WTF Mike Silver says we are the 28th best team in the NFL

[Mr. Arrowhead]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--po...GVzdAM-;_ylv=3

1. New York Giants: Is general manager Jerry Reese trying to get disgruntled defensive end Osi Umenyiora to snap?

2. New England Patriots: If Bill Belichick pulled off a trade in which he managed to swap picks with himself, would his reputation for masterful maneuvering reach an unprecedented plateau?

[ Dan Wetzel: Pats move up twice during first round in a dramatic shift in strategy ]

3. Green Bay Packers: Yo, Ted Thompson, feeling a bit defensive – and does having a 28-year-old superstar quarterback impact your thinking much?

4. Baltimore Ravens: When second-round draft pick Courtney Upshaw lines up across from new teammate Michael Oher in training camp, will their biological and surrogate parents be there to cheer them on?

5. San Francisco 49ers: How happy is Jim Harbaugh that the Niners drafted a receiver whose high school nickname was "E.T." and not "Edward Scissorhands"?

6. Houston Texans: With the drafting of Wade Phillips' newest pass-rushing toy, will the Texans' defense be Mercilus in 2012?

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: Got beef?

[ Les Carpenter: Draft picks spend more time in Radio City than anticipated ]

8. Detroit Lions: If the decision-makers in the Lions' war room "listened to our board" and started speaking in Matt Millen's voice, would the team's medical staff pass out handfuls of clozapine?

9. Atlanta Falcons: Hey, Thomas Dimitroff – if second-round pick Peter Konz could play guard and center at the same time, would you have made another Julio Jones-style trade to get him sixth overall?

10. Philadelphia Eagles: After assuring offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg that Philly's plan to use a third-round pick on former Arizona quarterback Nick Foles was "a great one", was Michael Vick tempted to add, "By the way – who's Nick Foles?"

11. New Orleans Saints: When Saints general manager Mickey Loomis called in his third-round pick of Regina defensive tackle Akiem Hicks Friday night, was NFL commissioner Roger Goodell tempted to grab the phone and interject, "Yeah, we know – we've got your war room wiretapped …"

[ Fantasy: A dozen draftees bound to make an immediate fantasy impact ]

12. Denver Broncos: Will Brock Osweiler become the tallest-ever teammate to bend down and polish Peyton Manning's dress shoes before a Quarterbacks' Night Out at training camp?

13. Dallas Cowboys: What was the Wonderlic score of the Dallas Morning News website editor who posted this headline about first-round draft pick "Morrris" Claiborne?

14. New York Jets: Am I the only one who wonders whether, based on their 2011 performance, the Jets should have drafted an offensive lineman before the sixth round?

15. Cincinnati Bengals: After Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu got a prank call telling him the Bengals were taking him in the first round Thursday night, shouldn't Redskins tight end Chris Cooley have been considered the prime suspect?

Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd is headed to Arizona. (AP)

16. Arizona Cardinals: If I'd been at Larry Fitzgerald's house for the first round of this year's draft, would he have reacted to the selection of Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd by racing jubilantly through his open-air living room and jumping into the pool?

[Yahoo! Sports Shop: Buy NFL player T-shirts and team gear]

17. San Diego Chargers: After learning that Chargers GM A.J. Smith had called him a "mean, nasty man", shouldn't first-round pick Melvin Ingram have extended his hand and retorted, "Pot, meet kettle"?

18. Carolina Panthers: How crazy is it that this year's No. 1 pick, Boston College middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, is smaller than last year's No. 1, quarterback Cam Newton?

19. Buffalo Bills: When general manager Buddy Nix described the Bills as "riverboat gamblers" after trading up to get North Carolina State wideout T.J. Graham in the third round, why did I immediately picture this body of water?

20. Chicago Bears: Will the new receiving tandem of Brandon Marshall and second-round pick Alshon Jeffery cause more havoc in opposing secondaries, or in the Bears' locker room?

