NFC North / NFL Thread 2018-19

[MerrittsMustache]

REALLY happy with Roquan Smith, been awhile since I was very excited about a Bears first rounder.  Would have been nice to get a haul of picks to move back, but they got foreseeably a great piece.

Browns draft was interesting. My friends who are big Browns fans are actually pretty happy with the players, but felt they could have been had at a much better spot.  Likely could have gotten Baker at 4, and Denzel Ward wasn't the consensus top DB on the board, so he could have maybe been had lower.

I was giddy when the Colts took Nelson at 6. That opened things up for the Bears to take a non-interior O-lineman at 8. I'm ecstatic with the pick. Smith can flat-out play.

The Browns had picks #1 and #4 and didn't get a player with top-15 talent. Cleveland could have traded down, especially at 4, and stocked up some picks.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I actually like the Mayfield pick. The other QBs strike me as Joey Harrington, Blaine Gabbert types.  PFF also rated Mayfield #1 QB.

Ward was maybe picked 3-4 spots too high.  But you have to find a trade partner and I don't think anyone 5-10 was looking to move up.  Reports are the Bears made calls but who knows what offers were made.

Plus, there's the risk of Green Bay trading up to get Ward.  I would have went Nelson at 4 but Cleveland obviously didn't agree.

[Silkk the Shaka]

I actually like the Mayfield pick. The other QBs strike me as Joey Harrington, Blaine Gabbert types.  PFF also rated Mayfield #1 QB.

Ward was maybe picked 3-4 spots too high.  But you have to find a trade partner and I don't think anyone 5-10 was looking to move up.  Reports are the Bears made calls but who knows what offers were made.

Plus, there's the risk of Green Bay trading up to get Ward.  I would have went Nelson at 4 but Cleveland obviously didn't agree.

Yeah I think Mayfield has nearly as high a ceiling as everyone else, but also by far the highest floor. He has high accuracy at all levels of the field, escapability, good vision, and a fiery leadership style. The only think he doesn't have is ideal height and an absolute cannon, but he has a well above-average arm and his scrambling ability virtually negates the height issue. I'd take his innate QB traits easily over a guy like Allen with a rocket arm but compares most closely to Jake Locker/Ryan Mallett/Kyle Boller. QB is like being a pure PG in basketball. Either you have it between the ears or you don't. Extreme measurables rarely make up for a lack of QB-brain.

[jesmu84]

Is Mayfield, as a college QB, that much different than manziel?

Saw the bears rumors about trading up. Had to be for Nelson or Chubb, right?

There are a LOT of talented players still left on the board for the 2nd round.

[MerrittsMustache]

Is Mayfield, as a college QB, that much different than manziel?

Saw the bears rumors about trading up. Had to be for Nelson or Chubb, right?

There are a LOT of talented players still left on the board for the 2nd round.

My assumption is that the Bears were one of the teams trying to move up to snag Chubb. A lot of calls were made to Denver once Chubb slipped past #4. Elway wasn't listening though. Word is that Pace was trying to move back into the late 1st as well. Not sure who they'd be targeting there.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

My assumption is that the Bears were one of the teams trying to move up to snag Chubb. A lot of calls were made to Denver once Chubb slipped past #4. Elway wasn't listening though. Word is that Pace was trying to move back into the late 1st as well. Not sure who they'd be targeting there.

Maybe Harold Landry?  Lots of good players left at positions of need for the Bears if they stay put at 39. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Maybe Harold Landry?  Lots of good players left at positions of need for the Bears if they stay put at 39.

Yea, I think it's gotta be Landry. Wouldn't be surprised to see Pace make a move for him early in the second round.

[RJax55]

Maybe Harold Landry?  Lots of good players left at positions of need for the Bears if they stay put at 39.

I thought it was for Mike Hughes. But, the Vikes took him. Pace and co did a ton of interviews and workouts with Day 1 corners.

A lot of talent on the board and at different positions, the Bears should stay at #39.

[Spotcheck Billy]

In the was he a porn star category, Sam Darnold's grandpa's name is Dick Hammer.

[reinko]

Is Mayfield, as a college QB, that much different than manziel?

Saw the bears rumors about trading up. Had to be for Nelson or Chubb, right?

There are a LOT of talented players still left on the board for the 2nd round.

Mayfield is a much thrower and on field decision maker than Manziel ever was.  He has the best accuracy of any QB in the draft, and has alright speed.

[RJax55]

Mayfield is a much thrower and on field decision maker than Manziel ever was.  He has the best accuracy of any QB in the draft, and has alright speed.

Yeah, plus Mayfield isn't known to be a raging alcoholic.

[jsglow]

I don't know if he's any good but the Packers win the 'coolest name' contest.

[MU82]

Panthers end up going for record $2.2 billion to a hedge-fund billionaire who currently is a minority owner of the Steelers (he'll have to sell that stake, valued at over $100M). It reportedly was not the highest bid, but was the most "solid" because he was by far the richest bidder.

Hedge fund manager David Tepper is expected to sign a deal Tuesday to buy the Carolina Panthers for $2.2 billion in cash.

A source close to the process told the Observer that the deal will be subject to an owners' vote at the next NFL meeting, which runs May 21-23 in Atlanta.

The $2.2 billion would be a record for an NFL franchise, besting the $1.4 billion price for the Buffalo Bills in 2014. It would also match the $2.2 billion price for the Houston Rockets NBA team.

