Lantz
2967
The league/CBA doesn’t allow it. The players are free to buy crypto when their paychecks arrive but it’s all just PR marketing by the crypto partners claiming that they are actually paid in BTC.
Sarkus
2968
Baker Mayfield just got traded to the Panthers. So he and Darnold, taken #1 and #3 in the same draft, are teammates. Ironic.
I feel bad for Mayfield. He’s probably not a superstar QB but he’s a good solid option. He deserves better than Carolina, which is a bad place to save a career right now. Hopefully he’s smart and doesn’t sign any extension they try and offer until he sees how the season plays out.
Baker takes a 3.5 mil pay cut to escape Cleveland. Carolina gives up a conditional 5th in 2024. Only has to pay Baker 5 mil this year.
Hot take: Cleveland spends more to bring in another qb to play this year than they got for mayfield.
I think it’sa good spot for mayfield, since he will have a chance to start and prove he’s worth a big second contract. If he doesn’t play well, the coaching staff will be gone next year.
That opening game vs the Browns sure gonna be fun to watch.
And his first start is against Cleveland. Hope he hangs 50 on em.
Thank god. Seahawks fans were tired of the pundits writing endless SEAHAWKS NEED TO TRADE FOR BAKER NOW pieces.
Browns just freeing cap space to accommodate Jimmy G…
Scuzz
2973
Didn’t Carolina draft a QB pretty high this year?
Matt Corral in the 3rd round.
Lantz
2975
They traded away a 2023 3rd rounder to Corral too.
The QBs drafted this year are widely considered to not be NFL ready. Having Baker in the building reduces the need to throw Corral to the wolves as a rookie. That’s a great thing for good long term development I think. If Baker plays like he did in 2020 (drive he won’t be injured, hopefully) they can keep Corral on a cheap contact for a few years before they have to decide what to do with him. If Baker isn’t the answer, they can always play Corral later this year and consider whether they want to draft another qb next year (which is expected to be a much stronger group)
To be clear, part of his deal got converted into team incentives to make it work for the cap; he still stands to earn just as much (the Browns are still paying over $10m of his salary this season).
Please don’t get me wrong; I think (along with everyone who has half a brain) the move to pick up Watson was terrible for all kinds of reasons, so I’m not going to defend it. Unfortunately, Baker also played his hand rather poorly. The two (Browns and Baker) making their combined misplays could spell what might be a great deal for Carolina. Mayfield has legit skills even though he’s not a world-beater. Health is a real concern, but that’s the NFL in a nutshell.
Ah, thanks. All I’d heard was that he’d taken a reduction in base pay, but that was as it was happening and not all details were in.
Not I agree he didn’t acquit himself well in this. Just one reason I didn’t want him here in Sea.
If I were still a season ticket holder with the Browns, I’d not be pleased about any of this.
Lantz
2979
When you look at what Washington traded for Wentz on his larger contract it seems like a pretty great trade to get Baker for what they did.
That said, they are a not a good football team and their cap situation for next year is terrible so I don’t get their plan other than presumably hoping not to get fired.
Sarkus
2980
The Panthers did make some decent offseason moves to improve their offensive line, and sometimes that has a big impact on a team. A healthy McCaffrey should also help them. We’ll see. I do think its pretty clear that they made the deal because Rhule is on the hot seat and needs to win now. They might get lucky if the division drops off. Atlanta is an unknown post-Ryan and we can’t assume the Saints will be as dynamic with Payton gone.
Good for Murray.
Will be interesting to see how things play out if Broncos finish third or fourth in their division (that division looks like it will be brutal) and Russ wants more than that.
Murray’s contract apparently includes a requirement that he spend at least 4 hours / week “studying” while away from the facility. Seriously? You pay that kind of money to a QB who you don’t think is willing to put in the mental work to prepare for games?
Mina Kimes is a national treasure
And it specifies that time spent while having the tv on, browsing the web, or playing video games. It also specifies he has to be the one looking at the material himself.
