Emmanuel Sanders is so much better than Eric Decker

[chad72]

Yea its brutal to watch..the only silver lining is that when Manning and Brady retire, the Patriots are going to be more competitive than the Broncos.. they're in Win Now mode, the Patriots just consistently try to make the best decisions to keep them competitive this year and future years.

 

The Denver vs New England game is going to be a good one!

 

I am not so sure about that because what is to say Elway won't get another established or middle of the road experienced QB to come play for him? Besides, with the TV contracts going up, he can afford to keep more talent than in the past. Plus, if Peyton retires, that is another $20 mil. he can spend on improving his team and will adapt and re-make the identify of that Broncos team. He let go of Champ Bailey, Shaun Philips, Wesley Woodyard, Zane Beadles etc. to make room and sign Talib, Ward, Sanders, Ware. I think he has done a very good job of identifying which players fit and which ones to sign so far, IMO.

 

I do not see that from the Patriots, in an overall sense from a GM performance point of view.

[dw49]

I am not so sure about that because what is to say Elway won't get another established or middle of the road experienced QB to come play for him? Besides, with the TV contracts going up, he can afford to keep more talent than in the past. Plus, if Peyton retires, that is another $20 mil. he can spend on improving his team and will adapt and re-make the identify of that Broncos team. He let go of Champ Bailey, Shaun Philips, Wesley Woodyard, Zane Beadles etc. to make room and sign Talib, Ward, Sanders, Ware. I think he has done a very good job of identifying which players fit and which ones to sign so far, IMO.

 

I do not see that from the Patriots, in an overall sense from a GM performance point of view.

 

 

This article sides with you. What they're saying here is it's all pretty much in the draft.....I guess this is why draft picks seem more valuable now than ever before.

 

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000416520/article/john-elways-design-benefiting-peyton-manning-denver-broncos

[amfootball]

I am not so sure about that because what is to say Elway won't get another established or middle of the road experienced QB to come play for him? Besides, with the TV contracts going up, he can afford to keep more talent than in the past. Plus, if Peyton retires, that is another $20 mil. he can spend on improving his team and will adapt and re-make the identify of that Broncos team. He let go of Champ Bailey, Shaun Philips, Wesley Woodyard, Zane Beadles etc. to make room and sign Talib, Ward, Sanders, Ware. I think he has done a very good job of identifying which players fit and which ones to sign so far, IMO.

 

I do not see that from the Patriots, in an overall sense from a GM performance point of view.

Elway is a better GM than Bill at this point. Everything that works for the Pats is predicated on Brady making chicken soup out of chicken poop. We will see how things fare when #12 hangs them up but I am not holding my breath. Many orgs have tried to copy the Patriot Way over the past 13 years and all have failed because they don't have Brady. I like Jimmy a lot but the chances of him being anything close to Brady are pretty slim. But who knows maybe Bill can hit the jackpot twice.

[amfootball]

I'm thinking it might be tough to keep both receivers. I see they opted for the 5th year on Von Miller... so they can pay him the 9 mill in 2015 or do another deal. 

If I was them I would sign Julius and let Demarius walk. Have to keep Miller assuming his off-field stuff is behind him. Also, Welker is at the end too. He has only had one catch the last two games and has lost quite a bit even from last year. So they will need a slot guy as well.

[sweetsurrender]

Its going to be interesting to see how Elway handles Julius Thomas, Demarius Thomas and Von Miller all coming to the end of their rookie deals.  All 3 of them are going to demand top of the market value... In Julius Thomas' case he will demand top 3 TE money.. Von Miller will demand top 3 DE/OLB money and Demarius Thomas will demand top 5 WR money

 

Chris Harris is also a pro bowl CB and his deal is up as well.

 

Denver is completely loaded from top to bottom with talent on both sides of the ball, but they're definitely going to be cap strung after next year.

The cap is projected to go up though. I think they get one of the Thomas' done and let the other walk. They will sign Miller as well. Not sure on Harris. They may just pick someone up in FA at a lower cost because they got Talib.

