1984Echoes

No... there's no "start over". This team just isn't good enough yet. I mean, they're good, there's lots of positives, Stevie's been adding depth guys for at least the past 2 years... But we're sifting through goalies and nothing has stuck yet. Nedeljkovic was a nice try and had some good games, but didn't cut it with the Wings (needed better D in front of him)... Husso was a nice try and had some good games with the Wings but currently is faltering with the Wings (looks like he needs better health and better D in front of him)... Lyon is explained really well right here: In other words: Lyon looks like he needs better D in front of him. (It's sort of a theme with the Wings... and on all 5 guys too... not just on 2...) I think we just need some more of these young kids who look like they have some really high skill level to make their way to the Wings. That would include Edvinsson (better D, of course), Cossa (a #1 in goal instead of tossing #2 guys out there and hoping they turn into a #1...), Kasper. Just for starters. This team needs more high-end talent. And I don't know if any of these guys are ready yet. We have a lot of guys who are adding depth to this team. But they are all flawed, limited, whatever term you want to use. They add goals or playmaking (Sprong & Gostisbehere as examples), but their flaws cannot always be hidden. Could go through almost every player and do the same thing: List a positive or two, and then the negatives. The team played together really well this season and the "sum was definitely greater than the parts". But IMO... this team needs a higher skill level, and a higher "drive-to-win" level players, to become a sustainable playoff team. Larkin can drive this team to wins. And...? That's what I mean in a nutshell. The depth and the "sum-of-the-parts" means we're close to a playoff team. But apparently, just not quite there yet. I still believe this team needs to add more "drivers" to get wins. So... sorry to annoy everyone, I also think that takes looking at a guy or two on Lindholm & Hanifan's level. Not necessarily the superstar or even Larkin-level guys... but hard-nosed/ high skill players just a cut below Larkin that can ALSO drive a team to compete, overall, at a higher level. And face adversity & overcome it. And if Larkin gets knocked out for a week every now-and-then (this IS the NHL after all...), these other guys can still push the rest of the team to... not completely fall on their asses like they have the past 6 games? Yeeesh! Just my 2 cents.

You mean... After getting their asses whupped game-after-game.

Isn't that special?

No? In the NFL, if a team needs your cap space they just release a player with ZERO obligation to anything not guaranteed. This happens ALL THE TIME in the NFL. What do you mean this hardly happens? A player can be OUT of a job (with no guarantees). Or take a pay cut and stick with his team. This happens all over the NFL on an annual basis. I think you are not correct at all.

Don't misunderstand me. I was being glib. These are the issues that lead my thinking on CJGJ, of which MC mentioned a couple: 1) Dude has an ego. He's going to want the chance to be a straight up starter. 2) That said... even though he came back last year after surgery, he may not be able to find a situation in which he is the automatic starter. And may be forced to take MC's 1-year prove it deal. Not a bad bet for the Lions to take if he's willing. 3) That said... I'm going to guess that the Lions are pretty high on Kerby and Iffy as the safeties, and Branch as the nickel. CJGJ can probably squeeze in there somewhere... probably quite a LOT with Kerby losing the most time there, on a guess. 4) So... can CJGJ REALLY still ball after that surgery? I don't remember him being exceptional at the end of last year.. and actually getting burned a couple times. Does another 8 months chilling out and "soft recovering" from that surgery get him back to 100%? Does that make offering him a 1-year contract worth it? 5) The 3 young Lions are... greeeeeeeeeen. Not a huge amount of starting experience. It's why I ask the question that, even though Simmons is on the downside, he isn't the better locker room guy for those 3. I don't think he has more to offer on the field than CJGJ... but I think he has more to offer the other 3 guys in the locker room, coaching them up, and being part of a rotation with them. Just my 2 cents. Again, not taking the glib angle here, but... The biggest question I would have is: Does CJGJ REALLY want to be here for another year, given all of the circumstances?

Duce don't play in a rotation. Duce not shy about letting everyone know that. Duce ain't perfect for this team.

I don't really like the idea of CJGJ re-signing. Not at all... to be honest. I really LOVE the idea of the Lions signing Simmons, Gilmore, Zeitler, and Danna (oh, and Josh Reynolds too). I think the locker room leadership those guys could provide would be immense. Along with what we've already got. Oh... and they would all be the key backups (or starter at LG for Zeitler) at their position too...

Awosika.

Simple solution: They need to win some games.

