NFL Free Agency

MrMarcello

In a well-ordered universe...
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Commences 3 March...let the shopping spree start. Gonna be some good players and some bargain priced veterans available.

Can't help but laugh at TO. :lol: Vastly over-rated WR anyway.

Shocked that Denver signed Champ Bailey for $53m over 6 years (avg almost $9m per season :eek: ) and gave up Portis. Bailey received an $18m bonus, spread out over 2 or 3 installments I believe. This just raised the bar on all CBs. Thanks Denver. You guys been going to school with Tom Hicks or Man United negotiation team? $9m per is franchise QB money.

Looking forward to Bill Parcells shopping list. :D Hopefully it will include a QB named Griese, Volek, Fiedler, or B Johnson (expected to get cut). Rumors in Big D has Dallas drafting Philipp Rivers in the first round. Just what Dallas needs - another QB project. :wenger: Should have drafted Leftwich last year if this is indeed the direction they choose. They need to solve the RB problem (trade for Shaun Alexander would be good), sign a pass rush DE (Brackens if he is cut; All Wallace), and a CB to play opposite Newman (Springs, Plummer, Winfield, Taylor).
 
If Denver lose Portis then it will be one of the bigger blunders in NFL history. He was only making 300k a year while averaging 1500 yards rushing a year. Denver should've just renogotiated instead of getting put in this position.
 
Happy Denver managed to come to an agreement with Al Wilson.

I´ve meanwhile changed my mind on the Portis for Bailey and their #2 deal. Finding a a shutdown corner is harder than finding a Franchise RB, Corners usually last longer than RBs and we´re also getting their #2. Denver has always had a top running game. Losing Portis will obviously hurt but I´m confident Denver will have a good running game next season and possibly even a 1,000 yard rusher. rumour has it Shanahan has already made contact with the Bengals and Corey Dillon. The rumoured price is the Redskins´ 2nd rounder.

Ian Gold, Bertrand Berry and Ruben Droughns will probably be allowed to test the market. Ed McCaffrey is expected to retire whereas Shannon Sharpe will probably return.

Dennis Northcutt´s agent fecked up like TO´s agent.
 
Raoul said:
If Denver lose Portis then it will be one of the bigger blunders in NFL history. He was only making 300k a year while averaging 1500 yards rushing a year. Denver should've just renogotiated instead of getting put in this position.
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Portis has made it pretty clear he just wants to get paid and he doesn´t care where he plays as long as the money´s right. Portis has no future in Denver so right now it´s all about getting the best deal possible. Shanahan knows what he´s doing.
 
I've read reports (more like rumors) that Denver does not feel that Portis will last more than 5 years in the NFL at a high level. The average shelf life for a starting RB is about 4 years.

I've also heard that Denver might send a #1 and maybe a player to Seattle for Alexander. He's a free agent after 2004 season and the Seahawks know he will leave. I'd rather have Alexander than Dillon.

Looks like Keyshawn might be in Dallas soon with Galloway heading to Tampa Bay. Good move for both teams. Keyshawn gives Dallas that go to guy they've lacked since Irvin's injury. Galloway gives Gruden that deep threat the Bucs have lacked. Both players must accept lowered salaries to make the deal work. Both teams would take a large cap hits on the accelerated signing bonuses if a trade occurs. Dallas would charge roughly $5.35 for Galloway and TB would be hit with about $7m for Keyshawn. I'd rather Dallas let Galloway go and sign Marcus Robinson, but reuniting Keyshawn with Coach Parcells might not be a bad move at all.
 
That Bucs would this way at least get something in return for KJ as they´d have released him anyway. Galloway ain´t the player he was before his injury and in Seattle. Dallas overpaid for him.

I can´t believe KJ is 32 already. Time´s flying by.
 
I still cringe when I see that Jerry gave up two first round picks for Joey Galloway, who was not even in the top 10 WRs in the NFL. Dallas was totally robbed on that deal (karma for sending Herschell to Minnesota I suppose :( ). Dallas made some stupid moves from 99-01. Trading a #3 for James McKnight, who blows out his knee before playing with Dallas in 99. That #3 turned out to be Darrell Jackson. The 'hawks turned those two #1s into Shaun Alexander (2000) and Koren Robinson (2001- through trade with SF and GB). I shudder to think how those two would have fared in Dallas. Of course, Dallas still had a very good Emmitt then so Alexander may not have been drafted (probably have opted for a CB Ahmed Plummer or DE Darren Howard).

