Current 2014 Free Agents

Not at 12-13mil/yr.

Who says he wants that??

I don't see anyone giving him that much anyway.

per Fanspeak

There is a list of possible cuts that would add $17 million of cap space

Cuts include :

DL Bowen, Carriker, Golston
OL everyone but Trent
Paulson

etc...

Plus the rule of 51 could add anther 1 or 2 million

Free agency hasn't even started and all is lost with Rak?

Can't blame him for wanting to test the market and see what's out there.

I'm sure we'll offer him a good contract.

per Fanspeak

There is a list of possible cuts that would add $17 million of cap space

Cuts include :

DL Bowen, Carriker, Golston
OL everyone but Trent
Paulson

etc...

Plus the rule of 51 could add anther 1 or 2 million

Agree with Bowen and Carriker. Paulsen is a decent player who doesn't cost much so I don't know why he should be cut.

Get serious about the OL. If we're lucky, we might be able to upgrade two OL positions between FA and the draft. I doubt it though because we're going to need to work on the defense and ST.

This is a 25-30 rank defense, we need alot of players. There are alot of upgrades in free agency that aren't big names. Spend alot of cap money to resign our own, and where does that get us? Need to bring in guys to compete, and not overpay guys that aren't making an impact.

Yes! That is exactly right.
Lavar Arrington said it right, you do not pay top dollar to Rak who does not take over games and is not a game changer. He disappears at time. Arrington called Rak undiciplined in his play and that is right. Funny Arrington was same way. Drove coaches crazy.
Rak is a top 10 LB, but closer to 10 than top 5. If you know what I mean. Do not pay him big money. We will regret it.

http://overthecap.com/top-player-salaries.php?Position=34OLB

Interesting that after the top 5 the salary drops pretty quickly. I think you offer Rak a nice 8-9mill contract with a solid guarantee which would be top.5 once Ware gets cut or takes a paycut. If he wants to test it above that ok. I wouldn't be surprised if the Skins are offering closer to 7 though.

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Yes! That is exactly right.
Lavar Arrington said it right, you do not pay top dollar to Rak who does not take over games and is not a game changer. He disappears at time. Arrington called Rak undiciplined in his play and that is right. Funny Arrington was same way. Drove coaches crazy.
Rak is a top 10 LB, but closer to 10 than top 5. If you know what I mean. Do not pay him big money. We will regret it.

And what will we do when he signs elsewhere for pennies (relatively) more who is our stud backup who can come in and start for him ?

Kerigan and Orakpo were living in the backfield against green bay and the eagles at the beginning of the year but teams realized they could neutralize our pass rush with the quick passing game which we couldn't counter ...

Yes we need to upgrade the MLB and secondary but I dont think the best way to do that is free agency ... the way you avoid expensive mistakes is by resigning your own, you know most about them, and realistically is there going to be anyone better we could bring in via free agency, the names I have heard banded around would cost $$$$ but are free agents for a reason ...

Who says he wants that??

I don't see anyone giving him that much anyway.

kiem on 980. that's what he "wants" anyways. we don't know what he'd accept, but it looks like the market is going to decide. i'd just franchise him and use the time to get a deal done, cause this FA market isn't team friendly in terms of what he'll be able to get.

What about the stat that showed Rak averaged more sacks per rush. Yes, other linebackers had more sacks than him but they also rushed the passer 100 more times than he did. Pay that man!!!! Hazmzat is going to rush Rak and Kerrigan a lot more this year.

This is a 25-30 rank defense, we need alot of players. There are alot of upgrades in free agency that aren't big names. Spend alot of cap money to resign our own, and where does that get us? Need to bring in guys to compete, and not overpay guys that aren't making an impact.

I definitely understand your reasoning. I feel the same way except that I don't want to throw out the baby with the bath water. Those who have underperformed their contracts or who have shown that they can't help us win should be shown the door. On the other hand, not everyone on our defense played poorly and, so far, the Skins haven't re-signed anyone who can't help us, IMO.

The Skins need to create more cap room by cutting Carriker and Bowen. That will save over $5MM. These are players who can easily be replaced, IMO. Like you, I think most of the players on our defense can be replaced by better, possibly cheaper, players in FA. The bar isn't very high.

My fear is that our mediocre (at best) DC is comfortable in his mediocrity and will lobby to keep mediocre players that he is comfortable with, which would, of course, doom us to another season of poor defensive play and losing.

Haslett is still here due to the buddy system. Let's just hope that the buddy system doesn't apply to the players, as well.