Free Agency/Franchise Tag thread 2011

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

And Carolina tags Kalil

Adam Schefter
Carolina is placing its franchise tag on C Ryan Kalil.

Sucks but not unexpected.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

So then educate me. Show me a winning team whose roster is primarily comprised of 'low profile good players who are motivated' or 'young hungry players' that eschews free agency and doesn't add talented players by all means (draft, trade, free agency).

The Packers are largely homegrown, right? Their 5 best players (Rodgers, Woodson, Jennings, Raji, Matthews) are all 'high profile' first round (with the exception of Jennings) players. They had role players step up for injured starters but now we're talking about depth, not primary playmakers. Roster spots 42-53, I completely agree, give me youth, give me hunger, give me athleticism but for my first 22, give me talented playmakers and I'll kill the mess out of your young, hungry, low profile team.

For the record, I am completely against trading any of our picks this year and I hope they trade down from 10 to acquire additional picks. However, head in the sand thinking of 'it hasn't worked before so it won't work now' isn't close to the solution either.

OK, let's get straight what we're talking about. We're talking about deciding to pick up yet another high profile free agent, not anything else.

And regardless of how you dresss up that decision to try to acquire that high profile player, it still doesn't hide the fact that this is the NUMBER ONE reason why the redskins are in the position they are in. It's investing too much into a select number of proven high profile players rather than investing intelligently to both proven low profile veterans and young players with potential and talent.

I never focused on one particular player to use as an example. Hell if the redskins can get any of the players that you are considering for a bargain, then by all means sign him to a contract. But if you're gonna break the bank and give him what a high profile free agent EXPECTS, then I will be there to tell you so when the redskins aren't doing well as a team AGAIN. And this is regardless of how that high profile free agent player performs.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

However, head in the sand thinking of 'it hasn't worked before so it won't work now' isn't close to the solution either.

Just a comment to this -- isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

[warriorzpath]

... and just because you pass or decide against an action, that doesn't mean you are passive.

I just have to shake my head at all of these free agent discussions because I feel like I'm in football fandom hell. We as redskins fans have been living this football nightmare for over a decade.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

OK, let's get straight what we're talking about. We're talking about deciding to pick up yet another high profile free agent, not anything else.

And regardless of how you dresss up that decision to try to acquire that high profile player, it still doesn't hide the fact that this is the NUMBER ONE reason why the redskins are in the position they are in. It's investing too much into a select number of proven high profile players rather than investing intelligently to both proven low profile veterans and young players with potential and talent.

I never focused on one particular player to use as an example. Hell if the redskins can get any of the players that you are considering for a bargain, then by all means sign him to a contract. But if you're gonna break the bank and give him what a high profile free agent EXPECTS, then I will be there to tell you so when the redskins aren't doing well as a team AGAIN. And this is regardless of how that high profile free agent player performs.

Actually THE NUMBER ONE reason why the Redskins are in the position they are in is poor talent evaluation. In 2008 we had 10 draft picks. In the hands of a competent GM and scouting staff that should have set us up for the next 3-5 years of 'young, hungry, low profile talent' but we have one contributing player. The fact we've spent more FA money, traded more picks and missed on more drafted players has far more to do with poor execution than it does poor strategy. The Steelers, Packers, Eagles, Ravens, Patriots, etc. who are perennial winners do one thing better than any others, evaluate talent. We have failed at that task for damn near since Beathard left DC. Don't fall into the camp of 'free agency is bad', we've been terrible at bringing in the right people.

I agree, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. If we were to go out and sign players in the 30's to large contracts, set the market at each position, trade our early round draft picks for role players and expect the Lombardi, you'd have no argument from me. To essentially to ignore talent free agents because free agency hasn't worked before is genuinely insane.

[warriorzpath]

I'm not suggesting to ignore free agency. I'm saying the opposite, pay more attention -- more attention to the ones not getting that much attention -- hence the "low profile" players.

What I do sort of suggest to ignore (more like stay away from) - are the free agents demanding huge contracts.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I'm not suggesting to ignore free agency. I'm saying the opposite, pay more attention -- more attention to the ones not getting that much attention -- hence the "low profile" players.