Not only does JJ give up two #1s, but he gives Galloway $12.5 million signing bonus. :wenger: Never more was it proven by this deal (and subsequent drafting of Carter in rd 2) that JJ needed a GM with proven football credentials. JJ said he needed a deep threat for Aikman but I guess he forgot he had Ismail as that guy. Dallas needed a go-to-guy to be the #1 target for Aikman and he could have gotten Keyshawn for the same price. Strange how these two might just switch places (which is where they should have been 4 years ago).
 
Jens said:
Portis has made it pretty clear he just wants to get paid and he doesn´t care where he plays as long as the money´s right. Portis has no future in Denver so right now it´s all about getting the best deal possible. Shanahan knows what he´s doing.
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He wont make up the lost rushing yards that Portis could provide. I know he's got a good track record drafting running backs, but that luck is about to run out with Portis and Anderson leaving. He'll end up the same Shanahan that got dropped by the Raiders.

As for Portis, I can't blame him for wanting a trade. He's a two time pro bowler and is getting paid like a scrub. His chances of success are much greater in Washington anyway.
 
How does going from a playoff team to a 5-11 team improve ones chances of success?

Portis has earned a new contract based on performance (although 4 RBs have topped 1000 yards with Denver since 1998, I'd say it's a combination of the RB's style and the system employed by Shanahan, as well as a solid OL). However, he did sign a contract and should abide by his signature.
 
Raoul said:
He wont make up the lost rushing yards that Portis could provide. I know he's got a good track record drafting running backs, but that luck is about to run out with Portis and Anderson leaving. He'll end up the same Shanahan that got dropped by the Raiders.

As for Portis, I can't blame him for wanting a trade. He's a two time pro bowler and is getting paid like a scrub. His chances of success are much greater in Washington anyway.
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Why do I have the feeling you´re just pissed off a Miami player was shown the door after bitching about his contract? If Portis wasn´t a Miami player, you wouldn´t bother. Denver pays its players when the time is right. There´s no way in hell Anderson will be allowed to leave now that Portis is gone. Please explain why you think his chances of success are much greater in an organization that has never had a 1,500 yard rusher, finished 5-11 last season, just lost one of the top CB in the NFL and is only going to have 2 draft picks. Oh, and he won´t end up like the Shanahan that got dropped by the Raiders as he now has 3 rings (2 as a HC).

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Clinton Portis agreed Monday to an eight-year, $50.5 million deal with Washington, making him the highest-paid running back in league history.

Portis' deal includes $17 million in combined signing and option bonuses. The agreement has not been filed to the league, but Portis is expected to sign it within the next two days.
 
MrMarcello said:
How does going from a playoff team to a 5-11 team improve ones chances of success?

Portis has earned a new contract based on performance (although 4 RBs have topped 1000 yards with Denver since 1998, I'd say it's a combination of the RB's style and the system employed by Shanahan, as well as a solid OL). However, he did sign a contract and should abide by his signature.
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None of those running backs ran for 1500 yards as 21 year olds. He's one 22 and is a top three running back in the league. Gary and Anderson were more flash in the pan type players. Davis was of course the best RB in the league in the late 90s.

To answer your first question: The Skins weren't 5-11 for lack of talent. The problem was Snyder's medling (initially) and making bad coaching hires.

Norv Turner wasn't up to being a head coach. Schotenheimer is/was well passed it, and Spurrier was a failure waiting to happen. A highly eqotistical coach and a medling owner don't make good bedfellows.

Gibbs is a proven winner who engenders the respect of the players, fans, and media. I think the Skins are going to turn it around in a hurry - especially if they bag Portis.
 
Skins still have severe cap issues, need to address the OL, DL, sign a CB to replace Bailey (or go by committee), and a go-to-guy at WR (although Gardner can be this guy). Also, I think with the few draft picks remaining, they may trade Ramsey (bad move) and does anyone think Brunell will hold up for 12 games, let alone 16?

Gibbs should do well, but this offseason is so similar to 2000 when the Skins bought all those name players and all that hype and talk of winning the SB that year. Personally, the deal for Alexander would have been better than Portis.

Funny how all of a sudden people can claim the Skins are not as bad as 5-11 but should I mention that Dallas 5-11 record in 2002 was not a true resemblance of that team (they were better than 5-11 showed), my facts are blown off.
 
MrMarcello said:
Skins still have severe cap issues, need to address the OL, DL, sign a CB to replace Bailey (or go by committee), and a go-to-guy at WR (although Gardner can be this guy). Also, I think with the few draft picks remaining, they may trade Ramsey (bad move) and does anyone think Brunell will hold up for 12 games, let alone 16?

Gibbs should do well, but this offseason is so similar to 2000 when the Skins bought all those name players and all that hype and talk of winning the SB that year. Personally, the deal for Alexander would have been better than Portis.

