Matt Stafford Traded to Rams

[Mackeyser]

He signed a contract 5 months ago, even after all of BOB's fuckups. The team shouldn't have to cave in to a players demands or grant him a trade just because he doesn't like how the team is going or he wasn't involved in FO decision making.

Then they shouldn't have promised him to consult him, which they did.

Then they shouldn't have disregarded every single recommendation Watson had before they ditched the process and just did what they wanted.

Part of signing that big contract was that Watson would be part of the process. And then they shit on the process.

What I think happens?

Watson pays back the signing bonus, sits out a year and re-enters the NFL as a FA... basically pulls a Carson Palmer.

When he does that, Watson will say to the Texans about any compensation

 

[Mackeyser]

Not every player is the same.

See Andrew Luck.

Honestly Stafford's moxie and willingness to take hits to make plays...while admirable, scares the hell out of me.

Brady doesn't to do that. He lives to play the next play. While Stafford hasn't missed a ton of time, he has had his play affected from playing hurt...a lot. Might explain why he hasn't elevated his team that often.

Well, I totally agree with you there. Stafford going forward has to play smarter because he's only got so many shots left.

 

[RocknRam29]

View: https://twitter.com/dpshow/status/1357065784640610306


View: https://twitter.com/dpshow/status/1357069910841688077

 

[UKram]

View: https://twitter.com/dpshow/status/1357065784640610306


View: https://twitter.com/dpshow/status/1357069910841688077

Seems like some of the players are just as shocked at jg being traded as well as the fan base (or some at least ) ... funny for “someone who was partying and not putting in the work “

 

[Mackeyser]

I'm not defending their organization but I fail to see how a no trade means what you are saying here. It means he can't be traded without his consent as to where it is. That is the only right it gives him.

A no trade doesn't mean that a player has concerns about the organization - not that the Texans haven't given him pause. Do Mahomes, Brees, Wilson, Brady, etc... have concerns about their organizations? Do they get to determine who gets interviewed for coaching positions? What makes Watson an expert in this area?

He signed that contract while BOB was still there. So on one hand, you could very well be right. On the other hand, he signed that contract when BOB was still there. He had to have concerns after that Hopkins trade - but he signed anyway.

So now someone has to not only eat that contract but give up multiple #1s and probably more. Orrrrrr the Houston organization plays hardball when they don't like the offers and further create a crappy environment. I personally don't feel sorry for either the organization OR Watson.

I disagree, but not strenuously.

Why sign the contract? Earl Thomas. You ALWAYS take the guaranteed money. He could have had a Bridgewater level injury this past season and never earn that money again.

If the Texans hadn't gone to him after the Hopkins trade and promised to consult him, promised to allow him to be part of the interview process for both the GM and HC, then those defending the Texans' argument would have more ammo.

And also, Watson can simply do a Carson Palmer, pay back the SB and retire, sit out a year and then re-enter the NFL as a FA.

That was brought up that apparently Watson's team is willing and capable of doing that (guess he either hasn't spent the SB or his agency would lend it to him knowing he'd get it back in a year)

The upside of doing that is that he'd be entering FA once the cap is back to normal and with every team having an extra $20M in cap space...

The Texans have two choices... trade him for a record haul in picks/players or lose him for nothing.

That's it.

 

[Mackeyser]

Eric Dickerson is claiming when the Rams asked about Watson they were told Donald Ramsey two firsts and two seconds. Don‘t know the validity of this but yeah if that’s their asking point Watson is either a Texan or sitting out not getting paid.

I think I can track this.

John McClain, Houston reporter, said that the Texans would be asking for 2 1sts, 2 2nds and 2 defensive starters.

Eric Dickerson later that day said on Skip and Shannon's show that the two starters for the Rams were AD and Ramsey.

I dunno if Dickerson just filled in the blanks or if that's real.

I also don't know if McClain had info or was surveying the landscape on what a trade would look like.

 

[12intheBox]

Well its not just Goff. Over the next 5 yrs it's this...

It's team A, with 26 yr old Goff, two first round picks in 22' & 23' and a 3rd this yr.

vs

Team B w/ 33 yr old Stafford and no first round pick until 2024, and losing a 3rd this yr.

Not sure the latter configuration is a slam dunk to have the better future.

There is only way that team B comes out looking better is if Stafford is better than Goff.

If he is - and you have better play at the most important position in sports - then the entire offense is better and even the defense gets put in better positions - playing w a lead, getting rest on long drives.

If Stafford is not a big improvement - this trade is a disaster.

I, for one, am thrilled. I think Stafford has it and I don’t think Goff does.

 

[OldSchool]

I think I can track this.

John McClain, Houston reporter, said that the Texans would be asking for 2 1sts, 2 2nds and 2 defensive starters.

Eric Dickerson later that day said on Skip and Shannon's show that the two starters for the Rams were AD and Ramsey.

I dunno if Dickerson just filled in the blanks or if that's real.

