1984Echoes

Yes exactly. Key point.

Right. Exactly what I just said.

I think "BPA" is also a term that shouldn't really apply to the Lions... "Best Player" is subjective... and to buddha's point, they do NOT just simply ignore organizational needs. I'm not certain exactly how to describe the Lions drafting philosophy... but I would consider: 1) Game Impact. They look at players and how they would contribute to the Lions winning, to making game changing plays, and if the guy dominates his opponent or his position. It's why they ranked Penei Sewell so high, as well as Jack Campbell. I mean there are other reasons for those picks... but I'll get to that in a minute. Was Jack Campbell BPA when they selected him. To buddha's point, was Ennis Rakestraw? This also means NOT a guy like Teez Tabor (WAY too slow for the position), and means someone like Jahmyr Gibbs (game breaking speed, can dominate the other team, and they don't care that the RB position has been "devalued"). 2) Crazy about football. They want complete dedication to the game. Eat, drink, sleep football. That means high FB IQ, and it means will do anything the coaches ask of them. Being a captain or other leader on their college team is huge for them. 3) They LOVE the guy. They've said this so many times... They fall in love with a player... with their work ethic, talent, upside... everything. Or... whatever it is that they fall in love with... they go AFTER those guys, almost no matter the cost. It's why we have guys like Manu and Vaki on the team. It does NOT say that those guys are BPA... they just LOVE them... for one, or for many reasons... I ONLY... WISH... they would have fallen in love with Puka Nacua in 2023 in the 5th round instead of Colby Sorsdal... But that's another story... So I wouldn't call it BPA. I would call it "the guy that the Lions LOVE the most". It will probably fill an immediate or soon-to-be need. It will be someone who completely dominates his position and his opponent. It will be someone who affects the game massively... who lives, sleeps, breathes, and eats football. Who has a high FB IQ and would "run through a brick wall for Coach". The Lions will "Fall in Love" with him. Whoever he is. I'll just guess at who they fall in love with this year in the 1st round: I'm hoping it's Shavon Revel, or Shemar Stewart. They'll find O-line help in the 2nd round (Tate Ratledge or Grey Zabel or...?), whoever they "love" the most and believe will grow into a key O-Line player... A situational pass-rusher or developmental CB in the 3rd (the opposite position of who they pick in the 1st). Or maybe a productive X-Receiver here. And who knows what other "gems" they find in this draft. Maybe another 5th round Puka Nacua...

Oh... the possibilities here...!

I've always been a proponent of Manifest Destiny since a child... reading about the Louisiana Purchase, the Alaska Purchase, and the Mexican-American and Spanish-American Wars. And the 1812 disaster. I'm a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. A believer in American exceptionalism, and exceptionalism as a result of our Democracy and Capitalism. Build the Panama Canal... because we can do it. Carry a big stick but speak softly (and quite often... NOT so softly). I am a proponent of Manifest Destiny... And now Trump is pushing this? He's a freaking moron, fascist, incessant liar, and has been for over 40 years... But let's put that aside. Is he serious? Can he pull this off? And HOW would it get pulled off, if he were to actually accomplish this? My theories: 1) Can NOT buy "Greenland"... but COULD buy ALL of Greenland EXCEPT the currently populated areas. There would be a "State of Greenland" in a section of the island. Independent or under Danish control. It's mostly a small coastal region in the southeast of the island. The balance of the island would be purchased by the U.S. Trump wants the rest of the island for military bases, Arctic research and maritime control, exploitation of natural resources (rare earth metals and oil & gas deposits, etc...). He may even have to pay a 100-year royalties fee (1% just for argument's sake) to be paid for resources produced in American Greenland: half to Denmark and half to the "State of Greenland." Yep, I'm on board with this. 2) Panama Canal? Sorry, no chance. But he's pushing for better U.S. transit rates and higher Chinese transit rates. Yep, I'm on board with this. 3) Canada? No chance. But similar to Greenland, forget the heavily populated areas and concentrate only on the Artic areas. Which are vast. And for the same reasons as Greenland, offer to purchase the Provinces of Yukon, Nunavet, the Northwest Territories... and then sponsor support of Newfoundland and Labrador to vote and choose their government: Canadien, or American. Their choice. But the Yukon and Nunavet and NW Territories fall under the same type of Greenland Agreement... a sale, and royalties for any resources derived in these territories for a set number of years. Yep, I'm on board with this. Trump is pushing for something like this (too bad we lost the 1812 War with Britain...). Can he do it? Anyone else interested in Trump's version of "Manifest Destiny"?

