. Tak 2. Taco 3. Anderson. They would be my top 3 picks for the Phins at #22 in that order.
Jones’ contract is going to be closer to $40-45M than it is to $35M.
Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell 17m
17 minutes ago
Falcons LB Vic Beasley led NFL in sacks. Last week Clemson coach Dabo Swinney texted him, “Still wish we’d kept you at running back?”
WILL BE WORKING most of the next 10 weekends after this one. Lucky me!
MRS. OD says she has “something special” for me tomorrow, which just
happens to be my birthday. –Better rest up.
OD — you turning 49 again? 🙂
And early happy B-Day to you, but only tell us about the Mrs’ special thing if it is PG rated.
Happy birthday OD I hope you have a great one.
interesting TE update as well as OG and WR.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article126085604.html
Yeah stanger that’s why I said let him play it out, earn the 12 mil per if he shows he still deserves it. I think 11 to 12 per with decent guarantees on a 4 year extension works fine for me if by mid way next season he shows he is the Reshad of years past. He is truly a very unique blend of great play and pass recognition, solid run support, blitzing ability, and leadership. You don’t improve your team losing that guy, but he list leveraging chips. I do think though you have to look at what he believes he us worth with anticipating what offer he might accept, so I’m more arguing 9 mil isn’t going to cut it right now than I am we should do 12 right now.
I think ppl are forgetting that Jones was playing with his injury. That right there says to me he’s worth keeping around. Some guys stub their toes and can’t play. Misi hurts his back picking up a gum wrapper and he’s out for a week or two.
Other big guy coming into a contract year is Landry…..feel different about him. I say lock him up now cause think he is the heart of the team, plus he is still on that rook contract.
Much as I love Reshad the player, take a colder look to him. Don’t sense the crew leader and his early holdouts still turn me off (even if that might have been his agent). Can actually get one year before contract is up, but not two years.
Lou I wasn’t us to either get zeitler in FA, a guy I think is both best fit and best target as he us a good zone RG, with good ability in run and pass blocking. If we get him I may still target a guy like Pocic in the second, but it makes it easier for use to wait another round or two and take a guy like orlosky who is more pure OC. We do need that backup to Pouncey next year.
I also believe the DE class is way deeper than some. Go watch a few of the “second tier” guys like Cox JR, or deshaun hall, dawuane smooth, Justin Smith, etc. It’s not a big dropoff and looks to be more development needed than anything. Most those guys will be play right away, but they will learn a little on the job. I’m not worried about that as long as we bring Branch back. There are some other guys even deeper like deatrich wise jr, and bowser the guy out of Houston I think could be beasts in the NFL. Very deep class to me.
I want not wasn’t
I know it’s not a real football movie but I friggin love the original “The Longest Yard”. Great movie
Don’t forget our great history
https://twitter.com/alpoppie25/status/820333089717186561
Oddly enough, Landry is perfect timing on his contract year. Look at all the top receivers coming into contract year at the same time.
I still think he will get paid by someone very very well but there should be a lot more demand for guys like Mike Evans, Allen Robinson, OBJ, Watkins, Benjamin, Cooks, Jordan Mathews, all of which have become the top guy on their clubs. Then you have other guys who also are pretty good and integral part of their current teams like Devante Adams, Josh Huff, Martavius Bryant, and Donte Moncreif.
I think a lot of teams do a lot of resigning their guys which really dictates what we do and how much. If we are on the front end of those resigns we probably get a much better contract vs waiting until later.
One thing I forgot about is all those teams have the ability to do 5th year options on their guys, so aside from those second tier guys and I thin Jordan Matthews, we don’t have that kind of leverage
https://twitter.com/theflyingpig44/status/820350332161183746
Linebackers!!!
Lol come on Piggy lol
What?
You don’t like linebacker?!?!
Man the announcers were right, why the hell did Atlanta not choose to receive. Seattle plays at their worst on offense if the are behind.
But it worked out pretty good, but I agree.
Bud Dupree’s got fined $18,000 for his hit on Moore. Think that is about the same as what Jarvis ponied up for excessive celebration the week before.
Phillip Wheeler cabrone
Seattle’s D sucks or do they have TOO many guys out?
Deon Jones….
Stanger, Jarvis Landry got fined almost 50,000 for the celebration thing
They’ve fucked with the what is a catch rule so much that the Seattle receiver caught the ball, was tackles to the ground, it popped up and was intercepted. No catch, because the catch wasnt completed to ground, but how could here be an int, if the receiver hit ground before it came loose?
So no BS calls in the first game, but right away…
Oh fuck this game
Houston stands no chance against these refs
AS NOTED EARLIER, on this day, 45 years ago, the final chapter of THE PERFECT SEASON was written. It also represents the 45th anniversary of THE LAST TIME I GOT SHIT-FACED!! –YEP, YOUR’S TRULY could barely stand-up 3 hours after the final whistle blew!!
