Cooley contract???
 

With 4.4 left in cap room this year...Does anyone think we should sign Cooley to an extension NOW???? He only has 2 years left on his contract, and we all know he will be dew some big money if he hits the FA, with the way EVERYONE in the league is using TE's more and more....I think if we waite another year his contract will only get larger and larger....

Re: Cooley contract???
 

I think they'll let it ride.
I think Cooley is valuable to our team, but he is not above the team.
Gibbs has put that back in perspective in the NFL and changed the way owners and coaches view individual players. Same goes for Andy Reid and John Gruden as well as league commish Paul Taligbue.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

he already put up a 800 yard year, its not going to get any bigger next year, so we should go ahead and get another cheap season.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

let him play out the contract and then an extension.of course with a signing bonus

Re: Cooley contract???
 

I know he's cheap...but I also think he's one of our CORE guys on O and WE shouldn't take the chance on loseing him....

Re: Cooley contract???
 

if he is a core guy,then why would he want to leave?

Re: Cooley contract???
 

EVERyone in this league wants their money...weither they're good guys or TO type guys....they all want what they think they are worth....that's just a FACT...him being a good guy, just means he would work witht he SKins on getting his worth....

Re: Cooley contract???
 

normally if you've got spare money you wait till the end of the season to throw it at someone's future earnings (you can only mess with contracts once a year i believe, so you have to careful not to pay foward a guy that might need to also restructure in the offseason). By waiting, you ensure a reserve in case you need to sign street free agents etc mid season.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

As soon as Cooley puts up Gonzalez-type numbers then we can talk new contact. I believe Cooley is an outstanding player but he still needs to pay his dues before reaping the rewards. Also, with his developing star-power, I think he'll be content being a Redskin for a couple of more years. His performance on the field is definitely appreciated by the fans. I am sure he's learned that when contract talks come about that his agent is instructed to READ THE ENTIRE CONTRACT!

Re: Cooley contract???
 

His time will come. For now he's under contract, no need to panic.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

But we do that, then everyone else on the Skins starts wanting extensions.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

Cooley is a great player for the Skins and I would not want to lose him, but his production will drop, with us having other options to throw to. I still see 600-700 yards and 8-10 TDs on maybe 40-50 receptions for '06.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

Honestly, I see more TDs than last year but way fewer yards. I really see him as our red zone option.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

Next year at this time, I think he will land a big money deal. The problem is Washington would have to backload the contract no matter when they did it, and they really dont want to put any more money than they have to into 2008 and 2009. By waiting a year, Cooley gets his big bonus, and doesn't start counting 4+ mil against the cap until 2010.

His production won't drop off, IMO. I think Moss may lose some catches, but should have a higher YPC average. Cooley has a great rep with Brunell, and is always an option in the passing game. I would expect very similar numbers in 2006.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

But then I worry about whether or not there are enough balls to go around.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

Honestly, I don't think there are. But we have some class WRs so I don't think it will be much of a problem.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

I don't think Randle El will be a problem, but Lloyd MIGHT. Even though I was really REALLY impressed that he showed up to workouts without his contract and seemed to be an overall good guy.

I guess that's what happens when you come to a winning program.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

jjl does have a point. I think back to Frank Wycheck. He was an emerging player with the Skins and then became a Pro Bowler with the Oilers/Titans. Cooley and Wycheck are essentially cut from the same mold. I'd hate to think about losing such a productive H-B/TE again.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

Danged redundant posting.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

The problem with signing Cooley long-term is you risk alienating Sean Taylor - who also deserves a long-term deal (based on his [u]on[/u]-field behavior), but isn't likely to get one until his off-field troubles are behind him.

Compare the situation with the Eagles of last year (loathe as I am to praise them). While Owens was demanding a new deal, no contract extensions were signed. Once he was taken off the board, Westbrook and Akers both got extensions. Signing either of those players while Owens was making waves would have caused problems. Once he wasn't an issue, the signings were rapidly completed.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

Exactly what I'm saying. I think it would be wise to tackle everyone who deserves it during one offseason. Maybe put free agent signings behind us and worry about keeping our own.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

do me a favor and never compare anything the redskins do to the eagles(thanks)

Re: Cooley contract???
 

I love this kid, I would like to think he will be with us a long time. I think they will look at this next off season. They will want to look at Cooley in Saunders system to gage his true value.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection]Exactly what I'm saying. I think it would be wise to tackle everyone who deserves it during one offseason. Maybe put free agent signings behind us and worry about keeping our own.[/quote]

You can't do that. Giving money away leaves you with less talent for the dollar and undervalued contracts are the biggest competitive advantage a team can have. We're close to cap now and giving out more big contracts means players have to be cut and then you get deadcap which means even les room to work with. Next year if we sign no new contracts (besides doc and lloyd) we'll still need a few cuts and restructures to stay under cap.

cooley's good, but he's also a TE, which is a fairly (and cheaply) replaceable position. He has 2 years left, taylor has 5 (and i think taylors contract gripes came from Drew wanting a new contract so HE could get his 3% since taylor currently makes him no money).

