TBayXXXVII

Sorry. You know the lefties get triggered when Rusty (is that Beach Guy or is it Gutterboy?), jumps in. LOL

@Fnord That is "deflection".

Yeah, that's fine, I wouldn't be totally shocked if you're right on that front... I'm not in every GM's office. LOL Here's the perspective that I'm coming from... Last year, the following teams had a chance to offer Baker Mayfield a deal... to start, and pay him only $6M to get him. Washington - rather take a shot on a 5th round pick (Sam Howell) Atlanta - rather take a shot on a 3rd round pick (Desmond Ridder) New Orleans - Give a long term deal to Derek Carr Carolina (who already said "thanks, but no thanks") - rather take a shot on a rookie... note, gave up multiple picks to trade up to #1. New England - rather waste another year on Mac Jones Houston - rather take a shot on a rookie Indianapolis - rather take a shot on a rookie Tennessee - rather keep Tannehill and run with a rookie as a backup Vegas - rather keep Garoppolo and run with a rookie as a backup TAMPA - Only gave him $4M to compete for a starting job. That's one-third of the league who could've given Mayfield a $6M deal to start and ALL of them, said "No thanks", when it came to offering a starting job at pennies. Fast forward to today. Mayfield had a year like 2 others (2018 & 2020), so it's not like he did something special. Nothing changed with Mayfield. As I stated on page 1, there are about 8 to 10 teams who need a QB (outlined here). There is Justin Fields, Kirk Cousins, and Russell Wilson who are potential veterans and 5 to 7 rookies that will be available this offseason. So, we have more QB's than need, in a sense. I just don't see Mayfield ranking in the top 10 on anyone's list (other than Tampa maybe). Which means, they're bidding against only themselves. Let's assume that the Vikings re-sign Cousins (I think they will, because I believe they like him), and because he has the ability to use all of his weapons. Mayfield has proven this year, that he can't. He proved he has tunnel vision. I think someone in the top 10 (Atlanta?), trades for Fields and the Bears draft a QB. I think the Patriots get Russell Wilson. That's the 3 other veterans with new teams. That leaves us with 4 teams in the top 15 of the draft with a QB and only Denver, Tennessee, and Vegas left, who need a QB? Which of those would rather give Mayfield $30M+ AAV than draft a rookie? I agree with your last line, but I don't think it's as easy as that. Teams picking in the top 5 to 10, and taking a rookie QB are generally going to really terrible teams. Getting the results that Stroud brought are rare... but, the objective overall is to find a franchise QB. After that, the team does have to build around a player. The QB still needs help. Tampa is in a situation somewhat like KC, when they traded up to get Mahomes, like Baltimore when they traded back into the first round to get Jackson. They have a good team, solid, just need a real QB. They're not a terrible team. A QB coming into Tampa with have one of the best WR duo's in the NFL, a top 10 pass blocking offensive line, a legit starting TE, and a good RB who's an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Teams picking in the top 10 of the draft almost never have something like that.

You just proved my point. When Obama was running for president back in '07, the Democrats adopted the mantra of "anyone who disagrees with Obama, is doing it because they're racist". That was the beginning of the whole identity politics slant this country has been on ever since. They didn't stop either. In 2015, their mantra was "anyone who agrees with Trump is a fascist, racist...". So, for the last what, 17 years or so, the Democrat party has been painting the conservatives with the broadest of all brushes. NOW, when a conservative does it to you, you're panties are all in a bunch. Forgive me (I don't meant that really), if I say, stfu you piece of crap hypocrite.

Hence, providing the OP correct. Nothing happened to him.

Isn't he proof that OP is right?

Props to Venezuela. I wouldn't take them back either, if I'm given the option.

Missed it... was listening/(occasionally), watching the Pirates/Blue Jays game. More entertaining.

Oh the irony.

Exactly.

You gotta love how the left starts crap, but when you push back in the same manner, you're deflecting. LOL

I noticed this from the side line angle. Looked like he was trying to cross check the dude running by him, and all of a sudden, he fell down. This angle shows it even more. If the crybaby didn't try to be a jerk, he'd have been fine.

