2024 Other NFL Offseason News

[nicksaviking]

I know they are a team that lots of fans dislike, but I've always had reasons to be a Steelers fan.

But boy, I think this will be Tomlin's last contract. What the heck are they doing over there? Maybe it's just lip service and they have no intention of going with Pickett or Rudolph, but are they too deep into the forest to see that they need to find an actual NFL QB to make a playoff run?

And now they are hiring Arthur Smith as OC? Maybe they'll prove everyone wrong, Pittsburg is good at that, but this guy has no business being an OC, and yet it makes perfect sense. Smith just came from being the most offensively criticized head coach for how he was squandering his offensive talent in Atlanta, and it's no surprise. He had previously been the OC in Tennessee, where he ran a conservative ball-control offense.

And that's the rub with these defensive head coaches. They almost all think defense is as important, or even more important than the offense. They all want to 'establish the run' and 'control the clock'.  Yet the only current successful team that does that, is the 49ers, who actually control the clock by throwing a ton of high percentage passes on 1st and 2nd down to make the run game more manageable. For the best running back in the league no less.

PFT and other outlets are surprised that Belichick and Vrabel didn't get another job. I'm not, no ownership wants that brand of cautious low scoring offense. It doesn't put people in the stands and more importantly, it doesn't help you win.

[gunnarthor]

My guess is that this is Tomlin's last year in Pit and then the fan base will get all the losing seasons they've been hoping for.

[Parfigliano]

24 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I know they are a team that lots of fans dislike, but I've always had reasons to be a Steelers fan.

But boy, I think this will be Tomlin's last contract. What the heck are they doing over there? Maybe it's just lip service and they have no intention of going with Pickett or Rudolph, but are they too deep into the forest to see that they need to find an actual NFL QB to make a playoff run?

And now they are hiring Arthur Smith as OC? Maybe they'll prove everyone wrong, Pittsburg is good at that, but this guy has no business being an OC, and yet it makes perfect sense. Smith just came from being the most offensively criticized head coach for how he was squandering his offensive talent in Atlanta, and it's no surprise. He had previously been the OC in Tennessee, where he ran a conservative ball-control offense.

And that's the rub with these defensive head coaches. They almost all think defense is as important, or even more important than the offense. They all want to 'establish the run' and 'control the clock'.  Yet the only current successful team that does that, is the 49ers, who actually control the clock by throwing a ton of high percentage passes on 1st and 2nd down to make the run game more manageable. For the best running back in the league no less.

PFT and other outlets are surprised that Belichick and Vrabel didn't get another job. I'm not, no ownership wants that brand of cautious low scoring offense. It doesn't put people in the stands and more importantly, it doesn't help you win.

Problem with Belichick is he wants to run the whole show and be coach, GM, final say on all draft picks....teams/owners dont want that.  Throw in his crappy draft history and post Brady results and he isnt that special.

 

[gunnarthor]

Looking more at Pitt, they have a new GM who took over for the 2022 season - the first year the Steelers didn't have Rothlesberger. His first ever draft pick was Kenny Pickett. (George Pickens is a solid 2nd round pick). So it might be hard for the GM to say Pickett isn't the guy. So they hire an OC that can take the pressure off of him - run heavy with Harris and Warren. (Warren is really underrated. I wonder if the Vikes could steal him with a low round pick?). Hope that Tomlin can get the defense running again with more health. 

Looking at their schedule, it really is something that they managed 10 wins with the schedule they had. It was a monster. 

[nicksaviking]

21 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Looking more at Pitt, they have a new GM who took over for the 2022 season - the first year the Steelers didn't have Rothlesberger. His first ever draft pick was Kenny Pickett. (George Pickens is a solid 2nd round pick). So it might be hard for the GM to say Pickett isn't the guy. So they hire an OC that can take the pressure off of him - run heavy with Harris and Warren. (Warren is really underrated. I wonder if the Vikes could steal him with a low round pick?). Hope that Tomlin can get the defense running again with more health. 

Looking at their schedule, it really is something that they managed 10 wins with the schedule they had. It was a monster. 

