Four Down Territory: NFL Week 7

First Down

One of the most exciting times of the year is the NBA trade deadline. The association has done a fantastic job making fans excited about the art of the deal. It’s also easier in basketball to make blockbuster trades, something all fans can appreciate.

The NFL is starting to follow suite.

The trade deadline is a week away and rumors, as well as actual trades, are starting to dominate headlines.

Most notably, the Cowboys trading a first round pick for Oakland receiver Amari Cooper.

A lot of people, myself included, think that the price was a little too steep but it’s easy to understand where Dallas is coming from. The main criticism is that their offense can’t stretch the field. In Cooper’s first two years in the league he made the pro bowl and has the talent to be a legitimate number one receiver.

The bad part is that Cooper has led the league in drops the past two seasons. Carr isn’t a world beater behind center but he’s a lot better than Dak Prescott. It also puts Dallas further in salary cap hell. Cooper is owed $13.9 million next year. Dallas can iron out a long term deal this offseason that can bring that number down but that’s still money that’s being taken away from DeMarcus Lawrence and the massive extension that Zeke will be able to sign this offseason. If the cowboys believe Dak is their guy then paying him sooner rather than later is a must.

On 4DT we’ve had a lot of fun cracking jokes on Gruden for his management style but this was a great deal. They now have three first round picks in the 2019 draft and can do a lot of damage. Knowing Gruden though he’ll draft three defensive lineman and go on a rant about how stats are for nerds.

You heard it here first.

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Back to the topic, somebody gotta go and it’s probably Lawrence.

Also on the horizon Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson is looking for greener pastures.

Peterson is a top flight corner and his cap hit for the next two years are $11.8 and $13.1 respectively. Is he worth a first round pick? If you’re a contender looking for the final piece  like the Chiefs or Saints then absolutely. If you aren’t a real contender it’s probably best to fight temptation.

Second Down

A lot of stories are coming out of Philadelphia this weekend.

There’s the Eagles collapsing in the fourth quarter after being up 17-0 only to lose 21-17 after Cam literally morphed into superman and took over. There’s Carson Wentz making questionable decisions on the final drive and falling to 1-8 on game winning drive opportunities. There’s the Eagles’ beat writer drawing a highly inappropriate picture of Eric Reid that was swiftly deleted.

But the main story is the feud between Malcolm Jenkins and the aforementioned Reid.

Reid played in San Francisco with Colin Kaepernick. He kneeled alongside Kap and has been his biggest supporter and best friend throughout the protest. Kap has been blackballed for his protest and Reid was on the same path until Carolina signed him earlier this season.

Malcolm Jenkins is one of the leaders of the Players Coalition; a group of NFL players that came together with the mission of addressing issues of social justice. In November of 2017 Reid received a text from Malcolm which asked Reid would he be willing to end the kneeling if the league made a massive donation to social justice causes. Reid saw this as a sellout and the league buying their cooperation. Jenkins saw it as a seat at the table and an opportunity for discussion and access to resources. Those two philosophies are the driving force of Reid’s rage towards Jenkins.

Reid didn’t mince words after the game.

Jenkins retort was more reserved.

 

Howard Bryant goes into great detail here. Take the time to read it, the writing is exceptional and adds the level of nuance that is needed to have a production conversation.

This topic has a lot of thoughtfulness into a subject that a lot of people shy away from; black people, conflict, and social justice. Unfortunately, this confrontation will only lead to more people hijacking Colin’s original message and contorting it into something completely off the wall.

Then again, that’s been happening since the very beginning.

Third Down

My mom talks a lot…..like a lot and she really enjoys repeating phrases over and over because she knows I’m probably not listening. One of her top five “momisms” goes like this,” If you don’t know your history then you’re doomed to repeat it, son.”

Maybe she should call the Chargers.

Reports have surfaced that the owners are talking about the long-term success rate of the Chargers in LA. For the youngins that don’t know this the Chargers played in LA during their inaugural season in 1960 before moving to San Diego in 1961. They would stay there for the next 55 years before moving to Los Angeles last year.

The Chargers now play in Stub Hub stadium, a venue that seats 27,000. Visiting fans have taken over the stadium a few times and the Chargers rank dead last in attendance.

Luckily(?) they will start sharing a stadium with the more popular LA Rams. Best case scenario the Chargers become the Clippers of the 2000s; so terrible that people just feel sorry for you.

This is what you get when greedy owners…well are greedy.

Fourth Down

Giants owner John Mara said that Odell Beckham should make more headlines on the field rather than off of it.

Okay.

Mind you, this is with Eli Manning‘s production consistently dipping every year.

It’s time to start the #FreeOdell movement. Get that man out of New York or find someone who can actually throw to him. Stop wasting his prime.

Extra Points

As great as Tony Romo is in the booth Jason Witten is just as bad. This is also a great time to remind you that Romo is still getting paid by the Cowboys while cashing checks from CBS.

Now that’s how one secures the bag.

Deshaun Watson‘s journey to Jacksonville shows just how crazy football players are.

The Raiders are two Ls away from completely imploding. Yes, please.

PFT posted an interesting piece about Booger’s mobile unit during MNF games. Take a look at this monster.

Good luck with that one.

@ me: madads14

As always, thanks for reading.

 

 

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