Here's one on NFL Radio:
Ray Farmer once again begs and pleads with P.T. Kelly (the meistro) for Sam Bradford, and this time he mercifully lets them have him for only just merely #19.
Then, with a flourish, he reaches into his top-hat for a couple elite players and trades the whole batch to Tennessee for Marcus Mariota.
He and Marcus drive off into the sunset, as Ray grins and waves next to his flat tire, overjoyed for an injured quarterback with one year left on an inflated contract he refuses to renegotiate. (He's the flat tire, by the way.)
These guys in Philly...wow.
At the end of the day, Ray Farmer isn't the only one who needs to stop saying at the end of the day. These guys also need to stop saying what a guy "brings to the table", pronouncing Jaguars "Jag-wires", saying "utilize" instead of "use" (seriously you're not impressing anybody with any brains).
Last week I was texting with my buddy Bub about Mariota. He said "ask the REDSKINS how that worked out when they sold the farm for RG3".
Good point, but not all the way: Washington gave up three first round picks, and a second that year. They would have no first round picks for two years into the future, and no pick above the third round that season.
That REDSKINS team was built largely of expensive free agents on their second contracts. It had some talent, but not as much young talent as the Browns have on both sides of the ball.
Permabashers will dispute this, because saying anything like that triggers the bash-reflex, but it's true.
When I heard this trade, I actually blogged that I was glad Mike Holmgren wasn't stupid enough to pay that price. Later, per Mike himself, I heard that he HAD made a similar offer, and lost what respect I had left for him.
Bub thinks three firsts is too much, even if two of them come this season. I don't. But he agreed that 12, 19, Manziel, and a second next season would not be too much.
Once again, Tony Grossi said that they might need to wait til next year to draft their quarterback, and once again I'm telling you--that can't happen. They'll draft as low or lower, and won't have two first round picks. They could be average with journeymen quarterbacks for years to come (unless Johnny comes out swinging--let's hope for that).
But one of Tony's readers pointed to Tashaun Gipson's absence from OTA's, and pointed to the second-round tender he recieved from the team.
Yeah, if I were Gipson, I'd be hurt and angry too. The only reason that Ray put the second, instead of the first-round tender on him was that he was willing to accept a second round draft pick for him.
He dangled Gipson, like bait. I agree with Tony and his reader: This guy came out of nowhere to become one of the best safeties in the NFL, and should have been a priority to get into a long-term contract.
On the other hand, we don't know what the Gipson camp was talking about. His demands might have been outrageous. In this case, I might have done something similar, if I felt that I might never come to terms with this guy, and was willing to pick up an extra second-round pick to use in a trade.
This assumes a lot of facts not in evidence, so for now we must assume that Ray just doesn't value Gipson...except...well...except maybe he values Mariota more?
I dunno.
At the end of the day, Ray Farmer sure isn't perfect. If he were perfect, he would have listened to me and not tried to stick Charles Johnson on the practice squad. Like me, he would have valued Bridgewater, Bortles, and Carr in that order, and Manziel not at all.
But trading down, Watson or no Watson, for the extra first and fourth this season? Good move! Drafting Gilbert? GOOD MOVE. BOOK IT.
Tony thinks a defensive lineman and wide reciever are the top needs. Edge-rusher, future center, and even safety are all more important than a defensive lineman. Two are coming off IR and a third was added.
I found it interesting that Ray Farmer said he didn't know where this Mariota crap came from. He said he was being asked about the quarterbacks and said Mariota was good.
He wasn't lying. That's how this crap starts. But I'm sure he does like him just fine.
Ok Ray, hope you listen to me this time! If you guys had listened to me, you would have Ryan Tannehill too. Instead of WeDone.
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