He made what he thought was the best choice for him and his family. Had he played he is a top 5 pick and the difference in contracts is substantial. Of course I wish him well and predict he is a pro bowler before it’s all said and done.
I said this in the J Phillips thread before the draft over and over but got bashed for it.
Phillips is a solid player and high character and high effort. That will keep him in the league a long time. On top of that he is an athletic freak.
You mean the Phins and 28 other teams? On draft day most on here wanted Phillips. Phillips has been injured and will be fine when healthy. We have 2 young DE that will dominate for the next decade. I just wish GR went to Baltimore instead of Buffalo.
My only comment on the topic prior to the draft is I thought GR could have come back and answered a ton of questions. I've gushed over him for years, but it's tough to spend a Top 10 pick on him when, because of his limited college film and how he produced on that college film, you're picking mostly on projection. But, like I've said in this and other threads, that arm length (he's got good feet, too) is just different and was going to make him a 1st rounder by some team that wanted to speculate.
I see what you're saying . Also , they're both freakish in different ways . Phillips put up testing numbers at the combine that were freakish and GR has that freakish wingspan etc . Had you been the Phins GM at the draft would Phillips have been your pick or was there someone else you wish they had taken ?
I told D$ my goal with the second 1st rounder would have been to trade back somewhere between 20-23 (in front of Pitt) and draft Najee Harris.
I definitely would have loved to give Tua a weapon like Najee Harris. Amazing athlete etc and we know how athletic he is but my goodness he catches like a young Keith Byars out of the backfield.
www.canesinsight.com
Bills have a really nice group of rookie pass rushers with Boogie Basham, AJ Epenesa and ofc GR. McDermott is going to love them. Big fan of him as a coachTo me, the three best pass rushers in the draft were Phillips, Rousseau and Joe Tryon from UW.
I’m no technique expert. Give me the long athletes who play hard and sack the QB.
SI article on opt-outs featuring Rousseau
I agree with you in principle, but Rousseau is a high-effort guy. He’s always worked hard and played hard on the football field. I genuinely believe he did this for his mother. Makes no sense at all and made no sense at the time. I have no idea what their thought process was, but it's...
I literally had arguments with guys like @Mackmiller974 and others that GR was the best DE in the draft. I got ridiculed over and over. I can't wait to bump that thread when he starts doing this in real games. Meanwhile my Dolphins have Phillips playing out of position. He's not a LB he's a DE and he looks awkward out there right now.
I'm calling Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Phillips is more talented Rousseau. Dolphins are trying to do to much, to soon with Phillips but they will figure out the right spot for him