————-
Some friends asked me “what are you going to do tomorrow?” Well, since the 15th WAS, and IS, my birthday, I DECIDED TO KEEP DRINKING!! –But I was STILL SOOO-O-O-O HAPPY, I barely noticed the headache that didn’t go away for most of the day.
————
Tomorrow I will have one drink with dinner and, perhaps, one later. I’ll be legally sober for this birthday!!
Go Texans they are making it interesting
Not for nothing but the Texans are hitting Brady hard
Good
Make him bleed
I knew you would be happy
The difference in the game is the BS PI they called on Texans, and the blatant PI they didn’t call on Edelman.
Let’s go Texans
If that team had a quarterback. Osweiller is horrible
Did you see him get his colostomy bag knocked off?
He had to reattach his bunghole
Cunningham finally announced he is declaring for the draft.
Woop woop
Osweiller sucks
Osweiller finally makes a great throw and it’s dropped
Texans defense is excellent but they just don’t have enough offense to win this game
Another Osweiller int. This one is done I am going to bed. Peace
These first six games of the playoffs have been more uncompetitive than I can ever remember. Hopefully we see some good games today.
stangerx says:
January 14, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Bud Dupree’s got fined $18,000 for his hit on Moore. Think that is about the same as what Jarvis ponied up for excessive celebration the week before.
*
Stanger,
I was thinking the same thing. They really need a concrete discipline policy regarding fines: 5k for this, 8k for that, goes up 50% if it’s your second offense, etc. It’s really not that hard.
Landry got a total fine of 24K for that and yelling or something. Dupree didn’t even get fined for his other hit to the helmet.
The two fines together were supposed to be like forty-some thousand (but there might have been an increase for two in one game). He only ended up paying less because there is a rule that limits total fines at least on infractions like that to one game check for a player (or maybe some percentage of it)…..that that was the most he could pay shows he might be real willing to sign early for that security contract.
Osweiller sucked. Houston might have had a chance with slightly above average QB play.
They had no shot. No way NE was losing that game. Once Fuller dropped that perfect potential TD pass it was officially over.
Totally agree Rhino. Houston’s D was balling last night. If they had any QB play they could have won that game
They were balling and gave up 24 points! NE was really rusty last night. Sure, some of it was due to the Houston D, but their offense looked out of sync. I think they play that game 10 times, and NE wins 10 of them.
That D was balling. New England looked rusty because Clooney and Mercilus were pounding Brady’s ass into the turf. They gave up 24 points but much of that had to do with Houston’s offense not moving the ball and turning it over
Atlanta transformed their defense in one draft
Just saying
Statistically, they are win the bottom 1/4 of the league in almost every category.
Let’s go PAckers
Let’s go Chiefs
Agree on the Pack, but I’m going Steelers. Think they have a better change in against the Pats.
“Chance against…”
I like the Chiefs interior pressure they can create. That is the blueprint for frustrating Brady
But on the otherside…..Bell is just a completely different back. Only other one I can remember like him is Barry Sanders but think with him it was more he just created things on the fly rather than actually planned to do it that way.
Steelers Cowboys, we need someone to beat the cheats. I don’t think the Pack can, but I do think KC can, just like Pitt better.
So we biotch about not being able to win the division cause the Pats are in it…..seem that goes for the whole AFC.
Pats are going to their sixth conference championship in a row, an NFL record. Like them or hate them, the way Pats do things is a model that we should copy. And think a good start on that was getting a “good genius” HC.
Agreed. I saw that stat and thought “holy shit”. The AFC East has not been a powerhouse the last six years, so they have been picking up 4-6 wins right there. The key is getting that first round bye and a home game- they win one and they are in the AFC Championship.
But part of getting that bye is how the Pats set up both their team and their game plans — the key is flexibility. On both O and D they don’t come out and say “here is what we do and your can’t stop it.” Instead they go with “we are going to do what you can’t stop.” And they have the team that can actually change from game-to-game to do whatever the hooded one decides that is.
We’ve had stupid Landry and Suh penalties all year long, if you did that on a Belicheat team you’d be on notice the first time, and the second time gone. Their discipline is second to none, ours is closer to the U. It all starts there, then the systems they use on both sides of the ball takes advantage of the opponents weaknesses. We talk about them as cheats and getting calls, but their foundation is solid.
With salary cap options available, FA priority could go a couple ways:
1. LB (then LB in round one)
2. G (then LB in rounds one and two)… lots of talk of Williams dropping due to off field issues
I like the FA Guard option, personally… If Pouncey is healthy (finally) we are a RG from an elite o-line… go defense heavy in draft… Cunningham rd 1 and BPA from there. Injuries were a big issue behind our DL.
