Here's to hoping that DJ doesn't go the way of Pollard. If he moves on after this year and ends up in Dallas or Baltimore, he will BLOW UP.

I agree they made mistakes. But to cite Goff, etc, as sacred cows, seems like a stretch.

In fact I would cite guys like Wallace Gilberry as evidence that Pioli and Haley have no bias against players from the previous regime.

The only obvious sacred cows are Cassel and Vrabel.

Yeah thats a good point.

Mind you, Mike Brown was signed to a one year deal. Even though he sucked, it didn't hurt the organization as much since the contract wasn't long term. Just was a chance they took, unfortunately it didn't work out. Props to Pioli & co for signing him short term.

Yep.

I see Bowe going down this road too, sadly.

Or he could just miss more tackles.

The guy got a few nice interceptions and a couple sacks but to paint him as this dominant force waiting to emerge is silly.

Anything above average is a HUGE improvement over any other LB on this roster.

He doesn't have to be dominant.

But there's no doubt in my mind he'd be a solid player elsewhere.

Oh, please.

Bowe will definitely go "down that road" if he doesn't stop DROPPING THE BALL!

I'll leave it at this:

It was an obvious mistake that can't be excused, and I'm just glad to be talking football.

Yeah, you bastard, kudos on drawing me into the debate.

The drops are so blown out of proportion.

IIRC, in 2008, Marques Colston had 2 fewer drops than Bowe.

I doubt anyone would be ragging his ass over it.

Andre Johnson's been on the Top 10 list, as has Calvin Johnson.

Good WR's drop the ball.

To get pissy over less than a drop per game is a waste of breath.

Especially when drops are such a subjective stat.

I don't disagree.

However, from a coach's point of view, there is more to the evaluation process than a long-distance assessment of which player is "better" from a talent perspective, Mr. OnTheWarpath58. I mean, they have to know the playbook, practice with consistency, prove their ability to deal with adversity, etc.

Although I've disagreed with many of the current regime's player decisions (particularly in respect to the o-line), I have to admit that I lack a complete, comprehensive picture of those players' ability to contribute.

It reasonable to assume that, for every thing we think we know about a player, there are ten things we don't know.

FAX

I still wonder how much of Bowe's "drops" problem is Cassel-related. Bowe wasn't the only receiver dropping passes.

FAX

I agree to an extent, Mr. FAX.

However, this regime has shown that they struggle to evaluate "talent" that's been right under their nose - forget long distance.

See: Cassel, Matt. Brown, Mike. Long, Lance. Vrabel, Mike. Etc.

Pioli's not the only decision maker in pro sports that have ****ed up by placing more importance on having "his guys" over more talented players, and he won't be the last.

That doesn't make it excusable, however.

Well, I think that between most guys heres eye test, we know probably about 75-90% about most PLAYERS. Its the PERSON we dont know much about and that is arguably about equal in weight in the evaluation process.

Does the kid think he is just better than everyone else and doesn't work the way the other guy does that isnt far behind him? Give me the kid with the better work ethic that may be a hair behind the other kid as far as talent goes because that is the kid that will be successful three years down the line when the REAL STORY of a PLAYER is told.

Your last sentence FAX stands strong. There are prolly a lot of things we don't know. For example, relationship between players and coaches. That is critcal when it comes to overall team chemistry and performance.