The next team up in the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes is the team that has already made the most vocal overtures to the former Skins QB- The Denver Broncos. Von Miller, the Broncos' star linebacker and face of the franchise, has gone on record saying Cousins could put them "over the edge". In truth, the Broncos are not that dissimilar from the team that won the Super Bowl a few years ago with an under-performing Peyton Manning at the helm. They have been held back by sub-par QB play from Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, and Paxton Lynch. If John Elway is able to swing a deal, he could have an immediate upgrade in Cousins.
What would Cousins have to work with if he went to Denver? A fair amount. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, CJ Anderson, and Devontae Booker are all under contract for the next two seasons. That collection is a better group of weapons than he has ever had in DC. The team also has high picks in this years draft after a down year, so they would be able to add to the arsenal for their new QB. Couple that with improvements to a defense that, while top 3 in yards allowed per game, fell to 22nd in points allowed, and the Broncos could immediately compete for the AFC title once again.
There are some issues in getting Kirk to Denver, however, and not just the possibility that he and his family may not want to live at altitude. The Broncos only have between $24-28 million in cap space, all of which would be eaten up by the massive contract that Cousins' agent thinks he deserves. They would need to do some creative cutting or restructuring to make sure they can afford Cousins while also have enough money to pay their draft picks and any other free agents. This could be a tough sell for high paid players like Miller or Thomas, and could cost them a weapon in Anderson, who has no dead cap hit and could save the team $4.5 million if he is cut. Elway would have to find the proper balance of saving and spending to put a competitive team around his new QB.
I believe that the consensus among writers and talking heads is that John Elway will find a way to sign Kirk Cousins. The team wants him and is letting everyone know. Elway knows he can win it all with a half-way decent QB and a solid defense. Cousins would give them a Top 10 QB that could give the offense the jolt it needs to not only compete in the AFC West, but for another Super Bowl championship. If they are just a QB away, and Cousins is their man, Elway needs to make it happen.
What do you think of Kirk Cousins and the Denver Broncos?
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Friday, February 2, 2018
JFLANland's 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class
Tomorrow, some writers will lock themselves in the room, and when the Papal conclave-esque white smoke is seen billowing from the chimney, there will be new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There are a few slam dunks, some guys that deserve to be in that aren't yet, and then every fan has their candidate from their team. There can be a maximum of 5 inductees (plus 2 possible senior committee selections), so here are my picks.
1. Randy Moss, WR.
Slam dunk #1. He might be the best receiver of his generation, despite some perceived attitude issues (but less than someone else who will be included later). I think it is a no-brainer.
2. Ray Lewis, LB
Slam dunk #2. The best linebacker of his generation, the master of motivation, and a media darling despite having something to do with a murder. Sure-fire 1st ballot player, to likely be joined next year by teammate Ed Reed.
3. Terrell Owens, WR
I think his time in HOF purgatory is over. The voters have made their point. TO wasn't liked by his teammates or the media. But he produced at an all-time great level, being the #2 WR all time in yards, #8 in receptions, and #3 in touchdowns. He is a hall of fame player, and deserves to be in.
4. John Lynch, S
There is about to be a backlog of safeties if they don't put one in this year, with both Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu coming up soon. While Brian Dawkins is equally as deserving as John Lynch (possibly more so), I think Lynch gets in because he has been on the ballot a little longer, with this his 5th year as a finalist. Plus, Lynch is now a mover and shaker in the NFL, as the GM of the 49ers. Always some fun politics going on in that room.
5. Joe Jacoby, OT
Damn it all, the Hogs need more than one Hall of Famer, Russ Grimm. They were the quintessential offensive line of the 1980s and early 1990s. They were so good, the Redskins were able to win three Super Bowls in that span with three different QBs, none of whom were Hall of Famers. They were the line that allowed for John Riggins to have a Hall of Fame career. There needs to be another Hog in the Hall of Fame, and that man is Joe Jacoby. This is his last year as a member of the modern era ballot, and I would hate to have such a deserving player need to wait for the Senior Committee. A member of the All-80s team, a 3-time Super Bowl Champion, the anchor of that line. Yes, Joe Jacoby is a Hall of Famer.
Those are my picks. Who would you have?
1. Randy Moss, WR.
Slam dunk #1. He might be the best receiver of his generation, despite some perceived attitude issues (but less than someone else who will be included later). I think it is a no-brainer.
