UPDATE: Bears Sign 29 Year Old RT Shaffer

I would think at 29, we could get his best years right now. I understand going young, but if this guy, or someone like him gives us a good insurance policy if our OL draft pick bombs

It would also save us from the gamble of selecting Smith with the 13th overall.

If we address OT then we can open up our options with our first pick. I don't want everyone to have us pegged at RT with our first pick.

He's from Salisbury Md, never started less than 15 games, and has 9 solo tackles in 8 years, How does an OT get that many????

Kevin Shaffer Stats, News, Photos - Cleveland Browns - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=3746)

edit: he was born in Salisbury but went to high school in Lancaster, Pa.
from up here in my neck of the woods. went to Conestoga Valley High School, in the heart of Amish country. i say he is worth a look. and how did you find that out? i see your original post was edited

from up here in my neck of the woods. went to Conestoga Valley High School, in the heart of Amish country. i say he is worth a look. and how did you find that out? i see your original post was edited

the wikipedia article had it listed, also read an interview he grew up in Philly territory, said he enjoyed going back and playing against them in a cleveland article, maybe he would enjoy going back twice a year !!! :)

Cleveland had the worst offense in the NFL and they're letting this guy go. I think that pretty much tells all I need to know.

I say sign him. We have too many needs at LB, DE and T to hope we can fill those all with less than a full allotment of draft picks.

Cleveland had the worst offense in the NFL and they're letting this guy go. I think that pretty much tells all I need to know.

Not really, look at all the drops their receivers had, and their qb rotations, I actually think their line held up very well.

Let me put it like this, we had the 28th or so scoring offense, would you tell me that you wouldn't take Cooley if we cut him due to salary cap reasons, or if Cooley is too much of a standout, what about Betts, or Samuels?

Cleveland had the worst offense in the NFL and they're letting this guy go. I think that pretty much tells all I need to know.

I was thinking the same thing. So what if this guy started on a team thats been crappy the entire time he was there (and pretty much forever before then)? Nothing about this guy makes me feel he would automatically be an upgrade over what we have.

Surprised but not surprised... this just confirms that FOs around the league plan on walking away from the draft w/ franchise talent at OT. J Smith, Monroe and Oher all go in the top 10 now, mark it. What surprises me is the Browns did this so early... maybe they like the guy quite a bit and wanted to give him the best shot of signing a good contract elsewhere because after the draft he's likely to be competing w/ the likes of Levi Jones, etc.

... this has big draft implications for us IMO. A Smith will be the only top talent OT available at 13. I don't want the risk for such a high pick. Also I think it's looking less likely we get good value trading back, in which case we really give up on some top talent at another position. Regardless of whether we sign Shaffer I think we need to get an OT, preferably the best who comes available, in FA. That leaves us the ability to basically draft the BPA at 13 if we can't get shit trading down... YEAH FOR REY!!!

... btw Vinny and the FO are getting smart IMO!!! We didn't go after Willis that hard and just sat on Barnes and now we're seeing better talent come available.

I was thinking the same thing. So what if this guy started on a team thats been crappy the entire time he was there (and pretty much forever before then)? Nothing about this guy makes me feel he would automatically be an upgrade over what we have.

Wow I am really defending a guy I don't know that much about, but I did read the different sports sites analysis', looked at Cleveland's info, and stayed at a day's inn. This guy DEFINITELY could start for us, since his 3rd year he has been a constant starting RT, Jansen at 29 was a beast- this guy looks like he should be in the prime of his career, and with Buges and crew he would solidify our Right side and give us an opportunity to take who we want in the draft, instead of being forced into a corner-rather a tackle ;)

Now it may not work money wise, he would be at the top of our range, and he may have a fatal flaw that i don't see, but this seems like a solid move that we could make and come away with a solid offensive starting lineup of

Samuels
Dockery
Rabach
Thomas
Shaffer

and better depth than last year.

Cleveland had the worst offense in the NFL and they're letting this guy go. I think that pretty much tells all I need to know.Well, they like Ryan Tucker who has been out two years with a staph injury. Time will tell if this is the right move.