2021 NFL Off-Season Thread

[The Buscher]

Sigh.

[gunnar hendershow]

No extra bye week is stupid. At least they have a couple more good matchups to put in primetime slots I guess. I don't hate a longer season but it's all definitely heading towards an 18-game season with 2 bye weeks (thus 20 weeks of regular season games for TV) and then 4 weeks of playoffs, the draft, and Pro Bowl (lol) and you get 26 weeks of the year where the NFL is at the top of the TV pecking order.

[livid]

8 minutes ago, damshow said:

No extra bye week is stupid. At least they have a couple more good matchups to put in primetime slots I guess. I don't hate a longer season but it's all definitely heading towards an 18-game season with 2 bye weeks (thus 20 weeks of regular season games for TV) and then 4 weeks of playoffs, the draft, and Pro Bowl (lol) and you get 26 weeks of the year where the NFL is at the top of the TV pecking order.

18 games won't be for awhile...

 

[Lineker]

Surely they don't expand to 18 games without expansion franchises.

[Lineker]

Quote

LOS ANGELES -- The sister of Los Angeles Chargers controlling owner Dean Spanos is petitioning a California court to put one-third of the team's ownership stake up for sale.

Dea Spanos Berberian filed a petition Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court contending that mounting debt from the franchise is creating an estimated yearly loss of at least $11 million for the family trust.

According to the petition, the trust had debts and expenses of $353 million as of Sept. 30. Nearly half of that ($164,778,931) is due to the trust's investment in the Chargers. The trust's stake in the Chargers makes up 83% of its holdings.

"The trust is so heavily concentrated in owning a minority stake in a professional football team that beneficiaries have no choice but to depend almost solely on the rise or fall of the team," the petition says. "Maintaining the status quo is not an option."

The filing includes a letter in which Dean Spanos said he would hire an investment bank that would allow any member of the family to sell their stake. Berberian says in the petition that would be too long.

"Every day that passes increases the risks that the charitable beneficiaries and the Spanos family legacy will suffer irreparable financial and reputational damage," the filing says.

Spanos, Berberian, Alexandra Spanos Ruhl and Michael Spanos each owns 15% of the franchise, with 36% managed by the family trust and the remaining 4% owned by non-family members. Spanos and Berberian were left as co-trustees of the trust following the deaths of Alex and Faye Spanos in 2018.

Alex Spanos bought the San Diego Chargers in 1984, and his son Dean took over managing the franchise in 1994.

Dean Spanos, Michael Spanos and Spanos Ruhl issued a statement saying operations of the team will be unaffected by the court filing and that they intend to contest the motion.

"Our parents, Alex and Faye, wanted the Chargers to be part of the Spanos Family for generations to come. For the three of us the Chargers is one of our family's most important legacies, just as it was for our parents. Unfortunately, our sister Dea seems to have a different and misguided personal agenda," the statement said. "If Dea no longer wishes to be part of this family legacy, the three of us stand ready to purchase her share of the franchise, as our agreements give us the right to do."

Forbes valued the Chargers at $2.6 billion in its recent franchise rankings. The trust's share could be worth nearly $850 million, after Daniel Snyder recently bought the remaining 40.5% of his minority partner's stake in the Washington Football Team for $875 million.

The franchise's value is expected to increase with the NFL having agreed to a new media rights deal that will bring in more than $10 billion per year beginning in 2023. The Chargers also moved into SoFi Stadium last year and expect revenue to increase once fans are allowed.

 

[Lineker]

 

[Lineker]

 

[Krabby]

Houston Police officially launching an investigation into the Watson case.

[The Buscher]

Sam Darnold traded to the Panthers for a 2021 6th, 2022 2nd and 2022 4th.

[Lineker]

They could do worse.

[gunnar hendershow]

The 2nd and 4th are good returns for Darnold.

Now we know teams are taking QBs 1-3. Carolina trading for Darnold tells me they might expect a 4th or 5th to go ahead of them too.

