NFL Trades, Kap, Quarterbacks, and Some Other Fun Stuff

Is it just me or does seem like the regular season started just the other day? When I was looking at the schedule for this week’s games, I had to do a double take when I saw that it was already Week 4. As the saying goes, time flies.

This week had to be the best and most exciting week of NFL trades that we’ve ever seen. It felt like the NBA or NHL deadline, wrapped up into four or five days. The Broncos finally got their first franchise Quarterback since Peyton Manning retired, the Chargers picked up Khalil Mack, and the Washington Football Team (I am sorry, but the Commanders is a horrible name), for some reason seem to think that Carson Wentz is the answer.

We also got news that Colin Kaepernick posted a workout video on Twitter this week, more than five years since he took his last NFL snap. According to ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Kap appeared to be in the best shape of his life and threw the ball with velocity during the workout. I’ll be honest, for me, throwing against air doesn’t really prove anything besides arm strength on a windy day. Yes, you can display accuracy, but when there are no Defensive Backs, how much can you really get out of that?

Let’s call a spade and spade. Anybody with any commonsense knows why Kaepernick is not in the NFL. His protests for equality and against racism as well as police brutality, which are more accepted now, are still deemed too much of a distraction by NFL Owners.

His detractors including some here in FPF, have said he’s not accurate, and is a one-trick pony who was horrible after Jim Harbaugh left the San Francisco 49ers. I am a 9ers fan, both Kap and San Fran did decline after the current Wolverines Head Coach, and Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman left. What always get ignored when people bring up that argument is that Michael Crabtree, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and Anquan Boldin also left the offense not too long after they did, as did All-Pro Linebacker Patrick Willis, and Pro-Bowl Defensive End Justin Smith. Stud Middle Linebacker NaVarro Bowman also missed the entire 2014 season due to a torn ACL and MCL. In the two years that followed, the 9ers were led by Jim Tomsula (I’ve almost blocked that out of my mind), Chip Kelly, and one of if the worst General Manager in NFL history in Trent Baalke.

During his final season Kap, was throwing to the likes of Jeremy Kerley, Quinton Patton, Jerome Simpson, Chris Harper, and a wash-up Torrey Smith. His top two Running Backs were Carlos Hyde and Shaun Draughn. In case you’re wondering, none of those guys are still in the league, and except for Hyde who was cut this week by the Jacksonville Jaguars, none of those of players have taken an NFL snap since 2018.

Despite that “stellar” supporting cast, Kap still put up more than respectable numbers with 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions and 2 rushing TD. Did he need to read defenses better? Yes. Did he struggle without Harbaugh and Roman? Yes. On the other side of the argument, did he have a rocket for an arm? Did he help guide a team to a Super Bowl? Yes.Yes. Could he change the course of a game in a play? Yes. Was he better at beating teams with his legs than his arm, and did he rely on his legs a lot?  You know which other Quarterback does that as well? Lamar Jackson. Just like Jackson, Kap needs the right system to succeed. Everywhere you look, duo-threat QBs are more in demand than ever before. Why not give a chance to someone who specializes in that style of play? It has been five years since he played. Chances are some of his talents have declined, as that is a long time to go without playing. But, if QBs like Trevor Siemien, Mike White, Taysom Hill, Sean Mannion, Brian Hoyer, Geno Smith, Nathan Petermann, Mike Glennon, Jake Fromm, and Dwayne Haskins can get jobs, Kap at the very least deserves a chance to compete for a backup job somewhere.

In Russell Wilson, the Broncos get a Super Bowel champion, and a player who made the Pro Bowl in nine of his ten seasons. As a 9ers fan, I was and am SUPER excited to get him out of our division. This dude killed us time and time again. The Chiefs have Mahomes, the Bolts have Herbert, and Vegas has Carr (at least for the time being). Having a legit QB of their own has seemingly been the only thing that has held Denver back. They finally solved that problem. Is there a division in football with better QBs than the AFC West?

Someone please help me understand why Washington traded for Wentz. Even if you ignore his lone season with the Colts, where he was decent minus the team’s last two regular season games versus the Raiders and Jaguars respectively, this is the same QB who basically had one good year all the way back in 2017 – which he didn’t even finish – and has done absolutely nothing since. You would think that Washington would have learned from trading for Donovan McNabb back in 2010 to stay clear of Wentz. I guess not.

