2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

It's going to be interesting to see if the Ravens and Flacco sign a contract extension this offseason. He's a free agent after next season and the team has previously said they want to sign him before the 2012 season. There are rumors though that Flacco considers himself an upper-tier quarterback and worthy of a deal similar to Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers, whose contracts are both worth around $100 million with $35 million guaranteed, but it's unlikely the team would agree to that much guaranteed money.

Flacco is a very unique case. He's the only quarterback ever to make the playoffs his first 4 seasons, he's won 5 playoff games (2 more than Rivers in his career) and made the AFC title game twice, but few people would say that was due to him, so it's hard to gauge his value. I've read a lot of articles about Flacco's contract status on the Baltimore news sites and they all think an extension gets done before next season.

Without a doubt the defense has carried Baltimore to the playoffs all 4 years, and the AFC title both times. If they had a Rivers/Schaub/Stafford/NEWTON they would have won the Bowl at least once in those 4 years IMO. Flacco isn't horrible, he just makes a lot of poor decisions when it counts. He has zero pocket presence if ANY pressure starts to close it around him, and just falls down with it rather than throwing out of bounds way too often.

Not even going to lie, Ravens trading 1st and 2nd rounder to draft Robert Griffin the 3rd would make me happier than hell. I feel he's an almost exact skill set as Cam Newton and would make for a very big threat in the Ravens offense. Having to worry about Rice/Griffin running it alongside the Leach/Rice short passing and Smith/Boldin deeper game would open up the Raven offense so well.

(or hell, trade up big giving away Flacco and the draft to the Colts and get Andrew Luck. I would love to actually have a franchise QB on the Ravens Franchise for the first time ever. Cuz I think we can all agree the Ravens have just been plugging in whoever they can under center since arriving in Baltimore.)

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by SleeperAgent

Not even going to lie, Ravens trading 1st and 2nd rounder to draft Robert Griffin the 3rd would make me happier than hell. I feel he's an almost exact skill set as Cam Newton

What happens if you get Jamarcus Russell or a Rex Grossman/John Beck?

Not only would you lose those picks, but you've now lost maybe the final years of Lewis and Reed.

Continuing to surround Flacco is a very safe play. Trading up hoping you get a superstar has a very high risk.

[wilky61]

Is it just me or does everybody who isn't a Ravens fan seem to agree that the Ravens should stick with Flacco?

I agree with what supersix said about "continuing to surround him." He's good enough (probably in the neighborhood of the 10th best QB in the league, wouldn't you say?) that they should concentrate on building the talent around him.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Is it just me or does everybody who isn't a Ravens fan seem to agree that the Ravens should stick with Flacco?

I agree with what supersix said about "continuing to surround him." He's good enough (probably in the neighborhood of the 10th best QB in the league, wouldn't you say?) that they should concentrate on building the talent around him.

Won't make a difference so long as Cameron is the OC.

[Batman1980]

Owner Steve Bisciotti confirmed Wednesday that the Ravens will not allow Ray Rice to test the free agent market.
"Ray ... will be a part of this football team next year, period," Bisciotti said, confirming that the franchise tag "comes into play" with regard to how the Ravens will retain him. Ideally, the Ravens could get LG Ben Grubbs signed to a long-term extension and use the franchise tag on Rice. The running back tag is worth roughly $8 million. The offensive line tag is well over $9 million.

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4645/ray-rice

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Is it just me or does everybody who isn't a Ravens fan seem to agree that the Ravens should stick with Flacco?

I agree with what supersix said about "continuing to surround him." He's good enough (probably in the neighborhood of the 10th best QB in the league, wouldn't you say?) that they should concentrate on building the talent around him.

Yes lol, I think they're just worried after coming so close

I'd rather have 3 years of quality players coming in then reaching for a star that may or may not be great, and even if he is another Cam Newton can he fit into whatever they're trying to do? Some players just don't fit in some systems (andre carter for example).


Lets say they also solidify the offensive line for 10+ years through the draft but Flacco never does anything in the next 3 years, whoever comes in will have the luxury of solid people around them.

[StereoMike]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Yes lol, I think they're just worried after coming so close

I'd rather have 3 years of quality players coming in then reaching for a star that may or may not be great, and even if he is another Cam Newton can he fit into whatever they're trying to do? Some players just don't fit in some systems (andre carter for example).


Lets say they also solidify the offensive line for 10+ years through the draft but Flacco never does anything in the next 3 years, whoever comes in will have the luxury of solid people around them.

There won't be some crazy offers for the #2 then. Browns could swap with St.Louis for a small compensation. Rams would then still be able to pick Kalil at #4.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by StereoMike

There won't be some crazy offers for the #2 then. Browns could swap with St.Louis for a small compensation. Rams would then still be able to pick Kalil at #4.

If Kalil is available at #3 there's no way the Vikings would pass on him. They need offensive line help more than any other position.

[wilky61]

I really wonder if Andrew Luck is going to have a mega-successful career in the NFL. I mean, I watched him play at Stanford this year and what impressed me about him the most was his decision-making; he looked ready for the pros all right. But he's going to be playing (presumably in Indy) under more pressure/expectation than probably any QB who's ever played before. With the bar set so high, it'll be interesting to see how many Super Bowl appearances/wins he nabs over the next 12-15 years.

