It's not really a test for the office at all, no one will offer Barkley a long term contract at 10+ million per season. He'll end up playing on the tag because there's no advantage to him sitting out Lev Bell style, and the Giants can tag him again next season if they want.

Jul 18, 2023 1:26:06 GMT @admin said:

It's not really a test for the office at all, no one will offer Barkley a long term contract at 10+ million per season. He'll end up playing on the tag because there's no advantage to him sitting out Lev Bell style, and the Giants can tag him again next season if they want.

Seems counterproductive to alienate maybe your top player on offense and to the point that if it dips into the regular season, teammates may blame the guy who dipped his hand and took all the gold out of the pot for this(fair or unfair). 

I agree that RBs don't really have much legwork to stand on(Josh Jacobs was excellent last year too but McDaniels unlike the Giants FO doesn't care about getting his hands dirty, I.E. how Waller & Carr ended) and is in the hot seat himself) but I imagine teammates see this Barkley contract dispute as something to consider when it is their turn to talk turkey. 

That is such rubbish made up by talking heads.

This is a business , players understand that as much as anyone and I’d say it’s incredibly rare they hold it against a franchise.

Jul 18, 2023 2:00:50 GMT UT said:

That is such rubbish made up by talking heads.

This is a business , players understand that as much as anyone and I’d say it’s incredibly rare they hold it against a franchise.

Maybe but guys like Eckler/Jon Taylor/Derrick Henry have voiced their opinions and are on the RBs(Pollard/Barkley/Jacobs) side. Of course they have massive reasons, the first two want to see guys break bank to help them out in the future but I would imagine most if not all players would be on the players side here and think it's crap that elite/borderline elite players on their respective teams aren't getting their cut based off of production, not due to a position. 

I get both sides honestly. I think it's more than just personal gain for these guys, they want to take care of future backs like the aforementioned Taylor. 

Yes and if in the future the Giants (or Cowboys or Raiders) offer those guys the best contract they are going to take it. They aren’t going to sit back and hesitate because of the Barkley/Pollard/Jacobs contracts like you suggested earlier.

I get the players sticking up for the players and their motives but people read way too much into franchise reputation when it comes to this stuff. It’s silly.

Yeah the conversation is more interesting in terms of what you’re starting to see come out as solutions to fix it, like rolling back the draft pay scale so that RBs don’t have to play their best four-five seasons on a cost controlled deal and more ammo to getting rid of the franchise tag.

As a fan I hate those moves, but hard to argue those two things aren’t significantly hurting all pro running backs.

Jul 18, 2023 2:22:53 GMT mikec said:

Yeah the conversation is more interesting in terms of what you’re starting to see come out as solutions to fix it, like rolling back the draft pay scale so that RBs don’t have to play their best four-five seasons on a cost controlled deal.

I'm stunned the NFLPA agreed to a 2nd franchise tag option for the players, that seems like a killer for RBs in particular who are on 4 or 5 year deals with a short enough career span at the position.

Won't be resolved until next meeting but I assume this RB thing will be a point of discussion. Sucks for the players caught in between this but money can't go all around to everybody.

UT there's no loyalty in sports but I think a lot of young players don't quite get it until they see someone like Barkley or Jacobs carry their teams arguably on their backs not get paid based on ability but due to a set in place market value. 

The fact that there are three players in this same situation tells you that it's not a particular team being stingy - it's just the situation that it is not logical to pay a RB long term when they are unlikely to remain at their current level for the length of the contract, and it is fairly easy to get a fairly sizeable percentage of their production through the draft. These guys on the tag ARE being paid for their production, that's exactly why they're getting 10 million this season and not the $3-5 million deals that lesser players like Sanders, Singletary and Williams got in free agency.

Is it fair? No of course not, the way NFL contracts are structured negatively affects running backs because they are at their peak when they can be cost-controlled, unlike QBs and WRs. But this is a unique issue to a small group of players so the likelihood of change is almost zero, especially as the league continues to trend further and further towards passing.

Jul 18, 2023 2:29:15 GMT @admin said:

The fact that there are three players in this same situation tells you that it's not a particular team being stingy - it's just the situation that it is not logical to pay a RB long term when they are unlikely to remain at their current level for the length of the contract, and it is fairly easy to get a fairly sizeable percentage of their production through the draft. These guys on the tag ARE being paid for their production, that's exactly why they're getting 10 million this season and not the $3-5 million deals that lesser players like Sanders, Singletary and Williams got in free agency.

Is it fair? No of course not, the way NFL contracts are structured negatively affects running backs because they are at their peak when they can be cost-controlled, unlike QBs and WRs. But this is a unique issue to a small group of players so the likelihood of change is almost zero, especially as the league continues to trend further and further towards passing.

