@jiggins7919 said:

I think the Broncos believe they can win with a "middle tier" guy like Case Keenum, and I can't see them forking over the kind of money that people are talking about.  I'm about 75% sure Cousins is going to the Jets.  Keenum also played with an incredible defense last year, and I'm guessing he fully understands the importance of that, so the Broncos make sense to me.  Cardinals are a total wildcard to me, and I can see them aggressively going after Keenum, McCarron, and whoever is left.  I don't see them starting a rookie, that's for sure.  Dolphins just released a statement saying they're starting Tannehill, so they're probably out of every running.  Bills might be done with Tyrod, but I think I heard they might keep him.  Lots of smoke right now.  At any rate, I see McCarron going to the Vikings, Keenum to the Broncos, and Cousins to the Jets.  Teams like the Browns and Cardinals will be fighting over the scraps, and those include Josh McCown, Sam Bradford, Teddy Twatwater, and maybe even Jay Cutler (*groan*)

All fair speculation.   I am of the opinion that what you say about the Browns has always been their situation.  That they would go for the #1 pick and get a veteran....like Bradford or bring back McCown.  (but not Bridgewater or Cutler)  Though I am sure that Hue will want them to make a play for McCarron.  Not sure Dorsey is in his corner on that though.   Sashi sure was not....not for a 2d round pick....that is why he sabotaged the deal last year. 

I can't wait for "the book" to come out some years from now where Sashi admits that is exactly what he did. 

@the-gipper said:

Yes, the few teams angling for Cousins who don't get him will have to "go back to the drawing board':  

Jags who may still be interested can fall back on Bortles.

Vikings could try to resign one of their 3 FAs.

Broncos....may be the most desperate actually to get him from what I can see.  Where do they go if they don't?  To their version of the Three Stooges:  Osweiler, Lynch or Siemian? 

Browns....I never thought he was in their plans at all anyway.  McCarron may be plus #1 pick.

Jets....they seem 2d most desperate after Broncos....who do they go to?  McCown, stick with  Hackensack or Petty?

Cardinals?  Also not a team in which Cousins seem to be an option.  They get someone else...or go for the draft.

Bengals....are stuck, I think with Dalton.

Dolphins....could be a player for Cousins.....but if not...have to hope Tannehill can return....not that he has been a great option when healthy.

Bills?  Should/could also be a player.  Seem done with TAylor.  But are a playoff ready team.

I think the Broncos believe they can win with a "middle tier" guy like Case Keenum, and I can't see them forking over the kind of money that people are talking about.  I'm about 75% sure Cousins is going to the Jets.  Keenum also played with an incredible defense last year, and I'm guessing he fully understands the importance of that, so the Broncos make sense to me.  Cardinals are a total wildcard to me, and I can see them aggressively going after Keenum, McCarron, and whoever is left.  I don't see them starting a rookie, that's for sure.  Dolphins just released a statement saying they're starting Tannehill, so they're probably out of every running.  Bills might be done with Tyrod, but I think I heard they might keep him.  Lots of smoke right now.  At any rate, I see McCarron going to the Vikings, Keenum to the Broncos, and Cousins to the Jets.  Teams like the Browns and Cardinals will be fighting over the scraps, and those include Josh McCown, Sam Bradford, Teddy Twatwater, and maybe even Jay Cutler (*groan*)

@lionofbuddha said:

Early as in rounds 1-2. They’ll be some QBs with potential there. They are pretty much set besides QB. Top 3 defense, Diggs and Thielen at WR, Kyle Rudolph at TE. Jerick McKinnon is their Duke Johnson. And remember Dalvin Cook? He was on par with Fournette before he went down. 

I think this means Cousins will sign there. But if not, it’s not like they have many needs besides QB, and they could definitely grab one in the first or second rd. Or even trade up.

You're right about Bradford, he is a FA. What I meant was that if they can’t get Cousins they may try to sign Bradford.

Yes, the few teams angling for Cousins who don't get him will have to "go back to the drawing board':  

Jags who may still be interested can fall back on Bortles.

Vikings could try to resign one of their 3 FAs.

