Icege

Taylor Lewan has a podcast and Sam Darnold was his most recent guest: Kind of like with Rhule, regardless of how we feel about his job performance, Sam's a likable dude that might be chill to a fault... His story about getting his first scholarship offer and not understanding the importance gave me a good laugh. Summary (~40min in so far, will update with more bulletin points as I listen) Voluntarily oblivious to news stories about him Country music fan Garrett Bradbury and Pat Elflein training together surprised me a little bit since Bradbury replaced Elflein in Minnesota, but I came across a 2019 article afterwards that highlighted how Elflein had become a mentor to Bradbury. I still don't want Elflein anywhere near the starting lineup tho... :x Basketball was Sam's first love, grew up idolizing Kobe and watching the Lakers with his pops. Played baseball as well. Taylor Lewan put up similar combine numbers Was a WLB in a 3-4 while in HS and took over for 2 games at QB after the HS QB went down (nothing new to my fellow research fiends, but I didn't know that he was specifically a WLB at 190lbs trying to deal with kids pushing 300lbs!) Was originally recruited and offered a scholarship by the University of Utah to play QB after those 2 games his sophomore season Giants WR David Sills was originally one of the top QB recruits in Cali, having committed to USC in 7th grade while playing in WV Converted to QB full time his junior year, but before that was a LB/WR Tennessee + Pac12 + Big10 schools recruited him, including Harbaugh but he was a big USC fan growing up so he was committed to them Northwestern + Duke + Oregon had recruited him before going to a camp at USC where he threw for Sarkisian + worked out before getting offered that day Obligatory Chris Rock/Will Smith conversation to pass time Redshirted behind Cody Kessler and lost the QB competition to Max Brown (who he became pretty good friends with) before starting week 4. Was originally going to get a few redzone packages (including 3rd+4th & short) where he might have the opportunity to run the ball.

After free agent moves: 1. Ikem Ekwonu, LT, NC State 4. Donovan West, C, Arizona St 5. Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland 5. Isaiah Thomas, DE, Oklahoma 6. Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama A&M 7. Josh Ross, LB, Michigan Gotta brainstorm a Willis draft still

I STILL BELIEVE But now that the team has Bozeman and Elflein might not see the field should Christensen play LG, I'm all in on Ikem Ekwonu. Wouldn't mind Neal, Cross, nor Willis at #6 either

Lots of folks are still butthurt from pounding the table over Shaq's contract and claiming that Jermaine was going to allow the team to move on from it.

Breaking my sabbatical for the only QB I'm okay with at #6

Whatever the word would be, what's with the one-sided beef?

Out of curiosity, why do you hate her so much? On topic though: It's incredibly disappointing hearing that the Panthers were willing to throw away even more resources to not fix the QB situation.

Still gotta scout Penning, but I'm incredibly high on Ekwonu + Cross. Wouldn't mind Neal either.

What do you think of Pootie (Juwan Carter)? Might be an interesting day 3 or UDFA guy! While falling even more in love with Aqeel Glass as a prospect, I've gotten a chance to watch Carter and there's some intrigue there for me. Corral I love one day, hate the next. I can't figure him out. Part of me thinks he won't hold up against an NFL beating, but I also like the idea of putting him on a team with a good run game to utilize play action. He throws a super pretty ball too on slant routes. "Diet Mahomes" is a mind-blowing good analogy for Corral.

Minshew presents the best value overall imo in terms of what the team has resources wise and what other players will end up costing. Can we fast forward to next year's offseason?

I think that it is very much possible considering that they're going to have to substantiate the claims in court in order to have any chance, but you straight up said that it is fiction so the burden of proof is on you. Rather than asking you to provide evidence for it, I'm just asking you to explain your reasoning. I don't know the arrangement that Flores has with his attorney. What does it matter whether or not he pays them as retainers and/or they take a % of the settlement? It's literally how attorneys are paid. Also, the section of the lawsuit I quoted beings with "Among the other relief sought," which shows that they're seeking monetary compensation. What in the world is the point that you are trying to make here?

