Since ESPN bought NFLN, does anyone know if the combine will stream on the ESPN app?

TYIA

39 minutes ago, Griever said:

LOL...he was not exactly "all in" last season

Tobin quote:

“We have resources to attack the offseason in a big way, and we want to do that in terms of how we’re going to do that…how we’re going to allocate our resources

He talks like Kamala Harris...we want to do that in terms of how we are going to do that?

I suppose we should remain hopeful that this years attack plan is with a pit bull and not a minature poodle

24 minutes ago, Jason said:

Since ESPN bought NFLN, does anyone know if the combine will stream on the ESPN app?

TYIA

I saw this posted by the ESPN PR account, can't tell if the app is included or not though 🤔

I dunno if they'll be as focused on the drills and stuff as much as NFLN...

(Per @Trags)

Duke Tobin takeaways from Indianapolis on Wednesday:

* Team not letting on if a tag-and-trade is in the works for Trey Hendrickson.

* Tobin on possibly restructuring Joe Burrow contract a la KC and Patrick Mahomes: "We look at all areas to increase our competitiveness if we have to. Cap dollars have to be counted, so if we can accomplish what we want to accomplish without pushing things into future problems, we'll do that. If we need that, we'll consider that as well. Like I said, we're open to doing anything we need to do to improve our team where we're satisfied we're gonna win a championship. That's our mindset, and that's the way we're going into the offseason. But we have resources right now, and we'll see what we can get done."

* Tobin on taking a big swing in free agency, trade (Maxx Crosby, etc. or trading picks) "We're always looking if there's an opportunity that we feel warrants it. You have to give up things, and when you take a big swing, there's a big chance you miss. And it can stay with you for a long time and keep you in the dugout, if we're staying with baseball. We don't want to stay in the dugout. That's not a place we want to be."

* Tobin on Jordan Battle: "He's got a lot of traits you look for in the position. And I feel like Jordan is a guy that's developing a leadership role on our team, which you have to have in the back end there. I think he can factor in the box, and he can factor in deep zones as well. So those are things that we're very positive about it. I think he's feeling pretty comfortable in what we're doing. His communication has really grown. You know, he was a good communicator at Alabama."

* Tobin on whether free agency impact draft plans at No. 10 overall? "Are we going to let free agency affect our draft? If the best player available is what we've done, we'll probably still do it. If there's a sizable difference, you know, we're not going to turn down a good player."

* Tobin on his feelings for the DT group heading into roster build? "I think that it can play better. I think those guys can continue to improve. I think some of them have the talent it takes to be effective players in this league. I think the unit as a whole, you know, didn't play well as a group as it should have, as it could, but I think that's on those guys to take the teaching. We're doing things differently there, and I think that they're growing into those roles. I have a lot of regard for all of those guys, and I think they have roles going forward for us. I envision roles going forward, or they still wouldn't be here. So I haven't given up on any of them. I see talent in them."

* Tobin on Joe Flacco trade was a rare opportunity but worth it: "You don't get to take a big swing for free. Big swings take big compensation. I would probably argue that one of the best trades in the league this year was us bringing Joe Flacco to us, because it re-energized us and it gave us a chance. So when things present themselves like that, we will take advantage of it. But it's got to be worth it."

2 hours ago, Griever said:

That’s nothing that jettisoning Noah Fant can’t fix.

Only half kidding.

1 hour ago, Griever said:

Normally this kind of information should be taken as a big positive. But...but...but...with the Bengals, I can't help but fear that they see that position group as a big ole checkmark now. "Hey, we're all good now, BJ's got it nailed down now, nothing else to be done there" kinda thing. It all starts in the front, on both sides of the ball, the more the merrier, the more talent the better, get it done.

5 hours ago, Griever said:

Then do it .

3 hours ago, Griever said:

(Per @Trags)

Duke Tobin takeaways from Indianapolis on Wednesday:

* Team not letting on if a tag-and-trade is in the works for Trey Hendrickson.

