La'el Collins

[better days]

Re: La'el Collins

Tom Donahoe traded away the opportunity to take Rodgers so he could get JP Losman. It's another example of waiting until the last minute and trying to draft a QB out of desperation. Like Whaley did with Manuel.

So much of the "other" roster appears to be set this year, 2016 would be an ideal time to take a QB in the top half of the draft to groom slowly.

Yeah, if only.

I said before, unless one of these QB's has a career year & looks like a franchise QB for years to come the Bills need to draft a QB or maybe even two next year.

Don't stop until they find one.

[Goobylal]

Re: La'el Collins

Getting back to the topic, it's interesting that Collins didn't start at either LT, as Tyron Smith sat out the game, or LG where they have a scrub (Darrion Weems) starting. Will he be elevated to starting LG?

[Goobylal]

Re: La'el Collins

So the "dress rehearsal" game came and went for the Cowboys and Collins didn't get the start in place of Zack Martin at RG (an 8th year journeyman did) or at LG (a 3rd year UDFA did). So much for him starting for the Bills.

[The Jokeman]

Re: La'el Collins

Tom Donahoe traded away the opportunity to take Rodgers so he could get JP Losman. It's another example of waiting until the last minute and trying to draft a QB out of desperation. Like Whaley did with Manuel.

So much of the "other" roster appears to be set this year, 2016 would be an ideal time to take a QB in the top half of the draft to groom slowly.

You're right Whaley should have never have traded down to acquire EJ and stood pat with our pick and taken Tavon Austin which means we would have likely passed on Robert Woods, maybe drafted Geno Smith or Mike Glennon in Round 2 and never gotten Alonzo/McCoy. As lord knows our team be better

[Mike]

Re: La'el Collins

If people want to hold Collins against Whaley for some bizarre reason (as has been pointed out numerous times, all GM's passed on him the entire draft), fine, hold it against him. But why are people tracking how he's doing in Dallas? Let it go.

1. No one is holding it Against Whaley. Instead it's indicative that the NFL is a good ole boys club. Old men thinking in old ways.

2. It suggest Whaley isn't a forward thinker, a revolutionary... Which is something we knew already.

3. No one is 'tracking or following how hes doing in Dallas'. ESPN, BR, NFL network & others talk about it, write about it, etc... By many he's already considers on of top 10 rookies expected to make biggest difference!
His play is making news.

[Goobylal]

Re: La'el Collins

1. No one is holding it Against Whaley. Instead it's indicative that the NFL is a good ole boys club. Old men thinking in old ways.

2. It suggest Whaley isn't a forward thinker, a revolutionary... Which is something we knew already.

3. No one is 'tracking or following how hes doing in Dallas'. ESPN, BR, NFL network & others talk about it, write about it, etc... By many he's already considers on of top 10 rookies expected to make biggest difference!
His play is making news.

On the bench? Not gonna happen.

[Dozerdog]

Re: La'el Collins

This article is a very good read for insight on what Collins and his representation were doing during the draft- and how many teams were interested in him on day 3 of the draft but may have been "scared off"

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/15/lael-collins-nfl-draft-dallas-cowboys-murder-investigation

Back in Chicago, it’s clear that Collins’ draft stock is plummeting; he’s losing hundreds of thousands of dollars by the hour. His representatives brainstorm their options and settle on a far-fetched plan.

They want to see if Collins can gain admission into the NFL’s supplemental draft, a summertime event typically reserved for players who aren’t eligible in the spring. The language in the 2011 CBA is clear on this matter—“no player may elect to bypass a draft for which he is eligible to apply for selection in a supplemental draft”—but Smith calls league counsel Jeff Pash in the morning and makes a formal request.

In the afternoon, Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, calls back to deliver the news: No precedent will be set today.......

One team rep tells McCartney they’re considering drafting Collins in the fifth round.
“I’m thinking, That’s the worst thing for us,” McCartney says. “I ran the numbers. If a guy is drafted, he signs a four-year deal. If he gets a three-year undrafted-free-agent contract, plays well and often, then gets the first-round tender and the player participation pool bonus money, he could be paid better than the 33^rd pick in the draft.”

In Baton Rouge, Collins sweats out the second day of the draft while his agents unfurl a new plan. Rather than lobby for him to be drafted, they issue an ultimatum to teams: Draft La’el in the second or third rounds, or don’t draft him at all......

.......Some teams express contempt for Collins’ bold move. Others call his agents to gauge their position. Are they bluffing? Six teams tell the agency they’re going to draft him on Saturday, the third day of the draft. “If you draft him, he’s going into next year’s draft,” McCartney tells them.

[Dozerdog]

Re: La'el Collins

Pretty ballsy move for a guy WITHOUT baggage, let alone a guy with a murder rap hanging over his head


Later on it does say Rex Ryan went down to LSU and had dinner with him trying to win him over to Buffalo. Butr he again wanted to "be close to home" and play "in warm weather"


Im happy we passed on this douchebag

[Topas]

Re: La'el Collins

This article is a very good read for insight on what Collins and his representation were doing during the draft- and how many teams were interested in him on day 3 of the draft but may have been "scared off"

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/15/lael-collins-nfl-draft-dallas-cowboys-murder-investigation

.......Some teams express contempt for Collins’ bold move. Others call his agents to gauge their position. Are they bluffing? Six teams tell the agency they’re going to draft him on Saturday, the third day of the draft. “If you draft him, he’s going into next year’s draft,” McCartney tells them.