Finally, it appears we are set to Deshaun Watson on an NFL again, after it was announced that he won’t be facing criminal charges from the 22 women who are taking him to court. There’s no denying he is an amazing talent, and a top 5 Quarterback in the league, legal issues or not. A year off shouldn’t hurt him too much. The Carolina Panthers are rumored to be interested the most. I pray he goes there, as I don’t know if my heart could take him being traded to Seattle. Also, it’s clear to anyone with eyes that Sam Darnold and Cam Newton are not the answer.

Speaking of Quarterbacks, for the Incredibles, it was a case of different QB same result. Needing someone to fill in for Greg Stern, the Incredibles called upon FPF Hall-of-Famer Theo Ojeaha, in their matchup against #NR

After a touchdown by Receiver Raphael Dagenais gave #NR a (6-0) lead to begin the game, the Incredibles offense which had only scored 12 total points coming into the contest, responded with a TD drive of their own, as Ojeaha connected on passes to Terry Tam, James Ohayon, and Marco Bertoldi, before finding Vince Nardone for a 16-yard touchdown. The Incredibles would grab their first lead of the season, as they were successful on the 1-point convo on a pass from Ojeaha to Chris Milard.

The good times would continue for the Incredibles, as four plays later, their defense gave the ball back to their offense curtesy of an Ojeaha interception off #NR Quarterback Adam Sinagra. Nine plays later, the Incredibles would extend their lead as Ojeaha would throw for another TD.

The first half would end with Sinagra being intercepted by Ohayon. The Incredibles led (13-6).

After the Incredibles turned over the ball on downs to start the second half, #NR would score nine plays later on a 1-yard TD reception by Matt Kirouac.

The pendulum of momentum was now swinging in #NR’s favor, as just three plays later, Ojeaha would be intercepted by Quaid Johnson. Three snaps after that, #NR rubbed salt in the wound as Raphael Dagenais scored his second TD of the contest.

After a TD catch by Ohayon that gave the Incredibles a (19-18) lead, #NR would counter with a score of their own curtesy of 13-yard TD catch by Johnson with two plays left in the game.

With one last chance to respond, Ojeaha failed to connect with Ohayon on first down. On the final play of the game, his last-ditch attempt for the endzone was batted down by Travis Moses. Final score #NR (24-19).

We have seen it season after season and game after game, but extra points are often the reason why teams win or lose in FPF. For the Party Crashers, their inability to score more than one conversion came back to bite them in their (27-26) loss to Allstars in what was a spectacular affair.

The loss by the Party Crashers negated what was a top-notch performance by Emile Taillefer. The former McGill Receiver led all players in catches, yards, and touchdowns with six, 87, and three respectively. His first two touchdowns of the game went for 35 and 28 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, the fourth-year player recorded a team-high four tackles and an interception.

The Allstars didn’t lack for big plays either, as one play after the Taillefer score, WR Chris Milard, would reply with a 40-yard touchdown in the first half. In the second stanza, the Allstars would connect on another long TD when Quaid Johnson scored his second TD of the season on 40-yard pass from Quarterback Kevin Wyeth.  

Another player who came up big for the Allstars in their victory was Patrick Jérome. Not only did the Hall of Famer and 19-time All-Star (could he play on a more appropriately named team?) register his team’s only interception three plays after Taillefer’s INT, but he also led his squad with five catches for 58 yards. Perhaps just as important, was the catch he made for a 1-point conversion after a TD by Paul Lapierre. The biggest play Jérome made was ending the game with a 30-yard grab on third down to end the contest with less than five plays remaining.     

Two weeks later and here we go again, Braves versus the Allstars. The Braves took the first meeting in a game that was filled with big plays, and unfortunately more than a few blown calls by the officials as well. Despite the officiating, the Braves were still the better team in that contest.

Tonight’s matchup should be a must watch, as both sides have no shortage of big-time players who can change the momentum of a game in the blink of an eye. Wyeth, Maheu, Gariépy, Johnson, Jérome, Thompson, Millard, Void, Paiement, Chevalier, and the Pilon brothers, the list goes on.

The Braves haven’t truly been tested this season. The latest evidence of that was their (50-26) victory over Gryffindor.

