MichiganCardinal

This is pretty funny sitting where we are. Matt Ryan is calling the shots?? Yeah, okay. I'd be pissed if I were a Bears fan.

I agree. This is remarkably late. I do think there is a chance he had an extra eye on him from above in the 2026 draft preparations that wasn't there previously, because of just how bad a drafter he has been. It's possible that they observed him repeating many of the same mistakes in prior years and decided something needed to be done before he ruined another draft. Too bad.

FWIW regarding the franchise tag, the offensive line is non-positional. So Baltimore would really be paying him LT money, somewhere between $27-28MM. I don't think that's realistic, it's either they sign him to an extension or someone else does.

If Baltimore wants to re-sign Linderbaum they're running out of time. Free agency starts in five weeks. It probably doesn't help that they just fired their head coach and brought in a defensive guy, who still hasn't hired an offensive staff. Maybe they'll make it happen, but I think it would be negligent for the Lions to not talk to him if he hits the open market. Not for nothing, Linderbaum is an Iowa guy. He, Campbell, and LaPorta were all there together. I don't think it's quite this straightforward, but even supposing it is, the Branch situation has to be fluid, no? Hell, maybe LaPorta too. Who knows what an Achilles or back injury will bring? I don't think they should be reckless, but if you can get a guy like Linderbaum for 3 years at $54MM, which would match Creed Humphrey but not make him the highest paid center ever, I think you have to consider it. Is that $18MM APY you now don't have to re-sign guys? Yes, but you also now have one of the best in the league at a position of need. Before his injury, Branch was on a trajectory to demand even more than that (something closer to the 4/86 Kerby got). I would rather sign Linderbaum and draft Branch's eventual replacement than sit on our hands hoping to re-sign injured guys who never return to form.

With their recommitment to the run and that being their identity, I wouldn't be shocked if they make a run at Tyler Linderbaum. He'd be pricy, but if you want a Ragnow replacement he's as close as you're going to get.

He shared this a few years ago. Some Reddit sleuths did the digging and by process of elimination it was determined to be Jim Colletto. The 0-16 Lions were his last stop on a 41-year coaching career.

I definitely think this played a big role. He was a **** to the media for the better part of three decades. And then when the media gets to decide whether he gets in first ballot? “Well let me think long and hard about that”

There was a reason he was fired. And when we hired Campbell I didn’t hear anyone saying Schwartz deserved the head job back. But in fairness it’s been nearly 17 years since he took the job. That’s a long time since he called Dez Bryant a motherf-er on an NFL sideline and nearly fist fought Jim Harbaugh. (Say what you will he was nothing if not entertaining). He’ll be 60 years old in the fall. I’m not really worried about his discipline problems as head coach causing problems with a Dan Campbell group if he were brought in as DC. And as for Cleveland, there’s a way to handle things and it’s not how they did it. They were asking head coach candidates if they would keep Schwartz, while simultaneously making Schwartz a finalist for the role. So Monken was hired, reportedly over the heads of both the GM and their own search committee, in part because he agreed to have a guy be his DC who had no interest in being the DC….. because the guy they wanted as DC thought he was going to get the promotion! Just a total clown show.

You would think if the Browns were good at anything, it would be hiring a new head coach. But nope, they can screw that up too.

With the Browns passing on Schwartz, Campbell should be discreetly calling him. There are only a handful of DC candidates I would consider an improvement on continuity with Sheppard, but that's one of them. Cleveland wants him to stay as DC (after interviewing him twice and saying no thanks). I think he probably tells them in no uncertain terms to piss off.

I know better than to put this in the NFL thread but this made me laugh in a not funny political time.

I think Belichick is also actively damaging his own legacy by what he's doing at UNC right now. Jordan didn't need to play baseball to be the GOAT. Belichick doesn't need to coach college ball.

Detroit's contingent voted for Belichick to enter the Hall

The problem is ownership and culture, just like it was in Detroit. Unless they have a Sheila Hamp waiting in the wings, they'll live in futility for at least as long as Woody and Chris Johnson are in charge. Hopefully Glenn will get another shot like Saleh did.

Justin Rogers does not expect a reunion.

If he needs a job, there's no harm in making him an analyst.

Correct. McDaniel hasn’t even been in LA two weeks.

Correct. It's only for promotions to the head gigs, either on-field or executive. If Shaun Hamilton (currently the Linebackers coach) was hired elsewhere as a HC, we would get the comp pick. It doesn't matter where in the organization they come from, just that they've been there for two years and are hired into either the HC or GM (/Chief Player Personnel) role.

No, that's just HCs and GMs.

Yep, I agree. I didn't know Montgomery was interviewing elsewhere or I would have guessed combo AHC and PGC. Funny enough, had Kafka been the OC hire it would have gotten a lot less vitriol from fans. Maybe Campbell knows what he's doing after all.

I like that hire. Probably Pass Game Coordinator.

I think the perception is that he cares more about signing "his own guys" (i.e., those that he drafted) than finding replacement caliber players in free agency. Which, yeah, that's what you do when you draft well.

If his job is only to draft offensive linemen, he's pretty useful.

The man, the myth, the legend that is Dan Skipper? Irreplaceable. But maybe. I don't see why he couldn't be a useful OL6 in jumbo packages. Probably lacks the soft hands to catch the passes though.

Mauigoa is the top rated run blocker, but a lot of scouts see him as needing to switch to guard in the NFL. His frame is more ideal for a guard, and teams love their analytics. Which is also why he is not the top rated pass blocker. If the CFP was enough for teams like the Cardinals, Browns, and Cowboys, who might be looking for a tackle, to say that he's a day one NFL OT, then he may well be gone by #17. If they have doubts, or think he's better on the inside, he may still be there. Of course there is the analytical dance that if the Lions see him as a guard, he may not be a good fit either, unless they would hope for him to be LG for a year next to Decker before Decker retires (but I wouldn't be betting on Decker returning). Holmes said it would be "irresponsible" to depend on Manu to be the starting LT next season.