He's clearly behind Dak, Zeke, Dez, Witten and the three Pro Bowl starters (Smith, Frederick, Martin) on the line.

There's not even an argument for Top 3 on his own line.

(01-19-2017 06:42 AM)PrideinthePack2 Wrote:  He's clearly behind Dak, Zeke, Dez, Witten and the three Pro Bowl starters (Smith, Frederick, Martin) on the line.

There's not even an argument for Top 3 on his own line.

If you take one out of the line though, I think the Free loss would have hurt them the most

For ProFootballFocus's end of season O-line rankings, they have the Cowboys as the #2 line in the NFL. Their blurb on Free is as follows...

"RT Doug Free has been a problem player for the team, surrendering eight sacks on the season and struggling with his run blocking."

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ran...is-season/

This is the equivalent of saying Ian Clark is arguably the third most valuable player on the Warriors.

(01-19-2017 06:52 PM)PrideinthePack2 Wrote:  For ProFootballFocus's end of season O-line rankings, they have the Cowboys as the #2 line in the NFL. Their blurb on Free is as follows...

"RT Doug Free has been a problem player for the team, surrendering eight sacks on the season and struggling with his run blocking."

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ran...is-season/

This is the equivalent of saying Ian Clark is arguably the third most valuable player on the Warriors.

Article from a few years ago saying Free is the heart and soul of the offensive line

http://thelandryhat.com/2014/10/20/doug-...sive-line/

Hate to break it to you "Doug Free sucks" MAC hating group :) Free has had an amazing career, DEAL WITH IT

(01-19-2017 07:00 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 06:52 PM)PrideinthePack2 Wrote:  For ProFootballFocus's end of season O-line rankings, they have the Cowboys as the #2 line in the NFL. Their blurb on Free is as follows...

"RT Doug Free has been a problem player for the team, surrendering eight sacks on the season and struggling with his run blocking."

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ran...is-season/

This is the equivalent of saying Ian Clark is arguably the third most valuable player on the Warriors.

Article from a few years ago saying Free is the heart and soul of the offensive line

http://thelandryhat.com/2014/10/20/doug-...sive-line/

Hate to break it to you "Doug Free sucks" MAC hating group :) Free has had an amazing career, DEAL WITH IT

He's had a tremendous career. He also was the weak link on the Cowboys line this year.

Both of these statements are true.

The guy who wrote that article is following more people on Twitter than he has followers lol

If you want to argue that he's the heart and soul of the team, go ahead, but that has nothing to do with "Outside of Elliott and Prescott, he is probably the most valuable player on that team."

I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

I think if a MAC player performs at a high caliber in the NFL, people are happy. However, I am not going to blindly cheer for a guy because he went to Kent St.

I think most people here regard Big Ben as a great NFL QB. Why should I hold him and Lynch in the same regard? Just because they both played in the MAC? That's stupid.

(01-19-2017 07:34 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

I think if a MAC player performs at a high caliber in the NFL, people are happy. However, I am not going to blindly cheer for a guy because he went to Kent St.

I think most people here regard Big Ben as a great NFL QB. Why should I hold him and Lynch in the same regard? Just because they both played in the MAC? That's stupid.

What I think is disgusting is that no one will give anyone from NIU or the MAC credit because they think if they are from NIU or the MAC they must suck. Its just lazy thinking, gets old after awhile.
I mean the only two reasons Pittsburgh is playing for a shot at the Superbowl is because of 2 MAC players, after awhile you think people would put away their bias and just look at talent.

(01-19-2017 07:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:34 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

I think if a MAC player performs at a high caliber in the NFL, people are happy. However, I am not going to blindly cheer for a guy because he went to Kent St.

I think most people here regard Big Ben as a great NFL QB. Why should I hold him and Lynch in the same regard? Just because they both played in the MAC? That's stupid.

What I think is disgusting is that no one will give anyone from NIU or the MAC credit because they think if they are from NIU or the MAC they must suck. Its just lazy thinking, gets old after awhile.
I mean the only two reasons Pittsburgh is playing for a shot at the Superbowl is because of 2 MAC players, after awhile you think people would put away their bias and just look at talent.

le'veon bell is pretty good too

(01-19-2017 07:44 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:34 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

I think if a MAC player performs at a high caliber in the NFL, people are happy. However, I am not going to blindly cheer for a guy because he went to Kent St.

I think most people here regard Big Ben as a great NFL QB. Why should I hold him and Lynch in the same regard? Just because they both played in the MAC? That's stupid.

