HiAndTight

Morrisson (28 PAs), Smoak (126 PAs) & Gyorko (135 PAs) combined for about 13% of the Brewers 2,188 PAs in 2020. Linblom (45.1 IP), Grimm (4.2 IP) & Morin (0 IP) combined for less than 10% of the Brewers 517 IP in 2020. I'd personally only classify Gyorko as a reclamation project out of those six (Morrison/Grimm/Morin were minor league depth signings, Smoak was just a blah veteran & Lindblom must have had multiple teams interested in reclaiming him since he got a multi year deal), but even if you want to count all six they still came in well under 20% on both PAs & IPs for the season. I'm just getting to the point where I'd almost not hear about any of the off-season signings because every thread I read goes the same way. We sign someone who's young, has some obvious warts and hasn't really made it in the big leagues yet and then people complain about that player because he's not a star and look at what the Mets and Padres are doing. Just...rinse and repeat.

Yeah, he might be. But he really shouldn't be. It's not like the Chiefs let him go because they didn't think he could play. I also hadn't realized how effective Hunt had been this year until I just looked. The Browns nearly had two 1,000 yard runners. The Chiefs just feel like the 2011 Packers, but I think it'll be the Bills or Ravens who knock them off(I'm hoping Bills as I think the Ravens are a tougher matchup for us in a potential SB).

I'm not opposed to cashing in Tonyan for a 2nd round pick if that ends up being an option. It's pretty rare to see a RFA with a 1st or 2nd round tender pouched by another team. I think it's very unlikely that happens. And if for some reason the salary cap is indeed the cap floor they agreed to, most teams are going to be up against it. If a team like the Pats really wants a TE, I think it's more likely they go after one of the top 3-4 guys(excluding Gronk obviously) like Henry, Jonu, Everett or Cook and not give up a likely 2nd round pick. I think it's pretty safe to say that all 3 of our top RFA's will be back in Tonyan, Lazard and Sullivan.

With what we've had in the recent past for TE, I think there would be riots if Tongan was not brought back. There's no doubt he's brought back next year. I think the only question is do we sign him to a long term deal right now or let him become an URFA the following year. Without having any idea what the cap is going to be, it's hard to say. But at worst I'd assume we'd put a 2nd round tender on him. I don't think anyone's giving up a 2nd round pick to sign him.

Yeah, as soon as they punted that, you knew the game was over. They score there, it's a 5 point game and the Browns likely tighten up. They punted on 4th and 1 with maybe 2 real possessions left in the game at mid-field. I'm not sure what to make of Tomlin...I think people are being a little hard on him, but I don't know what the hell he was thinking tonight. Going for 2 when it didn't make sense but then not going later... The Chiefs SHOULD beat the Browns by about 30, but if Myles and company can pressure Mahomes and the Chiefs keep playing down to their competition, it might be a good game. KC might well do that & should rightfully be favored, but for the 1st time in 2 weeks the entire coaching staff should be back for the Browns (on the sidelines/ in the booth). Very good chance all 3 of Bitonio/ D Ward & K Johnson will be back & available to play for the Browns. Unless more Covid cases emerge in CLE all 10 day periods will be up come mid-week. I get those guys will be back, but I think the Steelers win that game 9 times out of 10. This was a fluke game. And I think they still win if they convert on that 3rd and 1 at midfield with 10 minutes left...and I don't think they're very good. The Browns just aren't ready to take that next step in my opinion. But...I could be wrong. They can control the ball with a great back and pressure Mahomes.

No it did not. The Bills had some success with McCoy for a season, but Murray would be a better example. It just never works out. It's usually a Melvin Gordon situation or LeVeon Bell. I think Aaron Jones will be more like Gordon in that he's not going to get the figure he's looking for on the open market.

Hey, if he leaves with a Ring and gets a 5/75 type contract from a bad team, I'll be almost as happy as him. And we can hopefully grab someone like Kenneth Gainwell or one of the UNC backs in the 3rd or 4th and let start the process over again.

Yeah, as soon as they punted that, you knew the game was over. They score there, it's a 5 point game and the Browns likely tighten up. They punted on 4th and 1 with maybe 2 real possessions left in the game at mid-field. I'm not sure what to make of Tomlin...I think people are being a little hard on him, but I don't know what the hell he was thinking tonight. Going for 2 when it didn't make sense but then not going later... The Chiefs SHOULD beat the Browns by about 30, but if Myles and company can pressure Mahomes and the Chiefs keep playing down to their competition, it might be a good game.

