shrader

I'm sure they had their reasons, but that looks like an awkward definition for a blindside block. I feel like we've seen plenty of RBs back in pass protection make blocks that would violate this rule. I know the exact type of block they're trying to eliminate, but unless there's extra verbiage in there that you left out, I don't see how that rule does it. I can also dream up a few more completely realistic scenarios that while completely clean, would violate that rule as written. And on that note, I can only find an angle of the block from behind Ford, so it's tough to know for sure. It looks like he's leading with his hands as opposed to forearm or shoulder. But then again, it doesn't say "leading with" the helmet/forearm/shoulder, so that may not even matter. I think they'll be re-visiting the wording of that rule at some point.

Pittsburgh tanked for Lemieux. Most don't tend to think about that one since it was 35 years ago. Different era, different system, blah blah blah, but yeah, they have a tank on their record.

When you have as many picks as they did that year, I'd hope for a mix of the two strategies. Safe pick here, swing for the fences there. I'm sure this is quite the over-simplification of the process, but it does feel like a good position to diversify a bit. That said, looking at the 2nd and 3rd round of that draft, I'm not so sure the type of return you suggest was readily available.

Suddenly I'm reminded of a specific game from his time there. Tampa played that ridiculously boring, refuse to forecheck and clog the neutral zone game. So LaPurple had his defensemen just sit behind the net with the puck and burn a ton of clock. That's one thing I'll applaud him for.

I want to isolate on this portion of the comment. Take a look at that draft. There's a giant black hole of talent that begins in the second round. Granted the book is not completely written yet, but there's maybe a handful of solid players from that draft. Now I know some might want to say Brayden Point, but the entire league, Tampa included, swung and missed on that one multiple times. If 165 out of 180 picks turn into garbage, it doesn't matter all that much how many picks you have. The garbage return is expected. I really wonder, for the teams that do find that gem here and there, how much of it is luck as opposed to talent evaluation. Lately I've been leaning towards the former. Also, how much of that falls onto your organizations ability to develop talent? That's my other big sticking point and I have big questions about that part of the organization over the last 10 or so years.

Just stick with Peter LaPurple.

Still can't do stairs due to the hip surgery.

Sure, but that ignores the fact that he has spent around a year and a half in the NHL, which more than likely was a part of his negotiation tactics. He was not planning on $70k when he signed on the dotted line. He also has a $92.5k signing bonus on each year of the deal, so $70k was never his absolute minimum, $162k was. I believe that signing bonus gets paid no matter where plays. Do you know, @Taro T? Every ELC guy of significance has that same bonus, so there's at least some immediate incentive to sign that deal.

I thought I was going to be able to taunt you with this one, but apparently two of them died about 2 years after my house was built. On another note, each time I see Raymond Berry, I think Perry Mason. As for the thread topic, with or without the tank, I'm convinced they still would not have made the right moves that would have righted the ship. They hired the wrong people and they would have done that no matter what. I really wonder if it mostly comes down to sub-par player development, or if that is in fact poor drafting. They have made next to nothing out of their non-1st round picks for a long time now. I won't judge the recent ones for obvious reasons, but from 2006-2015, you have Ullmark, McCabe, and Olofsson (maybe a little earliy on that last one, also maybe include Mike Weber and Foligno), that's it. Anyone else from that stretch who was productive did it elsewhere, all while returning very short-term assets at best (Byron, McNabb, still feels a bit early to judge Compher, Lemieux, and Petersen). I think they would have spiraled down this path either way.

And beyond that, having an NHL contract gives you a much better shot at actually playing in the NHL.

You missed both a zero and an extra 225k there.

They're also 4 people who have never been in my kitchen.

It would be interesting to see them wind up with their initial tank target even after the tank fell apart... or did the tank put itself back together? I'm not really sure how to describe these things.

I haven't followed the situation at all, but the dude was given a better contract than he previously had. And I'm sure they talked with him during the process and told him what their plans were. I think communication is a safe assumption given that you can't sign a contract without actually being present and agreeing to it. He got to dress and skate in an NHL game, get a bigger paycheck for a week or so, all while retaining the job he already had. The whole thing has to be a positive experience.

I hear that trojan sells a product that does that.

I hope that one doesn't take off as a nickname.? It's a perfect name for the type of player that all too often gets vilified around here.

They've probably added you to some sort of list after running that search. Sure, it's a common one on the internet, but probably not on that page.

Why is it even an official stat? Ultimately, it's not really all that important. With or without this team games played vs. personal games played, it really doesn't change anything.

Meh, it was ok.

That's going to depend on the building. There are certain places where the number of stone-headed morons is just too high and it doesn't matter how you act. I'm guessing Philly is one of those. Boston definitely is. Hell, last time I was in that arena they were even harassing the hell out of my wife and she was wearing a Bruins shirt.

I just randomly came across possibly the strangest use of a profanity filter that I've ever seen. It changed "basement" to "ba*****t". Now I'm kind of curious to see if I can come up with more words with that one buried in the middle.

Hopefully you'll reach your next realization soon.

You don't say! I really missed a chance by not making reference to that right away.

It's too early. If Pittsburgh can get in, Tomlin will win the media award.