Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[QUOTE=SFREDSKIN;395700]Here are Briggs stats for this year, he ranks 28th overall.

[url=http://www.nfl.com/players/lancebriggs/profile?id=BRI150227]Lance Briggs[/url]

I would sign him for a lot less than they were offering last year (1/2 price) otherwise no deal. The other free agent I would pursue would be Nnamdi Asomugha. His stats are not impressive which leads to believe that he would be more affordable than Samuels or Trufant, but he's a hell of a player and is 6'2".

[url=http://www.nfl.com/players/nnamdiasomugha/profile?id=ASO415291]Nnamdi Asomugha[/url][/QUOTE]

I like Nnamdi. Mentioned him a few weeks ago. I expect he'll opt out

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=Schneed10;395696]OK I'm on the same page with you.

I see the personnel decision tree going like so:

1) Can you fit the player under the cap? If yes, proceed to step 2. If no, STOP, do not sign the player.

2) Do you already have a plan to address higher priority areas of need? If yes, proceed to step 3. If no, STOP, do not sign the player until you have addressed more important needs.

3) Consider signing the player.

Ultimately we're saying the same thing. The cap figures into the decision, but so do overall team needs. My feeling is LB is a bigger need than most around here think. Godfrey is a nice backup, but he's older. Blades to me is a Mike, and I don't see him having the range to keep up with TEs and guys like Brian Westbrook in coverage like Briggs could. Rocky's not going to be right until 2009 at earliest. Washington is still good, but he's hurt more often these days.

I agree that we need a WR pretty darn bad. I've been saying that for some time. I'd put that at a higher priority than LB. I'd love Chad Johnson here, but get real people, there's no way he gets away from Cinci.[/quote]

good breakdown, also good point about OLB looming as a major need; we'll learn a little more about that in these next 2 games.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=SFREDSKIN;395537]How about Alan Faneca for the OL?[/quote]

I wouldn't be opposed to a Faneca acquisition. The old man's a pro bowler again, and often, OL can continue to play at high level well into their late 30s. I do like the OL talent in the draft though.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=over the mountain;395653]i like MW, but before this year i had an inkling that if he didnt have a great season he might be gone . . . and hes not having a great season. im loyal to the man but there is room to improve talent at that spot.

go skins![/quote]
39 Tackles 5 Sacks 1 Forced Fumble
Isn't bad for a guy that has only started 9 games, and has been playing injured through most of the season. Trust me MW can still play with the best of them.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Anyone else notice Blades get bulldozed against the Giants a few times?

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Hmm, this sounds like another time we go out pay a guy a bunch of money and do not get what we paid for. I would rather see us look for some O line and a D pass rusher. I think we have had and still have enough of these high dollar players.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Briggs is a baller, I'm not advocating for bringing him here but I wouldn't have any concerns about him not living up to his reputation once he gets the big deal he's looking for.

LB is a position that may need to be looked at this offseason but I don't see the need for paying for a guy like Briggs.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[QUOTE=That Guy;395544]briggs aint that great, he's overpriced, and mcintosh is injured, so keeping him or not is pretty much moot since he's proven very little besides his ability to stay out of the starting line up :/


[B]if we play FA, let's get someone that can prove more useful, like CJ or NA (CB oak), or even better, OL/DL. faneca is great, but he's not 25 anymore [/B]:/.[/QUOTE]


Absolutely right. Corner is shaping up to be a huge need for us.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Oh my God, it's August all over again. Before we talk about who we can pick-up in the free agent market, let's focus on supporting the current team members drive to THIS years playoff drive.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

One thing I REALLY don't get.

How is it that so many people in this thread, arguing against the idea of obtaining Lance Briggs, are some of the very same people who argued that trading for him back in April was a good idea? We were ready to pay the guy a huge signing bonus then, and we had fans of that trade. What's different now? Is our LB corps so much better now? I doubt it, not with Rocky out for a season and a half, not with Marcus Washington constantly in and out of the lineup, not with Dallas Sartz getting axed, and not with a short-term solution like Randall Godfrey.

And if you want Blades to try to fill in for Rocky next year at OLB, who the hell is going to be your depth? I absolutely don't get it.

