5 minutes ago, greend said:

1. Who said Hurts was any good?

2. Rodgers is another year older, think he got better?

3. I didn't realize the goal was to have a cheap diva at quarterback

Decent weapons, good Oline, decent playcaller, and Rodgers likely takes a team to the playoffs at his age still

He's an a-hole though so you need to get through that sadly

41 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Is he black?

32 minutes ago, TEW said:

How is he moving away from his system? The teams running this system are adding the same types of players.

Klare is not a good blocker. He's a receiving TE, definitely not a "2 way" TE -- I'm not sure where you're getting this from, but Klare is NOT some in-line TE who is going to be a good blocker in the NFL. He sucks as a blocker just like Stowers. Klare is basically the same exact style of player as Stowers, just way less athletic and smooth compared to Stowers. Basically, a worse version of the same style of player.

So he's Calcaterra. Got it.

25 minutes ago, wussbasket said:

Some FAs I'd poke around at:

AJ Epenesa Edge

Espensa failed his physical with the Browns so I don't know if I would want to go that route.

What would it cost to land Grant Delpit and would you make that move?

I know you guys think I'm speed obsessed...and maybe I am. But assuming they figure out the OL and get Stowers harnessed properly and figure out adjusting the QB to the offense....the real and only missing piece is a good version of Hollywood Brown.

If Wicks can be discarded as superfluous now that they unexpectedly drafted Lemon and we had a plan to get the current version of Brown upgraded over time, I could see it making sense how they are positioning the pieces on the board. If it's more Lemon and Wicks on the field together, then it makes no sense to me.

2 hours ago, Sack that QB said:

It's not necessarily about replacing AJ with the compensation. It's if you're going to make a trade you're under no obligation to make, and actively make your team worse in a SB or bust season(which their moves tell you for them it still is) then you better get back an absolute haul. Doing anything less would be unwise. The idea with a potential trade was the return would make the short term loss of talent worthwhile in the long run. So it better be. A 1st in a loaded upcoming draft class would do that. And I still don't see how the Patriots have any leverage here. Say Howie goes "It's a 2027 1st or these talks are dead" are the Patriots really going to go "Ok, we'll go into next season with Boutte and Doubs"? Somehow I doubt that. It seems they want Brown pretty badly.

I don't think there's a scenario where they enter the season with Brown. A disgruntled player isn't a key piece to a championship run. The League is just different at this point. My point about first round picks is that Howie likely values a 2028 1st round pick as much as a 2027 pick. If the choice was a first and 3rd in 2027 vs. a 1st in 2028 and 2nd in 2027, he is going to take the latter.

4 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

That would create a kind of awkward and funny situation

Just now, eagle45 said:

So he's Calcaterra. Got it.

Or he's Bowers. Or Pitts. Or Fannin.

10 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Sure, you can try Lemon out there - and with the proliferation of off coverage, he might get away with some clean releases but small as you can get at X, and not exactly a burner for a Z. Yeah, you got Goedert and Mundt for this year at least - probably will have to go back to the well down the road.

Its kind of bad timing that 2 players that would benefit the most from this scheme have 1 foot out the door with AJ Brown allegedly heading to the pats and Goedert knows this is his last year here. I'd like the Eagles to get Boutte from the pats in return.

2026 is shaping up to be 12 personnel heavy as they make this transition to Mannions offense. Next year I think will be more focused on the OL and run game. Barkley can cover up a lot of deficiencies with a competent OC.

1 minute ago, NCiggles said:

I don't think there's a scenario where they enter the season with Brown. A disgruntled player isn't a key piece to a championship run. The League is just different at this point. My point about first round picks is that Howie likely values a 2028 1st round pick as much as a 2027 pick. If the choice was a first and 3rd in 2027 vs. a 1st in 2028 and 2nd in 2027, he is going to take the latter.

Personally, I wouldn't discount delayed picks much and I don't think Howie does either, so it's fine from that angle. I would discount 2028 v. 2027 a bit simply because 2027 is supposed to be such a stacked draft. And because the SB hangover, having your coach embroiled in controversy, and a 1st place schedule are real things that could truly skyrocket their 2027 draft position.

For those reasons, I'd push hard for 2027.

2 minutes ago, TEW said:

Or he's Bowers. Or Pitts. Or Fannin.

Well not if he's way less athletic and smooth than Stowers. Although, Stowers is actually a pretty far extreme that I guess those 3 are less athletic than him too.

Wasn’t Halaby expected to be the GM when the younger Lurie took over the team?

