Chat with Dan Graziano

Welcome to SportsNation! On Tuesday, ESPN.com NFC East blogger Dan Graziano stops by to chat about the league.
Graziano joined ESPN.com in 2011 after two years as a Senior NFL Writer for AOL FanHouse. He covered Major League Baseball, the Olympics and various other sports during his time at the Star-Ledger and the Palm Beach Post. A New Jersey native and author of two published novels, he now lives in Ridgewood, N.J., with his wife and two sons.
Send your questions now and join Graziano Tuesday at noon ET!
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Dan Graziano (12:00 PM)
What's up, folks? Anything happen since last time we chatted?
Charlie Cannoy (Middletown, Delaware)
Dan, do you think the Eagles have a legit shot to win the NFC East and go far into the playoffs considering their offseason? They solidified their Linebacker problems and addressed the D-Line through the draft and Trades and Free agency. Plus they have an entire offseason to build comradery that they didn't have last season due to the lock out...how far do you see the Philadelphia Eagles going?
Dan Graziano (12:01 PM)
Yes, Charlie. Once again, the Eagles appear to have had the best offseason of any team in the division -- maybe the best overall draft of any team in the league. ON PAPER. We all got suckered in by this last year, so I'm not assuming anything. But if you're an Eagles fan wondering if you have reason to be optimistic, I would say you do and that your assessment SEEMS to be very good.
Joey (D.C.)
Will the Redskins end up trading Kirk Cousins in the next 3 years for something good in return?
Dan Graziano (12:01 PM)
That is, I believe, their ideal hope.
rahim aka rah-steam (hackensack, nj)
Giants traditionally do bad when they have high expectations. What are your expectations after this offseason?
Dan Graziano (12:03 PM)
Thing about the Giants is, they have basically the same expectations every year, and they've shown some ability (obviously) to take advantage of opportunities when they've found them. But a lot depends on what the other teams do. Remember, two years ago they went 10-6 and missed the playoffs. This past year, they were 9-7 and won the Super Bowl. Is it really fair to assume this year's Giants team was better than the 2010 team? They like to keep it even-keel, and they believe they'll always be in contention and occasionally able to cash that in.
matt (Bronx)
Reportedly, the giants preffered David Wilson over Doug Martin while most "experts" felt Martin was the more valuable player. Why do you think they'd rather have Wilson? or do you believe they don't want to admit they would of rather had Martin?
Dan Graziano (12:05 PM)
The latter is obviously possible, matt. You almost never hear a team say, "We had this other guy rated higher, but he went one pick before so we settled for this guy." But they also could be telling the truth. Wilson was an every-down guy in college and has a reputation for toughness. It's possible they rated him higher than Martin. It's not insane to believe it.
Jake (IA)
Do the Cowboys really want to trade Mike Jenkins?I think they should keep him and have great depth at that position.What say you...
Dan Graziano (12:05 PM)
I agree with you. Unless they really get a great offer (and I can't imagine how they do), I would keep him.
Justin (Richmond)
Can you confirm the Redskins released Gaffney? Foolish?
Dan Graziano (12:06 PM)
I can confirm that they released him. I don't think it was foolish. Just did a post on it, in fact.
Garrett (Wilmington)
I think Michael Vick is a one of a kind player, but I don't see him staying healthy for 19-20 straight games assuming they make a super bowl run, and I don't think the Eagles can win the big game without him. So when does his timetable runout and the Eagles go in a different direction?
Dan Graziano (12:06 PM)
This is the proverbial make-or-break year for Vick in Philly. They can get out of his contract after this year with very little pain, I believe. If it all bottoms out, I imagine they'll look elsewhere.
Mike (Taking a Final)
Who do YOU think had to best draft?
Dan Graziano (12:07 PM)
In this division? The Eagles.
Will (Philly)
Do the cowboys had the best secondary in the division??
Dan Graziano (12:07 PM)
People keep asking this, and obviously I think they're very good. But the Eagles' corners have Pro Bowls on their resumes.
Corey (D.C.)
In theory I agree with the idea of drafting a QB like Cousins in hopes to trade him down the road, but shouldnt that be a luxury you take AFTER you have addressed more needs? They passed up some very promising players that fit current needs and instead are playing guessing games for 3 yrs from now. Thoughts?
