Mega-Merge: 2010 Free Agency Rumors and Reports Thread

I'm sure that every lineman has some sort of exposure to the ZBS, but I thought/was delusional in thinking that we would bring in a bunch of underpublicized lineman who specialize in what we're going to do for the next few years. So far, we've re-signed Rabach and Mike Williams, who don't do any of that. Clifton is 34.

It's possible we're already doing that and I'm just oblivious, but I'm just seeing guys who have struggled to hold on to a starting job the last few years traipsing through here, and I'm skeptical. That's all.

When you see "3-year deal", and it being offered to a backup-quality lineman, you do have to wonder what the greater plan is. Usually with bargain-basement types, shorter contracts are in vogue.

I think its a job security thing. If there's a lockout, the players may be out of luck salary-wise.

Yes you have to wonder but one player who is a back up in one system might actually do rather well in another scheme. If Shanahan can get mid to late rounders to be the best OL in the NFL as he has with Denver then I presume he will do just as well with players who are from other teams but the same catagory.What you're saying is correct. I just hope it's a small part of the greater plan, instead of, you know, the plan for rebuilding the line.

Well GTtripp that is the problem with this year's fa ol pool. There just aren't any good quality guys out there. Unless we trade away draft picks for RFAs. There aren't going to be any guys in the background so to speak.

Prob not going to find a lot of underpublicized guys that are that good in UFA, after this many years they're either known well or not, unless they're sitting behind a damn good starter.

Would that line of thinking be right? I def don't follow enough other teams' lines to know.

Well GTtripp that is the problem with this year's fa ol pool. There just aren't any good quality guys out there. Unless we trade away draft picks for RFAs. There aren't going to be any guys in the background so to speak.Right, so why give a multi-year (longer than two) deal to anyone? What good does it do to say: "you're a nice player in a crappy class, come be a staple of our future."

Nothing is inherently wrong with either of these signings, as players who can help us win, but something doesn't quite smell right. Improvement is going to be slow, of course, but this is hardly even moving in the right direction.

Something else that needs to be said, is that Mike Shanahan has not seen any of our current roster on the field with his staff. Once we get past the 15th off season workouts he and his staff will continue making the necessary moves. Any moves made right now are based off film and obvious needs (which makes me happy that they are bringing in the OL players first). i would imagine in the upcoming years as the staff has a familiarity with the players we would be a little more aggressive If needed players are available.

And of course, Vinnie left the cupboard pretty bare, BA doesn't have much leeway with picks as our line situation is harsh so we need all our picks and we have not accumulated them in the past so we have no extras to use so we really can't look at restricted as we may have liked.

It's really funny how guys are complaining about the guys were bringing in are nobodys, low draft round guys but two weeks ago the same people were talking about the Saints OL & how it was good and made up of a bunch of low draft round guys.

the free agent class this year is pretty bad alltogether

Prob not going to find a lot of underpublicized guys that are that good in UFA, after this many years they're either known well or not, unless they're sitting behind a damn good starter.

Would that line of thinking be right? I def don't follow enough other teams' lines to know.Yeah, it's pretty much only going to be known to people who have coached them. It's really difficult to find a market niche elsewhere in football. Certain skills are under/overvalued all the time, but as far as a starting caliber player hidden on an NFL bench...you need to be well networked to tap that channel.

Thing is, our scouts are notoriously poor at evaluating the talent around the rest of the league. We've, historically, been much more successful projecting from the college level. BA can only work with the information that he's been given.

With Artis Hicks, we have a guy who was absolutely killed at the LT position in some limited time this year. Batiste'd, if you will. Pashos is a RT with no versatility to play anywhere else. RT and utility lineman are both needs, but three year contracts suggest that there won't be competition. That's a pricey release.

Good arguments all around, by the way. Ultimately, I hope this "smell" is just the stench of poor analysis on my part.