NFL News

[Tom]

The problem for Belichick is that the team started to fall apart and Brady was able to jump ship to a team that was ready to win a Super Bowl. Belichick was stuck with the team that was falling apart and he wasn’t able to replace the best piece. Had Belichick moved Brady earlier and brought in a good QB, he probably wins a Super Bowl. But Belichick the GM really let that team fall apart and I think he fooled himself into thinking he was still a great GM.

[froot loops]

The Belichick drafts were always a sore subject with Pat fans even during the heyday.

Eventually the ride has to end. He has two kids on his coaching staff, guys in their 70s aren't likely to change. It reminds me of the Wings, they had this great staff and organization that drafted well and it worked for 25 years. But by the time Lidstrom had retired, the organization was a skeleton crew. It had lost a lot of talented people and it never replenished that. The competitive advantage it had with free agency and European scouting had been negated.

[edindetroit]

TheIt reminds me of the Wings, they had this great staff and organization that drafted well and it worked for 25 years. But by the time Lidstrom had retired, the organization was a skeleton crew. It had lost a lot of talented people and it never replenished that. The competitive advantage it had with free agency and European scouting had been negated.

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing this work for the Lions for 25 years.

[whatever_gong82]

[Iron Lion]

Bill Belichick's legacy is going to be that Brady carried him to 6 super bowl wins and he did nothing without him....I dont think he ever even won a playoff game without Brady at QB did he?

Without Brady, Belichick has 1 playoff appearance in 3+ years. Lost in the wildcard by 30 points.

[jaadam4]

The Belichick drafts were always a sore subject with Pat fans even during the heyday.

Eventually the ride has to end. He has two kids on his coaching staff, guys in their 70s aren't likely to change. It reminds me of the Wings, they had this great staff and organization that drafted well and it worked for 25 years. But by the time Lidstrom had retired, the organization was a skeleton crew. It had lost a lot of talented people and it never replenished that. The competitive advantage it had with free agency and European scouting had been negated.

The Pats definitely remind me of the Wings after their run. I'd say the NFL is much easier to change trajectory as draft picks can make immediate contributions but it seems like the best coach ever couldnt change his drafting patterns. The Pats have very little talent.

Everyone has to adjust course.

[whatever_gong82]

Without Brady, Belichick has 1 playoff appearance in 3+ years. Lost in the wildcard by 30 points.

Bill Belichick also won a playoff game for the old Cleveland Browns back in the early 1990s, so while it's true that he hasn't won without Brady, he has won a playoff game prior to having Brady, but he's nothing without Brady, to put it bluntly.

[Cody_Russell]

Imagine it could be near an end for the Patriots-Belichick era, but I can see a less likely scenario where he stays. That would be contingent of Belichick making significant changes… sure, perhaps he won’t be up to it given his age and accomplishments. Such as removing GM duties from Belichick. Require major changes on the coaching staff.

It worked for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan after he almost parted ways after the disastrous 2020 covid season. Glad he stayed!

[whatever_gong82]

Six NFL trades we’d like to see: Pat Surtain II to Lions, Jerry Jeudy to Panthers


By Mike Jones and Jeff Howe
4h ago


Two weeks remain until the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline, and we’ve already seen four notable deals transpire: Denver Broncos defensive end Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson to the New England Patriots.

Last year’s trade deadline was action-packed, with 12 players moved on deadline day alone. That was the most in 30 years, but it remains to be seen if this year’s deadline will be as active.

Rumors have started and will continue to fly. Some have substance, others are just that: rumors.

Ahead of the deadline, we’re taking a look at six trades we would like to see happen. We discuss why our proposed deals make sense, and why they may not happen.



Mike Jones’ three trade proposals


Jets trade WR Mecole Hardman to Chiefs for 2024 fifth-round pick

Why it makes sense

Jones: Scoring is down for the Chiefs this season, and unlike previous years, they have no pass-catchers among the league leaders. Hardman is part of a crowded receiving unit in New York and had productive years in Kansas City before a groin injury and surgery cut his 2022 season short. A reunion could potentially benefit both parties.


