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Just thought that with all of the positive press we seem to have been getting........that this NEEDED to be posted as well. Free Agency Winners & Losers
Posted by Luke Paul Chandler on March 7th, 2008
Dave Gardner analyzes the first week of free agency in the NFL to see which teams took home the big prizes, and which didn’t.
By Dave Gardner
The first week of free agency has come to a close, and Dave Gardner takes a look at the players and teams who won big and those who lost out.
Free agency can be critical for a team’s success. The New England Patriots have made their historic run by having a franchise quarterback, a great nucleus of young players built from solid first-day drafting, and adding low-to-mid level free agents. However, the big splash in free agency rarely is a successful one. Last year, for example, the San Francisco 49ers were quick to acquire cornerback Nate Clements to a blockbuster eight-year, $80 million contract — their pass defense was worse in 2007 than it was in 2006.
The last three Super Bowl winners have supported the claim that success is built in April, not in March. The Steelers, the Colts and the Giants all reached the pinnacle of the sport through successful drafting and rare dips into free agency. Of the Steelers 22 starters in Super Bowl XL, 19 had never played a down for another team. Of the Colts 22 starters in Super Bowl XLI, 20 of them were homegrown Indianapolis stars. And of the Giants 22 starters, 16 were drafted by the Giants — and that number will likely increase in the next few years under general manager Jerry Reese, as evidenced by the five players from their 2007 draft class who made the field in Super Bowl XLII.
Being quiet in free agency doesn’t mean you’ll be quiet in the season. It means that you’ll have fewer loudmouths, fewer personalities, and fewer busts. It means that your team will have a strong identity, and that no players will be overwrought by their new teammate’s overblown contract. Being quiet in free agency is difficult, but it is necessary in the N(ot) F(or) L(ong).
So after a week of tampering at the NFL’s Scouting Combine, the free agency period began pretty quickly on February 29th. It’s hard for even the least cynical fan to believe that contracts signed twenty minutes after midnight (see: Justin Smiley to the Dolphins) were negotiated exclusively after the clock struck twelve. Nonetheless, several players have found new homes and abundant new contracts. Some will turn out to be winners and others losers, but the teams who picked them up will be the ones reeling about the wins and losses come this fall:
Winners
Justin Smith: He signed a six-year, $45 million contract this week with the 49ers. It was almost bad enough to justify putting the 49ers in the “Losers” category below. Smith claims to be a run-stopping defensive end, and yet he averages less than 70 tackles a year. This is the former fourth overall pick. Defensive ends picked after him in the 2001 NFL Draft? Kyle Vanden Bosch, Aaron Schobel, Derrick Burgess. Who would you rather have?
Gibril Wilson: Wilson is a very good player. He is not the third-best safety in the league. According to his brand new six-year, $39 million dollar contract, he ranks only behind Troy Palamalu and Bob Sanders. He will, however, make an excellent tandem with Michael Huff if he remains a Raider this season (rumor has it that he is on the trading block).
Aaron Rodgers: Cheeseheads are melting all over Wisconsin right now, but for Aaron Rodgers, today was a happy day. Rodgers wasn’t ready to play as little as two years ago, but he definitely is ready to now. He has studied under Mike McCarthy and Brett Favre for two and three years now, respectively. He can make all the throws and even has a little escapability.
Miami Dolphins: Parcells vowed to remake the wretched roster down in Miami. He is certainly wasting no time; after showing no mercy in his cuts (releasing five veterans), he showed no fear in picking up free agents (adding seven UFAs and making a trade). They began with OG Justin Smiley who will improve their offensive line vastly (how could get any worse, after all?). They later picked up NT Jason Ferguson for a low-round pick, signed probable starting QB Josh McCown, and the sure-handed WR Ernest Wilford.
Jacksonville Jaguars: It didn’t seem like anyone other than the Browns made more moves this week than the Jaguars. The difference, however, is that the Jaguars didn’t lose the whole first day of their draft to get the players they coveted. They added to their WR corps with Jerry Porter, and they may have the one guy (Mike Tyce) who can make a player out of Troy Williamson. In addition, they picked up underrated CB Drayton Florence and backup QB Cleo Lemon.
