Minchey

[djw004]

That's a different conversation altogether.

My point is if you want to keep him, you have to pay him what you are bringing Minchey in for, and they obviously wanted to keep Lateef. If you can't pay both, you gotta go get better than Minchey and pay that guy what you are paying Lateef and Minchey combined.

So here's where you lose me:

Just because Minchey was a backup and Lateef was a backup - you do not have to treat them the same. That's not "The Market" - that's being ran by "The Market"

A few things matter when setting this:

Intent - Minchey is being brought in with the intent to be the starter. That's why you go get him. The intent is to have Lateef still fill that backup role. You were a backup, you're going to remain a backup.

Production - Neither have notable production. The difference is that TJ has games to show production and didn't. Minchey showed production in the limited reps he received.

Projection - We project Nebraska Football to be in a better with Minchey at the starting role than we project with TJ continuing as our starter. We project TJ to be a continued developmental project that could eventually compete for the starting job, but not yet

The Market is one thing. Where you fall in the Market is a simultaneous discussion. To just say "Minchey was a back up and TJ ended up starting games as a backup" is 1 million percent not the way a GM would be looking at this.

Now - because of the role he filled and our desire to hang on to him, TJ has earned an ability to negotiate if he wants to stay but doesn't like the number. I.E. escalations going forward for games started vs games suited/played where he can earn the same per game rate as Minchey should he earn or be thrust into a starting job.

If any of those things aren't agreeable to him, then you have to be able to let him walk. We just got the handcuffs off of our program from one QB only to let the backup put handcuffs right back on? No chance.

 

[djw004]

I don't mind them paying their returner Lateef what they are paying some guy that had better talent around him and less numbers. With the position we put ourselves in at QB this year, it is what it is. I'm not getting bent out of shape. Our QB room is getting paid less than it was last year right now.

This is a net positive at least. Would like to maximize that number and reallocate as much as possible.

 

[Bulldog10]

Is Leavitt really about to end up at Kentucky?? Wtf

 

[Dr.DrakeRamoray]

Is Leavitt really about to end up at Kentucky?? Wtf

They must be offering him like $5M. That’s the only way that makes sense. He could go anywhere.

 

[herbsinator]

Is Leavitt really about to end up at Kentucky?? Wtf

Raiola to TT to complete the fantasy?

 

[ShortSideOption]

So here's where you lose me:

Just because Minchey was a backup and Lateef was a backup - you do not have to treat them the same. That's not "The Market" - that's being ran by "The Market"

A few things matter when setting this:

Intent - Minchey is being brought in with the intent to be the starter. That's why you go get him. The intent is to have Lateef still fill that backup role. You were a backup, you're going to remain a backup.

Production - Neither have notable production. The difference is that TJ has games to show production and didn't. Minchey showed production in the limited reps he received.

Projection - We project Nebraska Football to be in a better with Minchey at the starting role than we project with TJ continuing as our starter. We project TJ to be a continued developmental project that could eventually compete for the starting job, but not yet

The Market is one thing. Where you fall in the Market is a simultaneous discussion. To just say "Minchey was a back up and TJ ended up starting games as a backup" is 1 million percent not the way a GM would be looking at this.

Now - because of the role he filled and our desire to hang on to him, TJ has earned an ability to negotiate if he wants to stay but doesn't like the number. I.E. escalations going forward for games started vs games suited/played where he can earn the same per game rate as Minchey should he earn or be thrust into a starting job.

If any of those things aren't agreeable to him, then you have to be able to let him walk. We just got the handcuffs off of our program from one QB only to let the backup put handcuffs right back on? No chance.

I can't tell if we are on the same page or in different books, but I can expand...

I can tell you with certainty that we are not keeping Lateef to continue to be the backup, nor did we promise the starting job to Minchey. Lateef and Minchey are competing for the starting job and it's Lateef's to lose. Now, it was Haarberg's job to lose when Raiola came in and he lost it in about 3 spring practices. I'm sure Minchey saw the last 3 games and liked his chances.

The problem with comparing Minchey's production to Lateef's, through the 4 games we saw Lateef (up through UCLA) everyone started saying we are fine with Raiola transferring because we have Lateef who was carving up bad teams in mop-up duty and his first career start against a terrible team. Then the last 3 games happened and we have people saying Lateef ain't it and we need better. Minchey hasn't played anyone when it matters and with lesser talent like Lateef has. I promise you that if our staff was out looking for a guaranteed starter, they would have went and found someone that started games.

Projecting Minchey to do better than Lateef with less film is just crazy talk to me, and I don't think our staff did that. Minchey was going to get 7 figures in the portal, we gave him that. Lateef would not still be here if we A) paid him less than the transfer or B) told him "hey you are going back to the backup role and will have to wait your turn again."

 

[djw004]

I can't tell if we are on the same page or in different books, but I can expand...

I can tell you with certainty that we are not keeping Lateef to continue to be the backup, nor did we promise the starting job to Minchey. Lateef and Minchey are competing for the starting job and it's Lateef's to lose. Now, it was Haarberg's job to lose when Raiola came in and he lost it in about 3 spring practices. I'm sure Minchey saw the last 3 games and liked his chances.

