Seahags pick up Deion Branch

[mjb21aztd]

so will he start this week for them then?

 

[lobo]

We HAVE to get a lot more pressure on the QB this week. If Hasselbeck gets the time that Smith got, it's likely to be ugly.

they need and probobly will get a better game out of sa....hasselbeck completed 25/30 passes yesterday....what if he had more time...30/30??


time will tell but losing hutchinson to fa may have been an even bigger loss than they suspected..he is the best lg in the game today.

 

[SeaChicken]

We had to make this move to keep up. I honestly believe that "It's on!" with the Cardinals this year. I watched you guys against the 49ers and laughed to myself thinking "That passing game is ridiculous."

I envision some high scores in both matches against you guys. I expect it to come down to "whoever scores last, wins." And this week, I'm not talking field goals either.

Seriously, whatever the number is this week, I'm taking the over. I fully expect this week to be an aerial show by both teams.

 

[Ryanwb]

Can we trade Bidwill for Paul Allen......?

Who's Bidwill? The punter?

 

[MigratingOsprey]

definitely expect some passing fireworks as well

as for how seattle does it? - great cap management and well structured deals

for example, since they didn't have hutch they had a good amount of leftover money this year - so basically they front loaded this deal, making the last 3 years cheap

over the next 3 years they have guys like jones, hasselbeck, alexander, peterson, chris spencer, rocky benard, locked up - when they come up or need to be replaced branch should still be in a productive part of his career at a relative value

 

[Renz]

Is Branch really worth a first rounder? He's good, but he only has 14 TD's in four years, I think. He doesn't really seem like a game-breaker or someone who can put a team over the top. Am I wrong?

 

[Trey]

Is Branch really worth a first rounder? He's good, but he only has 14 TD's in four years, I think. He doesn't really seem like a game-breaker or someone who can put a team over the top. Am I wrong?

I think a first round pick was a lot to pay for Branch, but I also think it makes a lot of sense. WR was one of their weakest positions, and adding Branch helps. But I think the biggest reason for the move is that the Hawks want to capitalize on their championship window. Realistically, as Holmgren, SA, Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, etc. get up there in age, there chance of winning a title shrinks. They should (and are), going for it while the still have their core group (sans Hutch) in their prime. In that sense, giving up what should be a late first rounder is a good move as Branch should help them win now.

 

[BlueTalon]

so will he start this week for them then?

It remains to be seen. The Hawks have a 2 week roster exemption, but they lose the exemption if they decide to play him in a game, which means they have to make their roster cut sooner, and I'm not sure if they're quite ready to do that. They may want to give him that two weeks to get used to the offense before cutting someone who knows the system. That's just a guess.

 

[joeshmo]

It remains to be seen. The Hawks have a 2 week roster exemption, but they lose the exemption if they decide to play him in a game, which means they have to make their roster cut sooner, and I'm not sure if they're quite ready to do that. They may want to give him that two weeks to get used to the offense before cutting someone who knows the system. That's just a guess.

Thanks for the observation.

You also have to wonder if he is in football shape as well.

It will be interesting to see what they do with him this coming game.

 

[Redsz]

I would be mighty surprised if he is a big factor considering he was just traded. As it was said, then 2nd game, yes, he will be a factor.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Who's Bidwill? The punter?

Oh Jesus - You would be better off spending your spelling crusade on people who mess up the back-up QB's last name.

Besides for all the ineptitude I have had to endure over the last 15 years the dude can spell his name C-H-E-A-P-A-S-S for all i care......

 

[40yearfan]

As ugly as the Cards game was Sunday, the Seahawks game was even uglier. We carp about giving up 27 points to San Fran, but the Seahawks didn't even score 1 TD against the Lions. So which game was uglier?

 

[Assface]

I would be mighty surprised if he is a big factor considering he was just traded. As it was said, then 2nd game, yes, he will be a factor.

I'm sure he'll see some plays but I doubt he's in much. Odds are he isn't going to learn their entire playbook, audibles and offensive nuances in 4 days.