1) Fuller might be hunting one of these crazy contracts. And most likely will get one. 2) I'm guessing that Holmes' thought process is to cover the position for at least a year, or maybe two, with Sutton/ Davis/ etc... And to draft guys that he thinks the team can develop and take over in the next year or two. Cheaper options. Late 2nd/ early 3rd: Look for the Lions to draft Khyree Jackson, Cam Hart, Caelon Carson, or Max Melton. Or two of those guys and he hunts pass rushers in the later (4-6th) rounds...

He's a huge upgrade over Kindle Vildor.

I think he's perfectly fine as a player that won't have to carry the team on his shoulders. He sets the edge and plays the run really well... so he's the starter but really, he's complimentary to Hutch. Him and Paschal opposite hutch make me feel better. He might still have some pass rush too... but other guys can come in that are more explosive and.. again, he doesn't have to carry the pass-rush but just needs to be an effective complimentary player. Nothing spectacular but I'll take the veteran and his experience. Also... watch the Lions add an inexpensive extension and drop his cap hit... I'd love it more.

Erie and Toledo...

I wouldn't mind adding a veteran safety (and NOT re-signing Ceedy Duce...). But one of the vets who was cut and ends up at the end of FA as a bargain. I think that's a great spot to add an inexpensive veteran who can be great in the locker room... Iffy and Kerby are the starters so just add someone to put behind them, providing support (in a myriad of ways...).

I didn't think Jonah was going to be getting that much... Good for him. But time for the Lions to go to Plan B and I'm glad they didn't try to keep him at that high a cost... Who were those two Centers who were monsters in the middle and able to start at Guard right away (and take over from Ragnow at some point in the future, or... if injuries)? Jackson Powers-Johnson and Zach Frazier, IIRC. I'm on board with signing Gilmore as a stopgap, drafting one of those nasty interior O-lineman at the end of the 1st... and using the 2nd & 3rd round picks on CB's and pass-rushers to develop...

Or they'll stay at home, disheartened. Or write in Haley-Kasich instead... I saw somewhere...

Because OF COURSE he is... (Trump taking pointers from Viktor Orban on how to dismantle a Democracy): https://www.yahoo.com/news/orb-n-meeting-offers-preview-145805299.html Orbán meeting offers preview of Trump’s 2nd-term strongman idealizations Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNN Fri, March 8, 2024 Viktor Orbán is taking his blueprint on dismantling democracy to Mar-a-Lago.

Slow learners... "I'm FLAT OUT a RACIST?" "DAMN!!! Took me 40 years to figure that one out!!!" I can smell... HORSE MANURE.

👍

I agree with the bolded part. Biden can't "rest on his laurels" and will need to press his case across the country, building Dem enthusiasm from the ground up (even though he's not Obama... he still has a dedicated following in Dem circles based simply on his... "reliability"? To do the right thing. And that means from the AA community all across the spectrum... Well... maybe the Palestinian/Muslim-American population won't be enthusiastic about him. But we'll see about that when it comes to crunch time in November. Put up or shut up. Or give up... the country... to Trump). No.. he needs to message all across the country.. starting with all the purple/ swing states you mentioned.

Just watched Dune 2. Amazing job by Villeneuve and while it could be redundant with previous Dune movie (or Sci-Fi Channel version)... He made a few changes which could drive a very different direction for Dune Messiah. And I believe Villeneuve is already on board with the 3rd movie.

The death of Trump's political career is November, 2024. To whit: 1) Republicans are going to get wiped out. And not just Trump. Strong economy. IVF. Roe v Wade. Playing around with the border instead of fixing the border. Boot-licking Vladimir Putin and Russia. Trump's in-your-face fascism. And not least: Dark Brandon has been unleashed. I predict major disheartened red base and motivated blue, and right-leaning Indies and suburban moms wiping out a wide swathe of Republicans... even with the gerrymandering. 2) What does that make Trump? A LOSER. Not just once, but 3 times over and losing in the courts too. 3) That's called a sinking ship. After the November elections, the rats will abandon the sinking ship. That's the end of Trump.

Wrong. He's doing everything he can in Gaza. Republicans are BLOCKING him at the southern border. That makes for a great story and campaign message for Biden... Mostly... Because it's true.

I'm still interested. And Broberg if we could somehow grab him...

In other words... It's been sitting in the refrigerator for 40+ years and is now a green & purple & black grotesque slimy moldy something or other... But "Reagan something something something..." I've got to say: Pretty pathetic...