I've enjoyed the Arguments on
both sides, over the last several pages, despite my
hideously phrased statement, which triggered most of this part of the Thread...A this point, it seems that it might be appropriate to both
expiate that inexplicably clunky post of mine, and to both ReBoot and ~ considering how badly I phrased it the first time ~
clarify my position:
* I believe that Ballard will be worth a 2013 2nd Rounder, come next April. *
1 ~ Ballard's
Future Market Value is purely a matter of opinion, obviously.
2 ~ But it's got little to do with Gronkowski, though interesting points've been made on both sides.
3 ~ And it's got nothing to do with how much money he's getting paid.
4 ~ And it's certainly got nothing to do with how he played in his
Rookie year.
5 ~ Ballard's
Future Market Value ~ his Value next Spring, going into the 2013 Draft ~ will be based
entirely on his Perceived Value by 32 teams at that point, based on his Health and how his play projects into the Future.
6 ~ Much has been made of Ballard's supposedly lumbering ways, but it's very hard to describe his coming out of nowhere to do what he did in 2011 as anything
but an
"Explosive Break Out Year".
7 ~ At the end of the day, what you do on the field ~ not "Talent" ~ is what matters.
8 ~
If the 2010 Draft were ReDrafted today ~ without his current health being factored in ~
Ballard would clearly go in the 3rd Round at the latest.
9 ~ There's every reason in the world to believe that Ballard will be
100%, come April, and poised to take up where he left off:
A Brutal Blocking Specialist who cranked out 38/604/4 in his first year on the roster, and gave every reason to suggest that that was only the beginning.
10 ~ And not only will we have the rights to'is services for at least two more years at that point....
We will have no Rookie Growing Pains to deal with, something you can not say about any of the 2013 Rookie Tight End Class!!
Now, do I think any of the other 31 teams would then
give a 2013 2nd Rounder for'm??
HELL, no.
That would be tantamount to 31 teams admitting that they screwed up ROYALLY 10 days ago, which of course is exactly what happened!!
But do I think that this
established receiving Weapon who
consistently gets open, RACKS up yards, is coming off a CLASSIC "BreakOut Year", and is a BRUTAL Blocking Specialist on top of all that is WORTH a 2nd Rounder??
HELL, yes!! :rocker:
But, of course: That's only my opinion, Brethren. I've enjoyed reading your Arguments.