NFL Free Agency Thread

[57stratdawg]

Ian Rapport says he expects Juius Pepper, Steve Smith, Chris Johnson, and Darrell Revis are likely to be traded or cut by the end of the day.

Thinks Vick might go to the Jets, Bills, or San Fran but wants to be a starter.

Thinks Ben Tate gets a nice home as a starting RB. Same for Donald Brown.

Side note: Dixon is a FA today too.

 

[aTotal360]

Heard the Patriots are going to go after Sproles. That scares me. Revis needs to be cut. He's awesome but not worth the money. I think he's supposed to get 16M this year, 6M more than the 2nd highest paid corner. That's overpaying for sure.

 

[57stratdawg]

That would be a good fit for Sproles. They have a history of squeezing a couple extra years out of veteran RBs. Chiefs want him as well.

 

[bonedaddy401]

I think the Saints need to go after Steve Smith. His route running with Brees would be a good curtain call for his career.

Chris Johnson still has plenty left in the tank. If he lands in the right offense he could be nasty again.

 

[klong-dog]

Trade Sproles for Talib and call it day.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Chris Johnson is a lazy piece of ****. I cant wait for him to leave.

 

[57stratdawg]

Got that pay day, and put it on cruise control.

 

[Seinfeld]

Amen to that. In one offseason, that man went from being one of the most elusive backs in the league to going down if he so much as thinks that he might get hit. His YAC is absolutely pathetic, and it's frustrating as hell when you watch guys like Lynch play and then flip back to the Titans. CJ's still got all the tools to be one of the best backs around, but he just refuses to use the talent that he has anymore.

 

[jb1020]

His line was terrible though. There were multiple games he had last year where his YAC were greater than his total yards. Which basically means dude had hands on him 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage nearly every play.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Put revis on a team where he can play man instead over cover 2 and he'll be back to playing elite defense. He's definitely not worth 16mill but he's still a top 5 corner when he's in the right scheme.

 

[thf24]

Despite his obviously bad attitude, that's what I can't stop thinking about. It seems like he's been hit behind the line on the majority of his carries the last two years. Doesn't matter how hard you're trying, you don't have a chance if that's happening. I wouldn't mind seeing him go, however... bad attitude like I said, and I think a power back better compliments the Titans' mentality.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Are the saints expected to pick up anyone or is the cap clearing strictly to pay graham and rookies. Demarcus Ware is a potential salary cut and it'd be great to get him at the right price and back with Ryan. I wish they'd make a run at Delmas or Byrd at safety. It'd be nice if there was room for Eugene Monroe or Brandon Albert but they're going to get paid big bucks.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

He is completely out of shape. He has been for a while. Pretty much 3 years. He stopped working.

 

[colodawg]

broncos

Heard the Patriots are going to go after Sproles. That scares me. Revis needs to be cut. He's awesome but not worth the money. I think he's supposed to get 16M this year, 6M more than the 2nd highest paid corner. That's overpaying for sure.

Denver Post this morning reported Elway would like Sproles to back up Monte Ball replacing Knowshon Moreno.

 

[Shamoan]

titans pick up dexter "dont text and drive" mccluster

 

[aTotal360]

My Niners are losing the day. Get Gabbert and let Hitner leave.

 

[Seinfeld]

I can't disagree with that, but CJ did not miss a single game last year and his longest carry of the entire season was for 30 yards. He had 5 carries all year for over 20. In other words, I can buy that some of the blame rests on the shoulders of the Titans' piecemeal O line of the last couple years, but even the worst lines in the NFL will give a guy like CJ a chance to break one every now and then. He just couldn't do it, though, and quite frankly... a RB like him that can't bust one for a long gain is next to worthless in this league because like you mentioned, he's going to get no gains and even carries for losses a good bit.

One thing that I will say, though, in terms of how he was used in the offense is that it is absolutely ridiculous for a player of his abilities to only get 3 rec/gm. The Titans should have been throwing him screens in open space 7-10 times/game since the day that he was signed.

 

[AHSDawg]

Don't get the Hitner deal at all. Let him go for 4/28M. Sign Bethea for 4/26M?

And Bethea is a year older.

 

[aTotal360]

Saints going after Jairus Byrd. Would be a huge pick up.

 

[aTotal360]

I'm seeing Bethea for 4/23M. Saving 5M is worth it. Bethea is a baller and will get less penalties.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Holy shot I just saw on ESPN that Byrd signed with the Saints for 54mil. I honestly didn't think it was an option and was just wishing it would happen. 17ing awesome.

 

[esplanade91]

I think the Saints need to go after Steve Smith. His route running with Brees would be a good curtain call for his career.

Chris Johnson still has plenty left in the tank. If he lands in the right offense he could be nasty again.

Not only would Steve Smith retire before suiting up in black & gold, I'd be booing him from the rafters any chance I got... and I wouldn't be the only one. Him and Roddy White can rot in hell, as can a selection of other guys who talk a lost of raspy **** around the NFC South.

Saints don't need WR's, Saints need to fix offensive line and find a potential starter at corner. Corey White got picked on every time he was out there.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Jonathan Martin traded to Niners for conditional 7th round 2015 pick.

.

 

[esplanade91]

Holy shot I just saw on ESPN that Byrd signed with the Saints for 54mil. I honestly didn't think it was an option and was just wishing it would happen. 17ing awesome.

Every silver lining has a touch of grey. Locking up $28m guaranteed for a safety now means we have 2 albatross contracts looming over us with the NFL's #1 TE probably also wanting a $10m/yr+ contract next year AAAAANNNNNNNDDDDDD guys like Ingram, Gallette, Vaccaro, Stills, and Jordan are all all on rookie contracts making next to nothing who will all want money in the next coming years.

