Official Redskins Free Agency Thread 2013

Fletcher is coming back.

If he goes down we will have 2 at minimum back up MLBs. Robison being one who I have read on the site that people seem to think is a starter and a player to be named later. On defense, not ST, he is replaceable.

Yup all signs point to Fletcher coming back, not much to worry about there. I thought that was kinda old news already?

Sorry guys, I'll disagree. Alexander is more important than you think.

Sorry guys, I'll disagree. Alexander is more important than you think.

I agree

Just remember how we got Lorenzo, as an undrafted DT who wore 79 out of cal but hustled and would play and do anything to get onto the field (made that tackle in the preseason w/ his helmet off if you remember that).

Sure he just went to a pro bowl, but let me give you a list of previous pro bowlers and what happened later on in the next season(s)

2013
Lorenzo Alexander, Matthew Slater: TBD; Slater made his 2nd straight pro bowl.

2012
Matthew Slater, Corey Graham
Corey left in free agency and went on to play for the Ravens, injuries led to him starting and he came up huge for the team in the playoffs picking manning off twice, 1 for a TD

2011
Montell Owens, Eric Weems
Montell shined in the couple of weeks he started for jax this past season, but hasn't done anything special for the jags. Weems left atlanta for Chicago and hasn't done anything relevant since.

2010
Kaseem Osgood, Heath Farwell
Osgood has been on numerous pro bowl teams, left san diego to sign a contract w/ Jax and was later cut, because he was a high paid STer. Farwell hasn't been to a pro bowl since.

2009
Sean Morey, Brendan Ayanbadejo
Ayenbadejo made his 3rd pro bowl (1st w/ his then new team the Ravens)

2008
Osgood, Ayanbadejo

2007
Osgood, Ayanbadejo

2006
Hanik Milligan, David Tyree
Milligan made the pro bowl before Osgood did in San Diego, so was it really that these guys were great or did it have to do with San Diego being a great and popular team that these guys got the recognition (as did a lot of these other guys on this list)? Tyree was a good STer, and he had one of the best plays we'll ever see in a super bowl. After that play, what else did he do for the rest of his career? Nothing because he couldn't find work, then he retired.

2005
Larry Izzo, Ike Reese
Larry Izzo made 3 pro bowls in his career and was a good ST player. Ike Reese made 1 pro bowl, left to sign a 4 year deal w/ atlanta for about $5 million. Ike Reese is similar to alexander in terms of being a captain and a free agent LB Special Teamer who is coming off of his first pro bowl. Larry Izzo is similar to alexander in terms of being undrafted, under sized, hard working, but New England didn't win all those super bowls because of a special teamer. Ike Reese could be our closest comparison to Lorenzo, a 1 time pro bowl STer who is a free agent looking for ''big money,'' only to get that ''big'' money from another team and getting cut 2 years later.


Summary

If Lorenzo wants to go, I won't be sad, because honestly the special teams pro bowl award is kind of stupid, because it tends to go to the most popular/hottest winning team's ST player. Is Reed Doughty a ST leader in the waiting? Possibly. I've mentioned that many of these guys are hard workers, so look for the guys who are hard workers. Heres one for the draft; AJ Klein. Another? Mike Mauti. We're not letting go of the next Steve Tasker ok. We're letting go of a team captain who can be replaced. Do we want to replace a team captain? No, but if you really are a team leader and you realize your a special teams player and your team which showed that they wanted you when no one else didn't and gave you a chance, is tied down with heavy cap penalties, you would stay with that team, assuming you really are a team captain--team player--and not a 'me for the money' player.

Lichtensteiger reaches five-year deal with Redskins | News | NFL.com
Lichtensteiger reaches five-year deal with Redskins | News | NFL.com (http://m.nfl.com/news/0ap1000000149196/lichtensteiger-reaches-fiveyear-deal-with-redskins/)

with Alexander, I think if he wants to test FA that's fine. He's been a great Redskin and I hate to see him go, but that's what scouts get paid to find--the late round / undrafted hungry ballers.

Lets keep in mind that the Skins gave him every opportunity to hang around, how many teams would cut him when it was clear he wasn't going to become a starter on the line? or at the next spot? or the next?

It seems like a case to me where if he stays great, if not its a chance for the next guy to shine.

Lichtensteiger reaches five-year deal with Redskins | News | NFL.com
Lichtensteiger reaches five-year deal with Redskins | News | NFL.com (http://m.nfl.com/news/0ap1000000149196/lichtensteiger-reaches-fiveyear-deal-with-redskins/)

5 years seems awful long. hope the length makes the cap hit super friendly.

I agree. He's a special teams player, stop worrying... He'll come around.

I'd like to have him back but I don't think it is vital or that we should overpay for his services.

I agree with you & think he will test the waters & find out that he isn't going to garner much interest. In the end he will sign for three more years with a slight pay increase.

Yeah and you think a mid rounder can fill Alexander's shoes? Hell, even Robinson isn't even up to speed and is coming back from a torn pec muscle. FA? You resign Alexander who already knows the system.

Yes, I do think a mid-rounder could fill his shoes. Simply knowing the system doesn't mean he should automatically be re-signed for whatever money he wants. Fletch is coming back but even if he wasn't I stand behind my statement. Alexander can go or he can stay.