08-03-2016, 03:02 PM
(08-03-2016, 12:32 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I'd normally understand gambling that a player would fall. In fact, I'd encourage it. We're talking about a potential franchise QB though... for a team that had no QB. The risk was too big. I'm honestly a little surprised that so many would side with Mike Brown over our coaches, who clearly thought trading up was the right move. I'd say Marv has the far better track record with personnel decisions.
As for how the non-trade worked out, like I said, we got lucky that Dalton was still there. That doesn't automatically mean that standing put was a smart move. Marv and Jay had the guy they wanted and had the common sense to realize that ensuring that they'd land their coveted QB was worth offering up say.. a 4th-5th round pick. And fwiw, if the Bengals had to do it all over, I'd give up Clint Boling without blinking to ensure that we wind up with Dalton. Guards are easily replaceable. QBs are not.
Like I said above, waiting on a WR is one thing. Waiting on a QB that you're coaches feel could be the future of the franchise (or at least stabilize the position)? When you don't have a QB? For the sake of a late round pick? Dumb. Marv (the smarter personnel guy) wanted to trade up. I feel good siding with him on that one. It's a risk/reward thing. The risk of losing Andy Dalton wasn't worth the reward of getting say... Clint Boling (the best player - by far - that came after Dalton in that draft).
By the same token, you could say that Seattle (Carroll and Schneider) was also gambling big time by not taking Dalton, when they were equally as desperate for a QB. They decided to go with Carpenter instead. They were able to end up with Wilson the following year, who helped lead them to two Super Bowls. Perhaps it was very lucky that it ended up working out that way, but it did end up working out.
Waiting/hoping for Dalton to fall to us, instead of trading up, may not have seemed like the smartest play (and I would agree), but it worked out. They still got their QB after all was said and done.
At the end of the day, that's really all that matters. You aren't judged on your ability to make a trade, you are judged on whether the moves/picks you made, or didn't make, worked out for your team. Sometimes it's shrewd maneuvering, sometimes it's being patient, sometimes rolling the dice, and yes...sometimes just getting lucky.
Just my two cents anyway.
