8-22-23 Bo ~ Host of Football Talk
Over the last few years, we have watched players force their way out of teams similar to what has happened in the NBA for a long time, however it is a new situation for the NFL. So far it hasn't worked out particularly great for the ones that have demanded the trade. Whether it was Leveon Bell forcing his way out of Pittsburg, missing a year and going to the Jets. He was just never the same back. Russell Wilson also comes to mind with his somewhat ugly exit from Seattle, forcing his way to the Broncos where it was a complete trainwreck in year one. The jury is still out on the long-term success of the move as we look forward to year two and his first with Sean Payton at the helm. Now we are watching Jonathan Taylor and Steffon Diggs forcing their ways off of the Colts and Bills respectively. Not to be confused with Lamar who was playing a hard line to get paid, NFL careers are short, and you only get so many bites at the apple so get your money while you can.
Taylor is a unique situation with how bad the running back market is right now and some major players still available such a Kareem Hunt. The Colts have a solid offensive line and a dynamic rookie QB that will need to lean on the running game as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL. The teams that have the cap space and the draft capital to acquire him will most likely be a worse situation than he is currently in as far as on the field. Behind closed doors who knows what is going on unless you are part of the team but some of the owner's statements surely didn't help JT want to stay. Jim Irsay over the last couple years has had more Jerry Jones style sound bites which if we're honest probably isn't the best for galvanizing the locker room. Taylor is set to statistically have a good season if he were to stay even though the team will be middling at best. If you can leave and better your situation, I guess that makes sense but from most of the player forced trades we've seen so far that isn't generally how it works out.
Diggs on the other hand has had a falling out in both places he's been now, both the Vikings and Bills have been good during his time on those teams. Was he contributing to that success absolutely, he is a dynamic receiver that is a asset on the field no question. When you bring that kind of talent but a team (Vikings) is still more than happy to move on from you that should raise some red flags. It was his first stop so maybe it's a personality clash of a fit problem so maybe you look past it and sign him. Well here we are again, this time giving a list of places he would play for. I understand being frustrated about the lack of opportunities during they playoff loss last season and some sort of falling out with Josh Allen however if I'm a GM for another team and you're looking at a guy that bring supreme athletic ability but would appear to be a problem in the locker room then it's a risk to reward situation. Does he move the needle enough on your team to risk the potential toxic environment that looks inevitable if them game plan doesn't involve him enough in his mind. When you have a elite number one target there are games that require them to mostly be a decoy based on match ups but if that player want's his stats that could prove problematic.
Both of these situations will be interesting to watch but based on recent history at least for the coming season it probably won't be the best career moves for these players. I don't think it will be the career killer that it was for Bell but it could easily be a Wilson or Watson situation where it may just be another bad fit or the level of play just isn't there, plus if there's a problem everywhere you go at some point you have to concede there is one common denominator in each of those situations and it travels with you. To that end you also aren't the only one that sees it and your opportunities start to dwindle along the way because unless there are six red flags together no one will want to get on that rollercoaster after awhile.
I'm old school to some degree so I like seeing guys play out the contracts they sign, that being said I have no problem with guys wanting to move on from a bad fit or situation but if you are an Antonio Brown and you are the bad situation then even with elite athleticism the league will move on without you.
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