NFL 2019 off-season

The Saints released Cameron Meredith. I guess they feel pretty confident about the receiving corps.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

The Saints released Cameron Meredith. I guess they feel pretty confident about the receiving corps.

I guess they knew they were going to get a deal done for Michael Thomas. 5yrs/100Mil/61Mil guaranteed. Makes him the highest paid WR in the League.

This is a well deserved contract extension. This guy led the League in receiving with, 125 receptions for 1,400+ yrds. But here's the stat that gets me. Of those 125 catches, he was targeted only 147 times. That's an 85% reception percentage. Just damn!

Hodge, Michael Thomas might have the best "hands" skill set i've ever seen. Definitely a well-earned contract extension, and the Saints still have cap room if they need it down the stretch.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

Hodge, Michael Thomas might have the best "hands" skill set i've ever seen. Definitely a well-earned contract extension, and the Saints still have cap room if they need it down the stretch.

Because TPTB (Mrs. Hodgepodge) is such a Saints fan, I got a chance to watch several games last season.

HRD, Michael Thomas is the "best" WR in the League bar-none. Good speed, great hands, and the ability to get open on a regular basis.

Iirc, his Twitter handle is @cantguardmike.

HRD, got a chance to watch the Saints first pre-season game a couple of nights ago.

Teddy Bridgewater looked pretty good. What did you think?

I think the Saints have a pretty good idea of what will happen when the Drew Brees Era ends.

Now here's the twist: They might have their eyes on somebody to replace Brees, and they're showcasing Bridgewater in case they can get some solid assets for him.

Wow, Taysom Hill has shown off some pretty solid quarterbacking too. For anybody interested:

In pre-week 1, Bridgewater went 14/19 for 134 yds and 1 TD; Hill went 8/14 for 80 yds 1 TD and 1 INT.

In pre-week 2, Hill went 11/15 for 136 with 2 TD; Bridgewater went 5/12 for 40 yds and 1 INT.

So totals are:
Hill: 19/29 216 yds 3 TD 1 Int
Bridgewater: 19/31 174 yds 1 TD 1 INT

Starters are 25/34 270 yds 3 TD 0 INT
Finishers are 13/27 120 yds 1 TD 2 INT

Saints QBs so far this preseason: 38/61 390 yds 4 TD 2 INT

Hill also rushed 6 times v Minn for 45 yds and 5 times this week for 53 yds, so 11 rushes for 98 yds, which gives him 314 all-purpose yards.

It's good to see Ted Ginn Jr. playing again. If he and Dez (and Thomas, of course) are healthy this year, i think the Saints will have a truly fearsome receiving corps.

After watching the Saints week #2 preseason game, now I understand why you're so giddy.

You think Hill is actually the Saints heir apparent instead of Bridgewater.

They're going to show everyone what Teddy has and hopefully garner a boatload of picks for the coming draft. Sneaky bastard!

I'm not sure that there is an heir apparent. If i *HAD* to pick one today, I'd go with Bridgewater. What's exciting is that they're both potentially franchise quarterbacks who could be elites of their generation, and it would be great if we can develop one of them into a successful heir and get fantastic trade value for the other... down the line at some point, a couple three years from now. It's just great to feel like the franchise will have a tough choice to make.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

I'm not sure that there is an heir apparent. If i *HAD* to pick one today, I'd go with Bridgewater. What's exciting is that they're both potentially franchise quarterbacks who could be elites of their generation, and it would be great if we can develop one of them into a successful heir and get fantastic trade value for the other... down the line at some point, a couple three years from now. It's just great to feel like the franchise will have a tough choice to make.

I forgot Hill was a QB last season. Payton had him lining up everywhere. Under Center! Split-wide! RB! Even, TE! I had no idea what a versatile player he was, but leave it to Sean to put him in positions where he can do the most damage.

And, I see what you mean by having them both for a couple more years. And, I do see Brees wanting to play, and still having the skills to play, for the foreseeable future.

I still say you're giddy with the possibilities both guys present your team. Speaking of the future. It looks bright!

Peggy, just heard Patrick Chung (New England Patriots/S)has been indicted for possession of cocaine.

How much did he have? I've always thought possession of cocaine was a misdemeanor in the continental states?

Absolutely stunned to hear of Andrew Luck's sudden retirement. Injuries were just too much for him. I'm sure the fans in Indianapolis are wondering why he waited till so close to the season to decide, but I think it was a reluctant choice. I feel for him, but wow...he was drafted to replace Peyton Manning, who was pushed out of Indy by Jim Irsay. Manning went on to, I think, two more Super Bowls, winning one. Earth to Irsay: When you've got a great player, don't roll the dice. Be glad you've got him while you do.

And Hodge--all I know is that Chung was indicted for a "small" amount being found in a home belonging to him. Having no prior convictions, he could accept an out-of-court deal, which would leave him open to NFL discipline right away. If he goes to trial, it won't be until next year, which means he could play this season. Patriots are, as you would expect, not commenting.

