2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[Batman1980]

MMQB's Albert Breer reports USC QB Sam Darnold has a visit scheduled with the Jets.

Just a couple weeks ago, Breer noted the Jets had yet to schedule a visit with Darnold, suggesting they did not expect him to still be available at No. 3 overall, but now they will bring him in for a look. The Giants reportedly will not let Darnold slip past them if he is available, but this is lying season.

Source - Rotoworld.com

[RageATL]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Source - Rotoworld.com

Please no.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by RageATL

Please no.

Sounds like a ploy by the G-Strings to get the Jets to trade up to #2.

[RageATL]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Sounds like a ploy by the G-Strings to get the Jets to trade up to #2.

I'm not buying that, not for a second. They have their guy Baker at 3. If anything, they're trying to mess with the Giants.

[imsounoriginal]

Jets have nothing to lose just bringing Darnold in for a visit, even if they're not serious about him.

[fatediesel]

Sounds like Richie Incognito is seriously considering retirement, although it may just be a ploy to try and get more money after agreeing to a pay cut last month with the Bills then firing his agents days later.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...is-killing-me/

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Sounds like Richie Incognito is seriously considering retirement, although it may just be a ploy to try and get more money after agreeing to a pay cut last month with the Bills then firing his agents days later.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...is-killing-me/

Surprising to say the least. I wonder if it might have to do with his alleged racial slur during the playoffs that is still being investigated.

[RageATL]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Jets have nothing to lose just bringing Darnold in for a visit, even if they're not serious about him.

Precisely.

[rickah88]

Looks like Kaep finally gets his day in court. Going to be deposed by NFL lawyers for his grievance agaisnt the league, claiming collusion.

I’m just wondering if he will kneel before getting sworn in?

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Looks like Kaep finally gets his day in court. Going to be deposed by NFL lawyers for his grievance agaisnt the league, claiming collusion.

I’m just wondering if he will kneel before getting sworn in?

Why wonder why even care lol Kaep is old news

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Why wonder why even care lol Kaep is old news

Strictly for the comedic value.
I’m curious if he will be wearing his “PIG” socks? That would be interesting.
Or if Blaine Gabbert will take the stand, in his place, if Kaep can’t get the job done.

[imsounoriginal]

Kaep has a better shot at winning than people seem to think, but I still doubt anything will come of it. Both sides are just gonna piss each other off even more.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Strictly for the comedic value.
I’m curious if he will be wearing his “PIG” socks? That would be interesting.
Or if Blaine Gabbert will take the stand, in his place, if Kaep can’t get the job done.

He wore a shirt that says Kunta Kinte to Bob McNair's deposition. Kunta Kinte was a slave in the book (and subsequent miniseries) Roots.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Kaep has a better shot at winning than people seem to think, but I still doubt anything will come of it. Both sides are just gonna piss each other off even more.

How do you figure he has a shot at winning. Kaep opted OUT of his contract he had one provided by the 49ers. Kaep quit, and now with the loss of revenue you cant force someone to be hired, teams just dont want the headache and financial burdens he brings. When word got out the Ravens were considering Kaep, Ravens fans in droves sent letter, emails, and calls to the facilities threatening to stop watching or supporting the product. Thats not collusion thats basic business 101.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by R3P0

How do you figure he has a shot at winning. Kaep opted OUT of his contract he had one. Kaep quit, and now with the loss of revenue you cant force someone to be hired, teams just dont want the headache and financial burdons he brings. When word got out the Ravens were considering Kaep, Ravens fans in droves sent letter, emails, and calls to the facilities threatening to stop watching or supporting the product. Thats not collusion thats basic business 101.

Not super-great with legalese so someone correct me if I'm wrong. But my understanding is that literally all he needs is any two people with power over a roster on any two teams texting or emailing or whatever to each other just one sentence along the lines of "if you don't like Kaep then neither do we." Boom, collusion. Totally realistic that that happened, but probably way less realistic that anyone will ever find it.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Not super-great with legalese so someone correct me if I'm wrong. But my understanding is that literally all he needs is any two people with power over a roster on any two teams texting or emailing or whatever to each other just one sentence along the lines of "if you don't like Kaep then neither do we." Boom, collusion. Totally realistic that that happened, but probably way less realistic that anyone will ever find it.

Yeah, that's basically right. That's why Kaep and his lawyer are interviewing as many people as possible. They have no evidence so they're hoping someone slips up and says something they shouldn't.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Not super-great with legalese so someone correct me if I'm wrong. But my understanding is that literally all he needs is any two people with power over a roster on any two teams texting or emailing or whatever to each other just one sentence along the lines of "if you don't like Kaep then neither do we." Boom, collusion. Totally realistic that that happened, but probably way less realistic that anyone will ever find it.

The entire basis of his argument is the teams were conspiring against him to keep him out of the league. The legal hole in his argument no matter what he does is the fact that he had a contract and opted out of it. The most they will find is an internal email saying we dont want him dont sign him its bad for business. They will never find anything corroborating between multiple teams on official letterheads. Text messages between friends wont be enough to win.

[El Rey]

What irks me about this lawsuit is that I am not sure what it's intended goal is - to gain employment, force a team to sign you, seeking a monetary settlement/damages, etc?
As someone mentioned earlier, he was still under contract and chose to opt out. Now the Niners were likely to cut him that following offseason but he made the choice, not them.

Since being cut other teams did take a look at him but he didn't help himself with the comments about Castro/Cuba, Che shirt, pig socks, and in the case of Baltimore, his dumb wannabe militant girlfriend ruined it for him. If his views were too "controversial" for progressive cities like San Francisco (who supported him) and Seattle (who took a look at him) then he would have to rely strong on field performance, which he does not possess. Once defenses figured him out it was all over and he was mediocre/serviceable at best. If his talent outshone his political views he would have those in need of a QB lining up at his door.

I really wanted to be on his side because I do think at its core the issue is a complicated one but his position was never nuanced enough to go beyond that of a college freshman taking their first semester of US history. If he wanted to continue playing football he could probably go to the CFL. As someone else mentioned earlier, he also played baseball and had a good fastball, I am sure he could sign up for AA or AAA somewhere, but along the way he got caught up in his own hype of being a poster boy and a martyr for the "cause". He has done a lot of good charity work with the money he has earned in his short career but at this point, with the case against the league, it's become an exercise in vanity. He comes out ahead whether he wins his case or loses - either scenario proves the NFL is run by rich, old, racist, white men.

[fatediesel]

The fact Kaepernick opted-out is meaningless. John Lynch said that he and Kyle Shanahan told Kaep if he didn't opt-out he was going to be cut, so there was no reason for Kaep to wait to be cut and delay the start of his free agency when he had the ability to immediately become a free agent.

[El Rey]

Yes Lynch and Shanahan had that discussion with him but even before they were hired there was talk of "Where is he going to play next season?" as ever since Harbaugh was let go, he was on the decline and never had any other supporters from the coaching staff and front office. He could've forced their hand and within the context of being a martyr for the "cause" it would've made sense for him to play it that way. In hindsight Lynch's comments were good to have on record to cover their butts (even though I genuinely believe them) as to why they planned on cutting him, especially now that the case has gone this far.