Gase is copying the Pats model. What was everyone watching this year? We were winning games without our starting S, SOLB, WOLB, C and then towards the end of the season lose our staring CB and staring QB and ppl don’t think we have a HC who can get it done without the talent.
They’re making a big deal of how Billy can win without Gronk in their and Gase is winning while missing a ton of starters.
Gase is getting this team to the point where missing guys in the lineup isn’t going to matter. The coaching has made a huge difference.
Right with you on that. At the same time think we are far from the same point as the Pats too. They build dept and versatility each draft. Sometimes the pundits say they blew it, but they might just be looking at pure impact talent rather than the grand scheme.
Do you expect to be right there with the cheats after one year of Gase? We’re headed in the right direction, that’s all that matters.
Absolutely never expected us to be at the same level as the Pats less than one year into Gase. Just happy about what has happened.
We are at a point where we CAN still win without all of our starters, difference between us and Pats is that they have the right depth so they can still be a very potent team down couple stars. We are to a point we can still win if we play a error free game down a couple of stars. We get our depth straight and add more starting tent on D and we could be close to what the Pats have before too long.
I basically agree. I don’t think we played an error free game for many of our post 1-4 games yet still won. You could say we got lucky, but you don’t get lucky game after game, there has to be more to it than that, and we all believe we know what that is. In Gase we trust.
Landry got fined a total of 48k and some change. Half was for slamming down his helmet and half for a crotch grab. Still both halves were more than the helmet to helmet on a defenseless player. He should have been ejected and that penalty should have been more severe. I think though there is a scale for the first es dependant on how many previous infractions there have been, so they just went by the book and didn’t apply any judgement on the degree of the hit and the potential danger it posed to Moore.
Piggy
You asked me if there’s a reason why I think he (Reshad Jones) might hold out, well here it is . . .
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article126354644.html
Not that this is 100% accurate, but I do think there’s a possibility. It’s not so much that I think Reshad should do this, I think players should honor the contracts they sign, because contracts work both ways. He got hurt and missed some time (10 games), and he got paid in full for all 16 games. My point is, if he does hold out, and he does it in earnest this season, unlike last season where he decided to ditch the holdout after just 2 days in the hopes that Miami would negotiate with him during the season and they would come to an agreement on an extension. This time, he may do it for real, realizing that another injury could end up leaving him with a much smaller contract, and much shorter one too. It’s not about whether I think he’s right to do it, it’s if he does it, he hurts our team. That’s what I care about most. Sure, someone else can play S for us, but they will likely be half the player Reshad is, and the object is to improve our defense from last year, not be the same or worse.
Well just got back from meeting my brother-in-law down the shore yesterday to recoup some last items from the garage before we demolish the house. Depressing seeing it that way again. Sad that my in-laws passed and their house is gone as well all within 5 months. It’s the end of an era. The positive will be building the new one. But it will never be the same. The entire block has changed over the years so that will never be the same either. Life goes on.
YOUNG STANGER: DID you say something like “the way the Pats do things is a model we should copy?” –I think I get it BUT I MOST CERTAINLY DO NOT want to learn to out-cheat the Cheatriots!!! – – How much of their success is do to outright cheating and not to selcting better players or better strategies? No one knows for sure but I believe CHEATING is one of the biggest keys to their success. I believe that what they’ve been CAUGHT DOING is just the tip of the cheating iceberg .The heavy fines, the loss of draft choices, the SUSPENSIONS have barely touched the surface on an empire built on deliberately skirting the rules of football, come hell or high water. I have heard that they have ways of secretly filming foes practices every day for WEEKS prior to playing those teams. Other accusations I’ve heard could probably result in liable lawsuits. No matter. HOW does a coach who got fired at Cleveland turn around his awful record and become a Hall-of-Famer?? Drafting Brady is a good start. But having an OWNER willing to finance and sponsor the biggest cheating scandal in history has given Belicheat a totally unfair advantage in a league that SUPPOSEDLY IS NOT RIGGED NOR SUBJECT TO HIGH TECH SUBTERFUGE.
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CHEATER OR FOOTBALL GENIUS?? – – DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. But Belicheat’s awful W-L record during his early coaching years speaks for itself.
You’re delusional. Sure they cheat, but you still have to execute on the field, and no one does it as consistent as they do.
YES,STEVE, you’re right. CHEATING has nothing to do with the Pats’ dominance.–I expect Goodell to refund all of New England’s millions in fines and all of the draft picks that were taken away from them, not to mention the suspensions, too.
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LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
I’m pretty sure they don’t cheat during the preseason, and we see lots of the same play, so…
Houston’s D was balling last night? Didn’t anyone notice how poor their coverage was vs the Pats wr’s?
When you don’t pressure Brady they are impossible to stop. When Houston pressured Brady they held their own. When they didn’t, he cut them to ribbons. That’s always been the case with that team.