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles were looking for turnovers and sacks last season. They are going to have a few more this season, by nabbing CB Asante Samuel and DE Chris Clemons. Samuel is a household name right now, but Chris Clemons should be one before too long — he has all the tools to get double-digit sacks this season. They also apparently made a strong push for Randy Moss before falling short of the Patriots.
Losers
Lance Briggs: “I’ll never play another down for Chicago again” said Lance Briggs after being applied the franchise tag last year. He started every game last year, and when he hit free agency, he probably expected that there would be a little more excitement over him. There wasn’t. That’s what happens when you drop thirty tackles, six passes defensed, and four turnovers from the previous season. Briggs got a decent deal to go back to the Bears but it wasn’t what he wanted nor where he wanted it.
Warrick Dunn: While this had been coming for some time now, Warrick Dunn’s time in Atlanta is now officially over. This season was the first since 2001 (when he was injured in his last season in Tampa) that Dunn averaged less than 4 yards per carry (3.2). The Falcons are excited about the explosiveness of youngster Jerious Norwood and added the talented Michael Turner as their every down back. Dunn will certainly find a new place to play, and any city should be happy to have him as a football player and as a person.
Rex Grossman: It seemed clear to everyone outside of Grossman and Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo that the two needed to part ways. Grossman is a young gunslinger who has shown absolute brilliance in some games, but he hasn’t been able to sustain it or even just stay healthy. Consistency is the ultimate asset of an NFL Quarterback. I think after this season — barring something miraculous — Grossman will leave Chicago and be more successful somewhere else.
Cleveland Browns: The Cowboys will be making their first round selection for them, the Packers will be making their second round selection for them, the Detriot Lions will be making their third round selection for them. In exchange: they will have Brady Quinn, who likely will not see the field this season; Corey Williams, who is actually a pretty good pickup; and Shaun Rogers, who also cost them over $20 million and cornerback Leigh Bodden. Sure, the defensive line will look better next season, and Stallworth will look good next to Braylon Edwards, but you can’t trade away your whole first day when you have so many needs. Where’s the depth in the secondary? The RB of the future? The young outside linebackers? The O-line depth?
Oakland Raiders: Only the New York Jets gave away more guaranteed money ($67 million) to less qualified players than the Raiders (about $46 million) this week. The difference is that the Jets at least got the best player at a position — Alan Faneca — the Raiders got Gibril Wilson, Javon Walker, Kwame Harris, and Tommy Kelly. That’s certainly not where most teams would like to have a majority of their salary cap invested.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs entered free agency with approximately $44 million in cap room. So far, they signed Jeff Faine to the richest contract for a Center in NFL history, and they’ve added linebackers Leon Joe, Teddy Lehman and Matt McCoy, tight end Ben Troupe, and traded for former QB Brian Griese. Really? With glaring needs at WR and CB, how do the Bucs not have Javon Walker or D.J. Hackett in pewter yet? How did they let Drayton Florence out of the building? The Bucs are either overly confident in their roster or frugal beyond reason.
LINK He just brought out some of my worries. I understand what we have done, and why. But I am still nervous as hell, Savage is taking a chance here and he is putting ALOT of pressure on Crennel and company to succeed THIS YR. Does that mean Superbowl?.......No, I don't think it does, but barring some MAJOR injuries........I believe it means more than one and done in the playoffs. As another poster put it, how much of a rope does DA have? What happens if JL goes down for any length of time? What happens if two of our very good OL goes down for a stretch? Please understand I am NOT asking for any of this, I am just nervous without any 1st day picks as a ......sort of........fall back. Again, I like what Savage has done, and I truly DO understand the DA move, just call me cautiosly (sp?) optimistic right now. And as I said to start this post..........there are legit concerns out there and I thought everyone needed to see something besides most of our giddy posts.   