The reason the Briggs deal didn't make sense was because we had Rocky. Now we don't have Rocky. And by the time Rocky comes back, Marcus Washington will likely be on the downside and will have a contract that lends itself to salary cap casualty.

I think WR is a bigger priority, but I'm dumbfounded at the faith we have in our current LB corps sans Rocky. If you don't like Briggs because of his price tag, at least acknowledge that we're paper-thin and LB will need to be addressed in the offseason.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=firstdown;395714]Hmm, this sounds like another time we go out pay a guy a bunch of money and do not get what we paid for. I would rather see us look for some O line and a D pass rusher. I think we have had and still have enough of these high dollar players.[/quote]

On the offensive line, are you talking about a starter? Or just depth? Because if you'd try to upgrade one of our starters along the line, that's a SERIOUS misallocation of resources.

As for pass rushers, is 10 sacks through 14 weeks not good enough for you? I mean what the hell does Andre Carter have to do to get some love?

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=Beemnseven;395769]Absolutely right. Corner is shaping up to be a huge need for us.[/quote]

OK, somebody has to explain the math to me on why corner is a need. We have Carlos Rogers, who was injured like Rocky, but injured early enough in the year to actually play during 2008. Shawn Springs is still a very good corner in this league, and is Fred Smoot not playing like a quality starter?

I don't see salary cap forcing any of our three guys out the door next year. With Carlos hurt, I see the need for some depth, but Asamuwaghwaghwaghwagh will cost a buttload of money (he's very highly thought of).

Entering next season, we'll have 2 good starting CBs in this league, Springs and Smoot. We'll also have a 3rd very good young CB coming back from injury. That seems to cover 2 starting CB positions in my mind.

LB on the other hand, we'll have 2 good starting LBs in this league, Washington and Fletcher. If we stand pat, we'll have either old man Randall Godfrey manning the other spot, or a totally unproven youngster who was drafted with the intent to inherit the Mike position from Fletcher. So we've got two good answers for 3 starting spots. At corner, we have 2 good answers for 2 spots, and another that will get healthy halfway through 2008.

And let's not even talk about what we've got behind our 3rd LB. I just don't get how CB can be considered a greater need than LB.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Are thrre any Free Agent Conditioning Coaches available? not Briggs
Look at Patten and he is having a healthy great year in Saint land but here could not stay healthy

[QUOTE=Schneed10;395784]OK, somebody has to explain the math to me on why corner is a need. We have Carlos Rogers, who was injured like Rocky, but injured early enough in the year to actually play during 2008. Shawn Springs is still a very good corner in this league, and is Fred Smoot not playing like a quality starter?

I don't see salary cap forcing any of our three guys out the door next year. With Carlos hurt, I see the need for some depth, but Asamuwaghwaghwaghwagh will cost a buttload of money (he's very highly thought of).

Entering next season, we'll have 2 good starting CBs in this league, Springs and Smoot. We'll also have a 3rd very good young CB coming back from injury. That seems to cover 2 starting CB positions in my mind.

LB on the other hand, we'll have 2 good starting LBs in this league, Washington and Fletcher. If we stand pat, we'll have either old man Randall Godfrey manning the other spot, or a totally unproven youngster who was drafted with the intent to inherit the Mike position from Fletcher. So we've got two good answers for 3 starting spots. At corner, we have 2 good answers for 2 spots, and another that will get healthy halfway through 2008.

And let's not even talk about what we've got behind our 3rd LB. I just don't get how CB can be considered a greater need than LB.[/QUOTE]

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

And Chris Clemons with 7 sacks for the Raiders. I wish they would have kept him.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=Schneed10;395784]OK, somebody has to explain the math to me on why corner is a need. We have Carlos Rogers, who was injured like Rocky, but injured early enough in the year to actually play during 2008. Shawn Springs is still a very good corner in this league, and is Fred Smoot not playing like a quality starter?

I don't see salary cap forcing any of our three guys out the door next year. With Carlos hurt, I see the need for some depth, but Asamuwaghwaghwaghwagh will cost a buttload of money (he's very highly thought of).