2. Ray Lewis, LB
Slam dunk #2. The best linebacker of his generation, the master of motivation, and a media darling despite having something to do with a murder. Sure-fire 1st ballot player, to likely be joined next year by teammate Ed Reed.
3. Terrell Owens, WR
I think his time in HOF purgatory is over. The voters have made their point. TO wasn't liked by his teammates or the media. But he produced at an all-time great level, being the #2 WR all time in yards, #8 in receptions, and #3 in touchdowns. He is a hall of fame player, and deserves to be in.
4. John Lynch, S
There is about to be a backlog of safeties if they don't put one in this year, with both Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu coming up soon. While Brian Dawkins is equally as deserving as John Lynch (possibly more so), I think Lynch gets in because he has been on the ballot a little longer, with this his 5th year as a finalist. Plus, Lynch is now a mover and shaker in the NFL, as the GM of the 49ers. Always some fun politics going on in that room.
5. Joe Jacoby, OT
Damn it all, the Hogs need more than one Hall of Famer, Russ Grimm. They were the quintessential offensive line of the 1980s and early 1990s. They were so good, the Redskins were able to win three Super Bowls in that span with three different QBs, none of whom were Hall of Famers. They were the line that allowed for John Riggins to have a Hall of Fame career. There needs to be another Hog in the Hall of Fame, and that man is Joe Jacoby. This is his last year as a member of the modern era ballot, and I would hate to have such a deserving player need to wait for the Senior Committee. A member of the All-80s team, a 3-time Super Bowl Champion, the anchor of that line. Yes, Joe Jacoby is a Hall of Famer.
Those are my picks. Who would you have?
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Where Will Kirk Cousins End Up? Part 1- Arizona Cardinals
Greetings again, faithful readers. Now that Alex Smith is the new QB in DC, the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes has officially begun. No longer will this Top 10 QB be jerked around by a GM that never bothered to learn his name, or an owner more concerned with protecting a racist name than producing on the field. Instead, Kirk will have his pick of a bunch of teams that will want him to helm their offense over the next few years. This new series of posts will be dedicated to looking at the pros and cons of each of those suitors. We will begin with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals are in flux right now. David Johnson got hurt. Bruce Arians retired. Carson Palmer retired. Larry Fitzgerald might retire. New head coach Steve Wilks comes over from Carolina, where he served as the Panthers defensive coordinator. That is a lot of balls up in the air for a franchise. However, the signing of Kirk Cousins would instantly bring this team back to playoff contention, and will likely help Fitzgerald find a fountain of youth for another season or two.
The biggest thing holding the Cardinals back in recent years has been the quarterback play. When Palmer was on, he was fantastic. But the past two seasons, he has only been average or hurt, which kept a team that was 13-3 in 2015 to hovering at 8-8 this past season. In my past mock drafts, I have begged the Cardinals to take an heir apparent to Palmer, knowing his days were numbered. In fact, I told them to draft a guy in somewhere in the top 3 rounds every year since 2012. Those QBs? Nick Foles, Mike Glennon, Derek Carr, Brett Hundley, Paxton Lynch, DeShone Kizer. Some hits, some misses, but all could have done well with some time behind Palmer and the teachings of Bruce Arians. The only QBs that the Cardinals have drafted in that time? Ryan Lindley in 2012 (who last played in 2015), and Logan Thomas in 2014 (who is now a tight end in Buffalo). Instead, they stuck with Drew Stanton for far too long, and then picked up Blaine Gabbert this year. Kirk Cousins is a better QB than either of them, and would instantly boost their offense.
Cousins managed to throw for over 4,000 yards this past season after losing Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, not to mention Jordan Reed's injuries and Jamison Crowder's disappointing season and Terrelle Pryor's complete flop. Imagine what he will be able to do with Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson, not to mention JJ Nelson. If they were able to add another receiving weapon through the draft, Cousins could be in heaven. New offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was able to get 4,000 yards a year out of Philip Rivers when he was the head coach of San Diego. He should be able to get those same numbers out of Cousins, and a bounce-back season from Johnson on the ground would be the perfect compliment to the passing game.
