I know it’s hard to push the last game of the season out of your minds, but if you just set it aside for a bit, you can appreciate what was accomplished by our team in a very promising rebuilding season. Like Tim has said many times, the NFL season is divided into quarters. We lost the 1st quarter of the season. We finished the 1st QTR of the season 1-3 winning only against the Jacksonville Jaguars and losing 2 division games, one to the Patriots and one to the Bills. We let a game get away from us against Seattle too. Not a good start. First Quarter / 1-3
The 2nd Quarter of the season is where we started to turn some heads. We blew out and dismantled the SF 49ers in their house. We pummeled Niners QB Jimmy Garopplo sacking him 5 times and turned them over 3 times for an impressive blowout 43-17 victory. 1-0. The Dolphins then cruised to an easy 24-0 win over the hapless Jets to start this quarter 2-0. The Dolphins schedule was affected by COVID-19 and thus forced us to take our BYE week 6 weeks earlier, so Week 5 it was, rather than Week 11. This schedule change ended up causing the Dolphins to make an earlier change at QB as the Tua Tagovailoa era in Miami began. In a game that really opened up the eyes of the talking heads, the Dolphins gave the LA Rams the same treatment they gave the Niners and made Jared Goff look bad. Whispers were happening that this Dolphins defense just might be for real. We turned over the Rams 4 times in an impressive win over the 5-2 Rams. So far, 3-0 this quarter. The Dolphins then faced their second 5-2 NFC team in a row in the Kyler Murray led Arizona Cardinals. It was a back and forth affair but for the first time, the Dolphins actually had to lean on their young QB and he came through to lead the Dolphins to a 4th quarter come from behind victory, 34-31. This is where we made our hay. Second Quarter/ 4-0 (5-3 overall)
The Dolphins began the 3rd quarter of the season against the 2-6 LA Chargers. This was to be the highly touted matchup of rookie QB’s Justin Herbert against Tua Tagovailoa. As it turned out, Tua had the better game by a slight margin as the Dolphins defense picked off Herbert once and sacked him twice. The Dolphins won 29-21. 1-0. The Dolphins then traveled to Mile High. The Broncos defense confused and abused QB Tua Tagovailoa and made Tua look like a rookie QB. Both RB’s Melvin Gordon ran for over 80 yards and the Dolphins for the first time brought in relief pitcher Ryan Fitzpatrick. Tua got banged up and there was no Fitzmagic this day as the Dolphins went to 6-4 losing 20-13. 1-1. A welcome relief in sight, the Dolphins traveled to NJ to play the Jets again in another relatively uncontested game. Ryan Fitzpatrick cruised the Dolphins to a 20-3 victory. 2-1. Tua returned from injury to face the Joe Burowless Bengals and the Dolphins defense picked off both Brandon Allen and Ryan Finley for a 19-7 victory. 3-1. Third Quarter / 3-1 (8-4 overall)
The Dolphins started the final quarter of the season hosting the AFC Beast Kansas City Chiefs and we sort of gave them a game, we played a lot of catchup after the Chiefs got to a 30-10 3rd quarter lead. Tua rallied the Dolphins for 17 4th QTR points but it was too little too late as the Dolphins fell 33-27. Valiant effort really, but a loss nonetheless. 0-1. The Dolphins then hosted the New England Patriots for a much needed rematch and the Dolphins were up to the task. Although we had a sluggish first half and were down 9-7, the Dolphins took control in the 2nd half outscoring the Patriots 15-3 for a well deserved win. 1-1. The Dolphins traveled to Sin City to the Las Vegas Raiders beautiful new home, Allegiant Stadium. The Dolphins offense featured Tua Tagovailoa dinking and dunking through 3 plus quarters completing 17-22 passes for just 94 yards and 1 TD. 9:47 mark of the 4th QTR HC Brian Flores pulled starting QB Tua Tagovailoa with the Dolphins trailing 16-13 and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick makes his 2nd relief appearance, his first not due to an injury. You all know the story, the Raiders went up 22-16 with just 0:19 seconds remaining which led to the Fitzmagic drive that will always be an image we can remember as his head was twisted to the point where he couldn’t see where the throw was going but was complete to WR Mack Hollins at the LV 41 yard line and then the 15 yard facemask penalty spotted the ball at the 26 yard line which set up the Jason Sanders game winning 44 yard FG. 2-1. Then the wheels went off the track against the division bully Buffalo Bills. The wounds are still fresh so I’ll spare you, we lost badly, an unfortunate embarrassing end to what was a very promising season. Fourth Quarter / 2-2. (10-6 overall)
So the Dolphins finished the season with a 10-6 record, 2nd in the AFC East. Even the most optimistic fans didn’t see this coming. I think the defense really surprised us, there were many things that despite the last game letdown, lead you to believe this team is not too far away from having a great defense. Like the great Dolphins defenses of the 1970’s, this is also a no name defense. CB Xavien Howard is likely the one player that casual NFL fans know, and maybe Kyle Van Noy because the Patriots were so visible. Our defense is young, really young, and guys that we drafted last year and this year are already cornerstones of that defense. DL Christian Wilkins drafted last year, DL Raekwon Davis drafted this year, LB Andrew Van Ginkle (last year) and to a lesser extent, DL Jason Strowbridge who was part of the rotation on the D-line. The guys we brought in in free agency solidified the defense. LB Kyle Van Noy was a great leader on the field, DE Emmanuel Ogbah had a very strong 3/4 of the season but faded out late in the season. OLB Shaq Lawson was also effective but less so than Ogbah. #55, Jerome Baker had his best season as a Miami Dolphin LB. If you give a good player better players around him, you will see his play rise with the talent around him.