The announcers said they have "a lot" of free agents this off season, including ju ju. 18 to be exact...and they're over the as of now projected salary cap by nearly 22 million. Though they've got a ton of ways to slash that number. Just Joe Haden and TJ Watt being cut/extended could free up 20 million. But Conner, Hilton, Dupree, Juju, and a whole lot of other players. Meanwhile, we're 24 million over that same projected number but with less room to maneuver with regard to restructuring or cutting dead weight. Sadly, I think it's most likely that Jones ends up playing for a team like Jax next year and his career kinda goes nowhere. It's one thing to keep your own FA Running Back. That usually doesn't work, but at least you know he's a fit. I can't recall the last time a good team signed a big name FA running back to a big deal.

I don't expect Goff to be effective at all in those cold conditions, but it won't matter if the Packers let Akers go all "Raheem Mostert" on them. The Packers are going to have to stack the line and make Goff beat them. You're right that Harrison stands to be a huge part of the defensive gameplan. They are going to need Barnes and Martin to have the games of their lives too. This is a much different team. I don't see anyone just running all over us like the 49'ers did. The Rams defense though...they've got several guys who can pressure the QB if Donald's in the game eating up double teams. Floyd, Brockers...if Donald doesn't play, I don't see the Rams having much of a chance. Snacks should be helpful, but getting Keke back would be even bigger. He's been a real steal in the 5th round for us. If Geoff IS healthy, they do have three really good receivers who can stress a defense. Yup. This team has everything laid out in front of them perfectly. This is likely the last best chance to get Arod his 2nd ring.

Ok....nobody ever said NOTHING ever happens there? You made the statement Packers fans are "up there" in arrests. Up where? You were the one talking about googling all the drunken fights that take place as though it was an extremely common event. Like we're White Sox fans in the '90s beating up 1st base coaches. You started out inferring we had a reputation for being drunk and fighting...so yeah, I'd assume there are going to be idiots who get arrested when you have ~80,000 people in GB for a Football game. Nobody would ever dispute that.

No...I'm not going to google and seek out Packers fan fights. That's an infinitesimal pct of the fan base and a pretty ridiculous standard by which to judge the fan base. Green Bay games compared to games in Philly, Chicago, Detriot...etc...are exceptionally laid back. Going to a FB game in Packers gear in Chicago and you're treated much-MUCH worse than a Bears fan in GB. In fact, this is actually an area I wish the fans would get better. Get louder, get more into the games. But we have an older fan base, so our games aren't as loud as KC's or Seattle's. Not harassing other fans of course, but just the energy levels. I'd like to know which fan base doesn't have some idiots getting drunk and getting into fights. This started over the idea that there was this outrage when Kumerow was cut and the fans "whined" about it and now it's somehow morphed into how we're like the Cards of MLB(which I don't understand either) or it's about actively seeking out negative news stories about individual fans. You have to see how this is an AWFUL way to judge arguably the most popular team in the world, right? For the record, I've been to ~100 Packers games, I've literally never seen a single fight. I've seen some obnoxious drunk people obviously and I've usually seen them thrown out rather quickly and the section applauding that ejection. I've seen you use the Cards fans comparison several times(in fact, I THOUGHT you'd previously said you were not a Packers fan...a Brewers/Bears fan, but I may have you confused)...but it makes even less sense in the way you're now trying to use it. If you just said Packers fans have a sense of arrogance or entitlement due to their History, I'd be inclined to agree, but claiming they're "up there," inferring they're among the worst in cheering other players injuries and fights at the game....I don't think there's any truth to that beyond an anecdote or so. My brother went to a Washington game in D.C. back in '10. Was surrounded by a group of "fans" in the parking lot who harassed him and kicked his car on the way out just for having Packer gear on. And Washington WON that game. I was at Favre's first game against the Packers on MNF in '09. Was just absolutely viciously ridiculed on my way out. Nothing I could do but grit my teeth and keep walking. I'm not saying opposing fans at Lambeau don't have bad experiences from time to time but in all my times at Lambeau I've never seen opposing fans harassed beyond a little mutual teasing. I will say I've been to the new Busch stadium a couple times in Brewer gear and never once been treated disrespectfully by Cardinal fans. Yeah, those were all Stadiums I'd been to where the fans were really aggressive. At the same time, I went to Wrigley, St. Louis for baseball games and the fans were real friendly.

