Hongbit

No. This is 100% a rebuilding year with no chance of being competitive in September. He’s not going to be playing everyday and won’t be blocking anyone. He will probably settle into a glorified pinch hitter role for much of the year and I can’t see how he will cost us games. Let him finish on his terms.

So does that mean GFY doesn’t stand for Good For You?

I think people underestimate the ability to spread out large contracts and buy time before cap hell arises. The Lions will still have a 3 to 4 year window after they decide on their future QB and pay him, extend Sewell, and extend ASB. They also have an advantage in drafting well in the later rounds and developing solid players so they aren’t in a terrible spot if they choose to move on from players that you’d ideally like to extend like a Jonah Jackson or Alim McNeil for example.

This dynamic is a little different in Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America. These are poor countries and the individual purchasing power is significantly lower. There are a few global corporations operating in all of these places with multi million dollar marketing and branding opportunities for MLB to partner. That is the money play and they can help offset the limited spending power per eyeball. The executives that hold the purse strings can also be bought easily with a few perks from MLB to ensure really nice deals too.

I don’t think the issue is character as much as it’s work ethic. They are not the same. The car incident was tragic but that’s not what’s weighing him down. Does he really love football and is he willing to work and study to get better as a football player. That’s the issue. Every top guy has talent but they also work tirelessly and are driven to compete and get better. Most of the guys that bust out of the league weren’t able to take every part of their preparation to that next level needed.

My guess on backup is they will pick Brdgewater.

I get that but I don’t believe growing the core was the main intention of the WBC. If it was they wouldn’t have started all the USA pool games at 10PM EST with the Latin teams taking the marquee 7PM slot.

Does viewership in the US really matter that much to MLB? The soaring numbers in Asia and Latin America have to bode well for the goal of marketing the stars of the game in areas outside of the US. I’ve enjoyed the tournament. It’s been great baseball of a high quality. So much better than watching the all-star game. I really hope the 2 major injuries don’t turn GM’s into assholes when it comes time to release players for the next one.

I thought we were told at the end of the 2021 Jeddah race that the FIA could not go back and change race results even if an error was made by the marshals. All part of the off track drama that makes F1. On another note, it’s ironic that the financial rules that were put in place to hopefully make the sport more competitive are actually doing the opposite. Red Bull has created a car that’s so much better. Even if teams had potential solutions to make radical changes to try and compete later in the season, they don’t have the money in the financial cap to make it happen.

My earliest Lions memory is Jared Goff leading an ugly 15-9 win over Aaron Rodgers and the hated Packers to start an amazing 8-2 stretch to end the 2022 season.

Brand New Lions means we don’t have live in the failure of the past. Just let it all go.

Yes that’s my bad. I read it wrong.

Another prove it deal. Brad is the king of them. It does appear to be an active roster bonus. He’s got to play in order to qualify. Hedges against an injury or drastic decline in play.

$500k per game roster bonus is not chump change. That will add up quick.

Brad strikes again with the great prove it deal. Familiarly with AG had to be huge here too.

Wow!

It’s crazy but he’s still 2nd favorite at +140. He’s the best driver in the best car but cmon there’s just not enough places to pass on that circuit for him to win.

They are used to spread the signing bonus out over more years to lower the cap hit early in the contract. They will void the contract after 3 years and pay the remaining cap hit then.

They would like to keep him at a lower number but there may not be agreement on what that looks like yet. He was the paid his last contract to play RT and his salary now reflects the 12th highest paid G in the league. I can’t see anyone else paying him close to that if he hits the market. Lions and his agent may be waiting it out to see who else signs and what fair market works out for him.

Don’t like a $7.3M cap hit for 2024 and 2025

Even if healthy, they aren’t paying him $12m next season. He will have to accept some type of rework to stick around until training camp.

Succession

Watched the entire Montgomery presser. He’s super impressive. A perfect fit here and I think he’s going to quickly become a fan and team favorite.

Interested to see what happens with Vaitai. It’s really up to him. They would be happy to keep him as the starter but not for $12M. I’d think the number for the Lions would be half that and maybe more with incentive. Will he take it or go try the market? The Lions will go to plan B and won’t wait around for Vaitai if he does test it.