I assure you that LT is high on the list for Ballard. But it doesn't have to happen in any particular order does it?

Safety is a huge position on the D and Mathieu would be a game changer for us

This is so ironic Puck because I feel the same way about Honey that you do with Baker. I can’t stand him, lol. I ain’t gonna root for no other team tho


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It’s a passing league and with the QBs in the AFC I love the thought of Maniac, Moore, Blackmon, and Mathieu in the field on 3rd and long

It’s the scheme we are moving to. Cover 3 with three safeties. One of them usually playing close to the line. Also our secondary is pretty young. Honey Badger would add experience and brains. Can read offensive schemes, understand and line up all three levels of the defense. Can cover wr and TEs in a pinch. He is valuable and we could use him. Like having another experienced middle linebacker/leader of the defense.

Ryan might give us the edge over the cowboys.

I hope that somehow the Colts can draft Cine. He is about the 4-5th rated safety in the draft but his attitude/leadership/intelligence is apparently off the charts.

He could learn under Mathieu for a yr. Also I wouldn't get to excited about Blackmon. He has had 2 pretty bad injuries in back to back yrs. His NFL time could be a short one. Lot's of talent though

I really hope Blackmon doesn't go down as another snake-bitten guy. I like how he plays a lot.

Would have to use that 2nd round pick on him. He could last, most have him as a late 1st round pick. KC makes a lot of sense for him.

Regardless, we need at least 2 behind them.

Apparently the Browns are finding it difficult to move Baker Mayfield:

https://www.profootballrumors.com/20...baker-mayfield

I read yesterday that they had only received one offer for him, and that offer required the Browns to pair Mayfield with a draft pick (like the Osweiler deal a few years ago) in order to take on his contract.

The Browns have painted themselves into a corner. They signed Watson and Brissett, after previously picking up Mayfield's $19M fifth year option, so every team knows they HAVE to get rid of Mayfield. They have no negotiating leverage. It's really interesting. I wonder if the other teams are freezing the Browns out to punish them for the Watson 100% guaranteed contract?

Incidentally, the Mayfield-type circumstances are the kind of situations that Ballard typically takes advantage of with his mega cap space. Every year there are high quality players that teams are unable to keep due to their poor cap management. Ballard is able to take on these guys at a bargain price. Obviously Mayfield didn't fit the bill here (or the Colts were the team that demanded a draft pick to take Mayfield).

The Wentz situation was like this too, as the Colts had all the negotiating leverage, but inexplicably gave the Eagles a conditional 1 and a 3 for him. Honestly, I would have expected a mid-to-late rounder, given the rift between the Eagles management and Wentz, and presence of Hurts. I can only imagine that the Wentz trade compensation was driven, in part at least, by Reich's rabid enthusiasm and the close relationship between the Colts and Eagles personnel. Regardless of the outcome, I still think the plan to acquire Wentz was a worthwhile gamble, but the price paid was just too high given the circumstances.

I don't know. I think it is just the Browns being the fucking dumb ass Brown stains that they are.

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
Former Saints’ OT Terron Armstead reached agreement on a five-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, source tells ESPN.

No surprise. Bummer.

Would have loved to sign him.

Man, the guy must be a real turd that no one wants to touch him. I mean, he’s got talent. He’s young.

Heck, Washington traded for Wentz, for crying out loud.

He must be a real asshole.

Watching Ballards interview with McAfee, he said Pryor is going to get the first shot at left tackle. Said they like him a lot.

Also said they really like their young guys at wide receiver. Mentioned Patmon and Strachan. Didn’t mention Campbell, interestingly.

I sense that those spots will be shored up in the draft and with low key free agents that they like.

Of course, he could be talking shit.

Well shit. Hope that's all Ballard blowing smoke and he brings some guys in. Otherwise our passing game will probably be as effective as our pass rush was last year :cool:

No, why trade when he is going to get released, if no one wants to trade?

