By John Sarianides
Buy or Don’t Buy is my answer to football insiders who report information they have gathered from sources. I don’t have any sources so therefore I am going to tell you whether or not I buy or don’t buy a story they have reported.
Here are five stories that were reported this week. Let’s see if I buy them or don’t buy them.
1. Adam Schefter Reports Will Not Jimmy Garoppolo: I don’t buy this story. Why wouldn’t Bill Belichick trade Jimmy Garoppolo? I get the whole protection in case Tom Brady gets hurt narrative but Garoppolo is coveted around the league by teams that don’t have a starting quarterback. If the right offer comes along, Belichick will pull the trigger on a deal. Don’t Buy It!
2. Ian Rapoport reports the 49ers, Cowboys and Redskins are discussing a three team trade featuring Kirk Cousins: Cue the buzzer! I don’t buy this story. That’s a bunch of nonsense reported by Rapoport. Look, I think Rapopport is one of the best insiders in the business but sometimes he lays eggs like this.
Could the three teams have discussed a deal? Sure but the Cowboys are unsure if they want to trade Tony Romo and the Redskins don’t want him. The only team that would have benefitted from this potential deal is the 49ers. This report never mind sense to me because you never see deals like this in the NFL. Especially in the off-season. Don’t Buy It!
3. Ian Rapopport reports thst the Patriots tried trading for Brandin Cooks: I buy this story. Cooks is in the last year of his rookie deal, he’s still young at 23 and he is one of the best big play receivers in the league. It is rare that a guy this young is available in a trade.
At 5-10 189, Cooks is the prototypical Patriots receiver. With Danny Amendola’s contract being an issue and with Julien Edelman being a free agent after next season, Belichick wants to address the receiver position this off-season. You know Belichick doesn’t value picks at the end of the first round so why not dangle it out there and see if the Saints will bite. I totally buy it. Buy It!
4. Josina Anderson reports the Titans, Eagles and 49ers are all pursuing Alshon Jeffery: I buy this story. I am still trying to figure out how Josina Anderson has become an insider? She’s a field reporter and goes on car rides. That’s not exactly an insider. Any way, I think all three of these teams as well as the Bears will be in on Jeffery. Buy It!
5. Jason LaCanfora reports that the Browns have an interest in Tyrod Taylor: I don’t buy it. Taylor is still a member of the Bills. Buffalo will ask Taylor to take pay cut and if he doesn’t, they’ll probably release him. Until then however, LaCanfora shouldn’t report nonsense like this. Don’t Buy It.