This brings me to the offense. The one place where I believe all Dolphins fans should be thrilled about is the offensive line. This unit made great strides this season, comprised of mostly rookies. Rookie LT Austin Jackson started most of the year when he was healthy, and so did rookie OG’s Solomon Kindley and T/G Robert Hunt. Swingman Jesse Davis played every position but C on the O-line this season and is a keeper for his versatility and selflessness. Veteran C Ted Karras did a nice job this season but will be a free agent in 2021. Do we re-sign Karras, or Is Michael Deiter ready to man the C position, do we draft a center or do we go free agency again?
We need playmakers. We have a few guys that can be considered playmakers but one such player like DeVante Parker has once again proven he can’t be counted on for 16 games during the season. He played in parts of 14 games, but was hampered by injury and ineffective in a few. When he was healthy he was fantastic as always, but he still finished with a rather pedestrian season, 63 catches for 793 yards and 4 TD’s. Mike Gesicki is another one, and I wish I knew whether it was Gailey, Fitz or Tua or a combination of all 3 that sometimes just completely ignored him. Gesicki had a nice season with 53 catches for 703 yards and 6 TD’s but I think he can do so much more. I think he’s nearly as talented as LV TE Darren Waller who saw nearly DOUBLE the targets Gesicki got. We will be drafting WR’s in the 2021 NFL Draft, make no mistake. We need to build and give QB Tua Tagovailoa legitimate WR’s to throw to. At RB, I think Myles Gaskin is a really nice #2, like an Austin Ekeler type of player. He could be a #1 if necessary but I think we need more of a downhill runner who can push the pile and run more with more physicality. So often I saw both he and Salvon Ahmed downed by first contact.
The nice thing is the Laremy Tunsil trade has afforded us two more great picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, #3 in RD1 and #36 in RD2. We have 9 picks in all, two 1st RD picks, two 2nd RD picks and then 5 more distributed in the next 5 rounds. Building this offense is paramount to making Tua Tagovailoa a better QB. As I mentioned earlier with Jerome Baker, good players play better with better talent around them. He needs reliable receivers, a RB that can carry the load and pass block and stout OL, which I feel we’re well on our way with the O-line. Keep building that defense, AVG may be a star in the making and I really liked Elandon Roberts but I feel like he’s more of a 2 down player. A guy like Micah Parsons could really elevate this LB corps and the defense as a whole.
We have such a young nucleus on this team. I think we will add another nice veteran or two in free agency. Draft strong and just use free agency to fill in spots, not as a crutch. I think we have that formula down now. We have about $32M to spend but we’re not going to be big spenders anymore. We’re building, and I think we could be in the top 10 teams of 2021 and should be in the playoffs. In 2022, who knows? 1 year at a time, and for us Dolphins fans, 2020 was a good one!
GO DOLPHINS 2021!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
if the FIns had extra draft picks with no need for em?,,,,,, lol
They are MUCH needed, we cant throw them away like they are worthless
Then why draft another QB? You seem to be contradicting yourself
not contradicting myself, drafting a QB, is not throwing away all the top picks, its JUST ONE PICK
Trading for a franchise QB isn’t ‘throwing them away’. Drafting a QB in the 1st when we supposedly have our franchise QB would be the definition of throwing them away, lol.
what if the bills traded away Josh Allen after his disastrous rookie season? they didnt, they got him some help, and we know the rest of that story,,,,,
QB,s need more than a rookie season to fully evaluate
This is the first thing you’ve posted that I agree with because it’s actually logical. If Tua develops into the franchise QB we’re fine, and we just don’t know yet because it takes more than part of a year.
thanks, but im always logical, throwing away the draft picks would be illogical
LOL, we’ll just have to disagree on you always being logical. Saying you want to use a first rd pick on a QB, then saying we have our franchise QB in Tua, then saying we can’t throw away our draft picks is maybe a special form of logic. 😉
Once again, a team plays to stop Henry and make Tanny beat them in the playoffs, and he can’t. Average QB stuff.
The WR did fall though. Tua got picked off against BUF the same exact way. Tannehill had some very impressive games both this year and last year. Give the guy some credit, man. It seems there are a few of you still looking for any reason to bash the guy. Is it personal? LOL
Well that was a crappy turn of events
Is there anyone on this board who wouldn’t trade Tua for Watson straight up? And including swapping contracts in there.
Unless your answer is NO…. Q is how much would you pay for Watson?
Straight up ? Keep our picks ? HELL YES
See above , give Houston picks back , add Tua and give up next years first
Max
Which means he is better than what we have, even for a couple tens of millions a year in salary.
He is a proven commodity, Tua MAY wind up better but we do not know that half of the equation yet .. let me check with Doc Brown and Marty, I’ll be right back 😊
Toba — that’s your line. Mine is both firsts plus Tua. And that first 2nd from Houston is worth a first next year. So we are on the same page.
Great minds or fools yep😊
We can rehash this 20 different ways, but when the draft rolls around, Tua will still be our QB, lol.
(I channeled Tim with that comment.)