LOL, how bad is the ACC when a top 10 is a road dog against an unranked team? Makes you wonder why they're even ranked in the top 10.

I can't say I know enough about Plunkett to agree or disagree with you. I think I've mentioned this here before (maybe not), but while I don't think pro-football-reference.com's, "Approximate Value" is the be-all-end-all of metric's, I think it does have merit. When you look at Plunkett's AV, his total with the Raiders was 46 which was better than New England, where he was at 44, so it's not like his production was anything different, just the caliber of team was different. That was also in an era when defense and rushing was more important than the QB. To be clear, I'm not saying the Bucs should go get Cousins (even though I doubt he'd be available to them), but I'd much rather they spend $40M on him than $30M (or more), on Mayfield. I'd rather the Bucs wait until the draft. Like I said, I don't think there's a market for Mayfield. Wait until the draft... if they can't get the guy they want, then offer Mayfield a deal. Yeah, I really believe that there are a total of zero teams who have interest in giving Mayfield $30M+.

Mayfield is a finished project, that's a below average/back end of the league starter. Giving him anything that you can't move on from in April is a mistake. If Tampa says to him, "Go test the market and give us a chance to match", he'll come back for pennies. With the draft having anywhere from 5 to 7 QB's going in the top 40, plus Cousins and Wilson out there, and possibly Fields, that's anywhere from 8 to 10 QB's available. There aren't 10 teams who need a QB, and at best, Mayfield is #8 among the the 9 to 11 QB's. Meaning, there's no market for Mayfield. It's basically whatever Tampa wants to give him. There's no reason to give him more than $15M.

Mayfield cost them $6M last year. You're a QBR guy... who had a higher QBR last year, Gardner Minshew or Baker Mayfield? Which one can be had for $6M this year? They have $50M in cap space. To piss away anything of substance on a backend league starter, is a waste of money. I don't doubt they're going to re-sign him, I just think they're wrong and if they give him more than $15M AAV, they're foolish.

I don't have a problem with Mayfield at the proper cost. He's a bottom tier starter in the league. Pay him $15M and be done with it. The team should walk away if he wants more.

Kirk Cousins? I'll take it if he does... https://www.spotrac.com/news/contract-breakdown-projections-for-6-qb-extension-candidates-2197/

I wouldn't want Fields. I know he's cheap this year, but his 5th year option needs to be picked up. I'm not sure that I'd want to trade for him and then pay him $20M the following year. To me, he's still an unknown. If I can't get Cousins, I'd rather just trade up into the top 10 and get the guy I want. If I think there's a future stud in the draft, I'm trading up to get him. The Bucs have Pick #26. According to trade value charts, the Bucs could give up picks 26 & 57 (1030 total), and assume doubling it for next years 1st and 2nd (2,060 points), and move up to #4 with Arizona. Almost everything I've read says that Williams, Maye, and Daniels are the top 3 guys. If Washington hangs on to Howell and takes Harrison or Nabors at #2, one of those 3 QB's will be there at #4. I'd rather have one of them, giving up 2 1's and 2 2's, than parting with a 2nd (or more), for Fields and only having him locked in for 1 cheap and 1 extra year that isn't cheap. In 2017, the Chiefs gave up #27, a 3rd, and a #1 the following year to move up to #10. A pair of 1's and 2's, should be enough to get into the top 5.

If the idea is to work 4 days (a 32-hr work week), they're going to make less money and be home more to spend it. The net result is complaints about not making enough money. It will force businesses to offer higher pay rates and obviously, the costs of their products go up. In turn, people on the lower spectrum of the financial world will be forced to pay higher prices without seeing higher wages. The obvious conclusion made will be to increase minimum wage... which will in turn, cause another raise in prices in other industries. A viscous circle created by laziness. If the idea is to work 4 days (a 40-hr work week), I find it hard to believe that people would rather add 2 hours to their current work day, just to get a 3-day weekend. I'm not sure I understand the logic. If they want to be home with their family more, a 4-day/10-hr work week is the exact opposite of that. Instead of 8-5, it's now 8-7... how does getting home at 7:30 give you more time with your family, with the only trade off being no-work Friday's? I mean, the kids still aren't getting home from school until what... 4 (the younger ones)? This works great for the single partiers, but I don't see families liking this idea. If I'm a parent of a young child, I'd rather have the ability to eat lunch at my desk and cut out an hour early every day. I'm still working my 40-hrs (8-hr shifts), and being home in time for the kids and having dinner ready at a reasonable time. I'd also wouldn't be opposed to the working through lunch and staying until my normal schedule time, and cutting out at noon on Friday's in given weeks if I know my kids are home, such as around holidays or the summer.