Broncos....may be the most desperate actually to get him from what I can see.  Where do they go if they don't?  To their version of the Three Stooges:  Osweiler, Lynch or Siemian? 

Browns....I never thought he was in their plans at all anyway.  McCarron may be plus #1 pick.

Jets....they seem 2d most desperate after Broncos....who do they go to?  McCown, stick with  Hackensack or Petty?

Cardinals?  Also not a team in which Cousins seem to be an option.  They get someone else...or go for the draft.

Bengals....are stuck, I think with Dalton.

Dolphins....could be a player for Cousins.....but if not...have to hope Tannehill can return....not that he has been a great option when healthy.

Bills?  Should/could also be a player.  Seem done with TAylor.  But are a playoff ready team.

@the-gipper said:

It can't be too early....they have what?  either pick #29 or 30.  

Even if they get Cousins...they would still need a backup...and who would that be? 

FYI....Bradford too is a FA...so there is no releasing him.  Even if they want him...he may not want them and he may move on.

And, you never know....that "moving on" could conceivably lead him to the Cleveland Browns. 

Early as in rounds 1-2. They’ll be some QBs with potential there. They are pretty much set besides QB. Top 3 defense, Diggs and Thielen at WR, Kyle Rudolph at TE. Jerick McKinnon is their Duke Johnson. And remember Dalvin Cook? He was on par with Fournette before he went down. 

I think this means Cousins will sign there. But if not, it’s not like they have many needs besides QB, and they could definitely grab one in the first or second rd. Or even trade up.

You're right about Bradford, he is a FA. What I meant was that if they can’t get Cousins they may try to sign Bradford.

@the-gipper said:

Not sure what you are talking about.   Most of the conversation here has been all about the QBs and whether or not to take a RB. Plus the occasional talk about possibly a DB with the 4 pick. 

But, as I said, 98% of the conversation has been about QBs and RBs.  Are you of the opinion that QBs and RBs are not playmakers?  

More Ghoolie double talk. Last year year he wanted Trubisky #1. So this year when 99% of the board says QB or RB #1, he thinks somehow we're on the trade down wagon again. 

He's forgetting the QB we pick at #1 potentially could turn out better than Cousins, will be nine years younger, and will cost 1\10th short term than overpriced Kirk.

@lionofbuddha said:

Looks like the Vikings are going to let Keenum and Teddy walk.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ganggreennation.com/platform/amp/2018/2/27/17057430/report-vikings-to-let-case-keenum-teddy-bridgewater-hit-free-agency-serious-bidders-kirk-cousins

My guess is they’re going to go all in on Cousins, and if they get him, release Bradford.

If they can’t land Cousins, they’ll probably keep Bradford as a bridge and draft a QB early on.

It can't be too early....they have what?  either pick #29 or 30.  

Even if they get Cousins...they would still need a backup...and who would that be? 

FYI....Bradford too is a FA...so there is no releasing him.  Even if they want him...he may not want them and he may move on.

And, you never know....that "moving on" could conceivably lead him to the Cleveland Browns. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ganggreennation.com/platform/amp/2018/2/27/17057430/report-vikings-to-let-case-keenum-teddy-bridgewater-hit-free-agency-serious-bidders-kirk-cousins

My guess is they’re going to go all in on Cousins, and if they get him, release Bradford.

If they can’t land Cousins, they’ll probably keep Bradford as a bridge and draft a QB early on.

@the-gipper said:

.   But NHL is like NBA...16 teams...some losers.  Not sure if they have all 7 game series though. Probably. 

Yep...16 teams...all 7 game series but they go faster than the NBA because they play every other night until the series is over.   There's no waiting around 3 days in the middle of a series like the NBA does.  Once two teams advance to the next round, they start their series even if the entire first round isn't over yet.   Much better system and it goes faster but of course they don't have TV dictating when things need to be on tv. 

@ghoolie said:

Here we go again................ Let's run like a muthafukka from the top playmakers............. RUN RUN RUN you stupid motherfukkaz................. draft more OL. zumba instructors and fumble fingered homosexual WRs. DOWN DOWN DOWN..................... TRade DOWN I TELL YA................... LE SOMEONE ELSE HAVE THE PLAYMAKERS...........WE DON'T NEED THEM............WE ARE AMASSING ASSETS AND DRAFT PICKS

Not sure what you are talking about.   Most of the conversation here has been all about the QBs and whether or not to take a RB. Plus the occasional talk about possibly a DB with the 4 pick. 

