Rob Gronkowski: Already Hall of Fame Worthy?

We are currently trapped in the deadest part of the NFL offseason. Practically every bit of free agency is wrapped up, trade season is done (for now), and training camps don’t convene for another few weeks. Outside of the occasional update on rehabbing stars, the NFL is devoid of real news at the moment. Really, it’s an absolutely awful time of the year if you don’t care for baseball.

As a result of this boredom-inducing doldrum of a July, I found myself listening to ESPN’s Fantasy Focus Football podcast today, despite the fact that there’s really nothing to discuss on the topic. I mean, even fantasy draft season won’t start until the end of the month. Nevertheless, as I was tuning in and out of the football ramblings, I caught a statement that truly piqued my interest.

While discussing the disparity between the number one fantasy tight end and the rest of the field, the podcast’s host offhandedly commented on the top tight end’s career by posing a question: “Is Rob Gronkowski already a Hall of Fame tight end?”

It’s an interesting notion (as far as offseason football discussion is concerned) and I couldn’t help but dig into this proposal. If Gronk never played another snap of professional football, would he actually be worthy of enshrinement in Canton alongside the all-time elite at the position?

Now, he’s just 27. This hypothetical scenario is ridiculous unless you’re a perpetual pessimist willing to bet on the non-zero chance that Gronk suffers a career-ending injury. There’s roughly a 99% chance Gronk continues to play at a high level for at least another season or two. All of this taken into account, if you want to stop reading now, I’d understand. But if you’re as bored as I am, please take a moment to ponder this unimportant notion, with my thoughts peppered in to help you develop a more informed opinion.

First, we need to establish the elite class to which we are trying to ascribe Mr. Gronkowski. Currently, only eight tight ends are permanently enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Mike Ditka, John Mackey, Jackie Smith, Kellen Winslow, Ozzie Newsome, Dave Casper, Charlie Sanders, and Shannon Sharpe. I’m sure there’s casual fans out there that wouldn’t recognize a couple of those names. Regardless, it’s an exclusive club Gronk’s trying to join.

Amongst the eight current HOF tight ends, there are a combined 43 Pro Bowl appearances and 7 Super Bowl rings. All, save Ozzie Newsome, have graced a Pro Bowl roster at least five times in their careers. Rob Gronkowski already has four appearances to his name. Half of all Hall of Fame tight ends have a Super Bowl ring on their resume. The Gronk already has one ring on his massive finger (and an amusing ESPN commercial as proof). In summation, Gronk clearly has the personal accolades and team accomplishments to measure up with the immortalized elite at his position.

But awards are not the only requirement for enshrinement in Canton. To be a Hall of Famer, one also must boast the career statistics befitting of an all-time great. So let’s see how the NFL’s resident partier stacks up on the stat sheet.

He’s probably got the most kittens, FWIW

First, let’s look at the statistic that best encapsulates the greatness of Gronk: touchdowns (all statistics provided by pro-football-reference.com). Gronkowski has found his way into the end-zone 66 times in his regular season career, with another 9 TDs in his 10 postseason games.

You know how many Hall of Fame tight ends can match those totals? None.

Shannon Sharpe leads all current Hall of Fame tight ends in the category with 62 regular season TDs. It’s not crazy to say that Gronkowski is the premier end-zone threat in the history of the sport. That’s how prolific Gronk is at finding pay dirt.

Scoring is essential to winning football games (unsurprisingly, Gronkowski’s Patriots have won quite a few games in his career), but there are several other important statistics used to evaluate pass catchers.

See! Not a touchdown, but probably his most impressive career catch

For instance, receiving yards are important when evaluating the wholistic value of a position player. Comparing Gronkowski’s 5555 career receiving yards to the Hall of Fame elite helps paint a more complete picture of how Gronk measures up. In this case, Gronkowski only outpaces John Mackey, Dave Casper, and Charlie Sanders in career receiving yards. However, Gronk’s yards per reception outpaces six of the eight HOF tight ends, including the Hall’s current tight end receiving king, Mr. Sharpe. While his career yardage arguably doesn’t equate to Hall of Fame worthiness, the underlying numbers hint that in perhaps as few as two more seasons, Gronk should likely surpass every Hall of Famer, save Sharpe, in career yardage.