Agree, hard for the GM to walk back that pick, but they aren't winning meaningful games with him, and ownership JUST came out and said they expect to do just that. And I think a team trying to cover up a poor passer with archaic run heavy schemes isn't going to fool ownership for long. Zimmer, Belichick, Rivera and Vrable are gone, Tomlin seems like the last of a dying breed, particularly now that defensive minded DeMeco Ryans went into Houston and and let his OC throw the ball all over the field. We'll have to see what Morris, Pierce and Mayo do with the Falcons, Raiders and Patriots. Morris looks like he's going to the air attack approach based on his OC hire, I'd bet Pierce does the same. Mayo may be stuck doing whatever the shot callers in NE want him to do. 

I'd be happy to have Warren, but I'm pretty sure Pittsburg knows he's their best RB, I can't imagine they'd trade him and keep Harris. I saw one game this year where the Steelers fans booed every time Harris replaced Warren. They know where the talent is at in that committee.

[nicksaviking]

Mike McDonald going to Seattle to be the head coach. That's four DC turned HC guys, which is shocking to me. I really can't see owners wanting to water down the trend of high flying areal attack offenses, but maybe I was wrong in the above post. Maybe there will be a new era of ground and pound, run-out-the clock offenses.

And yet, no interviews for Flores. I know the Vikings defense fell apart at the end, but plenty of teams interviewed Leslie Frazier for HEAD coach just to satisfy the Rooney Rule. The league is clearly blackballing Flores.

[Mike Sixel]

10 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Mike McDonald going to Seattle to be the head coach. That's four DC turned HC guys, which is shocking to me. I really can't see owners wanting to water down the trend of high flying areal attack offenses, but maybe I was wrong in the above post. Maybe there will be a new era of ground and pound, run-out-the clock offenses.

And yet, no interviews for Flores. I know the Vikings defense fell apart at the end, but plenty of teams interviewed Leslie Frazier for HEAD coach just to satisfy the Rooney Rule. The league is clearly blackballing Flores.

I'm also surprised at all the DCs landing these jobs. And yes, Flores is being discriminated against, it appears

[gunnarthor]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Mike McDonald going to Seattle to be the head coach. That's four DC turned HC guys, which is shocking to me. I really can't see owners wanting to water down the trend of high flying areal attack offenses, but maybe I was wrong in the above post. Maybe there will be a new era of ground and pound, run-out-the clock offenses.

And yet, no interviews for Flores. I know the Vikings defense fell apart at the end, but plenty of teams interviewed Leslie Frazier for HEAD coach just to satisfy the Rooney Rule. The league is clearly blackballing Flores.

I think that's part of the ebb and flow of the game. Right now, a lot of teams probably think they need to get better defensively. They probably think, "fudge, SF can win with a 7th round draft pick so long as you have a great defense" so they want to create that. I say this only partly in jest.

I was surprised on what Seattle did, too. Carroll was a pretty good coach and was seen as a player's coach but the defense really did fall apart the last few years. Maybe they think they can keep the offense - more or less - where it's at and see if McDonald can move the defense up. But McDonald is a heck of a coach. Only 36 but has worked with Harbaugh(s) for a decade. He's probably seen as the defensive version of KOC. 

But that Flores (and other coaches of color) aren't getting these chances is a pretty bad look. I can't imagine there is a white version of Eric Bieniemy right now. 

[nicksaviking]

17 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I think that's part of the ebb and flow of the game. Right now, a lot of teams probably think they need to get better defensively. They probably think, "fudge, SF can win with a 7th round draft pick so long as you have a great defense" so they want to create that. I say this only partly in jest.

I was surprised on what Seattle did, too. Carroll was a pretty good coach and was seen as a player's coach but the defense really did fall apart the last few years. Maybe they think they can keep the offense - more or less - where it's at and see if McDonald can move the defense up. But McDonald is a heck of a coach. Only 36 but has worked with Harbaugh(s) for a decade. He's probably seen as the defensive version of KOC. 

But that Flores (and other coaches of color) aren't getting these chances is a pretty bad look. I can't imagine there is a white version of Eric Bieniemy right now. 

Well, Mayo, Pierce and Morris just got jobs, that's pretty good. 

I would worry for Mayo and Pierce in particular, that they were given the jobs as a token gesture with ownership knowing it's time to rebuild and these guys are just stewards overseeing things until the organization gets back on track at which point they'll be scapegoated and the club can hire their real king.