The main concern for the Cardinals, as it likely will be for the rest of the suitors, is the price tag. Woody Paige of the Denver Post said he heard 6 years, $170 million is the goal from Cousins' agent, which would make him the highest paid player in NFL history. Roughly $80-90 million of that would be guaranteed money as well. Signing Kirk Cousins to that contract would eat up most of the remaining salary cap room the team has. Of course, they could make some moves to free up space, including freeing up almost $3 million if they release Adrian Peterson. Nevertheless, some teams may be hesitant to give that much money to one player, especially if they think they can find a comparable QB for less.
I think the Cardinals should make a run on Kirk Cousins, because they are a team that is only a few pieces away from competing for a NFC Championship. A consistent QB leading the offense would go a long way to pushing Arizona from 8-8 to title contenders again.
The Cardinals are in flux right now. David Johnson got hurt. Bruce Arians retired. Carson Palmer retired. Larry Fitzgerald might retire. New head coach Steve Wilks comes over from Carolina, where he served as the Panthers defensive coordinator. That is a lot of balls up in the air for a franchise. However, the signing of Kirk Cousins would instantly bring this team back to playoff contention, and will likely help Fitzgerald find a fountain of youth for another season or two.
The biggest thing holding the Cardinals back in recent years has been the quarterback play. When Palmer was on, he was fantastic. But the past two seasons, he has only been average or hurt, which kept a team that was 13-3 in 2015 to hovering at 8-8 this past season. In my past mock drafts, I have begged the Cardinals to take an heir apparent to Palmer, knowing his days were numbered. In fact, I told them to draft a guy in somewhere in the top 3 rounds every year since 2012. Those QBs? Nick Foles, Mike Glennon, Derek Carr, Brett Hundley, Paxton Lynch, DeShone Kizer. Some hits, some misses, but all could have done well with some time behind Palmer and the teachings of Bruce Arians. The only QBs that the Cardinals have drafted in that time? Ryan Lindley in 2012 (who last played in 2015), and Logan Thomas in 2014 (who is now a tight end in Buffalo). Instead, they stuck with Drew Stanton for far too long, and then picked up Blaine Gabbert this year. Kirk Cousins is a better QB than either of them, and would instantly boost their offense.
Cousins managed to throw for over 4,000 yards this past season after losing Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, not to mention Jordan Reed's injuries and Jamison Crowder's disappointing season and Terrelle Pryor's complete flop. Imagine what he will be able to do with Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson, not to mention JJ Nelson. If they were able to add another receiving weapon through the draft, Cousins could be in heaven. New offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was able to get 4,000 yards a year out of Philip Rivers when he was the head coach of San Diego. He should be able to get those same numbers out of Cousins, and a bounce-back season from Johnson on the ground would be the perfect compliment to the passing game.
The main concern for the Cardinals, as it likely will be for the rest of the suitors, is the price tag. Woody Paige of the Denver Post said he heard 6 years, $170 million is the goal from Cousins' agent, which would make him the highest paid player in NFL history. Roughly $80-90 million of that would be guaranteed money as well. Signing Kirk Cousins to that contract would eat up most of the remaining salary cap room the team has. Of course, they could make some moves to free up space, including freeing up almost $3 million if they release Adrian Peterson. Nevertheless, some teams may be hesitant to give that much money to one player, especially if they think they can find a comparable QB for less.
I think the Cardinals should make a run on Kirk Cousins, because they are a team that is only a few pieces away from competing for a NFC Championship. A consistent QB leading the offense would go a long way to pushing Arizona from 8-8 to title contenders again.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Hail to the Chief! Mr. Smith Goes to Washington! So, What Now?
As I sat in my favorite watering hole last night, basking in the afterglow of a Wall-less Wizards win over the Thunder, and actively trying to avoid the State of the Union happening just a mile away, a rather surprising story came across my twitter feed, from the Kansas City Star. "Chiefs trade Alex Smith to Redskins". I was shocked. I showed the tweet to my friends behind the bar. They didn't believe it. Then the Washington Post picked up the story. Then ESPN. Then all sources confirmed the deal- Alex Smith to DC for a 3rd Rounder and Kendall Fuller, the extremely talented 22-year old cornerback who, in all likelihood, was going to be starting opposite Josh Norman for the Skins next season. Suddenly, all media attention in the nation's capital switched from the orange dude with the bad hair to the new signal called for the local NFL franchise. Is this a good move? Why didn't they just re-sign Kirk Cousins to that extension Alex Smith got? What does it mean for the upcoming NFL Draft? How should we feel? What should we do? Panic?!
