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Mike Tanier

@miketanier.bsky.social

41K followers 660 following 6.3K posts

Writer/Editor/Founder of Too Deep Zone: Subscriber-supported gonzo NFL journalism. Former NFL writer for Football Outsiders, Bleacher Report, the New York Times, Sports on Earth and other publications, some of which still exist!

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Reposted by Mike Tanier

NFL Daily News @fantasynflnews.bsky.social · 10h

Rams EDGE Jared Verse on if Lamar Jackson (hamstring) can't play in Week 6:

"I'll be fu*king furious."

Verse said Lamar is on his sack bucket list.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 11h

That tracks.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

I am thinking someone hacked both the Browns and Bengals systems or phone lines, inserted the trade, and both teams are to embarrassed to admit it so they are going along with it.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

You really need to see Flacco to realize just how limited he is at this point.

Pete Davidson @petedavidsonny.bsky.social · 13h

Yeah, the combo is nothing you'd ever want. Flacco isn't just immobile—he can't reset once he's moving. Even drifting to his right he is problematic. Once the ball comes down and he's moving, it's over.

Sad for a guy whose mobility was a big plus before the injuries.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

🤣

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

They have been healthy! And great at run blocking. There have been pass protection mistakes, but a portion of that is always playing from behind against opponents who feel free to blitz a lot (no scary playmakers except Garrett, who is only medium scary)

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

He tried 3 weeks ago. But the Packers offense committed a zillion penalties and had a FG blocked!

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

Flacco ranks 33rd in ANY/A in 2025. Below Jake Browning. And Cam Ward. And Spencer Rattler, etc.

He is very cooked. Chase and Higgins may help, but showing up on Wednesday and then starting on Sunday ... not so much.

Dire Wombat @direwombat.bsky.social · 13h

Have the folks asking this watched him play much this year though? Dude looks cooked. Maybe better Cincy WRs will help, but I doubt he lasts the season.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

I just knew when spending 3 days meticulously researching that piece that a bunch of important linemen would pop up on the injury reports 5 minutes after publication.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

Excellent point. But they didn't discuss it with the coach, either. So ... are we certain the Flacco trade wasn't a catfishing type thing?

AZ HankG @azhankg.bsky.social · 13h

You would think the Browns would have shown him the respect to discuss the trade with him before pulling the trigger.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

If the Browns somehow burn through both Gabriel and Shedeur before winter comes, Zappe can provide whatever palliative medicine Flacco could have offered.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 13h

One factor may have been Flacco not wanting to be in the rumpus room with Gabriel and Mimetime as a backup. He asked for an out, Browns figured they could get a smidge of value.

Fritz @fritzholz.bsky.social · 13h

It seems odd that the Browns would get rid of Flacco (rusty as he is) for as little as a 6-5 swap. Any insights on why it made sense to them?

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 14h

With Jake Browning looking like Elizabeth Barrett Browning these days, the Bengals panic-traded for Joe Flacco on Tuesday. I cannot imagine what the rusted-through Flacco can do behind this line besides chuck ‘n’ duck. Which is what Browning is doing.

miketanier.substack.com/p/its-week-5...

It's Week 6. How F****d Up is Your Offensive Line?

Ranking NFL offensive line health and stability, from the Broncos to the Chargers. AND BEYOND.

miketanier.substack.com

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 14h

We must be talking about two different Bryce Youngs then! 😇

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 14h

Our little section of Camden County has a vociferous and organized protest group. Hoping folks elsewhere see it.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 14h

It is indeed hard to intercept a bounce pass, or a throwaway 5 yards out of bounds.

Reposted by Mike Tanier

Denny Carter @dennycarter.bsky.social · 14h

I truly hate to be the guy who goes online and says something like SHARE THIS WITH YOUR PEOPLE. But considering the media blackout on this thing, maybe ... share this with your people. bsky.app/profile/did:...

Nash Is Here for It @nashishereforit.bsky.social · 2d

Did anyone else see this today and wonder wtf happened?

Oopsie, Stephen.

Reposted by Mike Tanier

Aaron Schatz @aaronschatz.com · 14h

New at @ftnfantasy.com from @alexblickle1.bsky.social: what fantasy football data can tell us about defensive intent, from the Ravens allowing big points to RB to the Bucs stopping the run and the Bengals allowing tight ends to shine.

ftnfantasy.com/nfl/why-the-...

Why the Ravens Don't Defend RBs: Measuring Defensive Philosophy

The Ravens don't stop running backs while the Bucs let you pass. How can fantasy football data teach us about the intentions of different defenses?

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 15h

Do not wish this rage bait upon me.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 15h

I was so far over my skis math-wise by then. I stopped caring and started faking it way back in Calc 3.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 16h

I always saw the whole chessboard.

Reposted by Mike Tanier

Matt Lombardo @mattlombardo.bsky.social · 16h

Come for the compelling Daniel Jones MVP case I lay out, stay for @miketanier.bsky.social not just losing his mind, but offering another suggestion for the Colts’ success …

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 16h

I stayed up until 4 am drinking before my 8 AM 300-level Differential Equations exam, waiting for a girl to visit after a party. Slept 2 hours, showed up so messed up I could not integrate x^2 as (X^3)/3+c.

Failed exam. C in the class.

Married the girl.

Eduardo Oso @derbosspresident.bsky.social · 18h

Wasn’t feeling it before a calculus final in high school, a friend gave me two No-Doz and i couldn’t focus for the first 80 minutes of a 90 minute exam. Finished in 10 minutes. Got an A.

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 18h

Mike Tanier @miketanier.bsky.social · 18h

Was I misplaced as a math major? Who can say? Certainly not my therapist. Stopped talking to that guy YEARS ago. And I'm fine now. Please read my 5000 word article on offensive line injuries.