If the Astros sign Bregman... Does that POSSIBLY make Isaac Paredes available in trade? *ducks*

If we had the picks I would target Cam Johnson & DeAngelo Russell. I think that would start with THJ, Stew, and Ron Holland... plus picks... and ??? but I'm just guessing...

Give him an innings requirement for a vesting option after year 2. Hurt and not enough innings = no contract after that year... Free agent status instead.

This deserves an answer, so... What are my retirement plans? I am going to: 1) Search the Galaxy for my soulmate. I may have even found her already… but relationships are always so fraught with peril so no guarantees can ever be given until two “I do’s” are heard from mine and my intended's lips. And we are nowhere near that point as we have met quite recently. The chemistry however, is extremely high. 2) She is however, a Space Pirate Provocateur. Which you can imagine… has captured my imagination. 3) So my retirement plan… is for the two of us to engage in Galactic Criminal activities. 4) We will dance in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. 5) We will swim in that pool in front of the Taj Majal. 6) We will have a “Flash Marriage” in the middle of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. 7) We understand that Interpol and the rest of the polizei will be very unhappy with us (“ARREST those TWO!!!”) But I have my eye on a really nice-looking getaway car so we should be fine. 8) If no one is looking, we are going to steal a planet, or maybe a star… we haven’t decided yet. 9) I have a secret mission planned (I’ve told her “a mission” but VERY LITTLE details so she is very intrigued by my mysterious and incessant surprises that I keep springing on her)… but it does involve white sand beaches and at least 9 sunsets on these beaches so she knows that much. 10) We will be secretly photographing the Canadien Rockies as we travel from the east of Canada, on “The Canadien Express” train to Vancouver. But… shhh… please don’t tell anyone about our secret photographs, we're trying to stay "under the radar". 11) We believe we have found a secret hideaway in a nebula at the edge of the universe but we can’t tell you where it is. 12) I will become known as Chrisik the Galactic Wanderer, famed Archaeologist and Captain Extraordinaire… but no, my head has not swollen to twice its size and even though I do not exactly match that description… it makes for a good story. Yes? 13) I can tell you where I have found Springtime sanctuary near Lakeland Florida where we have a pool (and we’d be pretty close to those white sand beaches for our secret mission…!) But not yet. Almost there… 14) I like Harry Potter 15) I told my sister I would visit her and her family often, in Merry Old England. 16) Did you know they have Harry Potter tours in the UK? In London and Edinburgh? 17) I smell a secret Wizarding Mission coming sometime soon. With my Space Pirate Provocateur Partner of course! I do already have my wand and wizarding gown but not my Owl. Hmmm... secret mission to FAU to capture my Ground Owl! Think anyone will get mad at me? 18) I spotted a Mayan epitour in the Yucatan where you get taught Mayan dishes, have to COOK Mayan… and there is still time to go hiking and look at nearby Mayan ruins in the Yucatan jungle. I am more than intrigued. 19) Also, a personal winery tour in Chile on the edge of the Andes is another surprise I am keeping in my back pocket. Maybe a Secret Mission up to Machu Picchu as well if no one is looking. 20) As well as a River Cruise down the Danube. Or maybe a Christmas Market Cruise down the Rhine? I can’t decide… probably both. 21) And I have ONLY just started with this list! And if you think I am joking about any of this… I. Am. Not. You have no idea the unhinged Intergalactic Criminal that has been nefariously hiding on Motown Forums (and its predecessor) all these many years. But be forewarned: Chrisik the Inter-Galactic Wanderer has been UNLEASHED!!!

Ahh, yeah, I could see that. I like that too: Mahogany-Ragnow-Zeitler with Glasgow as the top interior backup... Although I am still interested to see if Eguakun develops into a viable center option down the road...