Another interesting receiving statistic regarding Gronk: remove Sharpe from the equation, and the young tight end has at least 300 more career playoff yards than every Hall of Famer at the position. I know, opportunity, quarterback differentials, etc., but that’s still one remarkably impressive comparison.

Combine the career receiving stats with his bare-minimum average blocking skills, and Gronkowski already seems like a shoe-in for Hall of Fame induction, with much of his career still to come.

He’s also the premier source for crazy photographs amongst NFL players

But let’s not discount the knowledge that Gronkowski is currently playing in a much more pass-happy league than his HOF peers, meaning that his statistics may be inflated as a result of increased freedom in the receiving game. How can we quantify this disparity accurately?

Well, we should look no further than two no-doubt future Hall of Famers that have spent the majority of their careers with the same rules in place which Gronk has been bestowed: Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates.

Many players have dunked on the goalposts, but none have done it like Tony G.

A 12x Pro Bowler and, in my mind, the greatest tight end in NFL history, Tony Gonzalez has nearly 3x as many career receiving yards as Gronkowski and also has 45 more touchdowns than the young challenger to his throne. After 17 terrific seasons spread across Kansas City and Atlanta, Tony Gonzalez is the standard for immortality that all future tight ends must be measured against. This comparison was meant to humble young, jubilant Gronkowski, but it’s really unfair to this point.

Instead, take a look at the career of Antonio Gates. Heading into the 2016 season, Gates has eight Pro Bowl appearances to his name, with 10644 receiving yards and 104 touchdowns to boot. However, across nine postseason starts, Gates has found the end zone just once.

As a regular season performer, Gates is well-above Gronkowski, as matters currently stand. However, Gronkowski has a significant advantage when comparing postseason resumes, and one’s accomplishments in the playoffs often hold significant weight when evaluating Hall of Fame candidacies. While Gates would still clearly be selected for enshrinement over his young counterpart, the rift separating the two is not as wide as many may think and should shrink significantly over the course of the 2016 season.

Gates should do this more often in 2016, IMO

All told, it’s tough to make a judgement for Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame candidacy as things currently stand. Would you consider Heath Miller a HOF-worthy tight end? All variables considered, Miller is probably owner of the most comparable career to current day Gronkowski. In all likelihood, Heath Miller won’t be deemed worthy of a spot in Canton. By extension, I suppose that would mean Gronkowski, as of yet, is still shy of the Hall of Fame.

Again, Rob Gronkowski is just 27 and already compares favorably to a number of Hall of Fame tight ends. To say that he wouldn’t deserve enshrinement in Canton this very second is absurd and not an absolute certainty. Plus, he’s got years to add to his already outstanding resume.

The very idea that Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame candidacy is actually debatable at this stage of his career is the most stunning indicator of his generational talent. The Gronk is incredible and we should all feel fortunate to watch (hopefully) many more seasons of one of the NFL’s premier athletes of all time.

Keep deflating them footballs, Gronk!

“We now return you to your regularly scheduled NFL withdrawal.”

An Exercise in Futility: Picking Cleveland’s Replacement for the “Saddest Sports City” Title

LeBron James just cemented himself as one of the premier basketball talents in the history of the game. He should have been already, but the last three games of the 2016 Finals are definitive proof that no player has ever mixed athleticism, basketball IQ, and a variety of skills in the same way that LeBron has. Even if his team accomplishments haven’t yet garnered comparison to Michael Jordan (which shouldn’t matter, but so it goes), the King is clearly on par with Bird and Magic at this point in his career. He’s also probably got another five to ten years in the league to surpass them. Watching LeBron is incredible.

More importantly, LeBron James and the Cavaliers just delivered the city of Cleveland, Ohio its first professional sports championship since the 1964 Browns won the NFL Championship (note: the Super Bowl didn’t come around until 1966). The Cavaliers snapped a 52-year title drought in Northern Ohio, officially relieving the malaise that has plagued Cleveland sports.

