OT: Non-Hockey Sports Thread XI - Defense? Who Needs Defense?! (Wade Wilson Memorial Edition)

[TaLoN]

He started only 4 games.

I'm not defending Trey Lance. My point is that he must be terrible if they are willing to cut bait so quickly after using all those draft picks on him. Name another team that spent multiple 1st round picks on a player and the decided to move on from them after starting only 4 games. This reflects poorly not only on Lance, as a player, but also on the Niners and their college scouting.

I mean, he couldn't even beat out Sam Freakin' Darnold for the #2 job. A guy who's never had a QBR above 50.

Very few have ever been in Lance's position though, I don't think there are comparables that have had his injury history AND another replacement surprisingly come along that their coach seems so sold on at the same time.
Keep in mind, Lance won the starting job himself just a year ago.

3rd year pros expected to be starters when drafted generally have until their 3rd year to be the guy. Those that don't get established in that time, often times are cut bait from. He won the job last year, injury prevented him from playing much, then another guy came in and ran with it and the coaches all seem enamored by the new guy now. The 3rd yr guy... despite the draft capital spent to obtain is on the outs as a result. Everyone saw this coming when they signed Darnold in the offseason. By the 3rd year, that draft capital is considered gone no matter how it turns out, if they have a guy they truly believe in.

I get you're not defending Lance, I just think you're making a bigger issue of the draft capital spent 3 drafts ago than the 49er's themselves care about.

 

[Digitalbooya]

We could be talking about Justin Fields and how good he is at throwing screen passes

 

[TaLoN]

Report: 49ers ‘not looking for very much' in Lance trade return

The 49ers reportedly aren't looking for much in return in a potential Trey Lance trade.

www.yahoo.com

If it were up to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, Trey Lance would be with the team for the 2023 NFL season.

At the end of the day, though, they will do what's in the best interest of the young quarterback after naming Sam Darnold the backup for Brock Purdy earlier this week.

"I think what happens is the 49ers look to see if they can find a home for him," ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported Thursday on "Get Up" (h/t 49ers Webzone). "And they're not looking for very much. They honestly, truly would like to put him in a situation where he can shine, where he can excel, because they do believe that he's made improvements.

"But it's just that they're going with Brock Purdy, and they like Sam Darnold, and they like Brandon Allen. And so they're looking to put Trey Lance, essentially, up for adoption. Who wants to adopt him and put him in a nice home where they're going to raise him the right way, where he's going to get some work?"

“We’re very happy with Trey,” Lynch said on KNBR's "Murph & Mac." “That’s probably the most likely option, that he’s here. ... If we could find a landing spot for Trey that is a really good one for him and works for our organization, that’s not something we’d turn a blind eye to.

“But that’s not where our focus is right now. I think our focus is on Trey getting back here and us being the best football team.”

 

[Wild11MN]

I'd say take a shot on him, but he's losing out to Sam Darnold for the backup job. The team has seen him firsthand for 3 offseasons/2 seasons, and they still refuse to play him. How could he possibly be good enough to be an NFL starter now?

 

[TaLoN]

I'd say take a shot on him, but he's losing out to Sam Darnold for the backup job. The team has seen him firsthand for 3 offseasons/2 seasons, and they still refuse to play him. How could he possibly be good enough to be an NFL starter now?

Nobody is saying he's ready to start right now. The debate is, will he develop into one. SF gambled and failed on the bet that he'd be ready sooner, and he did win the job there last year but then injury derailed it and they found a new gem in their eyes. They feel they found their guy in Purdy and since he's also young, they don't see the point in preventing him from possibly developing into a starter somewhere else down the road.

I myself am not a true believer in him and would not be willing to offer anything more than a 7th.

 

[Wabit]

I don't read much into losing the backup spot to Darnold. Going with a vet backup is the smart move for SF as a team imo. I'd rather have a young QB and a vet QB as my starter/backup for the season than 2 young QBs. The experience matters when it comes to the most important position on the field.

Darnald isn't a great QB, so there won't be any talk for him to take the starters role if Purdy struggles. Compared to a young former top-5 pick sitting on the bench. He also adds a vet presence to the QB room and can be a mentor voice on the sidelines. If he does have to get into a game he won't lose it, but he also won't win it.

I do think MN could benefit from taking a chance on Lance, for the right price. Their QB depth is pretty bleak after Cousins. If it works out, great. If it doesn't then it doesn't, but the team really isn't in any different situation than they are now.