Entering next season, we'll have 2 good starting CBs in this league, Springs and Smoot. We'll also have a 3rd very good young CB coming back from injury. That seems to cover 2 starting CB positions in my mind.

LB on the other hand, we'll have 2 good starting LBs in this league, Washington and Fletcher. If we stand pat, we'll have either old man Randall Godfrey manning the other spot, or a totally unproven youngster who was drafted with the intent to inherit the Mike position from Fletcher. So we've got two good answers for 3 starting spots. At corner, we have 2 good answers for 2 spots, and another that will get healthy halfway through 2008.

And let's not even talk about what we've got behind our 3rd LB. I just don't get how CB can be considered a greater need than LB.[/quote]

there's a good chance springs won't take a pay cut and will be released... and rogers will be out at least 8 games next year from what i've heard, which leaves either the #3 or the #3 AND the #1/#2 (pick one) spot open for CB(s). that's the thinking there (and with the flood of CBs and a couple RFAs (det's wilson, den's foxworth), there might be a deal in there.

on CJ - can't have too many weapons, and he's a true lock at #1 with all the tools (and none of the hamstring issues).

on LB - briggs will be overpriced and a guy like dansy has a better chance as far as price/performance and letting the team address other needs. decent lbs are always available at vet min, and we've got two at high price tags (depth IS unproven though).

on OL/DL - upgrades to pete kendall, possibly jansen, but the real threat on our OL is age. our line isn't young and our realistic depth is stephon heyer and not-so-young todd wade... draft picks would be best there (2nd-3rd round). at DE, carter has played extremely well... he turned his game around as much as campbell. I mean, it's been shocking, though he stopped playing like crap late last year, he was never all that effective. He's fine, but daniels is ancient and the depth just ain't there. at DT we've got good depth, but the #2 DT isn't amazing, and griffin might go away sooner than later. Our depth is still learning the NFL and can very well get better, but it's never a bad idea to look at backup plans.


the cuts to guys like griffin wouldn't be forced due to cap issues per say, but adding flexibility down the road and making the roster younger might be a good idea, depending on availability and prices (of course). Right now we've got a LOT of old guys that get hurt (a lot).

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=That Guy;395792]there's a good chance springs won't take a pay cut and will be released... and rogers will be out at least 8 games next year from what i've heard, which leaves either the #3 or the #3 AND the #1/#2 (pick one) spot open for CB(s). that's the thinking there (and with the flood of CBs and a couple RFAs (det's wilson, den's foxworth), there might be a deal in there.[/quote]

I agree with most of what you said in that post, but I have to put this Shawn Springs might be cut notion to bed right now. In fact I should probably start a thread educating the public on his salary cap status so more people see it.

In 2008, his cap number is $7.5 million. His base salary that season is $5 million. We can cut him and save $2.5 mill, but the Skins can also reduce the cap number by $2.5 million by simply restructuring the guy. With the restructure, he wouldn't take one ounce of paycut, he'd simply get his money up front instead of in base salaries. He'd have no incentive to refuse that, and if you're the Skins, what would you prefer? Save $2.5 million with Springs off the roster, or save $2.5 million with Springs on the roster?

On top of that, there's still the chance that they extend his contract another 2 years or so to reduce the cap hit even further, a la Jon Jansen two years ago.

The only way it makes sense to cut the guy at this point is if you think he's going to be an ineffective CB next season. With the way he's playing now, I have absolutely no idea why anyone would think that.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Briggs is fine but will cost too much.
I dont know where the Chad Johnson talk came from...those guys dont fall on trees and there is no way the Skins get him unless they trade...and that would worry me.

We really can handle LB and WR with the draft...we could hide a LB issue easier than WR though..we still need D line and youth on the Oline..a young corner and RB and TE depth are needs too.

