I don't know about Darling. I've heard "reports" from people I don't trust that he's athletic and so on but we've certainly never seen it. Plus, the guy was late third rounder cut by a team in desperate need of wide receivers.

DJ is a bust, plain and simple. The guy makes one great play ever 900 snaps.

Because talent is only one of the pieces. The Patriots had the team chemistry, they had EXTREME discipline, and of course, they had some of the best coaching in the history of the game. They were overloaded with intangibles, so they could get away with lacking some talent.

That being said, I think some people are underestimating some of the talent they did have, but that's another discussion.

As for the Chargers, take the same idea and put it in reverse. The Chargers have all kinds of talent, but look at some of the personalities on that team, like Merriman. Or better yet, take a look at their $92M QB. Yeah, I know, he's talented. I'm also not firmly convinced that he isn't a big baby either. He's gonna have to get more mentally tough if he wants to be a SB champion. Sprinkle some Norv dust over the top and you have the perfect recipe for an example where LACK of intangibles hinders talent.

You have to have ALL OF THE ABOVE to win it all. It's as simple as that.

But like Coach Todd Haley says, "talent is the great equalizer."

My case in point. Perfect example.

Hey man, did you hear what Haley said in his presser today?

Hopefully, it can put to rest some of the "53 right guys" stuff, no? ;)

If the definition for the word "bust" can be confined to 'player that hasn't lived up to his draft position'... Certainly.

But he's the kind of bust I'd like to have IF we have to have one.
He's still been productive. Just not as productive as he should be given where he was drafted.

I feel like I'm setting my fantasy team here - picking up all kinds of guys off the waiver wire after the 1st week...

Ironically, their best talent was primarily in the positions where we've been locking up talent recently. Quarterback. Defensive line.

They never had the best linebackers, but they played together *as a group* better than anybody else. Once Law and Milloy were gone, they didn't have much marquee talent in the secondary either, at least not that I recall. What they did have were savvy vets and young players, mixed in a way that seems oddly familiar. Offensively, until Moss and Welker, they were pedestrian at receiver, and even with Corey Dillon they've never had a marquee running back. They focused a lot on tight end. Their o-line was always good but I don't think they were ever the best.

What they did is mold the talent they had together until it became a machine.

The problem with DJ is that he's not disciplined and he's not consistent. If he were making one play and then disappearing for one play, that would be one thing.

DJ's lack of discipline and poor decision making have actually caused some of our problems over the last few years.

Rams | R. Martin agrees to terms

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:47:55 -0700

Tom Silverstein, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports the St. Louis Rams have agreed to terms on a new contract with free-agent WR Ruvell Martin (Packers), according to a source close to Martin. He is expected to be at practice Wednesday, Sept. 16.





Maybe they won't claim Baskett now. Martin is pretty much the same size.

Might not be the best 53 athletically but they are the best 53 for this team. Like it or not this isn't just the lip service
we've come to expect over the last two decades. We'll have our stars. I'm sure of it

IMO, this "The Best 53" nonsense is just that.

The "Best 53" will continue to change until this roster has been all but completely overhauled.

The "Best 53" won't be in place until they win a Championship.

Wilson: Baskett expected to draw heavy interest
Wide receiver waived today by Eagles

Aaron Wilson

September 15, 2009, 07:48 PM EST

Now that wide receiver Hank Baskett has been placed on waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles, he's liable to draw heavy interest on waivers.

Before he was let go by Philadelphia, several teams contacted the Eagles about prospective trades for Baskett.

That included the Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns,Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, according to a league source.
Baskett caught one pass for six yards Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. For his career, he has registered 72 receptions for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns.

Baskett received the second-round restricted tender of $1.545 million this year, so any team that claims him would assume that salary.

In 2006, Baskett became the second rookie in NFL history to post two touchdown receptions of 85 yards or more in a single season since the Green Bay Packers' Billy Howton did so in 1952


http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...-interest.html

Has he signed yet?

http://twitter.com/hankbaskett84 probably fake

Did anybody actually listen to Haley's press conference today?

HALEY: “Again, I’m looking for guys who do it the way we want it done. Like I tell them: are you doing it how we’re coaching you and then it comes down to how well are you able to do it. Talent is the great separator. There may be some guys who are doing it the way we want it done but maybe they’re just not good enough. Then maybe there are some guys that probably potentially could be really good but they’re not doing it the way we want it done.

In other words, when they say they want the RIGHT 53, they're looking for a combination of talent AND work ethic. Notice the underlined portion of the quote: to him, those two guys - the guy that works hard but isn't talented, and the guy that's talented but doesn't work hard - are EQUAL.

Also, note the bolded part. And enjoy my sig. Thanks! :)

gotta go through waivers.

So who is ahead of us?

Lions and Rams.

And it looks like the Rams might have signed Ruvell Martin, who is in the same mold as Baskett.

Don't really think the Lions would want him, but you never know.