Dan Graziano (12:09 PM)
Yeah, that was my main issue with it. At the time that they took Cousins, they'd made three picks, and two of them were quarterbacks. It's not as though they didn't have any other needs. The counter-arguments are (a) that it was the fourth round, and how often are you really going to find immediate-need help there? and (b) that backup quarterback is a legitimate "need" position in this league, and Cousins is likely a better option there past 2012 than Grossman is.
Chris L. (EPTX)
Is Osi playing hard ball or is he really unhappy with what the Giants are offering him?
Dan Graziano (12:09 PM)
At this point, I think it's fair to assume that Osi is truly unhappy. We have about three years' worth of evidence to go on.
Chris (Giants Land, NJ)
I have heard an interview with Jerry Reese, as well as commentary from Giants beat writers, that David Wilson was the Giants highest rated player left when they made their pick at 32. Could this all be lies?
Dan Graziano (12:10 PM)
As I addressed in an earlier answer, Chris, yes. Of course it could be. You should never assume that anything any general manager says publicly is 100 percent true.
Damien (Philadelphia)
Out of all the NFC East first round picks, who do you think will have the most impact this year?
Dan Graziano (12:10 PM)
Claiborne, because I think the learning curve is less steep for a cornerback at this level than it is for a quarterback.
tommy (waterfront view)
wouldn't a team that is adding the fewest new pieces have a leg up on the others in the division when it takes time for players to mesh well and play well as a unit ? ... Edge to the ..... in this division
Dan Graziano (12:11 PM)
The team that has added the fewest new pieces is the Eagles. Is that what you were fishing for?
Eric (Kenosha, WI)
I've heard nothing but good things coming from sources concerning the play of tech wr coale..Do you think he can make an actual push for the 3rd wr spot or will Dallas find a vet via free agency?
Dan Graziano (12:13 PM)
I think they'll keep looking for a veteran, but Coale will get the opportunity to push himself into the mix. He's going to have some size issues adjusting to the NFL, but if he overcomes those, he was a great playmaker in college and could overachieve his way into a nice pro career. My guess is that he doesn't help much right away in 2012. But that's a guess.
Chris (Giants Land, NJ)
Sorry Dan, I missed that question. After Wilson I was very happy the Giants got Randle in the second after hearing him talked about in the 1st. Will he be a guy that you could see being a legitimate Manningham replacement?
Dan Graziano (12:14 PM)
Yes. I think they love the idea that, if he comes quickly, he can play on the outside and allow them to leave Cruz in the slot.
Jack (Raleigh)
That's a ridiculous answer, I don't care anything about learning curve, even if Claiborne is the best corner in the league this year a corner NEVER impacts a game or team as much as a QB does, period.
Dan Graziano (12:14 PM)
Ok then.
Kyle (Lock Haven, PA)
Could Reuben Randle end up being the best rookie receiver this coming year? He finally has a great QB to throw him the ball.
Dan Graziano (12:15 PM)
Don't underestimate the impact Eli Manning has on Randle's chances to develop quickly. He's certainly a better quarterback than that of any WR who was drafted ahead of Randle. Only one who has a case, for me, is Broyles' QB.
Southy (the south)
Do you see Cox starting on the D-line right away, perhaps due to the amount of... ahem... penetration he's able to provide off the snap?
Dan Graziano (12:16 PM)
Cullen Jenkins has one of those starting spots locked down, and the other belongs to Mike Patterson. But Patterson is a question mark, and whether he "starts" or not, I'm certain Cox will get lots of chances for reps, especially on passing downs.
Matt (DC)
Hi Dan, isn't it out of character for Reese to publicly say they've made Osi offers? Maybe he was sick of the questions, but making that public doesn't help calm a disgruntled player
Dan Graziano (12:17 PM)
It is, as Osi correctly identified, a means of shifting blame for the situation to the player. If Reese can get away with saying "I've offered him an extension" without giving details, some fans will assume that it's Osi's fault that it's not done. That's why he says it.
Big Matty (Long Island, NY)
What do you believe the Giants reasoning is in NOT trading Osi prio to the draft for some picks?
Dan Graziano (12:18 PM)
It wasn't a situation like the one the Eagles were in with Asante Samuel, where they'd just decided not to have him on the football team anymore and they were going to take anything anyone offered. The Giants still see value in having Osi on the team, and if they weren't going to get fair value in return, they weren't going to just dump him.