25 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

Decent weapons, good Oline, decent playcaller, and Rodgers likely takes a team to the playoffs at his age still

He's an a-hole though so you need to get through that sadly

Steelers aren't just looking to get into the playoffs. They need to tell Rodgers to kiss off. Get a decent draft pick a d start again. Or we could trade Hurts to them for two firsts

1 hour ago, paco said:

I honestly don’t think it’s about money. It was about his utilization and relationship with Hurts. That "If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way” immediately after having 2 catches for 7 yards (on 9 targets) speaks to that IMO

Well you're wrong. Since this is on the internet, it is true.

29 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Sure, you can try Lemon out there - and with the proliferation of off coverage, he might get away with some clean releases but small as you can get at X, and not exactly a burner for a Z. Yeah, you got Goedert and Mundt for this year at least - probably will have to go back to the well down the road.

AJ and Devonta were both moveable in the formation. My hope, although not my expectation, is that they traded for Wicks so they could just check the box of a sturdy dedicated slot since they lost both AJ Brown and Dotson in the same offseason. Once Lemon became available, they just doubled down on a guy they liked and Wicks is now irrelevant. Because I am very, very underwhelmed by Devonta (Z), Wicks (X), Lemon (Y/slot) with Stowers rotating in as yet another WR that won't outrun DBs. That's going to be a very congested WR corps.

Devonta is arguably one of the most balanced WRs in the NFL. We've seen him annihilate press coverage with quickness and technique. And everyone says he's the AJ replacement. So I'd really like to see Devonta (X), Lemon (Y/slot), Hollywood (Z) and Stowers rotating in there when they want immense size and reach. That actually seems like a dynamic and dangerous WR corps. It may seem like a subtle distinction, but I actually think it's huge.

2 minutes ago, greend said:

Steelers aren't just looking to get into the playoffs. They need to tell Rodgers to kiss off. Get a decent draft pick a d start again. Or we could trade Hurts to them for two firsts

That's a team that might give up a lot for Hurts.

2 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

That's a team that might give up a lot for Hurts.

I think that depends on McCarthy.

2 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

That's a team that might give up a lot for Hurts.

You delusional people that continue to obsess about trading Hurts somehow don't comprehend how he a) has a no trade clause and b) will be the QB here at least until his mid 30s.

6 minutes ago, greend said:

Steelers aren't just looking to get into the playoffs. They need to tell Rodgers to kiss off. Get a decent draft pick a d start again. Or we could trade Hurts to them for two firsts

10 minutes ago, WentzFan11 said:

Wasn’t Halaby expected to be the GM when the younger Lurie took over the team?

Julian will be given the keys once Howie retires in 20 years.

1 minute ago, RememberTheKoy said:

You delusional people that continue to obsess about trading Hurts somehow don't comprehend how he a) has a no trade clause and b) will be the QB here at least until his mid 30s.

Steelers have no backup QB behind Rodgers, who is injury prone. If we traded a 7th for Dalton, Hurts is worth at least a 4th to them.

21 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

@Joe Ball

I am not sure what I am missing here, I went ahead and looked up the book to try and help me...

Key details

• Author: Jalen Hurts

• Illustrator: Nneka Myers

• Release Date: March 10, 2026

• Publisher: Flamingo Books (an imprint of Penguin Random House)

• Age Range: Preschool - Grade 3 (Ages 4-8)

• Genre: Children's Picture Book

• Themes: Friendship, teamwork, community, perseverance, achieving goals

My only conclusion is that Q should send an electronic copy of this book to all (maybe not all) on the EMB. We can focus on the things highlighted in Themes and lose some of the passive aggressive sniping among the members/posters that seem to be driven by the opinions of the author's production and capabilities (or lack there of) on the field. Maybe if the PHI playbook was written in the form of a childrens book (his book) he can learn to cycle through progressions and defensive sets quicker, thus producing greater results. I don't know, just thinking out loud. 🤣

OK guys...this entire response is fully in jest and not meant to start a crap with you all. That said...fire away, I prob deserve some vitriol and I think I know where it will come from. LOL, you guys have been fun to follow the last two to three weeks though, especially the Vrable/Russini content, some of you should be writing jokes for late night TV. Again, all in jest, Hurts obviously can play ball as all the awards and a SB trophy show throughout his career thus far, some days are better than others and every player has warts, QBs warts are just more visible, it takes an entire team to win it all...and a QB not named Dakota 😂. It's a message board, don't get all bent out of shape, have fun with it.

30 minutes ago, TEW said:

Why would you think Klare has any potential as a blocker? He's never shown any inclination towards doing it well. If anything, Stowers at least has the excuse that he's new to the position.

I watched them play, that's my basis. Klare worked in-line at Purdue/Ohio State and is pretty good at hitting targets on the move at the 2nd level or outside and carries enough weight to seal but isn't powerful like Kacmarek who was taken in the 3rd. Stowers is 10lb lighter and has no experience in-line, but that's a good thing?