NFL should be getting text record between AJ and Vrabel and investigating Vrabel for tampering. Been saying it for awhile and now this makes it all crystal clear.

Trust me Vrabel magic is over just like it was after year 1 in Tenn.

55 minutes ago, Khani1 said:

Michkov ain’t it. Trade him this draft/off-season.

Are you Bobby Clarke? Have some patience. He's only 21.

2 hours ago, vikas83 said:

OK, well, this is something. Let's try and deconstruct this:

1. Please miss me with this was "innocent" or taken "out of context." They were at an adults only, couples resort that Vrabel had to drive over 100 miles out of his way to get to. They both claim other people were there, but...every witness says that is BS. Even if they aren't smashing and other people were there, it's still inappropriate and unethical for an NFL reporter to have a personal relationship with a coach close enough to vacation together. But let's be real - they are clearing having an affair. No moral judgment here, but this has larger implications.

2. It's obvious now why DR was constantly pounding the AJ trade story - she was working to reduce the Eagles leverage and benefit the Pats. Now, do I think she invented the story that AJ is frustrated and may want a trade? No. Other viable reporters are on the story. And clearly the Eagles have entertained trade discussions. So it's not all invented. Was he knowingly working to benefit the Pats, or is she just a useful idiot? Doesn't really matter.

3. However, the fact that she was actively working to play up the story and reduce Howie's leverage...that's a real problem. That's tantamount to Vrabel tampering with a player under contract with the Eagles. Howie/Jeffrey should demand an NFL investigation into tampering.

4. The Athletic has to fire her - even if you say there was no romantic relationship, she is way beyond journalistic standards and has no credbility.

5. Pats won't do anything to Vrabel. Think of who the owner is and what he's done.

If that's the case why was she reporting the Rams were in on Brown who confirmed they had talks? Why would she push the Chargers and Bills as interested in Brown at one point? That's all things increasing Eagles leverage.

I have no doubt Vrabel is one of her sources and that some of the stuff he fed her was his intent to help the Pats. I think saying she was exclusively working to reduce Eagles leverage just doesn't add up. It was like less than 5 minutes after the Pats signed Doubs she put out "Doubs doesn't rule out AJ Brown, Patriots are still interested". She killed the one leverage move the Pats had instantly.

4 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Are you Bobby Clarke? Have some patience. He's only 21.

Have you seen the guy skate? He might be the worst skater in the entire nhl. You usually figure that out by the time you are 21. He doesn’t do anything well. He is a turnover machine who can’t shoot and has no skating ability whatsoever, which is kind of important in the nhl. By next year maybe he goes from super turtle speed to mediocre turtle speed.

The Vrabel thing is actually a pretty big deal if true. That’s a pretty ridiculous conflict of interest.

Captain obvious I know.

1 minute ago, LeanMeanGM said:

If that's the case why was she reporting the Rams were in on Brown who confirmed they had talks? Why would she push the Chargers and Bills as interested in Brown at one point? That's all things increasing Eagles leverage.

I have no doubt Vrabel is one of her sources and that some of the stuff he fed her was his intent to help the Pats. I think saying she was exclusively working to reduce Eagles leverage just doesn't add up. It was like less than 5 minutes after the Pats signed Doubs she put out "Doubs doesn't rule out AJ Brown, Patriots are still interested". She killed the one leverage move the Pats had instantly.

Well yeah - obviously her and Vrabs were fighting at that point

1 minute ago, Khani1 said:

Have you seen the guy skate? He might be the worst skater in the entire nhl. You usually figure that out by the time you are 21. He doesn’t do anything well. He is a turnover machine who can’t shoot and has no skating ability whatsoever, which is kind of important in the nhl. By next year maybe he goes from super turtle speed to mediocre turtle speed.

He needs better conditioning, but we absolutely disagree on the rest.

19 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

NFL should be getting text record between AJ and Vrabel and investigating Vrabel for tampering. Been saying it for awhile and now this makes it all crystal clear.

I've disliked that POS since he scored the TD in the SB and was flapping his arms mocking the Eagles

I don't think the leverage has really changed much if at all. The Eagles will always have the leverage given they have the player the Patriots want. And they don't have to trade him. So it's either the Patriots give up what Howie wants or they don't. This has been the case from the beginning and it is now. The Patriots either think AJ is worth what Howie's asking or they don't. Any corresponding moves at WR will have more to do with that than trying to extract more leverage, because Howie is under no obligation to make a deal. If this was a situation where a trade was mandatory then that would be a bit of a different story.

If Dianni has been compromised, and I'm not sure she has, then to me it's more to try to poison the well of the Brown/Eagles relationship and strengthen the Brown/Patriots by constantly talking about the trade rumors. Getting people on the Eagles annoyed and getting AJ's camp more eager to go to the Pats.

5 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

He needs better conditioning, but we absolutely disagree on the rest.

Better conditioning? You blind bro. The dude skates like he is carrying a fridge on his back, hunch back. He has no strength, no reach, he can’t do anything on the ice unless the play is within 10 feet of him. He gets caught from behind on breakaways. His ceiling is 60-70 point guy who might crack the 2nd line. He is a total liability out there.

Just now, Khani1 said:

Better conditioning? You blind bro. The dude skates like he is carrying a fridge on his back, hunch back. He has no strength, no reach, he can’t do anything on the ice unless the play is within 10 feet of him. He gets caught from behind on breakaways. His ceiling is 60-70 point guy who might crack the 2nd line. He is a total liability out there.

Ok

Would be disappointed with his selection

4 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Would be disappointed with his selection

Probably would be my least favorite pick

22 minutes ago, mikemack8 said:

Well yeah - obviously her and Vrabs were fighting at that point

Ha ha one argument and she gets back at him by posting trade rumors about the competition.

11 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Probably would be my least favorite pick

Freeling, Icheananchor (sp) and Lomu are all in the project bucket - and he'd be my third choice of that group.

Good to see people are very normal about the Russini/Vrabel combination

2 minutes ago, RLC said:

Good to see people are very normal about the Russini/Vrabel combination

I take it you're in the "nothing to see here" camp? I mean I would tend to agree - if my wife went to a boutique hotel with a colleague from work and just the two of them were photographed on the roof of a couples bungalow holding hands and embracing I would definitely think it was just an innocent exchange.

5 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Freeling, Icheananchor (sp) and Lomu are all in the project bucket - and he'd be my third choice of that group.

I like Lomu's film a lot, but he's only ever been a starting LT, and I think the ship has sailed on moving Mailata over to RT -- which means you're spending a first round pick on a LT who's still learning that position and selling yourself he's your future franchise RT.

I'm sure the Eagles are keeping their options open on how the board may fall; I'd be fine with the pick if Kuper feels he can transition to RT.

All I know is the Patriots are set up for a monster regression next year and I want that 1st round pick

Jesus this poor guy

My guy hugs like an awkward middle schooler trying to hide a boner.

Curious if player agents stop talking to her since this is a big ethics violation

And now the people that didn't like her before have more ammo

16 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

I like Lomu's film a lot, but he's only ever been a starting LT, and I think the ship has sailed on moving Mailata over to RT -- which means you're spending a first round pick on a LT who's still learning that position and selling yourself he's your future franchise RT.

I'm sure the Eagles are keeping their options open on how the board may fall; I'd be fine with the pick if Kuper feels he can transition to RT.

Lomu only playing LT is a factor in the short-term that makes it more likely that he'd be a redshirt this year with Fred getting the backup snaps. Long-term I think most of these guys can adjust to switching sides and Dillard was a real odd ball.