21. Washington Redskins: When the 'Skins released quarterback John Beck on Saturday, was he humming my altered-lyric version of this iconic '90s tune from his alt-rock namesake?

22. St. Louis Rams: In an effort to help veteran Cortland Finnegan mentor newly drafted cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, will coach Jeff Fisher provide the former Titans standout with a Taser gun?

[ Rams' war room: Roll dice on Janoris Jenkin | Select next T.O. ]

23. Tennessee Titans: After NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock described second-round pick Zach Brown as "allergic to contact", how awesome would it have been to see Brown fly across the set at Radio City Music Hall, slam Mayock into the orchestra pit and yell "Gesundheit"?

24. Seattle Seahawks: What's more surprising – that Pete Carroll and Jon Schneider drafted a quarterback in the third round, or that Wisconsin's Russell Wilson is the team's highest-drafted passer in nearly two decades?

25. Oakland Raiders: How disconcerting is it that post-Al Davis Raiders are resolutely boring on draft day, and can't new GM Reggie McKenzie just indulge us with one ultra-swift, lowly regarded "reach" pick per year?

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: If the Muscle Hamster runs wild at Raymond James Stadium, will they put a large, spinning wheel next to the pirate ship in Doug Martin's honor?

27. Cleveland Browns: As of Thursday night, is Colt McCoy nostalgic for a little one-on-one time with Brian Daboll?

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Do Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel seem overly optimistic in their assessment of the Chiefs' talent level – or am I just so pessimistic about K.C.'s quarterback situation that it completely clouds my thinking?

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: To realize value as the 70th overall pick, would Bryan Anger have to figure out a way to get footballs to explode upon making contact with a punt returner?

30. Minnesota Vikings: Yo, Matt Kalil – while proclaiming how much more Minnesota than California you are, were you neglecting to account for the possibility that the team which drafted you might soon be West Coast-bound?

31. Miami Dolphins: Does Jeff Irleand's latest rebuilding project involve replacing his best player – and, if so, why do I sense another protest brewing?

[ Jason Cole: Colts use Day 2 of draft to get Andrew Luck weapons in form of 2 TEs and a WR ]

32. Indianapolis Colts: Now that former Stanford tight end Coby Fleener has successfully convinced an NFL team he was worthy of being selected with the 34th overall pick, will he grow his hair out and lose the whole Rob Gronkowski impersonation bit?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Why should Pioli get the benefit of the doubt?

He inherited Hali, Johnson, Flowers, Charles, Carr, Albert and Bowe yet with that much talent at incredibly key positions he's managed to turn in 2 awful seasons with 1 mediocre season sandwiched in the middle.

Do SOMETHING and he'll get the benefit of the doubt from me.

Built the deepest team on both sides of the ball that we've seen in a really, really long time.

Developed talent that was un- and under-developed under Herm.

Has had two good drafts ('10 and '11) to one bad one ('09). Even including the 2009 draft, arguably no team in the NFL has drafted better in that three year span. And has signed relatively strong value guys in the offseasons.

All his coaching hires after 2009 have been rock solid, with the possible exception of Daboll.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

And there you go again - assuming the worst, though the evidence points to the contrary.

If Charles and Berry return and play at 100% of their previous ability, this team should theoreticallywin more games.

But there's little evidence to suggest that will happen. Most athletes coming back from ACL surgery don't get back to form until the second year post-surgery, if at all.

Are you kidding me?

If they return at 80% of their abilities, a reasonable bet, this team will improve.

Unless you prefer a 100% Jackie Battle and Jon McGraw.

In which case, you can have 'em.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

They have a shot EVERY year.

They choose not to take it.

Ask Washington how to get a QB when you're not drafting Top 2.

I don't like that trade for us, I really don't. I don't like Griffin enough to toss two first rounders and a second into a hole for him.

This was a pathetic year for QBs. Like the one before it was.

We'll revisit this conversation next year at this time, I'm sure of it.