With the championship drought in Cleveland at an end, a new city must now assume the responsibility that comes with bearing the major professional sports title drought. Bags on heads, constant bemoaning of front offices, expecting every new addition to be a bust, we’re talking about the whole nine yards here. Cleveland set the bar pretty high when it comes to wallowing in futility.

However, an obvious city doesn’t truly come to mind. Milwaukee is currently owners of the longest drought, but the majority of the city is dominated by Green Bay Packers fans, thus alleviating the pain of watching the Brewers and Bucks. There’s certainly a case to be made for Charlotte, but the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006 and bear close enough proximity to the city to disqualify their contention. Despite being owners of three helpless professional sports teams and the most dissatisfied fanbase in North America, Philadelphia can still hang it’s hat on the 2008 Phillies World Series.

While finding a city to assume Cleveland’s mantle as “saddest sports city” is difficult, there are a select few that make compelling cases.

Nothing quite screams dissatisfaction in your team like a good ole bag on the head

First, let’s start in Canada, where Toronto is currently suffering at the hands of a major sports league title drought that stretches all the way back to 1993. The Raptors get somewhat of a pass; they’ve only been in existence since 1995, after all. Sure, they’ve been mostly listless in their existence, but 21 years isn’t an excruciatingly long wait for a team’s first NBA championship. The Blue Jays, despite being the last franchise to win a professional title in the city, have been hopeless for most of their 23-year drought, with last year’s playoff appearance representing the first since the ’93 World Series. Most importantly, in a hockey-dominated city, Toronto fans have had to go without so much as a Stanley Cup appearance in 48 years. The Maple Leafs, alongside the St. Louis Blues, are currently owners of the longest Stanley Cup drought of any NHL team and just started another rebuild. Toronto fans have every right to be anxious for their next professional championship.

Yet, Toronto does not have what it takes to assume Cleveland’s old mantle. Houston and Atlanta both pose compelling arguments, with neither city celebrating a professional sports title since 1995. While a shorter drought than Toronto, they have both dealt with closer brushes to success than their northern counterpart.

Houston has marched out a mostly competitive Rockets team since their last championship, while Atlanta has watched the Braves flirt with periodic playoff appearances in recent years. Still, both cities are home to a few incredibly long droughts. The Atlanta Hawks haven’t won a NBA championship since moving to the city in 1968, while the Falcons likewise haven’t won a Super Bowl in their existence, stretching back to 1966. Meanwhile, the Houston Astros currently sit just behind the Indians and Cubs for the third longest World Series drought in major league baseball, having failed to win it all for the entirety of their 54-year existence. Houston and Atlanta both have compelling cases for assuming the title of the “most troubled professional sports city in North America.”

However, both cities don’t hold a candle to San Diego when it comes to current droughts. San Diego may technically only have two major professional sports teams (and the Chargers may be on their way out), but for these purposes I’m going to count the Los Angeles Clippers towards San Diego as well, because I’m sure there are many older Clippers fans still hanging tight in San Diego after the 1984 move. Either way, the city has been without a professional sports title since 1963, when the Chargers won the NFL Championship. The Padres have existed since 1969 without a World Series to their name. And the Clippers moved to San Diego in 1978 and since then have been without a title, adding to the pain of San Diego-ites(?).

If the public is ready to apply the Cleveland’s curse to San Diego, that’s perfectly acceptable. I’d like to make the case for two other cities, though.

Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis/St. Paul are two of just thirteen North American cities that play host to a team for all four major professional sports leagues on the continent. Of those thirteen cities, the Twin Cities and the U.S. Capital are tied for the longest drought without a title from any of their four respective franchises. 1991 was the last time either city celebrated a professional championship, when the Redskins won the Super Bowl and the Twins triumphed in the World Series.

To be fair, both cities are relatively new hosts to one of the professional sports leagues. The Nationals have only existed in Washington since 2005, while the Wild came into the NHL in 2001. Neither of those droughts are particularly painful. It’s the other three teams that are the source of ire for Washington and Minnesota sports fans.

