Purple_ICE 81

Yea Im definitely more confident about facing the Pacers after their mid season collapse, they definitely dont have that grittiness to them they had last year. But a blind cobra is still a cobra none the less....the Pacers are still good and have what it takes they just have to play more as a team. i could see a 6 or 7 game battle in the next round. Bradley Beal and John Wall are both young and extremely talented players, signing Melo would give them the signature "big 3" combination that will make them a favorite to push for the #1 seed in the East. Definitely pleased with the future of the Wizards after such a long gap in between the Gilbert Arenas era haha

I just think they lack that extra piece that will give them the push they need to beat the Pacers. They will definitely give them a good run for their money...but I just dont think they have the edge over the Pacers. I will still root for them but even if they do advance they wont win a championship. They dont have the elite firepower to go 7 games with the Heat...let alone 4. If they had a Melo, or maybe a Rudy Gay, or Luol Deng (who are free agents this summer) on their squad right now combined with what they have they could easily push for the finals. They could definitely improve on Trevor Ariza at SF. The Wiz need to make a splash this summer and maybe look for a big signing or trade because they are so close to being a juggernaut in the East...especially with the Heats big 3 all headed for free agency.

Heat will definitely be back in the Finals for the 4th straight year...the only team capable of beating them in the east is Indiana and they have lost a big step and continue to show signs of dismemberment and incompetence. The Pacers just dont have that swag or dominance they had last year, there defense has been terrible and they have generally been playing sloppy ball lately too. I see the Spurs or Thunder coming in and beating the Heat in the Finals. I just think the Heat are gassed and wont be able to finish on top this year.

Wizards doing good...but they are not going to get past the Pacers next round. They better hope the Hawks advance. Looking forward to the offseason....I dream every night about the Wiz signing Melo and threading themselves right behind the Heat and Pacers in the East. Melo...Wall...Beal...Nene.---> BEAST

Well I guess he hasn't been working out and exercising during his 1 year break period which is obviously concerning due to his failed conditioning test. I mean the conditioning test is definitely challenging for anyone who is in shape or not, but it would have been nice to see McClain give a little more effort and heart out there instead of giving up on it. Whether we sign him or not I will leave it up to Ozzie and company to make that decision. Personally I dont care...at this point im not sure what McClain has to offer as an ILB..when was the last time he played at a high level? 3 seasons ago? He may be done and it looks to be heading that way.

I was ready, and very intrigued to see what he did with his shot last year...now that he took some time off to hopefully better himself, maybe we can have a strong ILB corps. Hope he chooses to stay with us and we give him another opportunity.

Did it make any of them think twice...or nah? Another great similar movie you could watch is called Spun.

Well he is not a flashy signing...but Kubiak knows what he is looking for in centers I guess...looking for the specific type of athlete, and Zuttah ran a 4.9 40 yard dash. He has some starting experience which is also good, but he was part of a Bucs o-line that wasn't good last year. And the fact that they wanted to improve on the position by adding Evan Dietrich Smith this offseason makes me wonder how good Zuttah really is. Im not sure if anything has been set in stone as far as the starting job goes...but I would assume there to be a competition in training camp. Maybe with the addition of a couple more cheap Kubiak choices we will find a quality starting center who will help boost the running game, although Im optimistic at this point it will be Zuttah.

Honestly thats the only place I can see him playing in 2014...as someone's backup. I wouldn't want him on this team because....well he is Mark Sanchez.

Because its cheaper...and even to a cap friendly team like the Browns cheaper is cheaper. With the transition tag the Browns have the right to first refusal and can match any offers other teams make within 5 days. It gives them the opportunity to gauge the market and see what Mack is truly worth. And it looks like a job well done by them as Mack hasn't garnered much interest. He will likely just sign his $10M deal and look to negotiate a long term deal with the Browns...who will have all the leverage.

We have bigger needs now...why spend a 1st or 2nd on a player who will probably be 4th or maybe 3rd on the depth chart? Steve Smith and Torrey are locked in as 1 and 2...and Marlon has done nothing but create big plays for us...although he can improve on some things and Im sure our coaching staff can't wait to see when that happens. We are not the Broncos...we wont be running 4/5 WR sets...most of the time we will probably be running 3 wide at the most.with 2 TEs...or 1 TE and a RB. We will continue to be a run heavy offense too. Although I could care less what we do in the draft and would still love to see Marqise, Odell, Robinson or one of the talented wideouts on our team...Ozzie just never really over indulges at the position during the draft.