Yeah, and the Saints are good. And Trubisky usually folds in big spots...so...

I have absolutely zero problems rooting for the Bears. I know if we get them, that's a much easier game and we're one game closer to the NFCCG. I'd rather play the Bears and then let the Rams and Buccs battle it out. But I can't see the Saints choking another game away. Likely their last in the Drew Brees era. We'll see.

I absolutely get why they'd go for it there. You finish them and you've got one of the best running games in the league. What was truly baffling to ME was the series before that the Titans had the ball, 3rd and 2 at maybe the Ravens 40 with ~10 minutes left in the game. They threw the ball to Jonu in the flat, DB came up and made a perfect hit and then they ended up punting. You've got Dereky Henry...it's a 4 point game. If you can't hand the ball to our 250 pound back on their side of the 50 down 4 in the 4th...and this guy also happened to run for 2000 yards, then...you don't have much confidence. Cannot believe the Titans punted in that situation. Just not how I've come to expect Vrabel to coach and not how I'd like to see MLF coach.

No...I'm not going to google and seek out Packers fan fights. That's an infinitesimal pct of the fan base and a pretty ridiculous standard by which to judge the fan base. Green Bay games compared to games in Philly, Chicago, Detriot...etc...are exceptionally laid back. Going to a FB game in Packers gear in Chicago and you're treated much-MUCH worse than a Bears fan in GB. In fact, this is actually an area I wish the fans would get better. Get louder, get more into the games. But we have an older fan base, so our games aren't as loud as KC's or Seattle's. Not harassing other fans of course, but just the energy levels. I'd like to know which fan base doesn't have some idiots getting drunk and getting into fights. This started over the idea that there was this outrage when Kumerow was cut and the fans "whined" about it and now it's somehow morphed into how we're like the Cards of MLB(which I don't understand either) or it's about actively seeking out negative news stories about individual fans. You have to see how this is an AWFUL way to judge arguably the most popular team in the world, right? For the record, I've been to ~100 Packers games, I've literally never seen a single fight. I've seen some obnoxious drunk people obviously and I've usually seen them thrown out rather quickly and the section applauding that ejection. I've seen you use the Cards fans comparison several times(in fact, I THOUGHT you'd previously said you were not a Packers fan...a Brewers/Bears fan, but I may have you confused)...but it makes even less sense in the way you're now trying to use it. If you just said Packers fans have a sense of arrogance or entitlement due to their History, I'd be inclined to agree, but claiming they're "up there," inferring they're among the worst in cheering other players injuries and fights at the game....I don't think there's any truth to that beyond an anecdote or so.

Again, I think there's a lot of projection going on here as well. You look at a guy like Stafford and see that he's 32 and assume he'll be able to play at a high level for a number of years yet. Maybe he'll leave as the rumors have suggested. Same with Ryan. And then of course all the young guys who obviously aren't HOF'ers yet, but certainly appear to be on that trajectory. Then there is a whole host of other young QB's who are just showing that potential(Allen for example). The NFL Hall of Fame is definitely NOT the Hall of very good. It's only the QB position that this might apply to.

I don't really agree with that premise either. First of all, Big Ben's not a burner, but he's a much better athlete than Rivers. His ability to keep a play alive is impressive, the way he's been able to shed guys during his career. It's caused a lot of hits, but I don't think Rivers is even close to the athlete he is. And it's hard to say how the situation Rivers went into was. The Chargers were often one of, if not the most talented team in the AFC when Rivers was there, and it was common to see them go from 12-4 to a 6-10 type season. I don't know how to parse out the blame for them continually underperforming(I know Rivers did turn the ball over a lot at times). Big Ben was just a really good fit in Pitt. Big, tough QB who can handle the cold weather and the elements and was given teams with good/great defenses and a lot of weapons.

IIRC those comments from Mark were about adding players at the trading deadline......he liked to keep some money available so that if the Brewers were in Contention they had flexibility to add a piece or 2. He never said they would try to get top free agents .....he knows that in a bidding war he will run out of ammunition quickly against the big boys. He has to try and build a competitive roster while working within the constraints of the market. I think he's said that with regard to both FA signings and at the deadline. He's said he's never said no to his GM with regard to adding payroll to the roster. But I'd also assume that GM's aren't pursuing guys like Machado and Harper and offering 300 million. So I don't know how much that really means(though they were reportedly in on Rendon last winter?) Either way, it seems obvious that Mark A has done about all you could expect as a fan to put a winner on the field.