Why it won’t happen

Howe: Because the Chiefs are going to reunite with JuJu Smith-Schuster instead. No, I don’t know that, but this is the perfect type of situation in which a team brings back a familiar face to help with depth and give the quarterback a little more reliability. But since Hardman doesn’t have a role with the Jets and he’d be more valuable to the Chiefs than anyone else, I can’t say it wouldn’t make sense, unless Kansas City projects Patrick Mahomes will simply make it work with whoever is in uniform.



Broncos trade CB Pat Surtain II to Lions for 2024 second- and 2025 third-round picks


Why it makes sense


Jones: The Lions are positioning themselves to win the NFC North, but Emmanuel Moseley’s torn right ACL suffered last week (in his first game back from a torn left ACL) is a big blow. They’d love to have another difference-maker in their secondary as they try to gear up for a deep playoff run. People around the league say the Broncos are in sell mode (even if Sean Payton says they’re not). So, future picks to help improve a Broncos roster that’s not nearly as close to win-now mode as Denver’s brass believed may prove enticing.


Why it won’t happen


Howe: I don’t even want to say it won’t happen. This would be an awesome trade for the Lions. But I don’t think it would happen under these parameters. The Broncos feel Surtain is the best cornerback in the league, so they can’t let him go for less than a first-round pick and probably another mid-rounder. That should be fine with the Lions since they’ve had additional first-rounders the past two drafts from the Matthew Stafford trade.


Vikings trade QB Kirk Cousins to Jets for 2024 third-round and 2025 second-round picks


Why it makes sense

Jones: It’s an insane long shot, because Cousins has a no-trade clause and because people familiar with the situation say the Vikings aren’t throwing in the towel on the season. But Minnesota would be smart to pull the trigger on a deal like this. Cousins is on an expiring contract, and little has gone right this year. Now that wide receiver Justin Jefferson is on injured reserve, the wins — already hard to come by — may be even tougher to accumulate. The 2-4 Vikings might as well get something for Cousins rather than lose him on the market next offseason.

As for the Jets: They would get an upgrade over Zach Wilson, and a quarterback familiar with Nathaniel Hackett’s system. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is an extension of the Mike Shanahan coaching tree, as is Hackett, who coached under Matt LaFleur in Green Bay. LaFleur was Cousins’ quarterbacks coach in Washington. The Jets could force their way back into a playoff race with a high-level veteran quarterback to run the show for their talented roster.


Why it won’t happen

Howe: Wilson has finally turned the corner, and now you want him on the bench again?!? There are two bigger factors here, though. First, it’s unrealistic to think a starting quarterback could change systems in the middle of the season and operate the offense at a high-enough level over the final couple of months. Second, I’m not sure I see the incentive for Cousins to waive the no-trade clause. If he struggles — and theoretically, he should to a degree — teams will use that against him when they’re negotiating in free agency. Cousins is almost certainly going to be the most-coveted QB on the free-agent market, so the financial sense would be to continue posting numbers with the Vikings.


Jeff Howe’s trade proposals


Bears trade QB Justin Fields to Falcons for 2024 second-round pick, 2025 conditional third-round pick and QB Taylor Heinicke


Why it makes sense

Howe: Remember, these are trades we want to see — not necessarily those we expect to happen. The Bears are tracking toward the No. 1 pick in the draft, either with their own selection or from the Panthers, so they’re in play for USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. With major changes likely on the horizon again, it might be best to maximize Fields’ value. Meanwhile, the Falcons were linked to Fields (who’s from Kennesaw, Ga.) before the 2021 draft, and he seems like a pretty solid fit for Arthur Smith’s offense.

Fields’ thumb injury complicates this idea, but this would be more of a move with the future in mind. Desmond Ridder has been struggling, and Falcons coach Arthur Smith’s facial expressions Sunday after each interception said a lot about that situation. Again, with a midseason trade, it might be a lot to ask Fields to step in for Ridder relatively soon, but he could get a jump on the offense and position himself to relieve Ridder if necessary, assuming the thumb heals. The extra time in the system could better prepare Fields for 2024.