Hmm...hope we get him, we might have atleast an avg wr corp if we do

They dont need another WR just throw it to CJ every pass play

Agree with both you guys.

It would be pretty cool for a respectable group of receivers (in theory, anyway) to fall into our lap.

I agree, in their minds this is the best 53 at the moment and it's subject to change at any given moment. But it's a process and I for one welcome the change. Carl, Gun, DV and Herm would stand pat or make changes only when they could save face.

I don't know if Pioli can re-create the machine that is the Pats, but he is doing it his way and so is the coach for that matter. When Haily took over the offense I about shit myself. First year head coach shouldering all the responsibility? Takes balls if you ask me, these guys seem accountable and that alone is reason to tip back a beer and welcome the future.

Hell, my fiance and I were watching the game and she made a comment, ahhhh it's the chiefs, they'll just do the same old stupid things and screw it up. I was actually speechless, all I could think to say was "these aren't the Chiefs" but of course they are, but you know what I'm saying. In the end... they did :spock: but they made adjustments throughout the game and I actually believed they could pull it off. If it was Herm and company... hell no, I would have been folding clothes or something.

"The best 53" is the new "gleam."

Why is everybody ignoring me?!?!?! :huh:

What I want to see is how they'll handle things if we get a ridiculously talented player who is so skilled that he doesn't do things the "right way."

A Fitz-level player. Sick talent.

Wins make things look pretty darn right...

Always thought that sounded gay, but you know what. That was the last Chiefs coach to actually field a team, a real ****ing team.

If it's "not that I believe it is" the new gleam "so be it" but there is much, much more to it. Marty is a great coach, and can no doubt build a damn good team, but what he lacks "IMHO" is getting all the pieces to fit together. I think he changed his style a little with the chargers and he almost pulled it off.

The the owner came in Carl style and they went their separate ways. Now all you here is How the Chargers are the most talented team to never win a Superbowl. Hmmmm

Sorry, he can hit the ****ing bricks. It's a slap in the face with what they are trying to do. Marty on the other hand would do it and well, as much as I want a good team, I want one to win the superbowl. Look at pitt, NE, all the good ones. I watched Owens the other night and kind of felt sorry for him. Asshole is never going to get it. Moss seems to

If you need one coach to prepare a team well and win a regular season game, no matter how shitty the overall talent level on the roster, Marty would be a damn fine choice. Dude can flat out coach.

Unfortunately, that's not the ultimate goal, and, for whatever reason, Marty isn't a closer.

Too bad, really.

My positive Marty feelings all came back when I saw him at DT's induction ceremony.

It's too bad marty didn't win 1 SB, he is a great coach imo

I don't think you get to be a Fitz-level player without also "doing it the right way". Know what I mean? Take a look across the league at the truly elite players and you're not going to find many guys, if ANY, that get by on talent alone.

After all, look at what they did with Bowe. So far nobody that they cut was high on talent but low on doing it their way. They were low on talent.

Moss pre-NE might be the only exception I can think of...

He was pretty sick in MN but left with nothing to show for it, so it still ends up supporting your assertion above.

Good point.

Fine. I'll play. When he made the "53" comment, he probably thought that the fanbase wouldn't be such go-tards and think he could win with highschoolers with big hearts. Either that or he didn't realize what kind of douchebags Herm put on the field last year.

FTR, I think Bowe COULD be a Fitz type talent if he had Fitz type FOCUS and WORK ETHIC. Which he currently does not.

There happy? :p

Yeah, I thought about Moss especially. But then I remembered how many conference championships he won prior to arriving in New England.

So I'll stand by it - I think the truly great players have the talent AND the work ethic.

Absolutely, you do not get to that kind of level without working your tail off.

I believe in the philosophy Pioli and Haley are bringing to this franchise. Talent is paramount, but equally, so is discipline, dedication and hard work. If you build a team, you do it as a team. When your on the field you work as a unit, the WR is no more important than a gunner on Special teams. Sure the WR may have more god given talent, but both do there jobs the way it's coached and at a 100%.

The more talented player see's his reward on his paycheck, the ego shouldn't be a part of it. No one should get a free pass, period. That being said, sometimes you have to make exceptions for aging vets and keeping them healthy.

IMO, Hank is absolutely worth a look. Haley might be able to get the best out of him.

Agreed. Hopefully they put in a claim for Baskett.

When do we find out

I'm guessing we'll know something by Friday one way or another.

Well now...

Turns out that Chiefs' brass made a call inquiring about how they might acquire Baskett in a trade when it was believed that Philly was shopping him. They were one of 6 teams. The bad news? So was St. Louis.

So there is a chance that if he clears waivers that he'll join this team.

Then again...
They probably made this call BEFORE adding Bobby Wade so there's a chance that this is all moot.

Whered you hear this at Micjones?

I'm almost certain, as I said this morning, that Spags put a claim in for him.