What I think is disgusting is that no one will give anyone from NIU or the MAC credit because they think if they are from NIU or the MAC they must suck. Its just lazy thinking, gets old after awhile.
I mean the only two reasons Pittsburgh is playing for a shot at the Superbowl is because of 2 MAC players, after awhile you think people would put away their bias and just look at talent.

le'veon bell is pretty good too

Antonio Brown might be the best player in the entire league though

(01-19-2017 07:46 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:44 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:34 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

I think if a MAC player performs at a high caliber in the NFL, people are happy. However, I am not going to blindly cheer for a guy because he went to Kent St.

I think most people here regard Big Ben as a great NFL QB. Why should I hold him and Lynch in the same regard? Just because they both played in the MAC? That's stupid.

What I think is disgusting is that no one will give anyone from NIU or the MAC credit because they think if they are from NIU or the MAC they must suck. Its just lazy thinking, gets old after awhile.
I mean the only two reasons Pittsburgh is playing for a shot at the Superbowl is because of 2 MAC players, after awhile you think people would put away their bias and just look at talent.

le'veon bell is pretty good too

Antonio Brown might be the best player in the entire league though

Best WR for sure

Not the first time a MAC WR was the best in the league either

(01-19-2017 07:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:34 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

I think if a MAC player performs at a high caliber in the NFL, people are happy. However, I am not going to blindly cheer for a guy because he went to Kent St.

I think most people here regard Big Ben as a great NFL QB. Why should I hold him and Lynch in the same regard? Just because they both played in the MAC? That's stupid.

What I think is disgusting is that no one will give anyone from NIU or the MAC credit because they think if they are from NIU or the MAC they must suck. Its just lazy thinking, gets old after awhile.
I mean the only two reasons Pittsburgh is playing for a shot at the Superbowl is because of 2 MAC players, after awhile you think people would put away their bias and just look at talent.

No scout, coach, or GM will automatically downgrade a MAC player because they are from the MAC. If a player appears he can play, then he will be drafted high. See Khalil Mack, Jimmie Ward and I am sure others......

Perhaps the reason there is a lack of MAC players has to do with talent. I know you feel that the MAC is a top notch football league, but the MAC has been getting destroyed in bowl season and OOC Your blind love for all things MAC is really strange.

Just because you spent the last 4 years watching someone play, doesn't make them a NFL player. If you were running the Patriots you'd have the whole team comprised of MAC players.

The Steelers wouldn't have made it to the AFC Championship Game if it wasn't for Chris Boswell.

Can MD give any specific cases where a player was cut solely for being a MAC player? In this era of fake news I need sources more than ever.

(01-19-2017 08:06 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:34 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

I think if a MAC player performs at a high caliber in the NFL, people are happy. However, I am not going to blindly cheer for a guy because he went to Kent St.

I think most people here regard Big Ben as a great NFL QB. Why should I hold him and Lynch in the same regard? Just because they both played in the MAC? That's stupid.

What I think is disgusting is that no one will give anyone from NIU or the MAC credit because they think if they are from NIU or the MAC they must suck. Its just lazy thinking, gets old after awhile.
I mean the only two reasons Pittsburgh is playing for a shot at the Superbowl is because of 2 MAC players, after awhile you think people would put away their bias and just look at talent.

No scout, coach, or GM will automatically downgrade a MAC player because they are from the MAC. If a player appears he can play, then he will be drafted high. See Khalil Mack, Jimmie Ward and I am sure others......

Perhaps the reason there is a lack of MAC players has to do with talent. I know you feel that the MAC is a top notch football league, but the MAC has been getting destroyed in bowl season and OOC Your blind love for all things MAC is really strange.

Just because you spent the last 4 years watching someone play, doesn't make them a NFL player. If you were running the Patriots you'd have the whole team comprised of MAC players.

Im not talking about scouts or NFL teams doing it, obviously they don't because the two best players on the Steelers are from the MAC. I am talking about our own fans.

MD has a persecution complex when it comes to MAC players and respect. As a wise and evil man once said...we covet what we see everyday. If you watch mostly just MAC football, you get attached to those players. Spend an entire season just watching the MWC and I'm sure we'd all come away going...damn, there is some really great players out west.

NFL players don't get disrespected because they're from the MAC. Quite the opposite. The MAC gets disrespected because these great players had to play there..."Antonio Brown's from Central Michigan????? Did he fail out of high school? Did he have legal problems? How did he end up at CMU?" thats the usual response. The league gives zero poops about where a guy played. You may get a lower draft slot because of the lack of measurable opponents, sure. But thats about it.

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

#MAClivesmatter

Well the Doug Free Thread sure escalated quickly. Signing Day can't get here soon enough....

(01-19-2017 08:34 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(01-19-2017 07:26 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I just will never ever ever ever ever understand how some people are programmed that anything coming from NIU or the MAC is garbage. It is really baffling to me, where that type of mindset comes from.

#MAClivesmatter

This gave me one of the better laughs Ive had in awhile, thanks!