Almost definitely so. My guess is Watson’s team put us out as the Judas goat that will lead other teams to the slaughter. We are the one with the immediate draft capital at least. Same time means Watson would not use his no-trade veto on us, but that’s about it.
I think it’s just noise from the Watson camp, and there is no way in hell the Texans trade him. If O’Brien was still there, I’d probably think differently, lol.
But why does the Watson camp have to put anything out? Watson signed a fat contract last year. And team is a wreck. Think he’d like a better one. Agree probably won’t be to us…. but betting Watson gets traded.
He wants more say in the decision making. They still need to select a HC.
Comes down to he feels he was lied to that he could have input In the hiring process ..
If it is all about a power move to be making front office decisions….. well seems more likely ends up in a trade unless he falls in love with the next HC. Owners tend to have egos.
Stanger, i am not opposed to bringing Watson in, i just think the Fins cannot overspend for it
the days of treating draft picks like they are NOTHING, are hopefully gone with wasteful Jeff Ireland,
the team has to value picks now , choose wisely, to finish the rebuild
i remember when the redskins used 3 number one picks for RG3,,,,,
the morale of the story is,
no player is worth multiple top picks, too many things could go wrong with that ONE player, and the picks are gone forever
We only needed one pick for Dan Marino,,,,,, a late first rounder, lol (26)
So you’re saying you wouldn’t have traded multiple picks for Marino. Got it. I would have, but that’s me.
I would have also used multiple picks for Rodgers, Manning, and one or two other franchise QBs, but hey different philosophies can still get you where you’re going. 😉
i didnt say i wouldnt have traded up for Marino, just mentioned it because it shows trading away multiple top picks is NOT needed or wise for any team
Cav — you only say that cause you don’t draft well. If I was a GM at the time would have taken Brady in the 5th round. 🙂
the QB You mentioned are all HOF, are You thinking Watson is a sure fire HOF QB too?
We’re not talking about trading up in the draft for a player who might be good. We’re talking about trading picks for an established player.
Logic dictates you use similar scenarios for a comparison. So being a logical person yourself, you must understand how comparing the trade for RG3 to a trade for Watson is a logical fallacy. A more accurate comparison would be a trade for an established player, now maybe not Marino as he was a generational talent, but a top QB.
That is a good question, David. He may end up being in the HOF, there are too many variables to say that right now, but I do think he is a franchise QB, and that is what I’m basing my own opinion on.
If you disagree, I get it.
Sounds like the Texans are just all kinds of pissed off they unloaded TWO 1st RD and TWO 2nd RD picks for Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills. They want their picks back!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaah!
LOL
Lol
yea, i thought the same thing, they WANT their picks back, NO WAY lol
Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills for Deshaun Watson…… works for me.
That would have worked for me when we made the trade but not now. Besides, they want additional draft capital so they can stick with Deshaun Watson and suck it! You do realize we have the #3 pick for a reason, right? It takes a TEAM, and that’s what we’re building here
And love what we are building. Still think Watson is worth more in trade value than Tua though. Q is how much.
So in regards to the Ravens dancing on the Titans logo in retaliation, I have to say they are pussies. They waited until they won the game to make their statement. When the Titans did it last year, they did it BEFORE the game. That took some balls.
I hate the Ravens almost as much, maybe more now, than I do the Patriots. I hope they get embarrassed in the next round
YEP AFC has come down to Chiefs for me , can’t stand anyone else that is left , on the NFC aside hope Saints , but basically anyone please do not let Brady be the first QBs to play in a home Supeebowl , nevermind win it
Ravens are totally classless, SMH
LOL @ Stang. That would have been the draft steal of the century. You’re hired! 🙂
Biggest draft steal was taking him in the 6th round, but only happened cause I wasn’t there. 🙂
Exactly, you would have trumped it by selecting him in the 5th, and YOU would have had the steal of the century.
LOL — I’m real good at that. But then I also have the ability to jump and back in time. Einstein was a fool. 🙂
Cav, how Good do You think Watson is? a HOF talent worth multiple top picks?
Copied from above, my response:
That is a good question, David. He may end up being in the HOF, there are too many variables to say that right now, but I do think he is a franchise QB, and that is what I’m basing my own opinion on.
If you disagree, I get it.
i agree he is a franchise QB, and We dont know all the variables
so the next question would be, is a franchise qb, worth gutting our draft and setting back the rest of the rebuild a couple of years?
if the Ravens give us Tunsil back, im all in, lol
we need an OT like Tunsil
Tank for Tua or trade Tua after his rookie season. Will the madness ever end?
lol i concur
It’s just for fun, Tim. Don’t jump off a bridge, lol.
I’m good but I feel sometimes it seems like people just started following the game yesterday. LOL
correction, not the ravens, lol the texans
I think he is a Young top 5 QB in the league, that will have his legs as an asset for another 4 years .. yes he is worth multiple picks.. but we need other parts regardless
Tim,
He is what he is: average. I just commented on it. I have rarely commented on the guy since he left. Far less than many others. Since when has calling a guy average been such an emotional thing?
***
I guess I can talk with you about a trade that will never happen or a rookie QB who sucks so bad he has to be traded though! Lol
I honestly believe there are only 4 or 5 people on this board that are capable of remembering other people’s stances beyond a few days. You constantly have to reaffirm your own stance and disavow the things other people put on you, otherwise when you make an observation, you are suddenly a Tanny hater, even if you defended him to the death a month ago, lmao.