No need to panic, Skins fans. Alex Smith is a solid QB, who actually put up better numbers last season that Cousins did, albeit with a Pro Bowl tight end, an explosive threat from the slot, and rookie RB that led the league in rushing. The Redskins don't have any of that. It doesn't mean that they can't get it though. They have a fair amount of cap room for free agency. They kept their top 2 picks in the draft. This team can improve quickly.
Jarvis Landry may be the team's main target in free agency now. The reliable young Dolphins receiver has caught more passes than any other player in history through his first four seasons. He could help duplicate some of the success of Tyreek Hill. If Jamison Crowder can bounce back, and Josh Doctson develop even more in his 3rd full season (2nd healthy), then Alex Smith will have a solid young WR corp. I expect the team to also add a weapon on day 2 or 3 of the Draft, such as another WR or a new go-to tight end, since Jordan Reed cannot be counted on to stay healthy. I am sure that the team will also look into running back upgrades, if the right player is there (I don't expect Le'Veon Bell to actually hit free agency, but Carlos Hyde might).
Losing Kendall Fuller hurts on and off the field. He was one of the highest rated CBs in all of football last year while playing in the slot. With the impending free agency of Bashaud Breeland, Fuller may have moved into a starting spot. Furthermore, he found out he was being traded from twitter and reporters before he was told by his GM, another example of the incompetence of Bruce Allen. Former Skins GM Scot McCloughan tweeted that he would have never traded Fuller. Still, even with all of that said, Fuller is replaceable. There are players that can fit that role. Signing a guy like Malcolm Butler or Aaron Colvin would give the team a solid option opposite Norman, with Quentin Dunbar filling in the slot position. There will be talented DBs available at the #13 pick, such as Josh Jackson from Iowa. Now, Allen just has to make the right move.
So, it is a new era out in Landover, MD. Will the Skins make the correct move to put talent around Alex Smith? Will the Chiefs thrive with Patrick Mahomes and his monster arm? What will happen to Kirk Cousins now (keep your eyes open for a post about that shortly)? We will see.
A quick side note- Thanks to the Washington Post Sports section for shouting me out when they changed their initial headline from "New Sheriff in Town" to my suggestion, "Hail to the Chief". When I initially went to Syracuse, it was with the goal of eventually being a sports writer and columnist. I grew up reading the Washington Post, with great writers like Kornheiser, Wilbon, Boswell, and Jenkins. That dream fell by the wayside at some point unfortunately, but that is part of the reason why I started writing here. That I actually got to contribute a headline to the print edition of my favorite paper, and get just a taste of that dream, is pretty damn cool.
No need to panic, Skins fans. Alex Smith is a solid QB, who actually put up better numbers last season that Cousins did, albeit with a Pro Bowl tight end, an explosive threat from the slot, and rookie RB that led the league in rushing. The Redskins don't have any of that. It doesn't mean that they can't get it though. They have a fair amount of cap room for free agency. They kept their top 2 picks in the draft. This team can improve quickly.
Jarvis Landry may be the team's main target in free agency now. The reliable young Dolphins receiver has caught more passes than any other player in history through his first four seasons. He could help duplicate some of the success of Tyreek Hill. If Jamison Crowder can bounce back, and Josh Doctson develop even more in his 3rd full season (2nd healthy), then Alex Smith will have a solid young WR corp. I expect the team to also add a weapon on day 2 or 3 of the Draft, such as another WR or a new go-to tight end, since Jordan Reed cannot be counted on to stay healthy. I am sure that the team will also look into running back upgrades, if the right player is there (I don't expect Le'Veon Bell to actually hit free agency, but Carlos Hyde might).
Losing Kendall Fuller hurts on and off the field. He was one of the highest rated CBs in all of football last year while playing in the slot. With the impending free agency of Bashaud Breeland, Fuller may have moved into a starting spot. Furthermore, he found out he was being traded from twitter and reporters before he was told by his GM, another example of the incompetence of Bruce Allen. Former Skins GM Scot McCloughan tweeted that he would have never traded Fuller. Still, even with all of that said, Fuller is replaceable. There are players that can fit that role. Signing a guy like Malcolm Butler or Aaron Colvin would give the team a solid option opposite Norman, with Quentin Dunbar filling in the slot position. There will be talented DBs available at the #13 pick, such as Josh Jackson from Iowa. Now, Allen just has to make the right move.
