Mr.TaterSalad

Oil is up to $90/barrel. Over a $20 jump in a week. What happened t that $2 gas we were supposed to get? LOL!

I wonder how many NFL teams routinely do full contact practices as hard and as early in the season/preseason as the Lions do? We've heard from new players into the organization and from others around the league that no one practices as hard as we do. I wonder if there is anything to the idea that Dan pushes guys too hard in practice?

Ultimately, what I want this team to do in the offseason and what Brad will do will defer. First and foremost, I want Brad to restructure his most expensive contracts to clear up $80-$100 million in cap space. I see no reason why Goff, Sewell, and St. Brown shouldn't be offered restructured deals. All three players seem to be happy here and all three are obviously cornerstone pieces of this franchise. Unless they simply don't want to restructure, reworking their contracts should be the top priority. From a transactional standpoint. I want them to rebuild their offensive line. As most fans and the media seem to universally agree upon, they need to go get a starting center, a starting tackle of the future to replace Decker, and depth at the swing spot between guard and tackle. I'm not so certain they will do this via free agency though and spend big on either tackle or center. Unless they get a great value contract, on an injured guy like Jedrick Wills, I think it's more likely they go this way through the draft versus free agency to upgrade the line. I admit that I don't have some great reasoning for it, it's just how I feel. If they can't get great contractual value though and not take a big hit on their cap, I can see a guy like Wills coming here to be Decker's longterm replacement. I also want them to find another starting corner as I'm not sure how much we can trust Arnold at this point given both hwo he has played thus far and now his off field issues that have bubbled up. I certainly don't even expect Rakestraw to even play or be on the roster for much longer, so he's not work a thing. I also wasn't sold on how DJ Reed played last year either. So I think getting a starting corner should be a top priority. Another top issue I'd like for them to address is getting a edge rusher to work opposite Aidan. If that means bringing back Al-Quadin Muhammad on the right price, at the right term, I'm fine with that. Muhammad may command a bigger contract than they are willing to pay. But if we're clearing up $80+ million in cap space, I might be willing to run it back again with Muhammad if the price isn't too obscene. The final area of "need?" is at safety. I say "need?" in quotations as a question because we just don't know what the injury situations will look like for Branch and Joseph. If they come back healthy and can return to form or at least be managed properly, even if not fully, 100% the players they were, this obviously isn't a need. They have two of the very best safeties in the entire NFL. If not though. and Joseph most especially is out long-term, this becomes a big need all of a sudden. I'm not spending either big dollars in free agency or 1st or 2nd round draft capital on a safety if I can avoid it. I think there are other, more pressing needs that come first.

If we're going to sign a Montgomery replacement, James Connor obviously makes the most since given his connections with our new OC Drew Petzing. However, an couple of outside names I think we should consider are Tyler Allgeier and Rico Dowdle. I think Dowdle is probably getting a larger contract than what we're willing to pay given his recent success and age. I think Allgeier and Dowdle are names to consider though in addition to Connor.

It's a very late years David Legwand type of move to me. At least in this one we didn't give up a prospect I care about. When Kenny trade Calle Jarnkrok for Legwand I was so pissed.

Did I miss a news report about Ken Holland coming back as GM?

I'd love to get Jedrick Willis here on the Lions as a rotational/swing tackle. He seems like the perfect Brad Holmes type of player too. If we can sign him on the cheap, as a depth piece, and somehow he manages to stay healthy, he could be a real steal. He is the kind of value player I'm at least willing to buy low on and see what it gets us. We wouldn't be asking Willis to start and so he likely won't cost that much and we wouldn't be relying on him like a Marcus Davenport if he were to go down again.

At least Senator Mullin didn't murder his poor dog. So that's a start. I used to think the harming of animals was something we all universally agreed was wrong and repugnant. But Kristi Noem proved that was not the case.

This is the kind of **** MAGA is doing today. Some of the dumbest people in America.

It's March and the Wings collapsed and blew it. Ugh, here we go again.

RIP Lou Holtz. A big part of my college football childhood gone. All I can think of is Ryan Day crying and whining about what Holtz said about Ohio State.

I've seen conflicting reports about how hard Jasmine Crockett will or will not support James Talarico.

Among the many things that Brad Holmes has proven to us, it's that he's going to take the guy he and Dan believe is the best player available who fits all the criteria they are looking for. Last year, drafting Williams, is the closest they've come for drafting for need. Even then, when there were more talented players on the surface possibly available, they went with Williams. That same philosophy will apply to this year's draft too. I'd like it to be an offensive lineman in the first round, preferably a tackle. But even if a tackle falls to them, it's no guarantee they're going there just because we as fans see that as a need. They have to view him as the BPA on their board, a culture fit, etc.

There are free agents under 30 believe it or not. And I'd rather go into next season with a proven center and keeping Ratledge at guard.

