***shaking head in total confusion***

[LKP]

we should be moving forward, not backward. period, end of discussion. with danno there is NOTHING positive that can happen. draft some kid late or give KM the backup role, but there is ZERO positive that danno brings. roll the dice with the unknown is better, even if it ends up craps at least you have a greater than zero chance at some draft pick being able to come in and become a sensation. with danno, there is absolutely zero chance. even at vet minimum, there are other positions to toss that money and roster spot at who might be able to contribute more provided they get someone who is an unknown instead of a never-was.

give the TEAM a chance...which is something danno has proven he does not provide.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/ind/year/2011

But there is a positive with him and Caldwell together. 63%, 6 TDs to 4 ints and 82 QB rating. Only 2 wins of the year in 5 tries. Pretty great game against NE in a loss. Caldwell can squeeze a few wins out him if he had too.

 

[LKP]

Teams I think Dan O could beat
Jets,Giants,Buffalo,Miami,Tampa,Vikings,Bears

That's the same for Hill too.

Saints,Green Bay,Falcons,Carolina,Arizona,New England (if we play anybackup, even Hill, we probably lose).

 

[kmd47]

Maybe they wanted a backup who can help Stafford, and a rookie wouldn't be doing that.

 

[zyxt9]

Teams I think Dan O could beat
Jets,Giants,Buffalo,Miami,Tampa,Vikings,Bears

That's the same for Hill too.

Saints,Green Bay,Falcons,Carolina,Arizona,New England (if we play anybackup, even Hill, we probably lose).

not true if you go with an unknown, not yet proven. they could still beat the first group, but because they are unknowns they actually might beat some of the teams in the second group, whereas with danno you know they will not. so many young late round picks have come out of relative obscurity to have a magical run. you will NOT have that happen with danno, so why would you waste time and money on him? give yourself a chance with the unknown, even if it is considered very small, that is still greater than zero chance which is what you get with the known.

no one...not even you LKP...would be able to look at some unknown and after that guy losses a game say, "damn, if only we had danno in there they would have won that game".

 

[mhughes0021]

I really don't get what the big fuss is.

What better options are out there willing to play for the vet minimum? How much more impact would they have compared to Dan-O?

Here are your current QB FA choices
Josh Freeman
Kevin Kolb
Colt McCoy
Matt Flynn
David Garrard
Rex Grossman
Brady Quinn
Jon Kitna
Jimmy Clausen
Seneca Wallace

Who among these would be considered an upgrade AND be willing to accept a minimum contract?


The Lions realize that Stafford has become dependable (injury-wise) the last few years and that it's not worth it to have a fairly expensive backup (i.e. Hill and his 2+ million per year) because the backup never sees the field. I can't really blame Caldwell for choosing someone he's familiar with.


The Lions sign one of these other scrubs and nobody thinks twice, they sign Dan-O and everybody loses their shit.

is this a trick question? lol. You REALLY need us to tell you who is better than Dan O out of that list???

 

[zyxt9]

Maybe they wanted a backup who can help Stafford, and a rookie wouldn't be doing that.

I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to keep a straight face when proposing that Stafford is going to take QB lessons from danno.

 

[grandy]

is this a trick question? lol. You REALLY need us to tell you who is better than Dan O out of that list???

Way to read half the question

Who among these would be considered an upgrade AND be willing to accept a minimum contract?

 

[grandy]

I really don't know why so many fans overreact to such a meaningless move.

 

[zyxt9]

I really don't know why so many fans overreact to such a meaningless move.

because it IS a meaningless move. They need to make positive moves, ones that at least give the team a chance to improve. Making a move that is meaningless should NOT happen if you are wanting to have a chance, no matter how small, to win. Meaningless = pointless = should not happen.

 

[grandy]

because it IS a meaningless move. They need to make positive moves, ones that at least give the team a chance to improve. Making a move that is meaningless should NOT happen if you are wanting to have a chance, no matter how small, to win. Meaningless = pointless = should not happen.

Seriously, tell me what backup QB is going to have a positive effect on the team?

They're basically paying a guy to sit on the bench (based on the last 3 seasons). I'd say the most positive you can get is a guy who will take up as little cap space as possible for never playing. Plus it's not even guaranteed he's the back-up.

 

[zyxt9]

Seriously tell me what good does it do to bring in danno????? His plus side is lower than just about everyone else out there, so there is such a low bar set by him coming in I would have preferred they bring in some scrub from the local bar who spends his time watching the games while totally wasted. Heck he could Even have been bigger and slower than culoepoer and I would look at you eye to eye and say, "at least they didn't bring back danno!"

 

[mhughes0021]

Seriously, tell me what backup QB is going to have a positive effect on the team?