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Good points...but these people act like the draft is some miraculous cure-all. The average draft nets about 2-3 players...we couldn't fix all of our needs with this draft. We wouldn've only gotten MAYBE 1 starter with our second round pick.
Yes, successfull teams build through the draft, and we've done our share of that...but it seems one and done teams are draft built...dynasties have a mix of both.
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
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All good points, but I disagree with them. I don't see a reason to stick around in a draft for no other reason than that successful teams in the past have drafted good players. We have certain needs on this team and we went out and filled them.
People worry about the depth in the secondary (as do I), but let's face it, we traded away ONE guy from our secondary who would have contributed.
The depth of the O-line is a concern, but I have to think we'll soon be addressing that.
The RB of the future? C'mon. Lewis proved he's still got a few miles left, and we certainly have capable backups in Wright and Harrison.
Young OLBs? Yeah, McGinest isn't going to set any speed records, but Wimbley is a stud and Peek is at least a legit contributor. And the upgrades on our D-line should help that, too.
JMHO
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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I could give a rats......what the media say, good or bad it all comes down to how the players play..games are won & lost on the field, not in the Media box.
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Ok, who on Earth is Dave Gardner? Yeah, cuz' I get all my sports news from "New Era Scouting.com' GMAB! IF I take anything the press says as credible, I'm going to be more apt to listen to a credible source like someone from NFL.com... Ask Vic: Who are free-agency winners? By Vic Carucci | NFL.com We've got mail: Question: So who do you see as the early winners and losers of free agency? I'm an Eagles fan, so you know I'm liking what they've done. But I would be happier if they landed a big-time receiver. -- Bill, Medford Lakes, N.J. I also like what the Eagles have done, and would definitely put them high on the list of early free-agent "winners." They've made their defense significantly better with the additions of cornerback Asante Samuel, from New England, and pass-rushing defensive end Chris Clemons, from Oakland. Samuel is an exceptionally talented player who should do plenty to help the Eagles' coverage and playmaking. Clemons has the talent to be a high-impact player, and there is no doubt that defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will use him creatively in a scheme that attacks from a wide variety of areas. The Cleveland Browns are another team on the "winners" list. Their best move was tying up Derek Anderson to a three-year deal, because it allows them to hang onto the most productive quarterback they have had in many years. It also puts them in a position to decide, on their own terms, what they might want to do (if anything) with Anderson or Brady Quinn after the '08 season. If Anderson has another standout year, the Browns could trade Quinn and, at the very minimum, recoup their first-round investment. The signing of Donte' Stallworth should make their passing game even more effective than it already is. And the trades for Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers should make them stronger in the middle, which was a crying offseason need. The Minnesota Vikings did well by adding former Bear Bernard Berrian, a big-play receiver who should help them get far better production from Tarvaris Jackson. Former Cincinnati free agent Madieu Williams should do plenty to improve the Vikings' poor pass coverage. I don't know if any team qualifies as a free-agent "loser." Certainly, the Patriots have taken some hits with the losses of Samuel and fellow cornerback Randall Gay. But none of the Patriots' offseason developments compares with re-signing Randy Moss, the second-most important player in their 18-1 season. Do I need to say who the most important was? I didn't think so. nfl.com
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Quote:
Grossman is a young gunslinger who has shown absolute brilliance in some games,
ok
"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein" ~Joe Theismann~
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Clay and Kardiac, I understand it's "only" the press, and it's "only" Dave Gardner (whoever that is), but I still think he has some legit pionts that HAVE been brought up by some posters on this board.
Again, I just thought that with all of the positive press we have been getting, a little bit of "negative" would be good.
Born and breed with OSU, App. State alumni, but bleed orange and brown.
Go ARMY......Beat Navy!!!!!!
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J/C
I think if this is something that we've been doing for years or continue to do for years then it's not a good way to build a team. I believe this is a one time thing for Savage... we'll use our full compliment of draft picks to build more depth at corner, running back etc. next year.
I like the moves Savage made this off season. I think he took a good long look at this draft and found that FA was the best way to get our team what WE needed for this up coming year.