The Observer and other media outlets reported last week that Tepper was set to become the team's new owner, ending a more than five-month search for a buyer for the franchise that began play in 1995. ESPN reporter Adam Schefter also tweeted that the deal would be signed Tuesday.

[StillAWarrior]

Panthers end up going for record $2.2 billion to a hedge-fund billionaire who currently is a minority owner of the Steelers (he'll have to sell that stake, valued at over $100M). It reportedly was not the highest bid, but was the most "solid" because he was by far the richest bidder.

Hedge fund manager David Tepper is expected to sign a deal Tuesday to buy the Carolina Panthers for $2.2 billion in cash.

A source close to the process told the Observer that the deal will be subject to an owners' vote at the next NFL meeting, which runs May 21-23 in Atlanta.

The $2.2 billion would be a record for an NFL franchise, besting the $1.4 billion price for the Buffalo Bills in 2014. It would also match the $2.2 billion price for the Houston Rockets NBA team.

The Observer and other media outlets reported last week that Tepper was set to become the team's new owner, ending a more than five-month search for a buyer for the franchise that began play in 1995. ESPN reporter Adam Schefter also tweeted that the deal would be signed Tuesday.

Man, I hope the author of that article holds onto that source.  Having someone to feed you hot inside information like that can be very valuable to a sports writer's career.

[Pakuni]

Panthers end up going for record $2.2 billion to a hedge-fund billionaire who currently is a minority owner of the Steelers (he'll have to sell that stake, valued at over $100M). It reportedly was not the highest bid, but was the most "solid" because he was by far the richest bidder.

Hedge fund manager David Tepper is expected to sign a deal Tuesday to buy the Carolina Panthers for $2.2 billion in cash.

A source close to the process told the Observer that the deal will be subject to an owners' vote at the next NFL meeting, which runs May 21-23 in Atlanta.

The $2.2 billion would be a record for an NFL franchise, besting the $1.4 billion price for the Buffalo Bills in 2014. It would also match the $2.2 billion price for the Houston Rockets NBA team.

The Observer and other media outlets reported last week that Tepper was set to become the team's new owner, ending a more than five-month search for a buyer for the franchise that began play in 1995. ESPN reporter Adam Schefter also tweeted that the deal would be signed Tuesday.

That's a lot of money to buy into a rapidly dying operation. 

[MU82]

Latest report is that Tepper is paying $2.275 billion for the Panthers, a record for any pro sports team, $2.2 billion of which will be in cash up front.

I offered $2.3 billion, but could only afford $2 billion in up-front cash, so that explains why they didn't choose me!

I guess I should have invested in even more Apple when it was $90/share!!

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Latest report is that Tepper is paying $2.275 billion for the Panthers, a record for any pro sports team, $2.2 billion of which will be in cash up front.

I offered $2.3 billion, but could only afford $2 billion in up-front cash, so that explains why they didn't choose me!

I guess I should have invested in even more Apple when it was $90/share!!

insteada making the neighbor lady take the ornaments down, ya should have kept em and sold them at a garage sale and gotten enough cash to put you over the top.  short sighted, brah.

[MU82]

insteada making the neighbor lady take the ornaments down, ya should have kept em and sold them at a garage sale and gotten enough cash to put you over the top.  short sighted, brah.

Darn. Shoulda had you as my accountant!

[jesmu84]

https://deadspin.com/the-nfl-did-a-deal-with-jameis-winston-1827231925

NFL gets it right again!

[MU82]

https://deadspin.com/the-nfl-did-a-deal-with-jameis-winston-1827231925

NFL gets it right again!

Winston seems like quite a character.

On a related note, the NFL fined former Panthers owner Jerry Richardson $2.75 million for being a douchebag.

Just a year or two ago, Richardson put up a statue of himself outside the stadium. There is plenty of debate on whether it should be taken down. I don't see why not. Why would you "honor" a guy who had to sell the team because he's a scumbag?

[JWags85]

In no way do I want this to become an actual football skills discussion, but Kristin Cavallari's new reality show premiered last night, and Cutler stole the show.  I can't think of a better venue for his sarcastic indifference and dry humor than a corny reality show about her opening a new boutique.  I literally laughed audibly multiple times.

https://twitter.com/verycavallari/status/1016088074386751488

[MerrittsMustache]

In no way do I want this to become an actual football skills discussion, but Kristin Cavallari's new reality show premiered last night, and Cutler stole the show.  I can't think of a better venue for his sarcastic indifference and dry humor than a corny reality show about her opening a new boutique.  I literally laughed audibly multiple times.

https://twitter.com/verycavallari/status/1016088074386751488

Between this show and Cutler's eventual move to the booth, I honestly think that the narrative around him will completely change over the next few years. He's a smart, funny, oddly likable guy despite how he's been portrayed by the media.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Between this show and Cutler's eventual move to the booth, I honestly think that the narrative around him will completely change over the next few years. He's a smart, funny, oddly likable guy despite how he's been portrayed by the media.

I have never felt more connected to an athlete than I did when he said "I'm gonna be neutral".

[DegenerateDish]

That was some of the best sixty minutes of television I've ever seen. The best part is, that's him, it was as if the cameras weren't even there, it was absolutely fantastic. Credit to the producers of the show for realizing they had gold on their hands with Cutler. I can't wait to keep watching.

[barfolomew]

Chicago Bears have reported to training camp!

If the NFL team that you follow was not smart enough to fire their head coach and hire a new one for the sole purpose of getting an extra week of training camp, then it sucks to be you.