Quote:I'm well aware he was a very solid player pre injury, but that's the whole point, he's got a bum leg right now. I'd love the signing, it would push Joeckel and we'd finally get to see if he'll step up from some competition. Even knowing that competition is in the building.
What's nonsense is people thinking Beachum is going to come in here and take over from day one. He may not even be ready to go at the start of the season, but people are just so ready to get rid of Joeckel. I can guarantee you that Joeckel wouldn't be on the waiver wire for very long if we cut him.
At the end of the day, Joeckel's a young, healthy, average LT. He isn't going anywhere this season, no matter how many fans think he should.
Could you imagine the amount of tears that would be flying, if Caldwell signed Beachum, shipped off Joeckel for peanuts and Beachum wasn't ready for week 1? What if he has a set back? Then we'd be trotting out some guy who has no business being the starting LT right now. I'd be willing to bet people wouldn't be so happy about getting rid of Joeckel then. People would then be screaming at Caldwell for not having a backup behind Beachum.
I agree wholeheartedly. I'm not a Joeckel basher. He had a decent year last year but his last game he was absolutely awful and got beat time and time again and that seems to be the lasting taste in peoples mouth regarding him. He's an average LT with upside and still very young, younger than AJ Cann who was a rookie this past year.
Now, Joeckel wouldn't get cut regardless, but Beachum is talented and can be a top 10 LT in this league. He showed that honestly, and he'd be a great addition. He likely wouldn't be ready right when the season began unless we rushed him or he had some incredible recovery. There's no reason to rush him if we were to sign him.
All I'm saying is that when you aren't sold on your LT being the long term fixture, if you have a chance to get a nice upside LT, especially in FA, that is very young and could be a building block, you jump on the opportunity.
He has a lot of suitors so we definitely aren't the shoe in, but I'd be pretty happy to see this signing. If not the pressure on Joeckel is less as far as a competition stand point and our future at the position is less clear because although Joeckel is ok, he definitely does need to step up. You can't have games like he did in that last game. I don't think he should be judged just on that game like most are, but he definitely can't have that again next year or I hope we look elsewhere. Bortles is way to valuable to have someone giving others shot after shot on our franchise guy.