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Most of the analysts I've seen have given the Browns a "thumbs up" until you get to the Shaun Rogers contract. Most of them say giving him $20 million guaranteed was a bad move.
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He has some legit concerns...but if we were to have drafted a RB of the future, they'd as why we didn't fix our Dline probs.
You pick and choose. I'm worried about our secondary as well but not the rest of the team. Our Oline depth is strong, especially considering Bentley comes back. We have a pair of good, young, hungry RBs that SHOULD be able to fill in. We have two starting qbs. We are deeper than he realizes and no team is 'deep' at every position. Say Manning goes down, their season is over...see Sorgi against the Titans. Depth can't be had at every position...or you'll never have enough money for the stars who are your difference makers.
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Cleveland Browns: The Cowboys will be making their first round selection for them, the Packers will be making their second round selection for them, the Detriot Lions will be making their third round selection for them. In exchange: they will have Brady Quinn, who likely will not see the field this season; Corey Williams, who is actually a pretty good pickup; and Shaun Rogers, who also cost them over $20 million and cornerback Leigh Bodden. Sure, the defensive line will look better next season, and Stallworth will look good next to Braylon Edwards, but you can’t trade away your whole first day when you have so many needs. Where’s the depth in the secondary? The RB of the future? The young outside linebackers? The O-line depth?
HEY EVERYONE! STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING!! In about 3 years....the BROWNS will get those drafted players Dallas/Greenbay/Detroit drafts 
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Quote:
but you can’t trade away your whole first day when you have so many needs. Where’s the depth in the secondary? The RB of the future? The young outside linebackers? The O-line depth?
This cant be had with a few lower level signings in FA and in the draft next year?
Wimbley as a young OLB.
They do cneed CB depth. Can be had in the first 2 rounds next year.
RB of the future can be had in the first 2 rounds next year.
If Bentley can do anything, thats your o-line depth. Bentley, Tucker, Steinbach and Schaffer all have started multiple o-line positions. If 2 starters go down, then you have Sowells playing alongside these guys who have been successful.
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I gotta say this, when the pundits all said all the GOOD THINGS, I called them Talking heads and that it doesn't mean anything.. Now we hear a negative and let me repeat this.. He's a TALKING head.. means nothing... I do have a comment however... Quote:
Cleveland Browns: The Cowboys will be making their first round selection for them, the Packers will be making their second round selection for them, the Detriot Lions will be making their third round selection for them. In exchange: they will have Brady Quinn, who likely will not see the field this season; Corey Williams, who is actually a pretty good pickup; and Shaun Rogers, who also cost them over $20 million and cornerback Leigh Bodden.
Let me ask you guys this.. If you knew that your first, second and third round picks would be:Brady Quinn, Corey Williams and Shaun Rodgers, and having had a year like last year, knowing that DA may or May not be the real deal and knowing that your dLine is nothing more than a big hole that everyone runs through...
Would you be unhappy with those picks?
Most likely, you have all said yes,, and the reasons are, we addressed needs and got value.
As for the loss of Bodden and the cost of 20 million, no offense to the writer here,, but Bodden performed well for us but he wasn't (as of late) amazing. McDonald and Wright (both rookies) played as well or better and at least in my opinion, have a much larger upside.
As for the 20 Mill... Geez, I hate to say it, but in the NFL today, that's CHUMP change... (man does that seem odd to say that 20 mill is chump change or what)
So while I don't take what this guy says to heart, just like I'm not all excited about what positives have been said.. I think he's missing the point... Then I read this from him:
Quote:
Sure, the defensive line will look better next season, and Stallworth will look good next to Braylon Edwards, but you can’t trade away your whole first day when you have so many needs.
Wait,, just a moment,, What other needs did we have.... We had Dline needs, we had a need at receiver, we had a potential need at QB...
I know he's thinking LB, but what if our Dline peformed the way it's supposed to.. would the need for LB's be that severe all of a sudden? GIven that Bodden is gone, we may gave a need for depth in the secondary,, true enough, but would we worry about that if the Dline was a mess? Probably not.