The former FPF Jr player and current McGill Receiver Sam Mashtoub, tried his best to keep the contest close with two first-half interceptions of Braves QB Jonathan Maheu, to go along with three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

The performance by Mashtoub was outdone the Braves’ combination of Mike Pierrecin and Serge Pilon Jr.

One of the best Snappers in the league, Pierrecin uses his quickness and strong route running to get open and is a consistent threat with the ball in his hands especially around the redzone. All those things were true against Gryffindor, as the 4-time All-Star led all players with eight catches for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Pilon Jr inflicted damage as well with three grabs for 62 yards and two scores.

This was a one score game at halftime, but two second half interceptions by Quarterback Stephen Harripersaud, which led to touchdowns for their opponents, along with two turnovers on downs, and a Braves offense that put up 28 points after the break, was just too much for Gryffindor to overcome.

Matchups

Emile Taillefer (Party Crashers) versus Will Power (Outlaws)

This has an old NFL matchup feel to it, when most Defensive Backs traveled with Wide Receivers. Will Power can do that for his defense. Currently the defense that he plays for is struggling, as they have given up a jaw-dropping 132 points in just three games. That is clearly not a recipe for success. If Power and his team want to get their first win of the season, they will have to find a way to slowdown the Party Crashers’ offense, and that starts with limiting the damage by the team’s top Receiver in Emile Taillefer.  Who will win this matchup?

Team Swoosh Offense versus Urgence Médic Defense

The Team Swoosh has been the worst in all of Division 2 with only 18 scored this season. In their defense, they have only played two games. Their last contest was February 28^th. Hopefully in that time off, they took the opportunity to rent a field to practice and work on their timing.

Team Swoosh has playmakers in Darren Wiltshire, Jules Fortin, and Jean Gardy. Whether it is Guillaume Lincourt or Anthony Muntu at Quarterback, the team will need to protect the ball, as they have combined to throw four interceptions.

Tonight, they take on an Urgence Médic squad coming off their first loss of the season (36-32) to KGP. The schedule doesn’t do Team Swoosh any favors with that matchup, but again they have had 13 days to prepare. Taking on a defense led by ball-hawks Emile Beaudoin, Jesse Dupuis, and Rusher Marc-Antoine Vallée, the Team Swoosh offense will need to get the ball out to their playmakers quickly and take advantage of whatever holes they can find in the Urgence Médic defense. Let’s see how they do.

Tam Vilaydeth (Terror Squad) vs Alex Nadeau-Piuze (Flag Moi L’Sac)

Two Hall of Fame Quarterbacks going head-to-head tonight in Lachine. Both QBs have combined to throw for 1,126 touchdowns in their FPF careers. With Receivers like Tommy Roadley Trohatos, Serge Pilon Jr., Vincent Malo, Alexandre Poulin-Rioux, and Patrick Jérome for Terror Squad, and Samuel Nadeau-Piuze, Guillaume Paquet, Jean-Christophe Morin-Phaneuf, and Guillaume Robert for Flag Moi L’Sac, there are no shortage of playmakers.

The Terror Squad defense has given up an average of 29 points a game, while Flag Moi L’Sac have surrendered just over 36. Both teams have taken on the Outlaws. The former allowed 30 points, while the latter gave up 40. Terror Squad has also recorded four takeaways to FMS’ two. The slight edge goes to TS, wWhich could also mean more opportunities for their QB to put more points on the board.  

Picks (favorites in bold)

All Hooks vs Incredibles – All Hooks

Party Crashers vs Outlaws – Outlaws (Upset Special #1)

Team Swoosh vs Urgence Médic – Urgence Médic

Braves vs Allstars – Braves

Flag Moi L’Sac vs Terror Squad – Terror Squad (My pick for Game of the Week)

All Hooks vs The Apocalypse – The Apocalypse (Upset Special #2)

#NR vs BBallers – BBallers

Flag Moi L’Sac vs Gryffindor – Flag Moi L’Sac

Last Week: (5-2)

Season: (13-3)

Upset Special: (1-1)

That’s it for this week. My apologies for the lateness of the article. Sometimes work gets in the way of work. Stay safe, and good luck to everybody in their games. If you liked, loved, or hated the article, or simply feel that I left something out, do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected], or reach me on Instagram @brent_b51