Jack (Raleigh)
Who impacts a game more Revis or Brady, Brees, Mannings, Big Ben, etc..... its just ridiculous, the Eagles had the best collection of corners in the league and because Vick got hurt there season was a whiff....if you want to say RGIII is overrated fine, but don't tell me a corner can have a bigger impact than a QB...so is that what your saying? that RGIII is going to bust?
Dan Graziano (12:20 PM)
Holy hell, Jack. Calm down. The question was, "Which first-round pick do you think has the biggest impact next year?" I think, given how much harder it is to learn QB at the NFL level than it is to learn CB, Claiborne is the right answer. That's no insult to Griffin, who I believe will be great as I have written many times. But to think Griffin won't struggle this year, or that they won't lean on the run to help him out, is kind of silly.
joseph (north carolina)
do you think the decision to draft kirk cousins and subsequently release john beck had anything to do with cap room? redskins still have yet to re-sign hightower.
Dan Graziano (12:20 PM)
No. They have plenty of cap room. It had to do with wanting to be very deep at quarterback, and with Beck not being very good.
Honey Badger (DC)
Why is Jack from Raleigh a raving lunatic?
Dan Graziano (12:21 PM)
He seems very upset. I felt like giving him a Snickers bar. Jack from Raleigh, you're not you when you're hungry.
VakAttack (Staten Island)
"If you don't answer my questions the way I want you to, you're clearly a moron!" ~ What Jack from Raleigh meant.
Dan Graziano (12:21 PM)
Vak weighs in with his Jack-from-Raleigh-to-English dictionary. Thanks, Vak!
Bill (PA)
How can a team draft the JPP of tight ends? Isn't part of the reason JPP is so good is that, for the most part, he just has to beat the man infront of him and run after the guy with the ball. The TE position, in my opinoin, has a lot more intricacies than DE, with block schemes, route running, understanding coverages, etc. Do you think the Giants are stretching for a TE?
Dan Graziano (12:23 PM)
What Reese meant, he explained, was that it was KIND OF like the JPP situation from two years ago, in that they see in this guy the potential to be great if he can refine his game. JPP was a risk and a project at the time he was picked, but the Giants took him because they saw an incredibly high ceiling and believed they had a chance to help him reach it. That's what he's saying about Robinson. Obviously an imperfect comparison, given the position difference you point out as well as the discrepancy in where they were picked.
Ryan (Virginia)
Dan, it was obvious you didn't agree with the Cowboys decision to move up and grab Claiborne. We now know who the Boy's would have taken had they stayed put, but who would you have taken with the 1st and 2nd round picks?
Dan Graziano (12:25 PM)
We don't know that, Ryan. If you've been following the chat, I've given very clear instructions never to take anything any of these GMs says at face value. The truth is, we don't know who the Cowboys would have taken at that spot and neither do they. The whole draft might have fallen differently between picks 6 and 45 if the Cowboys hadn't made their move when they did. They might have traded up in the second round. Or down. The guy they claim they'd have picked might have been picked by someone else. But in answer to your question, the guy still on the board who could have helped them the most was probably Peter Konz. And if they'd wanted to stick with defense, maybe the LB the Eagles picked, Kendricks.
Dan Graziano (12:25 PM)
We don't know that, Ryan. If you've been following the chat, I've given very clear instructions never to take anything any of these GMs says at face value. The truth is, we don't know who the Cowboys would have taken at that spot and neither do they. The whole draft might have fallen differently between picks 6 and 45 if the Cowboys hadn't made their move when they did. They might have traded up in the second round. Or down. The guy they claim they'd have picked might have been picked by someone else. But in answer to your question, the guy still on the board who could have helped them the most was probably Peter Konz. And if they'd wanted to stick with defense, maybe the LB the Eagles picked, Kendricks.
Don (Indiana)
Hey Dan, What do you expect from Claiborne this year? Starting from the get go (I know Jerry prefers that from 1st rounders), mid-season starter, or starting next year. Also do you think, based off all of the recent DRotY being lineman, he has a real shot at that title?
Dan Graziano (12:27 PM)
If he's not a day-one starter, something's gone terribly wrong between now and then. As for DRoY... yeah, it's usually someone who gets some sacks, right? Maybe Coples, if the Jets bounce back, or Inrgam in SD?