Funny how all of a sudden people can claim the Skins are not as bad as 5-11 but should I mention that Dallas 5-11 record in 2002 was not a true resemblance of that team (they were better than 5-11 showed), my facts are blown off.
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Dallas' improvement only suggests that its possible for a team to improve dramatically in a short period with good coaching. The Cowboys did it under Jimmy Johnson and will do it under Parcells as well. Same applies to the Skins and Joe Gibbs, both in the early 80s, as well as today.
 
Raoul said:
Dallas' improvement only suggests that its possible for a team to improve dramatically in a short period with good coaching. The Cowboys did it under Jimmy Johnson and will do it under Parcells as well. Same applies to the Skins and Joe Gibbs, both in the early 80s, as well as today.
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Gibbs never built the Skins from ground up, ala Parcells in Dallas. He inherited a team that Jack Pardee kept afloat when George Allen retired. Pardee had taken the Skins to playoffs and was coming off an 8-8 season when he was replaced by Gibbs. Gibbs had Theisman, Riggins, etc on the roster. His biggest contribution was establishing a monster OL and employing various WR formations (taking Tom Landry's vision one step further). Gibbs is a great coach, no doubt. He kept the Skins in contention for 10+ years through shrewd roster moves, solid drafts, and unearthing talent from journeymen. It remains to be seen how well he can work in the current era of salary cap and free agency. And with a meddlesome owner like Snyder, who'll eventually pry into Gibbs' decision making.

What Parcells did last season was an incredible achievement. Gibbs could do the same in Washington this year.
 
Gibbs built a three super Bowl team in Washington out of mediocrity. That was the point.
 
Jens said:
Why do I have the feeling you´re just pissed off a Miami player was shown the door after bitching about his contract? If Portis wasn´t a Miami player, you wouldn´t bother.
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I just happen to be very familiar with him. I've followed him since High School. So in effect, you are correct. I generally only concern myself with UM players.

Jens said:
Denver pays its players when the time is right. There´s no way in hell Anderson will be allowed to leave now that Portis is gone.
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One should hope not. You'd still be skint at RB even if he stayed.

Jens said:
Please explain why you think his chances of success are much greater in an organization that has never had a 1,500 yard rusher, finished 5-11 last season, just lost one of the top CB in the NFL and is only going to have 2 draft picks. Oh, and he won´t end up like the Shanahan that got dropped by the Raiders as he now has 3 rings (2 as a HC).
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The Skins have more resources than Denver does. I can't stand their owner, but he's inadvertantly made a good move by getting a hall of fame calibre coach come back and resurrect the team. They already have a good team in place, and that team will only get better with Portis. Denver's meat and potatoes from the mid 90s on has been their running and losing a pro bowl running back isn't going to advance the team's intersets. Bringing in a shut down (LOL) cornerback to offset the loss of a RB isn't going to make much happen either. And no, Bailey is not a shut down cornerback. Deion Sandars was a shut down corner back. There aren't any playing now.[/QUOTE]
 
Washington will apparently trade Clinton Portis on to New England for their 2 #1s and possibly Ty Law. If this happens I´ll be furious.
 
Jens said:
Washington will apparently trade Clinton Portis on to New England for their 2 #1s and possibly Ty Law. If this happens I´ll be furious.
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What a rip off...surely the Patroits front office are not that foolish to give up Ty Law and 2 #1s for Portis.
 
That would be a good deal if Portis continues on like he has. He'll be the NFL's all time rushing leader when he's through. Anyone would want that.
 
Raoul said:
Why will that anger you ?
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Because I think that´s a better deal than what Washington are offering us and Denver should be the team benefitting from the New England Front Office losing their minds? Oh, and I´m quite happy we´re trading CP to a NFC team.

The new Manning deal is sick.

The contract is worth $99.2 million over seven years, ESPN.com has learned through league sources. Manning's per-year average salary will be $14.17 million, an NFL benchmark.


Manning's deal, completed early Tuesday morning, includes a record $34.5 million signing bonus. The life of the deal is nine years, but the final two will be voided if Manning, who has yet to miss a game in his professional career, simply reaches league minimum playing time standards.


The NFL's co-MVP this season, when he led the Colts to the AFC championship game, can earn an additional $19 million in incentives.
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Maybe the Skins are packaging someone else into the deal to New England. Maybe a Rod Gardner or a Jeremiah Trotter. Someone like that. They still have to lower their cap numbers so its not out of the question.
 
