FA Musings and what I'd do here and in the Draft

[spanky]

ON OFFENSE:
So there seems to be some consensus that Clement has to go from the O-Line......and I'm OK with this decision. The options therefore......sign a FA RT, target one in the draft or move "BIG" over to RT, creating a "hole" at RG.

My choice is Option #3, and for what it's worth, here is why......good OT's in FA will cost a disportionate arm and a leg and we need to save this money for other positions.......using a high draft choice on a RT is also a waste, for essentially the same reason.......especially when you have Davis signed for the next three years. I would move him to RT and go after Damien Woody for the RG position.

How much money do we free up by letting Clement go?How much would Woody cost? Get out the adding machine, we are not done yet.

It appears that the next consensus decision is that we need a FA WR.There are, IMHO, only two that could make a real difference to us......Terrell Owens and Steve Smith (who is also a very niffty KR/PR candidate). Personally, Owens is my man. That means we can get rid of Kasper and McAddeley. How's the math now?

Our #1 Draft is likely to be Manning, if he's available (and I have an idea as to how we can make this happen.....but that comes later). So we can let go of McCown.......what's this save us?

Finally, and I don't think this will surprise anyone out there, but bye bye Emmitt. This should save us a few million or so. Anyone out there not like this starting line-up:
LT-Shelton; LG-Spikes; C-Kendall; RG-Woody; RT-Davis; TE-Jones
WR's-Owens, Boldin and Johnson; QB-Manning; RB's-Shipp and Anderson

ON DEFENSE:

Again, consensus decision is that we still need a pass rushing DE. Well here goes.......go get Kearse. Let Wakefield and VandenBosch go. Won't save much on Wakefield but should free up something from KVB's contract. Kearse is going to cost us big time but it's time.

Here is where things could get really exciting........CB. Again, it'll cost us big time but let's rock and roll......can you say Bailey AND McAllister. Say goodbye to Barrett and Starks. Barrett will want big dough to resign and Starks is nothing but a money pit against the salary cap.

How does this Defense look to you all:
DE-Johnson; DT-Bryant; DT-Bell; DE-Kearse; CB-McAllister and Bailey; OLB-Fisher and Thompson; MLB-McKinnon; FS and SS-Jackson and Wilson.

Now, how do we make sure we get Manning in the Draft? If we are not #1, trade up to get this pick(we will only have to move up one or two places anyway). Offer a swap of #1's and add our #2 or our #3 and #4 round picks. If we do all the above we won't need to have to many draft picks anyway.

Or is this hairbrained idea #20?

 

[Cheesebeef]

so - basically a team who couldn't sign top tier free agents last year (and not nearly in the class of playes this year) is going to be able to sign Owens, Kearse, Bailey and McAllister - the best four free agents in the league and all of them SUPERSTARS - and this after being absolutely putrid this year? Spanky - send me some of the stuff your'e toking on because it's got to be some good sh*t!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

that would all be great. here's the reasons it will never happen:

none of the premier players will want to sign with us.

we won't have enough cap room to sign everyone you listed.

bidwill doesn't have the cash to pay for the signing bonuses of all the players you listed.

i don't know which game, but given our luck, we'll fluke out one more win this year, robbing ourselves of the first pick, and therefore manning.

we will not be proactive in trading up to ensure we get manning.

we are the cardinals.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Your ideas are great, but we wouldn't even come close to affording it.

TO will cost at least 7 million per season.
Kearse will cost around 7 million per season (and has had a lot of injury problems)
Bailey will get around 6 million, and McAllister won't be that much cheaper.

 

[RedStorm]

Now I know why they call you "Spanky"...


I like what you said. I would really like it to happen. However, I highly doubt it will happen due to our track record. Graves could not close the deal on Colvin, Holliday and others when we had bucket loads of cash. We are not going to be in that position next year.

However, you did brighten my day a little bit.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Ouchie-Z-Clown
that would all be great. here's the reasons it will never happen:

none of the premier players will want to sign with us.

we won't have enough cap room to sign everyone you listed.

bidwill doesn't have the cash to pay for the signing bonuses of all the players you listed.

i don't know which game, but given our luck, we'll fluke out one more win this year, robbing ourselves of the first pick, and therefore manning.

we will not be proactive in trading up to ensure we get manning.

we are the cardinals.

You forgot the franchise tag that will be doled out on at least 3 of those superstar players...maybe all four.

The Cards, like most teams can only improve the blue chip quality of their teams through the draft. There just aren't enough top tier FA that hit the market these days. Second tier guys are the best any team can expect...maybe they get lucky and grab one of the few top shelf guys...and so it is IMPERATIVE the Cards draft well and try very hard to limit bust picks.

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
so - basically a team who couldn't sign top tier free agents last year (and not nearly in the class of playes this year) is going to be able to sign Owens, Kearse, Bailey and McAllister - the best four free agents in the league and all of them SUPERSTARS - and this after being absolutely putrid this year? Spanky - send me some of the stuff your'e toking on because it's got to be some good sh*t!

British Columbia Hydroponically Grown......on it's way!

 

[kerouac9]

For real. For all the times that I've been accused of wanting to stock our roster with All-Pros Madden-style, this is the single most ridiculous plan that I've ever seen. You might be able to get T.O., Kearse, McAllister, Woody, and Bailey all on the same roster, but you wouldn't be able to afford any other players.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by spanky
British Columbia Hydroponically Grown......on it's way!

awesome!

 

[Pariah]

whoa...dude...that cloud looks like a bong!...or a kitten...

