Raji looks to be back

[Smidgeon]

He doesn't strike me as that dumb. Quite the opposite actually.

Finley clearly lived in a space in his head where everyone's concerns and his contract numbers mattered to him. I don't get that sense from Raji.

Now it didn't work out for him, so his gauge of the market and his performance plus role conspired to hurt him badly. But outside of second half foray's into being a consistently penetrating tackle regardless of the play design (often when the D was getting gashed), he seemed eminently coachable. Matthews has made more news about a position switch.

I'm guessing that Raji played 2013 completely within the system, actually doing what he was asked: to double team and keep the ILBs clean. He didn't freelance to penetrate because he was focused on doing what he was supposed to do.

It just so happened that his low statistical productivity made it look like he was in severe decline, and no one wanted him. I think he was really just supremely miscast as a DE, but he was still a better DE than Pickett.

So hopefully, as a NT, he'll start showing up on the stat sheets more.

[mission]

FWIW, I think Rand works in some kind of research environment, quite possibly academic but maybe commercial. For the most part, to get anywhere in that career you have to be very self-motivated because even if you're absolutely brilliant you have to slog through years of work and bullshit to get to any real sort of relevance.

He doesn't appear very motivated to explain himself.

[pbmax]

FWIW, I think Rand works in some kind of research environment, quite possibly academic but maybe commercial. For the most part, to get anywhere in that career you have to be very self-motivated because even if you're absolutely brilliant you have to slog through years of work and bullshit to get to any real sort of relevance.

Either that or he is royalty.

[mraynrand]

Yoop, Max, and Mission you are all correct: I am in research, often not funded, and usually royally screwed, probably because I am unmotivated to explain myself (lack of publications).

[mraynrand]

... to get anywhere in that career you have to be very self-motivated because even if you're absolutely brilliant you have to slog through years of work and bullshit to get to any real sort of relevance.

this is very accurate. Now imagine trying it with marginal intelligence.

[pbmax]

Yoop, Max, and Mission you are all correct: I am in research, often not funded, and usually royally screwed, probably because I am unmotivated to explain myself (lack of publications).

My next guesses were trust fund kicking in at age 50 or moist towelette heir.

[red]

i would have guessed conservative radio talk show host

[mraynrand]

i would have guessed conservative radio talk show host

I have the looks for it

[Zool]

Didn't we already know Raji was black?

[mission]

So is this a 1 year / 2 mil deal? Even that sounds rich, but I thought 4mil last year was too. Can't see them paying anymore than that for basically a guy who hasn't done anything in two years.

[Fritz]

I would think another one year deal at maybe two or two-and-a-half mill might get him back - unless the Lions lose Suh and look at Raji as a potential replacement.

Sign Raji! He'll be back to his 2010 form. I promise.

[red]

i can't see why would would give him anything more then another 1 year "prove it" deal

we gave him one last year, and he was hurt before he could prove anything

we've learned nothing in the last year

of course, because there was one or two articles written during training camp last year saying he looked decent, people are conveniently forgeting about his previous 2 or 3 years when he was just a fat, lazy slug collecting a paycheck and not much else