top dawg

I understand, but people must understand that that was years ago. [That was great though, as Norman got into his head. It happens.] Sure, many fans look at all the negatives surrounding OBJ and his attitude, but the fact is is that he had a lot of locker room love in Cleveland. Baker? Not so much. Moreover, there are legit analyses of how Mayfield did in fact miss reads to a wide open OBJ (purposefully or not). And, let's not forget that OBJ is a Super Bowl champion. His presence made a difference. Without him, notwithstanding he only played about a half, they lose. Likewise, If OBJ doesn't get hurt, the game isn't as close. In my opinion, Baker should've maximized his use of OBJ within the scope of his offense, but it didn't appear that he was doing that.

You're talking about two imperfect QBs. It's an interesting exercise for some (I guess). Winston and Baker do have their similarities (I can't help but think of anything but negative, not saying that it's all negative), and Winston wins the he's-likeable award--whoopie! I don't know if he wins the works-hard award, and even if he did, I would hope that this changes in 2022. Unless Baker is a fool, or the biggest, self-entitled, delusional prick that you will ever see, he better come in as humble, coachable and willing to work hard as any QB that you will ever see. Not saying that it is, but this could just be a little hate on the Saints camp's part because we got Baker on the cheap. At the end of the day, the only thing that will matter is play on the field.

Your answer was "yes." If most GMs felt Baker was the next best thing since sliced bread, then he wouldn't have been jobless for all these months. I try to resist comparing Mayfield to Darnold because it gives people what I believe is a fake overall picture of our new QB--it sets the bar lower than it normally would be--but Mayfield is this year's version of Darnold in the sense that he wasn't worth anything of any significance to invest in, except for the Panthers. Don't get me wrong, I think it was a decent bet, but let's keep in mind that Baker was a QB that effectively no one was going to pay 5 mil to or trade a conditional 5th round pick (that could ultimately move to a 4th) for but us. That's NOT a QB that NFL GMs believe can raise their team's level of play, or at least not markedly enough to overcome the downsides of having him on their roster, including the opportunity-costs associated with him taking reps from others.

Baker chose not to tap out. Notwithstanding his injury, I don't believe that every GM on every team held it against him, but, even still, he was this year's QB that no one but the Panthers were willing to invest in trading for at the end of the day. I don't believe that all comes down to the 2021 season, but what preceded it, in terms of on-field play. In my opinion, some Panthers' fans need to take off the rose-colored glasses.

Baker decided to play, so I don't know how "unfair" the hit to his performance was. Personally, it just makes me more skeptical.

You have some type of weird Baker love fest going on in here, with some mighty claims, and yet still he couldn't take the Browns who had arguably the best O-line and the best backfield in football as well as two of the better wide receivers in football, as well as solid legitimate receiving tight ends to the championship. Sure, he beat the Steelers who had a Swiss cheese O-line and a spent QB behind them, but so what! Baker is supposed to have all this arm talent--better than most--but could barely scrape (if he even did) a top 10 ranking at the position? Are you kidding me? Let me say this one more time: Baker was in an excellent situation in Cleveland! It was ready-made for a QB to rise to the occasion and win a chip. Baker shrank under the spotlight and was arguably the Browns biggest obstacle. He has thrown more INTs than ANY QB in the NFL since he has been in the league. ANY and EVERY QB since he has been in the league! It's his decision making, or lack thereof that has landed him where he is. You think that it feels me with a sense of security that he seems to only excel off play-action when scanning half the field and is able to make quick throws, but when things begin to break down and he has to add a little touch to his passes that he leaves meat on the bone? That's when great QBs make their living. You can't just drive balls with authority, looking for the big play every time. This leads to trouble, and it's where Mayfield has gotten into trouble. So pump the brakes! Mayfield has tons to prove, and hopefully he'll have to earn his role as opposed to it being given to him. If he does, he doesn't even have to be the best QB on our roster, much less a legit threat for being the QB of our future.