I think cooleys yardage probably does drop if we really go to a 3WR base formation since he won't be the #2 option on absolutely every play.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

Why tie yourself to Cooley when you can sign Vernon Davis in a few years!

Re: Cooley contract???
 

where i come from cooley means your azz

kinda funny you got a tight end named cooley!

wooohoooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Cooley contract???
 

such useful insights :P

Re: Cooley contract???
 

Cooley will get his 5 year, 30 mill. just like the rest...next year.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

[quote=That Guy]You can't do that. Giving money away leaves you with less talent for the dollar and undervalued contracts are the biggest competitive advantage a team can have. We're close to cap now and giving out more big contracts means players have to be cut and then you get deadcap which means even les room to work with. Next year if we sign no new contracts (besides doc and lloyd) we'll still need a few cuts and restructures to stay under cap.

cooley's good, but he's also a TE, which is a fairly (and cheaply) replaceable position. He has 2 years left, taylor has 5 (and i think taylors contract gripes came from Drew wanting a new contract so HE could get his 3% since taylor currently makes him no money).

I think cooleys yardage probably does drop if we really go to a 3WR base formation since he won't be the #2 option on absolutely every play.[/quote]

I disagree. Replacing Cooley would be really difficult to do. He brings so much to the table as far as what he does. He's the complete football player, a rarity in today's NFL. He's a fan favorite, and he's perfect for the system. He's a team player, and is not a distraction in the locker room. He's out performed his deal two consecutive years, and hasn't said anything publicly. You need to keep this guy around, which is why I believe if he has another good season, he will get his money next offseason.

Sadly, I doubt he will finish his carrer in Washington, because he's an average TE, who really found a home at H-B. After Gibbs and Saunders are done, they may not pay to keep him around.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

[quote=GTripp0012]I disagree. Replacing Cooley would be really difficult to do. He brings so much to the table as far as what he does. He's the complete football player, a rarity in today's NFL. He's a fan favorite, and he's perfect for the system. He's a team player, and is not a distraction in the locker room. He's out performed his deal two consecutive years, and hasn't said anything publicly. You need to keep this guy around, which is why I believe if he has another good season, he will get his money next offseason.

Sadly, I doubt he will finish his carrer in Washington, because he's an average TE, who really found a home at H-B. After Gibbs and Saunders are done, they may not pay to keep him around.[/quote]

I meant you can't just sign him to a deal now. He has two years, let him play those 2 years first. Afterwards maybe we keep him, maybe we don't (depending on contract demands and outside offers). I do agree that he is a great player and a useful guy to have on the roster.

as for being replaceable, there's a good TE almost every year, though they usually go in round 1 (heath miller, vernon davis, L pope, heap, etc)

Re: Cooley contract???
 

[quote=That Guy]I meant you can't just sign him to a deal now. He has two years, let him play those 2 years first. Afterwards maybe we keep him, maybe we don't (depending on contract demands and outside offers). I do agree that he is a great player and a useful guy to have on the roster.

as for being replaceable, there's a good TE almost every year, though they usually go in round 1 (heath miller, vernon davis, L pope, heap, etc)[/quote]

My main point is if you have to pick a very small number (4-5) of guys to hold over a long amount of time, I would put Cooley among them. From a franchise standpoint, you don't need to extend his contract, and I wouldn't do that this year anyway. But the guy has earned his money, and he hasn't begged for it, so he should get it.

If you only pay the people who come to you and beg for it, what kind of example does that set for the rest of the team?

Also with the TE's, you are right with the quality of recieving TE that comes out of college. But just having a wide body doesn't mean you can block. More specifically, if you are going to rely on your running game, you want a TE who is a great in-line blocker, and is more than willing to block; guys who consistently handle DE's and LB's in the running game. I would venture to say that the college ranks produce 1-2 guys who fit this description a year.

Cooley doesn't fit this in-line blocker ideal. But that's alright because he plays the H in Gibbs' offense. Cooley isn't a true TE, and if you played him there he'd be playing out of position. He's more than willing to block, and he's an [B]excellent[/B] seal blocker. But that doesn't make him a great in-line blocker. He wouldn't be much more than a special teamer in any other system, despite his value as a football player and the fact that he catches absolutely anything thrown to his side of the field.

Bottom line: The Skins don't have to pay Cooley right now, but they should give him the contract he deserves within a year and a half.

Sorry about the essay.

Re: Cooley contract???
 

its all cool, they're good points ;) Shockey is a true TE and he doen't block either, but he still helps his offense.

as far as 4-5 players you want to keep:
M washington
S Taylor
C Griffin
S Moss
R Thomas
J Jansen
C Samuels
C Portis

are all more important than cooley and much harder to replace (except maybe portis (general influx of RB talent, not a knock on him). this is also discounting the new guys since we haven't seen them play in our system yet).