Strafford

Pretty deep draft for backs condemned so you should be able to pick up a solid one, although the class does lack that wow factor.

You seem to have gone a bit high risk, high reward with your FA's. If Long can get back to his pre-injury standard he will be a great pickup. Cook could actually help alleviate the loss of Amendola, as he is actually more of a receiver than a traditional tight end.He is a very athletic guy. Just a really tough time to be in your division with the Seahawks and Niners. I loathe the Niners by the way so I hope your guys kick their butts lol. My apologies to any Niner fans on the forum, but the eighties was a very awkward time for me being all arms and legs and you guys didn't help.

It does look tough mate, although I'm not that familiar with your roster, so I'm not sure exactly how tough.

They picked up Avril as well who would be on a fair bit of coin. Hopely not too much in the way of guaranteed money in the latter parts of a few of these contracts. The problem with guys on relatively cheap first contracts is that they then want to make up for it with bigger than normal second contracts. Still a good problem to have rather than picking up duds. With Harvin now you would think that they would be even more potent. I really like their secondary now. Browner, Sherman, your ex guy and that top safety whose name escapes me. On paper they look like they could give it a real shake.

Yep Vick's health is a concern. Simpson's main problems for us were lining up in the wrong spots and route running, the drops were generally a consequence of that. The weed probably didn't help lol. Our QB Dalton probably has a few of the same problems your guy has. He also doesn't have the strongest arm. We though, don't have AP. The reality is we can't use AJ Green to full advantage. We really need guys like Sanu and Jones to step up and build on the promise they have already shown to stop the double and triple teaming of AJ. Sanu is very similar to Keenan Allen, not quick, but big and physical with great hands, although Allen is probably the more accomplished route runner. Winfield was certainly a loss, but probably doesn't have long left. How are Seattle affording all these players? Surely they are going to have some salary cap problems soon?

It will also be really interesting to see how the Eagles play under Kelly. The Ducks were really fun to watch, but it is unlikely they will play exactly like that in the Big Boy league.

It's my own fault. I shouldn't get sucked into the main board lol What is about the North. Two tough divisions. Your success probably depends on Ponder improving, although if our ex guy Simpson is your number 2 you could be in trouble. He has all the physical tools, but he isn't real bright. Hopefully you can get a wideout in the draft who can start straight away. Perhaps even one of the tightends. Rudolph who I think is a gun paired with one of the top TE prospects could work beautifully. Both in the pass and run. We have a young team, so hopefully we will improve just through players having had a bit of experience. We have looked awful in the playoffs, so hopefully we can get over that mental hump. A lot of hope there. If we come out and suck this season, I may take up crochet, sport will have become too hard lol

I think I may hide in here for a bit...bad timing to have a bit of time on my hands. Fortunately that ends next week lol Not sure I would have said that a month or so ago. You guys need to post in here more..darn you lol My lot play your guys late at PBS I think and Maccas Pack early. Nasty little stretch in the middle of four out of five games on the road. Whodey!

I could just imagine what our DC Zimmer, who I think is one of the best in the business, could do with him. Wow bloody pipedreams lol. Just signed for a fortune with the Pack. Just a couple of podcasts and a site on the draft if anyone is interested and apologies to those who already know about them. NFL Draft Tracker produced by NFL.com which features an ex NFL scout and The Draft Show produced by the Cowboys also with an ex scout are interesting and both are free on Itunes. The ex Cowboy scout is always ripping on Jerry Jones which is a bit funny. Although the podcast is Boys focused it does actually cover a number of the main guys. Especially good if your team is after an Offensive lineman, defensive tackle, safety or running back. Draftbreakdown.com is a good site to look at clips of the prospects. All neatly categorised by position. Hopefully one of these is useful to you guys.

Things not looking good with negotiations with Harrison, so linebacker could be back on the table with an early pick. Anything going on with your negotiations with Aaron and Clay Macca?

We did have few problems at centre due to injuries,but many of the sacks were just down to Andy not getting the ball out ontime. He's not very mobile, but I do think he can get better. AJ is just awesome. Which is why our decision not to target him in the first half of our playoff game is just baffling.

Funnily enough we actually won the North as recently as 09, were one and done..again, and then went 4-12 the next season ouch. The other time we won the North under Lewis in 05, first play in the playoffs Palmer goes down with a knee, as did one of our best receivers after completing the reception. How is that for bad luck. Palmer was never really the same after that. Should be fun against your guys. Our pass rush is good, but our pass coverage is a bit suss. What is your offensive line like? Unfortunately Andy is more Alex Smith than a gunslinger like your bloke, but we do have some good young wideouts and Gresh does have his good days so we could click, especially if our line can open a few holes for our backs whomever they might be. I just can't wait for season to be honest. Tougher schedule and all.

Thanks Macca. Sounds like your friend never sleeps. Never really been into the NHL and I lost interest in the NBA after my Australian team folded a number of years ago...I still can't even say their name ...sob. So for me it's just AFL , American football and the EPL which pretty much fills out the year. Yep AFC North is tough, but my hope is that the ageing Ravens and Steelers fall off the cliff, but I thought that about the Ravens last season lol. The Bengals still have a few holes and must improve in a few areas before we are really contenders. Which is why probably losing Smith is so annoying as it limits our options. It is also interesting to notice what sustained failure can do to fanbases. The similarities between Demon and Bengals fans is uncanny. The main Bengals forum , the day before our playoff game against the Texans, started a fairly popular thread on what is your worst memory as a Bengal...I mean come on lol

I know it's probably too much to ask, but any College football fans as well? I really love the traditions and all the buzz around the games. Even my wife enjoys the college game, but not so much the NFL lol Go you Georgia Dawgs lol. Just quietly I think my wife just likes the fact that the dawgs are red and black just like a certain AFL team she loves and because of Georgia's live mascot Uga the bulldog who she calls cute. She calls me cute as well so I'm starting to worry about what she actually means...I think I am still dashing and handsome, but perhaps she thinks of me as ugly and interesting... Yep I know oversharing lol

Thanks Cowboy. You are probably right on Austin, but I reckon Allen might still be there. The injury concerns and those forty times will probably drop him. Great hands though.

You will probably see the niners burn a few at various stages in the draft as they move up to take players they like Macca. A few teams are already salivating about moving back and getting picks because they have so many needs. I imagine the niners have already had a few calls from fellow GMs along the lines of don't forget about us as a trade partner lol.

Perhaps you guys take Austin if he is still there? Looks to be able to do a few of the things Percy can, but without the baggage. Although he does seem to be one of the hype players, so he could be long gone. Not a lot of wow factor with the wideouts this draft, but you guys will certainly need to take one at least in the 1st round.

Nice to see some fellow NFL fans. My wife thinks I am a masochist, as I am a Bengal as well as a Demon lol. Although my Bengals have been better of late and not so much the Bungles. Our draft will be heavily influenced by what happens with fatboy Andre Smith. The classic breakout season in a contract year. We might end up reaching for someone perhaps Fluker in the first round. If we had re-signed Smith on reasonable money, which is still possible, but less likely as time goes on, I would have thought thatwe go linebacker, safety, running back first three picks. Not sure what order. Now with us looking at Harrison as a vet FA probably substitute tackle for linebacker.