Two points of interest on Rotoworld's main page

[Lake Shore Drive]

Fantasy Football player news, injuries and analysis - Rotoworld.com

So Nagy is saying Smith is in a "good place" (aka coachspeak) and should see action in the Packers game. I think we all pretty much agree at this point that that's about the best we can expect as far as seeing him play on the Sunday night game.

The more interesting point is the situation involving Cameron Meredith. Don't know about anyone else in here, but I really kind of forgot what was going on with him and his opportunity with the Saints. It sounds a bit more of a 'make or break' scenario for him than I would have guessed.

 

[richig07]

Yeah, I was initially very vocal about wanting to keep Meredith. However, when we didn't match the offer... I kind of knew something was up and I changed my tune a little bit. I think it was Baltimore who also wanted to bring him on - then after having their doctor look him over they decided against it.

He had the MCL on top of the ACL. It was a brutal injury. If we keep Meredith - it's highly doubtful that we draft Anthony Miller. I think it all wound up fine.

 

[noonthirtyjoe]

Cam won't be fully healed this year. The aint's knew that when the signed him.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Cam won't be fully healed this year. The aint's knew that when the signed him.

Have you flipped your script of the receiving not being improved enough from last year? Do you still think we are an injury away from being terrible in that department?

 

[richig07]

Cam won't be fully healed this year. The aint's knew that when the signed him.

So...

New Orleans signed Cameron Meredith to a 2 year contract - with the guaranteed cash front loaded into the first year. Not to mention, currently have him playing in the final pre-season game with the roster bubble squad... because... they're thinking about the long-term and the many fruitful years ahead for him?

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Yeah, I was initially very vocal about wanting to keep Meredith. However, when we didn't match the offer... I kind of knew something was up and I changed my tune a little bit. I think it was Baltimore who also wanted to bring him on - then after having their doctor look him over they decided against it.

He had the MCL on top of the ACL. It was a brutal injury. If we keep Meredith - it's highly doubtful that we draft Anthony Miller. I think it all wound up fine.

I pretty much had the same opinion at the time. I thought for sure Pace would match the offer, but when he took a flyer, it made me wonder if Cam's recovery wasn't coming along much slower than we all felt it had been. I guess his performance on Thursday will determine his fate. I'm rooting for the guy, but I have no qualms any longer about not retaining him and as Rich said, maybe we would have never drafted Miller had we kept him. And I am 50x more excited to see how Miller will pan out vs Meredith.

 

[noonthirtyjoe]

So...

New Orleans signed Cameron Meredith to a 2 year contract - with the guaranteed cash front loaded into the first year. Not to mention, currently have him playing in the final pre-season game with the roster bubble squad... because... they're thinking about the long-term and the many fruitful years ahead for him?

No clue where you are coming from but NO knew he was healing and would not be ready game one when they signed him.

 

[noonthirtyjoe]

Have you flipped your script of the receiving not being improved enough from last year? Do you still think we are an injury away from being terrible in that department?

A few of the young guys look like keepers. I still wish Cam was here. Still think Cam would be better then the expensive Gabriel. Still think we made a mistake. Don't think it's a big mistake or game changing mistake.

 

[richig07]

No clue where you are coming from but NO knew he was healing and would not be ready game one when they signed him.

What? He IS ready for Week 1. He's playing now. He's been active for the entirety of camp and played in every pre-season game. lol

 

[richig07]

A few of the young guys look like keepers. I still wish Cam was here. Still think Cam would be better then the expensive Gabriel. Still think we made a mistake. Don't think it's a big mistake or game changing mistake.

Well, for one... they're not comparable. As they serve totally different purposes. Meredith is a possession receiver. Gabriel is a speed receiver and gadget who lines up at a multitude of different positions. Gabriel also fits the mold of what Nagy's WR corp looked like in KC.

Secondly

Meredith:

2 years

2018 - 4.45 Million
2019 - 5.05 Million

Taylor Gabriel:

4 years (with out after 2nd season)

2018 - 8.5 Million
2019 - 5.5 Million
(Potential Out)
2020 - 5.5 Million
2021 - 6.5 Million

The difference in those two contracts is entirely inconsequential.

 

[noonthirtyjoe]

What? He IS ready for Week 1. He's playing now. He's been active for the entirety of camp and played in every pre-season game. lol

He is not fully healed and not expected to be fully healed yet.

 

[noonthirtyjoe]

Well, for one... they're not comparable. As they serve totally different purposes. Meredith is a possession receiver. Gabriel is a speed receiver and gadget who lines up at a multitude of different positions. Gabriel also fits the mold of what Nagy's WR corp looked like in KC.