Why do you think that the $100k/game bribe allegations were fabricated? Attorneys get a cut of the settlement usually, yes, that's how they get paid. Disability attorneys take up to 50% of back owed payments when folks have been initially denied. Does that make them ambulance chasers?

Why do you think a check for $5M would make it go away when Flores turned down a bribe of $100k per loss?

Finally got to finish my armchair QB scouting. Aqeel Glass is still my favourite QB prospect in this draft in terms of overall value/upside, but if the team can trade down from #6 and pick up a 2nd rounder selection then pls go get Carson Strong.

Copy pasted from the lawsuit itself:

Matt Rhule: "Hear me out... we rebuild the line." Panthers fans: "The offensive line?" Matt Rhule: "The special teams line." Panthers fans: "We hate you so fuging much."

Chances are low, but to be honest I'd rather gamble with a day 3 selection than the only pick that we have in the top 100. It at least prevents them from picking another long snapper.

Going through this thread and other Brian Flores related topics is quite revealing.

A couple of things that stood out to me: During his senior season with ND, he only had 5 games where he threw for over 250yds His Sr Y/A was 8.2yds, but he only threw >= 8.2 in 6 games (2 of those where he did not throw for over 250yds) One of those games where he threw for over his Sr avg, he was pulled in the 1st quarter (and threw for under 250yds) His games vs. VT. Purdue. and Cinci gave me a tremendous amount of pause regarding his accuracy (a looooot of balls behind his WRs), ability to read a defense, and performance under pressure To be fair to Coan ofc, some positives that stood out for me: Looks to have an NFL-caliber arm despite playing in a college offense that did not often challenge deep unless a part of play action Though his ability to perform under pressure concerns me, his ability to respond to adversity did impress me especially when he came back into the game vs. VT to lead the squad to a W NFL size

His lack of experience (less than 20 games starting in college) is something that concerns me as well, but I also explain that away to myself by believing that it will translate him to being a fresh mold of clay. I'm still terrified by any prospect who is going to rely on this coaching staff to put them in a position to succeed, but if we had to throw a pick at a QB I'm very much on board with taking a shot on Aqeel Glass. I still have to watch Cole Kelley, Carson Strong, Bailey Zappe, EJ Perry, and Skylar Thompson before I declare Glass my favourite (read: not best!) QB prospect in this class. Anybody else aside from Willis caught your eye? EJ Perry is a name that I keep hearing about (hence him being on my final 5 to review).

Eleby had a sneaky good team at Western Michigan. Agreed though re: Willis. The more that I watch him, the more I'm seeing that he needs the right situation which we just don't have atm. Put him on a team that has a guy on the back end of their career with a QB coach that is willing to work to start with the fundamentals. There are just way too many throws where I find myself asking, "What in the world did you see there to think that that was the best option?" At the same time, his OL was atrocious so the obvious answer was probably, "A defensive lineman about to flatten me." Kelley and possibly Eleby can be alright. Coan is garbage. Absolute trash. Nothing about his game nor his stats support him being worth a damn. Ridder I can't quite get a read on yet. I don't think that he can be a franchise guy, but a competent QB2 to develop as a potential trade bait in the future? Maybe... I'm all in on Aqeel Glass.

Was at the game. Mint City Collective was incredible and made the entire game an awesome experience. The Battery flat out played tougher and more aggressive.

It's a stupid ass name for a team with a stupid ass owner.

Reddick was the exception, not the rule. You're not going to get a premiere pass rusher on a 1-year prove it deal every offseason. Luvu's contract is also very, very cheap. $4.5M doesn't even make him a top 50 contract hit for LBs.

I wouldn't mind rolling the dice on Gardner Minshew + Aqeel Glass, but any major QB-moves I want to avoid until after we find out whether or not Rhule will be gone.