Dappa Dan

Yeah. "May." I was more "hoping" he'd get traded as I wanted that first rounder. But wasn't interested in a late second rounder, as Jimmy G got better than that. Always felt pre season or early 2018 was most likely, but certainly didn't see a minor contract extension coming, not in today's day and age of fast and furious trades. It was an extension they didn't need to do, so I'm pretty pleased they tried to help him out.

I think we all settled on that. The debate was more about what he'd be worth in a trade, rather than the likelihood. I thought all along that with Wentz's knee being as it was, the preference would be either a first rounder, or to keep him. As you say, it'll go on and on the will-they-won't-they talk. Part of me thinks they might eventually tire of the speculation and move him on just to stop the external noise.

Eagles are still partying... Won't be attending at all. Interestingly, they hosted the draft last year, and within a few months hoisted the Lombardi in the same place. After all the Dallas trolling. Pretty sweet. Only problem with that... It's in Dallas this time. So speaking of draft... How we feeling @Macca @Clintosaurus @Gorgoroth @Kraken @JV7 @DeeSpencer? Any early picks? Aside from the usual QB talk, I'm interested in Barkley the most. Will he be Zeke or Richardson? And what about Chubb? Speaking of QBs.... The Foles trade didn't end up happening @Macca

Not to barge in uninvited... Maybe you can't. But you can argue whether or not the issue's are even worth raising. I don't see it as any different to the age old question of "some players take longer than others." You can point out faults in nearly every player's game in that way. Having those faults isn't an indicator of future success though. Judd wasn't a good kick. TMac has woeful kicking skills. Similarly a kid like Harmes? Nothing on a football field he can't do. But does he do it? Not nearly as often as he should. Why? Because of his age, games experience, cumulative pre-seasons and the style of game he plays. In the context of their careers, the time for guys like him and ANB is NOW. Have they become whipping boys? Not at all. This "whipping boy" crowd have let them go largely unnoticed. Yet a kid like Oscar who's at a relatively similar age and experience in terms of games played, and is playing a much harder one-on-one role that traditionally NO-ONE does well at within their first 100 games (Rance, anyone?)... is poleaxed here and elsewhere. Anyway, you've heard all pro-Oscar and anti-Oscar rhetoric. It's been nothing but that for the whole time he's played seniors. The reason I've chimed in here is that (maybe for the first time) demonlanders are pointing the finger at themselves. What are WE doing right and wrong. For what it's worth, having been posting here for the last 15 years or so, when you look at the full scope of a player's career, the whipping boy "finding faults" mentality you raise is infuriatingly useless. And probably, in the end, only harmful to a kid's development. And in the end, so often the groupthink thing is just plain WRONG. Not taking aim at you and jnr and the regular posters here who love their footy and know what they're talking about, but holy smokes, some people just plain don't know footy. The Oscar "whipping-boy" thing is one of the better examples. He's doing exactly what he should be doing as a KP defender that's early in his career.

?? 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.