If the 2013 offseason and draft has come and gone, and Cassel isn't either (a.) replaced, or (b.) clearly holding the spot for the true QBotF that is on the roster as of that moment, I will 100% change my tune.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Built the deepest team on both sides of the ball that we've seen in a really, really long time.

Developed talent that was un- and under-developed under Herm.

Has had two good drafts ('10 and '11) to one bad one ('09). Even including the 2009 draft, arguably no team in the NFL has drafted better in that three year span. And has signed relatively strong value guys in the offseasons.

All his coaching hires after 2009 have been rock solid, with the possible exception of Daboll.

Pioli was out there doing hand-drills with Johnson?

Bowe is the exact same player now he was 3 years ago. Flowers, Carr and Hali just needed experience. Give me a break with that crap - Pioli gets zero credit for 'developing' a bunch of rookies and 2nd year players. They all showed flashes and simply matured and gained experience.

2010 was not a good draft. At best it was average. I've had this discussion with you before, but the bottom line is that he wasted the 2nd round, traded up to get the 4th best TE in the draft (and an injury prone one at that) and apart from his no-brainer in Berry and a nice guard in Asomoah (the same position so many have cried is so easy to fin), added very little reliable talent to this roster in 2010.

His hires have been rock solid? Well apart from Haley being a ****ing lunatic - sure. Mostly he just kept a bunch of guys in the organization that was already here and hired Crennel. That's it. His only 'rock solid' hire was Romeo.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Built the deepest team on both sides of the ball that we've seen in a really, really long time.

Developed talent that was un- and under-developed under Herm.

Has had two good drafts ('10 and '11) to one bad one ('09). Even including the 2009 draft, arguably no team in the NFL has drafted better in that three year span. And has signed relatively strong value guys in the offseasons.

All his coaching hires after 2009 have been rock solid, with the possible exception of Daboll.

It's hard to argue against this, but he had neglected the QB positions for reasons not entirely clear, and that is why he gets flamed.

We are the anti-Colts. They had the QB and not much else*; we have the much more complete roster with nearly nothing at QB. While Manning was healthy, who was doing better?


* Freeney and Mathis are the only two guys I can name off that defense, and Peyton clearly made the other good players on offense better, not to mention how their opponents had to play from behind a majprity of the time.

[Dayze]

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Until that "talent" translates to wins on the field, he's not that far off.

I think he's pretty damn close from 1-23. You could argue a spot here/there.

From 24 I'd go like this:

24 - Oakland

25 - Tampa

26 - KC

27 - Miami

28 - Seattle

29 - Cleveland

30 - Minnesota

31 - Indy

32 - Jacksonville

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It was nowhere near a shit roster.

Very few GMs in the last decade have inherited as much high-end talent as Pioli did when he came into this organization.

And he's done jack shit with it.

Dead wrong. He's developed it.

Carr, Flowers, Dorsey -- all took massive steps forward under the coaches that Pioli's hired.

If you want to take one of those players away from me, claiming they were already going to be that good, I'll give you Flowers, and that's it.

Carr became a #1 corner, and Dorsey became an elite run stopper at the DE position. And we took several players who were underperforming for multiple years before Pioli arrived -- Bowe, Hali, Johnson -- and turned them into All Pros and Pro Bowlers.

Either everybody just coincidentally hit their stride at the same exact moment, or Herm and Carl's talent development was somewhere near terrible, whereas Pioli's has been adequate to great.

[Garcia Bronco]

More like the 28th best team....in Missouri. :P

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

They have a shot EVERY year.

They choose not to take it.

Ask Washington how to get a QB when you're not drafting Top 2.

Would you really have done what the Redskins have done?

They have sold out their future, repeatedly, since Snyder has owned the team.
They have to, they gotta sell the fan base on the hype.
I would not trade talent with the Redskins, and by your very own words earlier, RG3 hasn't proven anything in the NFL yet.
If the Chiefs players haven't he sure as hell hasn't. See how that works?

[Messier]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Why should Pioli get the benefit of the doubt?

