2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[ChadFL]

Sundays are so depressing now. It'll be 7 months until any more games are played.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by Konfusion1230

Still disappointed the Ravens passed on Jimmy Graham and took Ed Dickson in the 2010 draft. Oh well, I am wrong about who my team should draft more times than I am right.

Maybe Ed Dickson would look a lot better with Tom Brady or Drew Brees throwing him the ball

[NYGiants Fan]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

You Giants fans and your silliness, JPP is one of the best players on your team!

Did anyone really know, at the time of the draft, he was going to be one of the best on a team that already had 4 Des that were capable of starting? Hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20.

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Maybe Ed Dickson would look a lot better with Tom Brady or Drew Brees throwing him the ball

+1

Both the TE's the Ravens got I think could go toe-to-toe with Gronk and Hernandez, but they are not in a system designed to go to TE's nearly half as much.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Konfusion1230

Matchup nightmares in 2011. Matchup nightmares in 2012. The only thing that would worry me about Gronk in 2012 is if the Pats acquire a true #1 wide receiver that would take away his targets. Would still be a good season compared to others, but I doubt it would be a repeat performance of the 2011 season.

I would be very surprised if the Patriots don't acquire a #1 receiver this offseason. The free agent market is loaded with receivers. I think the Patriots end up with either Reggie Wayne or Brandon Lloyd. Belichick has always liked Wayne and over the weekend Wayne said he'd be open to playing in New England. I could see Wayne possibly taking less money to play in New England and try and get a ring rather staying in Indy. Brandon Lloyd has thrived in Josh McDaniels offense and could decide to follow him to New England. The Rams want to keep Lloyd though and I can't see the Patriots getting into a bidding war.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I would be very surprised if the Patriots don't acquire a #1 receiver this offseason. The free agent market is loaded with receivers. I think the Patriots end up with either Reggie Wayne or Brandon Lloyd. Belichick has always liked Wayne and over the weekend Wayne said he'd be open to playing in New England. I could see Wayne possibly taking less money to play in New England and try and get a ring rather staying in Indy. Brandon Lloyd has thrived in Josh McDaniels offense and could decide to follow him to New England. The Rams want to keep Lloyd though and I can't see the Patriots getting into a bidding war.

Reggie Wayne is no longer a #1 receiver anyway, he's probably a very good #2 at this point, much like Laurent Robinson.

[NYGiants Fan]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I would be very surprised if the Patriots don't acquire a #1 receiver this offseason. The free agent market is loaded with receivers. I think the Patriots end up with either Reggie Wayne or Brandon Lloyd. Belichick has always liked Wayne and over the weekend Wayne said he'd be open to playing in New England. I could see Wayne possibly taking less money to play in New England and try and get a ring rather staying in Indy. Brandon Lloyd has thrived in Josh McDaniels offense and could decide to follow him to New England. The Rams want to keep Lloyd though and I can't see the Patriots getting into a bidding war.

Think Belicheck goes after Mario Manningham? I realize he isn't a #1 (although he will probably have an agent telling him he is). But I really don't see the Patriots going after a TRUE #1, as they don't usually go after the upper tier free agents. They leave that to the Redskins.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by NYGiants Fan

Think Belicheck goes after Mario Manningham? I realize he isn't a #1 (although he will probably have an agent telling him he is). But I really don't see the Patriots going after a TRUE #1, as they don't usually go after the upper tier free agents. They leave that to the Redskins.

There should be a #1 receiver available in the draft at the spot the Patriots pick at, that should be a much less expensive option than FA.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Reggie Wayne is no longer a #1 receiver anyway, he's probably a very good #2 at this point, much like Laurent Robinson.

Wayne still had almost 1,000 yards last year playing with the worst quarterbacks in the league and had over 1,300 yards in 2010 with Manning. I'm not saying Wayne is a top 10 receiver anymore but he could be a dangerous deep threat playing alongside the Patriots tight ends and Welker.

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

There should be a #1 receiver available in the draft at the spot the Patriots pick at, that should be a much less expensive option than FA.

I don't want the Patriots to draft a receiver high because their coaching staff has done a terrible job developing receivers. Since 2006 they've used 3 high picks on receivers, Chad Jackson was the #36 pick in the 2006 draft and was released after a year, Brandon Tate was a third round pick in the 2009 draft and was released after 2 years, and Taylor Price was a third round pick in 2010 and was released after less than 2 seasons. I'd much rather focus on defense in the draft and sign a receiver that can step in right away as their #1 receiver.

[Batman1980]

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert indicated that the team will not be counting on Rashard Mendenhall (ACL surgery) for 2012.
Mendenhall tore his right ACL on January 1 and will be a long shot to participate in any portion of 2012 training camp. "I never feel good about ACLs for a year," said Colbert. Mendenhall could open the year on PUP, costing him the first six games of the season. Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, and John Clay would be next in line for action in Pittsburgh's backfield.

