Earl Thomas to hold out until contract resolved

[Sgt. Largent]

To add to the point about trading stars not usually working out, people often cite the Pats as an example of it working, but they sure as heck could've used Chandler Jones this year.

I'm worried that if Earl leaves we will have to replace so many positions it'll be tough to field a top 10 D ad I just don't see the offense being good enough to compensate for that.

Of course there's a risk for trading players, especially in their prime like NE does.

The difference is NE is still good and goes to SB's, we clung to our aging high priced players and got bounced out of the playoffs and didn't even get there last year.

What NE does, and I hope Pete and John learned is to trust your system more than you trust your players.

 

[adeltaY]

Agreed, they make it to the SB, but they won their past two by the skin of their teeth and got let down by a defense that was a weakness the entire season in the most recent one. Their system is the best, but their talent has let them down before.

We will see this season if it was the Seahawks system or all pro players who made it happen.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

We will see this season if it was the Seahawks system or all pro players who made it happen.

I trust Pete's system, it's worked for him for the better part of 20 years at USC and the NFL......................... but IMO it's going to take 2-3 years before the verdict is in on whether he and John still have the magic in finding value and talent on the personnel side.

 

[adeltaY]

That's a great point. It did take Pete a few years to get us into contention when he first arrived, though he started with much less established talent than we have now. If we aren't seriously competing for the SB by 2020, we'll have our answer.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

That's a great point. It did take Pete a few years to get us into contention when he first arrived, though he started with much less established talent than we have now. If we aren't seriously competing for the SB by 2020, we'll have our answer.

The good news is we already have a top 5 QB in his prime, we didn't have that before.

So really all Pete and John have to fix is the defense and run game, and IMO we're on our way to doing both........but the D-line and defensive backfield still need quite a bit of work and time to get back to an elite level. Never going to get back to the elite level of 2010-2013, but we can get close.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Shoot, if they have a middle of the pack running game this year, they could be surprisingly good. Really looking forward to seeing what they can do. And w/out Cabevell, hopefully something new and creative.

 

[KiwiHawk]

Part of the reason our defense struggled last year was the ineptitude of the offense. The defense wasn't allowed to rest and often had to defend a short field after the offense went 3-and-out.

Relying on a passing game means more series because of clock stoppages. That's more times the defense needs to take the field.

Combine the two, and any defense struggles.

So a healthy running game means a rested defense taking the field for fewer defensive series, which sets a defense up for success, particularly since the success of a defense is measured on scoring and yards, both of which go down if there are fewer offensive series for the opponent.

Last year the offense was no help whatsoever. The defenders got tired, so they gave up yards and scores. This year if the offense is even half-competent, look for much-improved defensive numbers.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Part of the reason our defense struggled last year was the ineptitude of the offense. The defense wasn't allowed to rest and often had to defend a short field after the offense went 3-and-out.

Relying on a passing game means more series because of clock stoppages. That's more times the defense needs to take the field.

Combine the two, and any defense struggles.

So a healthy running game means a rested defense taking the field for fewer defensive series, which sets a defense up for success, particularly since the success of a defense is measured on scoring and yards, both of which go down if there are fewer offensive series for the opponent.

Last year the offense was no help whatsoever. The defenders got tired, so they gave up yards and scores. This year if the offense is even half-competent, look for much-improved defensive numbers.

Seattle was towards the top for defensive snaps last year, but that doesn't explain away all of the defensive struggles.

We got old and lacked depth VERY fast towards the middle of the season........and I get it, the more the offense plays well, of course that helps keep the defense healthier and fresher.

But 2017 is a case study in EXACTLY why you don't spend most of your cap on aging defensive stars who break down and can no longer perform like they did in their prime.

Stay young, hungry and nasty on defense, and if you're going to pay, pay on offense to keep your quality and add talent if needed.

We've been doing the opposite the last 4-5 years. Pay all your defensive stars, and bargain bin shop on the O-line.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Gotta' eat up more clock this year, period. It's too much to ask of any defense when you keep going 3 and out on offense.

 

[Seahawkfan80]

Part of the reason our defense struggled last year was the ineptitude of the offense. The defense wasn't allowed to rest and often had to defend a short field after the offense went 3-and-out.

Relying on a passing game means more series because of clock stoppages. That's more times the defense needs to take the field.