I know that in some states possession of cocaine in any amount is a felony. I don't know for sure if Massachusetts is or isn't one of those states.

____


I was also taken unawares by the news about Andrew Luck's retirement. He fought a hard rehabilitative battle over the last few years, this is a sad coda. This is a guy who played parts of 6 seasons in the last 7 years, and went to the Pro Bowl in each of the 4 seasons that he started 16 games, which are also the seasons his team went to the postseason. He'll turn 30 this year. He definitely had the skills and ability to have had a chance at the Hall of Fame, sadly injury prevents many such players from reaching that potential. I hope that he's genuinely accepted this retirement in his own mind and is able to "make a clean break" in walking away from the game that's consumed most of the last (at least) ten years of his life; i hope he has something to do with himself now.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Absolutely stunned to hear of Andrew Luck's sudden retirement. Injuries were just too much for him. I'm sure the fans in Indianapolis are wondering why he waited till so close to the season to decide, but I think it was a reluctant choice. I feel for him, but wow...he was drafted to replace Peyton Manning, who was pushed out of Indy by Jim Irsay. Manning went on to, I think, two more Super Bowls, winning one. Earth to Irsay: When you've got a great player, don't roll the dice. Be glad you've got him while you do.../

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

...I was also taken unawares by the news about Andrew Luck's retirement. He fought a hard rehabilitative battle over the last few years, this is a sad coda. This is a guy who played parts of 6 seasons in the last 7 years, and went to the Pro Bowl in each of the 4 seasons that he started 16 games, which are also the seasons his team went to the postseason. He'll turn 30 this year. He definitely had the skills and ability to have had a chance at the Hall of Fame, sadly injury prevents many such players from reaching that potential. I hope that he's genuinely accepted this retirement in his own mind and is able to "make a clean break" in walking away from the game that's consumed most of the last (at least) ten years of his life; i hope he has something to do with himself now.

I was just speculating whether he was going to start the season under center. Now this!

Dealing with that calf injury that somehow turned into some type of ankle sprain. It seems like he's dealt with so many injuries throughout his short career, but there's only been a couple. Shoulder and now this! By the way, how does a calf injury turn into an ankle sprain? There's something fishy going on.

But, I definitely did see his retirement coming. Supposedly, there was going to be a news conference this coming Sunday where he was going to announce, but someone leaked the info during the game.

What got me was how the Indy crowd reacted to the news. How do you boo a guy whose given his all to the franchise. They should be booing the front office that didn't help Luck survive those early seasons when he lead the League in sacks.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

And Hodge--all I know is that Chung was indicted for a "small" amount being found in a home belonging to him. Having no prior convictions, he could accept an out-of-court deal, which would leave him open to NFL discipline right away. If he goes to trial, it won't be until next year, which means he could play this season. Patriots are, as you would expect, not commenting...

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

I know that in some states possession of cocaine in any amount is a felony. I don't know for sure if Massachusetts is or isn't one of those states...

I actually think I was referring to Marijuana. Which is now legal in several States.

A calf injury can turn into an ankle injury when the initial injury causes the athlete to change their mechanics. If Luck changed the way he stepped when dropping back after the snap from center, for example.

So can we start the actual NFL 2019 thread already?

Oh yeah...Jadeveon Clowney. That's what I was stopping in to say. ESPN's Brady Henderson called this a steal even if he only winds up being a one-season rental. A draft pick plus a pair of back up LBs in Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin and he is correct. It is not just value for value but another consideration is that rookie LBs Ben Burr-Kirven, a 5th rd pick from Washington, and Cody Barton, a 4rd rd pick from Utah both played the entire game against the Raiders on Thursday and looked to be forcing the team to be making a hard choice between them. The deal allows Carroll and DC Ken Norton, Jr to keep both plus, for now, former Sooner Emmanuel Beal and Shaquem Griffin while waiting for the legal issues with Kendricks to resolve. Starting will probably be Austin Calitro, in his second year out of 'Nova along side Bobby and K.J.

Clowney had the Texans between the short-hairs. He refused to sign the Franchise-tag until they found a trading partner he approved of. I heard the "Fins" were salivating to get him on their roster, but Jadeveon shut that down.

Hey, the Seagulls got a great player, for little or nothing. Now, if he can just stay healthy.


ETA: I heard the Chargers have told Melvin Gordon to seek out a trade. Just damn!

Hodgepodge wrote:

...ETA: I heard the Chargers have told Melvin Gordon to seek out a trade. Just damn!

With Zeke finally getting his deal done, why didn't Gordon get a deal from the Chargers?

Someone needs to help me understand this Antonio Brown mess.

After all the machinations the Raiders went thru to get him, he refuses to act like an adult.

Now, he's been picked up by the New England Patriots. I want to see how they handle his antics. Oh Peggy!