NFL Speculation Season Draws to a Close
Once the last whistle sounded at the Super Bowl and well before the green victory confetti settled on the artificial turf in Minnesota, speculation season kicked off in grand fashion. Heck, the media folks were asking Eagles' quarterback Nick Foles if he thought about where he would play next year -- right after he was asked about being the ultimate surprise Super Bowl MVP of the new century.
The only one-punt championship game of any era I can remember produced instant questions in a league that has been suffering a bit of a quality quarterback shortage the last few years.
The Eagles shut down some of that speculation by not offering Foles to any other team. The rumored asking price was as high as two first round draft picks. It is a nice way to tell the league to buzz off while the team tries to figure out whether Foles' seven million dollar salary is too much to pay for quarterback insurance if their youthful gunslinger Carson Wentz gets hurt again. I can't blame the world champs for playing their cards close to the vest, and they may yet move Foles for some picks while his stock remains higher than at any other point in his rollercoaster career.
If that wasn't enough, additional signal caller speculation sparked again when backup A.J. McCarron won his free agent freedom. McCarron earned the right to escape the middle of the road permanence that envelops the confounding Cincinnati Bengals. Rumors have it he is desperate enough to start that the Cleveland Browns are a comparable football haven for the former Alabama championship quarterback. McCarron was reported to be on the Denver Broncos' radar last summer, but that thought was dismissed as -- well, you guessed it -- speculation.
The guessing games will be over just outside of the Ides of March when the free agent season 'officially' begins on March 16.
However, for the next couple of weeks, we will continue to hear every possible outcome for the Broncos from the sports media folks who have suggested everything from trading linebacker Von Miller to drafting every single one of the top four college quarterbacks in April's NFL Draft.
How many times have you read or heard Kirk Cousins name since the end of the Super Bowl?
Cousins remains atop the field of available quarterbacks this offseason and a number of 'insiders' predicted his landing spot to be here in the Mile High City. But somehow, a little bird landed in Minnesota and must have mentioned Kirk is a fan of the color purple.. Otherwise, it doesn't make a lot of sense that the Vikings just ditched Case Keenum, the quarterback who helped lead the team to a rare division title and a spot in the NFC Championship game.
And the wheel of quarterbacks turns again.
Suddenly, Denver is supposedly on the outside looking in on the Cousins sweepstakes. Cousins, a sub-.500 quarterback who couldn't convince Washington to sign him to a long term deal. That aside, it isn't easy to put up solid numbers in the Nation's Capital on a team that looks almost as confused as the Browns.
Will Elway work his free agent magic again?
Or does anyone really want Elway to sell the farm and pay a partially proven guy 25-30 million a season?
Personally, I like a cheaper free agent quarterback option and to take Quenton Nelson, a massive guard out of Notre Dame in the fifth spot. Nelson is ranked as high as the third best talent available to draft. The Broncos need a bigger rebuild than just a quarterback. It isn't the same deal as when Peyton Manning fell into Broncos Country. This roster has a lot of rough edges, especially with a few surprise names that will soon be release, because of the cost of their contracts.
I'll guess Cousins to Minnesota, no offense to Denver. He is a midwestern guy who hangs out in Michigan during the off season. McCarron to the Broncos. I think last year's rumor was right and Elway likes the kid. And then Keenum goes to Arizona or Buffalo and then the race to draft young quarterbacks should be left to other teams that have the patience to lose a while longer. As for Nick Fole, he may have to wait another year to get a bigger payday. But it is a good time to be stuck in Philly.
I'm guessing Brock Osweiler will remain available for an emergency backup. I also think fans shouldn't sleep on a healthy Chad Kelly heading into spring ball.
Either way, speculation season is thankfully wrapping up, and the rebuild begins in earnest in less than three weeks.
The only one-punt championship game of any era I can remember produced instant questions in a league that has been suffering a bit of a quality quarterback shortage the last few years.
The Eagles shut down some of that speculation by not offering Foles to any other team. The rumored asking price was as high as two first round draft picks. It is a nice way to tell the league to buzz off while the team tries to figure out whether Foles' seven million dollar salary is too much to pay for quarterback insurance if their youthful gunslinger Carson Wentz gets hurt again. I can't blame the world champs for playing their cards close to the vest, and they may yet move Foles for some picks while his stock remains higher than at any other point in his rollercoaster career.
If that wasn't enough, additional signal caller speculation sparked again when backup A.J. McCarron won his free agent freedom. McCarron earned the right to escape the middle of the road permanence that envelops the confounding Cincinnati Bengals. Rumors have it he is desperate enough to start that the Cleveland Browns are a comparable football haven for the former Alabama championship quarterback. McCarron was reported to be on the Denver Broncos' radar last summer, but that thought was dismissed as -- well, you guessed it -- speculation.
The guessing games will be over just outside of the Ides of March when the free agent season 'officially' begins on March 16.
However, for the next couple of weeks, we will continue to hear every possible outcome for the Broncos from the sports media folks who have suggested everything from trading linebacker Von Miller to drafting every single one of the top four college quarterbacks in April's NFL Draft.
How many times have you read or heard Kirk Cousins name since the end of the Super Bowl?
Cousins remains atop the field of available quarterbacks this offseason and a number of 'insiders' predicted his landing spot to be here in the Mile High City. But somehow, a little bird landed in Minnesota and must have mentioned Kirk is a fan of the color purple.. Otherwise, it doesn't make a lot of sense that the Vikings just ditched Case Keenum, the quarterback who helped lead the team to a rare division title and a spot in the NFC Championship game.
And the wheel of quarterbacks turns again.
Suddenly, Denver is supposedly on the outside looking in on the Cousins sweepstakes. Cousins, a sub-.500 quarterback who couldn't convince Washington to sign him to a long term deal. That aside, it isn't easy to put up solid numbers in the Nation's Capital on a team that looks almost as confused as the Browns.
Will Elway work his free agent magic again?
Or does anyone really want Elway to sell the farm and pay a partially proven guy 25-30 million a season?
Personally, I like a cheaper free agent quarterback option and to take Quenton Nelson, a massive guard out of Notre Dame in the fifth spot. Nelson is ranked as high as the third best talent available to draft. The Broncos need a bigger rebuild than just a quarterback. It isn't the same deal as when Peyton Manning fell into Broncos Country. This roster has a lot of rough edges, especially with a few surprise names that will soon be release, because of the cost of their contracts.
I'll guess Cousins to Minnesota, no offense to Denver. He is a midwestern guy who hangs out in Michigan during the off season. McCarron to the Broncos. I think last year's rumor was right and Elway likes the kid. And then Keenum goes to Arizona or Buffalo and then the race to draft young quarterbacks should be left to other teams that have the patience to lose a while longer. As for Nick Fole, he may have to wait another year to get a bigger payday. But it is a good time to be stuck in Philly.
I'm guessing Brock Osweiler will remain available for an emergency backup. I also think fans shouldn't sleep on a healthy Chad Kelly heading into spring ball.
Either way, speculation season is thankfully wrapping up, and the rebuild begins in earnest in less than three weeks.
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