NFL 2019 Off-Season thread

[HowitzerJoe]

Clay Matthews signs with the Rams. I think it was a two year deal, not on the cheap side. Dude is smoked at this point though.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Patriots' Robert Kraft could avoid courtroom humiliation but not NFL punishment

Prosecutors in Florida have reportedly made an offer in the solicitation of prostitution case they brought against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Both of the misdemeanor charges against him will be dropped if he admits that he would have been found guilty had the case gone to trial, according to the Wall Street Journal. Kraft would also have to take an education course on prostitution, complete 100 hours of community service, subject himself to an STD screening test and pay some court costs.

Getting the charges dropped is no doubt appealing, particularly if it increases the likelihood that video of the incidents, which police say exists, never see the light of day and cause further humiliation to all involved. Presumably, getting that sealed and locked away is a high priority. However, agreeing that any proceedings would have resulted in a guilty verdict likely opens Kraft up to punishment from the NFL under its code of conduct. It isn’t the same as admitting guilt, but that is one fine line to walk.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

I would doubt Kraft takes the deal. He basically has to admit guilt and all the fines and action he has to take isn’t much different than if he was convicted anyways. Sounds more like they want to avoid a trial because it’s sounding more and more like they breached due process and no prosecutor wants to get caught in a prolonged legal battle with a billionaire over a misdemeanor.

He should refuse this one. They’ll offer s better deal. And if he gets convicted a judge likely makes him pay less than this deal. Only way you even consider it if you are him is if you get an assurance from the NFL that they won’t go after a punishment for you.

[Scott Taylor]

Yep, this is just the initial salvo. Anything where he has to admit guilt has to be off the table, I would think. He'll end up with some kind of deal whose details are undisclosed.

[Surf]

Raiders signed Burffict to a 1 year deal....

Burfict and Brown on the same team?

Just give them Hard Knocks already XD

Quite. And I wouldn't be above it.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

It’s being reported that Kaepernick and Reid got less than 10 million in their settlement (initial rumors were upwards of 60). That’s chump change to the NFL. They basically paid nothing to get Kaep to never talk about them again. I have to take this as a win for the NFL

[SUPERECWFAN1]

In NFL News the Colts have signed Justin Houston to play DE in their 4-3 defense. The Chiefs had to cut Houston due to salary cap concerns , age , injuries and the fact he wouldn't fit that defense. The Chiefs were going to a 4-3 and felt they needed to go in another direction. The Colts feel like Houston can play that position and will just be used as a pass rushing DE now.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

NFL News...


- Today was the day of NFL retirements. Today Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement at age 30 after a season where he was banged up. Gronk leaves after a Super Bowl win and mused about retiring rather than being traded in 2018. But returned. (Its possible he learned that Belichick was gonna trade him in 2019 with no backing down and he decided to walk away)


- Jeremy Macklin who played 10 seasons in the NFL announced his retirement after 10 seasons in the NFL. Macklin played for the Eagles , Chiefs and Ravens in his career.


- Former Patriot Malcolm Mitchell (WR) announced his retirement as well. Mitchell was released by the Patriots in 2017 due to a knee injury and hadn't played since then.

[Gray Lensman]

NFL News...


- Today was the day of NFL retirements. Today Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement at age 30 after a season where he was banged up. Gronk leaves after a Super Bowl win and mused about retiring rather than being traded in 2018. But returned. (Its possible he learned that Belichick was gonna trade him in 2019 with no backing down and he decided to walk away)


- Jeremy Macklin who played 10 seasons in the NFL announced his retirement after 10 seasons in the NFL. Macklin played for the Eagles , Chiefs and Ravens in his career.


- Former Patriot Malcolm Mitchell (WR) announced his retirement as well. Mitchell was released by the Patriots in 2017 due to a knee injury and hadn't played since then.

Just saw this blurb on ESPN.Boston.

How good was former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in his four Super Bowls? Gronk had 23 career receptions, most among tight ends. He also had 297 career reception yards, most among TEs, and he had three catches for touchdowns, most among tight ends and second-most among all players.

[Hiromi]

Apparently getting drafted by my fantasy team is the kiss of death

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

Just saw this blurb on ESPN.Boston.

Gronk was the most dominant player at his position ever. He excelled at all aspects of his position, he kills every peer in stats per game. Literally the only negative he has is his longevity. Sharpe called him the GOAT, guys like Gonzalez said he's in the class of the best ever. He's an easy HOF'er.