I'm just going off what Birkett quoted from an NFL agent, who seems to think the Lions won't be as active and looking inwards. Now that agent's word isn't gospel by any means and Holmes has of course shown a willingness to sign starters and make upgrades via free agency.

I can't find the exact post on Twitter and quote from Dave Birkett, but this is something I heard Valenti and Rico talking about yesterday on The Ticket. Detroit Free Press beat writer Dave Birkett reported that at least one agent who spoke with the Lions believes a position switch could be coming. As Birkett wrote: “One (agent) who spoke with the team believes they will move Tate Ratledge to center and open competition at the guard spots.” Were this to be true from Birkett and the agent, it signals to me that they are staying in house with their offensive line and not making any major moves via free agency or trade to bring in a starter. So to me, reading this (if true), I think the offensive like would be Decker/Mahagony/Ratledge/Fraizer/Sewell next year. Then, they would fill in backup spots with Awosika, Manu, Scruggs, and maybe a draft pick. But any hopes of making a big splash at Center or anywhere along the line don't seem likely, were this quote to be accurate. Prior to this quote coming to light, I have suspected they will be quite in free agency, adding smaller pieces and backups. I think we might get a starter at Safety given the injuries they have. We might also get a rotational starting DE/Edge and a RB who can split some of the load with Gibbs. But I've never anticipated a big move coming in or dropping big bucks for a starter like Linderbaum or Crosby or Hendrickson. I suspect what cap space they do clear up will be used to resign their own guys like Branch, Campbell, Gibbs, and LaPorta.

If this post is real then please endorse Ken Paxton, please endorse Ken Paxton, please endorse Ken Paxton! James Talarico is likely going to lose either way, Cornyn or Paxton. But I think he has ZERO chance against Cornyn. I'd say he has a 15-20-25% maybe against a nut like Paxton. He's the male version of Sharon Angle or Kari Lake.

I don't expect Yzerman to make a splashy move. I expect more of a second pairing defenseman/3rd liner type of move. So I'm not thinking or hoping that we get a guy like Elias Pettersson. I get the temptation around Pettersson, based on his past production and our history of success as an organization with Swedish players. As others have said, this organization, if anyone, could be the one to get him out of a funk and give him the best opportunity to return to form. I just think his contract and more so, his trade cost, will be waaaaaay too rich for Yzerman's blood. And I totally get it. Robert Thomas is more the guy I want. He's the kind of guy that will work hard every game, unlike Pettersson, and be up at 3AM everyday to practice. He can score at a decent pace around 20 goals a season. More importantly, he can facilitate and give us a true second line center to help distribute the puck to other guys who will be more prolific scorers. You won't push him around either as he's not as soft a player as Pettersson. Assuming the medical reports checkout and he's not just a little unwell, I'd make the trade for Robert Thomas. Do I think Yzerman will trade for Robert Thomas here in the real world? I tend to doubt it. He'll want to hang onto his prospects more than make a win-now, splashy move. Prove me wrong though Stevie, I'd be very happy if you do as this team is ready to take that next step. Just look how far we've come. We'd be ready for the bright lights of the playoffs with a guy like Robert Thomas on our team.

BENGHAZI! BENGHAZI! BENGHAZI!

I know we call Trump stupid all the time here, because he is. But it really can't be understated what an absolute clod this man is. This guy and his administration thought none of this out. They may be less prepared and planned out than the Bush Administration was when DubyaMD and his administration invaded Iraq. And they were about as poorly prepared for fighting the war and rebuilding Iraq the day after as one could be.

As we invade Iran, let us reflect on all the fabrications, lies, and historical moments that lead us into war with Iraq. Here's a sad and tragic oldie-but-goodie from George Bush. Now watch this drive!

When George DubyaMD Bush invaded Iraq he started with far higher approval ratings than this. I believe there was near 80% support, or higher, for Bush's invasion in Iraq. if Trump is truly in this kind of a hole already at that start of the Iran War, something tells me it won't be getting better anytime soon. Especially with his political inability to stay on message. At least Bush largely kept all of his lies and BS on message.

I'm filling up today because tomorrow and everyday there after is going to be a lot worse for the near future.

Oil prices are up nearly 8% so far today at over $73/barrel for crude. I suspect with the Straits of Hormuz being completely shutdown now that this problem only escalates and oil prices spike further up. This will of course cause gas prices to climb higher and higher in the coming weeks. People often measure their feelings about inflation on the price of gas. They're already on edge about the cost of living. If and when gas prices jump markedly higher, Trump is going to get ROASTED on gas prices just as Biden did when he was in office. FAFO.

This will be Trump in no time. I wonder what banner he will prematurely raise behind him to celebrate, while the lives of American servicemembers and Iranian civilians continue to be taken by the horrors of this regime change war.