The problem with comparing Minchey's production to Lateef's, through the 4 games we saw Lateef (up through UCLA) everyone started saying we are fine with Raiola transferring because we have Lateef who was carving up bad teams in mop-up duty and his first career start against a terrible team. Then the last 3 games happened and we have people saying Lateef ain't it and we need better. Minchey hasn't played anyone when it matters and with lesser talent like Lateef has. I promise you that if our staff was out looking for a guaranteed starter, they would have went and found someone that started games.

Projecting Minchey to do better than Lateef with less film is just crazy talk to me, and I don't think our staff did that. Minchey was going to get 7 figures in the portal, we gave him that. Lateef would not still be here if we A) paid him less than the transfer or B) told him "hey you are going back to the backup role and will have to wait your turn again."

That's the thing with Production: It gives you a chance to prove you're not the guy like in TJ's case. We also haven't seen what TJ is doing yet - who says he doesn't enter? One thing that would help get us on a similar page: Do you know what we are paying each guy? Not guessing, but really KNOW the numbers?

We are reading different genres, brother. And that's A Ok.

 

[ShortSideOption]

That's the thing with Production: It gives you a chance to prove you're not the guy like in TJ's case. We also haven't seen what TJ is doing yet - who says he doesn't enter? One thing that would help get us on a similar page: Do you know what we are paying each guy? Not guessing, but really KNOW the numbers?

We are reading different genres, brother. And that's A Ok.

No, I have no idea what we are paying both of them. All I knew from 1890 before it all went down (and they basically don't know anything now) was that we were aware we were going to have to pay Lateef much more to keep him here if we were also getting a viable QB in the portal and not someone to come in and play behind him.

And I want to be clear, neither of these guys are worth a million dollars. But the unfortunate thing is our situation put us in a position we had to overpay to get enough scholarship players in that QB room. My glass is half full though is even though we are overpaying in 2026, I see us paying less to that QB room than we did in 2025 while simultaneously having more money to spend on the entire roster.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

They must be offering him like $5M. That’s the only way that makes sense. He could go anywhere.

Stein has done a great job with Nix and Moore, so from the perspective it makes quite a bit of sense.

 

[Jim14510]

Just when I'd finally given up on the Bears they make a (almost guaranteed) super bowl run.

I officially give up on the Huskers being good at football again.

Get ready for a playoff run next year fellas. Yw

 

[djw004]

I can't tell if we are on the same page or in different books, but I can expand...

I can tell you with certainty that we are not keeping Lateef to continue to be the backup, nor did we promise the starting job to Minchey. Lateef and Minchey are competing for the starting job and it's Lateef's to lose. Now, it was Haarberg's job to lose when Raiola came in and he lost it in about 3 spring practices. I'm sure Minchey saw the last 3 games and liked his chances.

The problem with comparing Minchey's production to Lateef's, through the 4 games we saw Lateef (up through UCLA) everyone started saying we are fine with Raiola transferring because we have Lateef who was carving up bad teams in mop-up duty and his first career start against a terrible team. Then the last 3 games happened and we have people saying Lateef ain't it and we need better. Minchey hasn't played anyone when it matters and with lesser talent like Lateef has. I promise you that if our staff was out looking for a guaranteed starter, they would have went and found someone that started games.

Projecting Minchey to do better than Lateef with less film is just crazy talk to me, and I don't think our staff did that. Minchey was going to get 7 figures in the portal, we gave him that. Lateef would not still be here if we A) paid him less than the transfer or B) told him "hey you are going back to the backup role and will have to wait your turn again."

Also - this "it's their job to lose" implies they had earned the real job in the first place. The Nebraska job is not "TJs to lose" whether a coach would even say that or not - it could be a "True Competition" but it being his job to lose implies if all things are similar, he gets the nod by default. No chance that's the case after what we just saw for the final 3 games. If they are a wash, it's Minchey's job.

Was the Patriots job Matt Cassel's to lose after Brady got hurt? Was the Packers job Matt Flynn's to lose after Rodgers got hurt? No - backups come into starting games by necessity, not merit. Someone help me with a backup who played because of injury, then entered a competition with a new guy the next year...

No one suddenly commands significantly different brackets to fulfill the same role. Raises? Sure. Bracket changes? No chance.

EDIT: Mason Rudolph is a perfect example. He is scheduled to make the same in 2026 as he did in 2021. He is what he is - a damn backup at best. And instead of seeing a consistent raise, he went from 3 Mil down to 1, up to 4, and back down to 3. The uptick came from going team to team 2x. Not staying in the same place performing the same role.

 

[Poor_and_Stupid]

No, I have no idea what we are paying both of them. All I knew from 1890 before it all went down (and they basically don't know anything now) was that we were aware we were going to have to pay Lateef much more to keep him here if we were also getting a viable QB in the portal and not someone to come in and play behind him.

