Mr.TaterSalad

Did I miss a news report about Ken Holland coming back as GM?

I'd love to get Jedrick Willis here on the Lions as a rotational/swing tackle. He seems like the perfect Brad Holmes type of player too. If we can sign him on the cheap, as a depth piece, and somehow he manages to stay healthy, he could be a real steal. He is the kind of value player I'm at least willing to buy low on and see what it gets us. We wouldn't be asking Willis to start and so he likely won't cost that much and we wouldn't be relying on him like a Marcus Davenport if he were to go down again.

At least Senator Mullin didn't murder his poor dog. So that's a start. I used to think the harming of animals was something we all universally agreed was wrong and repugnant. But Kristi Noem proved that was not the case.

This is the kind of **** MAGA is doing today. Some of the dumbest people in America.

It's March and the Wings collapsed and blew it. Ugh, here we go again.

RIP Lou Holtz. A big part of my college football childhood gone. All I can think of is Ryan Day crying and whining about what Holtz said about Ohio State.

I've seen conflicting reports about how hard Jasmine Crockett will or will not support James Talarico.

Among the many things that Brad Holmes has proven to us, it's that he's going to take the guy he and Dan believe is the best player available who fits all the criteria they are looking for. Last year, drafting Williams, is the closest they've come for drafting for need. Even then, when there were more talented players on the surface possibly available, they went with Williams. That same philosophy will apply to this year's draft too. I'd like it to be an offensive lineman in the first round, preferably a tackle. But even if a tackle falls to them, it's no guarantee they're going there just because we as fans see that as a need. They have to view him as the BPA on their board, a culture fit, etc.

There are free agents under 30 believe it or not. And I'd rather go into next season with a proven center and keeping Ratledge at guard.

I'm just going off what Birkett quoted from an NFL agent, who seems to think the Lions won't be as active and looking inwards. Now that agent's word isn't gospel by any means and Holmes has of course shown a willingness to sign starters and make upgrades via free agency.

I can't find the exact post on Twitter and quote from Dave Birkett, but this is something I heard Valenti and Rico talking about yesterday on The Ticket. Detroit Free Press beat writer Dave Birkett reported that at least one agent who spoke with the Lions believes a position switch could be coming. As Birkett wrote: “One (agent) who spoke with the team believes they will move Tate Ratledge to center and open competition at the guard spots.” Were this to be true from Birkett and the agent, it signals to me that they are staying in house with their offensive line and not making any major moves via free agency or trade to bring in a starter. So to me, reading this (if true), I think the offensive like would be Decker/Mahagony/Ratledge/Fraizer/Sewell next year. Then, they would fill in backup spots with Awosika, Manu, Scruggs, and maybe a draft pick. But any hopes of making a big splash at Center or anywhere along the line don't seem likely, were this quote to be accurate. Prior to this quote coming to light, I have suspected they will be quite in free agency, adding smaller pieces and backups. I think we might get a starter at Safety given the injuries they have. We might also get a rotational starting DE/Edge and a RB who can split some of the load with Gibbs. But I've never anticipated a big move coming in or dropping big bucks for a starter like Linderbaum or Crosby or Hendrickson. I suspect what cap space they do clear up will be used to resign their own guys like Branch, Campbell, Gibbs, and LaPorta.

If this post is real then please endorse Ken Paxton, please endorse Ken Paxton, please endorse Ken Paxton! James Talarico is likely going to lose either way, Cornyn or Paxton. But I think he has ZERO chance against Cornyn. I'd say he has a 15-20-25% maybe against a nut like Paxton. He's the male version of Sharon Angle or Kari Lake.

