BEDARD BLOG

[imscott72]

The Vikings unloaded 3 high picks last year to acquire Allen. Piolo just dumped a 2nd to get Cassell. The Vikings gave a 4th for Rosenfels. The Jets gave two undisclosed picks for Sheppard. The Bucs gave undisclosed picks for Winslow.
In 2007 the Chargers gave a 2nd for Chambers. The Bucs gave 2008 and 2009 picks for Michael Bennett.
I could go on and on, but that research took about 5 mins. The point is GM's trade picks all the time to get players that can improve their roster. I'm all for building with the draft too, but draft picks are a crapshoot, whereas you have better chances with players that have positive track records already in place.

I should hope you can find a lot of examples considering there are 32 teams and you are drawing over several years.

I took that information from this year, 2008, and 2007. It's not like I went back a decade. You're argument was that picks for player trades are very rare and it's simply not true. I'm ready to move on if you're ready to admit your argument holds no merit.

[Partial]

"Trying" to do something, or for all we know, saying you tried to do something, is quite a bit different than actually doing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TROhlThs9qY

Yes, however, it still shows a willingness to part with draft picks.

Try this one.

Name three GMs that actually traded more draft picks for players than TT. If it takes you more than 30 seconds, ask yourself if TT is in the top half or the bottom half of the league in this regard.

Shanahan, Newsome, Piolo. Done. Took about 20ish seconds.

Congrats, although I don't think those are all great examples to be providing and I can't make you prove the 20 seconds. My point still stands, trades don't happen all that often, and TT has not shown that he is unwilling to offer up picks for players.

Pioli not a good example? Baltimore not a good example? They are a very consistently good franchise. Shanahan has been pretty hit or miss, I'll give you that.

[KYPack]

Shanny's also not a GM anymore, P.

[Joemailman]

The Vikings unloaded 3 high picks last year to acquire Allen. Piolo just dumped a 2nd to get Cassell. The Vikings gave a 4th for Rosenfels. The Jets gave two undisclosed picks for Sheppard. The Bucs gave undisclosed picks for Winslow.
In 2007 the Chargers gave a 2nd for Chambers. The Bucs gave 2008 and 2009 picks for Michael Bennett.
I could go on and on, but that research took about 5 mins. The point is GM's trade picks all the time to get players that can improve their roster. I'm all for building with the draft too, but draft picks are a crapshoot, whereas you have better chances with players that have positive track records already in place.

I should hope you can find a lot of examples considering there are 32 teams and you are drawing over several years.

I took that information from this year, 2008, and 2007. It's not like I went back a decade. You're argument was that picks for player trades are very rare and it's simply not true. I'm ready to move on if you're ready to admit your argument holds no merit.

There actually have been quite a few 2009 draft picks traded for players. More than I would have thought. http://www.gbnreport.com/trades.htm

[Bretsky]

The Vikings unloaded 3 high picks last year to acquire Allen. Piolo just dumped a 2nd to get Cassell. The Vikings gave a 4th for Rosenfels. The Jets gave two undisclosed picks for Sheppard. The Bucs gave undisclosed picks for Winslow.
In 2007 the Chargers gave a 2nd for Chambers. The Bucs gave 2008 and 2009 picks for Michael Bennett.
I could go on and on, but that research took about 5 mins. The point is GM's trade picks all the time to get players that can improve their roster. I'm all for building with the draft too, but draft picks are a crapshoot, whereas you have better chances with players that have positive track records already in place.

I should hope you can find a lot of examples considering there are 32 teams and you are drawing over several years. I think you will find that much less than half of the teams trade a pick for a player in any given year.

Bottom line: TT has already shown a willingness to part with draft picks for players. It is a fact, move on.

My gut tells me you would find a hard time listing teams that clearly make these deals less than TTT as well. And if you are not able to do that, would that mean that weakens your stance ?

How many times has TT traded a pick for a player ? Is that more or less than the average team ? Ah, who cares anyways.

TTT is a wheeler and dealer when acquiring picks, but I'd agree with those who say he doens't like to give them away for vets.

And if you disagree, prove me wrong

[Guiness]

Since the Gonzo deal was brought up...

Have there been anything new about him moving somewhere? Although I would guess if KC called back to see if the 3rd was still available, TT would hang up on them.

[KYPack]

Since the Gonzo deal was brought up...

Have there been anything new about him moving somewhere? Although I would guess if KC called back to see if the 3rd was still available, TT would hang up on them.

Thought the same thing.

Pioli could call TT re: Gonzo

New regime & all that.

I expected to see Tony go to NE in the Cassel deal. The deal was announced piecemeal & I thought it would be Gonzo and a 2. Ya know, two for two.

I'd take him. Saw him play last year. He's got two years left easy.

