2017 NFL Season

[Sea Ray]

Decker was released Monday.

If the Ravens land him after getting Maclin, they will have had the best off-season of all of the AFC North teams.

He goes to the Titans
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...n-oneyear-deal

[Kingspoint]

He goes to the Titans
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...n-oneyear-deal

Mariota gets another weapon. They had the #1 Offensive Line last season (sorry Cowboy fans). Rare will be the team that holds them under 30. Jacksonville and Houston have good Defenses, while Indy's has moved to respectability. Tennessee and Mariota will be challenged repeatedly inside the Division, but Mariota made it look easy against them his first two seasons. He should do it again.

[Chip R]

The headline writer for this article really had some fun with it.

https://sports.yahoo.com/viagra-wont...121745226.html

[Tom Servo]

Well, my enthusiasm for the upcoming NFL season got a big douse of water thrown on it today with the Panthers firing Gettleman. What a nonsensical move at a horrible time. Richardson will probably hire another Marty Hurney type.

[Kingspoint]

Rotoworld's take:

To call this move shocking would be an understatement. The Panthers suffered through a disappointing 6-10 season in 2016, but they went to the playoffs in Gettleman's other three years in charge including a Super Bowl berth in 2015. Gettleman is a respected talent evaluator who drafted well in Carolina. All of that suggests something behind the scenes prompted this move. It is worth noting star TE Greg Olsen has thrown around the idea of a holdout, LB Thomas Davis is entering his contract year, and Gettleman did not handle the departures of either Steve Smith or Josh Norman particularly well, a fact NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports bothered owner Jerry Richardson. Brandon Beane, who likely would have been the top in-house replacement, accepted the Bills' GM job in May.

[WVRed]

Well, my enthusiasm for the upcoming NFL season got a big douse of water thrown on it today with the Panthers firing Gettleman. What a nonsensical move at a horrible time. Richardson will probably hire another Marty Hurney type.

It actually makes sense on one level, two players are headed for contract extensions and the GM is essentially Mike Brown (We don't care what other teams can offer, this is ours, take it or leave it). Look at the former players coming out today supporting it.

Jerry Richardson seems to want to keep the nucleus intact. That wouldn't have happened under Gettleman.

[bucksfan2]

It actually makes sense on one level, two players are headed for contract extensions and the GM is essentially Mike Brown (We don't care what other teams can offer, this is ours, take it or leave it). Look at the former players coming out today supporting it.

Jerry Richardson seems to want to keep the nucleus intact. That wouldn't have happened under Gettleman.

On the radio I heard that both Greg Olsen and Thomas Davis are wanting new contracts. Olsen is 32 and Davis is 34. Rumors are Gettelman won't offer them and extension, Richardson really likes them and wants to keep them around.

[Chip R]

On the radio I heard that both Greg Olsen and Thomas Davis are wanting new contracts. Olsen is 32 and Davis is 34. Rumors are Gettelman won't offer them and extension, Richardson really likes them and wants to keep them around.

That's pretty old for an NFL player although TEs do have about as long of longevity as QBs.

[Tom Servo]

It actually makes sense on one level, two players are headed for contract extensions and the GM is essentially Mike Brown (We don't care what other teams can offer, this is ours, take it or leave it). Look at the former players coming out today supporting it.

Jerry Richardson seems to want to keep the nucleus intact. That wouldn't have happened under Gettleman.

I didn't really like how Gettleman handled dumping the veteran players, but I mean that's just business in the NFL. The Panthers seem to be run like a good ol boy network where executives, coaches, and veteran players get tons of slack (and the veterans get big money), and Gettleman seemed like we were finally leaving that Jerry Richardson comfort zone a little bit and it paid some big dividends. Now it seems likely we're going to move backwards.

[Boston Red]

Either way, it shouldn't affect 2017.

[Chip R]

I think in the NFL, with a few exceptions like QB and possibly WR, you can't afford to hang on to veterans past their prime. And in the NFL, they may be out of their prime by their late 20s. There are usually replacements available from the draft and free agency and because there's a salary cap, there are usually veteran players available who don't make a lot that are expendable. The problem comes when you get an owner who gets attached to older, veteran players. It's understandable especially if the players are good citizens, productive and do a lot of things in the community. But since there's a salary cap and in the NFL you're an injury away from your career being over. So it may be smart to get rid of the players while you can. Yeah, that means a lot of turnover and fans aren't always down with that. But fans are fickle and their memories are short. If you ask Bengals fans if they would have Chad Johnson in his 30s or A.J. Green in his prime, as much as people loved Ocho Cinco, I doubt you'd find many who would want him over Green.

[Tom Servo]

I think in the NFL, with a few exceptions like QB and possibly WR, you can't afford to hang on to veterans past their prime. And in the NFL, they may be out of their prime by their late 20s. There are usually replacements available from the draft and free agency and because there's a salary cap, there are usually veteran players available who don't make a lot that are expendable. The problem comes when you get an owner who gets attached to older, veteran players. It's understandable especially if the players are good citizens, productive and do a lot of things in the community. But since there's a salary cap and in the NFL you're an injury away from your career being over. So it may be smart to get rid of the players while you can. Yeah, that means a lot of turnover and fans aren't always down with that. But fans are fickle and their memories are short. If you ask Bengals fans if they would have Chad Johnson in his 30s or A.J. Green in his prime, as much as people loved Ocho Cinco, I doubt you'd find many who would want him over Green.

