2012 NFL Off-Season Thread

[worstblogever]

I'm realizing that we only have about 400+ posts left in the 2011 Season Thread, and with 20 of the teams in the NFL already done for the year... off-season news has started. So for those teams getting their ducks in a row for next season, we might want to start chatting about them here.

Coaches have been fired, and more may follow in the coming days to discuss. Which means, there will be some interviews and names thrown around for those vacancies...

There's been some talk about soon-to-be-available free agents. I found this website that's tracked which players make up the 2012 Free Agent Class. Please do note, that link goes to the QBs, any other positions require further linking available from that page.

There's also, of course, the college football bowl season winding down, and we've had talk starting for the NFL draft, of which a lot of the Top 20 picks have been decided, and others will be resolved by coin flip. Which, I'll go ahead and include this OP with a link to the NFL.com 2012 Draft page, as well as ESPN's NFL Draft page for folks that like to hear Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. come up with a mock draft twice a week until April.

[DonC]

Here's hoping/praying that, one, Eric Steinbach gets healthy. Having a platoon of linemen trying to fill in for a Pro Bowler just killed our running game. Two, the Browns draft a freaking #1 receiver that isn't a bust. Colt McCoy can be a good QB. He just needs a team that doesn't lead the league in dropped passes.

[Cavemold]

I have no clue what the bears plan of thinking is now. I hope they hire outside of franchise . A fresh name would be great.. That said I hope the next GM isn't so stingy!

[Jabare]

Hey its the play off stop talking about the post season!!!! EDIT: Sorry thought this was the regular season thread, my mistake


Also someone please explain to me what Den can do to the Steelers. I want the Broncos to win, but every-time I play the game out in my mind they lose horribly. Anyone have any ideas how the Broncos win this game?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Hey its the play off stop talking about the post season!!!!


Also someone please explain to me what Den can do to the Steelers. I want the Broncos to win, but every-time I play the game out in my mind they lose horribly. Anyone have any ideas how the Broncos win this game?

Ok I will tell you.

The Broncos can win this game by forcing turnovers on Rothlisberger. Big Ben is banged up . The 49ers defense forced 2-3 Ints from him. The Broncos need to force Ben into turnovers.

Offensively the weakest area is the passing game. The Broncos need to ground and pound the ball. They clearly can't throw and the Steelers are gonna stack the box and attack the outside. Tebow is gonna have to try and either complete short checkoff passes to his backs and WRs , and if he runs , go up the middle.

In all the Broncos can win the game. They can pound the ball 50+ times . But its important to not get into a passing game with the Steelers. Tebow will lose that clearly.

[Jabare]

Oops apologires I thought this was the regular thread. LOL the names were so similar I got confused.

Thanks for responding to my query SCWF

[worstblogever]

I have no clue what the bears plan of thinking is now. I hope they hire outside of franchise . A fresh name would be great.. That said I hope the next GM isn't so stingy!

Martz quit, to boot. Which, I think can only help. Martz had games this year where he took Chicago against teams with a weak rushing defense, and tried to throw the ball 50 times. Plus, there was the Roy Williams > Johnny Knox crap from around the training camp.

No Jerry Angelo, and keeping Lovie Smith seems like a start.

[Cavemold]

Martz quit, to boot. Which, I think can only help. Martz had games this year where he took Chicago against teams with a weak rushing defense, and tried to throw the ball 50 times. Plus, there was the Roy Williams > Johnny Knox crap from around the training camp.

No Jerry Angelo, and keeping Lovie Smith seems like a start.

Martz views running backs as WR I swear......Lovie is pretty good defensive coach but I felt he should of over rid some of the bears play calls this year oh well. Hes next on the chopping block if the bears have a bad year next year. This year wasn't really his fault. We need get a GM before the draft though.

[Adset]

seahawks have the cap space for matt flynn, and they're a quarterback away from being pretty good. do it.

[Cavemold]

seahawks have the cap space for matt flynn, and they're a quarterback away from being pretty good. do it.

That would be good pick. Also Justin Blackmon must be bear rain or shine!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol... I know its small chance... But he's like TO 2.0

[worstblogever]

Martz views running backs as WR I swear......Lovie is pretty good defensive coach but I felt he should of over rid some of the bears play calls this year oh well. Hes next on the chopping block if the bears have a bad year next year. This year wasn't really his fault. We need get a GM before the draft though.