Why it won’t happen

Jones: Bears GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus didn’t draft Fields, so they might not be as invested in him as someone who had. But Chicago has done a lot to surround Fields with pieces, and after a rocky start to the season, things might be looking up. Before injuring his thumb on Sunday, Fields was coming off his two best games, having thrown four touchdown passes in back-to-back weeks while also getting his first win of the season. If he can make it back on the field promptly, the playoffs aren’t out of reach, so I don’t see the Bears parting with a talent like Fields in-season. If this season is a disaster, they can always revisit this in the offseason.


Patriots trade OLB Josh Uche to Jaguars for 2024 conditional second-round pick
(The Jaguars won’t have a second-round pick if Calvin Ridley signs an extension. If Ridley signs, the Jaguars should trade a 2024 third-rounder and a 2025 fourth-rounder.)

Why it makes sense

Howe: The Jaguars need pass rushers to help Josh Allen and Travon Walker. They don’t want to watch another playoff opportunity slip away because they couldn’t get after the quarterback. As for the Patriots, their last second-round pick to sign a second contract with the team was Rob Gronkowski. Their season is slipping away, and they might as well get something for Uche if the string of failed draft pick extensions is going to continue.

Why it won’t happen

Jones: This would make a lot of sense, but I don’t know that Patriots coach Bill Belichick will be able to bring himself to part with a young, impactful defensive player like Uche. The chance to get some kind of compensation for him rather than lose him on the market is intriguing. But it seems unlikely Belichick is going to want to wave the white flag and signal he has yet another lost season on his hands.


Broncos trade WR Jerry Jeudy to Panthers for 2024 third- and sixth-round picks

Why it makes sense

Howe: The Panthers need to get Bryce Young more help, especially at receiver. While the Broncos have rebuffed trade offers short of first-round picks in the past for Jeudy, time isn’t exactly on their side here, and Jeudy doesn’t have the trade value they’ve been seeking. He’s on the books for about $13 million for his fifth-year option in 2024, and the Broncos need to recalibrate the books while determining their future at quarterback. It just hasn’t worked out for Jeudy in Denver, whether it’s due to injuries, QB play or coaching, so he’d probably welcome a fresh start. The Panthers would hope to reinvigorate a 24-year-old who was once billed as a no-doubt NFL star.


Why it won’t happen

Jones: I can’t argue with this. Jeudy certainly could help Young, who lacks reliable playmakers who boast the explosiveness to win one-on-one matchups. The Panthers have just one player in the top 50 in receiving: Adam Thielen, who ranks ninth with 509 yards on 49 receptions. Payton says the Broncos won’t be sellers on the trade market, but can you really believe that? On one hand, I get it if they don’t want to leave quarterback Russell Wilson with nobody to throw to. But this team is going nowhere and might as well prepare to clean house and find some new building blocks.

[jaadam4]

Imagine it could be near an end for the Patriots-Belichick era, but I can see a less likely scenario where he stays. That would be contingent of Belichick making significant changes… sure, perhaps he won’t be up to it given his age and accomplishments. Such as removing GM duties from Belichick. Require major changes on the coaching staff.

It worked for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan after he almost parted ways after the disastrous 2020 covid season. Glad he stayed!

I don’t think BB giving up GM duties is going to cut it. His power of being Bellichick wouldn’t allow him to concede he can’t do it anymore.

It’s what should 100% happen but it won’t

[jaadam4]

Six NFL trades we’d like to see: Pat Surtain II to Lions, Jerry Jeudy to Panthers


By Mike Jones and Jeff Howe
4h ago


Two weeks remain until the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline, and we’ve already seen four notable deals transpire: Denver Broncos defensive end Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson to the New England Patriots.

Last year’s trade deadline was action-packed, with 12 players moved on deadline day alone. That was the most in 30 years, but it remains to be seen if this year’s deadline will be as active.

Rumors have started and will continue to fly. Some have substance, others are just that: rumors.

Ahead of the deadline, we’re taking a look at six trades we would like to see happen. We discuss why our proposed deals make sense, and why they may not happen.