Adding to this... It seems everyone is good with Ragnow sticking with the Lions for now and not considering retirement for the foreseeable future... And I'm good with this. But my question is: Has anyone heard anything on the undrafted Center we kept last year... and who made it through the Practice Squad this year...? Kingsley Eguakun... who the scouting reports had something like: "Has an outside chance to turn into a starter in the NFL". I'm just looking at our backup situation at Center for next year and... if Fraley is turning Kingsley into a viable option there... I know we hear next to nothing about the practice squad... just thought I would ask anyways...

Working on it...!

Saturday January 18th, 2025... A not-so-good, very bad day for Detroit...

PS: I officially retired as of yesterday. So I joined a few of you guys...

Start to the season. I think their strong finish last year offsets their atrocious start to last year. I don't think there is any way they start this year the same as last year... And it's all kids so I don't want to guarantee anything... because along with all that energy and growth potential comes a lot of roller coaster and learning curves and such... But I think an extremely high amount of (the "young guns") energy fuels a great start to this season... But that's just me...

I would be unwilling to go more than 2 years on Flaherty. And a team option (plus small buyout) on the 2nd year just in case... So if it's actually 5/110 or nothing... I choose nothing and let the kids figure it out.

That's what I'm hoping. Copp to make salaries work? And if it's another high round pick (this year's 1st + what... a 2nd rounder next year? or a conditional (which could move higher based on games played next season?)) But I'm just guessing...

On Dylan Cozens... I don't think he commands the high price that people suspect he would. You don't trade a guy like Cozens if you believe he is a part of your franchise's future. He's only 23. That means he's underperforming his draft position. Another team will certainly take a swing, and I'm not saying he's worth zero... just not a top prospect like Kasper or Danielson. I think the headline for Cozens is a 1st and another draft pick, a depth prospect, and another underperformer. Rasmussen. Add our 1st and a (3rd? or a 4th? or a future 2nd?). Add in a defenseman like... Wallinder? I have no idea how full of crap that trade is... but I'm sticking with it: Rasmussen/ Wallinder/ 2025 1st/ maybe another pick.

I could give him a 5-year. Just requirements to make the 4th and 5th year. Meet those requirements and we can lock in the 4th and 5th. But the secondary requirements would be starts in the field. If he is only a part-time starter in his 3rd year than he might still meet games played, just for example... but if not as a starter (a lot of backup games) = cut the pay rate in half. maybe he hits year 4 at $25-30 mill but year 5 he gets games, but as a non-starter so his pay = $12-15 mill based on not meeting those incentives. That's probably a NO from Bregman and Boras... Just thinking outside the box a little...

Which we already have. By the dozens. Still need some RH'ed balance.

I liked Buehler at $21M better than Cobb at $15M. But he didn't love us back... Can we get Flaherty back for a couple more years?

Because he can't get his $200 mill contract. His value is down after 2024. But get his OBP way back up... while making $30 mill per year until he gets back to pre-level 2024, with an opt out each year... allows him to... Opt out? And take another shot at the $200 mill? And if he never gets back to what he was... he doesn't opt out and still makes $30 mill per year for the next 3 years. It makes perfect sense. Especially if you're an accountant. Which I am (CPA). He can't get his Big Boras contract so Boras is advising him to go short term at high AAV with opts. It's perfect logic.

I wouldn't use this as any kind of source or "prediction". It's simply fun to talk about... That's all. Oh... and I would definitely go for $30 mill per year to Bregman for 3 with opt outs. Get 'er done Harris! Just my 2 cents...

I would do this: Bregman 3 years $90 mill with opt outs after each year... Tigers predicted to land two-time All-Star on three-year, $90 million deal

I'm not down on Lee so much as I think he won't be able to wrest 2B away from Torres... Or Jung. I think Jung will end up at 2B. I believe Lee is not the most athletic guy either. So it's not like he has a fielding advantage there over anyone else. But I DO believe he has a legit bat... That means finding ways to get him into the lineup... Which means... I think they give him some time at other positions as a way to get him into the lineup more. He's played 3B some. And some OF previously. But with so many LH'ers on the team... it'll be on the short side of any platoons...