Are we sure he is going to ND for Football? Back in the day, I knew a lot of hockey players that also played baseball at Wisconsin. Could he be playing both? It's not real likely. He'd be getting a FB scholarship(you can't get a scholarship for another sport and play FB or else schools like Alabama would have Wrestling teams and use them to supplement their FB roster and skirt the scholarship limits). And if he's playing FB at ND, it's not likely they'd allow their likely starting QB to play another sport. But maybe they gave him permission to play Lacrosse. I would think he'd be looking at a potential NFL career and guess he'd be focussed on that though.

I don't think anyone is judging MVS based on Sundays drop alone, he is an enigma for sure. I was thinking this week about the Jones drops in the 2010 postseason, neither cost us the game but in both cases it sure felt like it might and the defense did have to make stops at the end of both games. It's sort of like having a talented RB who fumbles, they call them coach killers since it is hard to give up on them but they can really burn you if you stick with them. I understand what MVS brings to our offense but I worry it is sort of in his head now, we have seen him show great hands at times. I can only remember 2 off the top of my head but I am sure he has probably dropped closer to 4-5 catchable deep balls this season. To his and MLF's offense credit we get an incredible amount of those opportunities but he has to finish them at a higher rate, you work all game to setup those deep chances. But you are right, nothing is changing anymore this season and hopefully he has a big post season and we win the SB. It's kinda funny, I don't think most fans remember Jones drops on what would have been easy LONG TD's...or for that matter Jordy's 2 drops in the SB that likely would have picked up 50-60+ yards combined. But just that SB season, Jones fumbled the ball away vs the Bears(IIRC Urlacher stripped it) early in the season. He dropped an easy TD pass in a close game in the middle of the season as well. That was HIS 3rd year in the league. He wasn't as talented as MVS. That doesn't mean MVS will have a long career and become as reliable as Jones...just pointing out, young WR'ers go through growing pains. I don't remember Jennings struggling with Drops, but that's about it. Jordy, Jones, Adams...pretty much the rest of them did at some point. I feel just fine going into the post-season with the group of skill players we have. Any discussion on what or who we need can wait until after we bring the Lombardi Trophy back to GB.

Well, that's kinda the point. It can be hard to say what a drop is. Sometimes it's obvious...like MVS this past week, sometimes it's a much tougher catch. Just to be clear though, my point isn't that we NEED a WR'er. I guess it may sound like that's the argument I'm making by pointing out the drops. It's not. Using the same stats, the Packers WR'ers were either the best or among the best in YAC and most importantly(IMO) in getting separation during the season. I think the stat using NextGen was 2.3 yards or 2.7 per route. I don't know exactly, but it tells me that MLF is doing his job and getting guys open and those guys are doing their jobs. And then Adams just finds a way to get open in pretty much any circumstance. And yes, Tonyan had a great year catching the ball. It'll be interesting to see if they extend him this off-season. He's a RFA and he's just improved year after year. Given that he was a QB not long ago, I'd think he'd have more room for growth, particularly as a blocker.

Maryland beat UW and Indiana gave them all they could handle. There were frequent UW defensive lapses in both games, but neither Maryland nor Indiana are poor or even mediocre teams. Nebraska is the only dog in the league and they actually have a decent amount of run and jump talent. Also, there were too many times the offense was simply playing five out and not touching the post. Micah Potter needs to keep his head on straight. Yelling at Alando Tucker doesn't help. Didn't catch the game. Did they get into it on the sideline?

That's kinda funny. My concern would be the exact opposite. Our offense may struggle a bit vs them, but I think Brees is really gonna struggle in the cold. The Rams, Saints or Bears, if we play well, I don't think they can beat us. I think they need us to struggle or turn the ball over in order to lose at home to any of them. The Buccs are the biggest threat...IMO. With all the targets they've got, but mainly with Brady being able to manage the cold and their front 4 is pretty damn effective without having to blitz. They can drop 7 and still get home. The Packers are playing well on both sides of the ball though and I think the NFCCG will feature Brees and Rodgers in Lambeau!

Very true. A City of ~100,000 not only supports its NFL team, it's NFL team is arguably the most popular in the world. And it's not like we've got a bunch of bandwagon fans like a certain team that shall remain nameless(that once played in the very same division).