Official Non NFC North NFL News 2014 (Unofficial Johnny Manziel)

[Guiness]

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet 8m
#Bengals are finalizing a deal with QB Andy Dalton on a 6-year extension, source confirms. Pays him more than Kaepernick (ESPN 1st reported)

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet 5m
Will be curious to see final details of Andy Dalton’s contract. Early word was more fully guaranteed than Kaepernick’s $12.3M.

Jason La Canfora @JasonLaCanfora 3m
There are 6 new years on the Dalton deal, beyond him already signed in 2014. So Bengals have his rights thru 2020

NFL on ESPN @ESPNNFL 30m
BREAKING: Bengals + QB Andy Dalton reach agreement on 6-year, $115M contract ext


Breathtakingly dumb, unless it truly is like Kaepernick's deal.

Only way I see this making sense is if the salary numbers start low-ish (say, $14M?) and climb every year. If they're paying him anywhere near the average of 19M they're making a huge mistake.

[pbmax]

SI_DougFarrar @SI_DougFarrar 1h
Matt Millen doesn't count, Pete. RT @PriscoCBS I've had at least four NFL people tell me they think Seattle wins title with Dalton at QB.

I don't agree with Bretsky about Wilson's ultimate upside, but this statement is ludicrous. Dalton cannot keep plays alive, that is the point of much of the criticism.

[Guiness]

Reports coming out now that Dalton's deal is 2yrs, $25M and year to year after that. About what I'd expect.

[pbmax]

All the Atlanta Falcons preview you need: http://deadspin.com/why-your-team-su...1618139918/all

Your quarterback: Matt Ryan. All this time we've been wondering if Joe Flacco is elite. Meanwhile, Matty Ice skates by, completely under-scrutinized when it comes to elite-itude. Here is Matt Ryan's game log from a season ago. Can you pinpoint where Julio Jones gets hurt? I'll give you a hint: It's somewhere before Ryan throws 15 picks in his last 10 games. OOPTY!

[KYPack]

One great comment from a Packer fan re: that Deadspin article...

"Sometimes I still watch the 2010 Packers/Falcons NFL Divisional game and touch myself."

[smuggler]

A lot of QBs would have won that Super Bowl last season on the Seahawks. Should that really be a reason to pay a guy?

[bobblehead]

Things going sideways for Pro Football Talk again.

ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk 5h
Elephant in the NFL media room: There's very little if any direct mention of the photo of Manziel tightly rolling up a bill in a bathroom.

ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk · 4h
In two press conferences and counting, no one has asked Manziel about the photo of the rolled-up bill http://wp.me/p14QSB-9wDq

ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk · 3h
To clarify, Manziel was asked one question about the rolled up bill and the transcript was edited by the team to not mention it.

ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk · 3h
Manziel's answer was evasive, and the question of what Manziel was doing with the rolled-up bill remains unanswered, probably for good.


That folks, is going in a circle in a hurry.

How hard is it to say "I was joking around with a friend" There are probably pictures of me with a rolled up bill in my nose pressed against baking soda from days of goofing around in college. Anyway, at the point that you say "goofing around" its effectively over. Prove me wrong.

[RashanGary]

SI_DougFarrar @SI_DougFarrar 1h
Matt Millen doesn't count, Pete. RT @PriscoCBS I've had at least four NFL people tell me they think Seattle wins title with Dalton at QB.

I don't agree with Bretsky about Wilson's ultimate upside, but this statement is ludicrous. Dalton cannot keep plays alive, that is the point of much of the criticism.

Im not a badger fan. I have no reason to like Wilson other than I like his game (mental and physical.) I really believe he's good, and not just a little good. He's always on the ball, in charge, moving the ball, making things happen, reliable in that he consistently makes things happen, especially when they need it. He has a big enough arm, accurate, moves well...... He has everything you need, physically, but his composure and competitive drive set him apart. He's the best young qb IMO.

[Brandon494]

A lot of QBs would have won that Super Bowl last season on the Seahawks. Should that really be a reason to pay a guy?

Have you watched Russel Wilson play? 25 year old Pro Bowl QBs don't just grow on trees. The guy was in the top 5 for QB rating his rookie season and top 8 last year. Yes the defense is the reason they won the Super Bowl but who knows if they even get there without Wilson under center. IMO hes the next Drew Brees with the way he carries himself on and off the field, hard guy not to root for.

[KYPack]

Have you watched Russel Wilson play? 25 year old Pro Bowl QBs don't just grow on trees. The guy was in the top 5 for QB rating his rookie season and top 8 last year. Yes the defense is the reason they won the Super Bowl but who knows if they even get there without Wilson under center. IMO hes the next Drew Brees with the way he carries himself on and off the field, hard guy not to root for.

Brees and Wilson are similar guys. Not the biggest QB's, but right at the top with flawless preparation and hard work. The guys seem to like both of 'em, too.

[pbmax]

A lot of QBs would have won that Super Bowl last season on the Seahawks. Should that really be a reason to pay a guy?

Perhaps not. But Wilson's skill set is not as easily replaceable as just grabbing a "Dalton" off the shelf.

[vince]

Perhaps not. But Wilson's skill set is not as easily replaceable as just grabbing a "Dalton" off the shelf.

Yeah Wilson's just a really smart player on top of his versatility. He's not really an elite passer (possibly because his team doesn't want/need him to throw it all over the field) but it seems like every time they have a 3rd down to convert, if he doesn't see his receivers open quickly he tucks, runs and gets just enough for the first down every time - a la Arod but maybe a bit quicker to flush which some would like Rodgers to be. That's huge.

[pbmax]

Chris B. Brown @smartfootball 11m
Of course Kyle Shanahan has Manziel running pistol read options (which he rarely did in college) … in the preseason

Chris B. Brown @smartfootball 8m
Nick Saban: Manziel "doesn’t run a lot of QB runs. He runs QB draws and he runs when it’s a pass and…[he] scrambles" http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-foo...110512aae.html …

Idiots.

[pbmax]

Chris B. Brown @smartfootball 1m
Is Manziel's shoulder gimpy? Looked like it hurt him after the scramble and looked ginger on that handoff?

[pbmax]

Jeebus. Neal had Whitehurst twice and Pennel had pressure before a panic throw was completed the WR escaped for a huge gain. Ridiculous.

Barrington missed a tackle after the catch that would have prevented a first.