What doomed Jerry DeAngelo was not addressing the offensive line (Or really getting Cutler a star WR), and then surprise! Cutler gets hurt.

So Cutler's hurt, does he make a move to bring in a veteran QB? After getting beat out by Kansas City for Kyle Orton, nothing gets done, and they'll just limp down the stretch with Caleb Haine.

BAM. 5 game losing streak, miss the playoffs.

All of the failures in Chicago this year were from a standpoint of needing to acquire talent at certain points, and his failure to do so was the cause and effect that led to their collapse. Compiled with years, upon years of similar issues, and DeAngelo was doomed.

[Cavemold]

What doomed Jerry DeAngelo was not addressing the offensive line (Or really getting Cutler a star WR), and then surprise! Cutler gets hurt.

So Cutler's hurt, does he make a move to bring in a veteran QB? After getting beat out by Kansas City for Kyle Orton, nothing gets done, and they'll just limp down the stretch with Caleb Haine.

BAM. 5 game losing streak, miss the playoffs.

All of the failures in Chicago this year were from a standpoint of needing to acquire talent at certain points, and his failure to do so was the cause and effect that led to their collapse. Compiled with years, upon years of similar issues, and DeAngelo was doomed.

Speaking of of bears QBs they got sacked 106x under martz. Looking back at his track record I'm amazed he was signed. Then again .... O Jerry was calling the shots ... Also martz had differnt view points than Lovie. That's why he quit.

[finfangfool]

I think the Browns should take a good hard look at RG3, maybe pick up a WR with their second 1st rounder. They also might think about just picking up one off of free agency. From a list I looked up randomly on the google (didn't say if there were restrictions), WRs available may include: Mike Wallace, Wes Welker (oh shit, how'd I not know about that?), Dwayne Bowe, Desean Jackson, Vincent Jackson, Marques Colston, Stevie Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Lloyd, Laurent Robinson, Pierre Garcon, Deion Branch, Robert Meachem, Mario Manningham, Steve Smith (formerly of the Giants, this year Eagles), and Braylon Edwards (doubt that's happening, but he's not likely to run into trouble with Lebron's posse anymore).

Personally I'm hoping my team (the Patriots) pick somebody up who can stretch the field for us a bit more than Wes and the TEs do, but first priority for us has got to be resigning him. Not a bad list overall. 'Mold, as a Bears fan do you care if they keep Forte on? He was awesome at the start of the year, but he's inconsistent and Bell seemed decent once he went down with the injury. It seemed like Forte was on track to be franchised, but now I'm not so sure.

[Cavemold]

I think the Browns should take a good hard look at RG3, maybe pick up a WR with their second 1st rounder. They also might think about just picking up one off of free agency. From a list I looked up randomly on the google (didn't say if there were restrictions), WRs available may include: Mike Wallace, Wes Welker (oh shit, how'd I not know about that?), Dwayne Bowe, Desean Jackson, Vincent Jackson, Marques Colston, Stevie Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Lloyd, Laurent Robinson, Pierre Garcon, Deion Branch, Robert Meachem, Mario Manningham, Steve Smith (formerly of the Giants, this year Eagles), and Braylon Edwards (doubt that's happening, but he's not likely to run into trouble with Lebron's posse anymore).

Personally I'm hoping my team (the Patriots) pick somebody up who can stretch the field for us a bit more than Wes and the TEs do, but first priority for us has got to be resigning him. Not a bad list overall. 'Mold, as a Bears fan do you care if they keep Forte on? He was awesome at the start of the year, but he's inconsistent and Bell seemed decent once he went down with the injury. It seemed like Forte was on track to be franchised, but now I'm not so sure.

ill make a deal . Ill give you forte for your stud TEs. Either one. Theres plenty of backs i think that will come out. I think monty ball is coming out.The bears will probably franchise him. If they dont......Their idiots or they are drafting a rb.

[DonC]

I think the Browns should take a good hard look at RG3, maybe pick up a WR with their second 1st rounder.

The Browns are committed to running the West Coast offense. Griffin isn't really a good fit for that type of offense.


ESPN is reporting that Jeff Fisher has narrowed the list of teams he'll coach for next year down to the two that were actually interested in hiring him. (St. Louis and Miami.)