Yesterdays Wall Street Journal had an article about Jon Gruden and the Raiders. (I don't know how to link the article - it's on page A12). In the article, they talk about Gruden's signing of Derrick Johnson (age 35), Jordy Nelson (33) and Frosty Rucker (35). All 3 of these guys do a lot of coaching and mentoring of the younger player at their positions which becomes more important given the CBA limitations on practices. They even say that coaches lament how little coaching they actually get to do (which in my mind may explain Erich Flowers). Also, it's not mentioned for everybody but it is mentioned that Nelson signed for a fraction of of what he was worth a year before.
The article speaks to Gruden's either has been left behind by the evolution of the game since he last coached in Tampa. Or, his fixation with old timers may demonstrate a keen understanding of the modern NFL.
Maybe Gettleman had this in mind when he signed Stewart. I'm not sure about the salary; with what Stewart has done in the 2 preseason games, he certainly doesn't look like a bargain but veteran players often treat the preseason games as getting ready for the season as opposed to what fans do. Maybe Stewart's primary job, besides being a goal line back, is to be a mentor to Barkley and Gallman and whatever rookie, if any, make the team.
This silly contract was DG saying thank you for that and you're one of my guys...
Gruden has always brought in older veterans to both the Raiders and Bucs. This worked well for him in the past but he has been out of the game for a while and it may no longer work in his favor. Only time will tell.
It's like you went out of your way to ignore the point that the OP was trying to make (whether or not you agree) - with the limitations on formal practice time in the current CBA, there's only so much that the RB coach can do with the players. The CBA does not preclude a veteran teammate from working out with younger players separate from actual team practices (as we saw with Solder working with Flowers after practices).
I'm not saying that's what DG expected/intended Stewart's role to be, but your post either flat out ignores the idea of the OP's article or you don't realize how restrictive the CBA is with regard to practice time.
Gettleman's number one job besides hiring a HC was to change the culture of this team. He knows Stewart and what type of person he is. We had a need at RB. It just made too much sense. I get why Gettleman made the move. It wasn't to mentor Barkley as we had no idea if we would get Barkley. Maybe it was to mentor a guy like Gallman but that is a stretch. He was simply brought in to he a great locker room presence while giving us depth at a much needee position.
I, like a lot of fans, disagreed with this because of the money involved but it is what it is. I disagree but I also understand why and it is hard to fault Gettleman for what he was able to accomplish in one offseason. Looking at individual transactions is not a good way to judge someone's job. You have to look at everything in its entirety to understand. Therefore, I don't fault Gettleman one bit.
It probably did ~factor~ into their thinking when they drafted him, but this notion that that was the reason is a BBI fabrication. This is not a case of the old man here to be another coach for the young guys and the prize draftee. He's been prominently featured in their offense from the start.
This is a simple answer but in actuality is not a well thought out answer.
While the Rb coach obviously is a coach and trains and run drills and schools the RB's, they are not ACTIVE players.
Jonathan Stewart has had more years with Mike Shula's run concepts than the RB coach. He understands the little details and the subtle nuances.
Those are the details that matter and can make the difference. There are things the other backs are going to get from a veteran player who knows the system.
Those players are going to ask certain questions of Stewart that a coach might not have the insight on because he isnt actually on the field playing..
Think about it.. dont you think that Odell Beckham might have more information about how a particular CB plays and what he is susceptible to than the DB coach?
You hear about players learning from players ALL time.. the small details.. the subtle nuances..
This is where veterans come in.. Its not all the ooaches.. they learn from one another as well.
In NO UNIVERSE would DG have signed JS to be a featured player. Zero chance.
Absolutely, because everything in life is completely binary.
I also don't sense Gallman or Barkley are bad actors and need any more adult supervision than the staff, or are bad situational football players and can't handle 3rd down or short yardage.
I feel Stewart is the 5th most valuable running back on the team and is the 17th highest paid running back in the NFL.
Literally one of the only smart posts I’ve read in this thread so far.
I feel Stewart is the 5th most valuable running back on the team and is the 17th highest paid running back in the NFL.
