NFL
By: Greg Rector
So Much Speculation
NFL rumors abound during what I call the “Silly Season.” From the free agency rumors, player cuts, or trades, the speculation of what might happen gets downright silly after the college All-Star games and before the NFL combine in Indianapolis. So let’s review some of the crazy rumors out there and put them to bed.
Aaron Rodgers
The “Darkness” retreat is over. Whether he decides to retire, remain a Packer, or is traded is to be determined. One thing is determined though. He will not be traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott has a no-trade clause for starters and the dead cap hit is something the Dallas Cowboys would never do. So for all of you who suggested that idea, get back to reality.
That was a great meme, however.
Quarterbacks
Outside of Derek Carr being available right now thanks to some of his old contract terms, there are endless rumors regarding Jimmy G, Ryan Tannehill, and many other veteran quarterbacks as to where they will be in 2023.
It is not in my pay grade or any of you either to make those decisions. Let the new league year begin on March 15th and then we will have facts instead of rumors. NFL pro scouts, cap experts, owners, and coaches make those calls, not us.
Our “control” is to be fans and again none of us sign the checks. The time to talk about the decisions is after they happen. None of us know what Derek Carr would do as the Jets quarterback, we can certainly speculate, to come out and say the Jets would win the AFC East though is again silly. We have no clue what any of the 32 NFL rosters will remotely look like and won’t for quite some time. Be patient folks, the calendar year for the NFL is coming and then you can criticize all you want.
Salary Cap
The NFL salary cap is 224.8 million dollars for the 2023 season. NFL teams do not have endless amounts of money to spend, despite the maneuvering of those dollars teams make. So with every cap casualty cut don’t assume your franchise is going to sign Robert Woods or Bobby Wagner to a new deal. NFL teams do need to have enough money under the cap for the upcoming draft class as well. Please keep the reality of the business side of the game in mind before you spend that cap money on wishful thinking.
NFL Combine
I know this will fall on deaf ears. Here we go anyway. The NFL Combine will see players test out nicely as happens every year. The combine serves a couple of purposes, folks. The first purpose is to confirm the player’s physical measurables. Height, weight, arm length (Ugh) yes they are important. The other huge reason the combine matters are players’ medicals. NFL teams focus on this.
They want to know if a prior injury will impact a prospect. Is there something medically that people are not aware of? An example of that was Damone Clark LB from LSU. The Cowboys team doctors discovered an underlying issue with Clark at the combine. That is why he had the specific surgery and a reason why Dallas still drafted him.
The other focus will be whether the “tests” back up what was seen during the last CFB season. I know this will be ignored but don’t get too crazy over a 40-yard time, or a good vertical jump. Use it as part of the process, don’t make it the determining factor for making a draft pick. My “TED TALK” is now over.
Those moments at the NFL draft are made not just from the combine or even worse a “pro day,” when they are (see Zach Wilson) the results are most often not good.
Reality
It is almost here folks. Once the new league year starts, players can be signed, and trades for draft picks can take place. After March 15th you can praise or be irate about moves all you want. Until then, do y’all realize there is NCAA basketball, NBA, NHL, and even spring training baseball to enjoy? If you want to speculate there is an entire mock draft community out there. Part of the fun is speculating about the upcoming draft. Go at it full bore. The rest of the moves to be made though are out of our hands.
As always find me on Twitter @GregsCowboys
