NFL: 2019 NFL off-season news & notes discussion thread

[Il Mediano]

The frustration is that Colts will pretty much have to win with the cheapest roster in the entire league. You pretty much have to destroy every draft. One miss is a big step backwards.

People equate big free agent signings to winning. The NFL doesn't work like that.

Take a look a big signings of 2 or 3 seasons ago , and tell me how many of them actually moved the needle. Really, most of them are just money wasted.

The roster is only cheap for the time-being. Eventually, we'll be tight to the cap.

And take a look at how many of our contributors weren't drafted by us last season -- he doesn't rely solely on the draft.

That was the issue with Polian. Remember? He was killing the draft until they started picking the Anthony Gonzalez and Donald Browns of the world. Then the OL was a problem, D was terrible, it was a mess.

Ballard's far more active than Polian was. We make plenty of signings , they just aren't the first wave players. Why sign a guy to bad deal , when you can find incredible value with Hunt, Autry et al?

Polian was extremely dogmatic in his approach , and his philosophy was entirely different than Ballard. He valued skill positions to an insane degree , Ballard does not. He would never draft a guard in the first round , Ballard took one in the top 10. Ballard believes in having a complete roster, Polian loaded one side of the ball. Ballard believes a team should be built from the inside out , Polian was the opposite.

I could write an essay here , but other than believing we should draft, develop and sign our own- they couldn't be more different.

Again, Ballard is far more active in finding external solutions. Just because he didn't drop a billion on Landon Collins , doesn't mean he isn't active. And it doesn't mean he won't find good, productive players.

Last free agency , the Colts ranked #1 in value for money spent. He did really well in free agency last season. It wasn't just a home-run draft.

Big names don't equate to a good free agency period. In fact, most of the time, it's just bad money being tossed around.

If you QB play is below average you invest in QB, overpay if needed. If your pass protection is below average, you overpay.

Sure, and all of March/April last year, I heard Colts fans complain that we didn't go after Norwell and drop a ton of cash. What happened? Norwell had a poor season , is really overpaid , and Ballard drafted Nelson and Glowinski (who he picked up off the scrap-heap) played extremely well on peanuts. We also just re-signed that scrap-heap acquisition (along with Desir) to extremely team-friendly deals.

Again, big money does not equate to a good free agency period. At all.

On defense, it pass rush or CB. In Colts' system, CB is a lower priority, but pass rush is MASSIVE. Overpaying there is worth it

This draft is loaded with DL talent. Which Free agent pass-rusher do you think he should've overpaid?

Keep in mind the production we got from Autry and Hunt , and how much we spent on them.

 

[MaxV]

Trey Flowers would have been great in Colts' system. A guy like that could be a huge difference maker. He is still just 25.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Gore is going to get in as a compiler, similar to Bettis.

That's nonsense. You don't 'compile' as a rb. He's been good enough to run for almost 15k. 9 years over 1k, 12 years with 900 or more. That's not compiling.

 

[m9]

That's nonsense. You don't 'compile' as a rb. He's been good enough to run for almost 15k. 9 years over 1k, 12 years with 900 or more. That's not compiling.

You just described a compiler.

Gore has had a great career, but hasn't really been an elite guy most years.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

You just described a compiler.

Gore has had a great career, but hasn't really been an elite guy most years.

Yes he was. Just because he didn't get the volume of touches other backs were doesn't mean he wasn't elite.

4.5 ypc average after 14 seasons is f***ing insane. He deserves a lot more respect than he's gotten around here lately.

 

[Il Mediano]

Trey Flowers would have been great in Colts' system. A guy like that could be a huge difference maker. He is still just 25.

Possibly , possibly not. Dude got a lot of money , and he's not an elite talent. Belichick often makes players look a lot better than they actually are. Trent Brown went from a scrap-heap guy , to the highest paid OL of all-time in just one season.

Maybe we'll find a wiser, more economical solution in free agency , or maybe we'll draft a guy.

Ballard is going to improve our pass-rush this offseason man , it's all he talks about. Look at what he did to the OL in just one summer.

Give it time. Big money doesn't equate to big solutions. Don't let the media's hype game get to you. They're paid to do it.

 

[sigma six]

Gore was a badass. From a rival's pov he was a real handful, at least earlier in his career.
Add his incredible career longevity to the picture and I think he has a case for the hall.

 

[m9]

Yes he was. Just because he didn't get the volume of touches other backs were doesn't mean he wasn't elite.

4.5 ypc average after 14 seasons is ****ing insane. He deserves a lot more respect than he's gotten around here lately.

Did you miss the part where I said he's going to the HOF? Or when I said he's had a great career?

He's just not one of those guys who had a bunch of All-Pro seasons. If he played 8 seasons he wouldn't be a HOF guy, but his longevity playing at a high level has made him one.

 

[Dominator13]

Trey Flowers would have been great in Colts' system. A guy like that could be a huge difference maker. He is still just 25.

17 million for 7.5 Sacks is a huge number.

 

[Cor]

Saints C Max Unger retired today.

Kinda surprising, especially to do it now. Luckily there’s still the draft.

Another 6M or so for the Saints to play with, but a big hole on the O-Line now.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

He's just not one of those guys who had a bunch of All-Pro seasons. If he played 8 seasons he wouldn't be a HOF guy, but his longevity playing at a high level has made him one.

Due to volume of carries. His ypc is elite and he's 4th all time in yards, and is about to be 3rd. The volume has probably been a factor in his longevity, but it's hard to blame him for that since he doesn't control it.

Someone asked earlier about AP and Gore; they're currently the only 2 rb's in the top 16 in yards all time that aren't in the hall of fame. They're both shoe-ins.

 

[Newsworthy]

What are the Colts doing in free agency?
Idle for the most part despite having the most cap room.

 

[rangerssharks414]

Ngata retires from NFL atop Mount Kilimanjaro

Haloti Ngata retired.

 

[Voight]

That's nonsense. You don't 'compile' as a rb. He's been good enough to run for almost 15k. 9 years over 1k, 12 years with 900 or more. That's not compiling.

He never had an elite year or run of years like AP, LD, Shaun Alexander etc did. Thats nothing against him; its incredibly he can still do 700 yards at his age and hes been extremely consistent.

But there was never really a year where you thought he was one of the best players in the league.

 

[Voight]

What are the Colts doing in free agency?
Idle for the most part despite having the most cap room.

Overpaying 3rd receivers.

 

[sigma six]

Jordy Nelson visiting the Hawks today. Isn't he cooked by now?

 

[StreetHawk]

Jordy Nelson visiting the Hawks today. Isn't he cooked by now?

He’s not a top 2 WR. He can find a place in a 3-4 role. He’s not displacing Baldwin or Lockett in the starting lineup. Would push Moore for playing time.

 

[m9]

Jordy Nelson was done a year ago.

 

[Terry Yake]

no surprise nelson fell off completely after leaving GB

 

[Voight]

Inb4 Nelson to Pats

 

[tony d]

I'm surprised that the Colts aren't more active. Team on the rise, got a top tier QB, I'd figure they'd be doing more in free agency than what they're doing.

 

[Say Hey Kid]

Watch: Fan makes Browns-themed ‘Avengers: Endgame’ trailer

Dawgs Gotta Eat!

 

[Voight]

 

[MMC]

 

[PanthersPens62]