Let’s break down Minnesota first. Sports in the Twin Cities have been extremely lackluster. The Minnesota Timberwolves, an NBA expansion team in 1989, have advanced to the Conference Finals just once and have never made an appearance in the NBA Finals. In that time, they’ve witnessed their two biggest stars, Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love, both be traded away to win championships with other organizations. Despite an eight year playoff run behind Garnett, the Timberwolves have spent the other 20 years of their existence in a perpetual rebuild. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins currently offer the promise of better days in Minnesota, but T-Wolves fans have already played witness to incredible talents failing to win before and probably shouldn’t get overly anxious, despite their talented core.

Timberwolves fans will have a hard time forgetting this mistake

Beyond the Timberwolves, Minneapolis and St. Paul have long supported the Twins, proprietors of the last title parade in Minnesota. Since relocating to the Land of Lakes in 1961, the Twins have won two World Series titles for the state of Minnesota. Sadly, since their last World Series, the Twins have made the playoffs just six times, with their last appearance occurring in 2010. While flirting with relevancy, the Twins have struggled to find a franchise cornerstone over much of the last 20+ years and have spent much of the 21st century wondering what might have been if management had kept David Ortiz.

Lastly, the Minnesota Vikings are yet another football franchise that hasn’t won in the Super Bowl era. However, in that time the Vikings have made 28 playoff appearances and played in four different Super Bowls. They’re simply a team that hasn’t been able to take the next step in the postseason, despite a variety of stars gracing the team, including Adrian Peterson and a retired Brett Favre. By all accounts, Minnesota sports have been rather listless for the better part of two and a half decades, while rarely carrying teams that even mustered legitimate title hope.

Minnesota fans probably won’t forget their latest playoff meltdown very soon

And yet, by the narrowest of margins, Washington, D.C. takes Cleveland’s mantle for the saddest sports city in North America. Sure, D.C. United has dominated the MLS in recent years, but soccer is still not considered a major North American sport in the eyes of the vast majority (though United actually drew slightly better crowds than the Wizards over the last year). Even with the recent rise of the MLS, the major four sports leagues still dominate bar conversations. And in these major sports, it’s been awhile since a Washington team has given our Congressmen reason to celebrate.

To start, the Washington Capitals, since their founding in 1974, have appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals once, while making the playoffs sporadically. Even in recent years, fronted by the premier goal scorer of the 21st century, the Caps have struggled in the postseason, including a letdown this year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the second time in franchise history. Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals figure to be in the thick of the Stanley Cup chase again next year, but until they actually make a postseason run, Washington fans will be stuck waiting for their first hockey championship.

“I feel the pain of everything, then I feel nothing…”

The second longest championship drought in Washington, stretching back to 1978, belongs to the Washington Bullets/Wizards. Since the days of Wes Unseld, the Wizards have been a mighty random mess. Throughout the eighties they were unable to field consistent teams and never challenged the Celtics and Lakers for NBA supremacy. After shipping out Moses Malone and rebuilding, the Wizards struggled to find a new franchise cornerstone throughout the ’90s and consistently missed the playoffs for the better part of a decade (through that Chris Webber run was alright). Through Michael Jordan’s post-retirement victory lap, Gilbert Arenas’s rise and, um, decline, to a new era with John Wall at the helm, the Wizards have consistently flirted with mediocrity and seem ill-equipped at present to change the status quo in the short-term.

The coup de gras in Washington, however, is their football team. Winning three Super Bowls in franchise history, the last coming 25 years ago, the Washington football team has been mired in the cellar of the NFC for most of the 21st century. Making the playoffs just six times in the last 25 years, while winning the NFC East three times and dealing with constant controversy, Washington has been on par with their division rivals, the Eagles, in terms of futility. Washington football, over their entire history, has actually been one of the more storied franchises in the NFL, but they have struggled recently and do not seem poised to alleviate the title drought in D.C.

