I doubt it. I'll support it if they do it, but I don't think they will and I don't think they should. You can't replace every injured player with a street FA. We've already done it with QB and MLB. We aren't the only team that has had Oline injuries. There is a reason NM still isn't signed. He's not that good, hes way overpriced. We are going to go with what we have until Larsen returns. That's what we should do. If Davis or Steen can't get it done, plug in Asiata and take your lumps.
I agree. I think that people need to just accept that Mangold, now 33, was not the player last season that he used to be. He only played in eight games in 2016, as he dealt with knee and ankle injuries all year long, and he reportedly demanded starter money from teams looking at him this offseason.
As I said in another thread, offensive linemen are hitting other players all-out an average of 50 times a game. Including pre-season, that's up to a thousand high impact collisions per year in games....and they take at least that many collisions in practice as well. Joints just aren't built for that type of abuse so it doesn't matter how big/strong you are, your body is going to slow down quickly. The knees, the wrists, shoulders and ankles...they just aren't made for long term NFL football inside the trenches. The average NFL lineman makes it 5 seasons; pro bowlers last about 9. But even when we're talking the best of the best, they take a big drop in production in years 9-12...which is what we've seen from Mangold. At best, he's a starter on a team with a really bad OL or a decent backup in a few short series. Truthfully though, he belongs on his couch on Sundays. And guess what- we have that level of talent already from both our rookies who make 1/20th the pay and will continue to get better each year. So unless it's at the league minimum, it just doesn't make sense for any team to sign Mangold. Just look at Jake Long- #1 OT overall for his first few years and then expendable by year 5. His numbers are now woefully average for a guy that absolutely dominated at the highest possible level...and he's a year younger than Mangold. Long would not start over Tunsil or James in Miami. He retired a few months ago as well- why do you think we aren't calling him?
Mangold may not be what he was but is he better than what we have? I hope someone can step in and play but the injuries are mounting early.