I just dont see the need unless our LB backups crash and burn.
Making a big splash could hurt us if we are trying to finally shift to a draft first team

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

RE: Faneca

There's not too many FA's that Pittsburgh lets go that have any kind of career later on. Their personnel dept knows what the hell they're doing.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[QUOTE=BleedBurgundy;395908]RE: Faneca

There's not too many FA's that Pittsburgh lets go that have any kind of career later on. Their personnel dept knows what the hell they're doing.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but he doesn't sound happy in Pitt. Didn't he almost retire at the beginning of the season? I think he's in a situation like Kendall was with the Jets.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Per the WP:

[QUOTE][B]Several league sources believe the Redskins will heavily pursue Chicago freeagent linebacker Lance Briggs[/B], whom Washington attempted to land in a trade last offseason. The Redskins have long pursued a stable third wide receiver as well, and potential free agents such as Drew Carter and Bernard Berrian are possible targets. They would like more youth along the offensive line and in the secondary as well, but have tempered their sweeping pursuit of free agents.

"We'll continue to exhaust all resources and take a look at personnel out there," Williams said. "But we also don't want to disrupt chemistry."[/QUOTE]

[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/06/AR2008010602212.html]Redskins Peek Back, Look Ahead - washingtonpost.com[/url]

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

There is a rumor the Niners might be targeting Briggs as well. Not sold on Carter. I'm torn on Berrian, I like him but I'm just as happy with Reche.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=SmootSmack;403302]There is a rumor the Niners might be targeting Briggs as well. Not sold on Carter. I'm torn on Berrian, I like him but I'm just as happy with Reche.[/quote]

Yeah I'd expect Briggs will get a lot of attention. He's the only real impact LB available. As for WR, none of the guys available in free agency really float my boat. Bryant Johnson is probably the best of the bunch for me, but I don't know how Arizona lets him get away. Berrian doesn't do a whole lot for me, neither does Carter. If we want to improve WR, we're probably looking at the draft. Anything in free agency will pretty much serve just to fill out depth.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

I really hope we don't land Briggs. I think we're fine at linebacker. As far as the WRs go im not sure. I'd like to think we're fine there if we resign Reche. CB seems to be a big concern to me though.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=SmootSmack;403302]There is a rumor the Niners might be targeting Briggs as well. Not sold on Carter. I'm torn on Berrian, I like him but I'm just as happy with Reche.[/quote]

I'm torn on Berrian too. He's a burner but not much else, still it would be nice to have that speed in the slot.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

As to Briggs, if we can get him at a competitive price then I'm all for it. (Vet min + incentives - I kid, I kid). Schneed's right - we are paper thin at LB and, again, I think GW's defense is really places a heavy burden on the LB's and Corners.

Given our cap status, I am not sure we will have a lot of flexibility in pursuing big names and, while I am sure we can make solid offers, there are a lot of teams that are way under the cap. These teams can make huge offers (See SF for Nate Clements last year) that simply blow everyone out of the water. Some of these same teams are not big players in FA, but every now and then they may wish to "go big" to convince their fan-base that they are serious.

I also think the UFA market tends to be pretty sparse these days as teams have realized that holding onto their own guys makes a lot more sense. Yes, even the Skins realized this.

With all this said, I do not expect Briggs to land here even though he would be a good pickup. I just see us as getting out-bid. As for other UFA's, I don't see anyone worth blowing up the salary scale for. Briggs? Yes. Berrian, Johnson? No.

I expect that we will resign, restructure most of our own and pick up some back ups like last year. We will probably make a play for Briggs but get out bid.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

I think we need to continue to be financially prudent. So he comes here, then Rocky gets healthy and then what? We have two starting LBs, one with a huge contract and one who is a wasted draft pick if he doesn't play.

Let's draft one in the mid to late rounds, continue to use Blades and Godfrey and wait and hope Rocky gets healthy.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Why all this talk about over-priced free agents? The Redskins need to go in a different direction and acquire younger more durable players through the draft. Cut or trade the dead weight and get draft picks.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=jamf;395538]Money is limited, We have to spend it on the lines.[/quote]Amen!!! Start building this team from the inside out so we can win the battles in the trenches consistently. We can always move HB Blades to Rocky's WLB position. I'm more concerned about CB depth with Rogers coming off an ACL and Springs possibly moving on if he's unwilling to restructure.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