Right. And this is what we were getting before Gettleman came to Charlotte.

But the real bee in everyone's bonnet when it comes to Hurney was the acquisition of homegrown running back and linebacker talent. DeAngelo Williams was given a five-year, $43-million deal with $21 million guaranteed before the 2011 season. Jonathan Stewart signed a six-year, $37.8 million extension with $22.5 million in guaranteed money before the 2012 season. Jon Beason got a six-year, $51.3-million deal with $25 million guaranteed in July of 2011. Thomas Davis got five years, $36.5 million in July of 2011. It's been reworked more times than his knee, but that's besides the point. (Or maybe it is the point.)

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ma...ter-on-notice/

And I loved those players! But it was nonsensical.

[WVRed]

I didn't really like how Gettleman handled dumping the veteran players, but I mean that's just business in the NFL. The Panthers seem to be run like a good ol boy network where executives, coaches, and veteran players get tons of slack (and the veterans get big money), and Gettleman seemed like we were finally leaving that Jerry Richardson comfort zone a little bit and it paid some big dividends. Now it seems likely we're going to move backwards.

But if you read the comments from former players, it was going to have a negative impact on keeping players and ultimately on bringing any new free agents in.

What would have happened under Gettleman when Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly were up for contract extensions? Given the past history, would you really want him negotiating?

[Tom Servo]

What would have happened under Gettleman when Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly were up for contract extensions? Given the past history, would you really want him negotiating?

I'd have been comfortable with that. They are the players you give big contract extensions too, not Greg Olsen. And I think Gettleman knew that.

[Kingspoint]

I'm posting this in the right thread because I'm stating right now that Minnesota will win the 2018 Super Bowl, their Defense will be the NFL's best and they'll win it in the perfect temperatures inside U.S. Bank Stadium while the temperatures outside hover around 20 degrees. Also had to make a few corrections, such as stating that the Vikings set an NFL record last season in passing percentage. It was out of necessity as the replacement O-Line couldn't pass-block or run-block. Minnesota didn't have a Runningback. They had a Fullback in Asiata, whom they let go, and a change-of-pace back in McKinnon, who was their Starter and is now a distant 3rd String. Bradford was forced to dink and dunk all season, as Dalton will have to do, because of a lack of time to throw. They basically fired their Offensive Coordinator when they were 5-2 because he wasn't getting it done. Zimmer doesn't accept excuses. They cut Blair Walsh after he missed an extra-point in consecutive weeks, moving them to 5-3, which had he made them instead, would have put them in the playoffs at 10-6. Vikings will win at least 12 games this year. Kyle Rudolph became the Vikings' all-time TD leader for TE's when he caught his 29th last season. This will be his 7th season as he enters his prime. Thielen was phenomenal last season as he earned his first starting job. Diggs set an NFL record with consecutive 13+ catch games at the very beginning of the season, but he hurt his foot in the second one and never recovered. Patterson is gone. No more chances. Both Diggs and Thielen will get over 1000 yards now that they have a balanced Offense and Bradford has time to throw. Bradford had the best season of his career last year and didn't have a training camp, while having two Coordinators and no Offensive Line. He'll be in the MVP running because he'll be at the helm of 2017's best NFL team. Dalvin Cook will have 1500+ running and receiving yards.

Looking forward to watching the Vikings this season. No team came close to having as many injuries, and impactual injuries, as they did last season. Their season was an "incomplete".

Bradford ranked as one of the Top-5 most efficient Quarterbacks in the NFL last season, per PFF, something he truly was never known for. Bridgewater is now practicing without a brace, but will get the entire season to recover, as he should, as Bradford earned the job.

Their Offensive Line has been rebuilt after succombing to injuries the last two seasons. Riley Reiff, picked up this season, joins 2016 acquisition Alex Boone, Minnesota's highest graded Lineman last season in both pass protection and run blocking picked, to man the Left-side, while 2015-Pro-Bowler Joe Berger was moved to RG to let 2017 3rd Rd pick, Ohio State's Pat Elflein, take over at Center. Newly acquired Mike Remmers from the Panthers will man the Right Tackle spot after they signed him to a 5-yr contract. No more Andre Smith's trying to be handed a job on that Line this season.

Running behind this rebuilt Line will be the player Minnesota traded up for with Cincinnati to grab, Dalvin Cook. Newly acquired Latavius Murray will back him up.

Their Reveivers Corps is full of proven playmakers, Kyle Rudolph, Adam Thielen (967/14.0/5 last season), Stefon Diggs (285/17.0/1 after 2 games last year when injured himself, playing injured the rest of the season), and a 1st Rd pick ready to make an impact, Laquon Treadwell.

Their Defense is ready to resume Top-5 status, a place it was destined to live at before injuries took their toll last season. I can't think if a more talented Defense. Anything less than them reaching the 2nd Rd will be a disappointment.