Chris (Giants Land, NJ)
Dan, Adrien Robinson is 6ft 4in. 263 lbs TE who ran a 4.56 yard dash at the Combine, had a 39.5" vertical, and a 11'3" long jump. I think that's what he was referring too, he has JPP-esque athleticism as you pointed out. Or so the Giants think
Dan Graziano (12:27 PM)
No, I explained what he was referring to, as he did as well, in the full quote Saturday. The size is of course part of that.
Matt (mays landing)
Do you see the Eagles running a 3-4 a couple of times a game with Cox and Jenkins being leathal pass rushing DEs and with the DEs like cole and Babin going to OLB? Just on a passing down.
Dan Graziano (12:28 PM)
No, I don't think so. Washburn likes to line up those DEs wide, but on the line. The defense kind of runs off of those guys being able to get where they're going very quickly. I don't see him standing either one of them up.
Chris (SD)
A big part of your problem with the Cowboys draft is you feel they didn't get great value on their picks, i.e. they could have picked some of the same players later, or signed them as UDFA. Did you read Mosley's article yesterday, where teams such as Balt were possibly going to take Crawford a few picks later? Does that change your opinion, or do you think it's after the fact justification?
Dan Graziano (12:29 PM)
It's clearly after-the-fact justification. Doesn't mean it's not true, but it's obviously after-the-fact justification. Crawford is a fine player, but I just don't see him as an ideal fit in the 3-4, the way some people have said he is. I think he ends up being an OLB in their scheme, and I'm not sure his strengths translate well to that. That's why I didn't like the pick for them.
Z (P, SD)
Dan,I know the assumption is that Jenkins is on the outside looking in at a starting spot. Realistically though with him sitting out until at least the start of training camp does Jenkins have the edge having been in the system and being a veteran? I'm not questioning whether the talent difference is there but I don't think it's safe to assume Jenkins loses his starting spot. Garrett is always preaching competition. So I guess what I'm saying is don't the two best players get the start regardless of a paycheck?
Dan Graziano (12:30 PM)
Sure, but moving up to pick Claiborne certainly indicates that Jenkins isn't beginning the competition from an especially strong position in the minds of the coaching staff.
joseph (north carolina)
Did you teach that fire extinguisher a lesson?
Dan Graziano (12:31 PM)
Seriously. I know this isn't an NBA chat, but what a moron.
Bryan (Springdale, AR)
Do you feel that you are capable of selecting good questions to answer, or do you need to hire someone to do that?
Dan Graziano (12:31 PM)
I think it's one of my top 83 skills.
Dan Graziano (12:32 PM)
Though, this last one probably doesn't prove it.
Jordan (McKinney)
Hey Dan great stuff so far! Whats the over/under for the # of INT's Claiborne gets this year? Im setting the bar at5 and taking the over.On an off note, Rangers hands down the best team in baseball agree?
Dan Graziano (12:33 PM)
The Rangers look terrifying, though a Josh Hamilton injury scare so soon reminds you how fragile things can be. As for the INTs, jeez, if he gets more than 5 as a rookie, the earlier question about ROY changes dramatically. The kid can really, really play, but don't get too crazy with the immediate expectations.
rojohpp (Mexico)
Will Claiborne play as WR? Deionstyle
Dan Graziano (12:34 PM)
No. Come on. It was some jokey talk-radio stuff, is all. The Cowboys are pretty strong at WR.
Steve (Bristol)
Are we to assume that Goff is over the injury since the Skins signed him? He had a pretty good year in 2010 and that would add some great depth to the D, and possibly groom him to take over for Fletcher.
Dan Graziano (12:34 PM)
Don't know how safe that is to assume. Haven't seen the contract terms. Once those are out, they could offer some clues to your answer.
Scott (VB, VA)
Hi Dan, Mel Kiper said all the Skins needed to do after Griffin was draft Zebrie Sanders in the 3rd for his A grade. I think Sanders lasted at least until the 5th. Its his grade and all, but I don't see how he downgrades from A to C based on that. What grade would you give the Skins?
Dan Graziano (12:36 PM)
I don't like to do the grade thing, so unless my bosses assign them I believe I'll pass. But I will address this question. I'm sure the case can be made for Sanders as a better offensive lineman than Josh LeRibeus. But it's important to remember that the Redskins lean hard on a zone-blocking run game and draft and sign linemen they believe are well suited to that scheme. They likely see something in LeRibeus that they believe fits the unique kind of blocking schemes they like to run, so it's not as simple as saying, "This guy was rated better, so he'd have been a better pick there."