It’s almost like Dan Synder’s team has been cursed…

In actuality, no city is currently suffering in their professional sports aspirations the way Cleveland had before last night. However, as we’re a narrative driven culture that thrives on classifying others, Washington, D.C. seems like a logical heir to the title of “Saddest Sports City.” Nevertheless, the Capitals are still dangerous, the Nationals could very well win a World Series this year, and the Wizards might have a chance to bring Kevin Durant back to his hometown (not saying it’s a good chance, though). The Washington football team is also coming off a playoff berth and Kirk Cousins put it best with his immortal quote:

Championships will come Washington sports fans. You need only have patience and faith.

Get Hype, Philly! The Future Looks Phantastic!

Here’s a serious question: Does the city of Philadelphia get to celebrate a professional sports championship within the next decade?

It’s been nearly eight years since Philadelphia last celebrated a championship for any of their teams. Eight years since Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Chase Utley led the Phillies to a title. In that time, Rollins has been forced to take a minor league contract before even making the White Sox, Utley has become the most hated baseball player in New York (not that they ever really liked him there), and Ryan Howard is a player that Phillies fans don’t even want on the team anymore. It’s been a remarkably swift fall from grace.

Still, eight years isn’t a huge World Series drought by any stretch of the imagination. 1983 was the last time the 76ers won the NBA Finals. You have to go all the way back to 1975 to find the last time the Flyers hoisted the Cup. And the Eagles are still without a championship in the Super Bowl era. By and large, it sucks to be a Philadelphia sports fan.

Accurate representation of Philly fans before Eagles games

But fear not, for optimism should be abound in the City of Brotherly Love!

The 76ers and Phillies both have the number one overall pick in their respective drafts. The Eagles have already drafted with the second pick in the NFL draft. Busts happen, but given three shots at premier talent, Philadelphia is bound to stumble across a star in the 2016 rookie class.

With seemingly better days ahead, let’s breakdown where each Philadelphia team is headed.

The Eagles

Carson Wentz! Carson Wentz!

Ok, so the North Dakota State prospect is still a relative unknown. But if Wentz isn’t ready to take the reigns in his first season the Eagles can just turn to Sam Bradf… Oh. Yeah, Wentz better be ready this year.

In recent history, it would be fair to say the Eagles have been the most successful franchise in Philadelphia. That says more about how low the bar for success is in Philadelphia, sadly. But the Eagles still have talent on their team. Malcolm Jenkins and Fletcher Cox are solid building blocks on defense. Jordan Matthews is a really good receiver and the Eagles offensive line, with Lane Johnson and Jason Peters, is still one of the best in the NFL. The Eagles could easily be a playoff team in 2016. On paper, Philadelphia matches up favorably with the rest of the cluttered NFC East, even if Carson Wentz isn’t ready to start at the NFL level.

Jordan Matthews should do this all the time, IMO

Football is a really volatile sport. Unless you have a truly generational star à la Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, it’s hard to stay competitive consistently in the NFL. As a result, predicting Super Bowl outcomes often hinges on the teams that have a clear Top 10-15 overall player somewhere on their roster. Von Miller in ’15. Brady in ’14. Kam Chancellor in ’13. Joe Flacco in ’12 (wait, he’s not even elite…). Having a great player makes winning big games so much easier.

If Carson Wentz is the next Andrew Luck, the Eagles are absolutely in a position to be a Super Bowl contender at some point in the next ten years. But that’s a big “if.”

The Flyers

If the Eagles have experienced the most success in recent years, the Flyers aren’t far behind. The Flyers actually made the playoffs this year, after all. I only give the edge to the Eagles because eight teams make the Stanley Cup playoffs, while just six get to play past Week 17 in the NFL. Regardless, both have been competent professional teams, even if the Philadelphia faithful would tell you differently.

The Flyers future is perhaps the most certain of the major sports teams in Philadelphia. The Flyers already have legitimate star players. Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, and Jakub Voracek are in their primes. The blue line is on the young side and could potentially turn into one of the better in the league soon. If Shayne “Ghost” Gostisbehere can improve upon his outstanding rookie season, the Flyers have a scary-good difference maker in the back end. A talented minors system, especially in net and with defensemen, could help shore up the inconsistent defense in the near future.

