Current Redskins Salary Cap Status - 2009

[GMScud]

An example would be cutting Springs, Griffin, and Marcus W. That would save us $13M in cap space this coming season, which could easily turn into 4 or 5 moderately priced younger players who could add depth to both sides of the line and the LB position....

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by GMScud

An example would be cutting Springs, Griffin, and Marcus W. That would save us $13M in cap space this coming season, which could easily turn into 4 or 5 moderately priced younger players who could add depth to both sides of the line and the LB position....

Though to be accurate, if you're going to cut a DT like Griffin, you'd have to add 2 DTs in order to build depth.

If we're going to take 1 step back by cutting still-starting quality players, we'll have to find a way to replace them without breaking the bank, or we'll get worse.

Maybe that's what needs to happen, maybe we have to shed the old guys and get worse before we get better. But I've got to emphasize that, if we get rid of all our older players chances are we'll get worse this season, because we don't have the picks to fill the holes through the draft like the Ravens did (as mentioned in the post article), and it's not that easy to fit that many quality players under the cap via free agency.

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Though to be accurate, if you're going to cut a DT like Griffin, you'd have to add 2 DTs in order to build depth.

If we're going to take 1 step back by cutting still-starting quality players, we'll have to find a way to replace them without breaking the bank, or we'll get worse.

Maybe that's what needs to happen, maybe we have to shed the old guys and get worse before we get better. But I've got to emphasize that, if we get rid of all our older players chances are we'll get worse this season, because we don't have the picks to fill the holes through the draft like the Ravens did (as mentioned in the post article), and it's not that easy to fit that many quality players under the cap via free agency.

Is Griffin still a quality player? Seems like he's always injured.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Though to be accurate, if you're going to cut a DT like Griffin, you'd have to add 2 DTs in order to build depth.

If we're going to take 1 step back by cutting still-starting quality players, we'll have to find a way to replace them without breaking the bank, or we'll get worse.

Maybe that's what needs to happen, maybe we have to shed the old guys and get worse before we get better. But I've got to emphasize that, if we get rid of all our older players chances are we'll get worse this season, because we don't have the picks to fill the holes through the draft like the Ravens did (as mentioned in the post article), and it's not that easy to fit that many quality players under the cap via free agency.

I don't think we should get rid of ALL of our older players, but we should be selective and not be so damn worried about keeping together a core group for a "one last run at it" kind of thing. The Ravens, Flacons, and Dolphins all proved that if you build the lines, you can succeed (overnight) in spite of other weaknesses. IMO, we should adopt that strategy and move forward.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I don't think we should get rid of ALL of our older players, but we should be selective and not be so damn worried about keeping together a core group for a "one last run at it" kind of thing. The Ravens, Flacons, and Dolphins all proved that if you build the lines, you can succeed (overnight) in spite of other weaknesses. IMO, we should adopt that strategy and move forward.

The Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins had losing seasons before they got better. I wonder if the fan base and to some extent, the ownership/front office has the patience to go through a losing season of rebuilding. These losing seasons allowed these teams to make good acquisitions with high draft picks (Ravens got Flacco, Falcons got Matt Ryan, and the Dolphins got Jake Long).

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

The Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins had losing seasons before they got better. I wonder if the fan base and to some extent, the ownership/front office has the patience to go through a losing season of rebuilding. These losing seasons allowed these teams to make good acquisitions with high draft picks (Ravens got Flacco, Falcons got Matt Ryan, and the Dolphins got Jake Long).

I was just going to say this exact thing. The Ravens come to mind, they built their lines over the course of several drafts. They didn't suddenly draft 12 new linemen in one draft. They got Grubbs a few years ago, just as one example.

Besides, changing ourselves overnight is not an option for us, at least not through the draft (which is the right way to do it). We have 4 (or 5? I can't remember) draft picks. That's not going to make a difference overnight.

If you want an overnight impact you'd have to go to free agency. But again, with the cap situation, as much room as we could clear by cutting older guys, it would still take up significant space to replace them (because of the last-capped-year rules). It's just not feasible from a cap standpoint to replace Griffin, Springs, Taylor and Washington with a replacement AND build depth on top of their replacements.

What we're talking about here is a potential commitment to a youth movement. If we're going the route of cutting old expensive guys, then we have to find moderately priced free agents to replace them with now (ie no impact players) and draft well over the course of two or three seasons. I don't see how it can happen overnight for the Redskins. We're not the Dolphins with the luxury of picking Jake Long, we're not the Ravens sitting here with 10 draft picks.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

What we're talking about here is a potential commitment to a youth movement. If we're going the route of cutting old expensive guys, then we have to find moderately priced free agents to replace them with now (ie no impact players) and draft well over the course of two or three seasons. I don't see how it can happen overnight for the Redskins. We're not the Dolphins with the luxury of picking Jake Long, we're not the Ravens sitting here with 10 draft picks.

I understand the Ravens built their current team through a few drafts. What I meant by changing overnight was with regard to record. Baltimore and Miami were shitty teams in '07, and they both made the playoffs this year.

The Redskins are not a shitty team, but we are old. I don't think we should blow it up, but we have to get younger. It doesn't have to happen all at once, but I'd like to see us to do a few things moving forward (not just this offseason, every offseason):

1) Focus more on improving the lines
2) Put more of a premium on draft picks
3) Stop constantly restructuring the contracts of aging players with declining skills

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I understand the Ravens built their current team through a few drafts. What I meant by changing overnight was with regard to record. Baltimore and Miami were shitty teams in '07, and they both made the playoffs this year.

The Redskins are not a shitty team, but we are old. I don't think we should blow it up, but we have to get younger. It doesn't have to happen all at once, but I'd like to see us to do a few things moving forward (not just this offseason, every offseason):

1) Focus more on improving the lines
2) Put more of a premium on draft picks
3) Stop constantly restructuring the contracts of aging players with declining skills

Our hand will be forced on point #3. The last-capped-year rules prevent us from restructuring contracts drastically this year. And then if 2010 is uncapped the contract structure won't matter.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I don't think we should get rid of ALL of our older players, but we should be selective and not be so damn worried about keeping together a core group for a "one last run at it" kind of thing. The Ravens, Flacons, and Dolphins all proved that if you build the lines, you can succeed (overnight) in spite of other weaknesses. IMO, we should adopt that strategy and move forward.

i agree with you 100% that we don't HAVE to be horrible next year in order to rebuild - it IS possible to succeed "overnight" but addressing the lines... but the Ravens and Dolphins both had far more draft picks last year than we do (at this time), far more salary cap space, and far more accomplished men making the decisions. I would love for us to build through the lines and have instant success, but right now, i dont think we can "count" on it. Miami and baltimore greatly improved in one year, but neither of them are playing in Tampa this sunday.

Anyone who is not in our plans for 2010 and beyond, and is eating up a large chunk of salary and a roster spot should be jettisoned now. theres no reason to waste salary cap room and roster spots. Yes, we may or may not take a hit in performance in 2009 because of it. But for every old declining veteran we get rid of, it opens up another spot on our roster and/or practice squad to develop future talent.

Guys like Griffin, Washington, Taylor, Thrash, Daniels, and Springs should be cut. If Springs or Griff wanted to come back at a reduced salary, i'd consider it, but it would depend on what else is out there. Kendall may be worth keeping, but in the end, he's not in the plans for 2010 so he'd be more of a stop-gap depth guy at the vet min. anything more and i'd look elsewhere.

Guys like Jansen, Rabach, and ARE or Moss may stick around another year because theyre more valueable to us this year than they are cut (price v. performance v. depth), but we need to start looking for their replacements as well.