So, it is a new era out in Landover, MD. Will the Skins make the correct move to put talent around Alex Smith? Will the Chiefs thrive with Patrick Mahomes and his monster arm? What will happen to Kirk Cousins now (keep your eyes open for a post about that shortly)? We will see.
A quick side note- Thanks to the Washington Post Sports section for shouting me out when they changed their initial headline from "New Sheriff in Town" to my suggestion, "Hail to the Chief". When I initially went to Syracuse, it was with the goal of eventually being a sports writer and columnist. I grew up reading the Washington Post, with great writers like Kornheiser, Wilbon, Boswell, and Jenkins. That dream fell by the wayside at some point unfortunately, but that is part of the reason why I started writing here. That I actually got to contribute a headline to the print edition of my favorite paper, and get just a taste of that dream, is pretty damn cool.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Eli Manning- Future Hall of Famer, And the Numbers Prove It
This week, the last place New York Giants decided that they would rather have Geno Smith start than a future Hall of Fame QB. That's right, Eli has been benched for a guy that couldn't even start on the Jets. How in the hell is this happening? I understand wanting to get young guys reps, but Davis Webb should be starting if that is the case, not Geno. Geno Smith couldn't even beat Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl, much less the NFC East. The Giants have completely botched this, and there has been an outpouring of support among fans, former teammates, and players for Eli Manning. Yet, there are some talking heads out there (Hi Mike Wilbon!) who seem to not care at all about Eli, completely disregard his career, insist that he is done, and vehemently think he does not belong in the Hall of Fame. I, your humble blogger, have returned from my real-world exile to dive back into the world of stats and sports to show that, Yes Virginia, Eli is a Hall of Fame quarterback already!
First thing is the very obvious- Eli Manning has two Super Bowl rings. He beat Tom "I'm the Best" Brady twice in Super Bowls. He won the MVP in both of those games. His two rings are more than the following Hall of Famers have- Jim Kelly, Kurt Warner, Dan Marino, Brett Favre, and Fran Tarkenton. Quite the list, and that is just based off of the Big Game.
Next, we can look at that Ripken-esque Iron Man streak that is coming to an end this week not because of injury, but because of managerial incompetence. Eli has started 210 straight games. The last time Eli Manning was not the starting QB for the Giants was in 2004. Only Favre has a longer streak for a QB (at an insane 297 straight games). Manning has been the rock on which the Giants built any kind of franchise success since he was drafted. He holds every single Giants passing record. He is the best QB the Giants have ever had, period.
Still not convinced? How about we look at some numbers?! Numbers never lie, so they say. Surely, holes can be poked in my argument about Eli, right? Wrong. All the numbers back up Eli Manning's claim to Canton. Let's start with touchdowns. Eli Manning is currently tied (with draft class buddy Phillip Rivers) for 7th on the all-time touchdown list with 334. That's right, 7th. And he will surely move above current #6 holder Fran Tarkenton, who has 342, by the end of his career. Need more perspective? He has 34 more than John Elway. He has 126 more touchdowns than Kurt Warner, who just got into the Hall of Fame.
What about completions, you say? Eli is 6th all time with 4,319. He is only behind Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Brady, and Marino. He is 910 ahead of Joe Montana, the man who mastered the completion-friendly West Coast offense. He is 1,421 ahead of Troy Aikman. He is 1,652 ahead of Steve Young, and 1,653 ahead of Kurt Warner. All of these men are already in the Hall of Fame. How could you keep out a player who has so thoroughly thrashed their numbers?
Yards! They could have all been short touchdown passes, right? Wrong again, my friend. Eli Manning is currently 7th in career passing yards. 1,300 more than Warren Moon, who is in the HoF. Over 10,000 more than Montana. Over 15,000 more than Jim Kelly. Around 18,000 more than Young, Aikman, and Warner. Are you ready to just accept that he is an all-time great QB?
Probably not, right? Because there is still passer rating. That fun amalgamation of numbers that is supposed to provide us with a look at a QB's efficiency and effectiveness on the field. Is Eli top 10 in that? Huh?
No, he isn't. He is tied for 39th.