I agree with you here. Anquan Boldin was a great WR but lacked the elite 4.3 speed Smith had throughout his career. Steve Smith is a great route runner, has great hands and is extremely physical for his short stature. He plays like a mini Boldin. You watch some of the big plays Smith had throughout his career and a lot were of the Boldin variety...those physical jump balls or traffic collision catches. To me they are similar in alot of ways but Boldin's lack of speed is what makes Smith the better WR to me...and Smith is a slightly better route runner. But both were great WRs none the less.

http://youtu.be/QXPj93Rg_NI Had to share this vid...if it doesn't get you pumped up I dont know what will

Im having my old Mark Clayton 89 jersey fixed so it reads Smith on the back. Its just going to be a pain to un stitch Clayton and sow in Smith haha but Im going to make a day of it because I held on to my old Reebok Clayton jersey I spent 50 bucks on back in the day haha

Most of the crap I hear about Steve Smith is ridiculous and terribly misleading. If people really took the time to analyze the Panther's passing game as a whole they would realize that the new OC they got last year changed the way they do things on offense. In Cam Newtons rookie and sophomore seasons he put up some pretty good numbers in the passing game (4,051, and 3869). And the main reason for that was none other than Steve Smith who played like an absolute superstar in those 2 seasons. Over the course of 2011 and 2012 he recorded 152 catches 2,568 yards and 9 TDs. He also had 11 games where he had atleast 100 yards...5 of those games he had at least 150 yards. And he averaged almost 20 yards per catch. In 2013 Mike Shula was promoted from Qbs coach as Panthers new OC and as a result their passing game was limited a lot of the time because Shula wanted more high percentage throws instead of going deep all the time. Steve Smith was used as possession receiver instead of the deep threat he is used to being...although he still caught some 20, 30 and 40 yard catches...just not the 50 and 60 yarders he can normally put up. Its not because he took a drop off and from age 32 to 33 and magically lost speed and his skills declined...he obviously showed last year he can still be an effective and dangerous WR...its just the way the new OC used him thats all. Cam Newtons stats declined too...and the Panther's offense was still highly effective throughout the season. To me Steve Smith is old but is in extremely good shape with enough speed to stretch the field deep like he made a career of doing. He is a big upgrade over the past WRs we had including Anquan Boldin. Boldin was good but was limited by his speed, and Smith has just as much talent when it comes to running routes catching and beating defenders as Boldin does. Boldin may be a physical freak and have Smith in that category...but you wont see a stronger harder working angry playing WR than 5'9" Smiff,,,he is a beast. I still believe Smitty is a great WR in this league...and I know he is angry as hell and ready to prove to the world that he is too. He could easily put up 1000 yards next year...although I think it will be Torrey who gains the yards and Smith who gains the catches...he could push for 70-80 grabs. And for the money we spent...its really not that expensive. Great signing by Ozzie.

In 2013 under a new OC Steve Smith was under utilized and was rarely used as a deep threat. But was one of Cam Newtons favorite 3rd down targets. In 2011 and 2012 Smith was used THE RIGHT WAY and for that he put up 2 1000 seasons with over 10 games eclipsing 100 yards and 4 or 5 of them were 150+yds. A couple of years ago he was a beast of a WR...and I still think he has a ton left in the tank as well... to act as both a burner down the field and a possession receiver. Boldin never had the speed or general talent that Smiff had. The only thing Boldin has as an advantage is youth and strength...but Smiff is extremely strong for a 5'9" WR. Id take Smith now over Boldin hands down.

ICE UP SON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes...nothing like having to meet your boss for 2 hours straight then come home and get this glorious news...pumped up for our passing game next year.

Looks like Donald Penn will be a Raider...OT market is extremely thin considering Michael Oher is the best available option.

As much of a Marqise Lee fan I am...I can't see him beating out Steve and Torrey for #1 duties if we were to draft him. He would likely be our WR3 sliding in and out of the slot with Steve. And I also doubt we spend anything higher than a 2nd on a WR should we sign Smitty...too many other needs. If we sign Smith which I hope we do I see us going 3rd or 4th round on a wideout. We will probably sign Smith to a 1 or 2 year deal...and by the time he hangs em up Marlon Brown will probably be very refined and ready to step in...thats my prediction. A lot of people worried about passing on a WR this year in the draft because Smitty will only be here so long...but I see Marlon Brown and Torrey as our long term options at WR, and you could throw Aaron Mellete in too.

Steve Smith on the plane headed for Maryland baby...going to the castle to talk things over. Hopefully we get a deal done overnight or in the am. ICE UPPP

Not sure if it was mentioned on here...but TE Garrett Graham re-uped with the Texans for 3yr/$11M

I could see that...

Ex Steelers/Bengals OLB James Harrison is on the market...Bengals just let him go.

Packers resign TE Andrew Quarless...a decent TE goes off the boards.

Buccaneers officially release OT Donald Penn. "So-so" talent...Bryant Mckinnie-esque weight issues and work ethic...I see us staying away.