Feel bad for Teddy Bridgewater who is good as a QB, but giving Darnold who has a much better arm and is still super young another chance is smart. It's worth a shot for Carolina but I don't know if I'd cut bait on Bridgewater until I knew the reality of Darnold is that he was talented and Gase was the problem.

[The Buscher]

$23 million cap hit for Bridgewater to possibly sit on the bench this year, and if they trade him it's still a $20 million dead cap hit.

[DYSI]

Damn, was hoping Carolina would go QB. They're definitely grabbing a WR/OL now. 

Edited April 5, 2021 by DYSI

[LL!]

20 minutes ago, damshow said:

The 2nd and 4th are good returns for Darnold.

Now we know teams are taking QBs 1-3. Carolina trading for Darnold tells me they might expect a 4th or 5th to go ahead of them too.

Feel bad for Teddy Bridgewater who is good as a QB, but giving Darnold who has a much better arm and is still super young another chance is smart. It's worth a shot for Carolina but I don't know if I'd cut bait on Bridgewater until I knew the reality of Darnold is that he was talented and Gase was the problem.

I'm thinking Sam Darnold is a security blanket here. Or, at least, that's what's intended. The guy you bring in to light a fire under your stater's ass and see if he could deliver. If not, well, you got Darnold. 

[DFF]

Yeah, I think this a straight up competition this year - Teddy costs them too much for it to be otherwise. 

[VerbalPuke]

1 hour ago, damshow said:

The 2nd and 4th are good returns for Darnold.

Now we know teams are taking QBs 1-3. Carolina trading for Darnold tells me they might expect a 4th or 5th to go ahead of them too.

Feel bad for Teddy Bridgewater who is good as a QB, but giving Darnold who has a much better arm and is still super young another chance is smart. It's worth a shot for Carolina but I don't know if I'd cut bait on Bridgewater until I knew the reality of Darnold is that he was talented and Gase was the problem.

Yea, I think the Jets got a good return all things considered. Probably best to cut their losses now when he's probably not the future, and I don't hate getting future picks. 

I also don't mind the deal for Carolina because I don't feel like they gave up too much to take a flyer on a young QB with something to prove. If he turns out even to be pretty solid they did alright. 

[Meacon Keaton]

They can opt out of Teddy’s contract after this upcoming season so I think it’s entirely possible they let Darnold compete and if he’s better, he plays. I mean it wouldn’t be the first time a highly paid veteran took the bench for the younger guy. Literally just happened in Philly this past season.

[DFF]

Reports are that Atlanta are open to trading down from #4 now. Could be interesting to see if a team really wants either the 4th best QB or one of the best non QBs

[VerbalPuke]

Just now, DFF said:

Reports are that Atlanta are open to trading down from #4 now. Could be interesting to see if a team really wants either the 4th best QB or one of the best non QBs

Kinda sucks for us, I'd love to see the Lions be able to trade down but I get the impression we may not be able to. 

I have a feeling that QBs will be in high demand this draft though. Like I wont be surprised if we get 5 in the top taken, we know for sure 3 will go, and I'd be surprised if Lance gets out of the top ten, and I also wouldn't be surprised if somebody moves up for Mac Jones. I'm also seeing people talk about Kellen Mond and....fuck I can't think of the other guy now. Either way, Monde and the other two are being talked about as 2nd rounders. The kid from Stanford, I forget his name right now. 

[gunnar hendershow]

2 hours ago, Meacon Keaton said:

They can opt out of Teddy’s contract after this upcoming season so I think it’s entirely possible they let Darnold compete and if he’s better, he plays. I mean it wouldn’t be the first time a highly paid veteran took the bench for the younger guy. Literally just happened in Philly this past season.

Carolina did announce it's picking up Darnold's 5th year, which given his career performance isn't huge but would be awkward for them to have to carry both him and Teddy next year.