Flyers fans are gonna love this “Ghost” guy for a LONG TIME

The key to contention in Philly will ultimately, however, come down to how their franchise player performs. Claude Giroux is 28 years old and entering his 9th NHL season. He’s been “the guy” in Philadelphia since 2010. And yet, the overall production has slipped over the last two seasons. He’s still been extremely productive, but he’s not been the more-than-a-point-per-game player recently. He’s still in his prime, so a bounceback is still very possible. But a repeat of his performance in the 2012 playoffs will be necessary to make a Stanley Cup run with his improving supporting cast. He registered just 1 point against the Capitals this year. That’s just not going to cut it from your captain.

In reality, the Philadelphia Flyers are sitting in that “one-guy-away” purgatory. There’s always free agency, and maybe the Flyers can stumble across another terrific forward with a middling draft pick, but until they can find one more dangerous scoring option, they’ll struggle maintaining consistency. The window is open right now and the Flyers need to make that go-for-broke move soon.

 

After all, they’re a historic franchise mired in a 41-year Stanley Cup drought. And that window might close quicker than they expect.

 The 76ers

*fire emoji*

Ben Simmons. Nerlens Noel. Jahlil Okafor. Joel Embiid. Dario Saric.

If that’s the 76ers reality after the draft, fans have a right to be excited. Sure, it’s nothing but five big men. Also, only two of them have actually played in an NBA game. But the potential in that frontcourt is astounding.

Ben Simmons is 6’10” and looks like a point guard. The potential is real.

More importantly, the Sixers can trade their young guys for other budding stars. A swap of Jahlil Okafor for Marcus Smart still seems like a logical move for both teams involved. Or maybe the Sixers keep Okafor and trade Noel to a fellow high lottery team like the Nuggets in an effort to draft a guard like Buddy Hield or Jaylen Brown.

Another option: the Sixers pass on Simmons and draft Brandon Ingram instead. Suddenly, you’ve got a long wing scorer with potential to pair with a budding front court.

I don’t know who Joel Embiid is anymore. The All-NBA talent could still be there, but at this point you can’t assume Embiid is anything more than a second coming of Greg Oden. But maybe he’s finally healthy in 2016 and inserts himself into the Anthony Davis/Karl-Anthony Towns conversation. I don’t think, even healthy, that Embiid has that level of talent, but it’s been so long since I’ve watched him compete in live action that I can’t rule it out.

I don’t know if Joel can dominate in the paint, but he’s definitely got the moves

Sam Hinkie will not be forgotten, and the fruits of #TheProcess seem to be nearly ripe. Now that Sixers ownership seems to be intent on rapid improvement, the stockpiling not only of assets, but of cap space could quickly become an important part of thrusting this team into contention. The Sixers can afford to throw the max at restricted free agents like Bradley Beal, Harrison Barnes, and Jordan Clarkson this offseason in an attempt to pry away an intriguing young wing or two.

Whatever the new timeline is in Philly, the 76ers are in a great position to succeed in the very near future. With teams like Miami, Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago and even Cleveland to an extent built around volatile cores and veterans nearing the theoretical end of their primes, the Sixers could quickly transform into legitimate contenders.

The Phillies

At 26-24, the Phillies have already exceeded my wildest expectations this year. If you told me that Philadelphia would be above .500 on Memorial Day, I would’ve assumed Ryan Howard somehow found the Fountain of Youth. Instead, he’s hitting .154 and legitimately looks finished as a Major League Baseball player.

Yet, the Phillies are winning and it’s absolutely a result of a well-executed rebuild. And a lot of luck.

Aaron Nola is not a mirage. He really is a future ace. Vince Velasquez, once he loses the innings limit, is a true 200 strikeout threat in the very near future. Even Jerad Eickhoff is a legitimate MLB starter, though he’s more of a number four guy in a good rotation.