 

[Wild11MN]

Nobody is saying he's ready to start right now. The debate is, will he develop into one. SF gambled and failed on the bet that he'd be ready sooner, and he did win the job there last year but then injury derailed it and they found a new gem in their eyes. They feel they found their guy in Purdy and since he's also young, they don't see the point in preventing him from possibly developing into a starter somewhere else down the road.

I myself am not a true believer in him and would not be willing to offer anything more than a 7th.

If he can't start 3 years in, why would he ever be able to start?

This isn't a Rodgers/Love situation where Lance was sitting behind an all-time great QB for 4 years before getting the opportunity. This is losing to Mr. Irrelevant and another one of the biggest 1st round QB busts of the past decade.

 

[TaLoN]

If he can't start 3 years in, why would he ever be able to start?

This isn't a Rodgers/Love situation where Lance was sitting behind an all-time great QB for 4 years before getting the opportunity. This is losing to Mr. Irrelevant and another one of the biggest 1st round QB busts of the past decade.

He has less than 600 career passing attempts from HS through today including preseason games. I'd say at 23yrso he can still develop... that said, I was never a believer in him to begin with anyway, so I'm not saying he ever will in the first place.
That said, he was supposed to be starting all of last year but he broke his leg in his second start.

As for losing to Mr. Irelevant, I say big deal, not like QB's haven't been miss-scouted before. Brady was a 6th round pick. Not saying Purdy is Brady, but hell... nobody thought Brady was Brady either until his 3rd or 4th year starting.

 

[57special]

He has less than 600 career passing attempts from HS through today including preseason games. I'd say at 23yrso he can still develop... that said, I was never a believer in him to begin with anyway, so I'm not saying he ever will in the first place.
That said, he was supposed to be starting all of last year but he broke his leg in his second start.

As for losing to Mr. Irelevant, I say big deal, not like QB's haven't been miss-scouted before. Brady was a 6th round pick. Not saying Purdy is Brady, but hell... nobody thought Brady was Brady either until his 3rd or 4th year starting.

Hmmm... I think it was pretty evident that Brady was a revelation sooner than that. He ousted Bledsoe, who was a pretty good QB... I seem to remember that Belicheck said that Bledsoe couldn't lose his job because of injury, then he reversed him self after seeing Brady perform.

 

[TaLoN]

Hmmm... I think it was pretty evident that Brady was a revelation sooner than that. He ousted Bledsoe, who was a pretty good QB... I seem to remember that Belicheck said that Bledsoe couldn't lose his job because of injury, then he reversed him self after seeing Brady perform.

He was running about as "managed" an offense as you can imagine his first 2 years. His first Superbowl, he only threw 145yrds on 27 attempts after only 16 completions and a single TD (his only TD pass in 3 playoff games that year). That was enough though because of the defense. That was him surplanting an injured Bledsoe in the playoffs.

What did he do his first year?
2843yrds passing 18TDs 12 Ints.

No, Brady was NOT the elite QB he came to be known as from day one... not even close.

He was exactly a game manager at best.

 

[TaLoN]

Good for the 49'ers in getting a 4th. Not sure why anyone wanted to pay that much but... it is Jerry Jones... lol

 

[Wabit]

Good for the 49'ers in getting a 4th. Not sure why anyone wanted to pay that much but... it is Jerry Jones... lol

It makes sense. They have no young QB on their roster and Prescott's can be a FA after the 2024 season. QBs can have a long career, but how much money/term would you want to give a 34yo Prescott?

Lance is still younger than the QB's just drafted (not top-5 picks), so I don't see it as a bad use of a 4th round pick.

 

[Dakota Sioux]

Good for the 49'ers in getting a 4th. Not sure why anyone wanted to pay that much but... it is Jerry Jones... lol

That’s nothing to what the 49ers gave up to draft him

 

[TaLoN]

https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/vikings/here-is-the-vikings-53-man-roster-for-2023-and-a-list-of-those-cut

• QB: Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall
• RB: Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler
• FB: C.J. Ham
• WR: Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Powell
• TE: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, Nick Muse

• OL: Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O'Neill, Austin Schlottmann, Blake Brandel, Oli Udoh
• DL: Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, Khyiris Tonga, Jonathan Bullard, Jaquelin Roy
• EDGE: Danielle Hunter, Pat Jones II, Marcus Davenport, D.J. Wonnum, Andre Carter II
• LB: Jordan Hicks, Ivan Pace Jr., Brian Asamoah, Troy Dye