Mike Jones’ three trade proposals


Jets trade WR Mecole Hardman to Chiefs for 2024 fifth-round pick

Why it makes sense

Jones: Scoring is down for the Chiefs this season, and unlike previous years, they have no pass-catchers among the league leaders. Hardman is part of a crowded receiving unit in New York and had productive years in Kansas City before a groin injury and surgery cut his 2022 season short. A reunion could potentially benefit both parties.


Why it won’t happen

Howe: Because the Chiefs are going to reunite with JuJu Smith-Schuster instead. No, I don’t know that, but this is the perfect type of situation in which a team brings back a familiar face to help with depth and give the quarterback a little more reliability. But since Hardman doesn’t have a role with the Jets and he’d be more valuable to the Chiefs than anyone else, I can’t say it wouldn’t make sense, unless Kansas City projects Patrick Mahomes will simply make it work with whoever is in uniform.



Broncos trade CB Pat Surtain II to Lions for 2024 second- and 2025 third-round picks


Why it makes sense


Jones: The Lions are positioning themselves to win the NFC North, but Emmanuel Moseley’s torn right ACL suffered last week (in his first game back from a torn left ACL) is a big blow. They’d love to have another difference-maker in their secondary as they try to gear up for a deep playoff run. People around the league say the Broncos are in sell mode (even if Sean Payton says they’re not). So, future picks to help improve a Broncos roster that’s not nearly as close to win-now mode as Denver’s brass believed may prove enticing.


Why it won’t happen


Howe: I don’t even want to say it won’t happen. This would be an awesome trade for the Lions. But I don’t think it would happen under these parameters. The Broncos feel Surtain is the best cornerback in the league, so they can’t let him go for less than a first-round pick and probably another mid-rounder. That should be fine with the Lions since they’ve had additional first-rounders the past two drafts from the Matthew Stafford trade.


Vikings trade QB Kirk Cousins to Jets for 2024 third-round and 2025 second-round picks


Why it makes sense

Jones: It’s an insane long shot, because Cousins has a no-trade clause and because people familiar with the situation say the Vikings aren’t throwing in the towel on the season. But Minnesota would be smart to pull the trigger on a deal like this. Cousins is on an expiring contract, and little has gone right this year. Now that wide receiver Justin Jefferson is on injured reserve, the wins — already hard to come by — may be even tougher to accumulate. The 2-4 Vikings might as well get something for Cousins rather than lose him on the market next offseason.

As for the Jets: They would get an upgrade over Zach Wilson, and a quarterback familiar with Nathaniel Hackett’s system. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is an extension of the Mike Shanahan coaching tree, as is Hackett, who coached under Matt LaFleur in Green Bay. LaFleur was Cousins’ quarterbacks coach in Washington. The Jets could force their way back into a playoff race with a high-level veteran quarterback to run the show for their talented roster.


Why it won’t happen

Howe: Wilson has finally turned the corner, and now you want him on the bench again?!? There are two bigger factors here, though. First, it’s unrealistic to think a starting quarterback could change systems in the middle of the season and operate the offense at a high-enough level over the final couple of months. Second, I’m not sure I see the incentive for Cousins to waive the no-trade clause. If he struggles — and theoretically, he should to a degree — teams will use that against him when they’re negotiating in free agency. Cousins is almost certainly going to be the most-coveted QB on the free-agent market, so the financial sense would be to continue posting numbers with the Vikings.


Jeff Howe’s trade proposals


Bears trade QB Justin Fields to Falcons for 2024 second-round pick, 2025 conditional third-round pick and QB Taylor Heinicke


Why it makes sense

Howe: Remember, these are trades we want to see — not necessarily those we expect to happen. The Bears are tracking toward the No. 1 pick in the draft, either with their own selection or from the Panthers, so they’re in play for USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. With major changes likely on the horizon again, it might be best to maximize Fields’ value. Meanwhile, the Falcons were linked to Fields (who’s from Kennesaw, Ga.) before the 2021 draft, and he seems like a pretty solid fit for Arthur Smith’s offense.

