2009 Free Agents

I want Bodden, Kelvin Hayden, Chris Johnson or Ron Bartell (all cornerbacks) above all other free agents. After that, I'd like to see Lechler here. No one player in the free agent market would make a bigger impact on our team than Shane Lechler, considering he would turn a main weakness into a strength basically overnight.

Outside of that, I'd chase a few centers, thinking either Geoff Hangartner or Jason Brown. But I wouldn't be in a rush to spend money after I shore up CB and Punter.

Ray Willis, a 27 year old OT from Seattle, might be a better (and a little older) version of Stephon Heyer, and there's the obvious Zorn connection.

And then I would mention the name Leonard Weaver, the Fullback from the Seahawks, who could be a FB/HB/STeamer combo for us. He's just a great player, though he doesn't fill a need.

But the key is, after CB and Punter, lets let the market set itself. Then lets try to upgrade the team on the cheap.

Whatever team signs Haynesworth will be making one of the biggest mistakes in the history of free agency. Haynesworth will not be THAT young when the season starts. hes only got another 4-5 years of production similar to what weve seen the past two years, but theres no garauntee he will continue to perform at a high level. by all appearances, hes been motivated soley by the prospect of a big payday. Haynesworth wants to be the highest paid defensive player in league history. whoever pays him that kind of money for the maximum potential of another 4-5 years of performance similar to what he did in 2007 and 2008 is an idiot.

Id rather have Chad Johnson buy the team and name us the Washington Ocho Cincos than have us bring Haynesworth here.

I think that's the nature of the sport and in this business there are risks that both players and teams take. Teams like the Chiefs and Tampa Bay have a lot of cap room and have the luxury of taking their chances on a good player that will cost a lot $$. Just as there's a chance that Haynesworth won't produce as much as he has before, there's a chance that he will produce and will turn a team's defense around.

Just because Washington has been plagued by hyped free agents who end up a bust, doesn't necessarily mean that the same is going to happen everywhere. Besides, organizations like the Chiefs and Tampa Bay have to do something that shows that they are working towards improving their teams. And you're not going to tell me that $$ is not a huge driving factor in the performance of most if not all NFL athletes? Another factor is also making it to the playoffs and winning a Superbowl. Team owners and front offices also want to earn money, go to the playoffs, and make it to the SB; so there will be plenty of teams that will pay for Haynesworth.

With that said, I don't think the Redskins should get Haynesworth, but not because I know that he's going to be bust (I don't, no one knows); but because the team has other needs (i.e. the offensive line that broke down in the second half of the season), doesn't have the cap room, and well it appears that the team is not going after splashy free agents.

doesn't Haynesworth remind anyone of Dana Stubblefield? just say no

Whatever team signs Haynesworth will be making one of the biggest mistakes in the history of free agency. Haynesworth will not be THAT young when the season starts. hes only got another 4-5 years of production similar to what weve seen the past two years, but theres no garauntee he will continue to perform at a high level. by all appearances, hes been motivated soley by the prospect of a big payday. Haynesworth wants to be the highest paid defensive player in league history. whoever pays him that kind of money for the maximum potential of another 4-5 years of performance similar to what he did in 2007 and 2008 is an idiot.

Id rather have Chad Johnson buy the team and name us the Washington Ocho Cincos than have us bring Haynesworth here.

Haynesworth is a risk reward player but he has shown me enough to make an offer to him. Why wouldn't you think he might have just gotten better in those two years. Being a superstar doesn't come overnight, it takes practices, and seasons to become great. Until his production slips then I'll admit I was wrong. Comparing him to Stubblefeild is ridiculous. The guy was juiced the season before we signed him in FA. As far as I know Haynesworth didn't take any steroids to get better. Judge him in '09 to tell whether he's bust or a sucess.

doesn't Haynesworth remind anyone of Dana Stubblefield? just say no

I've been guilty of this, making the statement that Haynesworth smells like a bust, and some people have made the comparisons to Stubblefield, who came to our team and sucked it up big time. My question for us is...well how do we know this? I did some homework and looked at Stubby's stats before he came to Washington, and looked at Haynesworth stats for the past three seasons:

Stubby before coming to the Redskins
Yr/Team/Tackles/Solo/Sacks/FF/INTs – Def Rank/Team Record
1995/SF/34/27/4.5/0/1 – 2nd/ 11-5
1996/SF/ 33/26/1.0/1/1 – 6th/ 12-4
1997SF/61/49/15.0/3/0 – 12th/ 13-3

Haynesworth’s last three seasons
Yr/Team/Tackles/Solo/Sacks/FF/INTs – Def Rank/Team Record
2006/TEN/30/23/2.0/0/0 – 27th/ 8-8
2007/TEN/40/32/6.0/0 – 21st/ 10-6
2008/TEN/51/41/8.5/3/0 – 7th/ 13-3

Stubby's last season in San Fran was incredible...61 Tkls (49 Solo), 15 sacks, and 3 force fumbles. Can anyone honestly tell me that you wouldn't have picked this guy? I ask again, how do you know that someone is going to be a bust? Stubblefield came to the Redskins and only played 7 games in his first season and did not have the same type of production (I guess now we prob know that he probably went off the juice). I mean other than completely staying away from any big time free agent, that's the only way I feel you can avoid having a bust.

Once again, I am not advocating for Haynesworth to come to Washington. I just find it funny that free agents are a hit or miss. Sometimes I feel teams could have done better homework, but I would say most of the time teams just have bad luck.

The texans & Jags just released some fairly big names.:

NFL Football Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings, Rumors - National Football League - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nfl/)

I liked Jerry Porter until his bust year in J'ville, but maybe his hamstring is fully healed now. I doubt Zorn & Vinny will try & sign him, but I'm sure they'll look into it.

The guys that might be cheap & helpful are Greenwood & Florence. Not saying any of these guys is a priority, or that the Skins will sign them, but based on these cuts & some others, it looks to be a fairly flooded market for free agents.

Jerry Porter is universally hated in every locker room he enters. TO gets the pub, but everything I've heard says JP is much worse.

Wasn't Florence a guy that was repeatedly rumored to be here last off-season?

I would put my typical "I am not suggesting for x-player to come to the Redskins", but that tends to be a futile attempt. But anyway, I just saw this on ESPN and thought to myself, what a pity that these talented receivers (Boldin, Burress, and CJ) have such character issues. I wonder if any of these receivers will get traded.

Report: Agent for Plaxico Burress shopping receiver - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3900946)

I would put my typical "I am not suggesting for x-player to come to the Redskins", but that tends to be a futile attempt. But anyway, I just saw this on ESPN and thought to myself, what a pity that these talented receivers (Boldin, Burress, and CJ) have such character issues. I wonder if any of these receivers will get traded.

Report: Agent for Plaxico Burress shopping receiver - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3900946)
While Burress & CJ's character issues are well documented, I don't believe Boldin has any character problems (unless I'm missing something). The only issue Boldin has is wanting to get a new contract. I know teammates will protect each other in the media, but Larry Fitzgerald's statements of reworking his contract and his statements on the sideline at the Pro Bowl seem to be a true endorsement of Boldin.

P.S. While he's a very good WR, I don't see him coming here, nor am I suggesting the Skins pursue him.

While Burress & CJ's character issues are well documented, I don't believe Boldin has any character problems (unless I'm missing something). The only issue Boldin has is wanting to get a new contract. I know teammates will protect each other in the media, but Larry Fitzgerald's statements of reworking his contract and his statements on the sideline at the Pro Bowl seem to be a true endorsement of Boldin.

P.S. While he's a very good WR, I don't see him coming here, nor am I suggesting the Skins pursue him.

I guess some teams would see Boldin's demand for a contract as a character issue, but you are correct Burress and CJ are the ones with the character issues. I must say though that I think with Fitz's plea and willingness to restructure his contract, Boldin is going to come out as the bad guy if he doesn't stay with AZ. Well I'm sure the media will portray him that way.