We're going to be renegotiating some big contracts to give us some wiggle room next year. I cant see them doing that for the linebacker corp. I think we need to spend our money on both sides of the line, and maybe the receiving corp.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

if the money is works out i think he would be great. I remember when we almost got him a while back. I am pretty sure i wanted him back then. Obviously, I would love chad johnson too but i don't think our salary cap could even come close to it. We are in pretty bad cap space going into next year. Other teams probably can outbid us but when danny boy wants, danny boy gets. Even if we could do it next year it puts us in shackles for years after. I guess i am for a passive approach and getting our finances back in order over the next two or three years. That is boring though and signing big name players is fun. Doesn't really work with us but it is definitely fun...

Moreover, we're the Washington Mother Fucking Redskins; the salary cap works around us. When is cap hell coming?

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

So with Blache's increased role I wonder if this improves the chances of Briggs coming here. They were together for one year in 2003.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

You are already over next seasons cap by 23 million and don't have a head coach,you have other problems.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=Giantone;413762]You are already over next seasons cap by 23 million and don't have a head coach,you have other problems.[/quote]

The cap won't be an issue as we've covered many times lately in other threads.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=Schneed10;395535]According to this article, Lance Briggs is considering testing the free agent market. As you'll recall, we almost traded for him, but the Bears wanted Rocky McIntosh and we balked. Pretty good move that we did, as Rocky has turned into a fine player.

But now that Rocky is hurt and won't play for much of 2008 (and if he plays at all he won't be himself), do we consider signing Briggs?

Before we jump on the cost issue, let me say that if the Skins want him, they can make cap room for him without much trouble. That will not be a big issue. Where we'd get into cap trouble is if we tried to sign three or four studs like Briggs.

I think we should go for it. He's had an amazing season in a year when Chicago's D has been off. He's actually been better than Urlacher this year. I'm all for a prudent move here or there in free agency, without overdoing it. He'll be expensive, but the talent is crazy. This should be our one free agent signing, IMO.

[URL="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/12/19/bears.briggs.ap/index.html"]SI.com - NFL - Briggs wants to test free agency waters - Wednesday December 19, 2007 7:31PM[/URL][/quote]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! O-line and a pass rushing DE!!!!

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection;403421]I think we need to continue to be financially prudent. So he comes here, then Rocky gets healthy and then what? We have two starting LBs, one with a huge contract and one who is a wasted draft pick if he doesn't play.

Let's draft one in the mid to late rounds, continue to use Blades and Godfrey and wait and hope Rocky gets healthy.[/QUOTE]


With Gibbs gone, it's going to be interesting to see just what type aproach the FO is going use in it's atempt to acquire talent.

Briggs will probably be coveted, but it could be a difficult deal to do. I would pass on it and rather consider both O & D lines. Blades has potential, but the status of Godfrey is uncertain because he had considered retirement prior to coming back last year.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

Honestly, for once, my predictions for the upcoming year are no longer based on any type of example.

With Cerrato now leading the team (in essence) and a WHOLE new crew of coordinators, I'm using purely guess-work. I'd say and hope that Vinny and Danny both learned from the short Gibbs-era and would exercise some prudence when it comes to the salary cap.

While we might take a step back next year, it's wise to be smart financially so we can make steps in the future. We as a fan base are so incredibly impatient, we need to learn, just like the upper management to exercise some rationality.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=Mattyk72;413769]The cap won't be an issue as we've covered many times lately in other threads.[/quote]


I think you might have to re -vist the cap again.

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

no reason to sign briggs unless he's willing to give us a washington discount...

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[quote=Giantone;413843]I think you might have to re -vist the cap again.[/quote]

Man, we hear about our impending salary cap doom each year...yet each year we go out and sign our main targets...what don't people understand? So long as Synder is the owner, we can continue to push payments back into perpetuity...it will take fundamental monetary change (likely regime) to change this...

Re: Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent
 

[QUOTE=Giantone;413843]I think you might have to re -vist the cap again.[/QUOTE]

Cash trumps cap.. Re-structure deals, convert salary to bonuses.. That's the 10 second version.. I believe Schneed is the resident expert and will be glad to give you the full version..