LOL
Bookman,
To keep it going, I guess both the Ravens and Titans are getting ready to unload their QBs for Fitz. Pathetic dudes didn’t even get 200 yards passing and just had one passing TD between them. I don’t know if Fitz will be able to handle all the interest he gets from about 22-26 teams in the NFL. Time to get the Brinks truck!
Lmao!
Tim – I think it’s absurd how far to the dark side Miami Dolphins fans have gone. It’s just like our fucking country, there’s 2 sides with a huge divide. Either you like Tua or you want to get rid of him, there’s no patience to allow him to get better. Not saying those here who are willing to trade for Watson are in that camp but my twitter feed is either with him or against him, no undecided.
I think Tua will be lights out in 2021 with a new OC , and some new playmakers like Devonta SMith and Najee Harris
Way the world, or at least the social media one , works these days. Have to be hard one side or the other to get attention. Logical Q is “how much” but “trade Tua now” gets more splash value.
Why do they say deferred their decision to 2nd half when they MADE the decision to accept the 2nd half KO … drives me bonkers
Toba, they still have to tell the refs at the beginning of the 2nd half that they want to Receive
Oh , okay thank you sir
🍺
It’s just semantics. If you win the coin toss, you win the opportunity to make first selection (receive/kick, or defend which side) or you can defer your first selection to the 2nd half and let the other team select first. So technically they aren’t deciding to receive the 2nd half, they are deciding to select first in the 2nd half. It is kinda dumb.
I did not think it was an option to NOT take the 2nd half KO if other team received it to start .. now that explained, I guess someone has Turnover over machine D they May want to start 2nd on D .. thank you both
David, another good question.
My original stance was I wouldn’t trade any picks other than this year’s. My reasoning is to not hamstring the franchise in future years in order to acquire Watson. I can live with sacrificing this draft since we have the extra draft capital. We use this draft to get an established franchise QB, and don’t lose any picks for future drafts. That is the line for me. I think it’s worth it to have your franchise QB set.
Anything that goes into multiple years of losing #1 picks, I wouldn’t do,
Now there are people that wouldn’t do this because they see this year’s extra draft capital as a chance to really fill out holes and build the team. They think Tua might be that guy and would rather go that direction. I think that makes sense too. If Tua develops into our franchise QB, then we’re in a better position than if we trade for Watson. I see that as riskier, but with higher reward.
Cheers 🙂
thanks for Your answer, i happen to be in the latter group of get some playmakers for Tua in the draft, finish a big part of the rebuild with the draft capital, be patient, and lets see where it goes
Cheers back atcha !
David – I don’t know if Tua will ever be a great QB or not, but I do know he just has to be good and if we build a great team, we can win. I think Tua has the mentality of a winner, he’s a guy that worked his ass off to get back from that hip injury and really looks to be in great shape. He’ll be even better next season and I do believe a full training camp, and preseason getting first team reps in the offense will have him much better prepared to play. Add in the talent we surround him with and there should be a noticeable improvement from this year to next.
Dilly dilly , my first choice as well
good post, and u mentioned a full training camp and preseason, Tua never had that, covid has set back his development somewhat IMO
I do feel he will be great someday, but in the framework of the team being great. Flores said the team lost the bills game in all phases, so I have to assume that all phases need to be addressed in the draft, and maybe a player or two in FA
What is blowing my mind with all this Tua/Watson trade talk is that ORob is no where to be seen. Must be smiling somewhere though.
Rob likes to stir the pot. I kind of enjoy it, so there’s that . . .
Love Orob…. and yeah my mental imagine of hm is an Italian Grandma slowly stirring a big pot as she makes “gravy.” 🙂
Tua reminds me a little bit of Bob Griese. Tua is not the next Marino, he doesnt have that passing skillset that Marino had, few do.
but Tua can be a great team leader, very efficient, doesnt turn the ball over much, unless its the bills, lol but,,, he really needs some playmakers, and someone to replace Flowers on the OL
when Tua was killing it at bama, he had incredible weapons around him,
like ALL QB, Tua cannot throw the ball, AND catch it also
OK Gisele! LOL
lol, funny one
I can’t even believe anyone actually wants to do that trade.
Going back to 2004, there has only been one Super Bowl that was won by a team without a franchise QB. That was Foles in 2018. The rules just favor the offense so much now, I truly believe you have to have a top QB. Getting that guy is absolutely imperative.
It used to be you could build a great team and consistently compete with an average QB. It just isn’t that kind of league anymore. We have our coach, hopefully we have that QB in Tua, because this Watson talk is just for fun IMO.
That is also why I don’t believe Watson will actually be traded. A franchise QB is the most valuable commodity in the NFL.
Watson does not exactly have an leverage in the scenario.. booboo kitty yer feelings were hurt , put the big boy pants on and do yer job
Exactly! They have him locked up till what? 2025? What is he going to sit out for 4 years. There is no way in hell they trade him.
Trubisky should have thrown that better 😊
LOL
i gotta say im a little jealous, that teams like Chicago and Washington made the playoffs, and the Dolphins did not
Kong,
Digging deeper into your trade scenario, we have the third highest draft capital but by far the best situation for Watson, who would have to be on board. In this case, we have some leverage so what do you think of Tua, our #3 pick, both 2nds and next year’s 1st? It would benefit us more and still let us keep the #18 which should be lower than next year’s. It’s alos probably the best package the Texans would get that Watson would agree to. Thoughts?