I also don't know if McClain had info or was surveying the landscape on what a trade would look like.

The reports from Texans fans I've read was 3 firsts and a pro bowl caliber edge or CB was the floor for offers.

 

[Mackeyser]

The team also has a right to not trade him. They can simply choose not to and that will be that.




Oh believe me, I'm not saying the Texans are the model org for standing their ground on this. Both sides are acting like children, but I tend to lean toward the team more than a single player.

Deshaun knew damn well he was signing onto a team that had Cal and the Jesus Easterby tag team, and at the time expected to be coached by BOB.



The Rams and Texans situations are different. One has a great team with a QB that hit his ceiling, the other finished 4-12 and fired their coach after 4 games (deserved BTW). Ideally, Deshaun is part of the re-build because draft picks aren't a guarantee.

How can one team say fuck it, lets go get a QB (Rams or whoever does end up trading for Deshaun) and the other who gets laughed at expect by trading their lone asset into 22 year olds that may end up out of the league in 2 years?




Tough noogies man. It would be like my boss asking me my thoughts on a new hire, then proceeding to not hire them or bring in someone they wanted, and not take my advise. And yes this is a relevant example because I'm the senior most member in our work group after my boss of course. Ha.

Ultimately, GM and HC moves are made by the FO. Not a player. If you take a step back, a FO looks through the candidates and hires who they see fit. That's exactly how they did with Nick Caserio, and he was the one to identify a HC, which he did. It's exactly how a team should operate. But no, because people are hellbent on Deshauns feelers getting hurt he wasn't included and didn't hire Eric B., it's suddenly a circus. Not saying it isn't one, but I don't believe it's that much of a cluster. I'm just a casual fan of that team, so it's easier to see it from a different perspective.

It's a new day. Players have tons more agency to affect change than ever before.

There is no "tough noogies" for players anymore. It's all choices. It's always been transactional for owners... now it's that for players, too. As it should be. As much as we're fans, for everyone involved, it's a business.

Why sign the contract? Guaranteed money. Earl Thomas. This is a violent game and not even the next play is guaranteed. You ALWAYS take the money and then figure out the next move later. How many times has a player "bet on himself" only to have it blow up in his face? More often than not.

Also, gonna bang the drum on this... the Texans do not have the final say.

All Watson has to do is pay back the signing bonus, "retire" for a year and then re-enter the league as a free agent. It's what Carson Palmer did to get out of Cincy.

So the notion that the Texans can just own his rights forever if he sits out and doesn't vest a year isn't correct.

 

[Merlin]

The reports from Texans fans I've read was 3 firsts and a pro bowl caliber edge or CB was the floor for offers.

If I'm Shanny I would deal them Bosa and three first rounders for Watson with zero delay.

 

[Mackeyser]

I'm sorry I hope they don't but if I'm the whiners I start offer with Bosa and either next 3 1sts and a 2nd this year or Visa and this year's first next and other picks.

If the word is that Bosa is untouchable, then the 9ers have zero shot at Watson.

Actually, I think no one does this year, but yeah.

I'm more worried about next year when the 9ers may be able to get Watson for nothing more than a boatload of cap space...

 

[Mackeyser]

The reports from Texans fans I've read was 3 firsts and a pro bowl caliber edge or CB was the floor for offers.

It's a reasonable offer, I guess, but I think it's 50/50 they choke on it and they get nothing, Watson retires and teams go into a bidding frenzy next year.

Other than the 9ers and Colts, none of the other suitors would win the Super Bowl with him, including Miami so it's better to save all that and just give him the big contract in a year...

 

[Merlin]

Let's say the 9ers trade Bosa (in a package) to the Texans for Watson. What kind of costs would that incur on the owner. In terms of converting bonuses to cash and all that stuff.

 

[jjab360]

Btw how embarrassing would all of this be if Stafford or Goff failed their physicals and the trade had to be voided? Lol

 

[Mackeyser]

Btw how embarrassing would all of this be if Stafford or Goff failed their physicals and the trade had to be voided? Lol

Yeah, think the entire NFL world would be like

 

[André]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wjdi8IX-0k

I don't know who that kid was, but nice job.

 

[Bearrister]

Btw how embarrassing would all of this be if Stafford or Goff failed their physicals and the trade had to be voided? Lol

Haha, that thought crossed my mind the other day. AWK-WARD...

 

[Bearrister]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wjdi8IX-0k

Agreed, this is great breakdown. It’s definitely worth a watch. I don’t know who this person is but he explains everything with a nice level of detail but he’s still easy to understand.

Not that I really needed any more convincing, but I’m really looking forward to our offense returning to 2017-18 production with Stafford.

 

[Ballhawk]

His assumptions are wrong. Other than that good job!

 

[kurtfaulk]

Watson pays back the signing bonus, sits out a year and re-enters the NFL as a FA... basically pulls a Carson Palmer.

The Raiders gave the Bengals two 1st rounders for Palmer.

.