What is your impression of Jeff Ireland as a GM ?

Not only that but as I've already said remember how immediately after the Draft when Jeff Ireland was doing all his press conferences and answering questions as to why he waited until the 6th round to address a need as heavy as the one we have at wide receiver, he said that after the very top group of players went, his evaluation was that there was a "lull" (think that's his exact wording) to where it wouldn't be worth it to take a guy in the middle rounds. Hence he took Olivier Vernon and Michael Egnew in the 3rd round while other teams took Mohamed Sanu (4 TDs), T.Y. Hilton (860 yards, 7 TDs) and Chris Givens (700 yards, 3 TDs).

 

I don't see how it would be too bold to ask for a guy who was just taken in the 3rd round and hasn't played a down of real NFL football when he asked for and got a 2nd round pick. The argument being made here seems to be that Ireland was too bold -- so bold as to be asking for Hilton and a 2nd round pick.

 

He probably still is. Jimmy was excellent on defensive players though. It really just speaks IMO to the sorry state of the GM situation since Beathard left.

Glad you liked the post. I thought it was pretty funny myself. :P

 

IMO, Hilton straight up for Davis would have been more bold had it happened, than Davis for a 2 and conditional 6th.

 

I think that says a lot right there. How much would Hilton have helped this team this year? Granted you can chalk some of his success to having Luck throwing him the ball, but that kid has skills that anyone worth their salt should've seen IMHO. Particularly a GM for a team so thin at the WR position.

 

More bold in what sense? It definitely would have been more roundly criticized because it would have appeared to the fanbase that we traded Vontae for a 3rd instead of a 2nd (+). But it would have been much less bold in terms of what we'd have been asking of the Colts. Asking for a 2nd plus Hilton is definitely a higher demand than just Hilton.

 

I think I agree with you.

Asking for a king's ransom for a player isn't "bold". Anyone can do that. Join any beginner's fantasy football league and you'll find that either trades happen all willy nilly because nobody gives a ****, or almost no trades occur whatsoever because everyone does give a **** and so they're constantly asking for too much for their players. To me it belies a lack of confidence in your evaluation. Everyone's looking for that extra padding in case they're wrong and so trades don't really get done.

Bold is often regarded as stupid until it's proven genius. You're right that Ireland would've been criticized heavily for ditching Vontae for a guy taken in the 3rd round this year. It would've come off looking like Ireland got caught with his pants down at the WR position and he had to scramble to make himself whole at the position. It would've looked like the Marty Booker trade, essentially. But might makes right and if he'd done that and Hilton had the year in Miami he did in Indy then the pendulum goes full reverse and everyone would be singing his praises. That's what I take it you meant by bold.

 

Risky on the surface at the time it happened. Like I before, that is JMO.

 

That is exactly what I meant.

 

Had Ireland traded Vontae straight up for Vontae and Hilton had the year in Miami that he had in Indy (doubtful), the narrative would more likely have been that Ireland got snookered on the trade, was too much of a ***** to ask for more, did it to cover up his own negligence in not taking Hilton in the draft, and then got lucky that Hilton had such a good year. Most people around here would not be singing his praises for it. Whether it would have been better to get Hilton than the 2nd remains to be seen. It depends on what the Dolphins get with that 2nd.

Asking for more in negotiations doesn't bely a lack of confidence in one's evaluation. It just means you like getting more than getting less and you tried to do that. You should try to get as much as you can.

 

[video=youtube;JJl80_DEWI0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJl80_DEWI0&NR=1&feature=fvwp[/video]

 

I voted neutral. I think he had a pretty good draft last year outside of Egnew. The 2011 draft was lukewarm. Pouncey is a stud but I'm not sold on Thomas as a starting caliber NFL RB. It still pains me that we traded down to take Odrick when we could have had Jason Pierre Paul in 2010. Misi a solid starter but not an impact player. His best draft pick that year was Jones in the 6th.