QUOTE>>>>As to Mac being "horrible" as a talent evaluator, I would disagree with that on at least 2 counts.
#1 - While I would suppose Mac certainly had a significant input on draft selections, he didn't make those decisions in a complete vacuum. I believe Stone was drafted before Graves "got promoted", but to simply diss Mac as the sole "horrible" draft picker, I think is an overly exaggerated simplification,.
#2- I simply don't agree on how "horrible" some of the picks under Mac's regime were. Personally I don't think Mac was as bad an evaluator as you claim. No one ever proves to be a 100% genius in drafting. "mispicks" are common to everyone.
Here's the Card's draft picks during Mac's tenure:
2001:
1 (2) - Leonard Davis
DRAFTED AS A T CAN'T PLAY T.
NOT EVEN A PROBOWL G.
2 (34) - Kyle Vanden Bosch
HORRIBLE.
2 (54) - Michael Stone
HORRIBLE.
3 (64) - Adrian Wilson
DECENT PICK. HOW DECENT?
4 (123) - Bill Grammatica
DON'T DRAFT A K. DUMB.
5 (133) - Marcus Bell
6 (166) - Mario Fatafehi
7 (202) - Reynaldo Hill
7 (246-Mr irrelevant)- Tevita Ofahengaue
NOTHING SPECIAL. SOME PEOPLE LIKE BELL. HILL WAS A GOOD PICK AT 7.
This was a "horrible" draft???
YES.
2002:
1 (12) - Wendall Bryant
HAS NOT PRODUCED A LICK.
2 (49) - Levar Fisher
DECENT PICK IF HE CAN START.
IF NOT BAD PICK.
3 (81) - Josh McCown
GOOD PICK AT THAT POINT.
3 (98) - Dennis Johnson
HAS NOT PRODUCED A LICK.
4 (113) - Nate Dwyer
5 (149) - Jason McAddley
6 (185) - Josh Scobey
7 (223) - Mike Banks
NOTHING SPECIAL.
This, too, was "horrible"???
YES
2003:
1 (17) - Bryant Johnson
1 (18) - Calvin Pace
HORRIBLE. Especially giving up Suggs Gross Lefwich.
2 (54) - Anquan Boldin
GREAT ASTUTE MOVE.
3-(70) - Gerald Hayes
DECENT PICK.
5 (141) - Kenny King
6 (177) - Reggie Wells
6 (210) - Tony Gilbert
NOTHING SPECIAL.
Again...this is "horrible"???
YES.
This is hardly stellar drafting. If he had had great drafts the last 3 years the team would not be the worst team in the NFL. Lack of solid starters throughout.
3 years. I'm not sure about Tony Gilbert, but he may be the only one not still in the NFL (plus Mr. Irrelevant, but I don't consider that particular choice a "bad" one)
If anything these look like 3 fairly decent drafts to me. If you're going to hammer Mac, then I think you could make a case for how some of the talent didn't get developed under his tutelege like it should have, but to say he was simply "horrible" is barking up the wrong tree, and maybe even in the wrong forrest, to me.
It also never ceases to amaze me how some of you are so prone to trot out your simplified, black & white, "absolutisms". . .
such as here:
"his hips are WAy too stiff for the NFL". (how has this been "proven"....and by whom?)
"he is almost totally useless as a cornerback". (thank you for your input mr K9. You have expressed YOUR opinion. That's all it is. It certainly isn't written in stone yet.)
the same goes for the comment:
"He'll be the third safety on the depth chart at either position"
"As a defensive back, Stone's NFL career is finished." ( and Swamie K9 evidently knows something no one else does, or has a crystal ball....or something. )
His career isn't "finished" until "if and when" he IS cut. Until then...its only "opinion"...nothing more.
About the only thing I might agree with in your comments is that he does seem to be a decent special teamer, and "Stone has a lot to prove this camp".
He does have a lot to prove. I've never denied that for a second.
As to the contract situation. I never claimed to "know for sure" on that. But I do know that he and Wilson essentially signed about the same contracts....both for 3 years, AND that when he was put on IR at the beginning of last season, there was some comment made, (and not just from a poster here) that it would not "use up" his 3rd year. Also, if it doesn't, then that would make him an RFA, just like Wilson, and he is not listed as such.
I didn't just make that up.
Does anyone actually know for sure exactly what the situation is there?