But, before you start rejoicing that your last chance to keep a deserving man from enshrinement has worked, would you like a list of modern QB's with a lower passer rating that are already in the Hall of Fame? Aikman, Moon, Elway. I could provide a list of guys that didn't play after 1985, but I don't want to be that long-winded (seriously how the hell is Joe Namath in the Hall of Fame?). Oh, and just so we can debunk the value of the Passer Rating stat a bit, I can give you some names of guys that are ahead of Eli Manning on the Passer Rating list too, that will never get close to the Hall of Fame, like David Garrard, Jeff Garcia, Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, and Matt Schaub. Hell, Tony Romo is #4 all time on this list, and he was oft-injured and has no rings.
Face it folks. It is all there, black and white, clear as crystal. The precedent of who is already in the Hall of Fame only strengthen's his claim more. Eli Manning will be in the Hall of Fame, probably sooner than you would like. He is more than deserving. He should probably go in on the first ballot, to be honest. And, with a career like he has had, he certainly deserves a better sendoff than the ones the New York Giants are giving him.
First thing is the very obvious- Eli Manning has two Super Bowl rings. He beat Tom "I'm the Best" Brady twice in Super Bowls. He won the MVP in both of those games. His two rings are more than the following Hall of Famers have- Jim Kelly, Kurt Warner, Dan Marino, Brett Favre, and Fran Tarkenton. Quite the list, and that is just based off of the Big Game.
Next, we can look at that Ripken-esque Iron Man streak that is coming to an end this week not because of injury, but because of managerial incompetence. Eli has started 210 straight games. The last time Eli Manning was not the starting QB for the Giants was in 2004. Only Favre has a longer streak for a QB (at an insane 297 straight games). Manning has been the rock on which the Giants built any kind of franchise success since he was drafted. He holds every single Giants passing record. He is the best QB the Giants have ever had, period.
Still not convinced? How about we look at some numbers?! Numbers never lie, so they say. Surely, holes can be poked in my argument about Eli, right? Wrong. All the numbers back up Eli Manning's claim to Canton. Let's start with touchdowns. Eli Manning is currently tied (with draft class buddy Phillip Rivers) for 7th on the all-time touchdown list with 334. That's right, 7th. And he will surely move above current #6 holder Fran Tarkenton, who has 342, by the end of his career. Need more perspective? He has 34 more than John Elway. He has 126 more touchdowns than Kurt Warner, who just got into the Hall of Fame.
What about completions, you say? Eli is 6th all time with 4,319. He is only behind Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Brady, and Marino. He is 910 ahead of Joe Montana, the man who mastered the completion-friendly West Coast offense. He is 1,421 ahead of Troy Aikman. He is 1,652 ahead of Steve Young, and 1,653 ahead of Kurt Warner. All of these men are already in the Hall of Fame. How could you keep out a player who has so thoroughly thrashed their numbers?
Yards! They could have all been short touchdown passes, right? Wrong again, my friend. Eli Manning is currently 7th in career passing yards. 1,300 more than Warren Moon, who is in the HoF. Over 10,000 more than Montana. Over 15,000 more than Jim Kelly. Around 18,000 more than Young, Aikman, and Warner. Are you ready to just accept that he is an all-time great QB?
Probably not, right? Because there is still passer rating. That fun amalgamation of numbers that is supposed to provide us with a look at a QB's efficiency and effectiveness on the field. Is Eli top 10 in that? Huh?
No, he isn't. He is tied for 39th.
But, before you start rejoicing that your last chance to keep a deserving man from enshrinement has worked, would you like a list of modern QB's with a lower passer rating that are already in the Hall of Fame? Aikman, Moon, Elway. I could provide a list of guys that didn't play after 1985, but I don't want to be that long-winded (seriously how the hell is Joe Namath in the Hall of Fame?). Oh, and just so we can debunk the value of the Passer Rating stat a bit, I can give you some names of guys that are ahead of Eli Manning on the Passer Rating list too, that will never get close to the Hall of Fame, like David Garrard, Jeff Garcia, Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, and Matt Schaub. Hell, Tony Romo is #4 all time on this list, and he was oft-injured and has no rings.
Face it folks. It is all there, black and white, clear as crystal. The precedent of who is already in the Hall of Fame only strengthen's his claim more. Eli Manning will be in the Hall of Fame, probably sooner than you would like. He is more than deserving. He should probably go in on the first ballot, to be honest. And, with a career like he has had, he certainly deserves a better sendoff than the ones the New York Giants are giving him.