The thing is... Jimmy Graham's franchise tag makes it where he can still sign with a team. The Saints have the right to counter... but we can't. We don't have any money. All 31 other NFL teams want Graham, and a couple of them (Browns or Raiders, for example) have all the money in the world to give him. He could be in one of their jerseys next year.

So what this probably all ultimately means is we're going to take a prototypical outside WR somewhere on the 2nd or 3rd day and probably say goodbye to Colston following the 2014 season. Byrd for Colston? I don't know. Byrd is the #1 safety in football and most everyone agrees, but it seems like a temporary fix to me. I think it's going to come back and bite us in the *** like this Brees contract is doing now. I'm sick of relying on players on their rookie contract to help us win.

I'm excited to get Byrd... I just know what it means. It means we're going to lose Graham or Colston. And lose out on one or two of the young up-and-comers. Feel like we could have gotten Hitner for less and won just as many games with him.

With the way the game is getting called now either NO ONE is going to come over the middle on us or EVERYONE is going to come over the middle on us and get flags on flags on flags in their favor. PREPARING TO PLAY AGAINST JIMMY GRAHAM!!!!!!

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

Cowboys cut DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin

The Cowboys pretty much ran Ware into the ground by not surrounding him with good players (ol Jerruh believes in paying 2-3 players big money, and surrounding them with ****). Ware was pretty much injured from October on....

According to the DFW radio guys here, 6 teams contacted Ware within 2 after he was released. Look for him to sign at a lower salary for a top team that needs a 3rd down rusher.

Austin can become a very good #3 receiver for a team with a REAL superstar like Calvin Johnson on the other side...not Dez "Dumb as a Box of Rocks" Bryant.

 

[aTotal360]

Dolphins essentially gave him to the Niners to smooth over Martin and the NFLPA. Maybe he can contribute, but most importantly, I hope he's not a distraction.

 

[AHSDawg]

original reports were 4/26. But, still. They didn't want to keep Whitner

if that is all it was for. $5M over 4 years isn't that much of a savings to let an All Pro safety go. The only smart thing to do there was if you are letting him go, you think you can go draft another Eric Reid and go younger and cheaper.

 

[Seinfeld]

I'm baffled. Reports have been saying for over a month now that the Niners weren't going to pay Whitner so I get that part, but then they go out and sign Bethea to a very similar contract? If the plan is to save some money and build through the draft, then save some money. As you said, $5M over 4 years is pretty much nothing, especially when we're talking about a pro bowler that just walked out the door.

Pretty much the only thing that I can figure at this point is that DW's agent was demanding more from the Niners with claims that he was going to make a lot more from another team than he did, and the Niners called his bluff. There just isn't much else about this situation that makes sense otherwise.

Regarding the Gabbert deal, I don't have a clue. It's always nice to get a decent backup QB for nothing more than a low round pick, but if there's been one draft that you don't want to be burning picks, it's this one. There's going to be some talent on the table in the 6th and 7th rounds this year.

 

[AHSDawg]

Could not agree more with your entire post... This year, so far, has proven to me that (without a doubt, not that there ever was for me) Harbaugh is the one to keep if the fight ever goes down between him and Baalke. I was impressed with Baalke the first couple of years but his WR moves (other than Bouldin, obviously) and this year's moves aren't great. We have a HUGE year coming up next year in free agency. 2014 is kind of a make/break year for the Niners. Either you win now or you run the risk of having to reload in a few key spots which would jeopardize having a real championship shot in 2015. (Iupati, Kaep, Crab, & Aldon Smith all come up for rookie contracts/1st contract renewals). I did like getting Jonathan Martin. I have never been impressed with Anthony Davis at RT. I like getting a player like Martin that should be VERY hungry to prove himself and maybe win that spot.

 

[aTotal360]

Bethea has been to just as many Pro Bowls and is only a year older. A colleague of mine in SF says all the radio guys think there is concern over post-contract dropoff. It could be sour grapes, but it sounds like the Niners think Whitner could go CJ2K after his big contract. Bethea's second contract was sizable and he still managed to produce afterwards. It's sad that you even have to consider that. I saw a stat where Bethea has had more tackles as defensive back than anyone in the NFL over the last 5-6 years. I think he will fill in nicely for Whitner.

As for Gabbert...no clue. Better than McCoy I guess.

 

[aTotal360]

I give Baalke a pass because it's virtually impossible to keep 10-12 Pro Bowlers on a team. IMO, they actually drafted better before Harbaugh got there. I agree that Harbaugh in the one to keep though. And this upcoming season may be one of their last shots at winning it all. Kaep, Iupati, and Smith will all demand massive contracts. And honestly, I'd pay Iupati and Smith before I'd pay Kaep the money he is going to command. It's not going to get any easier after that either. In 2016, Staley, Willis, Bowman and others could be looking to restructure.

 

[121Josey]

[h=5]From Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon):

"Don't blame DeMarcus Ware for refusing a pay cut. If you're going to make less money, might as well play for a legit contender."[/h]

 

[AHSDawg]

Feel Better, Niner Fans... Bethea is 4 years at $21.5M

And actually the way the contract is structured, its more of a 2 year $7.75M cap contract that either side can get out of at that point. Makes much more sense now.

 

[esplanade91]

He's actually making a tad more than he would have if he stayed with Dallas. Win-win.

Also read that Byrd's contract is actually $7m/yr. Language makes it a $9m average if he stays all 6 years and reaches all plateaus. Apparently a really good contract for the Saints.