This is just a draft exercise, everyone. We will not be trading Tua so might as well throw out something similar to our draft scenarios.
I’d do it. I hate the idea of that trade moving into the 2022 draft, but it still ends up being similar capital and this year’s 1st is technically worth more than next year’s (irrespective of position), so we end up giving less if you go by the chart.
Yeah, I like it and there will still be a great WR or RB option at #18 to help Watson out some.
All these years we have usually beaten NE once Year and screamed at the rest of the league to figure it out , finally they figure it out and it costs us because the other teams got the wins
i wouldnt mind if the Fins traded down the number 3 pick, and picked up some extra selections, this team needs at least a half dozen more quality players IMO
Mike E. and Young Stanger; My reason for staying with Tua is the strong suspicion I have that adopting Watson’s humongous contract will limit our ability to resign the young players we’ll need to resign after their current contracts are up. We’ve been down this road before–and it doesn’t WORK!! –You end up like Houston this year with a great QB but a lousy TEAM!!
—————
TUA greatly out performed Josh Allen’s 1st and 2nd seasons as the starter for the Buffalo Bills. But, unlike Tua’s critics, Buffalo’s front office has patience. And that patience paid off in YEAR 3!
We have a clear path to success that WON’T bust the budget. Give TUA some serious help thru the upcoming draft. Add in a couple of quality free agents to plug some holes and PRESTO!!! – – You’ve got a playoff team in year 2 of the rebuild!!
————–
The Dolphins were ONE WIN away from being a playoff team THIS SEASON!!
Stick with “THE PLAN” and Brian Flores will have this team IN THE PLAYOFFS
NEXT SEASON!!
agree on everything, Happy New Years to You and yours OD !
OD — there is no one way on this one, but keep in mind that if Tua is as good as you hope that he will get a fat contract as well. But don’t think Watson will be coming to the Phins…. so sorta of moot.
manitobafinfan says:
January 10, 2021 at 5:15 pm
Watson does not exactly have an leverage in the scenario..
——-
Think I’ll put in as much as necessary but that is about it is plenty of leverage. BTW — I’ll be telling the media on a regular basis that don’t want to be on this team. You want the face of your franchise bashing it?
Team can fine and suspend him if he does that , can’t see it going that far.. my guess by TC he will be just fine , and likely still a Texan
It would be his agent saying it. And how many times have players demanded a trade before?
He’s not going to sabotage his own career. If he were in the last year of a contract, this is a different conversation, not with 4 years left.
5 years left, lol
It’s the threat of it more than anything. And he’s already doing it.
What is he doing? It’s the offseason. He’s not sabotaging his career. He’s putting it out there he is unhappy. It’s the Texans move, and they hold all the cards.
David I fixed it for ya:
i wouldnt mind if the Fins traded down the number 3 pick, and picked up some extra selections, this team needs at least a half dozen more quality players , then traded THOSE extra picks to Houston for Watson IMO🤡
thats not a bad idea, as long as the fins have some draft capital to get what they want/need, im all in !
LOL, I saw it was playing on Nickelodeon and couldn’t understand why
They are doing a whole lot of explaining how “Football” works!
It’s generous actually! Your loosing viewers to soccer so you expose young’uns to the game!
genius even!
Ohh, that isn’t just a joke above, they really are using those graphics? Now I get it. I thought it was just another platform to catch the game on, not an indoctrination process to get our youth into football, lol.
J/K of course. I think that is great.
Wyo – I’ve been watching the game on Nick. It’s amusing, and I think it’s great for the NFL to get kids into football, and explain the game some as they go along. Very smart!
I replied to Cav above before I read your post!
Kong,
Balt won without a franchise QB. Neither team had one in that SB. I understand and agree with your point overall but we sometimes have to ask what a franchise QB is. Manning was only really good for about 2 years and needed some fantastic luck in 2007. He was terrible that year but it doesn’t matter in the end does it? Was he franchise worthy in 2007? I think not honestly. I also think Brady and Bill throw those numbers off a bit by winning 5 of the 17 during that time. It’s hard to get good overall stats when one team is so dominant.
On another tangent, do you think the NFL will change back the holding rules next year? Our owner needs to push it since we are a defensive team first. Honestly, I’m so tired of the hand holding for offenses in the deluded idea that scoring is what makes games watchable. If I wanted to watch Big 12 football, it’s there on Saturdays. The NFL was actually more popular when defenses were allowed to play more. They want to brand and sell QB memorabilia but that’s a limited market. This is still a team sport and the more they lean away from that, the more likely they will start losing more viewers. This isn’t the NBA and they are having a lot of problems right now.
New Age,
I forgot about the Ravens, thanks. They have consistently competed without a franchise QB. And you make some other valid points about ‘franchise’ QBs. You could also look all the Super Bowl losers, and a number of them are without franchise QBs.
I would personally define a franchise QB as consistently in the top half of the league year in and year out that has proven he can win important games in the 4th quarter by putting the team on his back. (Not that he always has to, but that he’s capable of it.)
As for the holding, your guess is as good as mine. I think the league just wants to keep adding more offense, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it stay the way it was called this year.
I’m with you. One of the best things about football that is starting to be edged out is contrast in styles. Top defense w/ balanced offense vs wide open offenses. Pro style vs spread option. RPO, vs ball control power run, etc. I said yesterday I am very curious to see how the top defenses of the Steelers and Ravens do against the top offenses of the Chiefs and Bills next weekend, and that is the reason why. Keep that diversity in style!
