Falcons: Thomas Dimitroff

[monoxide]

(03-15-2012 01:08 PM)RFlagg Wrote:  First, Lofa Tatupu is not in his mid 30s, he's 29 and will be 30 on November 15th. Second, he was inactive because of a contract dispute with Seattle last season and also to get back to being 100% healthy, something he hasn't been since 2008. Don't forget, he was a 3 time probowler when healthy.

As for Manuwai, he's 31 (32 on July 12th), he was a starter for the Jags from 2003-2007. Manuwai missed most of 2008 with ACL and MCL injuries, spending most of the year on injured reserve. He was not fully healthy in 2009, and by the time he was healthy, he was replaced by Justin Smiley. When Smiley was injured, Manuwai stepped in and was a big part of the reason the Jags running game showed up in earnest in the second half, averaging 166.78 YPG vs 127.71 YPG before Manuwai took over. Manuwai was a cap casualty in 2011, and I have not found any reason at this point as to why he did not sign on with another team.

To say that these two signings are "embarrassing" is grossly inaccurate. TD knew he was not going to resign Lofton and got a more than serviceable replacement. RG was one of our biggest weak spots last season, so TD brings in a guy that was the driving force behind a great Jacksonville running attack. I think you need to get a new definition of embarrassing.

It's not embarrassing, it's fucking embarrassing. To me there's a difference, the adjective adds a nice spice to the embarrassment that has been this offseason.

-I already admitted I was wrong about Tatupu's age. While irrelevant to his 1 year hiatus and half-lackluster potential that he brings to this team, I will apologize for that. Citing the past Pro Bowls for Tatupu's current productivity pretty much ends this argument.

-The first half of your post on Manuwai proves my point. He's in his 30's, has previous injuries, very inconsistent and lowly rated when he was on the field, and a cap casualty by the Jacksonville Jaguars of all people who have been known for terrible O-line play in the past. Citing MJD's numbers for one specific offensive lineman is unfair in my opinion. Sam Baker blocked for Turner when he ran for 1700 yards and 17 TD's, but I wouldn't use that as an argument for keeping his bum ass around. Manuwai may be a decent run blocker but is a bottom tier pass blocker. He won't start and in my opinion will be a camp body, nothing more nothing less.