(05-23-2019, 10:57 AM)NYC4jags Wrote: (05-23-2019, 10:14 AM)Kane Wrote: I'm sorry did you just say that the Jaguars brass handing out money means he panned out?
C'mon man... you're smarter than that ahhahaha
Front offices make mistakes all the time. Paying Lee was one of them, whether you want to admit it or not. Dude has been average at best when he makes it on the field. Great guy, great teammate, meh product on field.
Hell I even chalked some of it up to poor QB play. But those sort of things happen to all players. When Robinson and Hurns were here Lee was 3rd best. And flash forward a couple seasons, he's still probably third best. Some of that is bad luck (QB and injuries) some of it is, he is what he is and 5 seasons in he just hasn't done much.
And no... I haven't seen hate for Lee. I've seen people be critical of him much in the same way people were critical of Bortles, or Gerhart, or Bradley... or numerous other people not safe from shade. Funny how criticism is criticism when someone doesn't like a player but if it is one they like then it becomes hate.
We can make excuses for every player and blame Bortles if you want to. But Hurns and Robinson had career years with Bortles as QB and haven't sniffed that production and likely never will (Maybe Arob if Biscuit plays better)
Some guys are just guys and if you have a bet on Lee making HoF or something... I'm sorry, you probably placed a bad wager my friend lol
I'm speaking very matter-of-factly about NFL players career arcs when I say he "panned out."
A team believing in you enough to give you a lucrative second contract is absolutely "panning out" compared to the vast majority of NFL players - most of whom never get anywhere near that level of success.
Now - if you want to define some line of statistical success to determine whether he has "panned out," then that is a different story.
But - to my mind saying a guys career didn't pan out doesn't equate to that guy getting a second contract. His contract also means he'll be playing elsewhere in 2020 unless he REALLY blows up this season. Unlikely that he'll play well enough to justify that given the team's cap situation.
With that clarified, my stance on Lee is very simply based on a pretty exhaustive review of all 22 footage over the past 3 years. I don't have a bet, I don't have any stake to defend.
I simply have found much of the criticism of the guy to be not based in fact upon review of his play.
Aside from that ugly 6 game stretch where he couldn't catch a cold, I have seen a receiver severely hampered by his QB and a dumbed down offensive system.
I realize I'm more optimistic on the guy than basically everyone here. But I haven't landed at my opinion haphazardly.
Laugh all you like. I trust my eyes.
Bortles got a 2nd contract
So did Derek Cox.... and that wide receiver we extended and then traded to Detroit cuz he sucked.
Terrible players get 2nd contracts all the time. I'm not saying Lee is terrible by any means. But I wouldn't equate a 2nd contract to panning out. The FO trusted he was ready to take another step and really produce and he tore his ACL. We'll see if he can bounce back. Personally I would have let him walk in FA before Arob... but I don't call the shots, I just watch to watch.
Like I said, if he puts up the stats you think he can, I'll be super surprised but won't be mad about being wrong about him at all. Some guys I give up on quicker than others, WRs are a dime a dozen, so I'm pretty ready to wash my hands with them after 3 seasons if they don't produce, regardless of who is at QB. QBs admittedly I'll hold on to longer than I should (Garrard, Bortles).
Lee is an afterthought to me, as I'm looking at Chark and Westbrook to be our guys and if they can't I'll probably give up on them before I'm tired of Foles being average.