Fields’ thumb injury complicates this idea, but this would be more of a move with the future in mind. Desmond Ridder has been struggling, and Falcons coach Arthur Smith’s facial expressions Sunday after each interception said a lot about that situation. Again, with a midseason trade, it might be a lot to ask Fields to step in for Ridder relatively soon, but he could get a jump on the offense and position himself to relieve Ridder if necessary, assuming the thumb heals. The extra time in the system could better prepare Fields for 2024.


Why it won’t happen

Jones: Bears GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus didn’t draft Fields, so they might not be as invested in him as someone who had. But Chicago has done a lot to surround Fields with pieces, and after a rocky start to the season, things might be looking up. Before injuring his thumb on Sunday, Fields was coming off his two best games, having thrown four touchdown passes in back-to-back weeks while also getting his first win of the season. If he can make it back on the field promptly, the playoffs aren’t out of reach, so I don’t see the Bears parting with a talent like Fields in-season. If this season is a disaster, they can always revisit this in the offseason.


Patriots trade OLB Josh Uche to Jaguars for 2024 conditional second-round pick
(The Jaguars won’t have a second-round pick if Calvin Ridley signs an extension. If Ridley signs, the Jaguars should trade a 2024 third-rounder and a 2025 fourth-rounder.)

Why it makes sense

Howe: The Jaguars need pass rushers to help Josh Allen and Travon Walker. They don’t want to watch another playoff opportunity slip away because they couldn’t get after the quarterback. As for the Patriots, their last second-round pick to sign a second contract with the team was Rob Gronkowski. Their season is slipping away, and they might as well get something for Uche if the string of failed draft pick extensions is going to continue.

Why it won’t happen

Jones: This would make a lot of sense, but I don’t know that Patriots coach Bill Belichick will be able to bring himself to part with a young, impactful defensive player like Uche. The chance to get some kind of compensation for him rather than lose him on the market is intriguing. But it seems unlikely Belichick is going to want to wave the white flag and signal he has yet another lost season on his hands.


Broncos trade WR Jerry Jeudy to Panthers for 2024 third- and sixth-round picks

Why it makes sense

Howe: The Panthers need to get Bryce Young more help, especially at receiver. While the Broncos have rebuffed trade offers short of first-round picks in the past for Jeudy, time isn’t exactly on their side here, and Jeudy doesn’t have the trade value they’ve been seeking. He’s on the books for about $13 million for his fifth-year option in 2024, and the Broncos need to recalibrate the books while determining their future at quarterback. It just hasn’t worked out for Jeudy in Denver, whether it’s due to injuries, QB play or coaching, so he’d probably welcome a fresh start. The Panthers would hope to reinvigorate a 24-year-old who was once billed as a no-doubt NFL star.


Why it won’t happen

Jones: I can’t argue with this. Jeudy certainly could help Young, who lacks reliable playmakers who boast the explosiveness to win one-on-one matchups. The Panthers have just one player in the top 50 in receiving: Adam Thielen, who ranks ninth with 509 yards on 49 receptions. Payton says the Broncos won’t be sellers on the trade market, but can you really believe that? On one hand, I get it if they don’t want to leave quarterback Russell Wilson with nobody to throw to. But this team is going nowhere and might as well prepare to clean house and find some new building blocks.

This shit is hilarious. One of the best CBs in the league still on a rookie deal for a 2nd and 3rd rounder in one scenario yet a wayyy under performing doesn’t look like he belongs WR for a 3rd. No way that shit happens for both trades. That writer is on crack

Ive said it before, I’d give up 2 1sts for Surtain and I think it would be HR trade for us. Sutton would shift to being a 2nd cb and our defense would be even stronger. It’s a win win

[chemiclord]

Surtain doesn't go for less than two firsts. And that's even if the Broncos have any intention of trading him (spoiler alert: they don't).

[Mainevent]

I would also give up those 2 firsts for Surtain, but yeah Broncos trading him seems highly unlikely. It would have to be Surtain pushing his way out or some serious conflict with Payton, because those are the players you pay and keep around. It would be different if he was 26 or 27 maybe, but he's 23 year old all pro.

[whatever_gong82]

[jaadam4]

Denver. I can’t believe they’re this bad