Kong,
Me too. I love when teams have options on how to build. I think the franchise QB way is boring, unfair, and a losing strategy for the NFL. In the end, there are more Tom Brady QBs in the NFL than Mahomes and Allens. Do they really think 3-4 dominant teams every year will sell better? Based off the NBA, it doesn’t.
Give me the Rams, Dolphins, even Bears from a few years ago over one player being the focus of everything. BORING Thanks for playing 52 JAGs! Make sure not to pull out Mahomes waist flag too quickly or too hard or we’ll penalize you!
I don’t know why I’m going to play?
But
I’m not making a win now move while trading away the future!
Yeah I don’t want to trade away the future either, which is why I wouldn’t go beyond this draft (other than New Age’s scenario above).
One draft’s 1st and 2nd rds for a franchise QB are not trading away the future. Seeing all that draft capital it’s easy to equate it with hamstringing us for years, but it’s not. Those extra picks are why we are uniquely positioned to get him without sacrificing the future.
There is some talk from the heads about three to five 1st rd picks. No way.
replied to You above Manitoba, im on board with Your idea
alot of pieces to the puzzle, but if the Fins could trade down, and then use some extra picks to get Watson its a win win, EXCEPT< Watsons contract will be a problem down the road, but we can deal with that then
DAVID; Thanks for the nice comments. We’re hoping you & yours also have a great 2021!
PS: Perhaps you, Son, and a few other Orlando area fins fans can join me for the Fins at Bucs game in Tampa this upcoming season?
im not near Orlando anymore, im about 2 hours south of there in the middle of the state
bought a ranch outside of Sebring, where Brad Seiler is from, lol
i like Seiler, hes the fourth down stopper !
but Tampa is not that far away, I would consider it if We are alive by then, lol
Kong – I think about stuff like this every time I think about the great QB’s. Does the QB make the O-line and the WR’s better or vice-versa, or some combination of both. I think of Montana you immediately think of Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Dwight Clark and John Taylor. I think of Marino, I think of Duper and Clayton, Webb, Sims, Stephenson etc. Hard to think of Peyton Manning in Indy w/o thinking of Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James. I’d have to say it’s a combination of the two, not solely because the QB was great or Marino would have had a few SB rings. You have to have great players to win, and I think you have to have a QB that is talented and can win in the NFL, but the talent around him will determine how far you can go. Again, Deshaun Watson killed it this season and the Texans were 4-12.
post of the day nominee
It’s the guy that makes everyone better.
Give me an Aaron Rodgers. I’ve watched him put a perennial 4-12 team into the playoffs year after year.
Oh it’s not just about the QB? Fuck me, I thought it was. LOL
Is that what you’ve taken from this conversation? That some of us need to be told it’s not all about the QB? 😉
Kong, I think I’m on record as saying defense still matters. Of course you need a good QB and offense, but geez what I’m seeing here is very premature.
Tim, ok, but no one who is for a Watson trade is saying the rest of the team doesn’t matter. I think most of us are on record with that too. 😉
It’s not premature to talk about it, because it’s never going to happen. So maybe it’s pseudo-premature, idk, LOL.
ER – Well, Rodgers has arguably one of the best LT’s in David Bakhtiari, best WR’s in Davante Adams. He’s not doing it alone. Aaron Jones is good and it looks like A.J. Dillon is going to be really good too. He’s also had some great receivers during his career, and some great TE’s too. Yes, he’s great but he can’t do it alone.
How the heck can GB afford those players with Rodgers salary? lol
j/b/b
Mike, I agree with everything you’re saying. You have to have more than just a great QB. Marino is the ultimate example. But in today’s NFL, you have to have that great QB if you want to consistently compete for Super Bowls.
Trading for Watson doesn’t mean you forget about the rest of the team. We’re talking two rds of one draft. That’s it. What if you don’t make that trade and Tua ends up like Henne or Tanny? If that happens do you then wish you’d traded for Watson? First, you would then be using another 1st rd down the rd for another QB, and you have no assurance that will work out. Then all those previous 1st and 2nd rd picks are now at the end of their rookie contracts and you’re kinda back at square one.
Tua is the X factor here. If he works out, we’re all happy. If he doesn’t we’re set back. I just think if you have the chance right now to get a proven, top, young QB, you get him. We are uniquely positioned to not have to trade away the future in doing it.
Oh, but it’s not just 2 rounds of this draft Kong, it’s his salary too. Our cap situation goes to mega hell, especially this season with Jones, Van Noy and Howard all north of $13M. It just takes away the whole concept of building a young team, and I know Watson is young, but we’re building a team of WE’s not ME’s
I keep seeing this salary thing. What about Big Ben and his salary? Brady? Rodgers? Manning? Do these guys suddenly stop having good teams once they start getting paid? DO they stop having good teams 5 years later? This is a non-starter in this discussion IMO.
ER, if the Dolphins ever drafted a good RB and some good defensive players, Marino would have competed with Montana for some rings. Montana had all those weapons on offense plus a championship defense. Green Bay hasn’t had a defense since Reggie White left. lol
From 1987 – 1989 our first rounders were
Eric Kumerow
Jon Bosa
And Sammy Smith
🤮🤮🤮
….we tried
What Marino accomplished with what he had to work with is a testament to how great he was. There was a reason they could never get over the hump.