We say this but yet RBs like McCaffrey, Ecker become inaugural parts of their offenses with their multi purpose play. I think from the RB's POV, they get utilized to do so much from blitz pickup to pass catching that they contribute just as much on a play as a lineman blocking a pass rusher or a WR catching a short checkdown but because of the position, are set to only get paid ____ . I think guys are trying to change this and whether it works or it doesn't, I think they're trying to go out swinging. I assume Barkley has handled his 2nd overall pick earnings money smart where he isn't in a predicament that it's  "must play or else" to even have consideration of holding out for the season which does no one any good from himself to the team. 

I just think it makes the entire league look bad as a whole that you still have players being vocal and fighting over stuff like this when the NBA and MLB basically throw money at will, all guaranteed(For the most part) at players, especially when the NFL is the most valuable of all North American leagues.

Jul 18, 2023 0:45:00 GMT Blindy said:

Hopkins should have came back to the Texans but not sure where he stands with ownership. Hopkins outside of Andre Johnson is one of the best Texan WRs of all time, for him to throw that away and sign with the Titans does away all of that legacy. Reminds me of when Andre Johnson put on both the Colts & Titans unis.

I would have said the Browns make sense too given all they have that is proven & isn't a malcontent is Amari Cooper. Could have used a WR2 IMHO to have Hopkins try and carry their QB (yet again) but Browns are a run first team so they probably feel like Chubb is the bellcow.

Hopkins coming back to the Texans would have been one of the most awesome things to happen ever. I would have been all for it and ready to do a 450 splash off the top plate had it happened. What a career he had here, most gutted I’ve ever been as a football fan was when he was traded. Bill O’Brien and Jack Easterby are franchise rapists. Now I know how my ancestors felt when Bud fired Bum.

Jul 18, 2023 2:42:59 GMT Blindy said:

Jul 18, 2023 2:29:15 GMT @admin said:

The fact that there are three players in this same situation tells you that it's not a particular team being stingy - it's just the situation that it is not logical to pay a RB long term when they are unlikely to remain at their current level for the length of the contract, and it is fairly easy to get a fairly sizeable percentage of their production through the draft. These guys on the tag ARE being paid for their production, that's exactly why they're getting 10 million this season and not the $3-5 million deals that lesser players like Sanders, Singletary and Williams got in free agency.

Is it fair? No of course not, the way NFL contracts are structured negatively affects running backs because they are at their peak when they can be cost-controlled, unlike QBs and WRs. But this is a unique issue to a small group of players so the likelihood of change is almost zero, especially as the league continues to trend further and further towards passing.

We say this but yet RBs like McCaffrey, Ecker become inaugural parts of their offenses with their multi purpose play. I think from the RB's POV, they get utilized to do so much from blitz pickup to pass catching that they contribute just as much on a play as a lineman blocking a pass rusher or a WR catching a short checkdown but because of the position, are set to only get paid ____ . I think guys are trying to change this and whether it works or it doesn't, I think they're trying to go out swinging. I assume Barkley has handled his 2nd overall pick earnings money smart where he isn't in a predicament that it's  "must play or else" to even have consideration of holding out for the season which does no one any good from himself to the team. 

I just think it makes the entire league look bad as a whole that you still have players being vocal and fighting over stuff like this when the NBA and MLB basically throw money at will, all guaranteed(For the most part) at players, especially when the NFL is the most valuable of all North American leagues.

The NFL also employs 53+ players on their roster and a billion coaches, it’s not really comparable at all and makes total sense that they have to find places and positions to save money. Running backs have shown over the years to be the position that makes most sense.

Also Barkley is set to make 10 million on the tag and was reportedly offered over 11 million per on a new deal. Let’s not pretend like he’s making nothing compared to other athletes. He’s just getting paid probably over market value of what his position calls for.

#FuckAroundAndFindOut

Shame too because he was great for the Jets coaching staff at the senior bowl 2 years ago, won the MVP honors. Threw his career away with countless off the field issues. 

Thinking more about the prospect of the Titans wearing Oilers throwbacks against the Texans like what I been reading. It would visually be an awesome spectacle(especially seeing Hopkins of all players in Oilers gear) and would be a huge game for the Texans right? Like how big would that be to just thrash them wearing those Oilers unis in a big blowout? Would be huge. Lets do that.

Jul 19, 2023 17:38:58 GMT Neo Zeed said:

Thinking more about the prospect of the Titans wearing Oilers throwbacks against the Texans like what I been reading. It would visually be an awesome spectacle(especially seeing Hopkins of all players in Oilers gear) and would be a huge game for the Texans right? Like how big would that be to just thrash them wearing those Oilers unis in a big blowout? Would be huge. Lets do that.

