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RamUK
I know some people believe you shouldn't pay QB money to someone who rarely touches the ball.
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First, it;s not qb money. QB money last we looked is 28 M. AD is most likely to be in the range of 21-24 M. That money stopped being qb money before last year. (Not saying you're saying it is qb money. Just going with your flow here.)
Second, anyone who downgrades the contribution of a generational player is just not adding things up correctly. AD is one of the rarest types there is in football--an elite DT. There have been a lot of good ones but elite ones are far more rare than even elite qbs.
And elite DTs have an effect on the game. Starting, for the opposing defense, on the Monday before the game. Teams spend resources containing a DT that disruptive. For example imagine the great old Tampa defense without Sapp. Is it the same? Obviously not.
I keep using this because it's endlessly reuseable. But, only 3 DTs in all NFL history were pro bowlers in each of the 1st 4 seasons. They are Olsen, Joe Greene, and Donald. Of the three, AD is the only one who was also a 1st team all-pro 3 times in his first 4 seasons.
I submit that if someone cannot see the value of a player like that, that's on the person not seeing it, not on AD.
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