[dw49]

If I was them I would sign Julius and let Demarius walk. Have to keep Miller assuming his off-field stuff is behind him. Also, Welker is at the end too. He has only had one catch the last two games and has lost quite a bit even from last year. So they will need a slot guy as well.

 

 

Hard to be sure that Welker is done. I did watch both those games and he appears to be getting some separation . He's had 24 targets and 19 catches for the year. You did leave out the 3 catches , 50 yards and the TD vs SF. 

[oldunclemark]

I would not put him in the slot given the risk of injury. He has great speed to play outside WR. This Denver offense feels very different than last year. Not sure yet how to feel about it but for sure it is going to put some points. Very interested to see how Ball does as well. I think they will miss Moreno. He was fantastic for them last year.

They may have to sweet...

They have to pay the Thomas 'brothers' and to do that, they have to replace some vets with low priced boys.

They'll let Wes Welker go..use his money to help pay the Thomas' and replace him with Latimer whos on his rookie deal..

That's part of why they let Prater go certainly...Chris Clark, Jacob Tamme...probably Orlando Franklin and Manny Ramirez...

..may all be let go to save cash

[Moose Of Woe]

As much of a fan of Welker as I am - he really has lost a step.

 

If I were Denver I'd keep him for depth. I'd still rather see him on any given down than Caldwell.

[oldunclemark]

The cap is projected to go up though. I think they get one of the Thomas' done and let the other walk. They will sign Miller as well. Not sure on Harris. They may just pick someone up in FA at a lower cost because they got Talib.

Harris will probably go..

They've drafted Kayvon Webster and Branley Roby the last 2 years and both are OK.

I'm guessing they sign Julius Thomas to a deal that's graduated into the years beyond when Peyton and Demarcus Ware's deals are up which, for both, is after the 2016 season..maybe $6 mil, then 8 mil, then 10 mil, then 12 mil..

If Peyton stays beyond 2016, he'll stay at lower pay. Ware will be 36 in 2017...

You just sign Demariyus Thomas to what the other top guys make and penny pinch on Julius, who isn't as good as Demariyus yet

[Shane Bond]

Demariyus and Julius will sign 2 year extensions ( till Peyton's 5th year ). Once Peyton is gone after ( which i am assuming ), they both will head to Colts.

 

Demariyus, TY Hilton and Julius with Andrew Luck.

[NewColtsFan]

Demariyus and Julius will sign 2 year extensions ( till Peyton's 5th year ). Once Peyton is gone after ( which i am assuming ), they both will head to Colts.

 

Demariyus, TY Hilton and Julius with Andrew Luck.

 

I don't know where you live,  but I'm assuming it's in a state where Pot is legal!!     Good for you!    

 

I think the odds of your prediction coming true are somewhere between slim and none, and slim is riding out of town........

[Shane Bond]

I don't know where you live,  but I'm assuming it's in a state where Pot is legal!!     Good for you!    

 

I think the odds of your prediction coming true are somewhere between slim and none, and slim is riding out of town........

Let me live in my fantasy world my friend   

[LordHelpOurColts]

Sanders now has 5 games of 100 yards or more on the season. Most in the NFL

[Superman]

The cap is projected to go up though. I think they get one of the Thomas' done and let the other walk. They will sign Miller as well. Not sure on Harris. They may just pick someone up in FA at a lower cost because they got Talib.

 

They have no cap issues. They can re-sign both Thomases, and Von Miller, and keep Talib and Harris, and still be under the cap. Some of their guys will get away; that's a harsh reality in the salary cap era. But they are in good shape, cap-wise. 

 

Right now, they're projected to have a payroll of $107m in 2015, and the cap is expected to be somewhere around $140m. They'll be okay.

[sweetsurrender]

They have no cap issues. They can re-sign both Thomases, and Von Miller, and keep Talib and Harris, and still be under the cap. Some of their guys will get away; that's a harsh reality in the salary cap era. But they are in good shape, cap-wise. 

 

Right now, they're projected to have a payroll of $107m in 2015, and the cap is expected to be somewhere around $140m. They'll be okay.