Tim (Washington DC)
While I agree that the Eagles probably has the best secondary.....please don't use that popularity contest of a Pro Bowl as reasons for who is better!!!
Dan Graziano (12:37 PM)
Fair point. Just saying, let's see Carr and Claiborne put some stuff on those resumes before we start saying they're better than Asomugha and DRC.
Nick (DAL)
Draft grades the day of are kind of silly. I went back and looked at the 2008 draft grades. The Titans failed, largely due their horrible first round pick of Chris Johnson.
Dan Graziano (12:38 PM)
And there you have it. None of us can look into the future and see how these guys are going to play. All we can assess is how the teams did in maximizing the present value of the picks.
Justin (Richmond)
Aside from RG3, who do you see as a potential breakout performer for the Redskins this season? PS...Nationals will soon be the best team in baseball, fact.
Dan Graziano (12:38 PM)
If they can keep pitching like this, I think you're right. But can they? As for breakout Redskins... Hankerson, if he comes back healthy. And they certainly paid Garcon as though they expect him to break out, right?
Patrick (Annapolis)
If Demeco Ryans ends up getting injured sometime this season what will the Eagles do to replace him? Will middle LB be as big of a need as it was last year now that the team has added Cox and Kendricks
Dan Graziano (12:39 PM)
That is a potential problem, yes, Patrick. Maybe they hope one of last year's rookies could do it. Or Chaney, who did an OK job with it two years ago. Ryans would be a bad injury for the Eagles, I agree.
BKW (MD)
A lot of writers have given the Cowboys a lower draft grade because they didn't address the oline. But they did that in free agency, signed a few UDFAs, and could still get one before opening day, ala Laurent Robinson last year. What's the big deal? Romo had a career season numbers-wise in 2011, so the oline isn't really as big an issue as some think.
Dan Graziano (12:41 PM)
I agree with you. I think they addressed the O line in last year's draft and in free agency, and that it would have been a misuse of their resources to spend picks on it again. I do think it needs to improve, and that it was a big part of last year's problems, but they brought in some new guys and a new O-line coach and they believe that will go a long way toward addressing the problems. I think they were right to focus this draft on defense. I just think they made some weird picks.
Captain Obvious (Duh-ville)
Any loyal reader of the NFC EAST blog would know that you answer 90% of the questions from the chat with posts and pieces you write during the week. Being said....what is going to happen with Osi? Holdout? Play thru the contract? Honestly, what do you see happening?
Dan Graziano (12:42 PM)
I think he'll skip a big chunk of camp but end up playing out his contract and then leaving in free agency next year.
Scott (Columbia)
What position(s) do the 'Skins still need to address in free agency after the draft? Any particular players you have in mind?
Dan Graziano (12:43 PM)
They're still trying to bring back Hightower, and I think that's a good idea.
Pistol Pete (NJ)
How does drafting a RB improve the run game when the biggest problem was the o-line last year(GMEN)??
Dan Graziano (12:43 PM)
Well, Jacobs had 40 percent of the carries, and he's gone. So somebody's got to get some carries.
Brian (Bethesda, MD)
Is it more annoying that people take your opinions as words spoken from the lips of God and freak out when they do not like what you say? or is it more of a compliment?
Dan Graziano (12:44 PM)
I guess if I had to pick one of those two things, I'd go with compliment. It doesn't annoy me. Part of my job is to make this an ongoing conversation with the fans. Some take it too far, and those are the ones I stop listening to or block. But I'm always happy to have a debate.
Dan Graziano (12:45 PM)
And I'm not one of these people who needs to be right. I feel good about my opinion, I write it. I'm open to having my mind changed by good counter-arguments or on-field evidence. Like I said, ongoing conversation.
Patrick (nowhere)
Your starting a franchise today, which NFC East QB are you taking?
Dan Graziano (12:46 PM)
Just starting one today? Not expecting to contend for three, four years? Griffin.
Justin (Shippensburg)
If the skins do not improve this season how long do you think they will keep Shanahan at coach?
Dan Graziano (12:47 PM)
If they do not improve this season. Meaning, if they win only five games again, in the third year of his five-year deal? I think that would put a lot of pressure on him to make the playoffs in 2013.
Lance (The Moon)
Griffin over Eli...Dan, Mission control is calling to you...please come back to earth
Dan Graziano (12:48 PM)
Again, go back and re-read the answer. If I had a team that was ready to contend and needed to plug in a QB, I'd pick Eli. But in the question that was asked, I'm STARTING a franchise. I'm taking the 22 year old.
