Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post

Sheriff Gonna Getcha · 12-28-2004, 07:46 PM

Drafting Mike Williams
I'd like to have Mike Williams, but does anyone realize the kind of money we'd have to pay him? Andre Johnson signed a six-year contract worth almost $39 million, including a $13.5 million signing bonus. That was two years ago. Larry Fitzgerald netted over $40 million for a six year deal after last year's draft.

So we'd likely have to sign Williams to a deal that cost $7 million per year. Even when you consider that all deals are backloaded, Williams would carry a cap figure of close to $4 million his rookie season and he'd count about $6.5 million by the third year of his deal.

Forecast - Cap Storm Ahead
Given that Gibbs and Cerrato have both conceded that our cap woes will likely come to a head following next season, does anyone really think its a good idea to take sign a pick to a monstrous deal?

I know many people on this site think the salary cap doesn't really exist, that we can somehow evade it, that we need to sign an impact player at any cost, and we've gotten away with dangerous salary cap moves in the past. In response, I note: 1) there is a salary cap, 2) it is real, 3) you can't evade it (see Baltimore Ravens of 2001 and the 49ers of 2004), 4) and we haven't gotten away from our free-spending past.

We've taken huge hits because we signed guys like Bruce Smith, Dan Wilkinson, Jeremiah Trotter, and Mark Brunell who consistently bring cheers from the fans in the offseasons (that is until they are cut in the offseason), but their barks are much bigger than their bites.

This year we had over $10 million of dead space on the cap. Next year those cap hits will likely cost us around $9 million of cap room. Just so you know, that's as much as it will cost us to keep Jon Jansen, Laveranues Coles, and Clinton Portis on our roster in 2005.

Hasty Decisions
If we let people who want to cut Barrow, McCants, Morton, Samuels, Gardner and Brunell have their way, we'll be approaching $20 million of dead space. Umm, has anyone thought any of that through?

People want to cut guys at the drop of a hat and sign anyone who appeared on Jacked Up or on I, Max. I remember a lot of people calling for Spurrier to cut Antonio Pierce last season after he was flagged for faking the snap count in a Dallas game. That would've worked out well. A lot of people, if given the chance to play GM of the Chargers, would've cut Drew Brees last season. That would've been a great move.

Team Needs & The Draft
It's time to be patient, not call for the 'Skins front office to act like it's heading into an offseason on Madden 2005, and to make smart moves, not sexy, offseason-winning ones.

Trading down is the smartest thing to do. I know people love those highlight reels that Roy Williams produced in Detroit and want a guy like that in Mike Williams, but this ain't fantasy football. There is a salary cap, we have enough talent at our skill positions on offense, and we have serious holes on our lines. Trading down and drafting a center and a defensive lineman might not be sexy, but its the smart thing to do.

12-28-2004, 07:46 PM	#1
Sheriff Gonna Getcha Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 45 Posts: 8,317	Drafting Mike Williams Drafting Mike Williams I'd like to have Mike Williams, but does anyone realize the kind of money we'd have to pay him? Andre Johnson signed a six-year contract worth almost $39 million, including a $13.5 million signing bonus. That was two years ago. Larry Fitzgerald netted over $40 million for a six year deal after last year's draft. So we'd likely have to sign Williams to a deal that cost $7 million per year. Even when you consider that all deals are backloaded, Williams would carry a cap figure of close to $4 million his rookie season and he'd count about $6.5 million by the third year of his deal. Forecast - Cap Storm Ahead Given that Gibbs and Cerrato have both conceded that our cap woes will likely come to a head following next season, does anyone really think its a good idea to take sign a pick to a monstrous deal? I know many people on this site think the salary cap doesn't really exist, that we can somehow evade it, that we need to sign an impact player at any cost, and we've gotten away with dangerous salary cap moves in the past. In response, I note: 1) there is a salary cap, 2) it is real, 3) you can't evade it (see Baltimore Ravens of 2001 and the 49ers of 2004), 4) and we haven't gotten away from our free-spending past. We've taken huge hits because we signed guys like Bruce Smith, Dan Wilkinson, Jeremiah Trotter, and Mark Brunell who consistently bring cheers from the fans in the offseasons (that is until they are cut in the offseason), but their barks are much bigger than their bites. This year we had over $10 million of dead space on the cap. Next year those cap hits will likely cost us around $9 million of cap room. Just so you know, that's as much as it will cost us to keep Jon Jansen, Laveranues Coles, and Clinton Portis on our roster in 2005. Hasty Decisions If we let people who want to cut Barrow, McCants, Morton, Samuels, Gardner and Brunell have their way, we'll be approaching $20 million of dead space. Umm, has anyone thought any of that through? People want to cut guys at the drop of a hat and sign anyone who appeared on Jacked Up or on I, Max. I remember a lot of people calling for Spurrier to cut Antonio Pierce last season after he was flagged for faking the snap count in a Dallas game. That would've worked out well. A lot of people, if given the chance to play GM of the Chargers, would've cut Drew Brees last season. That would've been a great move. Team Needs & The Draft It's time to be patient, not call for the 'Skins front office to act like it's heading into an offseason on Madden 2005, and to make smart moves, not sexy, offseason-winning ones. Trading down is the smartest thing to do. I know people love those highlight reels that Roy Williams produced in Detroit and want a guy like that in Mike Williams, but this ain't fantasy football. There is a salary cap, we have enough talent at our skill positions on offense, and we have serious holes on our lines. Trading down and drafting a center and a defensive lineman might not be sexy, but its the smart thing to do. Last edited by Sheriff Gonna Getcha; 12-28-2004 at 08:01 PM.