Fittingly his last catch was the play that broke the Super Bowl open for the Patriots.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Apparently getting drafted by my fantasy team is the kiss of death

It happens , he was gonna retire last year had he been traded. His body was starting to get banged up due to how many games he missed this past season as we saw. In all he was a solid TE and played solid when healthy. But playing with Tom Brady (the greatest QB of all-time) he can produce with anyone honestly. It won't shock me if New England drafts a TE and that guy puts up huge numbers.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

It happens , he was gonna retire last year had he been traded. His body was starting to get banged up due to how many games he missed this past season as we saw. In all he was a solid TE and played solid when healthy. But playing with Tom Brady (the greatest QB of all-time) he can produce with anyone honestly. It won't shock me if New England drafts a TE and that guy puts up huge numbers.

He missed 3 games this past season.... and he probably played his best football later in the season. He was also far more than a solid TE. He was hands down the most dominant TE when he was on the field that we've ever seen.

Look at his per game numbers compared to literally any TE ever. He's tied with Gonzalez and Witten for most 1000 yard seasons by a TE even though he only played 9 seasons and the other two played 17 and 15 respectively. He's the only TE to lead the league in receiving TD's. He has the most seasons with 10 or more TD's by a TE. He's not a "solid TE", he's an easy HOF'er. Pretty much everyone relevant whose every played the position is on record saying he's one of the greatest at it. In fact realistically, there's only two guys with a real argument over him and their argument lives and dies on longevity (which is Gronk's only real weakness).

[SUPERECWFAN1]

He missed 3 games this past season.... and he probably played his best football later in the season. He was also far more than a solid TE. He was hands down the most dominant TE when he was on the field that we've ever seen.

Look at his per game numbers compared to literally any TE ever. He's tied with Gonzalez and Witten for most 1000 yard seasons by a TE even though he only played 9 seasons and the other two played 17 and 15 respectively. He's the only TE to lead the league in receiving TD's. He has the most seasons with 10 or more TD's by a TE. He's not a "solid TE", he's an easy HOF'er. Pretty much everyone relevant whose every played the position is on record saying he's one of the greatest at it. In fact realistically, there's only two guys with a real argument over him and their argument lives and dies on longevity (which is Gronk's only real weakness).

Rob Gronkowski missed 5 games last year. Not 3....and he missed 2 games in 2017. So honestly his body was going through injury issues. Gronk was a solid TE. But having Tom Brady around can make even solid players look great. I mean how many journey men did Brady play with and get big contracts as we saw with Branch , etc.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

Rob Gronkowski missed 5 games last year. Not 3....and he missed 2 games in 2017. So honestly his body was going through injury issues. Gronk was a solid TE. But having Tom Brady around can make even solid players look great. I mean how many journey men did Brady play with and get big contracts as we saw with Branch , etc.

Branch is like the only really good example of that. Moss had good years without Brady. Brown was peaking just before Brady became a starter. Welker had his best statistical season after he left Brady. Yeah Brady's made guys like Hogan look really good for a year or two when they were kind of undervalued. But he's never made a guy's career and he's certainly never made a guy have 9 seasons where he outproduced anyone whose ever played the position they played. That's just crazy talk.

You never see "just a solid guy" go to a great QB and then put up historic year after historic year and have numbers that outclass everybody whose ever played the position. Brady didn't make Gronk a dominant blocker. Brady didn't make Gronk break all those tackles he did. In fact if anything, Brady used a Gronk as a safety net because he has one of the highest catch radiuses in the NFL and Brady can lob safe balls that he doesn't have to worry about getting intercepted.

Also the team noticeably took a big dip every time Gronk got injured in his career. The year Gronk missed the most games was 2013. It also is widely viewed as the worst year the Patriots had this decade and it made everyone think Brady was on the decline and is largely what prompted them drafting Jimmy Garoppolo. That's how much Gronk means. In fact, they were so scared of Gronk getting injured hurting their Super Bowl chances, that they went out and got Bennett as a back up plan just so that they wouldn't be screwed without Gronk if he got injured late in the season. That's how much he meant to the team.

When they had no receivers this year and Amendola was gone, and Edelman was suspended, and Matthews was cut, and Britt was cutt, and before they got Gordon, all Brady did was try to spam Gronk and he probably got the shit kicked out of Gronk this season and he didn't really recover until much later when he had a great finish.

There's a reason why they ran the same play 3 plays in a row in the Super Bowl to set up a pass to Gronk in the most crucial moments of the game.