Another year, another version of Ask the Commish!
No need to draw things out with a lengthy discussion on the state of racism in this country as it mixes with the sport of football and the tradition of the military system. Plenty will be said on that topic, if time permits and the words come together like two packages via FedEx…
Wolverine has provided me a few questions to take down, so let me get to taking them down!
1st Question:
“What coach do you feel is currently on the hot seat in the NFL – meaning is likely to be fired if they do not improve this year?” – L.C.S.
To me, the coach with the hottest seat is Gus Bradley for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Expectations are extremely high down in Jacksonville, especially with all the money spent on free agents this past offseason. And starting off 0-3 is not going to help things..Blake Bortles has to improve, the defense has to improve, run blocking and pass blocking have to improve….Ownership’s gonna need to see improvement across all fronts for Gus to stay after this season. Shad Khan’s got too much invested to let Gus pour his money down the drain like this. If they go to London and lose either due to poor coaching or by complete blowout, Gus could be signing up for unemployment using the WiFi on the plane ride home.
Other coaches who are also currently on warm seating apparatuses: Rex Ryan (that Arizona win won him some time but the season is still young..), Mike McCoy (he’s obviously snakebitten with all those injuries but some of this is gonna fall on his visor.) and Chuck Pagano (Colts can’t simply sit still here. The emotional return from his cancer business has done run out…)
2nd question!
“Denver Broncos vs New York Giants…which team do I believe will progress the furthest this season? Which games in the rivalry should be watched the closest?”
*puts on Miss Cleo’s unused head wrap*
‘ERE ME NOW!!!!
Denver’s got the easier road to a better record than NY, schedule-wise. Soft spots vs ATL, @TB, @NO, @JAX, @TEN and 2 games vs. SD and OAK? On paper, as long as Siemian doesn’t faceplant, Denver can grind their way to many, many wins
My word’s not gospel but with my eyes, that’s how I see things so far.
Games to watch?
For DEN: The two games vs KC will be very telling. Week 12 at home and Week 16 in KC.
For the NYG: Week 4 vs MIN will be very telling versus a very good defense. Also Week 14 vs DAL on Sunday Night Football will be VERY interesting for many reasons…
3rd question!
” In your opinion, who was the biggest reach, steal and bargain for each team? (including the draft/any trades/waiver wire pick ups to date in the BTFL)”
Delving into reaches, steals and bargains for each team – which this much volatility in this league – isn’t something I think can be elaborated on at this moment. Players move around our rosters like bodily fluids at a swingers party…like germs in a ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese…So someone’s reach could be a bargain 2 weeks later. I’ll reserve my opinion on those three for a bit down the line.
BUT I will use this space to break down the 2 trades that took place so far:
Michael Crabtree/Carlos Hyde for Adrian Peterson – on paper, looked good. Peterson bought for the low while selling Carlos and Crabtree wasn’t a roster breaker…but with Peterson tearing his meniscus, obviously the Hyde/Crabtree duo comes out on top.
Julio Jones/Antonio Gates for Tom Brady/Rob Gronkowski – on paper, I see this as a complete swindle for the receiver of Brady & Gronkowski.
Will it pay off right away? Probably not considering Gronkowski’s hamstring recovery and Brady’s suspension may keep the numbers super low.
However, the long term play there is key. Being tied to the NE offense is what you want in fantasy football and letting the two premier pieces in the NE passing game go for Julio Jones and Antonio Gates? That’s an..
Antonio Gates has had a stellar career and will be one of the all time San Diego Charger greats alongside LT, Kellen Winslow and Fouts but in 2016 A.D.? I’d rather have Antonio Banderas or Antonio Sabato Jr. Gates’ best days are behind him and Rivers can only rely on him so much.
Gronkowski’s upside of 30+ plus puts the fear of the FantasyGods in every opponent. Antonio Gates gets a shoulder shrug and a yawn.
I don’t even have to say anything about Brady that hasn’t been said already.
The rest of the league is on alert from Week 5 on.
Alright everyone…
Those are all the questions for the moment. Hope you got some insight, some entertainment and some answers.
Commish, out!