Chris (Hoboken, NJ)
Graz,The eagles give Asante away for literally nothing except cap space. They are WAY below the cap. How could they not work out an extension for McCoy while keeping possibly their best defensive player? He stepped up last year a bit on the tackling, and easily outplayed the other so called "pro bowlers."
Dan Graziano (12:50 PM)
I think they will work out the McCoy deal, and I think that was part of the reason for dumping Samuel. Also, Maclin's going to need a deal at some point soon, and they had three picks in the first two rounds they'll need to sign. Cap flexibility has value, and if Samuel didn't fit what they wanted to do on defense (press coverage), then the cap space had more value to them than he did.
Vince (Lancaster, PA)
After Mudd got here, the Eagles went from 50 sacks allowed to 32. With Peters' injury, do you think they will be able to improve upon the 32, or will they take a step back?
Dan Graziano (12:51 PM)
No, the Peters injury will hurt. They will play worse on the offensive line in 2012 because of it. Plain and simple. He's too good a player to lose and not feel it. That said, they played lights-out on the line in 2011 and can absorb the loss and still succeed.
milroyigglesfan (anchorage)
Dan,A few draft picks fell out of favor. Do you know what the problem was in the case of Chris Polk? And do you see him as a nice compliment to Shady McCoy?
Dan Graziano (12:52 PM)
There were injury questions about Polk. Shoulder and I believe knee. If he's healthy, yeah, they got a steal and he could be a big factor.
Eric (Kenosha, WI)
If you got drafted would you hug Goodell?
Dan Graziano (12:53 PM)
When did the hugging start? Handshakes are much more dignified and manly. They didn't just win the freaking Super Bowl together. Whole thing is just really over the top now. At some point somebody's going to look up and go, "Man, this event has really gotten out of hand."
Ralph (Canton)
If you drafted a punter in the 3rd would you consider a long snapper in the 5th?
Dan Graziano (12:53 PM)
Drafting a punter in the third round is like holding a press conference to announce to the world you don't know what you're doing.
Scott (DFW)
Dan, I thought your comments on the Cowboys draft were off base. Did you look at the various ratings services? They weren't household names but nearly every pick, except Johnson in round 4 was rated by at least one service with a higher draft rank or grade than where Dallas took the player and Johnson is now viewed as a hidden gem.
Dan Graziano (12:54 PM)
Johnson was the 72nd-ranked SAFETY on the Scouts Inc. draft board. 72. I agree that he'd have been a great value pick at No. 135 if this had been a safety-only draft.
Corey (D.C.)
Does everyone realize that when a team is said to have "reached" on a player, based on Mel Kiper's Mock Draft, that means Mel was wrong about the player, not that the NFL professionals made a mistake. Mel has never worked for an NFL team in any capacity whatsoever. He is like all of us, only he has been doing this for 30 yrs. He is a glorified fan.
Dan Graziano (12:57 PM)
See, I take issue with this. Mel studies the draft. It's his life's work, for goodness' sake. No one spends more time studying the draft -- and that's not just player evaluation but also the way teams behave and will behave in the draft. He has sources with teams around the league and can put players in spots based on how teams evaluate them. No one knows how a draft is going to play out, including the men who run the 32 franchises. The Eagles didn't know Fletcher Cox was going to get to 12 so they could trade up for him. The Cowboys didn't know Claiborne was going to fall to 6 so they could trade up for him. Mel's preview stuff is guideline stuff, and it's the best there is.
Captain Obvious (Duh-ville)
So you are saying that this will most likely be the last year Osi is with the G-MEN. That makes Captain Obvious sad:( being said....how can he actually afford to hold out if his contract is so lowball??? He does know he gets fined right? Are fine amounts set by teams or by the NFL?
Dan Graziano (12:59 PM)
I believe there's a maximum the team can fine the player. So what happens is, the player weighs the value of the holdout (i.e., its positive impact on his chances of getting what he wants to effectively making his point to fans and future employers) versus what he loses by not showing up each day. At some point, it'll cost too much to be worth it, and he'll show up.
Honey Badger (DC)
Demarcus Ware, a Grizzly Bear, Brian Orakpo, and JPP are all in a pit....who gets out alive?
Dan Graziano (1:00 PM)
I'm picking Ware. And I'm out of here. See you all next week.
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