The (Un)official 2008 NFL Off-season Thread

[Island_Style]

The Saints apparently have another weapon...

Saints Acquire Shockey

For those not familiar, Shockey's best season was as a rookie when Sean Payton was the Giants' O-coordinator.

He wore #88 at Miami and it happens to be available in New Orleans, too.

Nice pick up for the Saints.

[FiddySicks]

I gotta admit, I'm now a bit worried about what the Aints could do in the south. I just hope Shockey does what he does best, disrupts everything, kills chemistry, and gets injured.

[BlueSky]

I gotta admit, I'm now a bit worried about what the Aints could do in the south. I just hope Shockey does what he does best, disrupts everything, kills chemistry, and gets injured.

Yeah, that's a concern. Have to hope Payton knows how to keep him calm. He'll be a big part of the offense I'm sure. Billy Miller has been the only guy consistently making plays at TE down there.

[FiddySicks]

I gotta admit, I'm now a bit worried about what the Aints could do in the south. I just hope Shockey does what he does best, disrupts everything, kills chemistry, and gets injured.

Yeah, that's a concern. Have to hope Payton knows how to keep him calm. He'll be a big part of the offense I'm sure. Billy Miller has been the only guy consistently making plays at TE down there.

You see, the most frustrating thing for me is that New Orleans brought in quite a bit this off season. They may not be the best pieces for that team, but at least they helped to boost morale quite a bit. Tampa had the biggest cap space of any team in the NFL (The Packers may have been bigger, but the Favre disaster isn't over yet so who knows how that'll end up), and sat on their hands when they had a great opportunity to bring in at least someone who could help us, let alone a big name.

[BlueSky]

I gotta admit, I'm now a bit worried about what the Aints could do in the south. I just hope Shockey does what he does best, disrupts everything, kills chemistry, and gets injured.

Yeah, that's a concern. Have to hope Payton knows how to keep him calm. He'll be a big part of the offense I'm sure. Billy Miller has been the only guy consistently making plays at TE down there.

You see, the most frustrating thing for me is that New Orleans brought in quite a bit this off season. They may not be the best pieces for that team, but at least they helped to boost morale quite a bit. Tampa had the biggest cap space of any team in the NFL (The Packers may have been bigger, but the Favre disaster isn't over yet so who knows how that'll end up), and sat on their hands when they had a great opportunity to bring in at least someone who could help us, let alone a big name.

Rumor has it Gruden would have been interested in Shockey if he played QB.

[Don]

the Jason Taylor move was a pure desperation move by Cerrato. it just showed you the Redskins screwed up their draft by not picking a stud d-lineman. as a Redskins fan i wish they hadnt made the bonehead moves of drafting 2 wide outs when the most glaring need was at d-line. Daniels gets hurt, Buzbee gets hurt, lets go pick up Taylor cause we got no one else. im half in half on this one. i know we're getting a good player, but those were picks we didnt need to give away if we had drafted properly this year and last years draft as well. if Cerrato had drafted better we wouldnt have been in such a desperate situation.

[Joshawaggie]

The Packers - Favre - Vikings - Bevell saga continues...

Salary Cap violation for the Packers?

In a nutshell:

Packers accuse Vikings of tampering

Packers obtain phone records from cell phone of Brett Favre

Packers own said cell phone

Brett Favre is stillt technically a Packer

A team issued phone to a current player is a Salary Cap violation, unless price of phone was included in salray cap number for Favre

ridiculous

[TFoA]

So, for the record, Favre is guilty of 'retiring early', the Vikings are guilty of tampering by way of a cell phone issued to Favre by the Packers, who are now guilty of a salary cap violation.

I love how EVERYBODY involved in this nonsense is getting egg all over their faces.

[Jigga]

Why in the hell is Goodell getting involved in this Brett Favre mess? I'm trying really, really hard to find something to like about the Goodell administration, but I just can't.

[NJTank]

Goodell is looking more and more like an empty suit every day

[tBBP]

In case anyone cares, Jason Taylor will be running around with #55 stitched to his front, back, and shoulderholes this season.

Just thought y'all might like to know.

[DEAD!]

Why in the hell is Goodell getting involved in this Brett Favre mess? I'm trying really, really hard to find something to like about the Goodell administration, but I just can't.

hmmm... they haven't outsourced jobs to China, yet?

[tBBP]

I know at some point, this thread will have to close, due to the end of the 2008 NFL off-season fast approaching.

It's been a long, healthy ride thus far, discussing all this off-season business.

BUT...before this off-season does go, it's only appropriate that I share this news with those who ain't heard it yet:

Broncos WR Rod Smith is calling it a career.

I, for one, am truly saddened by this--not personally, but as a fanatic of football and the NFL. This man was truly one of the greatest to play his position--hell, the game, period--and there's no reason he shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentences with the likes of Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Marvin Harrison, Art Monk, Andre Reed--all WRs who have made longstanding and unforgettable impacts on their teams (well, the Redskins in Monk's case, can't speak for his curtain call in PHL Eagle kelly green), and really, on the game itself.