* Tobin on possibly restructuring Joe Burrow contract a la KC and Patrick Mahomes: "We look at all areas to increase our competitiveness if we have to. Cap dollars have to be counted, so if we can accomplish what we want to accomplish without pushing things into future problems, we'll do that. If we need that, we'll consider that as well. Like I said, we're open to doing anything we need to do to improve our team where we're satisfied we're gonna win a championship. That's our mindset, and that's the way we're going into the offseason. But we have resources right now, and we'll see what we can get done."

* Tobin on taking a big swing in free agency, trade (Maxx Crosby, etc. or trading picks) "We're always looking if there's an opportunity that we feel warrants it. You have to give up things, and when you take a big swing, there's a big chance you miss. And it can stay with you for a long time and keep you in the dugout, if we're staying with baseball. We don't want to stay in the dugout. That's not a place we want to be."

* Tobin on Jordan Battle: "He's got a lot of traits you look for in the position. And I feel like Jordan is a guy that's developing a leadership role on our team, which you have to have in the back end there. I think he can factor in the box, and he can factor in deep zones as well. So those are things that we're very positive about it. I think he's feeling pretty comfortable in what we're doing. His communication has really grown. You know, he was a good communicator at Alabama."

* Tobin on whether free agency impact draft plans at No. 10 overall? "Are we going to let free agency affect our draft? If the best player available is what we've done, we'll probably still do it. If there's a sizable difference, you know, we're not going to turn down a good player."

* Tobin on his feelings for the DT group heading into roster build? "I think that it can play better. I think those guys can continue to improve. I think some of them have the talent it takes to be effective players in this league. I think the unit as a whole, you know, didn't play well as a group as it should have, as it could, but I think that's on those guys to take the teaching. We're doing things differently there, and I think that they're growing into those roles. I have a lot of regard for all of those guys, and I think they have roles going forward for us. I envision roles going forward, or they still wouldn't be here. So I haven't given up on any of them. I see talent in them."

* Tobin on Joe Flacco trade was a rare opportunity but worth it: "You don't get to take a big swing for free. Big swings take big compensation. I would probably argue that one of the best trades in the league this year was us bringing Joe Flacco to us, because it re-energized us and it gave us a chance. So when things present themselves like that, we will take advantage of it. But it's got to be worth it."

Ok I have to comment on some of this because it's somehow worse than I could have imagined, which I would have said is impossible:

• The whole "if you take a big swing you can miss" and "we don't want to be in the dugout"... but Duke, buddy, you're the fuggin dugout RIGHT NOW and you DIDN'T take a big swing so what did you really gain here? Another chance to take the swing you refuse to take anyway???

• On Jordan Battle "he was a good communicator at Alabama"... can someone please explain how in the sweet merciful fuck our supposed "GM" is talking about Jordan Battle's COLLEGE CAREER as something to inform his FUTURE performance as he's heading into his FOURTH fuggin season? Hello?!? Jeezus he sounds like a standard homer Bengal fan!

• "If the best player available is what we've done, we'll probably still do it." *shakes head in confusion. Bluhhh what? If Duke doesn't know what they've done who does? What's he think he's doing, hiding some master plan from everybody by being coy? Or, maybe Mikey really does run everything and Duke really is that empty suit people keep speculating he is? I'll place my bets on: Duke is just really really shitty at interviews/pressers (which we know as a fact, at least).

• So the DT group is pretty bad, but they have roles. Sorta kinda roles on this team in the future blah blah. This coupled with him doing a Hobson-esque "BJ Hill is about to be pro bowl caliber baby! It's like he's 10 years younger brah!" Honestly this to me lends credence to ICD's theory that they're definitely going DT in the first regardless of who is available.

• "Big swings take big compensation." He's saying this in reference to the Flacco trade?? The 5th rounder for Flacco and a sixth? Moving down in a late round is "big" compensation? Ok he's been drinking MB's bathtub Kool-Aid for too long, it sounds like he might actually believe this nonsense. Seriously though it just sounds like a continuation of his self-praise of this trade he was barfing out at the season "wrap up" presser. Man, it's just soooo pathetic.

"if you take a big swing, there's a big chance you miss"

Maybe if you're Duke Tobin. This is their philosophy boiled down to one line. Pathetic.