Dappa Dan

?? I understood perfectly. I DISAGREED. I'll explain again. I understand some players draw ire from supporters. What I'm saying is that that sentiment is to be ignored, as it's unreliable. I've been around long enough to know that groupthink isn't to be trusted. You think Oscar cops it harshly? Demonland might not have been as well populated back then but Jamar copped it from literally everyone on here. Went on to be an All Australian. Similarly, players like Rivers were great when they started and went on to do sweet f/a. But on demonland, because they'd been decorated early in their careers, they were defended from criticism. Do you follow? What? Come on jnr, you're better than this. Read it again. You understand what implication means, right? I'm not comparing the quality of the players. I'm highlighting the fact that both have played a month of one-on-one KP defending roles deep inside fifty. One (Oscar) has performed well and been trashed on here and elsewhere... the other has been woeful (Jake) and is defended because the dees faithful can't handle criticism when it comes to big-money deals going wrong. Do you see? I'm not comparing the players' quality (I reckon Jake will work out as the better overall player)... I'm IMPLYING that the public perception of them is wrong. You can do this with so many of the criticisms on here. In Oscar's case it's way out of whack. He's not a future AA, but he's doing well and building nicely. In other words he's a whipping boy unnecessarily, and the groupthink that led to him being one is wrong. Same as it was for Jack, Jamar, Nev.. the list goes on. STMJ is right. There IS a reason the public make whipping boys. They're STUPID. They SHOULD be aiming their anger at the MFC coaching group. But that's a different thread. Watts and Bennell? Oh for christs sake. Watts was over 22, whipping boy, and he was actually a pretty good player. Go back through all the #1 picks in history. Plenty of them aren't as good as Jack. And don't give me Bennell. He was never a whipping boy. I don't remember ever reading anything about him, TBH.

I'm not referring to or reacting to criticism. It's the nonsensical abuse I'm talking about. And yes, whipping boys do appear without reason. Not all the time, but often without legitimate cause. Oscar has been pasted on here, and elsewhere, even though he's a KP player who's still developing. Jake Lever has gotten off lightly compared to the abuse Oscar's copped. What's the age difference? About 2 weeks. A "common view" is as regularly wrong as it is right. In all fields. People are thick. A PERSON is smart. I find it funny that whipping boys always seem to be under 22ish... and certain other players get off scot free.

Yeah, in a roundabout way it's a good place for us to be in as a club. The sooks on d'land and elsewhere always need their whipping boy. Nowadays they have to pick players who are actually playing well to get their weekly abuse in. Going along well is Oscar. Some other whipping boy highlights - Jeffy who's roundly believed to be knocking on the door of AA. Lewis who was second in B&F. Bugg who kicked 4 a week and a half ago. Wagner who has been among our best defenders through the first 3 weeks.

Yeah, but even among WRs he carries on like a pork chop. Hasn't been dangerous or scary since he did his ankle. Is worth more to opposition teams making it all about him, than he is to the teams he plays for. I reckon as a GM with the whole "Dallas for life" thing, it'd be hard to get excited about a player who has DIVA concerns but doesn't produce well enough to have them. Will have to be a Red Zone threat at best, like Jimmy Graham. I don't reckon he'll be able to choose where he goes nearly as easily as people are saying. At Rams for example he'd be third biggest target.

Dez says a lot of things... lol

My mate @Kraken is devastated. Jerruh put up the X on Dez... How much will he get and where will he end up? I'd love it if Eagles had the room and snaffled him. They don't of course.

Oh for God's sake. Cooks to Rams?!!! Eagles shaking in the cupboard clutching their Lombardi.

I've got OBJ in fantasy. I'd be pleased if he went ANYWHERE else really. San Fran... Rams... anywhere.

Good god in heaven. Suh signs with Rams for 14 mil... God help the NFC.

Nothing like on Watts level. I'd argue also that JKH doesn't cop it as hard as those names. Perhaps only cos he rarely plays seniors.

Heh. Yeah he sure is. TBH I don't think anyone gets whipping boy status anything like Watts. We may never see it again.

Each to their own opinion. I think he's better than at least 5 guys on the list. More importantly he has ingredients I think we lack. But as I say, whipping boys are called that because that's what the fans do. It doesn't speak to whether or not the player deserves it. I doubt, given the current list build, that there'll be room for many players to work their way in. Too much depth.

You know what I'm saying. He might have been heir to the throne for a while. Watts was king for 5 years... Probably 10. The king is dead. Long live the king.

It's all a bit of a laugh... but it begs the question. Pies first rounder next year. Will be a high pick. If they offered it.... Not that they will. But every player in the league has a price. What would be enough for us to trade Weed. Keeping in mind Tom Lynch (crows) was traded after a few years for steak knives and has turned into a gun.

Ladies and gentlemen, our new whipping boy... (Now Watts is gone)

I would argue there's a few guys who are in the bubble. I love JKH... Always have... but I feel like he's going to find it tough on this list to make a game in the next 5 years.

Ask yourself what would it take for you to put your fears aside that he won't make it? Does he need to come in for the second half of the season and kick 30 goals? Or would 2-3 good games, perhaps kicking 4-5 goals in one or two of them be enough? Townsend played 2 good games at the end of last year before finals... fast forward to the start of 2018 and he's a starting small forward and looks as dangerous as any of the Tigers forwards. If Weed does something like this... comes in for 4-6 games when needed, and performs in just a few, the hounds will be kept at bay.

It don't matter what you say... Suh and Donald. Suh and Donald.... Cox and Jernigan? meh. I'm not saying Cox isn't in Donald's league. And I'm not saying that the DL defines an entire defense. I'm saying what isn't being spoken about is that the Rams weak side of the ball is defense. That's their WEAK side. You can't do much better than Peters, Talib, Donald and Suh... It probably won't even matter who your safeties and LBs are.

... Come on... Why else are we into NFL.

Seriously though... How do you score against a team with those DLs AND those corners. If those spots are 10/10... then what grade do you put on their linebackers and safeties?

My god... When I heard he liked the Eagles I laughed... It's not fair to the rest of the comp having Suh and Cox on the one Dline... Suh and Donald is even MORE unfair.

I thought the same thing with Cox. Do the Rams have the cap space? Do you think maybe recruiting Suh might not lead to greater production? I know I think Cox as the alpha with a rotation of DTs to help out led to great success... why not stick with it.

Nah they offered a second a couple of weeks back, and Eagles set their price at a first. I'd be interested to see everyone's teams they want to see next year after the silly season. Rams would be up there, Watson and the Texans for me. Browns for the drama value. Vikings will be right in the mix... Won't be scared of Eagles, Cousins always carved us up.And 49ers.

All the Qb movement has shown Foles won't get looked at until the preseason when a QB gets hurt somewhere in the league. Yup.

Watkins to the Chiefs as Mahomes' new toy. VERY interesting. Sort of glad to see him out of the conference.