 

[vinnymac]

14 touchdown passes in 4 years explains everything. to me branch isn't worth a 1st round pick. not even a late first round pick. he is worth about a 3rd at the most. his productivity doesn't match a 1st round. then again a change of sceenary could make him more productive. this first game isn't going to be a factor at all. i worried more about shaun alexander than i am branch. the difference between stallworth and branch is that stallworth was in the saints mini camps, training camp, and played preseason games with the saints. branch didn't show up for any of that. a player needs camp to get back into playing shape and speed. unless you are an elite player like ladamion tomlinson, edgerrin james, or terrel owens, i don't think you can come in and expect to play well. like people are saying the second meeting the cardinals will have to game plan againist branch.

 

[CardLogic]

definitely expect some passing fireworks as well

I fully expect this week to be an aerial show by both teams.

You guys tryin' to sandbag us... You know full well that the Hawks game plan will be Alexander, Alexander, a little dink here, a dunk there and more Alexander...

as for how seattle does it? - great cap management and well structured deals

for example, since they didn't have hutch they had a good amount of leftover money this year - so basically they front loaded this deal, making the last 3 years cheap

over the next 3 years they have guys like jones, hasselbeck, alexander, peterson, chris spencer, rocky benard, locked up - when they come up or need to be replaced branch should still be in a productive part of his career at a relative value

Like I have said, I don't follow the financial aspects that closely... But I seem to recall that just a couple of years ago Seattle was in a cap crunch, due to the amount of players that they had to re-sign. Wasn't that part of the reasoning for the franchise of Walter Jones two years in a row; that way they didn't have the signing bonus added in???

So basically whichever players those were at the time they extended those of any of significance, i.e.- Alexander, Hassleback, etc., except "Hutch". And now this offseason they have signed several significant FA's... Something just doesn't add up as I see it!

Now I could have my "facts" all wrong, but anybody care to show me how so...

 

[CardLogic]

I'm sure he'll see some plays but I doubt he's in much. Odds are he isn't going to learn their entire playbook, audibles and offensive nuances in 4 days.

I know Matt Lienart, and Mr. Branch you're no Matt Leinart!!

 

[MigratingOsprey]

a couple years ago wasn't so much a cap crunch, as it was a lot of FAs coming up at once and the front office deciding to change management teams at the same time

with walt, they just couldn't agree on his worth

seattle used to have a GM by the name of Randy Mueller - he was more in the snyder mode of acquire everyone, big bonuses, etc - basically he threw the team in cap hell for a max of a 9 win season

seattle had to carry around a lot of dead cap room for a couple years - they brought in mike reinfeldt (one of the top cap guys in the business) and it seems every contract his has written has been gold - however, there was a power struggle - he was fired - and then a mix of his contracts and muellers contracts all came up - paul allen wised up, fired whitsett & rehired reinfeldt

the hawks had a boatload of cap room this year - they could of easily of signed hutchinson along with peterson - since they didn't they were still sitting around 8M under the cap - which allowed for them to bring in branch and pay him a good amount of cash upfront, lessening the hit later on

also note they have a lot of young guys in their first deals - guys like lofa tatupu, leroy hill, michael boulware, ken hamlin were all 2nd round or later picks still working off their first contract

even their first round picks recently have been late rounders keeping them fairly inexpensive

not to mention that robbie tobeck & chris gray didn't exactly demand top dollar on the OL

 

[CaptTurbo]

No oofense but Brach is worth a 3rd rounder at best.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

we'll see how it all play out - i think it was a touch expensive - but i like the aggression of the move

 

[CardLogic]

a couple years ago wasn't so much a cap crunch, as it was a lot of FAs coming up at once and the front office deciding to change management teams at the same time...

Ok, thanks for the explaination, MO!

 

[Assface]

Classic.

 

[JC_AZ]

So...

I think we can score on anybody. But, Alexander cannot run wild like he did in both games last season.

What convinces you that SA will not run over us like he always has? Sunday's DL performance against Frank Gore?

I guess I must have missed something about the GIANT HOLES and MISSED TACKLES that made Gore look like an All-Pro