He inherited Hali, Johnson, Flowers, Charles, Carr, Albert and Bowe yet with that much talent at incredibly key positions he's managed to turn in 2 awful seasons with 1 mediocre season sandwiched in the middle.

Do SOMETHING and he'll get the benefit of the doubt from me.

All I see is someone that is still coasting off his NE pedigree. But the problem is that he's gone from NE and yet NE is doing the same thing, year in, year out, that they did when he was there. Kinda suggests that maybe he wasn't the reason for those successes now doesn't it?

When he can reverse the ratios from having 1 2011 draft for 3 2009, 10 and 12 drafts to have 3 2011 drafts to every 1 of those abortions, I'll consider giving him the benefit of the doubt.

But hey - at least he's taking his undersized injury cases and kick returners in the 4th and 5th rounds now instead of the 2nd. So he's learning.

You say that like those players were all playing great before Pioli got here. At the end of '08 if you'd have listed those players and called them great talent, you'd be laughed at. They became great or really good in the last 3 years. Being moved to the 3-4 is the best thing that ever happened to Hali, Johnson is finally putting it together, but 3 years ago he was underachieving.

Also I like how the 2012 draft is already an abortion for you. And they 2010 draft wasn't bad either.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Pioli was out there doing hand-drills with Johnson?

Bowe is the exact same player now he was 3 years ago. Flowers, Carr and Hali just needed experience. Give me a break with that crap - Pioli gets zero credit for 'developing' a bunch of rookies and 2nd year players. They all showed flashes and simply matured and gained experience.

You can't blame Pioli when prospects don't turn out -- then refuse to credit him when they do.

His coaches, his successes and failures.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

2010 was not a good draft. At best it was average. I've had this discussion with you before, but the bottom line is that he wasted the 2nd round, traded up to get the 4th best TE in the draft (and an injury prone one at that) and apart from his no-brainer in Berry and a nice guard in Asomoah (the same position so many have cried is so easy to fin), added very little reliable talent to this roster in 2010.

You're wrong, bud.

Berry, McCluster, Arenas, Asamoah, Moeaki, Lewis?

You can quibble about the values each was taken at, and I'm on record agreeing with you. But we got solid starters at RG and FS and NCB, added a potential Pro Bowler in Moeaki, an All Pro in Berry, and McCluster, whom nobody really has any idea what to do with him.

I understand the hate on the value of some of the players, as well as McCluster. But we got a haul from that draft, which is better than something like 95% of the teams do in every draft.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

You can't blame Pioli when prospects don't turn out -- then refuse to credit him when they do.

His coaches, his successes and failures.



You're wrong, bud.

Berry, McCluster, Arenas, Asamoah, Moeaki, Lewis?

You can quibble about the values each was taken at, and I'm on record agreeing with you. But we got solid starters at RG and FS and NCB, added a potential Pro Bowler in Moeaki, an All Pro in Berry, and McCluster, whom nobody really has any idea what to do with him.

I understand the hate on the value of some of the players, as well as McCluster. But we got a haul from that draft, which is better than something like 95% of the teams do in every draft.

McCluster, Arenas and Moeaki are not good picks. Nickle backs and kick returners are not, under any circumstances, worth 2nd rounders. And Moeaki was an injury risk that's already missed half-his career and has been less productive than multiple TEs taken after him.

Berry was simply too damn simple for me to give him credit for.

I'll concede I forgot Lewis. Lewis was a good pick. But it's still no more than an average draft considering the position we sat in each of those rounds (at the very top) as well as the fact that we had an extra 2nd rounder.

[007]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Where did I say that?

My best guess as of right now is 8 wins.

Hell, thats optimistic.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Again, all due respect, but get off the cross.

I won't speak for asshat Laz, but I haven't slung "hate" around in this thread at all.

You want to swim against the stream on this team on CP?

Be ready to handle it.

I mentioned the hate in an earlier post, tongue-in-cheek.

Of course he ran with it like a 12 yr old. LOL