Would be such a Vrabel move to try and intimidate the young Texans with that. Would like to see Stroud, Anderson, Pitre, Pearce, Stingley and the crew rise up and make a statement that game. 

Jul 19, 2023 17:56:05 GMT Blindy said:

Jul 19, 2023 17:38:58 GMT Neo Zeed said:

Thinking more about the prospect of the Titans wearing Oilers throwbacks against the Texans like what I been reading. It would visually be an awesome spectacle(especially seeing Hopkins of all players in Oilers gear) and would be a huge game for the Texans right? Like how big would that be to just thrash them wearing those Oilers unis in a big blowout? Would be huge. Lets do that.

Would be such a Vrabel move to try and intimidate the young Texans with that. Would like to see Stroud, Anderson, Pitre, Pearce, Stingley and the crew rise up and make a statement that game. 

None of those guys were even alive when the Oilers were around, they're not going to give a shit. 

Jul 19, 2023 22:21:48 GMT @admin said:

Jul 19, 2023 17:56:05 GMT Blindy said:

Would be such a Vrabel move to try and intimidate the young Texans with that. Would like to see Stroud, Anderson, Pitre, Pearce, Stingley and the crew rise up and make a statement that game. 

None of those guys were even alive when the Oilers were around, they're not going to give a shit. 

No but I would, those uniforms are legit. Fucking love them.

Blindy just makes incredibly weird connotations.

Denzel Mims got traded to the Lions, I assume Jets are getting little back. Mims does not contribute on special teams but he has these moments shown year 1 under Gase and in the preseason that he can be decent in this league. Given Jameson Williams is gone for 6 games, maybe Johnson can finally untap the potential in Mims. He is a big body blocking WR, his main issue is he had such brainfarts and lost confidence early under LaFleur that he never amounted to anything.

With G. Wilson/Corey Davis/Hardman/Lazard/Cobb, Mims wasn't gonna make the roster. Give him a chance early to latch on somewhere.

Looks like the league put the kibosh on Tennessee wearing Oilers gear in Houston, was broke yesterday that it's not happening. I don't know what to think about it honestly, while I know people think I'm delusional to think that franchise has no right to wear those uniforms(they "retired" the shit in 99, something no other sports team has ever done when they change). At the same time the visual of the Texans vs Oilers is just too awesome to think about so I'm split 50/50, I feel like it's a rare respectful gesture from the league to the city to step in on that, but also bummed we won't get to see that in living color.

To me the whole Titans/Oilers/Houston dilemma could be summed up in one single video, the video of Bum Phillips walking out at NRG stadium before the Texans first playoff game in 2011. The ovation the man got there is not something he would have ever got in Tennessee, that whole video sends chills down my spine and is easily a top 2-3 moments in franchise history. That there was ourn.

Speaking of uniforms, the Browns white ones are pretty fun but those new Colts “Indiana Nights” unis are awesome.

Jul 20, 2023 15:18:39 GMT UT said:

Speaking of uniforms, the Browns white ones are pretty fun but those new Colts “Indiana Nights” unis are awesome.

Yeah I love those too, people were shading them saying that they looked too midweek CFB but as you would know that is my vibe. If every team just does white it's not really that interesting.

Generally speaking all the alternative uniforms are great, so glad that completely arbitrary rule about having one helmet for the whole season is gone. 

Jul 20, 2023 22:33:25 GMT @admin said:

Jul 20, 2023 15:18:39 GMT UT said:

Speaking of uniforms, the Browns white ones are pretty fun but those new Colts “Indiana Nights” unis are awesome.

Yeah I love those too, people were shading them saying that they looked too midweek CFB but as you would know that is my vibe. If every team just does white it's not really that interesting.

Generally speaking all the alternative uniforms are great, so glad that completely arbitrary rule about having one helmet for the whole season is gone. 

People are going to shade everything new. I love the classics as much as anyone but it’s nice to get a different look every now and then. And there are some teams who should permanently go to alternated and others *cough* Seattle *cough* that should go back to the classics and use their neons as the alternates.

Jul 21, 2023 2:04:21 GMT UT said:

Jul 20, 2023 22:33:25 GMT @admin said:

Yeah I love those too, people were shading them saying that they looked too midweek CFB but as you would know that is my vibe. If every team just does white it's not really that interesting.

Generally speaking all the alternative uniforms are great, so glad that completely arbitrary rule about having one helmet for the whole season is gone. 

People are going to shade everything new. I love the classics as much as anyone but it’s nice to get a different look every now and then. And there are some teams who should permanently go to alternated and others *cough* Seattle *cough* that should go back to the classics and use their neons as the alternates.

Got to admit I always felt like the original Seahawks unis were just hideous, maybe the worst in the league and their newer update was pretty sharp improvement(at least the darker versions). 