Why did he say that? Is it better to be a UFA than a 6th round pick? I thought he get more money as a 6th round pick? Or is the contract shorter as a UFA and he will cash in sooner? Or is the advantage that he could choose his employer?

I really dont understand this. Disclaimer: I did not read the whole article but would be happy if somebody could elaborate.

[Dozerdog]

Re: La'el Collins

Instead of being locked up into a 4 year starter contract, you get a 3 year deal then if he plays as expected (like a 1st round pick he was projected to be) he would get a 1st round tender offer. He also could pick and choose his teams instead of getting dumped into a crappy team not of his choosing.


The best comparable would be Jason Peters. He was an UFA who made big money once his deal ran out. 10million a year and that was 5 years ago?

Compare that to a similarly skilled player actually drafted in this year's draft- the 33rd player selected locked into a 6 million a year 4 year deal.

A 6th round guy is making not that much more than an UFA but locked up longer with a team he didn't pick- the team picked him

[TedMock]

Re: La'el Collins

Why did he say that? Is it better to be a UFA than a 6th round pick? I thought he get more money as a 6th round pick? Or is the contract shorter as a UFA and he will cash in sooner? Or is the advantage that he could choose his employer?

I really dont understand this. Disclaimer: I did not read the whole article but would be happy if somebody could elaborate.

Just did a quick search and many of the 6th and 7th rounders received the minimum base salaries: 2015 - $435,000; 2016 - $525,000; and 2017 - $615,000. That's exactly what Collins signed for as a UDFA (not held to the standard rookie 4th year). The bonuses for the late rounders were $121,6-something. UDFA 2015 bonus max is $87,000. So, for a pre-tax $34,000 - $35,000 he gets to choose the team he tries out for. Circumstances are different for everybody and it's certainly super-cool to say you were drafted, but for what's very little money in the grand scheme of things, I would rather look at the current rosters and go with the better odds. Teams don't keep 6th - 7th rounders around ahead of UDFA's if they're not performing. Early rounders get quite a bit more leash.

[psubills62]

Re: La'el Collins

1. No one is holding it Against Whaley. Instead it's indicative that the NFL is a good ole boys club. Old men thinking in old ways.

2. It suggest Whaley isn't a forward thinker, a revolutionary... Which is something we knew already.

3. No one is 'tracking or following how hes doing in Dallas'. ESPN, BR, NFL network & others talk about it, write about it, etc... By many he's already considers on of top 10 rookies expected to make biggest difference!
His play is making news.

Convince yourself of whatever you like, but you're obviously holding it against him.

[Goobylal]

Re: La'el Collins

This article is a very good read for insight on what Collins and his representation were doing during the draft- and how many teams were interested in him on day 3 of the draft but may have been "scared off"

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/15/lael-collins-nfl-draft-dallas-cowboys-murder-investigation

Back in Chicago, it’s clear that Collins’ draft stock is plummeting; he’s losing hundreds of thousands of dollars by the hour. His representatives brainstorm their options and settle on a far-fetched plan.

They want to see if Collins can gain admission into the NFL’s supplemental draft, a summertime event typically reserved for players who aren’t eligible in the spring. The language in the 2011 CBA is clear on this matter—“no player may elect to bypass a draft for which he is eligible to apply for selection in a supplemental draft”—but Smith calls league counsel Jeff Pash in the morning and makes a formal request.

In the afternoon, Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, calls back to deliver the news: No precedent will be set today.......

One team rep tells McCartney they’re considering drafting Collins in the fifth round.
“I’m thinking, That’s the worst thing for us,” McCartney says. “I ran the numbers. If a guy is drafted, he signs a four-year deal. If he gets a three-year undrafted-free-agent contract, plays well and often, then gets the first-round tender and the player participation pool bonus money, he could be paid better than the 33^rd pick in the draft.”

In Baton Rouge, Collins sweats out the second day of the draft while his agents unfurl a new plan. Rather than lobby for him to be drafted, they issue an ultimatum to teams: Draft La’el in the second or third rounds, or don’t draft him at all......

.......Some teams express contempt for Collins’ bold move. Others call his agents to gauge their position. Are they bluffing? Six teams tell the agency they’re going to draft him on Saturday, the third day of the draft. “If you draft him, he’s going into next year’s draft,” McCartney tells them.

Teams were definitely taking the "if you draft him late, he'll sit out" threats seriously, hence the reason no one drafted him. It was a good gamble on their part.

But if he's not even a starter for Dallas at LG, where they don't have a quality starter, it doesn't appear he's all that great.

[gr8slayer]

Re: La'el Collins

Teams were definitely taking the "if you draft him late, he'll sit out" threats seriously, hence the reason no one drafted him. It was a good gamble on their part.

But if he's not even a starter for Dallas at LG, where they don't have a quality starter, it doesn't appear he's all that great.

Don't have a quality starter, you're joking, right?

[sudzy]

Re: La'el Collins

Tony Steward
Dan O'Leary
Dez Lewis.

Highlight the guy you not give up, to go back and get Collins.