Like the Dolphins did with Flores and the Cardinals did with Steve Wilks.

[Danchat]

8 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

But that Flores (and other coaches of color) aren't getting these chances is a pretty bad look. I can't imagine there is a white version of Eric Bieniemy right now.

There have been HC snubs who have been white before, former Vikings OC Darrell Bevell never got a job despite getting quite a few interviews over the years. Longtime Saints OC Pete Carmichael coached year after year of great offenses with the Saints and was with Brees with the Chargers through the Saints, but he never got interviews like Bieniemy did. Teams knew Payton was the mastermind of the offense, not Carmichael - just like how Reid overshadows Bieniemy.

I'm shocked Ben Johnson hasn't gotten a HC job two years in a row, though it seems the Commies wanted to hire him so I won't include him on that list.

8 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Well, Mayo, Pierce and Morris just got jobs, that's pretty good. 

You can add Canales if you're counting minorities, since he's part Latin American.

8 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I would worry for Mayo and Pierce in particular, that they were given the jobs as a token gesture with ownership knowing it's time to rebuild and these guys are just stewards overseeing things until the organization gets back on track at which point they'll be scapegoated and the club can hire their real king.

I think Pierce is going to get a legitimate chance as he did quite well with the team in his interim stint, he might make it as the "leader of men" hire a la Dan Campbell. I think they also regret not hiring Rick Bisaccia after his interim stint, and they are trying not to make that mistake twice.

I don't have a read on the Patriots situation. Clearly they've been grooming Mayo for some time now, but it's hard to know how much leash he'll get since we don't have a recent history of them churning through HCs. It seems there was some sort of clause that allowed them to hire Mayo without interviewing anyone else - otherwise I wonder if Flores gets an interview. I don't think Kraft cares that he's suing the league.

[cHawk]

The Vikings will play at Dallas in 2025.

[gunnarthor]

I'm not sure I'd want him as a DC at this point but some kind of defensive assistant probably can't hurt. 

[Mike Sixel]

29 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I'm not sure I'd want him as a DC at this point but some kind of defensive assistant probably can't hurt. 

I wish he'd been the Vikings DC all those years, with a different HC. That would have been great.

[nicksaviking]

Funny, for as good as the Cowboys have been, those coaching jobs there can't be terribly attractive. Looks like a bomb is about to go off.

With McCarthy's job on the line, people screaming that Dak isn't a big game player and with the star players' families and friends (boneheadedly) saying unflattering things about leadership on social media, they could be a surprise train wreck team next year. Lots of folks seem to think they can't handle the pressure in the playoffs, well next year, the whole season is going to be pressure like the playoffs. 

[Mike Sixel]

11 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Funny, for as good as the Cowboys have been, those coaching jobs there can't be terribly attractive. Looks like about to go off.

With McCarthy's job on the line, people screaming that Dak isn't a big game player and with the star players' families and friends (boneheadedly) saying unflattering things about leadership on social media, they could be a surprise train wreck team next year. Lots of folks seem to think they can't handle the pressure in the playoffs, well next year, the whole season is going to be pressure like the playoffs. 

bummer for them......

[nicksaviking]

Yup, real broken up about it.

[gunnarthor]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Funny, for as good as the Cowboys have been, those coaching jobs there can't be terribly attractive. Looks like about to go off.

With McCarthy's job on the line, people screaming that Dak isn't a big game player and with the star players' families and friends (boneheadedly) saying unflattering things about leadership on social media, they could be a surprise train wreck team next year. Lots of folks seem to think they can't handle the pressure in the playoffs, well next year, the whole season is going to be pressure like the playoffs. 

I don't hate the Cowboys like I did back in the 90s but I don't wish them well. Jerry Jones is a truly bad person. So I'd be thrilled if they collapse completely next year.

But I will say that the racism around Dak Prescott bums me out a lot and I'd be happy to see him win just to shut up some really bad people, even though it would also make Jones happy.

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I don't hate the Cowboys like I did back in the 90s but I don't wish them well. Jerry Jones is a truly bad person. So I'd be thrilled if they collapse completely next year.

But I will say that the racism around Dak Prescott bums me out a lot and I'd be happy to see him win just to shut up some really bad people, even though it would also make Jones happy.