Here’s what i heard regarding pryor:

He will get first crack….unless we sign someone else.


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Terron Armstead took a while to sign and is only getting $15m/yr. Less than I expected.

Also, apparently Tyreek Hill is shopping around. Not Colts related, but interested.

Tyreek Hill anyone?

https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-give...ontract-extens

First I think that Ballard said about the same thing about Tevi just before we signed Fisher. I think, from the way that they talked about Fisher when he was signed, that Ballard thought of him as a two year trial. I think he probably still does. He let Armstead (who I never wanted, unlike most people here. To expensive and tends to miss games) set the market for what a top LT gets. I expect Fisher to sign soon, hopefully with the Colts.

I'd gladly give them our second for him. Not going to happen however.

Looks like the Dolphins are getting him.

KC is wanting two first for him. He is good, but not two first good.

I guess some voodoo is about to happen, then. On OTC, it shows the Dolphins with like $3.5m effective cap space. And that's without Armstead's contract updated.

Am I mistaken? Isn't the rule that you can go over the cap and pay a tax, but once you're over you can't continue to sign guys? Armstead should put them over.

Looks like the Dolphins gave up a 1,2,4 for him and some draft picks next year. Plus they are apparently paying him 30 million a year for 4 years. That's just way too much for a team to give up especially one without a QB.

Miami and KC settled on the following trade compensation for Hill:

1 - First Round pick (2022)
1 - Second Round pick (2022)
2 - Fourth Round picks (2022 + 2023)
1 - Sixth Round pick (2023)

And then Hill himself just saw Davante Adams sign for nearly $150m.

Good Lord...

You don't have to be under the cap until after final cutdowns to a 53 man roster. But then is includes all 53 players and your practice squad. Once you are "in season," then it is a $5m a pop hit for going over the cap. But during the "off" season, there is no penalty for being over the cap.

No, there is no rule that you cannot sign free agents even if you are over the cap during the off season.

So, we have our QB...

LT: My hope is now that Armstead is signed and has "set" the market that the Colts can get Eric Fisher signed in the near future. If not Fisher, Nate Solder, Riley Reiff and (ugh) 36 year old Duane Brown are still out there and unsigned. If Ballard is not sold on Pryor, there are veteran options.

WR: T.Y. Hilton, Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, Will Fuller, Sammy Watkins, Odell Beckham Jr.... all are still available and getting cheaper by the day as free agency dollars dry up.

TE: I wonder if Ryan could talk Doyle about coming out of retirement for another year or three? :)

CB: Stephon Gilmore, Joe Haden, Kyle Fuller, Tavon Young, Chris Harris, Patrick Peterson, Janoris Jenkins, Bryce Callahan, Jason Verrett, Xavier Rhodes, A.J. Bouye... all available and all having had some level of success in the NFL in their history. Kick the tires and light the fires but they also get cheaper by the day.

Still a lot of names out there that could help our squad in 2022 and fill out a roster. Just because Ballard has not thrown crazy money around yet does not mean there are not still good players available.

Keep the faith. His moves on trades so far have been brilliant this year. He got more for Wentz than I expected, paid less for Ryan and got a, IMO, better player at a more important position in Yannick by giving away Rock who was not best suited for the new DC. Keep watching!!

That is way way to much for a wide receiver, both in money and in draft capital.

Yeah, that’s actually a smart move for the Chiefs. It’s the old Belichickian sell high maneuver.

Hill is really good but he’s not as good as Miami is paying him.

That’s an insane deal. You can find his replacement in this draft alone. KC is about to restock in a very talented draft. Bad teams do stupid things, good teams take advantage of them.

Dolphins and Browns continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

Armstead didn't set the market, his deal is only $15 million per year.

Would have been nice :cool:

Sorry, I meant to set the market for this off-season. He should be the highest paid free agent LT this year. Now everyone can set their expectations.

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...A/ArmsTe00.htm

He missed half the season last year, and was too expensive with bad cap management