Yeah, this Nola kid is pretty alright

Now on offense, the Phillies have some work to do. Here’s some of their overall team rankings this year:

Batting Average – 11th in the National League, 24th Overall

Home Runs – 14th in the National League, 29th Overall

Runs Batted In – 15th in the National League, 30th Overall

Runs Scored – 14th in the National League, 29th Overall

OBP – 13th in the National League, 28th Overall

OPS – 13th in the National League, 28th Overall

I could go on, but I’m pretty sure I’ve made my point vividly clear. The Phillies are in desperate need of offensive upgrades at almost every position.

Tyler Goeddel, David Lough, and Peter Bourjos should not be seeing regular at-bats on a major league team. Freddy Galvis and Cesar Hernandez are replacement-level middle infielders, at best. If you’re relying on one of them regularly, it’s barely acceptable, but both is borderline torture for Phillies fans. We already know that Ryan Howard shouldn’t even be a platoon bat at first base anymore. And Carlos Ruiz should give full time catching duties to Cameron Rupp, because at a point, being a cagey veteran doesn’t make up for being a mess at the plate.

The Phillies offense isn’t without encouraging signs of turnaround. Maikel Franco has potential to be a very good corner infielder. Rule 5 pick Odubel Herrera has improved his plate discipline to the point where I hate watching his at-bats. It’s one thing to have a long routine when you’re swinging at everything, but when you’re seeing a ridiculously high amount of pitches per plate appearance, the at-bat can seem to just drag on.

J.P. Crawford should take over shortstop at some point this season, and I doubt outfielder Nick Williams will be far behind. Jorge Alfaro should even be the Phillies everyday catcher at some point in the next two years, assuming he shows improvement behind the plate.

The Phillies won’t be relying on the minor leagues when they want to improve their offense, however. With the Mets built around a core of aging veterans and the Nationals facing Bryce Harper’s 2018 free agency, the NL East could easily open up to the Phillies in the next two years. As soon as the Phillies feel their young core is developed, I expect huge investments in established major league hitters. The Phillies have money to spend.

Go ahead and make it rain, Phillies, because the near-future looks increasingly bright.

Phillies GM Matt Klentak’s pitch to free agents in 2017

On the whole, Philadelphia sports appears to be at a turning point. On one hand, the Eagles and Flyers seem like prime candidates to either tear things down and invest in a younger core or spend recklessly to pursue immediate improvements. On the other hand, long rebuilds for the 76ers and Phillies seem to be approaching their end. With savvy maneuvering, it seems apparent that Philadelphia fans might be celebrating the ultimate goal within the next decade. If I were a gambler, I’d put money on a Phillies World Series appearance in the next seven years. I might even invest a few bucks in a Sixers title within six years if Vegas deems that a near impossibility. I’m all-in on Philadelphia’s sports future.

Then again, I should probably try to avoid getting hopes up in Philly. After all, I’d hate to contribute to more disappointment.

On second thought, just wallow in the ‘Nova national title and stay pessimistic towards the Sixers and Eagles. Go with what you know.

 

 

Foster-ed: Arian Foster Has Been Disrespected in Free Agency

Almost 30 years old. 68 career touchdowns in 76 games. 8,740 total career yards. Four time Pro Bowler and 1 time First Team All-Pro.

Yes, he only played in 4 games last season and hasn’t played a full 16 since 2012. But it still should not be this damn hard to find work for Arian Foster. It’s Memorial Day weekend and no team has been willing to gamble on the star running back.

The injuries are concerning. I get that. A torn Achilles ended his 2015 and at 29, who knows if his body can come back from another major injury. Throw in the fact that running backs typically don’t last very long once they turn 30 (which Foster will in August) and I get why a guy in his situation would still be looking for work as teams start OTAs. But hasn’t Arian Foster earned more than this?

Arian Foster since being released in March

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear. Arian Foster is not going to save anyone’s season. He’s not going to rush for 1000 yards on 25 attempts per game. He’s nothing more than a complementary piece in an NFL backfield. And if Foster starts the 2016 season healthy, history favors the opinion that he won’t be come January.

Regardless, someone should take a gamble on Foster still having a couple big games left in the tank.

Running back is perhaps the most replaceable position in football. Last year, Seattle just kept finding random backfield talent when Marshawn Lynch went down. Hell, Thomas Rawls was an absolute stud for a stretch last season. I understand the argument against signing Foster. Why sign an aging injury risk when you can invest in 22 year olds with unknown potential?