• CB: Byron Murphy Jr., Akayleb Evans, Mekhi Blackmon, Andrew Booth Jr., NaJee Thompson
• S: Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, Josh Metellus, Lewis Cine, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson
• K/P: Greg Joseph, Ryan Wright
• LS: Andrew DePaola

 

[TaLoN]

Vikings making effort to sign Justin Jefferson to record-breaking extension before Week 1, per report

Jefferson is set to reset the market at some point in the near future

www.cbssports.com

Per SI.com, the Vikings are making an effort to get Jefferson signed to his new extension before the 2023 regular season begins. He is technically under contract for two more years, but don't expect the Vikings to be content with that. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in February that extending Jefferson is one of their top priorities.

"I don't want to be the Vikings GM without that guy on our team," Adofo-Mensah said, per ESPN. "So it's a high priority. We've got to make sure we do in the order that we can do it in, obviously, given all of our other decisions we have to make."

Currently, the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL according to AAV is Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins, who makes an average of $30 million per year.

 

[Digitalbooya]

The season can’t come quick enough. I haven’t been this excited for football in awhile

 

[MuckOG]

I just got tickets for the wife and I to attend the Vikings/Packers game at Lambeau on 10/29. My first trip to watch the Vikings on the road and first trip to Lambeau. Looking forward to it.

 

[Minnewildsota]

I just got tickets for the wife and I to attend the Vikings/Packers game at Lambeau on 10/29. My first trip to watch the Vikings on the road and first trip to Lambeau. Looking forward to it.

If you’re at Lambeau, and you think you smell piss. You do.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I just got tickets for the wife and I to attend the Vikings/Packers game at Lambeau on 10/29. My first trip to watch the Vikings on the road and first trip to Lambeau. Looking forward to it.

Bold choice considering the last two meetings at Lambeau were 41-17 and 37-10 wins for the good guys.

If you’re at Lambeau, and you think you smell piss. You do.

Damn, they let you inside??

 

[MuckOG]

Bold choice considering the last two meetings at Lambeau were 41-17 and 37-10 wins for the good guys.

Meh, Rodgers is gone and Love now has the pressure of being the #1....we'll see how that shakes out. I'm not worried.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Meh, Rodgers is gone and Love now has the pressure of being the #1....we'll see how that shakes out. I'm not worried.

Perfect

 

[TaLoN]

Vikings, T.J. Hockenson agree on contract extension

The Vikings have finalized the first major contract extension in the tenure of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

www.yahoo.com

 

[57special]

The season can’t come quick enough. I haven’t been this excited for football in awhile

I am the opposite. I think this is the year that convinces the Vikes that it’s time for a rebuild, letting Hunter, Smith, Cousins, and CJ Ham(fav player)ride off into the purple sunset.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I am the opposite. I think this is the year that convinces the Vikes that it’s time for a rebuild, letting Hunter, Smith, Cousins, and CJ Ham(fav player)ride off into the purple sunset.

I don’t think rebuilds work quite the same in the NFL. You can find good players anywhere in the draft. Best to hold onto good players if you have them.

I’m mostly talking about all the new faces (Love, Musgrave, Reed, etc) and excited to see how they do. The packers have a good team, but a giant question mark at QB that has had a good showing so far. I feel good about them.

Then Wisconsin football has a new head coach that is the same breed as your typical Ohio State coach. They’ve got a transfer QB that is really good. I feel good about them being a top 20 team.

 

[57special]

I don’t think rebuilds work quite the same in the NFL. You can find good players anywhere in the draft. Best to hold onto good players if you have them.

I’m mostly talking about all the new faces (Love, Musgrave, Reed, etc) and excited to see how they do. The packers have a good team, but a giant question mark at QB that has had a good showing so far. I feel good about them.

Then Wisconsin football has a new head coach that is the same breed as your typical Ohio State coach. They’ve got a transfer QB that is really good. I feel good about them being a top 20 team.

well, if I am right, the packers are a year or two ahead of the Vikes in terms of a rebuild. It’s hard to say who Love is at this point, but he’s a hell of a lot better than anything the Vikes have going forward. Ironically, the one area that I like with MN is the O line, which was a perennial weak spot in previous years. If they can pick up a good QB in the draft then he’d be stepping into something good with a nice receiver core and a good O line.