ColtStrong2013

Regarding JT- “I’d be shocked if we’re not about to see real greatness from him real soon.” Regarding franchise tag- “I don’t worry about the ramifications. I don’t want to use it, but it’s a tool.”

“Can’t understate the value Gardner brought… guys believe in him. Likeability/belief are important.” “Of course Gardner wants to be a starter… Sam’s the same way. Jacoby was that way. They are competitive and hard for them to accept they are the 2. This is what is great about Gardner, he was the 2, knew he was, but continued to work and willing to help.” no mention of him coming back. Feels like a no.

Regarding Pierce- “What he does well is getting downfield. Have to continue working on ways of letting him do the things he does well, which is stretching the field.”

“We do think there are going to be opportunities to add guys to make us more explosive.” feels good about the draft with explosive players on offense. Still working through free agency availabilities.

I posted that earlier. “If an opportunity presents itself to get a difference maker, we’ll do it.”

Building off a rookie contract qb. “Opens the world up more.”

He said they have to prudent and it has to be the right fit, etc. regarding paying someone big money- “they have to come in and earn it/prove they are worth it.”

Addressing o-line currently.

I’ve called it all year. When has he had a legit opportunity to hit free agency like we all want? He’s addressed the qb situation every offseason since Luck retired. Last year both qb and head coach. talks about the flexibility they have now. Stay tuned.

Talking highly about Daniel Scott. Feel good about him coming back from injury to add to the secondary.

he just did. It wasn’t loud and clear but that f bomb did slip.

multiple. Pair another with Blackmon at the back end.

“Excuse me- Almost dropped an f bomb.”

If there was a time to move on, it would be now. I just don't think they will. I see them giving him the benefit of the doubt with injuries. Do the evaluation, sit him down and see how he feels about a one year deal.

Exactly right on the injuries... A competitive division like the North has for what seems like an eternity can offset the so called dominance of a division. I doubt that the Browns care right now that the Ravens dominated the division this year, aside from having to play on the road in the playoffs. They are very much in the thick of things. Steelers don't have a shot, but they are there instead of another South team. It looked like two South teams would for sure be represented in the playoffs until the very end. NFL is strange that way. It's not like Stroud is playing in the Brady-era AFC East. I don't think he is going to be a perennial division champion year after year. It's going to be competitive. Teams within the division are going to be hard for him to sweep each year, and even when they do, they could still lose the division to that team. We were that close to beating the Jags for the division title this year, without coming close to actually beating them. When the Texans win the division, they are going to be playing other division winners and they are going to have the harder schedule. Life in the NFL.

He sure will if he continues having concussions like he did this season…

Yeah. I titled thread likely staying, because that’s what reading between the lines of all of Steichen’s comments told me. He praised him, especially with the amount of sacks and for the job he did with the injuries that piled up from the beginning. We also let a key figure on defense go mid season in Shaq Leonard. A lot of adversity really for this team. He spoke on their history together and how much he like Bradley. And stressed the importance of continuity. Based on those comments, I just don’t see it being the year to cut Bradley off. I think he’s got another year to see what he can do with a retooled defense. I honestly figure we’ll see more emphasis on defense this offseason than offense. I think Steichen and company will likely have the impression that JT from day 1, and Richardson under center can make a tremendous difference in itself on offense. Will be interesting regardless.

I think there is little chance we do much differently with the line. Going to let them grow in the offseason and worry about the blatant holes on defense. Shoring up the secondary could allow them to take another jump. Paye and Dayo in contract years could elevate their play.

I thought of Bill during the game. How many times did he cover TY Hilton or Marvin Harrison in tight man with a safety shadowing over the top all game long? The video of him telling Chad ocho cinco to just not worry about playing because they were double covering him all game. Make the 2nd option and down the line beat you.

QB play. Period

Of course. Ultimately Ballard's going to be the one with the decision. It doesn't appear that Irsay is super involved in overruling him on contracts and coaches. Even with trading up to draft Taylor in 2020, it was Irsay that pushed him to do, but it was just a nudge "if you want him, just do it." Bluem does the dirty work and has more knowledge of the capspace and the contracts/market for players than anyone in the building, without any doubt. It's not his call to put the contracts in front of players and to manage the roster. It's his job to do the dirty work and have the knowledge at hand so that Ballard and company can decide what is best. In the "with the first pick series" that they highlighted him, Ballard says along the lines of "I always seek his opinion and how he feels, I might not always agree with him." He doesn't have to agree, but he has to know what he thinks, because it would be insane not to know his breakdown and why he feels the way he does. Bluem is forming his opinions on understanding the organization's roster building and contract principles, but with a higher knowledge of the cap situation, the moves they can make, and the rules that tie it all together. Bluem talks in that bit about how cash is king regarding the makeup of contracts. The cap is just an accounting method, and it will catch up to if you aren't prudent with it, but it's not everything. There's a clip of him on the phone flat out saying "I can tell you right now, I don't think we'd be in that market." He's legit doing the negotiating and dirty work. He will know the parameters (because he'll be the one presenting the numbers before the negotiations even begin of what he believes they can or cannot afford) and will be in the back and forth discussions of what the market is. What Ballard is really good at is not committing to overpaying right off the bat. He's so convicted in being patient and disciplined in not throwing numbers recklessly, especially if they are unsure. "Go explore and find what your market is." That's his way of saying, we are already confident in the assessment we have and you are way off. But if you can get it, then you better take it.

Mike Bluem…

yep. Gives you an opportunity to move forward with any combination of Pittman, Downs and (insert 2024 draft pick).

It’s the only way to go if you are keeping Pittman, which I don’t see them not doing. If you find an absolute stud in the draft that turns into an elite receiver, you get he and Pittman both for upwards of 4 years, with the option of moving on from Pittman for the younger and more talented guy. I like that concept better than any other alternative that we can reasonably explore.

He’s going to have tons of money thrown at him from all angles. And I think he’s most certainly gone if they win tonight. Maybe regardless.