Better question:

The practice squad exists almost precisely for this situation. In an age where it’s routine for teams to carry at least three running backs on the active roster, practice squad running backs are the equivalent of that cup of Ramen noodles you have buried in your cupboard. You’re going to leave it there every time you can find something more appetizing, but microwaved noodles will stave off starvation in a pinch.

Why did I pick that particular illustration? Weird. Well, let’s roll with it.

If you’re an NFL team, you’re looking at that undrafted, fifth year senior running back out of UC – Santa Cruz as a cup of noodles. There’s a reason you didn’t have him on your list before you went to the supermarket (AKA: the NFL draft). Still, when you saw him on sale for 10 cents, he found his way into your cart. Now, when you get home and you’re planning your meals for the rest of the week, you don’t give a second thought to that cup of Ramen you bought. But if something spoils and you’re desperate for something to eat, you’ve got Ramen in the pantry.

The practice squad is the NFL equivalent of the pantry. You’re going to eat the food in the refrigerator first, but if that looks a little empty, you can always check the pantry for a snack.

I know it’s what you’re thinking. Just hang with me.

So what’s Arian Foster in this food related comparison. Well, I’d like to believe he’s better than Ramen noodles. Is he the steak cutlet that is Adrian Peterson? No. Is he the package of Ballpark Franks that is Chris Johnson? Probably not. What about the package of pickle loaf that is Rashad Jennings? Maybe, but we can do better. Arian Foster is that leftover slice of mom’s meatloaf that’s been buried in the back of the fridge for almost a week. You know at one point it was so incredibly good that, even though it’s best days are long behind it, you might as well warm it up and take a chance. Sure, it might make you sick. But it could still be 75% as good as it once was. And that’s still a pretty tasty meal.

Maybe continue this article over some Ramen?

(Clearly, I shouldn’t write when I’m hungry)

You know what Arian Foster once was and you know that he’s not the same player now. No team should feel confident if Foster is their starting running back in Week One. But there are still at least a dozen teams that should make room for a boom-or-bust gamble.

The Miami Dolphins are turning over their backfield to Jay Ajayi after finally parting with Lamar Miller. They have an unproven starter and questionable depth. Would Arian Foster really be a worse backup option than Isaiah Pead?

The Patriots have Steven Jackson on their roster. You can’t convince me that S-Jax should be potentially getting snaps for a Super Bowl contender while Arian Foster remains unsigned.

Foster could be the starter in Cleveland when he’s healthy. He’d probably just retire before he played for the Browns, but that’s a situation where he’s still an immediate upgrade.

The Ravens took a flier on Trent Richardson this offseason. Seriously.

Philadelphia, Washington, Detroit, Chicago, and even Carolina could all find a considerable role for someone with the potential that Foster brings.

Can he still do this? I’d want to find out if I were a GM.

Arian Foster may be done in the NFL. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if the Achilles tear is the final blow to a career that had incredible highlights. But the Chiefs are holding out hope that Jamaal Charles can contribute (maybe even be the workhorse again) after a second ACL repair. Foster and Charles are both incredible talents, even as they barrel towards 30. One is still on his longtime team, while the other is rehabbing in the hope that a running back-needy team comes calling.

I’m not saying the Texans gave up on their longtime star too soon. As soon as the framework for the Lamar Miller deal came together, it was clear Arian Foster wouldn’t have a role in Houston. I can’t blame the Texans for moving on; if they want to contend in 2016, Miller is an obvious upgrade on Foster. Still, the fact that Foster wasn’t immediately contacted by other teams and made a priority just seems wrong.

Foster says it will be at least another month until he feels that he is completely over the injury. I’m sure teams will come calling the minute Arian gives the public thumbs up (Miami has already shown some interest). The problem is, teams should have called a long time ago. Throw him a contract that isn’t befitting of an average backup. Arian Foster has more than earned it.

Arian Foster may not have faith in God, but NFL front offices should have a little more faith in Arian Foster.