I hear what you're saying, and basically agree, but think you're going too far with the team is old thing. Unless I'm forgetting someone, Brick, Mangold, Harris, Revis, Forte and Marshall are the only "old" players on this team. That's 6 out of 22 starters and out of 53 roster players. This is not an "old" team. Every team needs a blend of veterans and youth. Mac isn't going all in to win now. He is merely trying to put together the best team he can, to be as competitive as it can, while he rebuilds the roster and lays the foundation. Talk about making the playoffs and being a real contender are premature and more than a little silly imo, but not unexpected for this fan base. Some are being too optimistic and too impatient, but that's gonna happen. We're all tired of losing and seeing NE win. The team didn't get in this sorry shape overnight, and it's going to take time to rebuild the roster. I truly think it will be 2018 or later before this team will be in any position to be a real playoff contender with a chance to go somewhere, and that's if Mac continues to draft well and Petty develops or he's able to find another young starting QB in the next year or two. On offense we only have one OL (Carpenter) that's likely to still be here in 2017 (unless Harrison, Qvale or some of the other young OL develop). Amaro and Enunwa are probably the only TEs/H-Backs who will still be here in 2017, and even both of them are somewhat doubtful. If Powell can stay healthy, then he and Robinson are the only RBs with a real chance to be here in 2017. Decker and maybe Devin Smith are the only WRs likely to be here. Petty's probably the only QB with a chance to still be here. On defense, Williams and maybe Simon and Richardson are the only DL that will still be here. Mauldin and Taiwan Jones are the only LBs with a chance to be here. Pryor, Williams and maybe Gilchrist and a couple of the backup safeties are the only DBs likely to be here in 2017. So that's maybe only 16-18 players out of 53 that are likely to still be on the roster in 2 years. I'm sure there will be other FAs signed to go with the players who are drafted to comprise the 2017 roster. This team is not old, and is not going to be old in 2 years, so please stop with the "this is an old team" talk.
Gotta get the QB........marino, Kelly, Brady, ????? Until this happens we will have the occasional 1-2 year playoff appearance thrust on the road and then back to mediocrity, with a 4-12er in there every 5 years or so
That's true, which is why paying defensive players like they're QB's doesn't work so well in the post-Peyton draft era. It's not even clear that paying QB's like QB's get paid is worthwhile but it's definitely not the case with defensive players.
yes, that is only 6 players (7 if fitz is back).... but they also account for 7 of our 10 best, and highest paid players. and 3 of the 4 most valuable positions on the field (LT/CB/QB). so while the other 14 starters are young, those guys dont play the impact positions, and they dont make big money. for me being "old" isnt just about how many older players you have but how much money is tied up in those older players and how much of a load on winning is on their shoulders. outside of the defensive line and maybe decker (who while young isnt a kid either) we dont really have a young impact player. i look at the 4 top positions and i dont see much QB: petty/geno CB: williams, skrine Edge Rusher: Mauldin LT: ??? thats not really any young talent at impact positons other then maybe mauldin. mean while we have tons of money in 30+ year olds at those positions, especially if fitz is back
Fact is that franchise type QBs are on the decline. Still, you are right. You cannot pay D line guys like they paid Watt and Suh. It is nuts
The reason franchise QB's are on the decline is that it is hard to pay anybody an 8th of your cap and still compete. NFL football is a team sport. The QB is the most important position but if you have a couple of subpar guys around him that's not going to matter. Everybody needs to be competent on both units or defenses and offenses will find the weak link and beat you through that gap or on that edge or whatever.
Thanks for the clarification. That makes more sense to me. Mac hasn't had much opportunity to address those 4 positions, but he did address the QB position and OLB position last year, so that was a good start. Well, obviously, Brick will be getting replaced within the year. Hopefully, there will be a guy the Jets are high on that will be there at one of their picks and he will pan out. I think the Jets are looking to and will add a pass rusher in this draft as well. I have hopes for Petty, but if he doesn't pan out, I'm sure that Mac will keep adding them until he finds one or he gets fired. I also think we'll see Mac draft a CB either this year or next. Those are the 4 most important positions after all, and they all have been or are manned by older players. He will have no choice but to add players at those positions, and quality FAs at those positions are rare, and VERY expensive when they do come along, so I think he will be adding those via the draft as soon as possible.
what do you expect from an idiot team of ryan/idzik that reach for dexter mcdougle in the THIRD round when every other team had him as a 7th rounder AT BEST?
Yea, I mean, i didnt say he wasnt going to address them, it was just a narrative on the roster. as ive said a few times, drafting will tell the tale of his legacy one way or another. We need to start investing money in those 4 spots, with good young players. which is why this whole sign fitz sign mo thing irritates me... we are looking at like 2018 when we really turn the corner on this thing... dont set us big even further dumping money into those 2. i dont think mac will, which makes me optomistic
id disagree. if you have a franchise guy you pay him and your probably winning 9+ games every season. what gets you in trouble is paying someone who is not a franchise qb, like a franchise qb (i.e. oswiller, bradford, cutler, etc...)
Is Matt Ryan a franchise QB? 6, 4 and 8 wins the last 3 seasons for the Falcons after they signed him to the huge deal. The Ravens have won 8, 10 and 5 games the last 3 years after inking Flacco to the big deal. The Giants have been a rolling disaster with Eli Manning after his cap figure went through the roof. It's just not that easy to define who is worth an 8th plus of your cap. And the argument that those teams would have been much worse without the guy just points out that there wasn't enough team there even with him and his cap figure was part of the problem.
While I agree with your basic premise, the 3 examples you cited may not be the best to prove your point. Atlanta's probably the best of the three. They definitely have some talent deficit issues, but unless I'm mistaken the season they only won 4 games is when Julio Jones was out injured. Flacco and the Ravens only won 5 games last season primarily due to the fact that they had more players injured and on IR than any other team in the NFL. The Giants have struggled because of their poor OL and they've had several of their defensive "stars" or top DL players out for the season with injuries. Still, you have a valid point, and with the way QB salaries skyrocketed this seasons, I think it's only going to get worse. The cap is going to have to grow incrementally if teams have any hopes of keeping up. There will be no going backwards on QB salaries now that Pandora's box has been smashed open.