Hank Baskett is married to a playboy chick......so he>Brodie Croyle.

I only had a chance to read the first page --

I had a feeling the Eagles were going to cut Hank Baskett --

Baskett played on special teams -- The Eagles rarely used him as WR -- especially during the last two seasons.

Baskett is tall-- But, he couldn't hold on to the ball. -- I'm pretty sure that's why he was demoted to special teams.

Croyle hasn't screwed up his career, LITERALLY.

No worries. The call from the Rams probably came before they signed Ruvell Martin. And Martin is much closer in build/skills to Baskett than Wade is.

In other words, we still have a need while the Rams might not.

SIGN HIM!!

......... and release who? Personally, I'd rather release Engram than Copper. I know everyone hates Copper. But, he's younger and has greater "upside" (I hate that over used term) than Engram who is on his last legs. Copper could at least develop into something for the future. But, Engram is not going to be apart of this team's future.

I wish we could trade Thiggy or Guti. Even for a low draft pick. We don't need to carry 4 QBs.

Is Copper REALLY part of the future? I mean, we heard the same thing about Samie Parker and Jeff Webb and the list goes on and on and on.

I mean, who cares? Engram can produce this season. NEITHER of them are likely to be part of the future.

The Rams waived two players today....

Wonder if they're making room for Baskett?

Eh, i would keep Engram, though i wouldn't care if he was released. We already have another copper type of Player in Wade. I'd cut Copper and bring in Baskett.

Baskett has always seemed like he has a boat load of talent to me. He has the size speed, I've seen him make some nice grabs. Wonder why he isn't a top 3 WR for the Eagles?

I hope not. It makes sense though. Damn those Rams. Don't they know that Jeff Webb is available?

I mentioned this early yesterday. Baskett was in Philly at the same time as Spags. It seems like a no-brainer that St. Louis would claim him.

um, why would we want a guy that can't make Philly's lineup? He ain't all that.

:shake:

this guy is not really that good.

Except that they signed Ruvell Martin. Unless they're looking for 2 guys like that (and they very well could be).

I've always said that better than bad does not equal good.

The corollary to that is that better than bad is STILL BETTER.

I agree. He is not that good. But, he is probably still better than Copper. I definitely didn't want to give up a draft pick for him, but I wouldn't mind taking a flier on him if we get him for a waiver claim.

Since we already gave Miami our 7th for O'Connell, and who knows what for the two O-linemen, I would have to agree with this one.

Quote:

@Adam_SchefterWould be surprised if anyone claimed Hank Baskett on waivers today. They'd have to assume his $1.5 million contract -- I'd guess no one does

...

nice post Bill

Just saw that Tweet: So are we to assume that no one claimed Baskett?

I would think we'd have heard about it by now. What time was his release yesterday? Teams have 24 hours to claim him, correct?

Yeah but I think it would be end of business today, 5pm EST, before we know for sure.

you would think for 1.5 mil we would be all over him, we have money to spare for sure

Just because we have it doesn't mean we spend it unwisely.

Maybe, maybe not. For all we know, he doesn't fit their idea of the "Best 53".

I'm still trying to figure out Copper is in that equation.

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he'll go to St. Louis.
They signed Ruvell Martin AND David Tyree's been in for a workout.

It would be unwise to upgrade the WR position with a player who is clearly better than the one who is currently occupying a roster spot?

Baskett seemed promising during his rookie year - but then came the drops -- I/M/O, Hank had trouble running the right routes.

I was surprised Baskett lasted this long on special teams. The Eagles felt he was a good special teams blocker, he would be on the team. Honestly, I was surprised he made the team at the end of preseason.

I'm not sure if the Eagles had Baskett listed as a reserve. However, if he was -- I’d expect him to be dead last. The Eagles have younger and much better receivers on their roster.

Just my observations of Baskett through the years.

KC should claim him. Ticket sales will increase just to see Kendra in some skimpy Chiefs gear.

LMAO

but not on Pioli & Haley's dime. ...

Sometimes it's the players agents feeding the media on teams that are interested in their client. Honestly, I believe that's the case here. Could be wrong

sorry for all the grammatical errors -- i'm at work

It may or may not matter, but the Chiefs added Lance Long to their roster so they may feel that they've adequately addressed the WR spot.

If 31 other teams pass on him at that price tag then, I would say, yes it's unwise. Besides, who says he's clearly better? The guy has yet to be anything other than potential.

But at least he HAS TALENT. Something, oh say, Copper, doesn't have much of

This 1.5 MIL isn't all that much.

IIRC he had some nice catches in the playoffs one year. I think he was Donovan's go to guy before they upgraded the position.

I'm calling Bullshit on this one.

Well his GF is a HUGE chargers fan so this would be hilarious if we picked him up.

I think he is a more solid option then some of the WR's we have. Eagles have a lot of young Wr's hence why he was let go.

But who needs WR's when our line blows dick and can't give the qb anytime anyway.