1984Echoes

Next up will be Danielson who, before he gets a job Centering a line of his own (I LOVE the way the DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane line is looking...!), will be a winger on the Raymond-Larkin line... Just a guess. Soderblom and Compher may also get some time there... but I think Nate takes that spot primarily and swiftly... Next year.

Torres is only signed for 1 year. If Tork perks back up... and he shows that he's improved in the field... He may be back at 1B full-time in 2026, Torres gone to a big contract, Keith back at 2B... But I'm just guessing. And there are a lot of moving (and unproven) parts as well...

I said the exact same thing under Biden. My one complaint with Biden was he wasn't forceful enough. That covers a LOT of policy areas. In particular (from my interests...) a lack of support for Ukraine. Not that he didn't support them. But too little. Too late. Too much dawdling and acting scared of Putin when the only thing Putin respects is strength. Trump keeps talking about "strength"... but I don't see strength from him. Just a stream of stupidity. And stupidity does not equate strength.

If Trump really wants to pull a power-play on Putin he'll need to declare a "no-fly" zone west of the Dnieper, put in American Air Defenses and forces to protect the no-fly, and demand European troops in the same vicinity to assist with the "no-fly". At that point, Trump can call the war "frozen", and order Putin to "back the **** off or you face ALL of us." Just my 2 cents. Of course, I would put NATO troops in Moldova and southern Ukraine (south of Odessa) and order Putin to "Get your Russian soldiers out of Moldova as part of this deal." He'll whine (Putin) that "Russian-speakers in Transdniestria are threatened by the Moldovans" but that's complete horse****. Putin could come out of this VERY VERY unhappy, and with his balls completely cut off... If only someone had the leadership qualities to stand up to him. ... ... ...?

Even if they sign players though this draft is still built to help the Lions in those specific areas... 1) The D-Line is loaded in the draft... so I could see a pass-rusher in the 1st couple of rounds and a DT project in the 3rd/4th. Just a guess. 2) There are a lot of good-looking guards rated from the end of the 1st through the 4th round... I expect Brad to grab one that he likes. 3) There are only a few bigger cover corners with speed... I'd like to get one in the 2nd or 3rd... Just a personal preference because I like having at least one guy that can be really physical with the bigger receivers in the NFL. I still have thoughts of "The Legion of Boom"... 4) I think bigger wide receivers are almost always available. Some in the later rounds. Never know which ones might have a chance but I'd like to see Brad take another swing... Think of Puka in the 5th round standing next to Amon-Ra and Jameson...

AGAIN!!! (Just wanted to emphasize that point...!) 😉

No, I was talking financial... As for moral bankruptcy... That's an AUTOMATIC INVITATION into Trump and his morally bankrupt MAGA followers' "NO Ethics Club".

I thought bankruptcies put a person IN Trump's orbit... Or at least that's what was argued in this very forum (actually, its predecessor...) quite often by one or two of our MAGA "experts".

Maybe Shavon Revel slides to us all the way down in the 2nd...

How is Reed against bigger receivers though? He's 5' 9". I'd like at least one good cover-CB that has size. I think I'd like Reed more in the slot as well, if he can cover the quicker guys/ slots... Charvarius Ward is probably going to be even more expensive than Davis though... Oh... and he just signed with the Colts for 3 and $60 mill.

The Great Trump Depression of 2025-2028.

Any minor league pitches for Jobe this year are wasted pitches. All MLB: bullpen/ starter/ or otherwise.

No, I'm not talking about Hutch... he has the moves. I'm talking about the all the other pass-rush hopefuls on the team (now or drafted in the near future) who may have not had the technique instruction that Hutch had. Guys who have some "project" in them in which, they may never turn into Hutch (which of course I would not expect), but maybe they turn into a future Za'Darius Smith. IE: ZS 2015 5.5 sacks, 2016 1.0, 2017 3.5, 2018 8.5, 2019 13.5, 2020 12.5... etc. I think that works opposite Hutch. ZS started out slow and only really picked it up in year 4 and thereafter.

Also... Before we signed Barnes back... I thought the shocker that Brad was going to pull was to trade up and draft Jihaad Campbell. Now my WAG is... James Pearce?

I was hoping for Mike Green in the 2nd round because he was "flying under the radar"... At the time. Umm, well, he's not flying under the radar so much anymore so...

"Vlad? How do I run a corrupt fascist murderous dictatorship like you do? Where... I get all the money?"

Well... This is what Putin fears also. So Trump of course was taking notes from His Master. Piss off the Proletariat and they will all come out with their pitchforks to take off his head. He's trying to placate them by talking them out of their pitchforks... for at least as long as it takes before he can get the US Army on board with confronting and gunning down "disloyal Americans". See... there's a reason Trump has been kissing Putin's boots for over 20 years and it wasn't only about a Trump Tower Moscow.

PS: I think he would do better if was not the "ONLY" guy. Which, basically, he was by that time. Last man standing and I don't think he's a "do-it-alone" guy, certainly not at this stage of his career. He needs Hutch, and McNeil, and any other help we can get on the DL because... he just does. I don't think that makes him a no value guy... Just a DE with a "specific, veteran" value. Whatever that is. The Lions, and he, if they can get on the same page for a contract... will have that understood.

If they can get him back on a contract that works for the Lions I am perfectly fine with getting him back here. I don't consider either him or Marcus or any other FA they could sign as the perfect compliment to Hutch however. I would look to draft the future DE compliment to Hutch. I look at Za'Darius and Davenport as the "vets" that teach the younger guys all their moves, all their "vet knowledge", and start until the new guy is ready to take over a starting spot. It could be a 1st round guy or a 3rd round project. Call him Shemar Stewart. I love the guy. 4.5 sacks over 3 years. But mad pass-rushing "potential". Or at least that's what "they" say... How does he go from potential to reality? I think those two guys would help him along. And then turn into the 1st, or the "key", backups behind Hutch and Stewart as we go on next year's playoff run and win the next Super Bowl... Oops, sorry, I have too many fantasies and dreams and sugar plums rattling around in my head... But I'd still be good signing back Za'Darius... at the right price.

I'm not ready for "what ifs" at this point. I want to see it in black and white and then I'll make my comments and judgements. I like to speculate as much as everyone else on here... but on this one... no.

As long as Za'Darius is coming back I'm good...

And/or Draft Position Watch: We're basically tied at the 13th spot at the moment but... do we move further up the draft or win a few games and move back by season's end...?

This team is just, annually... Too, too frail.

And Mize appears to have also risen from the dead. It's a good thing if these two are back on track and even a little closer to the old expectations...

Along these lines... I still consider the Wings in the "Pistons Phase" of the past few years... "accumulator of talent". That's why I agreed with you on Rantanen. Wrong time to pay this cost. He's a perfect "Brendan Shanahan Last Piece of the Puzzle". And we're not there yet. We need to still be trying to accumulate young talent. By draft, trade, or lucky FA signing. Not trading important future assets yet... at least until we're searching for that mythical "last piece"....