Sure but I don't think they will pay top dollar to both Thomases. Miller is interesting as they have to believe his off-field stuff is behind him before they dish out the money. They messed up Doom pretty bad as well so I guess we will see what Elway has in mind. He can't be every happy with that defense after the performance today but one game.

[Superman]

Sure but I don't think they will pay top dollar to both Thomases. Miller is interesting as they have to believe his off-field stuff is behind him before they dish out the money. They messed up Doom pretty bad as well so I guess we will see what Elway has in mind. He can't be every happy with that defense after the performance today but one game.

 

Why wouldn't they pay both Thomases? They're both top five at their respective positions, both still young, and both are critical to what they want to do, no matter who the QB is. 

 

Von Miller isn't difficult, either. You just stagger his guaranteed money, like the Niners and Bengals did with their QBs. The CBA allows a lot of inventiveness with contracts that comes in handy when you have questionable situations like this. 

 

They didn't really mess up Dumervil, either. They wound up light on pass rushers last season due to unforeseen circumstances, but he wasn't worth $12m, based on previous performance. Them cutting him actually makes it easier for them to keep their young guys moving forward. A big deal was made out of that situation because of FaxGate, but really, it was just a case of a team releasing an aging player who wasn't performing and was overpaid. It happens every year.

 

As for the defensive performance today, uhhh, I don't know. I think it was more about scheme and execution than personnel. They got cross-matched a lot in the passing game, with Miller on Gronkowski, safeties on Edelman, etc. And then a lot of credit goes to the Pats for great playmaking, Gronk's one-hander was amazing, Brady made some incredible throws, the protection was really good, etc. And they're missing a couple of linebackers due to injury, so I don't know that Elway is too concerned with the quality of his roster. And even if he was, the answer isn't to let two of the best young defenders in the league walk in free agency.

 

Some people just like repeating things that they've heard, without regard for whether it's actually true. If that's the case here, by all means, carry on. But the facts of the situation are pretty clear. The Broncos might want to add talent, and they will have to be smart in the way they structure their contracts moving forward, but they aren't in any cap trouble, and if they want to keep their young guys, they can.

[sweetsurrender]

Why wouldn't they pay both Thomases? They're both top five at their respective positions, both still young, and both are critical to what they want to do, no matter who the QB is. 

 

Von Miller isn't difficult, either. You just stagger his guaranteed money, like the Niners and Bengals did with their QBs. The CBA allows a lot of inventiveness with contracts that comes in handy when you have questionable situations like this. 

 

They didn't really mess up Dumervil, either. They wound up light on pass rushers last season due to unforeseen circumstances, but he wasn't worth $12m, based on previous performance. Them cutting him actually makes it easier for them to keep their young guys moving forward. A big deal was made out of that situation because of FaxGate, but really, it was just a case of a team releasing an aging player who wasn't performing and was overpaid. It happens every year.

 

As for the defensive performance today, uhhh, I don't know. I think it was more about scheme and execution than personnel. They got cross-matched a lot in the passing game, with Miller on Gronkowski, safeties on Edelman, etc. And then a lot of credit goes to the Pats for great playmaking, Gronk's one-hander was amazing, Brady made some incredible throws, the protection was really good, etc. And they're missing a couple of linebackers due to injury, so I don't know that Elway is too concerned with the quality of his roster. And even if he was, the answer isn't to let two of the best young defenders in the league walk in free agency.

 

Some people just like repeating things that they've heard, without regard for whether it's actually true. If that's the case here, by all means, carry on. But the facts of the situation are pretty clear. The Broncos might want to add talent, and they will have to be smart in the way they structure their contracts moving forward, but they aren't in any cap trouble, and if they want to keep their young guys, they can.

Good points but I think the Broncos have to look at their whole roster and having that many guys making top dollar might not make sense in terms of putting a complete team on the field. I think the Pats exposed them every way possible yesterday and that is the team along with whoever the NFC team is in the SB that they have to beat to get to where they want to go. Manning covers an awful lot but it was evident yesterday that their STs stink, they don't have the secondary to cover what were considered to be average weapons this year in NE outside of Gronk and they have no run game. I see lots of holes and I think paying that many top 5 contracts is not wise.