They're basically paying a guy to sit on the bench (based on the last 3 seasons). I'd say the most positive you can get is a guy who will take up as little cap space as possible for never playing. Plus it's not even guaranteed he's the back-up.

if youre mayhew and the plan is that Stafford is just going to be completely healthy all year for the rest of his career....

its a dumb plan.

Youre plan should always be to make decisions that make the TEAM better. In no way shape or form does signing Dan O make your team better. Its a move that automatically makes us have the worst back up qb situation in the NFL. DOes that effect us at all if Stafford stays healthy all year? no, maybe not. But its still not a good situation to put yourself in. If we get draft a qb this draft and Dan O ends up being our #3...meh...its fine I suppose. But he'll still be hot garbage as a #3.

 

[grandy]

Seriously tell me what good does it do to bring in danno?????

Cheap contract, the money saved from Hill's cap number down to Dan-O's cap number should net them a backup elsewhere on the team that will actually play.

So instead of having 2 million sitting on the bench all season, you can have 1 million sit on the bench while the other 1 million is contributing on special teams or filling in for an injured/tired player.

I was more concerned about the money. I really didn't care if it was Dan-O or some other scrub.

 

[grandy]

if youre mayhew and the plan is that Stafford is just going to be completely healthy all year for the rest of his career....

its a dumb plan.

Youre plan should always be to make decisions that make the TEAM better. In no way shape or form does signing Dan O make your team better. Its a move that automatically makes us have the worst back up qb situation in the NFL. DOes that effect us at all if Stafford stays healthy all year? no, maybe not. But its still not a good situation to put yourself in. If we get draft a qb this draft and Dan O ends up being our #3...meh...its fine I suppose. But he'll still be hot garbage as a #3.

So who on that list gives the Lions a reasonable shot to win for the vet minimum with Stafford injured?

 

[mhughes0021]

Cheap contract, the money saved from Hill's cap number down to Dan-O's cap number should net them a backup elsewhere on the team that will actually play.

So instead of having 2 million sitting on the bench all season, you can have 1 million sit on the bench while the other 1 million is contributing on special teams or filling in for an injured/tired player.

I was more concerned about the money. I really didn't care if it was Dan-O or some other scrub.

then don't sign dan o and grab a 4th round qb? then you get to save the full 2 million to use elsewhere

 

[grandy]

then don't sign dan o and grab a 4th round qb? then you get to save the full 2 million to use elsewhere

Maybe they plan to let a few QBs battle in TC, who knows. His contract details are not out yet so I don't know if any of it is guaranteed or not.

 

[mhughes0021]

Maybe they plan to let a few QBs battle in TC, who knows. His contract details are not out yet so I don't know if any of it is guaranteed or not.

well if anything is more pointless than a Dan O signing......its a qb competition to see who the #3 qb is lol.

 

[zyxt9]

Cheap contract, the money saved from Hill's cap number down to Dan-O's cap number should net them a backup elsewhere on the team that will actually play.

So instead of having 2 million sitting on the bench all season, you can have 1 million sit on the bench while the other 1 million is contributing on special teams or filling in for an injured/tired player.

I was more concerned about the money. I really didn't care if it was Dan-O or some other scrub.

Ah, ok, I see your viewpoint now, ty for clarifying. Yes, obviously there is a cost savings. I think those of us confused by the signing are looking at it more though as a completely needless signing. There is no reason to have signed him even to a minimum contract. Save the money and get someone at another position. They could even have waited until the day they absolutely needed another QB to sign a scrub. The timing, choice, and everything else about this just does not make sense, other than your point of savings compared to Hill.

 

[JScottWriter]

Why does it matter who the backup is? If Stafford gets injured the Lions don't have much of a shot at the playoffs. Hell they don't usually have much of a shot with him.

 

[zyxt9]

Why does it matter who the backup is? If Stafford gets injured the Lions don't have much of a shot at the playoffs. Hell they don't usually have much of a shot with him.

Let's look again at the current options:
1. Dan O. - proven he does not have the ability to win
2. Kellen M. - not shown any signs of putting things together

If looking solely at those two options, then sure, you are right. It does not matter who the Lions have as backup, they are pretty much destined to lose. However, there is the 3rd option, the Unknown one, the one who - because he is unknown - has not shown the ability to win, true...but also has not shown himself to be a failure and might, through the slightest window of opportunity, actually become one of those hidden gems.

The knowns are not going to get the Lions anywhere. Most people would consider it a smarter move to at least bring in an Unknown because, as they say, what do they have to lose? They cannot do worse, but there is at least the slightest chance of victory in the Unknown compared to zero chance with the known.