Correct. So, exactly when was the Houston defense “balling”?
Yeah, I was going to mention that, in response to them balling.
If I have to watch that bill cower commercial one more time…
Guess I’m a temporary Cowboys fan for as long as they last, probably this will be the last game for them since I’ve declared my fandom. My niece’s hubby is a big Cowboys fan so it’s as good a reason as any other.
How about they have the best chance to beat the cheats. Unlike what Rob has the best…
I missed the comments that Houston’s defense was balling. They gave their offense a chance to win the game but they couldn’t do it. I’d give them a solid grade, not balling.
That said, when they get Watt back they could be a friggin scary defense.
Houston’s front 7 were balling, the secondary sucked except for a couple of look what I found ints.
There were 10 or so pass attempts where Brady basically stood back there as if there was no pass rush. You can’t ever let him do that. The quick passes are one thing, but then give them a chance to go down the field. You’re dead.
For the literal ones here, Houston’s front 7 were balling a lot during the game, enough to have give them a nice lead, if the O (Osweiller, pun intended) had done their part.
Unfortunately, their back four were playing like they were on the back nine.
Lol.
With Bill Murray chasing gophers?
Cowboys and Steelers today. Not that that is who I want… its just who I think will win.
If Dak Prescott avoids mistakes on first few drives… they will beat the snot out of GB. KC is a paper tiger. My younger brother is a chiefs fanatic, so I wouldn’t mind them winning for his sake… but Pittsburgh seems to be the team that pulled it all together the last 6 games.
1970’s throwback Superbowl… Dallas vs Pittsburgh
I’d be ok with that SB, as long as the cheats don’t make it, it’s all good.
I don’t see Jones as having much leverage this offseason, that should help the team negotiate a team friendly deal.
I agree with Tim. There were plays where Brady looked like he was participating in drills at the NFL Combine.
We all saw the same thing, doubt anyone will debate that.
Osweiller last night running the hurry up, watch 54, watch 50…every play wasting at least 10 seconds per play. The OL must’ve been thinking snap the FN ball we got it.
What about TE Cook GB as an FA signing? I know lots of you guys saw at a previous fest what he can do.
Houston’s offense did the same thing we’ve seen from our offense more than we’d like. Turning solid drives into punts somehow someway, or turning it over. You can’t beat good teams like that especially in the playoffs and on the road. When those teams give you a window you better take it or it become lopsided. We turned it over 3 times in 9 plays against the Steelers when they begged us to get back in the game. The same thing happened with Houston. Bottom line, not good enough.
In general that’s what happens in mismatched games.
Yeah you either make plays or you give them up.
You either make plays when given the opportunity or get blown out.
Yes, that’s how it works. 🙂
Disagree that Houston’s secondary was playing tight man coverage taking away the short and intermediate passing game that the Patriots love. That will create opportunities for some deep throws and the Pats did hit on some. You are not going to completely stop Brady but they gave him major fits and with any halfway decent quarterback play they could have won that game
Disagree that Houston’s secondary played poorly ^
huh?
2nd
I thought Houston’s secondary did the best job I have done the best job all season taking away the Pats short to intermediate passing game
That’s like Colonblow holding off Mario Williams most of the game, except for those 10 plays where he blew by him. They did do a good job of stopping the short passing game, but they sucked with everything else.
If Lee had dabbed with his left hand he would’ve deflected that td pass😀
Piggy,
James for the Unsung Pork Chop Oinky? Really? C’mon man.
Aaron Rodgers is Fricken dialed in.
Steve:
Houston’s secondary was playing tight man coverage so as to take away all those short routes that will cause some vulnerability to deep throws. The Texans were betting on their pass rush to negate the deep throws. You are going to give up some plays. Brady is not going to go 0 for the game. I thought overall their secondary played well and played to the scheme of the defensive game plan
I’m sorry. I must have missed those 3 plays.
Yep. Just as I suspected. Maybe I should be for the Pats next week? They’d lose for sure. Lol
lmao. reverse curse superstition!
It’s true. But I can’t do it. I had a small bet on our game last week with a former coworker I’ve not seen in years outside of Facebook. Sent me a message Monday I didn’t have to pay. Told him no Then he offered me a double or nothing this week, he’d take Houston and give me the Pats. Told him I’d rather pay than take the Pats.
Cowboys need to put ball in Dez Bryant’s hands as much as possible. No one on GB defense can play with him
I see the Brady talk….Tom Lady was 18/38 47% 2 TD’s / 2 Int’s 68 QBR
But he does make a few key plays when needed….however it’s also very much about the team around him. Complimentary (asTim would say) football .everywhere on that team.
It’s a game. Thought it would be. Good NFL football.
Cowboys have THE best o-line in the NFL. By far. Not even close.
Titans are close. but I agree that Dallas is best.
damn. dallas playing with heart