As for RB,, we have just signed Lewis to a 3 year deal. We have harrison and wright. We have a couple of big FB's.. Maybe we need to worry about RB of the future,, but I suggest that it's in the Future that we will address it. We weren't going to pick high enough to get a replacement for Lewis anyway..
Probably our most glaring need was Dline... What did Savage do.. He got Dline..
Like I said,, these talking heads talk just to hear themselves... Worry not my friends.... worry not!
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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We were fine when JL went down for 2 or 3 games last year. I am confident that Wright and Harrison can shoulder that load.
We had some depth to fill the need for McKinney when he went down last year (and though Friedman is a FA--I think we'll resign him.). And though I am not counting on it---LCB could provide some depth.
Don't we have Kam and Peek as our young OLB's.
Our secondary is pretty thin---that seems like his only valid point.
This guy is a moron.
I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch......
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Quote:
Being quiet in free agency doesn’t mean you’ll be quiet in the season. It means that you’ll have fewer loudmouths, fewer personalities, and fewer busts.
Can some one explain to me how you'll have fewer busts from free agency than from the draft?
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The last three Super Bowl winners have supported the claim that success is built in April, not in March. The Steelers, the Colts and the Giants all reached the pinnacle of the sport through successful drafting and rare dips into free agency.
does this mean they have never dipped heavy into FA? i bet at some point all nfl teams have. if you have the time to spend on your draft picks developing, your better off going thru the draft. we needed a few key spots to fill so we can make a push NOW. once we have achieved success i'm sure we'll stick to the draft also.
tradition can only carry you so far, then you have to start winning again.
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Well, I imagine it has to do with the fact that FAs are proven NFL vets with a body of work to look at and draft picks are virutally unknowns who have never played a down in the NFL. Their upside may be greater but so is their potential for failure.
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Anyone who believes the draft is a more sure thing than Free Agency is not going to like what Savage has done this year. It's that simple.
Quite honestly, through Free Agency you know how well the guys can compete at this level. That can't be said about the draft.
And the next head coach is ......
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Quote:
Quote:
Being quiet in free agency doesn’t mean you’ll be quiet in the season. It means that you’ll have fewer loudmouths, fewer personalities, and fewer busts.
Can some one explain to me how you'll have fewer busts from free agency than from the draft?
I could....but I'd be lying to you!
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
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Just proves........There's many ways to skin a cat..... 
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j/k
If we hadn't already set the groundwork for this team in the draft I would agree that you don't build a team through free agency. Look no further than the Redskins to see the problem with that line of thinking.
When you build through FA you end up with big egos and salary cap problems. We didn't do that. Our core players on both sides of the ball came from the draft. We have some very good players from FA also but we aren't relying solely on FA too build the team. It took drafting guys like Joe Thomas, BE, Winlsow on offense and Wimbley, DQ, 2 starting corners and 2 starting safeties. This isn't a team built through FA. It is just plugging a couple of glaring holes that way.
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I guess I am just playing devil's advocate here so: Quote:
We were fine when JL went down for 2 or 3 games last year. I am confident that Wright and Harrison can shoulder that load.
Jamal is just getting older, and as a RB in the NFL, older is NOT good. I agree with you in that he can still produce. But when does he hit that wall and what happens if he goes down for more than 2 or 3 games. Unlike most on here, I am NOT confidant that Wright can carry us for an extended period of time and I am still VERY curious as to why we haven't seen more of Harrison.
Quote:
We had some depth to fill the need for McKinney when he went down last year (and though Friedman is a FA--I think we'll resign him.). And though I am not counting on it---LCB could provide some depth.
Freidman is NOT resigned YET and NO ONE knows if LCB will be back or not. Plus, are we even sure about McKinney? Isn't this the 2nd yr. in a row that he has had a significant injury? That's an honest question that I really don't know.
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Don't we have Kam and Peek as our young OLB's.
While I really do LOVE the play of Wimbley, he MUST improve against the run. As for Peek, he didn't show me alot last yr., maybe he WAS injured, but we NEED more from him also. I think Willie played better than Peek last yr. when he was in......and we all know we can't count on that this yr.
