(01-27-2023, 12:29 PM)imtheblkranger Wrote:

(01-27-2023, 12:18 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: Add to it that the Falcons have plenty of cap space and could easily have let this play out in their building and still decided to ship him. They should know him and the situation best.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about the potential for this offense with him in it if he can regain his 2020 form, it just needs to be tempered with a significant dose of realistic expectations for someone who has demonstrated the behaviors and decisions that he has along with the team being willing to trade him when cap is not a concern.

Also possible he expressed to his agent he didn't want to play in ATL anymore given their QB situation and outlook or just felt he needs a change of scenery so ATL was willing to ship him instead of dealing with a suspended player who doesn't even want be there anymore.

Could be.  But he had zero leverage if it were to come to a demand and not a request.  It just seems more likely that if they believed in him and believed his infraction was minor and that his punishment that was handed out by the NFL (not the team) was overly severe they wouldn’t be willing to ship what they believe to be an elite level player at his lowest value.  They were just fine with another team shouldering that risk.  There has been no indication that there’s any discontent between he and the falcons that I’ve seen.

I’m not bashing the trade. It’s a worthy attempt and doesn’t cost much if it doesn’t work out from the get go.  I think worst case scenario is we get a really good year out of him, extend him, lose a 2nd rounder as a result and then he falls off a cliff mentally the following year.  I’m sure any extension will have clauses to protect the cash, but losing a 2nd on a 1 year rental would likely hurt the team’s overall talent level in the years to come.  

Walking away from football in your prime earning years if you have any intention of coming back is pretty alarming.  Risking $1500 only to lose your guaranteed multimillion dollar salary when you know the NFL drills into their heads not to gamble on games is also pretty alarming.

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