But, as I said, 98% of the conversation has been about QBs and RBs.  Are you of the opinion that QBs and RBs are not playmakers?  

@mark-o said:

It's not the season length that is a problem.   Its basically a 5 month football season.  Much less than every other sport, I'm not entirely convinced the NBA season ever ends.    The problem is the offseason is stretched out because the NFL wants to be in the news for 12 months.   So therefore...combine in March and free agency...Draft in April.  Minicamps in May and June..Traning camps open in July and preseason games in August.  Now the NFL is in the news for the entire year.

And, as you say....the NBA season now goes on forever.  Games begin in November and do not finish until June. 

That of course is all about the money with these stupid extended series that they play.   Sixteen teams make the playoffs?  Over half the league and several likely with losing records?   And every series is a 7 game series?   

The NBA used to have best 2 out of 3 in the first round....then best 3 out of 5. But now every freeking series is a 7 gamer? MLB only has 10 teams make the playoffs out of 30...and has a one game and done series and a best 3 out of 5.  Only the LCS and the World Series are 7 gamers.   NFL has only 12 out of 32 teams make post season.   But NHL is like NBA...16 teams...some losers.  Not sure if they have all 7 game series though. Probably. 

@skippinturtles said:

Cousins has never thrown for 30 TD's in a season or had a 10 win season.  Warren Moon and Drew Bledsoe threw for a lot of yards.  This seems like the world's most expensive band-aid for a hatchet wound.  At best he plays as well as Philip Rivers and the team wins nothing for 5 years. Rebuild, don't patch.

List the first rounders

@dutch-oven said:

I honestly think teams would be better off if the process was shorter. The longer the process, the more apt teams are to make stupid decisions because they are so removed from the players they are drafting actually playing. 

If it was up to me, all American pro sports seasons would be shorter. The NFL would go back to 14 games, MLB would be around 140 games, the NBA and NHL would go to around 60 games. Quality over quantity, not so much overlapping of the sports seasons. 

It's not the season length that is a problem.   Its basically a 5 month football season.  Much less than every other sport, I'm not entirely convinced the NBA season ever ends.    The problem is the offseason is stretched out because the NFL wants to be in the news for 12 months.   So therefore...combine in March and free agency...Draft in April.  Minicamps in May and June..Traning camps open in July and preseason games in August.  Now the NFL is in the news for the entire year.

@the-gipper said:

Sorry...but this just drags out too long.  Remember when they used to have the draft at the end of February?  Hell, the 1970 Draft was held at the end of January.  (but then the Super Bowl was held like the first week of January)

I honestly think teams would be better off if the process was shorter. The longer the process, the more apt teams are to make stupid decisions because they are so removed from the players they are drafting actually playing. 

If it was up to me, all American pro sports seasons would be shorter. The NFL would go back to 14 games, MLB would be around 140 games, the NBA and NHL would go to around 60 games. Quality over quantity, not so much overlapping of the sports seasons. 

@canton-dawg said:

If Cousins had an O-Line, running game, and a couple of decent WR's...little wonder he did struggle against top competition.

Washington's offense (outside of the QB position) was worse than the Browns.

But, perhaps, what his record there tells us is that he is not capable of elevating that offense to a productive, winning level.  

I mean, fact it, what has Tom Brady had to work with over the years?  Journeyman RBs like Dion Lewis, James White?   Other than Randy Moss for a couple of years, no super WRs.  Gronk, yes....a great weapon for him.  I don't think his OL have been stellar at all times. 

Its an issue.  

In theory...he says he wants to go where he can win.  The likes of JAX or Denver have the defenses.   No one (except maybe some of us) expects that he can come to the Browns and win.   Or....even to the Jets?  Though they were competitive with Josh McCown. 