[texaspackerbacker]

Why the hell not.

When LT has been on the field the past two seasons, he's been very effective. It's true towards the end of each year he got hurt, but we've got a starter caliber in Grant already. So, it could be a true 50/50 RB system that would not only keep LT with fresh legs heading into a playoff situation, it would also keep Ryan Grant with fresh legs as well. Also, LT's presence alone is going to allow Rodgers to be even more effective then he was last year.

Combine a LT/Grant combo with the WR's we have and a young improving QB: You could see a lot of reason that our offense could be one of the best in the entire nfl.

Normally, I'd be against a deal like this, but pb1234's post makes sense. Besides, I don't have as high an opinion of Brandon Jackson as a lot of people do. As long as we're not talking a first rounder, I'd be happy to see Thompson pull this off.

[imscott72]

Gonzo said last month he has no problems staying in KC if moves are made and I think it's safe to say that's been done.

[SkinBasket]

Jackson potential is about as clear as a frog's butt. Change the deal to Jackson and our higher 3rd and I wouldn't feel sad.

But the Chargers would laugh in your face. Jackson and a 3rd doesn't come even close to getting a deal from the Chargers.

And that's when you tell them that's your offer, if you want better, find one from another team. Then tell them next week it'll be the lower of your 3rds.

[SkinBasket]

It seems to me like Thompson settles for the set of steak knives instead of the Cadillac El Dorado.

The only thing that matters is getting them to sign on the line which is dotted. Anything else is just details and making excuses for failure.

Sounds a lot like you would rather we have Snyder or Al Davis signing players for us. They've demonstrated just how successful the sign the big name at all costs approach can be.

[cpk1994]

It seems to me like Thompson settles for the set of steak knives instead of the Cadillac El Dorado.

The only thing that matters is getting them to sign on the line which is dotted. Anything else is just details and making excuses for failure.

Sounds a lot like you would rather we have Snyder or Al Davis signing players for us. They've demonstrated just how successful the sign the big name at all costs approach can be.

You can add Zigi Wilf to that list. He just got to his first playoff game(which they lost) after years of big spending. TT has already been to an NFC Title game.

[Zool]

It seems to me like Thompson settles for the set of steak knives instead of the Cadillac El Dorado.

The only thing that matters is getting them to sign on the line which is dotted. Anything else is just details and making excuses for failure.

Sounds a lot like you would rather we have Snyder or Al Davis signing players for us. They've demonstrated just how successful the sign the big name at all costs approach can be.

You can add Zigi Wilf to that list. He just got to his first playoff game(which they lost) after years of big spending. TT has already been to an NFC Title game.

To be fair, Wilf has only owned the team for 3 seasons and they actually appear to be improving over that time. I've been quite glad about the Vikings crap shoot of QB's lately or they might have actually been good.

Edit: 4 seasons.

[sharpe1027]

I took that information from this year, 2008, and 2007. It's not like I went back a decade. You're argument was that picks for player trades are very rare and it's simply not true. I'm ready to move on if you're ready to admit your argument holds no merit.

Whoa. No merit? Facts are facts. TT has been willing to offer picks for players. Tough to argue against the facts, but you can keep trying.

The point of the trade frequency argument was to put some perspective on the whole thing. You drew from over 3 years. Considering you are complaining about TT, who has one trade in three years (and attempted at the very least two others), with 32 teams, each team should average at least one a trade year, right? If trades really are so common, you should be able to find a hundred trades since 2007 without breaking a sweat.

Point being, TT's track record isn't abnormal by any means. He traded for Grant and has all but had deals in place for Moss and Gonzo. Feel free to complain about his execution, but don't pretend he isn't willing to give up picks for players.

[imscott72]

I took that information from this year, 2008, and 2007. It's not like I went back a decade. You're argument was that picks for player trades are very rare and it's simply not true. I'm ready to move on if you're ready to admit your argument holds no merit.

Whoa. No merit? Facts are facts. TT has been willing to offer picks for players. Tough to argue against the facts, but you can keep trying.

The point of the trade frequency argument was to put some perspective on the whole thing. You drew from over 3 years. Considering you are complaining about TT, who has one trade in three years (and attempted at the very least two others), with 32 teams, each team should average at least one a trade year, right? If trades really are so common, you should be able to find a hundred trades since 2007 without breaking a sweat.

Point being, TT's track record isn't abnormal by any means. He traded for Grant and has all but had deals in place for Moss and Gonzo. Feel free to complain about his execution, but don't pretend he isn't willing to give up picks for players.

I'm done with this argument. Clearly you're going to stand by your point despite the fact you keep clinging to what TT "almost" did. One pick for player trade and he's right with all the other GM's? Whatever man..