Jens said:
Because I think that´s a better deal than what Washington are offering us and Denver should be the team benefitting from the New England Front Office losing their minds? Oh, and I´m quite happy we´re trading CP to a NFC team.

The new Manning deal is sick.
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That's alot of money, but he's a future hall of famer who Indy would be wise to lock up for the rest of his career.
 
Raoul said:
That's alot of money, but he's a future hall of famer who Indy would be wise to lock up for the rest of his career.
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Don´t disagree, but careers can end very quickly and Indy aren´t in too good shape cap wise.
 
They've got to fight to keep their big three (Manning, James, Harrison) aboard for as long as possible, and build the team around that (Rhodes, Wayne etc). If Dungy can build a comparable D to that of what he did in Indy AND keep the offense going then Indy are going to be tough to beat in the coming years.
 
The Dolphins need a QB. They're not satisfied with Fiedler and Griese is expected to be released. Not sure why they signed AJ Fiehly. :wenger:
 
Raoul said:
The Dolphins need a QB. They're not satisfied with Fiedler and Griese is expected to be released. Not sure why they signed AJ Fiehly. :wenger:
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I was in Miami over the weekend and the news was that Fiedler has been promised a shot to compete for the starting job and will probably stay.
 
Owens to the Ravens is interesting. I hear Miami and Minnesota are talking about Randy Moss.

Trades:

Baltimore Ravens - Acquired receiver Terrell Owens from the
San Francisco 49ers for a second-round pick in 2004.

Denver Broncos - Acquired cornerback Champ Bailey and a
second-round pick in the 2004 draft from the Washington
Redskins for running back Clinton Portis.

Miami Dolphins - Acquired quarterback A.J. Feeley from the
Philadelphia Eagles for a second-round pick in 2005.

Washington Redskins - Acquired quarterback Mark Brunell from
the Jacksonville Jaguars for a third-round pick in 2004;
acquired running back Clinton Portis from the Denver Broncos
for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round pick in 2004.

Philadelphia Eagles - Acquired a second-round pick in 2005
from the Miami Dolphins for quarterback A.J. Feeley.

San Francisco 49ers - Acquired a second-round pick in 2004
for receiver Terrell Owens.
 
Looks like little Danny Snyder is thinking along the same lines as the Russian...buy a championship. Snyder did the same thing in 2000. He signed Shawn Springs, although I have yet to hear the terms. He can be a good signing if he can stay healthy. Still unsure how they can afford all this without exceeding the cap when they were so close to being over to begin with. I guess some of the cuts trimmed a few million more off.
 
Raoul said:
Dolphins agree to terms with David Boston. Good deal. :drool:
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Thought he´d come for less than Fletcher.

Agree about TO. The guy has a screw loose.
 
Jens said:
Thought he´d come for less than Fletcher.

Agree about TO. The guy has a screw loose.
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I thought Fletcher and a mid round pick for Boston is a good deal for the Dolphins. This gives us Boston and Chambers for (hopefully) AJ Feehly to throw to.
 
Just surprised it was Fletcher as usually "a player to be named later" is an unknown guy and he was a #1 pick not so long ago. Really surprised the Bolts were prepared to eat Boston´s signing bonus after only a season. I don´t understand the Feely deal at all.

Hope Brian Dawkins knocks TO´s brain out in practice.

Denver is bringing Raylee Johnson, John Lynch and Kordell Stewart in for visits.
 
I think Boston is in the Owens mold. Not quite at the TO level, but similar in playing style, attitude, and physique. Boston could be a huge buy if he focuses on football. I think Feely is going to be Fiedler's replacement. Looks like it at least.
 
Griese signs with Tampa Bay. Probably means the end of Brad Johnson in TB. Wonder where he'll sign when he's released. Baltimore? Dallas? Chicago?

Still shocked by the Henson to Dallas move. I sure hope this works as Hutchinson is probably on his way out of Dallas (maybe the NFL). I'm optimistic Henson will make the grade in two years.

Big article in the DFW area quuted Bobby Taylor, who grew up in East Texas, saying he'd love to play for Dallas and even finish his career with the organization. Strangely, the Cowboys seem uninterested in Taylor. IMO, Taylor is exactly what Dallas needs - an outstanding, veteran CB to play opposite of Newman.
 
The Keyshawn Johnson for Joey Galloway is imminent. Looks like Dallas has a deal with KJ and the Bucs with Galloway.

Only just saw that Charlie Garner has signed with Tampa Bay. Really good signing for the Bucs.
 
Raoul said:
He's still their #1 isn't he. He has Garrett, Simms and Griese as backups.
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Griese will be out of the NFL in 2 years. Dont think the Bucs will release Brad Johnson.
 
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