Also really always hated the Eagles and Giants changes whenever they modernized their colors/unis, even though they look sharp for some reason those changes made it easy for me to like those teams even less. Similar effect to somebody growing a beard to turn heel. Giants bringing their old unis back last year was pretty dope. 

One old uniform that gets a ton of nostalgia love now that I never liked is the old Creamsicle Bucs unis. Absolutely believe that those uniforms gave that team bad juju and gave their opponents psychological edge against them. Those colors/logo had no place in a pro football league, belonged in MLB or the NBA. I find it interesting that the USFL Tampa Bandits outsold the Bucs in merch in Tampa while they existed in the 80's(they had the same color scheme as the one that the Bucs changed to in 97). I believe they outsold the Bucs in attendance those 3 years the USFL existed too. 

I think that would have to do with the Bucs being a terrible franchise and team for most of that run as for selling merch and tickets. I like the Creamsicles , their current scheme isn’t bad but their logo on the helmet throws me off - it’s too big.

The Seahawks bright unis are a terrible eyesore. Can’t look at them. Looks like a giant lava lamp shattered all over the field.

Dalvin Cook offering 1 million to an ex GF to cover up an assault should be a red flag as ever for NYJ to stay away. Let Miami deal with him and Tyreek Hill.

Jul 21, 2023 14:32:23 GMT Blindy said:

Dalvin Cook offering 1 million to an ex GF to cover up an assault should be a red flag as ever for NYJ to stay away. Let Miami deal with him and Tyreek Hill.

I like how the cover up should be the red flag and not the actual assault.

Jul 21, 2023 18:20:43 GMT UT said:

Jul 21, 2023 14:32:23 GMT Blindy said:

Dalvin Cook offering 1 million to an ex GF to cover up an assault should be a red flag as ever for NYJ to stay away. Let Miami deal with him and Tyreek Hill.

I like how the cover up should be the red flag and not the actual assault.

It's everything really, just a bad look for him if so.

You know what isn't a bad look?

Damn these look good Neo Zeed

Too gross 🤮 fuck nfl, think I’m about done with it. Tennessee had a solid young football team wearing those uniforms for 2 years and Jack shit showed up to watch them play.

Shit is fucking snake bit cursed anyway, fuck it

Those Warren Moon tweets break my fucking heart, I need therapy for this haha. I loved that football team and lost them because of really one of the darkest and most crooked NFL owners there ever was, bottom line at the end of the day is all it comes down to. The shit Bud Adams did while in Houston that I've heard and read about makes fucking Daniel Snyder look like fucking George Halas. He turned his nose up at every charity in Houston as one of the cheapest misers in the league, he had a basement office in the Astrodome with a couch with a lot of me too stories to tell. The whole story represents the worst of the worst of NFL crooked ass political games they play. The city of Houston sacrificed their football team to put a collective boot in his ass and continued to pay taxes on his shit for like a decade after he was gone. This is like a celebration rubbing the dogs nose in the pile of shit, really dark and twisted stuff. Not a fan. Once you make a big official press statement "Retiring" your colors and name and logo you shouldn't be allowed to double back for pettiness because somebody else wanted it.

It all boils down to they didn't give us another football team to replace the one we lost and there is no respect for the cities history with the Oilers, none of that means shit to the NFL, this was just a top 10 TV market they wanted to be able to play Packers/Steelers/Cowboys/Peyton Manning games here, have the Titans come back once a year and get cheered over the hometown placeholder team, and have Super Bowls here. This 32nd franchise spot was never meant to be taken seriously, they intended for Houston to be Cowboys/Titans market like Phoenix is to the Cowboys. The signs were on the wall in the very beginning they put us in a division that was tailor custom made for their posterboy Peyton Manning to have a laid out career as the face of the league. Why the fuck else would Indianapolis one of the most northern states in the country be put in the "AFC South"?! Easy answer; so Peyton Manning could play in his alma matter once a year and have 4 games a year against the youngest indoor warm weather expansion teams. We went 0-10 against the fucking guy before we finally beat that team, that's 10 easy wins that went a long way in Manning making the playoffs and having a nice seed every year from 02 to 06. Ridiculous. 

The NFL planted Bill O'Brien and Jack Easterby here to make sure we didn't become anything more than that, I refuse to believe the Hopkins trade and some other moves was an inside job intentionally meant to do long term damage to this franchise on their way out. Once we got a legit star in JJ Watt and they seen all the Texans fans in Dallas for that 2014 Cowboys games I think moves started to get made. Now all of a sudden there are no NFC/AFC restrictions on TV, CBS now makes the Cowboys a priority so Texans games don't even come on TV at all anywhere in the state outside of Houston. What is the fucking point of even having this team exist anymore? Even people in Texas/Houston seem to have grown tired of the whole name/colors everything about the team, like whats the point anymore?