Monday, July 24, 2017
DC = Dealing Cousins: Why The Skins Must Trade Kirk Now
It may be a good thing that Ringling Brothers has decided to shut down, because we already have the circus here in DC, and that isn't even political commentary (I'll save that for twitter). No, it is those darn Washington Redskins again. The franchise, which seems to be allergic to consistent success since resident Keebler Elf-turned-billionaire Dan Snyder purchased the team, is currently in the process of scaring off the best QB they have had since Mark Rypien. After low-balling Kirk Cousins with a contract, the powers that be (Snyder and his lapdog Bruce Allen) inexplicably decided to attempt to spin public opinion in their favor by shaming Kirk for not signing that deal. What they did not mention, of course, was that Kirk would have been leaving millions on the table in order to stay with a franchise that has made it abundantly clear they do not want him. Hell, why would a NFL team want a good QB anyway?
Kirk Cousins will be playing this season under his second straight franchise tag. If the Skins decide to put the transition tag on him after the year, or franchise him again, he will be making between $28.8 million and $35 million for one season, and then he will be able to leave anyway. The Skins have messed this entire situation up like no other franchise possibly could. To call Dan Snyder's front office a dumpster fire is insulting to hard-working, patriotic dumpster fires all over this nation. At this point, the best thing to do may be to call it quits now, and get what you can for a QB in his prime. So, here are the 5 options for what the Redskins can do with Kirk Cousins.
1. Come to your senses and sign him long term!
This one my be too little too late. I believe Kirk wants to be in DC. I don't believe he wants to play for the Washington Redskins. Maybe he can just live here? The odds of Snyder et al finally paying him what he can get on the open market are slim to none. Remember, Derek Carr is coming off a season where he broke his leg, and just became the highest paid QB in NFL history. If Kirk Cousins stays healthy and plays like he has the past 2 years, he will get a bigger contract. The Skins should have signed him then, they probably won't now.
2. Tag him, then let him walk.
This is stupid, and might be what they do. Someone will offer him more money that the Skins are willing to pay, and he will be out the door. Maybe it is ok, because Doug Williams loves the third string QB.
3. Trade him to the Cleveland Browns for a 1st round pick, 4th/5th round pick, and Brock Osweiler.
The Skins want a QB from the same draft class with starting experience for under $20 million a year? Brock is their man! He was recently sent to Cleveland in a salary dump move usually reserved just for the NBA. In the same transaction, the Browns got Houston's 2018 1st round pick. Send Brock, the pick, and a lower round pick (since the Skins will take that contract from them) in exchange for the real starting QB that the Browns have lacked since coming back into the league. It may just be for 1 year, but it gives Deshone Kizer more time to develop behind a guy with real experience and success.
4. Trade him to the San Francisco 49ers for a 1st round pick and either Matt Barkley or Brian Hoyer.
The worst kept secret in the world is that new 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wants Kirk in the Bay area. Kirk's agent has even mentioned that Kirk would like that reunion too, since the Shanahans always liked Cousins more than they did RG3. Trade him to SF where he will be happy and likely sign an extension, and get a pick and another QB to compete for the starting job in DC until the new next big thing is found.
5. Trade him to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff and a 2nd round pick.
Not sure why more people aren't discussing this as a possibility. Rams fans are already turning on Goff after a poor/non-existent rookie season. While rookie QBs Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz looked like true pros, Goff struggled in the little time he spent on the field, to the point where Coach Jeff Fisher lost his job. The Rams' new head coach? Former Redskins Offensive Coordinator and Kirk Cousins friend Sean McVay. It is almost too perfect. The Redskins can give the Rams an instant star and franchise player. The Rams can send back a former #1 pick going into his second season to possibly be the next franchise QB (that won't get paid a fair amount), and a pick as a kicker. This might be the best case scenario for everyone involved.
I still don't understand how the Skins played this one so poorly. However, it is what fans of their have come to expect. If they actually had sustained success, I think half the population of the DMV area would die of shock. Kirk Cousins helped guide this franchise to the playoffs, and out of the muck that was the broken RG3 era. The best way to repay him not may not be to pay him, it may be to let him escape the carnage. He can move on, the team can move on, and there will be a new starting QB for the Washington Redskins. Now, where can I get a Nate Sudfeld jersey?
600 Posts
So apparently my Round 7 of the NFL Mock was the 600th post on this blog. Real life constantly gets in the way of my time to jot down my ideas and musings, but it is a nice milestone to reach. Thanks for reading. I am going to try to write more, including at least one post today, in the lead up to football season. Hope you will enjoy it.
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