I guess I haven't read into racism being the cause of the dislike of Dak, but that wouldn't surprise me I suppose. It is Texas and Jones has been lying and trying to cover up all his racist crap for decades.

The most recent notable defamation toward Dak came from CeeDee Lamb's mom for what that's worth. I mean, it's obviously worth nothing, and I'm all for anything that will tear that club apart, but that's what I was referring to anyway.

[gunnarthor]

4 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I guess I haven't read into racism being the cause of the dislike of Dak, but that wouldn't surprise me I suppose. It is Texas and Jones has been lying and trying to cover up all his racist crap for decades.

The most recent notable defamation toward Dak came from CeeDee Lamb's mom for what that's worth. I mean, it's obviously worth nothing, and I'm all for anything that will tear that club apart, but that's what I was referring to anyway.

Oh, didn't mean to imply there aren't reasons to not like Dak. There are many. But he does also deal with some ugly racist stuff. 

[Vanimal46]

Devin Hester, Julius Peppers, and Steve McMichael make the HOF this year. The fact that Jim Marshall is held out of the HOF to this day is a tragedy. The man is still alive at 86 years old. Let him know he’s a HOF player before he’s dead and buried already! 

[cHawk]

On 2/6/2024 at 1:18 PM, nicksaviking said:

Funny, for as good as the Cowboys have been, those coaching jobs there can't be terribly attractive. Looks like a bomb is about to go off.

With McCarthy's job on the line, people screaming that Dak isn't a big game player and with the star players' families and friends (boneheadedly) saying unflattering things about leadership on social media, they could be a surprise train wreck team next year. Lots of folks seem to think they can't handle the pressure in the playoffs, well next year, the whole season is going to be pressure like the playoffs. 

The NFC East hasn’t had a repeat champion in two decades. The Cowboys won it last year, the Giants are locked into one of the worst contracts in the NFL (Daniel Jones) and Washington is in a complete rebuild.

All signs seem to point to Philly winning the division next year.

[Vanimal46]

The Cowboys might as well hand Micah Parsons his bag of money now before Zimmer makes him even better. 

[nicksaviking]

Ha, this is fantastic:

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-dom-disandro-suspension-impacted-nick-sirianni-during-games

So an Eagles reporter is claiming the Eagles fell apart after that sideline security guy got suspended for tussling with Dre Greenlaw. And the reason for that is because that security guy's main job is to keep Nick Sirianni from fighting with his players and coaches. Wow, that's awesome! I mean awesome because I hate the Eagles.

 

[cHawk]

Obviously this would never happen, but how would we feel about this as Vikings fans?

[nicksaviking]

That would be crazy but I could see the Bears trying something like that. I'm not convinced the Bears want to immediately try again with a rookie QB.

I still think a scenario where the Bears trade Fields, sign Cousins, trade down a few spots, and pair up Cousins with Harrison/Odunze/Nabors along with DJ Moore is almost certainly something Chicago has talked about but nobody else is.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd do that if I was the bears. 

[Mike Sixel]

How far will Williams fall if he demands ownership and won't do medical exams? Would you draft him?

[nicksaviking]

25 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

How far will Williams fall if he demands ownership and won't do medical exams? Would you draft him?

I didn't hear about the ownership one. As for the medicals, I thought he said he wouldn't do that stuff at the combine but would provide them in sit downs with individual teams. Likely because then if/when something gets leaked, he'd have a short list of culprits.

Either way, I can't recall a non-injured QB who ever had medicals that made teams run away screaming so I don't care about that. As far as ownership goes, I don't see the Vikings being the team to be the first to do that. Or first to do anything actually, we're followers, not trailblazers here in Minnesota. As long as having ownership wouldn't inhibit the team from trading or releasing him, I couldn't care less if he had a stake.

[gunnarthor]

Broncos will take a 80m cap hit but release Wilson. I wonder where he ends up. QB depth is bad league wide but not sure if he's a high end back up or a starter. 

[Mike Sixel]

48 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Broncos will take a 80m cap hit but release Wilson. I wonder where he ends up. QB depth is bad league wide but not sure if he's a high end back up or a starter. 

Seemed to be bad in the clubhouse the last few years