Yeah, I knew that, and I think that's just as crazy of a thinking that we'd cut him at all. We didn't invest a third round pick on Corral (particularly when picks were scarce, and when they purportedly had a first round grade on him) to risk him on waivers in any capacity. Anyone that thinks otherwise is basically low-key delusional.

Corral passing waivers? Igo, this is the most worried I've been about you smoking some illicit substances. There is no way in the world that Corral is going to be waived!

I'd love that for Cam. I still wish him the best.

Man, it probably would have been a first, second, and a conventional fourth last season. No way they'd have gotten him on the cheap. They had to learn what the hell they were doing. But we're in an overall better position this season with the O-line and healthy status of McCaffrey, TMJ, and the addition of Higgins who has history with Baker.

I mean, I get it, but he also played more games, injured at that. For those simply comparing him to Darnold, that's good and all, but you must remember that Baker Mayfield has thrown more interceps than ANY QB since he's been in the league.

Well, even the wind of whiffs feels good on these current hot summer days. I'd give us at least a middling chance to actually be competitive on the field this year, and if things go well, we'll be competitive in the win-loss column by 2023. We have at least one solid backup out of the three---uhh, four---and perhaps a long term starter with a little favor from the football gods.

I'm just glad that it's legitimately a good deal. The FO seems to be learning in more ways than one.

You gotta keep swinging until you hit. That's about the most positive way I can spin it.

It happened today. See!

I think it's going to create some drama at the very least. The drama won't be immediate, but somewhere down the road, we're in for a soap opera. I honestly don't know how I feel about the trade and all of the potential implications, or just simply the dynamics, but hopefully true competition will raise the level of the room, and not be an outlet for coaches to become complacent and default to certain players in the long term simply because they are here.

I'm not trying to be funny, but they've even had great trouble in the ACC notwithstanding all that. It's going to take much more.

It went from a four or five to a six or seven. My excitement level for the season isn't really determined until late September or early October. We still have a brutal schedule.

I was responding to notifications, then went to the main board and saw this thread title. I was like, "Why in the fug is he asking that, did something happen?" Well, now I know.

Not bad.

They'll get what they deserve then. I can't speak for the Big 10, but the SEC's culture is CFB. If a school doesn't live that reality, then they will become punching bags for the big boys (maybe even the little boys if the Razorbacks-Longhorns game is any indication). If Miami and Clemson are not ready to sell their souls to football (and all that that entails), then they should stay put...unless they're simply selling out for the money. I guess that the brass at the schools can still feel like winners even if they're perennial losers on the gridiron . As an alum or fan, I wouldn't be happy.

I decided to clean the bathroom for the wife, so I searched Panthers on YT, and this analysis came up. Now I'm not saying that you will learn anything new per se, but you will get some perspectives from outside the fan base, and you may get some insight on a few of the day 3 players (including the UDFAs). I think that it's fair. Spoiler alert: seven wins if everything goes right in large part because of a brutal schedule, notwithstanding a team with talent.

Big fish in small pond. I don't think any of the ACC teams want to move lest they turn into the Vandys and Northwesterns of the world.

I mean, I never really got drugs. If I really wanted to get high, alcohol was always enough for me. I mean, maybe exploring and finding yourself is a draw for a teen or a 20-year-old, but I'd think that by 25 that you'd pretty much have some things figured out. I figure that drugs are a means of escape to a certain degree, but why would you need to escape if you're living out your dream. I know that I really can't identify because I've never had a problem with addiction--at least that's what my wife says (she didn't know me in school), but I really don't get why a person with so much to live for messes around with a drug that has proven to be deadly. I guess that I'll never get it.

The thing that I like is that Bama had to legitimately give MC's running ability and play fakes respect. The Rebels weren't one dimensional with MC's talent and ability, which in turned help open up the playbook , and that helped them hang so many points on Bama's defense. There's something to be learned here.