Rod...you was one of the best that ever done it...you will TRULY be missed.

[See Red]

I know at some point, this thread will have to close, due to the end of the 2008 NFL off-season fast approaching.

It's been a long, healthy ride thus far, discussing all this off-season business.

BUT...before this off-season does go, it's only appropriate that I share this news with those who ain't heard it yet:

Broncos WR Rod Smith is calling it a career.

I, for one, am truly saddened by this--not personally, but as a fanatic of football and the NFL. This man was truly one of the greatest to play his position--hell, the game, period--and there's no reason he shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentences with the likes of Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Marvin Harrison, Art Monk, Andre Reed--all WRs who have made longstanding and unforgettable impacts on their teams (well, the Redskins in Monk's case, can't speak for his curtain call in PHL Eagle kelly green), and really, on the game itself.

Rod...you was one of the best that ever done it...you will TRULY be missed.

Well said. His contributions to the Broncos will be missed and difficult to replace, both on and off of the field.

Personally, when I think of Rod Smith I think of two plays... first being his 80 yard TD catch in Super Bowl XXXIII.

But even more than that, I'll remember Julius Peppers 101 yard interception return that would've been a 104 yard TD if not for the efforts of Rod Smith. Even though Carolina eventually scored, it was one of those plays where you see so many players just call it quits. Probably the best example I can think of of what type of player he was.

[TFoA]

Falcons in talks to sign Grady Jackson...again.

If the Falcons get Grady back, then the Falcons will officially be on their way to being the Falcuars. They're already shaping the offense to be run oriented (Turner and Norwood are dfinitely going to put up some numbers this year), and now the defense is looking the same. The Falcons may be pretty solid when it comes to the run game on either side.

Now the air game...with perrenial backups and a rookie as our QBs and the fact that our secondary may be as loose as a sieve...that'll be what kills us, in addition to the o-line still being skinny.

But at least Grady's coming back. I missed seeing that guy in red and black.

[tBBP]

The NFL is is copycat league, after all, Flame. But yeah--I can see the Jaguar in the Falcons' new team approach.

However, if they're looking to add a veteran to that mix (potentially in the role of Jimmy Smith or Keenan McCardell), well then...

...I hear Terry Glenn may be available.

[BlueSky]

Falcons in talks to sign Grady Jackson...again.

If the Falcons get Grady back, then the Falcons will officially be on their way to being the Falcuars. They're already shaping the offense to be run oriented (Turner and Norwood are dfinitely going to put up some numbers this year), and now the defense is looking the same. The Falcons may be pretty solid when it comes to the run game on either side.

Now the air game...with perrenial backups and a rookie as our QBs and the fact that our secondary may be as loose as a sieve...that'll be what kills us, in addition to the o-line still being skinny.

But at least Grady's coming back. I missed seeing that guy in red and black.

Except for the helmet, that could be a picture of a Falcons fan.

[TFoA]

Falcons in talks to sign Grady Jackson...again.

If the Falcons get Grady back, then the Falcons will officially be on their way to being the Falcuars. They're already shaping the offense to be run oriented (Turner and Norwood are dfinitely going to put up some numbers this year), and now the defense is looking the same. The Falcons may be pretty solid when it comes to the run game on either side.

Now the air game...with perrenial backups and a rookie as our QBs and the fact that our secondary may be as loose as a sieve...that'll be what kills us, in addition to the o-line still being skinny.

But at least Grady's coming back. I missed seeing that guy in red and black.

Except for the helmet, that could be a picture of a Falcons fan.

But yeah, Falcons sign 2nd round pick LB Curtis Lofton. I'm happy to see this deal get done, since he might be starting this year.

Things are coming together. Like the article said, it'll be somewhat of a minor miracle if the Falcons can get everybody into camp early. All they need to do is sign Baker and everybody's there. I hope that gets done quickly, the Falcons are gonna need all the reps they can get.

EDIT:

Falcons sign Baker.

EVERYBODY'S IN! WOO!

[chuckymack]

Falcons in talks to sign Grady Jackson...again.

If the Falcons get Grady back, then the Falcons will officially be on their way to being the Falcuars. They're already shaping the offense to be run oriented (Turner and Norwood are dfinitely going to put up some numbers this year), and now the defense is looking the same. The Falcons may be pretty solid when it comes to the run game on either side.

Now the air game...with perrenial backups and a rookie as our QBs and the fact that our secondary may be as loose as a sieve...that'll be what kills us, in addition to the o-line still being skinny.

But at least Grady's coming back. I missed seeing that guy in red and black.

How can you miss that guy?! He's as broad as a barn!

[Cujo]

Former Tampa Bay and current Denver safety, John Lynch, has played his last game with the Broncos.

Yahoo Sports -- The 16-year NFL safety met with coach Mike Shanahan on Wednesday and told Denver?s KCNC-TV that Shanahan gave him permission to explore other opportunities. That could be playing for another team, or retiring to perhaps go into the broadcast booth.