I don't expect Yzerman to make a splashy move. I expect more of a second pairing defenseman/3rd liner type of move. So I'm not thinking or hoping that we get a guy like Elias Pettersson. I get the temptation around Pettersson, based on his past production and our history of success as an organization with Swedish players. As others have said, this organization, if anyone, could be the one to get him out of a funk and give him the best opportunity to return to form. I just think his contract and more so, his trade cost, will be waaaaaay too rich for Yzerman's blood. And I totally get it. Robert Thomas is more the guy I want. He's the kind of guy that will work hard every game, unlike Pettersson, and be up at 3AM everyday to practice. He can score at a decent pace around 20 goals a season. More importantly, he can facilitate and give us a true second line center to help distribute the puck to other guys who will be more prolific scorers. You won't push him around either as he's not as soft a player as Pettersson. Assuming the medical reports checkout and he's not just a little unwell, I'd make the trade for Robert Thomas. Do I think Yzerman will trade for Robert Thomas here in the real world? I tend to doubt it. He'll want to hang onto his prospects more than make a win-now, splashy move. Prove me wrong though Stevie, I'd be very happy if you do as this team is ready to take that next step. Just look how far we've come. We'd be ready for the bright lights of the playoffs with a guy like Robert Thomas on our team.

BENGHAZI! BENGHAZI! BENGHAZI!

I know we call Trump stupid all the time here, because he is. But it really can't be understated what an absolute clod this man is. This guy and his administration thought none of this out. They may be less prepared and planned out than the Bush Administration was when DubyaMD and his administration invaded Iraq. And they were about as poorly prepared for fighting the war and rebuilding Iraq the day after as one could be.

As we invade Iran, let us reflect on all the fabrications, lies, and historical moments that lead us into war with Iraq. Here's a sad and tragic oldie-but-goodie from George Bush. Now watch this drive!

When George DubyaMD Bush invaded Iraq he started with far higher approval ratings than this. I believe there was near 80% support, or higher, for Bush's invasion in Iraq. if Trump is truly in this kind of a hole already at that start of the Iran War, something tells me it won't be getting better anytime soon. Especially with his political inability to stay on message. At least Bush largely kept all of his lies and BS on message.

I'm filling up today because tomorrow and everyday there after is going to be a lot worse for the near future.

Oil prices are up nearly 8% so far today at over $73/barrel for crude. I suspect with the Straits of Hormuz being completely shutdown now that this problem only escalates and oil prices spike further up. This will of course cause gas prices to climb higher and higher in the coming weeks. People often measure their feelings about inflation on the price of gas. They're already on edge about the cost of living. If and when gas prices jump markedly higher, Trump is going to get ROASTED on gas prices just as Biden did when he was in office. FAFO.

This will be Trump in no time. I wonder what banner he will prematurely raise behind him to celebrate, while the lives of American servicemembers and Iranian civilians continue to be taken by the horrors of this regime change war.

I don't see any reason to pay Gibbs this early. I want to churn and burn him. We need to get as much usage out of him as possible and then make the determination as to whether not he is worth giving a second contract too. He's obviously a very talented player and deserves a second contract given his production and talent-level today. But RBs also fall off quickly and we have no idea what Gibbs will look like in 3-4 years after all of this usage. I'm holding off on paying Gibbs for now.

Boy, him not being a neocon any longer sure didn't last long. Barely over a year. We're right back to all the same lies and talking points we were told in the rush up to the war in Iraq. Different day, new neocons, but same propaganda.

We need all the cap space we can get, so $4 million, while not a lot, is not insignificant. Gibbs has two more years because you can franchise him as well for a 6th year. Not all RBs are worth giving a second contract to. Sometimes, unfortunately, you churn them and burn them. That's why I would rather hold off on paying Gibbs now, because we still have the franchise tag in our back pocket.

Getting a 4th and clearing out the cap space makes this a good deal if there was truly no way to keep Monty here. If Holmes uses that cap space to extend his own guys now and doesn't go into free agency to plug a hole or two I'll be disappointed. If he turns right around this offseason and extends Branch, Gibbs, and LaPorta right away, I don't know that this is the right series of moves at this point in time. Extending Gibbs at this point would be waaaaay too premature. Extending LaPorta, without knowing fully what his long-term health lookout will be is a big risk to take.

Right. This. We had the Iran Nuclear Deal/JCPA that was working.