Sorry...but this just drags out too long.  Remember when they used to have the draft at the end of February?  Hell, the 1970 Draft was held at the end of January.  (but then the Super Bowl was held like the first week of January)

In fact...in checking....it all started in the mid 70ss.   Note:  1975 NFL draft held  Jan. 28/29th 1975.   What happened after 1975?  1976 NFL Draft held April 8-9 1976.  The 1977 draft held May 3-4 1977.  The answer may be that they had about that time passed the rule that the league will go to a 16 game schedule, from 14 games. That did not start until 1978..but they must have been getting ready for it. 

The main reason why there is such a gap between say the Super Bowl and the Combine is because the NFL collectively wants about a 3-4 week vacation so they can all go to the Caribbean or Hawaii to have time off.  I can understand that....but it just drags thing out for us fans.

@the-gipper said:

THIS  has always been he biggest issue about Cousins:

(from ESPN Jets reporter):

A look at what's happening around the New York Jets:

1. Struggles against top competition: The Jets' anticipated pursuit of Kirk Cousins is a hot-button issue among fans in New York. Should they shell out $30 million a year for the prospective free agent or try to find their quarterback in the draft? Both sides can make compelling arguments, but here's a factoid that might provide some clarity for those on the fence:

During his time with the Washington Redskins, Cousins' starting record against winning teams is 4-19 (based on their opponents' final record).

Yes, 4-19.

If Cousins had an O-Line, running game, and a couple of decent WR's...little wonder he did struggle against top competition.

Washington's offense (outside of the QB position) was worse than the Browns.

https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2018/2/25/17051408/blake-bortles-extension-has-cleveland-browns-implications

It claims that it takes away the Jags as a potential competitor for Cousins.

But...as noted in a couple of posts above.....others claim that that is by no means the case.

(from ESPN Jets reporter):

A look at what's happening around the New York Jets:

1. Struggles against top competition: The Jets' anticipated pursuit of Kirk Cousins is a hot-button issue among fans in New York. Should they shell out $30 million a year for the prospective free agent or try to find their quarterback in the draft? Both sides can make compelling arguments, but here's a factoid that might provide some clarity for those on the fence:

During his time with the Washington Redskins, Cousins' starting record against winning teams is 4-19 (based on their opponents' final record).

Yes, 4-19.

I heard that while the extension to Bortles gives him more overall money than he was expecting in his current deal...and gives him some security....it actually may HELP the Jags if they want to go after Cousins...because:

the extension reduces Bortles Cap number from 19 million a year....to 10 million a year.  And 10 million per year is a palatable figure for a team for a BACKUP QB.  If they signed Cousins....he would be making Top Starter money, for certain.....but then Bortles would be making regular backup money.

So...apparently DO NOT strike the Jags off the "possible landing sites for Cousins" list.

If Cousins wants to win....as he claims....he can go to JAX, get big money AND have a ready made championship challenging team around him.  After all the Jags were just one big 2d half choke job from making the Super Bowl last year. 

Zombo said:

You certainly have to assume Dorsey and these guys can turn all of these draft picks into a much better roster, and if you attract a good QB you will attract good playmakers. Don't see where he's a band aid, he's a solution. He solves starting QB for at least 3-5 years and resources are put into building the rest of the team so that we can WIN. SOON.

Zombo

Its an argument in his behalf..to be sure.  And if it goes that way, we can only hope. 

@hoorta said:

That's where I'm coming from Z- the other guys already said it- a real expensive band-aid that's going to get the Browns to (maybe) 8-8. At 30 years old, he is what he is. So Ghoolie can rag on his favorite whipping boy Coleman dropping Cousins' passes that hit him in the hands?

Why would Kirk even want to come to the Browns? Because we can throw more money at him than anyone else?  That's a piss poor reason for a qb that wants to win now, and by his own admission already has $40 million in the bank, and can be selective where he wants to wind up. If the Jets want to throw $60 million front loaded at him this year- let them. 

Honestly, I'm moderately certain McCarron can come within a win or two of what Cousins could post in Cleveland this year- at less than 1\2 the price. 

You certainly have to assume Dorsey and these guys can turn all of these draft picks into a much better roster, and if you attract a good QB you will attract good playmakers. Don't see where he's a band aid, he's a solution. He solves starting QB for at least 3-5 years and resources are put into building the rest of the team so that we can WIN. SOON.

Zombo