So did I.

If the Pirates are cheap azzhats, July 1. If they're smart and bring him up when he's ready, possibly as early as May 1, as late as June 1 (give or take). The dude is going to be a stud. I'm shocked they drafted him to be honest.

Mitch Keller signs 5-year extension. The third year in a row that the Pirates dole out a $70M+ deal. Pirates are a dark horse to win the division this year. NL Central is pretty weak and 84 games could win it. If Keller takes another step forward and Skenes comes up by June, this team should be in the 80 to 85-win range. Jared Jones (a 2020 2nd round pick), has been making great strides in the minors and will start the year in AAA and could get to the majors by July. If that happens, an 85-win season is definitely in the cards and a division win is possible. That said, someone could end up with 92 and it all be moot, but 85 could still get them into the playoffs.

The issue the Bucs have is that they have $50M in cap space. They're going to need to pony up about $25M for Evans. Winfield is either going to get tagged and paid $11M+ or get $16M+ to be the highest paid FS in the league. Then there's Lavonte David who's going to need about $5M+. So, conservatively, those 3 are going to command around $40M. Then they need to address the middle of the OLine. They need a Center and at worst, a LG. Sure, there's cap manipulation that can be played with, but you do that for impact players to be a contender, not mediocre/replaceable players who don't make your team better. Giving $30M to a guy like Mayfield forces you to either not sign Mike Evans, which would be a tragic mistake or put yourself right back into future caphell that they just came out of... with a lower level of expectations. Now, Kirk Cousins is a guy I'd give $30M+ to, even $40M. A QB who can utilize all of the teams weapons (instead of just one), makes this team a legit contender. That's a guy you finagle the cap for... not Baker Mayfield. To me, ideal money for a below average starter in the NFL (which Mayfield is), is around $15M. If he's willing to take that, then I'm happy to keep him around. Otherwise, I'd let him test the market. No one is going to even offer him $20M. He's just not good enough. Any team who "needs" a QB, like Atlanta, Vegas, Washington (?), Pittsburgh(?), would much rather draft a player, trade for Fields, or go after Cousins or Wilson. At best, Mayfield ranks about 9th on the available QB list behind (in no particular order), Cousins, Fields, Wilson, and at least 5 of the rookies. Is there even 9 teams that need a QB? Atlanta - Trade for Fields New England - Draft a QB Chicago (if they trade Fields) - Draft a QB Washington (if they move on from Howell... don't know why they would) - Keep Howell Pittsburgh (maybe... not sure why they would either) - Keep Pickett Vegas - Russell Wilson Arizona?? - Keep Murray Tennessee - Draft a QB Minnesota - Re-sign Cousins Denver - Draft a QB I think I'm stretching it to get to 10 here. That's my thinking of what happens... and there's still another QB that can be drafted. Simply, I see no market for Mayfield. Why pay him $30M when there's no other buyers?

This is the underlying reason why the country is where it is today. The Democrat party prey's on victim's. If they can't find any, they create them. People majoring in something stupid with no future is foolish, but what's more foolish is the cost of that program. Are Democrat's addressing any of those issues? No, because in one case you have to blame your side (we all know colleges and universities, by and large, are liberal indoctrination centers), and that certainly can't happen. The other is an opportunity to pander to a group of potential voters. Obviously, they're going to call the stupid people victims and champion a cause for them, knowing that it can't be done. When it can't get done, they blame Republican's. Idiots on the left soak that crap up all the time.