Secondly

Meredith:

2 years

2018 - 4.45 Million
2019 - 5.05 Million

Taylor Gabriel:

4 years (with out after 2nd season)

2018 - 8.5 Million
2019 - 5.5 Million
(Potential Out)
2020 - 5.5 Million
2021 - 6.5 Million

The difference in those two contracts is entirely inconsequential.

They are different player with different skill sets but my point is the same. I wanted Cam back and think we wasted money on Gabriel.

 

[richig07]

He is not fully healed and not expected to be fully healed yet.

Which is why he is now closer to the roster bubble than he is to starting, having to play the extra pre-season game on a supposedly "unhealed knee" and take extra reps/stress on it? That makes no sense. lol

He was cleared to be a go for drills/reps/practice prior to camp. Which was over a month ago. Perhaps you don't understand how that works. However, a doctor would not clear you if your knee is not healed.

If you want to say his conditioning isn't there and is holding him back. That is one thing. However, his knee has been healed for quite some time. The knee ligaments themselves "heal" before the rehab process is even over, in fact.

At the end of the day, Meredith has been out there for the entirety of camp and has been a total non-factor. Dropping balls, not getting open... etc... He has 0 catches on 48 pre-season snaps.

If 12 months later, Meredith's knee really is still this big of an issue. That is a really, really bad sign for him and makes it that much more salient why the Bears/Baltimore were scared of his health situation.

 

[richig07]

They are different player with different skill sets but my point is the same. I wanted Cam back and think we wasted money on Gabriel.

We have a plethora of possession guys. Robinson, Miller, Wims... Meredith would be redundant on our roster.

Especially with Cam's knee. Gabriel brings an additional element to the offense and smack in the same price range. Cam is currently looking like he stands a better chance of never being a factor in an NFL offense again... as opposed to being someone we greatly miss.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

A few of the young guys look like keepers. I still wish Cam was here. Still think Cam would be better then the expensive Gabriel. Still think we made a mistake. Don't think it's a big mistake or game changing mistake.

Well, I believe you had that opinion after we signed AR, Burton, and Gabriel, but before we drafted Miller. I don’t see Gabriel as replacing cam, I see AR replacing cam. Gabriel was a guy who fits the offense and added depth. Burton looks like the real deal to me, but adding Miller and Wims to the picture really changes the outlook of this WR group. We’re projected to only have White and Bellamy returning from last year. I think we took that position of weakness and made it a strength.

 

[beardown07]

Well, I believe you had that opinion after we signed AR, Burton, and Gabriel, but before we drafted Miller. I don’t see Gabriel as replacing cam, I see AR replacing cam. Gabriel was a guy who fits the offense and added depth. Burton looks like the real deal to me, but adding Miller and Wims to the picture really changes the outlook of this WR group. We’re projected to only have White and Bellamy returning from last year. I think we took that position of weakness and made it a strength.

ARguably the deepest position on the roster now.

 

[richig07]

ARguably the deepest position on the roster now.

It has the potential to be very deep. However, the jury is still out on whether or not AR is a legitimate #1. So, I'm not sure if it's more than simply "decent" yet. However, we've seen many offenses put together very good passing attacks with just a group of "solid" guys. The Rams last season are a good example. Woods/Watkins/Kupp was certainly nothing special. The Eagles were another one. Great TE in Ertz. However, they didn't have a WR that sniffed 1,000 yards.

 

[beardown07]

It has the potential to be very deep. However, the jury is still out on whether or not AR is a legitimate #1. So, I'm not sure if it's more than simply "decent" yet. However, we've seen many offenses put together very good passing attacks with just a group of "solid" guys. The Rams last season are a good example. Woods/Watkins/Kupp was certainly nothing special. The Eagles were another one. Great TE in Ertz. However, they didn't have a WR that sniffed 1,000 yards.

Well, our depth at the position will certainly help if AR isn't a No.1. We are deeper at the position than we have been, possibly in my entire life, and certainly in a much better position than last year.

Miller may be one of the best steals in the draft, and considering Wims was in the 7th, he could end up being an even bigger steal.

I am the most comfortable with the position that I have been in some time.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Well, our depth at the position will certainly help if AR isn't a No.1. We are deeper at the position than we have been, possibly in my entire life, and certainly in a much better position than last year.

Miller may be one of the best steals in the draft, and considering Wims was in the 7th, he could end up being an even bigger steal.

I am the most comfortable with the position that I have been in some time.

Same here. Been following the Bears longer than I care to admit, and I simply don't recall any year in which we've had such depth. Some solid, if expensive offseason signings to bolster the receiving game, then couple that with the drafting of two potential steals. Throw all this into the mix with a HC who schemes a pass-centric offense, and I think we have the makings of a really good aerial game for years to come.