Peppers says he wants to explore free agency

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by The Goat

I'm w/ 53Fan and the cohort who says this is opportunity we should pass on. Build through the draft or through smart FA pick-ups for value type players. No massive paydays for 29 yr old guys who may be coming to the end of their heyday.

I do agree that DE is likely a need for us. On the one hand if we cut JT and resigned him for far less money then he can have right end while Evans and AC swap on the left side (IMO AC is better suited for strong side end than Taylor ever was). More than likely though, as Paintrain has said, JT is out of DC next year and we are down to AC and Evans... unless Blache sees serious potential in Jackson or Wilson we need to go get a legit end. It's times like these I wish we could "develop" diamonds in the rough to address needs instead of constantly needing to draft/sign yet another question mark.

We do need to make sure there is some type of improvement in our D-Line, so we need to make sure we have a player who is ready to play and contribute to the defensive line (in my opinion that would be Bernard the DT from Seattle). No offense but I'm tired of people who blurt out "let's build through the draft" (although you did add the whole part about free agency Goat, so I'm not talking about you in particular) and don't realize that building through the draft means drafting a kid that MAY contribute immediately, but will most likely take two or three years to really contribute. That's what happened last year when we drafted Davis, Kelly, and Thomas...we built through the draft.

Both Haynesworth and Peppers may command a lot of money, if I had to pick one out of those two, it would be Peppers. In my opinion though, I would go after Gross (as I've said it a million times), and draft a DE to develop. I think the teams needs to find out what will happen to Jason Taylor (retirement, restructure, or release from the team) before they would even think about going after Peppers though. I really hope they go after Gross instead.

[vallin21]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

We do need to make sure there is some type of improvement in our D-Line, so we need to make sure we have a player who is ready to play and contribute to the defensive line (in my opinion that would be Bernard the DT from Seattle). No offense but I'm tired of people who blurt out "let's build through the draft" (although you did add the whole part about free agency Goat, so I'm not talking about you in particular) and don't realize that building through the draft means drafting a kid that MAY contribute immediately, but will most likely take two or three years to really contribute. That's what happened last year when we drafted Davis, Kelly, and Thomas...we built through the draft.

Both Haynesworth and Peppers may command a lot of money, if I had to pick one out of those two, it would be Peppers. In my opinion though, I would go after Gross (as I've said it a million times), and draft a DE to develop. I think the teams needs to find out what will happen to Jason Taylor (retirement, restructure, or release from the team) before they would even think about going after Peppers though. I really hope they go after Gross instead.

Why would you sign a 29 yr old Peppers? He's a talented guy but DE is not a big of a need as DT. If you look at the good defenses in the playoffs they have at least one stud at DT (Docket AZ, Brunkly, Laws in Philly, Ngata in B-More). If you get a 26 yr old Haynesworth who made 2 pro bowls you have to at least go after him. Some of you guys are saying he has character issues over an incident in 06 for stomping on a guy, Come on, players have done far worse, and this was a one time offense. I remember we had ST do some things that made us scratch our head but he grew up and learned from his mistakes and became our best defensive player since D Green. I would have no problem breaking the bank for a 26 yr Haynesworth in his prime.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by vallin21

Why would you sign a 29 yr old Peppers? He's a talented guy but DE is not a big of a need as DT. If you look at the good defenses in the playoffs they have at least one stud at DT (Docket AZ, Brunkly, Laws in Philly, Ngata in B-More). If you get a 26 yr old Haynesworth who made 2 pro bowls you have to at least go after him. Some of you guys are saying he has character issues over an incident in 06 for stomping on a guy, Come on, players have done far worse, and this was a one time offense. I remember we had ST do some things that made us scratch our head but he grew up and learned from his mistakes and became our best defensive player since D Green. I would have no problem breaking the bank for a 26 yr Haynesworth in his prime.

I looked at Haynesworth stats and he has been pretty inconsistent, whereas Peppers (save for last year) he has had consistently good years. I would not mind Haynesworth, I just feel that he has the potential to be a bust.

[vallin21]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I looked at Haynesworth stats and he has been pretty inconsistent, whereas Peppers (save for last year) he has had consistently good years. I would not mind Haynesworth, I just feel that he has the potential to be a bust.

I agree with production but I think Peppers is not worth the money he's asking at this point in his career

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

We do need to make sure there is some type of improvement in our D-Line, so we need to make sure we have a player who is ready to play and contribute to the defensive line (in my opinion that would be Bernard the DT from Seattle). No offense but I'm tired of people who blurt out "let's build through the draft" (although you did add the whole part about free agency Goat, so I'm not talking about you in particular) and don't realize that building through the draft means drafting a kid that MAY contribute immediately, but will most likely take two or three years to really contribute. That's what happened last year when we drafted Davis, Kelly, and Thomas...we built through the draft.

Both Haynesworth and Peppers may command a lot of money, if I had to pick one out of those two, it would be Peppers. In my opinion though, I would go after Gross (as I've said it a million times), and draft a DE to develop. I think the teams needs to find out what will happen to Jason Taylor (retirement, restructure, or release from the team) before they would even think about going after Peppers though. I really hope they go after Gross instead.

I keep hearing that the '09 draft is chalk full of talented DT prospects (i wouldn't know cause honestly, and I know i'm in the minority here, college ball bores the hell out of me) but haven't heard much on DE draft prospects. Any insight there? I'm just thinking that if Griff is booted we have to get a stud in there pronto, but even if he gets another year in DC it's probably time to develop a stud anyway. Soooo... basically we need to address DE (if JT goes) and DT no matter what? Oh yeah, OLB too. Ooh, don't forget about CB if JLC is right about Los getting the boot. Oh wait, we still have an offense to deal with, damn!

[freddyg12]

As several have said Peppers & Haynesworth both have similar histories of playing big but not being consistent, except in contract years.

Neither one of these guys can fix our pass rush, and we can't sign both. We already have too many guys near or over 30. This D could be really avg. to poor next year. They held it together & over achieved in 08, but age & the lack of young talent is soon to catch up. We'd have to cut a few vets & one of these guys by himself can't make up for their loss.