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Our secondary is pretty thin---that seems like his only valid point.
Our secondary is VERY thin. We have 2 second yr. players that as things stand now, we will be counting VERY HEAVILY on to carry a BIG load. While I do like Holly, do we even know if he and McDonald can handle being an EVERYDOWN corner in this league?
And What about Pool, he MUST improve in his reads and reactions. He has ALL THE TOOLS, but like Vers, I don't know if he has the instincts. And for a FS that may be one of the MOST important skills/talents needed.
Again, guys, I am just playing devils advocate as I do like what Phil has done this off-season. But what has happenned to all of those who say that strong teams are built through the draft? Where have they all gone now that we have basically given up our whole draft this yr.?
Finally, I do get the fact that we have basically drafted BQ with our 1st, Williams with our 2nd, and Rogers with our 3rd. And YES, I do like our chances with that "draft". I am just trying to ground some of us a little with all of the giddiness that seems to have struck this board lately.
Hell, even Vers seems happy.........and that scares the hell out me....... 
I hope you know I am just picking Vers. 
Born and breed with OSU, App. State alumni, but bleed orange and brown.
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Normally I'd agree with this article but honestly, I think this draft is a pretty weak one.
Apart from a ridiculous amount of running backs, I think the talent level in it is all in all poor.
I would have liked us to have one second or third round pick though to take advantage of the deep RB crop and upgrade over Harrison or Wright. But apart from that, Williams and Rogers are better than any of the tackles in this draft with the possible exceptions of Ellis and Dorsey IMO.
The one think I don;t quite understand, however, is how low Bodden's value was in the trade for Rogers. The Bengals originally had a 3rd and 5th round pick offer for Rogers. We gave up a 3rd and Bodden....so Bodden is only worth a 5th??? I mean, he had a poor season...but a FIFTH?
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j/c Quote:
The last three Super Bowl winners have supported the claim that success is built in April, not in March. The Steelers, the Colts and the Giants all reached the pinnacle of the sport through successful drafting and rare dips into free agency.
Yes, these teams had success through the draft. But let's not forget about the following key players:
Pittsburgh: Bettis
Indy: Vinatieri
Giants: Burress
I am unfamiliar with this feeling of optimism
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I'll take proven talent over the crap shoot of the draft anyday... The Browns have more than a good idea of what they are getting for all three of the FA signings... The have NFL production and actual proof sources of what these three can and can't do... Good and bad...
Better to go to battle with proven talent, you know you can count on than with talent you have no idea will hold up. " Believe not what you hear, but what you see..."
The Browns got quality proven NFL players for a 2nd and 3rd. LB was and always has been over rated and far often injured and not avaliable. Go watch some tape or jog your memory and see how many times opposing team "went after" LB for a critical thrid down convertion or beat him for a big play... Far too often. How many games was LB unavailable due to injury?
I like the FA moves... Don't like the $$$ we spent on DS, the guaranteed portion of his deal, but its seems to be back end and incentive loaded...
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1st String
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1st String
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I am somewhat concerned about depth on the Browns. Guys like Lenny Friedman, Chaun Thompson, and Ethan Kelly provided a security blanket if one of our starters went down. It's important to have backup guys.
But they do not define who the Cleveland Browns are. The Browns are defined by their starters and rotation guys...just like every team in the league. Does this guy think the Patriots are the same team if Brady goes down? Were the Chargers the same in the playoffs when LT hurt himself? Heck, they had Michael Turner as his backup and still lost. Starters have to stay healthy for any team to win.
Building a good team comes from drafting well and plugging holes with free agents and trades. Phil has done an great job so far.
As always, the success or failure of a team's moves will be determined on the field.
[color:"red"]"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
---Leonardo daVinci
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Dawg Talker
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Dawg Talker
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In the context of that you get proven talent, FA is obviously better. But that comes at a premium...