Why Rodgers has only 1 ring is because that’s the one year they had a semblance of a defense. Lol
im getting my first cow soon, lol i never thought i would say that, but
my neighbor has some cows and one of them had a baby calf a few months ago. it was a scorching hot day, and the all black furry cute as heck baby calf was lying on the ground frothing, and hyperventilating.
i called the farmer but he did not answer, so i got some washclothes and a small bowl of water and cooled her down and got her to drink. it wasnt just a few minutes and she was bouncing around the pasture and drinking her mommys milk
the farmer says i can have her after she is weaned, shes cool as heck and loves eating fruit and playing reindeer games, lol
That is good hearted of you. Proud papa 🙂
Now plant a lemon tree and a caper tree before she gets to old and you miss out on veal piccata
You are too. I didn’t realize you started the veal thing. But I can understand you wanting to direct attention away from yourself, lol.
http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Classic-Veal-Piccata/
LMAO. You are a bad man.
😉
Kong – This salary thing??? LOL – They built their teams with those QB’s when they were on their rookie contracts and then continued to build a little each year after they became superstars. We’re not there yet, so I want to just continue what we’re doing, build that team with picks and supplement with FA while we can. If we take on Watson we’ll have neither the draft picks or the salary available to do what we were doing, at least this season.
Yes, this salary thing. By the reasoning that is being implied or in some cases explicitly stated, once you have that franchise QB, 5 years later it’s all over because of his salary. That just isn’t true. You shouldn’t be making a decision not to get a top QB because you don’t think you can afford him. That’s dumb.
I’m going to stay on my stance that GB is bottom feeders without Rodgers. I have watched over a decade the garbage he makes look like treasure. I say this hating the Packers. But it is undeniable what he brings to the franchise. He makes them all better. Anybody have a good career after leaving him? That’s what a franchise QB is.
Mike E,
I have to agree with Kong on the salary thing just due to our FO and coaching staff. Flores got it done with the 3rd youngest team in the NFL and not a lot of capital used on FAs. We also draft pretty well. If there’s a team that could benefit most from Watson’s skillset, it’s us. I’m not the biggest fan of a guy causing supposed issues right after he gets paid though. That’s my primary issue with him but he’s a top notch talent.
My main problem with this trade is it feels dirty to Tua and very premature but we want results and so does Flores. I don’t think it would happen in a million years but Watson is worth two 1sts and two 2nds if anyone is. In my scenario we could still draft either the top RB or a top WR this year on top of later picks to build out the team.
I see continued successs with whatever we do just because I have faith in Flores and Grier.
I am perfectly comfortable with Flores and Grier. I think we’re in good hands.
We’re talking Marino a lot with good reason. Anyone who may not have seen that vid MF13 posted, it’s worth a watch. It’s about 20 minutes and outlines why Marino never won a Super Bowl. I think it was a good watch.
SPOLIER ALERT
.
.
.
It doesn’t have a happy ending. LOL
ER, I’m pulling for Rodgers to get his 2nd ring this year. It’s a travesty he only has one.
lol, she WONT be veal, just a cool pet, shes too special for that IMO
shes not like any other cows, she is more like a dog, lol
i call her and she runs up wagging her tail, lol shes so funny and cool
I am just a wise ass
thats much better than a dumb ass, right , lol
its all good brah
Kong, like I said the other day, anyone want to bet me that Tua won’t be our starting QB on opening day in 2021 barring injury or something bizarre? 🙂
CavalierKong says:
January 10, 2021 at 3:55 pm
We can rehash this 20 different ways, but when the draft rolls around, Tua will still be our QB, lol.
Reply
CavalierKong says:
January 10, 2021 at 3:57 pm
(I channeled Tim with that comment.)
——————————
🙂
That is my way of agreeing with you, lol.
bears strategy is punt to win ! its not working out too well,,,, lol they SUCK
Don’t name it, if your going to eat it David!
lol thats the unwritten rule, eh? her name is Baby, lol not very glamourous, but she has yet to complain about it
shes incredibly intelligent, shes the dominant calf in a pasture with 10 other calves
Does she have a great personality too?
LMAO!
She’s udderly charismatic
And very cud-ly.
lol Phel
Kong
As much as I hate them, I’m pulling for Rodgers too. He should be the runaway MVP as well.
Kong, it’s not like the team you build with your rookie QB disappears after 5 years. You re-sign the ones you can and you let the overpriced guys go like the Steelers and Ravens have done for decades. You still have strong nucleus to run with and then you have to draft strong to keep it going
Can see David a couple years from now.
LMAO
lol why not, cows make great friends, they are very intelligent, love to play, and remember everything
I think it’s Elephants that remember everything
i have heard elephants remember everything too, but im not taking in any elephant pets, lol but yea, cows DO remember everything also
Oh, trust me they do! Don’t ask me how I know…
Jarvis Landry, ! should have kept him, SMH
Again
https://youtu.be/Rhdd37pVVl4
I have to ask David why did your neighbor think you would want the cow?
i spent some time with Baby, couldnt go out much with covid everywhere, working from home, and got attached and asked the farmer if i could have her
had to make sure she did not get cow-vid, lol
Mike,
As long as we draft strong, we’ll be ok too whether that is with Tua, in a trade for Watson, or if we take some path unknown to us at this time. That is what really matters. You have to keep drafting well no matter how you build the team.