What I do sort of suggest to ignore (more like stay away from) - are the free agents demanding huge contracts.

For role players, 100% agree with you. To ignore prospective starters, those who have proved it elsewhere yet fit A)team needs, B) the right profile (youth, character, etc) and C) the budget, is just as foolish as blindly spending.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

For role players, 100% agree with you. To ignore prospective starters, those who have proved it elsewhere yet fit A)team needs, B) the right profile (youth, character, etc) and C) the budget, is just as foolish as blindly spending.

I think we just have 2 different approaches. You would consider giving a free agent a huge contract. I wouldn't. Not anymore I wouldn't. I just consider this a mistake that the redskins have been making what it seems like forever to me. You just don't see it the same way. I think we wil see what the redskins will do and if it works out or not.

But I'll be honest, if i'm proven right either way. I'll exercise my bragging rights. Hopefully it won't be a consolation to a redskins losing season.

And to correct someones post recently and so some fans don't go around spewing incorrect redskins trivia - Gary Clark and Santana moss were not redskins free agent pickups

[Ruhskins]

I think too many people are still traumatized by big time gaffes committed by this team in free agency such as overpaying questionable talent (Archuleta), giving up picks for washed up/semi-washed up players (Jason Taylor/McNabb), really dumb trades (TJ Duckett), and giving a ton of money to headcases (Haynesworth).

We definitely should build through the draft, but that doesn't exclude getting good free agents. I think Bruce Allen has shown us that he's not going to overpay someone who isn't worth it (see LJ, Parker, etc., etc.). And due to a number of circumstances, we are going to see a number of young talented players that will be available in free agency.

[Ruhskins]

Shockey is done with the Saints

"Jay Glazer
I'm reporting the Saints are terminating the contract of TE Jeremy Shockey.
4 minutes ago from ÜberSocial"

[skinsfaninok]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I think we just have 2 different approaches. You would consider giving a free agent a huge contract. I wouldn't. Not anymore I wouldn't. I just consider this a mistake that the redskins have been making what it seems like forever to me. You just don't see it the same way. I think we wil see what the redskins will do and if it works out or not.

But I'll be honest, if i'm proven right either way. I'll exercise my bragging rights. Hopefully it won't be a consolation to a redskins losing season.

And to correct someones post recently and so some fans don't go around spewing incorrect redskins trivia - Gary Clark and Santana moss were not redskins free agent pickups

I see what your saying BUT if S.Rice is there and we obviously have a big need at WR, You wouldn't offer him a deal? He's 24 and has been a pretty good player. Drafting a WR is 50-50 but a proven one is out there for us to look at. I'm all for Drafting but we simply don't have enough picks this year to compete, either way we will be big players in FA again this off season.

[skinsfaninok]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Shockey is done with the Saints

"Jay Glazer
I'm reporting the Saints are terminating the contract of TE Jeremy Shockey.
4 minutes ago from ÜberSocial"

Can you say Oakland?

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

Can you say Oakland?

Him and Zach Miller? Interesting.

[skinsfaninok]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Him and Zach Miller? Interesting.

I just figured he was a Raiders guy lol. The Saints made a wise move, that Jimmy Graham kid is good

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

I see what your saying BUT if S.Rice is there and we obviously have a big need at WR, You wouldn't offer him a deal? He's 24 and has been a pretty good player. Drafting a WR is 50-50 but a proven one is out there for us to look at. I'm all for Drafting but we simply don't have enough picks this year to compete, either way we will be big players in FA again this off season.

The reason why I wouldn't give anyone a break-the-bank contract is the same reason why I would trade down in the first round to acquire more picks. It means the ability to pick up more quality players. I don't people realize that when you tie that much money up to one player it ends up hurting the team. Because it takes away the ability to improve the team in other areas. And god knows the redskins need to improve in almost every area of the team.

This has been my contention. But I'm
a Justin bieber kind of guy. I will never say never. There would be exceptions to this rule. But it would have to be a perfect situation.