This is a team that has needed FA infusion over the last few years because we had so little talent on the roster. I think, as we become a perenially better team, we'll be hitting the FA market less and less as we'll have the luxury of being able to develop talent.
As long as we don't become a team managed like the REdskins, I'm good...
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Dawg Talker
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I really hope we re-sign Friedman. I think he's a versatile and under-rated backup.
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Legend
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Legend
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Quote:
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We were fine when JL went down for 2 or 3 games last year. I am confident that Wright and Harrison can shoulder that load.
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Jamal is just getting older, and as a RB in the NFL, older is NOT good. I agree with you in that he can still produce. But when does he hit that wall and what happens if he goes down for more than 2 or 3 games. Unlike most on here, I am NOT confidant that Wright can carry us for an extended period of time and I am still VERY curious as to why we haven't seen more of Harrison.
Good points but think about it for a second.. at the time of year that JL went down, he wasn't exactly lighting things up.. Harrison and Wright came up BIG in those games I thought.. I remember being impressed with thier work..
Of course, at the end of the season, when the weather turned horrid, there was good ole Jamal Lewis doing his thing, running over and around people...
But for a brief moment, I wondered, why do we need Lewis.. Of course the reason became clear later in the year...
I'm actually not to worried about our RB situation this year.. perhaps it's something we can address next year..
Quote:
Freidman is NOT resigned YET and NO ONE knows if LCB will be back or not. Plus, are we even sure about McKinney? Isn't this the 2nd yr. in a row that he has had a significant injury? That's an honest question that I really don't know.
I would like to see McKinney and Friedman resigned, but if they come up with alternatives,, I'd be ok with it also.,.
As for LCB,, I'd love to see him play.. and I'm guessing that if Savage thought that LCB would NOT be able, he's be rushing to sign Friedmen and/or McKinney..
So not signing those guys may be a sign that LCB is
ready and able to go. (I know,, I'm taking a positive stance,, but it's march.. what else is there?
As for LB's and the secondary, Again, I'm not all that concerned.. Pool is starting for the second year and my hope is that he's gonna show improvement.. (otherwise, I think that Savage would be out there digging around for another safety if he or RAC thought otherwise)
We still have a possibility of Baxter and I'm convnced that McDonald and Wright are our next Minnefield and Dixon.. We have Holly locked up for at least this year and I suspect we will go after some UDFA, or June cuts to round out the Secondary..
For LB's, Peek was banged up from about the 3rd game on. It's hard to tell what we really have in him given he's not been healthy.
The one negative is that Savage did go after some LB's so just like NOT signing Friedman may signal a return to form of LCB, trying to sign LB's may signal that Savage thinks we need help also..
The trouble with that thinking is that it doesn't appear that we've tried to lock down Matt Stewart or Chaun Thompson..
So basically, of all your concerns, I think LB is the one that actually bothers me most...and still, not a lot.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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the problem with what this guy wrote is simple....he's talking about backups... well we needed starters on the dline....and we weren't gonna get them in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft.... phil is using fa to fill holes left by poor drafting of the past... look what fa has done to our o line....we've drafted thomas only...hows our oline? i'll bet our dline turns out the same... we've got some late round picks still...maybe we find another macdonald at corner....or a safety...or a developmental linebacker..i'll bet its even more likely that a rb slips down that has some talent... this team is on the right track...next year we will have all our picks (as of now  ) and probably even more if we trade either da or bq....our depth will come from there....
Attitude is everything....FEAR THE ELF!!!
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2nd String
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2nd String
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Ok, who on Earth is Dave Gardner?
 This was my first thought also!!! JMHO Go Brownies!!!
Who Let Da Dawgs Out? Woof, Woof, Woof!!!!!
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Legend
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Legend
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Indy, Pittsburgh & New York. While all may have had more drafted starters than FA's. I bet if you look at their team, they have more than a handful of players that were on the team 3 years ago as well.
