Update on Rock

I think ALL special teamers are underappreciated. Go to any other team forum and ask if anyone knows who Ethan Albright is... I hope Rock returns. There have been few Skins over the past ten years who have worked as hard as he has. While we are on the subject, props to James Thrash too.

I think ALL special teamers are underappreciated. Go to any other team forum and ask if anyone knows who Ethan Albright is... I hope Rock returns. There have been few Skins over the past ten years who have worked as hard as he has. While we are on the subject, props to James Thrash too.

Thank you!

I'm really not surprised that Rock isn't finding much interest out there. I'd like to see him back but he's really not worth much more than the veteran minimum. If he can find more out there more power to him.

honestly I like Rock alot, but I really think his returns had less to do with his skills and more with the scheme. It isn't like he is making tons of cuts on his own, he is just running straight through the wedge and nothing else.

I agree to a point. He's not a dynamic return man but I do think he excels at finding the crease and hitting it at full speed. In that regard he reminds me alot of Brian Mitchell.

I believe it all depends on the team needs. Rocks problem is that we have Betts and Thrash who can do his job just as good or better then him. I would have lumped Randel El in there but he has never impressed me with his return duties and I hope they stop having him return.

Betts is only the relief man on the RB squad. Why not have him do the all returns unless Portis gets hurt. We also have Marcus Mason waiting in the wings who is already getting paid a lot less and probubly could do just as good.

I'm all for Rock testing the market. who knows maybe someone will need a second RB similar to what Betts is doing for us. But I think he needs to check his money amount at the door and realize that we have enough people to fill his shoes and that if he WANTS to be a Reskin then he will have to probubly take a cut in pay.

Yeah.

I don't think he should be a priority at this point

honestly I like Rock alot, but I really think his returns had less to do with his skills and more with the scheme. It isn't like he is making tons of cuts on his own, he is just running straight through the wedge and nothing else.

I agree for the most part, though I will point out that any good return man gets it going north-south asap & Rock does that. He's not a guy that will make much happen if the blocks aren't there & he certainly lacks breakaway speed & moves. The return team blocks well & he's done an adequate job of "finding the crease" as Matty said.

Rock's problem is that there are so many rb's that can do better at returns & especially at rb. It's a position that can be easily filled in the 4th-7th rounds w/more athletic players than Rock. Remember, this dude was a fullback as a rookie.

I think Rock's real value is in special teams coverage & attitude. He brings that fire that's needed on any special teams unit & leads by example. Even if you have 11 great athletes on a spec. teams unit, you need someone to step up & get the whole unit fired up. Rock seems to do that. His recovery of Thrash's (another great teams guy) fumbled punt return v. Detroit kinda summarized his value to the Skins.

I would love to see him back for a 3-4 yr. deal, 1 mil in guarantees/bonuses, maybe a no. of incentives. I think that's realistic.

The cap is $116 million and he is asking for 2 million signing bonous spread out over several years. Skins aren't going to be exactly breaking the bank if they give him a decent contract.

In the words of Lucilla "The mob is fickle brother. He'll be forgotten in a month."

I agree for the most part, though I will point out that any good return man gets it going north-south asap & Rock does that. He's not a guy that will make much happen if the blocks aren't there & he certainly lacks breakaway speed & moves. The return team blocks well & he's done an adequate job of "finding the crease" as Matty said.

Rock's problem is that there are so many rb's that can do better at returns & especially at rb. It's a position that can be easily filled in the 4th-7th rounds w/more athletic players than Rock. Remember, this dude was a fullback as a rookie.

I think Rock's real value is in special teams coverage & attitude. He brings that fire that's needed on any special teams unit & leads by example. Even if you have 11 great athletes on a spec. teams unit, you need someone to step up & get the whole unit fired up. Rock seems to do that. His recovery of Thrash's (another great teams guy) fumbled punt return v. Detroit kinda summarized his value to the Skins.

I would love to see him back for a 3-4 yr. deal, 1 mil in guarantees/bonuses, maybe a no. of incentives. I think that's realistic.

And I think that is what I was originally aiming at, but I was too lazy to elaborate. I don't think Rock is especially great, because we can find others like him. And I realize knowing when to go N-S is important for a returnman but is not natural gifted talent which deserves extra compensation.

I do agree, however, his energy and impact on special teams are important X-factors but as many of you have said being a locker room presence should not play a huge role in determining salary.

I have a feeling he's not going to find what he's looking for on the open market and when push comes to shove he'll end up back here with a modest raise in salary.