[StereoMike]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

If Kalil is available at #3 there's no way the Vikings would pass on him. They need offensive line help more than any other position.

I thought they needed cornerbacks badly. #3 is probably too soon for a CB though.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by StereoMike

I thought they needed cornerbacks badly. #3 is probably too soon for a CB though.

Cornerback is a big need for the Vikings but line is a big need as well and Kalil is a very safe pick. If Kalil is gone at #3 there's a good chance they'd take CB Morris Claiborne from LSU. They could potentially take Justin Blackmon as well but Claiborne would fill a bigger need.

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by wilky61

I really wonder if Andrew Luck is going to have a mega-successful career in the NFL. I mean, I watched him play at Stanford this year and what impressed me about him the most was his decision-making; he looked ready for the pros all right. But he's going to be playing (presumably in Indy) under more pressure/expectation than probably any QB who's ever played before. With the bar set so high, it'll be interesting to see how many Super Bowl appearances/wins he nabs over the next 12-15 years.

One of the things that afforded Eli more development time compared to the way guys like Sanchez and Flacco get abused by the media (and us fans) is the fact that because he is a Manning and Peyton is so great (and always running for his life Archie was better than his stats show), that eventually he would figure things out and be a quality quarterback. With the Unitas and Peyton lineage, Luck will certainly have a shorter window to become the quarterback he seems destined to be.

[StereoMike]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Cornerback is a big need for the Vikings but line is a big need as well and Kalil is a very safe pick. If Kalil is gone at #3 there's a good chance they'd take CB Morris Claiborne from LSU. They could potentially take Justin Blackmon as well but Claiborne would fill a bigger need.

And the Browns would end up with RGIII with their own pick...I hope Dolphins don't trade up if they can't land Flynn. I'd rather start the season with Moore than giving away a bunch of picks.

[Tony208]

Flacco does enough to stick around but when the time comes that the defense and running game declines (like with the Jets), they'll be looking at him to carry the team and so far he hasn't shown that he can.

[Waboman]

For you Jacksonville fans with an extra $112 million laying around, the new boss of the Jaguars is putting his yacht up for sale. Perhaps you could get Blaine Gabbert to serve cocktails while you're out at sea.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Flacco does enough to stick around but when the time comes that the defense and running game declines (like with the Jets), they'll be looking at him to carry the team and so far he hasn't shown that he can.

He had to carry the team in their final drive against the Patriots and if Lee Evans doesn't drop a ball he should have held onto they would be in the Super Bowl or if the kicker could make a 32-yard field goal they would have gone to overtime. I'm not saying he's an elite quarterback but he's shown his teams can win.

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by Waboman

For you Jacksonville fans with an extra $112 million laying around, the new boss of the Jaguars is putting his yacht up for sale. Perhaps you could get Blaine Gabbert to serve cocktails while you're out at sea.

It was all over the news a few weeks back when he came into the Jacksonville Landing in his multi-million dollar yacht. There's some disgruntled Jags fans about the head coaching move, and the comments by Kahn how you need to be a season ticket owner to be a true Jaguar fan.

All eyes on us again in April. Who will the Jaguars draft this time?

[Batman1980]

Colts hired Greg Manusky as defensive coordinator.
It's more confirmation that Indianapolis is scrapping its old 4-3, Tampa 2-style defensive schemes and jumping headfirst into a 3-4. Manusky, an NFL defensive coordinator since 2007 with San Francisco and San Diego, worked in the AFC West against then-Raiders DBs coach and new Colts head coach Chuck Pagano in the mid-2000s. Manusky has taught 3-4 schemes in virtually all of his coaching stops. The Colts will overhaul their roster this offseason.

Source - http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1542/colts-defense

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

it'll be interesting to see what flacco does when he doesn't have that stellar def. backing him up...b/c lets face it, that def. is getting really old and won't be there much longer.

stafford could make the jump to elite status w/a few more seasons like the one he just had...but that team needs to "grow up" and be more mature if they want to win anything. they can be tuff and aggressive all they want, but until they grow up, a more mature team will come along and always knock them out. either that or they'll knock themselves out of contention b/c of their own stupidity.

ryan is mediocre @ best b/c of the players around him. and the guy can't throw the ball downfield to save his life. my buddy said last year when they played the packers, if the falcons get behind, it's hard for them to catch up b/c they just can't get the big plays to get them back in the game.

and romo, romo romo romo....he makes to many mistakes and always seems to be the reason they lose the big games. it's like he gets inside his own head and he psychs himself out.

and rivers gets all of this praise every year and he never seems to do anything!!!

i don't see any of these QB's winning a super bowl in their career.

True. He had one of the most elite seasons in the history of the NFL. I'm sure he'd rather have worse numbers and a ring though, and that's not going to happen unless they shape up that defense.

[StereoMike]

Peyton Manning has been medically cleared by two doctors

Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the most recent surgery on the Indianapolis Colts quarterback's neck, to resume his NFL career, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.