Combine the two, and any defense struggles.

So a healthy running game means a rested defense taking the field for fewer defensive series, which sets a defense up for success, particularly since the success of a defense is measured on scoring and yards, both of which go down if there are fewer offensive series for the opponent.

Last year the offense was no help whatsoever. The defenders got tired, so they gave up yards and scores. This year if the offense is even half-competent, look for much-improved defensive numbers.

Seattle was towards the top for defensive snaps last year, but that doesn't explain away all of the defensive struggles.

We got old and lacked depth VERY fast towards the middle of the season........and I get it, the more the offense plays well, of course that helps keep the defense healthier and fresher.

But 2017 is a case study in EXACTLY why you don't spend most of your cap on aging defensive stars who break down and can no longer perform like they did in their prime.

Stay young, hungry and nasty on defense, and if you're going to pay, pay on offense to keep your quality and add talent if needed.

We've been doing the opposite the last 4-5 years. Pay all your defensive stars, and bargain bin shop on the O-line.

The reason it is a case study is for exactly the purpose of making sure that the backups in integral positions are up to the task. In our sB year, our backups were as qualified as our front liners. So, if we lost one, NEXT MAN UP actually meant something. The following year, we were poached like deer in the back woods. We had NO BACKUPS. at all. That is what drew us down. When we lost a few players last year, our backups were marginal if that. That would be the next case study....Are our backups ready for the challenge if our mainbots lose their harddrive?????????????????

 

[vin.couve12]

Aaaaaaand again. He just started following the Cowboys on Instagram.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2018/7/ ... -instagram

Something might actually be in the works here.

 

[chris98251]

How much of this is him wanting and how much is pressure put on the talks. When you have this shit going on the truth is rarely apparent in what you see.

 

[vin.couve12]

Contract talks are non-existent right now and will not take place unless Earl reports. The only talks in play right now are trade talks. Outside of that, Earl has no leverage to apply pressure. Schneider and Pete will let him rot if need be.

The truth is that Earl very much wants to be a Cowboy.

 

[chris98251]

Contract talks are non-existent right now and will not take place unless Earl reports. The only talks in play right now are trade talks. Outside of that, Earl has no leverage to apply pressure. Schneider and Pete will let him rot if need be.

The truth is that Earl very much wants to be a Cowboy.

Truth is public opinion and media pressure as well as keeping it a topic is pressure.

 

[Jimjones0384]

Truth is, nobody knows what Earl wants, including Earl.

 

[toffee]

Truth is, nobody knows what Earl wants, including Earl.

Earl knows what he wants!

 

[PlinytheCenter]

Contract talks are non-existent right now and will not take place unless Earl reports. The only talks in play right now are trade talks. Outside of that, Earl has no leverage to apply pressure. Schneider and Pete will let him rot if need be.

The truth is that Earl very much wants to be a Cowboy.

It doesn't appear (at least at this stage) that the want is reciprocal. I love Earl and what he has meant to the Hawks but if he doesn't want to be here trade him.

 

[Trrrroy]

Contract talks are non-existent right now and will not take place unless Earl reports. The only talks in play right now are trade talks. Outside of that, Earl has no leverage to apply pressure. Schneider and Pete will let him rot if need be.

The truth is that Earl very much wants to be a Cowboy.

It doesn't appear (at least at this stage) that the want is reciprocal. I love Earl and what he has meant to the Hawks but if he doesn't want to be here trade him.

The Seahawks have to get adequate value in return for trade to make sense, though. By just waiting this thing out the Seahawks are all but assured having Earl patrol the back end for the majority of this season, a third round compensetory pick when he signs a huge FA deal next off season, and they get to avoid making a bad precedent for future players.

Unless someone offers the value of at least a low second round pick it doesn't make sense to move him, IMO.

 

[daveman918]

Give him to the Browns. That’ll send a message to future players.

 

[Hawk1217]

I love ET, but whoever is advising him is not helping him at all. He needs to show up, show he is healthy and ready to dominate and I am sure some negotiations will happen. That said let's keep in mind we have 2-3 top guys coming due, Wags, Wilson, and KJ only so much to go around, and ET is getting on the wrong side of that age mark, and coming off injuries. If we can only keep 2 of that four Wags and Wilson are the ones.