LOL @ Phel
I’m loving the Steelers getting their asses kicked. I just assumed the Steelers would take this game. I’d rather see the Ravens play the Bills anyway. I think the Ravens have a better chance to beat them than the Steelers.
Yup
LOL, and there’s another one. This is great
Tua looks better than Rothlisberger, lol Big Bens best days are behind him, no gas left in his tank
This game reminds me of our game with the Rams!
looks like the Bills game
Minkah for DPOY!
Minkah fur coat
David, It may not sound real good when you say you don’t get out much so subsequently you became attached to a cow named Baby
David that is truly a nice story but I do think you might need to get out more
i agree, ready to do some fishing when it warms up a little
👍
LOL, and there’s another one. 🤣🤣
This looks like Marino’s last game
I’m just hoping this game ends up final score 63-6.
I’m not sure how he accessed his Twitter during the game, but apparently Minkah just tweed he is now unhappy in Pittsburgh. 🤣🤣
LMAO
If I’m Cleveland I’m going to keep Stefanski locked in his basement indefinitely.
Tomlin should have benched Ben and given the team a chance, hes a turnover machine
thats close to Me, i figure ill run into Zach someday
steelers could have drafted a QB over the last couple of years, but went all in on Ben lasting until he is 40 yrs old
He wont make it IMO
Doesn’t Cleveland start the 2nd half with the ball? If they can find a way to score a TD, I think it’s over at that point. I’d say it was over now but it’s the Browns and Ben came back against the Colts a few weeks ago.
Kong, while that’s true, we have an opportunity to fill out our roster with a lot of top, young talent. We couldn’t do that now if we trade for Watson. I know we have no idea how Tua will wind up, but I feel good enough about him that I don’t think it’s necessary to make that trade. It’s far from us being desperate, we’re not in the least. We have a QB, just like a lot of other teams. I think our best situation is to keep all our picks, draft well and arm Tua with good weapons so that our offense is where it should be, and we get a couple of nice defensive players too
I totally understand your position. I genuinely think both ideas have merit and different risks vs rewards. I think we could possibly succeed going in either direction.
One thing I do know, we’re going to have the opportunity to see how it plays out with Tua because we ain’t getting Watson, lol.
Tua needs WRs that are not possession guys… he’s not a throw it up 50/50 ball type.
Having a receiver that can create a hint of separation would be a nice change, lol.
at the beginning of the game when ben was chasing down a loose ball, but failed to make any attempt to dive on it, it reminded me of Cam Newton in a super bowl, SMH
Ben is NOT competing, he isnt giving 100 percent
Watch the Steelers make this a game. One Browns mistake. Plenty of time.
🍺
If Pitt scores a TD on this drive, Browns fans are going to have collective nervous diarrhea, lol.
Wow!!!
Massive drive for the Browns coming up
That Bills/ Oilers comeback was 35-3, right?
That should seal it for the Browns.
Lol, where was MFF?
lol
probably complaining about how he is being used…
Lol
Should have switched to Mason Rudolph….before the game.
Anyone see the stat that prior to tonight the Browns have only won in Pittsburgh 6 times since 1970. A divisional opponent you play every year. That is a minimum of 50 games, and they won 6. Wow
Serves Steelers right for not eliminating a division foe week 17 when they had the chance. Say what we will, Bills understood that.
They went 1-5 after starting 11-0.
I was never worried about them having perfect season. Lol
big ben says he wants to return in 2021, the steelers would be the dumbest org in the NFL if they brought him back.
hes done.
Ben is like 8 track tapes, they were good at one time, they could even play two tracks at the same time, lol but,
Long after the Cleveland Browns joyously left the Heinz Field playing surface and almost all of his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates had slowly sulked their way into the locker room, Ben Roethlisberger sat on a heated bench on the sideline.
His longest-tenured teammate, Maurkice Pouncey, eventually joined him. NBC cameras caught what appeared to be tears welled up in Roethlisberger’s eyes. It was about 10 minutes after Sunday night’s 48-37 loss to the Cleveland Browns ended before Roethlisberger and Pouncey made their way into the tunnel that leads to the Steelers’ locker room.
His tears were probably not as blue as the tears of rape.
Rapist Berger may say that he will be back next year but those welled up eyes told a whole different story. He knows inside he is done.
I look for the Steelers to take a QB with their first pick. They will either try to move up for Lance, Mac Jones or Trask. That or stay put and take whoever is still there. There are 6 good QB prospects who could get drafted in 1st but one or 2 will be there in the bottom of 1st.
I hope he decides to announce retirement soon. I had them taking Najee Harris in the 1st if we didn’t take him at #20. Will be nice if they have to find a new QB. Though, they could be the ones to sell the farm for Watson.
The Steelers stay competitive because they don’t make deals like selling the farm for Watson. They’ll use a Tommy Maddox or Kordell Stewart until the right guy comes along.
Awesome, thought it was generally the two leagues worst teams.
It generally is except when the teams at the top (read bottom) have coaching changes like stej and jags. Since we have the third pick we get the opportunity.
as for deshaun Watson, I doubt this F.O. wants to go away from their strategy, they don’t want an apple out of the barrel, they want to get it from the tree.
I doubt they’d pay what it takes to win the bidding war, but for a number of reasons it is unlikely. Starting with Watson’s most likely 2021 team is the Texans.
X got a new agent. Why switch with years left on your contract unless……
https://twitter.com/davidcanter/status/1348408766245568516