We have basically turned our roster over, in the last 3 years, and to fill holes fast, you need FA. I think next year we will be more quiet in FA, as we will have the foundation of both sides of the ball built, and we will then be filling spots through the draft primarily, with the occasional FA pick-up.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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2nd String
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2nd String
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The last three Super Bowl winners have supported the claim that success is built in April, not in March
j/c Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the Giants get Plexiglass thru free agency? I also believe that they have an offensive lineman they got as a free agent from the Browns! hehe The team most everyone seems to think is a dynasty (Da Pats), is Always picking up free agents to improve their roster! I guess that makes them Losers!!! Seau, Moss, Stallworth, and Vrabel are just a few that come to mind. JMHO Go Brownies!!!!
Who Let Da Dawgs Out? Woof, Woof, Woof!!!!!
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 563
All Pro
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All Pro
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His point is valid, and the reason is this: Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers, while great pickups, cost loads more than a 2nd and 3rd round pick. You can't build a team this way, because you'll be out of money to sign players really fast. Now, Savage has taken a calculated risk this year, but it's not something he can do every year, and he (and we) shouldn't get used to it. In fact, guys on this team are already clamoring for new contracts. The cap will get used up faster than you think.
Teams are built throught the draft. They have to be, because of the salary cap. Our moves this year could be great, but if they bust, it really messes us up for the future. We've got 100 mill tied up in these guys. If they don't produce like 1st round picks, we're handicapped in what we can do in the future. I like the moves, but these are valid points this guy makes. Time will tell who is right.
We need to build depth every year, and this year we aren't doing that. He's right that we need OL depth, RB depth, DB depth, OLB depth. eventually, draft picks have to start filling those spots, because it's too expensive to do it all through FA.
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All Pro
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All Pro
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Agreed. The holes the Browns have need filled now. And are, IMO. If the FA decissions pay off we won't need immediate fixes, more FA's, to stay compeditive and to keep winning. The momentum is moving in the right direction... It's clear the Browns want to win now! Example My 8 year old Benz is still a better vehicle, worth more, better looking and meets my needs better than bying two other vehicles...
The draft is important and a key to building a solid team that competes @ a high level year in and year out. Now, hopefully, the Browns are in a position to groom a few of the late round DL prospects they have or draft a few more over the next couple of years.
Maybe OLB or ILB is not as big a need as many of us feel it is...? I hope we acquire another OLB, CB. S before the season begins...
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Dawg Talker
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Quote:
We need to build depth every year, and this year we aren't doing that. He's right that we need OL depth, RB depth, DB depth, OLB depth. eventually, draft picks have to start filling those spots, because it's too expensive to do it all through FA.
very valid point...but impossible to do in one draft...especially when you start off without a 1st round pick
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
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This article is stupid beyond belief.
1. How did we know that Anderson was going to be a pro-bowl QB?
2. Do you really think we would have gotten a better player than Corey Williams at pick 56, and do you think we would have drafted anywhere but front 7?
3. Do you really think we would have gotten a better player than Rogers in the third, when we were probably once again going to draft front 7?
Having said that, would it have made sense to burn a ton of money on the one "RB of the future" in Michael Turner, an unproven back who got overpayed? No... Also, why do we need a back of the future RIGHT THIS SEASON when we have Jamal for 3 years and are trying to win NOW.
What linebackers besides Briggs would have really been worth it?
We have o-line depth, and not to mention one of the best lines in the league, so why is it much of a concern?
Overall this is a stupid article that can be torn apart in just a few seconds.
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All Pro
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All Pro
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J/C.
I think it's funny that it's stated over and over that a team is NOT built through FA but through the draft. But then most on here believe that the ground work for any successful team is built from the inside out. It begins with the Oline and Dline. And like it or not, our Oline was built through FA. It appears Savage is trying to do the same thing with the DLine. So as a GM he's doing what's worked for him in the past.
And the next head coach is ......
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Not really, what worked for the Ravens was building through the draft...
Also, Savage DID draft Joe Thomas, not every single player on the line has to be drafted.
PRO-BOWLER!
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All Pro
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All Pro
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I'm referring to since he's been here. I'm discounting the years in Baltimore as those years he wasn't the decision maker, Ozzie was.
And the next head coach is ......
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