And I want to be clear, neither of these guys are worth a million dollars. But the unfortunate thing is our situation put us in a position we had to overpay to get enough scholarship players in that QB room. My glass is half full though is even though we are overpaying in 2026, I see us paying less to that QB room than we did in 2025 while simultaneously having more money to spend on the entire roster.

Whatever we do is always wrong. It’s really not even worthy of discussion.

***************
I’m receiving a transmission from The Simulation™

Spoiler

 

[Kaladin]

 

[realbp]

I can't tell if we are on the same page or in different books, but I can expand...

I can tell you with certainty that we are not keeping Lateef to continue to be the backup, nor did we promise the starting job to Minchey. Lateef and Minchey are competing for the starting job and it's Lateef's to lose. Now, it was Haarberg's job to lose when Raiola came in and he lost it in about 3 spring practices. I'm sure Minchey saw the last 3 games and liked his chances.

The problem with comparing Minchey's production to Lateef's, through the 4 games we saw Lateef (up through UCLA) everyone started saying we are fine with Raiola transferring because we have Lateef who was carving up bad teams in mop-up duty and his first career start against a terrible team. Then the last 3 games happened and we have people saying Lateef ain't it and we need better. Minchey hasn't played anyone when it matters and with lesser talent like Lateef has. I promise you that if our staff was out looking for a guaranteed starter, they would have went and found someone that started games.

Projecting Minchey to do better than Lateef with less film is just crazy talk to me, and I don't think our staff did that. Minchey was going to get 7 figures in the portal, we gave him that. Lateef would not still be here if we A) paid him less than the transfer or B) told him "hey you are going back to the backup role and will have to wait your turn again."

I want to go on record, because I’ve taken a TON of shit the past two weeks banging the drum of getting a proven guy vice room depth, and that I’ve always thought TJ wasn’t it. I was in the minority, and got po-tay-doed relentlessly stating such. I consistently said it doesn’t matter if TJ portals because he’s never going to be the guy here.

I don’t want some revisionist history narrative that everyone was in lock step that TJ had the goods.

 

[Irv]

Too late to add a candidate for poster of the year?

 

[Baron Winnebago]

I want to go on record, because I’ve taken a TON of shit the past two weeks banging the drum of getting a proven guy vice room depth, and that I’ve always thought TJ wasn’t it. I was in the minority, and got po-tay-doed relentlessly stating such. I consistently said it doesn’t matter if TJ portals because he’s never going to be the guy here.

I don’t want some revisionist history narrative that everyone was in lock step that TJ had the goods.

I just potato'd you for fun. I think TJ was decent for a true freshman. Not sold either way on whether he can develop into a starting QB, but definitely looked poor against better defenses.

 

[Ext. 55]

Yep. Our roster should have 1 player on it right now: Marshall. And the incoming 2026 HS guys.

We should have zero coaches too. Those all need to be replaced.

When you lose a bowl game, the whole program needs to be razed and rebuilt.

 

[Alcaus]

TJ will be entering his third season as a Nebraska QB. Minchey is a four year guy who has never played.

Seems like a stretch to assume anything about either of them outside hoping they continue to develop and are a net benefit.

 

[whoboppin]

I want to go on record, because I’ve taken a TON of shit the past two weeks banging the drum of getting a proven guy vice room depth, and that I’ve always thought TJ wasn’t it. I was in the minority, and got po-tay-doed relentlessly stating such. I consistently said it doesn’t matter if TJ portals because he’s never going to be the guy here.

I don’t want some revisionist history narrative that everyone was in lock step that TJ had the goods.

Lateef has potential, so we should try to keep him as a backup for 2026, but we really shouldn't really care about his feelings at all. If he transfers, he transfers, who cares. This is college football in 2025,. He's not irreplaceable. We will rebuild the quarterback room every year. Our fanbase has still not accepted this fact.

Every year our fanbase is planning out the QB room for 4-5 years, and every year it changes. Trae Taylor is another example, everyone is already penciling the Lateef era in then the smooth transition to theTrae Taylor era as if that is what is gong to happen. I like Trae Taylor as a recruit but lets be real, there is probably like a 75% change he transfers out by his sophomore season. Id say there is about a 5 % change we are having the Lateef Era then the smooth transition to the Trae Taylor Era.

 

[Jim14510]

Lateef has potential, so we should try to keep him as a backup for 2026, but we really shouldn't really care about his feelings at all. If he transfers, he transfers, who cares. This is college football in 2025,. He's not irreplaceable. We will rebuild the quarterback room every year. Our fanbase has still not accepted this fact.

Every year our fanbase is planning out the QB room for 4-5 years, and every year it changes. Trae Taylor is another example, everyone is already penciling the Lateef era in then the smooth transition to theTrae Taylor era as if that is what is gong to happen. I like Trae Taylor as a recruit but lets be real, there is probably like a 75% change he transfers out by his sophomore season. Id say there is about a 5 % change we are having the Lateef Era then the smooth transition to the Trae Taylor Era.

I've got 73.4% chance it goes Minchey, Lateef, Taylor.