 

[Russ Smith]

Nope. I'd release Blake, McCown and sign Peyton Manning as a UFA for QB.

Sign Owens and Darrell Jackson at WR, how about Owens, Boldin and Jackson in a 3 WR set?

Trade Clement for an extra #1 pick, sign Woody.

Sign McAllister and Bailey, draft Vince Wilfork and Sean Taylor with the #1 picks, Vasher in round 2, Michael Clayton in Round 3, Marcus Tubbs in round 4, Jonathan Vilma in round 5, Matt Ware in round 6 and Dave Ball in round 7.

Hire Jimmy JOhnson as HC, Bill Walsh as OC, Ronnie Lott as DC.

I think I'll pass on Kearse though he might cost too much

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

Originally posted by Ouchie-Z-Clown
that would all be great. here's the reasons it will never happen:

none of the premier players will want to sign with us.

we won't have enough cap room to sign everyone you listed.

bidwill doesn't have the cash to pay for the signing bonuses of all the players you listed.

i don't know which game, but given our luck, we'll fluke out one more win this year, robbing ourselves of the first pick, and therefore manning.

we will not be proactive in trading up to ensure we get manning.

we are the cardinals.

With a legit new coach we might get a player or two. I think Emmitt will retire and Starks will be traded, hence freeing up some money.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Oran
With a legit new coach we might get a player or two. I think Emmitt will retire and Starks will be traded, hence freeing up some money.

Emmitt will be too bull-headed to go out like this season has been so he will stick around. The Cards may cut him though.

Starks won't be traded for contract reasons. Everyone will wait for him to be released...although I think that would be a huge mistake personally. Draft Gamble and play Starks next to him and you have a nice 1-2 punch at CB...then focus all energy on the stupid pass rush

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

Originally posted by AZCB34
Emmitt will be too bull-headed to go out like this season has been so he will stick around. The Cards may cut him though.

Starks won't be traded for contract reasons. Everyone will wait for him to be released...although I think that would be a huge mistake personally. Draft Gamble and play Starks next to him and you have a nice 1-2 punch at CB...then focus all energy on the stupid pass rush

I think we could trade Starks for a conditional draft pick.

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by Oran
I think we could trade Starks for a conditional draft pick.

BUt then you accellerate his signing bonus into the present year, and we can't afford that, either. In fact, ousting Starks and Clement will probably COST the Cards money, not save it.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by kerouac9
BUt then you accellerate his signing bonus into the present year, and we can't afford that, either. In fact, ousting Starks and Clement will probably COST the Cards money, not save it.

Additionally, I doubt he is the type of player who would rework his contract for another team if traded so it would cost that team a fair amount on their cap for a CB who has been injured alot the past couple years.

I am in the minority but I think it is too early to simply give up on Starks.

I am not sure I am ready to give up on AC yet either but am more open to it than bailing on Starks.

 

[Cheesebeef]

no one trades for a guy with a big contract coming off a torn ACL.

 

[kerouac9]

I also think it's too early to give up on either player. I think that Duane saw pretty early what Mac's deal was, and didn't really want to play for him. He played when he was healthy as best he could, but he saw through Mac pretty early.

AC was a borderline-dominant RT not long ago. I refuse to belive that he just suddenly turned awful. As I said before, it's hard to rate players on this team that are underperforming, because the coaching and system are so directionless. I look at this team as one that can do all right, almost very good (With a playmaker or two as an on-field catalyst) if they have some direction from above. I think that this team can be competitive with almost anyone in the league with an actual leader who demands accountability at the helm, not a cheerleader.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by kerouac9
I also think it's too early to give up on either player. I think that Duane saw pretty early what Mac's deal was, and didn't really want to play for him. He played when he was healthy as best he could, but he saw through Mac pretty early.

AC was a borderline-dominant RT not long ago. I refuse to belive that he just suddenly turned awful. As I said before, it's hard to rate players on this team that are underperforming, because the coaching and system are so directionless. I look at this team as one that can do all right, almost very good (With a playmaker or two as an on-field catalyst) if they have some direction from above. I think that this team can be competitive with almost anyone in the league with an actual leader who demands accountability at the helm, not a cheerleader.

The problem with AC is I'm not sure he ever was borderline dominant. he's basically missed 2 full years of the 6 he's been in the NFL and I never really felt he was a great player. He sure seems less athletic this year like the back is bothering him again.

I think his contract probably makes him hard to do much with, I'm not clear his actual terms.

 

[JeffGollin]

sign a FA RT
You realize of course that you were "this-close" to an embarrasing typo.

Regarding draft and free agent moves, just my gut feeling, but I don't anticipate many (if any) player changes on the offensive line. My guess is that, if there's a new coaching staff, the front office will rely upon them to straighten out the O-line. (i.e. there are too many other pressing priorities). Their thinking figures to be that the talent's already there on the offensive line. It's just a matter of getting everyone's head on straight and getting them to play cohesively as a unit.

I suspect it will be the same deal at WR - i.e. "we drafted 2 wideouts high last year. We'll let the coaches continue to develop what we've got." If so, I feel this would be a mistake. Whether or not Gilmore and Johnson develop, we still need a veteran dominator at the position. (Note - Q's role is different. He's valuable as a short pattern and slot guy).

But personally, I think we have more pressing needs at starting QB and both CB positions than we do either at OL or even WR.

 

[imaCafan]

Move Clemment to the bench, Big to RT, and Roundtree to RG. I agree with Jeff; focus in on QB, CB, and then DE. THEN WR is the next move.