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/...ard-mendenhall

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I don't want the Patriots to draft a receiver high because their coaching staff has done a terrible job developing receivers. Since 2006 they've used 3 high picks on receivers, Chad Jackson was the #36 pick in the 2006 draft and was released after a year.

i remember the packers passing on jackson and being so pissed about it that year!!!

of course, the guy we drafted instead was Greg Jennings. so i'd say it all worked out well.

[Konfusion1230]

Originally Posted by SleeperAgent

+1

Both the TE's the Ravens got I think could go toe-to-toe with Gronk and Hernandez, but they are not in a system designed to go to TE's nearly half as much.

You mean the system Antonio Gates thrived in? Same system.

[StereoMike]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Sundays are so depressing now. It'll be 7 months until any more games are played.

I watch videos to help me get through, especially those with some epic music showing highlights of last season.

This one covering Dolphins weeks 10-13:

Miami Dolphins 2011 weeks 10-13 - YouTube

And I like to relive epic wins like this one against the Raiders...

NFL 2011 Raiders vs Dolphins Week 13 - YouTube

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by Konfusion1230

You mean the system Antonio Gates thrived in? Same system.

Big difference between Flacco and Rivers. Just sayin.

[fatediesel]

I didn't realize under the new CBA the highest restricted free agent tender is a first round pick. Under the old CBA the highest tender was a first and third round pick. I learned this because apparently the Steelers are considering using the franchise tag on restricted free agent receiver Mike Wallace. If they don't use the franchise tag on Wallace I would love to see the Patriots go after him and if they could come to a deal they could insert a poison pill in the contract which would make it impossible for the Steelers to match. The Patriots have plenty of draft picks so losing the #31 pick wouldn't hurt them much and their offense with Welker, the tight ends, and Wallace would be tough to stop.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...n-rfa-wallace/

[Batman1980]

NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora reports the Ravens will begin long-term extension discussions with the player rep for Joe Flacco at next week's Combine.
Locking up Flacco is a no-brainer, but it was apparently his impressive AFC Championship game performance at New England that sold the front office on a new deal entering a contract season. Hamstrung by an unimaginative scheme and receivers who struggle to gain separation, Flacco's numbers actually took a step back in 2011. On a positive note, Flacco is the only quarterback since the 1970 merger to start a playoff game in each of his first four seasons. If Ryan Fitzpatrick landed $24 million guaranteed, Flacco should top $30 million easily.

source - http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4677/joe-flacco

[Navster]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I didn't realize under the new CBA the highest restricted free agent tender is a first round pick. Under the old CBA the highest tender was a first and third round pick. I learned this because apparently the Steelers are considering using the franchise tag on restricted free agent receiver Mike Wallace. If they don't use the franchise tag on Wallace I would love to see the Patriots go after him and if they could come to a deal they could insert a poison pill in the contract which would make it impossible for the Steelers to match. The Patriots have plenty of draft picks so losing the #31 pick wouldn't hurt them much and their offense with Welker, the tight ends, and Wallace would be tough to stop.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...n-rfa-wallace/

FYI:

“Poison pill” for offer sheets removed from CBA

Per a source with intimate knowledge of the new CBA, it doesn’t. The ability of one team to sign a player to an offer sheet and include a term that would, for example, make the entire amount of the contract fully guaranteed if the player plays more than four games in the stadium where his current team plays, has disappeared.

Not sure how accurate this is, but seems as if there is no longer a poison pill clause... But the Pats don't need receivers anyways imo, with Gronk at 100%, I think they win the super bowl ... They need to work on defense, they also need veteran leadership, which is what they miss most from the years they won a superbowl...

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by NavsterKing

FYI:

“Poison pill” for offer sheets removed from CBA



Not sure how accurate this is, but seems as if there is no longer a poison pill clause... But the Pats don't need receivers anyways imo, they need to work on defense, they also need veteran leadership, which is what they miss most from the years they won a superbowl... Also With Gronk at 100%, I think they win the super bowl

You still need that playmaker at WR that can force the safeties deep, which would open the middle of the field for their running game and open up passing lanes for Hernandez and Gronk to do their damage. They have a 1B in Welker and a bunch of #2s, a #1 would give them possibly the best offense in the NFL.

[Navster]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

You still need that playmaker at WR that can force the safeties deep, which would open the middle of the field for their running game and open up passing lanes for Hernandez and Gronk to do their damage. They have a 1B in Welker and a bunch of #2s, a #1 would give them possibly the best offense in the NFL.

But that would cost them a lot more as well, not leaving them much room to improve defense.... Not sure what there cap situation is, but if im them, i go out and try to improve defense more than anything.... They had no problems scoring points at will last year, how will getting another receiver change that?...

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by NavsterKing

But that would cost them a lot more as well, not leaving them much room to improve defense.... Not sure what there cap situation is, but if im them, i go out and try to improve defense more than anything.... They had no problems scoring points at will last year, how will getting another receiver change that?...

You can only upgrade the defense so much in one off-season, sounds like fate agrees with me anyway. They already have a NT, probably just need to upgrade that secondary since it would seem they have a couple beasts at LB as well.