Well put. Even if you say he is the 3rd most valuable RB on the roster this makes no sense.
So how do you all reconcile this...
1) DG has zero sense of value of the RB market (unlikely)
or
2) DG was particularly generous in this former player signing
Quote:
Bringing in JS helps inject experience and a winning attitude to the O side of the ball. He’s been to a Super Bowl. On the field, it’s quite clear why he’s here and only fans worry about the cost of signing him, as if the Giants, if necessary, couldn’t find the money and creativity to sign whomever they might care to..
Literally one of the only smart posts I’ve read in this thread so far.
"super bowl experience" when we have a guy at QB who's actually won two as opposed to just appearing?
I really hope he proves us wrong, and I'd consider even a limited role he's effective in to be success (say short yardage or something), but regardless he going to be 'overpaid' this year. Just hope he doesn't cost us a talented younger back getting cut to keep him.
Quote:
In comment 14042831 Big Blue '56 said:
Quote:
Bringing in JS helps inject experience and a winning attitude to the O side of the ball. He’s been to a Super Bowl. On the field, it’s quite clear why he’s here and only fans worry about the cost of signing him, as if the Giants, if necessary, couldn’t find the money and creativity to sign whomever they might care to..
Literally one of the only smart posts I’ve read in this thread so far.
"super bowl experience" when we have a guy at QB who's actually won two as opposed to just appearing?
Eli is likely not the lockerroom presence type that changes or straightens out poor behavior of individuals on a team. Not a criticism just a educated guess...
Than how do you reconcile what happened? A bidding war for a 31 year old RB who has declined in production in every one of his last 4 years...seems odd.
The same point several of us have made. Something went down with that silly deal...
Yet he decides, in your view, to take the preseason in stride and not give an honest effort because he is a sure fire lock to make the team? What a great example to follow for our younger RBs and roster players...we need more of these guys.
My opinion of Jonathan Stewart is not based on the last two preseason games. It is based on his declining performance and age over the past several seasons.
The preseason has only solidified it...
Gruden has always brought in older veterans to both the Raiders and Bucs. This worked well for him in the past but he has been out of the game for a while and it may no longer work in his favor. Only time will tell.
At the time Stewart was signed, the Giants didn’t know who they would draft.
Besides, mentoring is overrated.
My issue was the $$$. I just think his role probably could have been filled for less, freeing up cash for a DB or WR.
and it's a good thread with a well thought out and communicated premise, some of the responses on here should embarrass people, but for some of the usual suspects it's par for the course.
Since the defense knows the only thing he might still be "serviceable at" is finding a 1-2 yard crease, they will bite, and Eli will have to take advantage.
What a weapon...
But let's see how it plays out this season before we totally judge Stewart
To think he was signed for that money as a "thank you" for his time in Carolina is just asinine. If you think NFL teams hand out huge paydays as a thank you for something archived with another team, I don't know what to say. The NFL is really not a charity.
I knew it was a bad signing the second it was announced. It doesn't take an expert GM to know that you just don't give a 31 year old over-the-hill RB $7M ($4M guaranteed).
This was the one move Gettleman made that I disagreed with and I think people are right to question it.
The only good thing is we can cut him at the end of this year and it's only $250k of dead cap. Still, risking any 2019 dead cap space on a fat, slow, old RB made no sense. It would be one thing if Stewart was still productive at age 30, but he wasn't. I still don't understand why we had to pay millions of dollars to bring his 680 yards (3.3 ypc) last year to our team. Just so he can tell Barkley to be patient in setting up blocks? I think Barkley already does pretty much everything better than Stewart ever did at any point in his career.
To think he was signed for that money as a "thank you" for his time in Carolina is just asinine. If you think NFL teams hand out huge paydays as a thank you for something archived with another team, I don't know what to say. The NFL is really not a charity.
Ok...play GM. What level of production would you expect of him for the kind of money he received?
Remember...you said it was a huge payday not relevant for past years or to be a mentor. So what production should we expect for those millions?