1984Echoes

Which is what people have been saying for over 30 years... Make it legal... And collect the damn taxes on it...

Right... But you can't expect everything to come up perfect roses. So, if they draft a top-3 round guard that they expect to start: A) They still might not drop Vaitai, at least right away... because you never know if a new guy (especially a rookie) will catch on right away, and injuries also happen... B) Once the rookie, and ONLY once the rookie looks likely to take over a starting spot, would you then "move on" from the existing guy... but then the team would still need backup coverage for that move. So, let's say Kraemer is coming on and they believe he would be a more than adequate backup... AND a rookie is pushing to be a starter, would you make that move. That could be training camp, or early in the season, or after an injury... But I don't think that happens before training camp even starts. If it does happen before then... I'm guessing it would be an injury settlement which is not the same as an outright release. There would be a reason/ circumstances for an injury settlement. Aside from injury, I don't believe they'll release Vaitai until after the 2023 season. But that's just my guess.

If he's healthy, I believe he's back (no pun intended...). Even if you draft a top 3-round guard... you keep Vaitai until he gets pushed out of his starting position by health or the new guy...

That sounds about correct.

Brockers and Okwara. Not Vaitai and Okwara. Vaitai is quite a bit more complicated. I put him in the restructure camp with Goff & Ragnow... at least until I see differently coming directly from the Lions. Just my opinion.

Eloquently stated. And that's what we're all hoping for...

+1

That was the conclusion I belatedly came to early last summer... Even if I like some of these guys in the minors, like Tenacious... Bottom line: too little, too late, amongst other shortcomings.

Here's what I would find hilarious...: Harris's new development team... develops... Christian Santana, Roberto Campos, Jobe, Jung, Madden and several others into serious up-and-coming prospects... Is it: (A) Avila was crappy at drafting (it would appear not if these guys turn into a bunch of top 100 prospects or, even better, into real MLB players...)? (B) Crappy in the international market... (but Campos, Santana, any Avila-etc, that fits in here...)? (C) Terrible at development (it would appear so, although several of these guys are pretty young so how to tell what was natural ability/ growth versus the influence of Harris development versus Avila development...)? (D) Avila just not "on the ball enough" (or over his head to put it another way) to see this whole thing through? I will laugh if Harris builds a team loaded with Avila current and future Major Leaguers that he develops into an actual contending team. I'm ready and waiting for some serious LOL's coming up soon... But right now... I'm just confused.

Their options look like they would be: Garoppolo Brady Carr Rodgers Draft pick ... how would those rank?

Switch to Obi Toppin and the Pistons say yes. And the Knicks say no. Quandary.

I would gander that's based on performance versus projection...

No... Yount actually was an All-Star in the early 80's ('80, '82, '83) when they were good and Cecil was a dominant factor along with some other guys... (and they had multiple All-Stars each year...). But starting in '84 when they weren't so good and only got one player in per year, it was Plesac 3 times and Molitor 4 times, Cecil and several others once each. He got shut out by the numbers game and popular other choices... Even Dave Parker got it once in '90 as a DH?!?! Sheesh!

I am in full agreement with that. And my own prediction is that he would flop bigly in a national...

But they think that might get them the win. For reasons others have posted above... I don't think so. Trumpesque is not a winner (proven), just as Original Trump RecipeTM also is no longer a winner (proven).

Personally, I want my establishment Republicans back because I can't stand the Tea Party and MAGA "FU America" Republicans. I agree... they're going to have to come after Trump to defeat him, and then live with the consequences. I don't know if, as a party, they are ready to take that measure. They have a huge fear of losing those votes. But in my opinion, they have to stand up to TFG. Taken from a different POV: I am pretty certain that the Republicans know that if Trump gains the nomination, they lose the election, and maybe additional seats in the Senate or House... So... WHAT measures will they be willing to take to get someone else the nomination.? How far will they go? Because they know that they HAVE to have a different nominee, but how do you do that without losing either the MAGA vote, or Trump going off on a 3rd Party bender, which will destroy Republican chances and other offices (not just President) if he does that. They're in a tricky spot, right now, to say the least. But I'm glad... and they need to get through this "reformation" before I ever take them seriously again...

I know a few MAGA who are... not actually MAGA. They are hardcore Republicans, I would say establishment, except they are hard-core Republican enough to go whichever way the wind blows and will get more Pubs seated (in any position). They fully bought in to MAGA. But the questions I get from them, especially since Jan 6th, is: "Well OK, Trump sucks.. but WHAT DO YOU THINK of DeSantis!!!" As if an Independent, fiercely anti-Fascist like myself would actually be interested in another Trump 2.0-lite version of a fascist dictator. I called him another wannabe fascist who tramples over everyone's civil rights... like a dictator. I don't know why they didn't like that response.

"Everything Trump touches, dies."

Wasn't Paul Molitor an almost automatic in...? I didn't check...

I knew that... That's why I threw the word "draconian" in there... I figured that was a "HOT" word for responding to a tease!!!

That's my point. I mean aside from that the team (and Sewell) loves Vaitai...

Vatai is already under contract. The decision is to release him or to negotiate a lower cap hit. Brown is a FA... I'm guessing they want him back. But he might get a better offer/ guaranteed (as far as that goes) starting position with another team. The decision is does he get too expensive or does he make his mind up on another team, or can the Lions get him back?

And he was dominant in 2021. I think the coaches love him too, not just Sewell. Also, Evan Brown is a FA and will most likely get a larger contract then the Lions want to pay. Again, a restructure or even the paycut idea per buddha, keeps him with the Lions. IMO.

Simple intuition.

There goes my retirement plans. No more Spring Training in Lakeland.