The Redskins' new approach to free agency

[SouperMeister]

I am very happy that we're demonstrating some restraint. I want to see far more emphasis on building this team through the draft. We certainly would have been better off with the two #3 and two #4 picks that were wasted on Lloyd and Duckett.

[JoeRedskin]

Yeah. I am in the SmootSmack, SGG and Malcolm camp. Nice to show restraint, but we do have needs that we probably can't address completely with the draft.

BUT, it is only day 2 of free agency. Briggs is still out along with Florence, Johnson and some others. Hopefully, the reverse of the "win in offseason, lose during the season" is true.

[NicknacK89]

I thought this was an interesting article, it makes a lot of sense.
Hold the plane: Redskins could sit out 1st days of free agency - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

[MTK]

I guess some just can't believe that the Skins are holding true to their word.

[WhereRURiggins]

Spending all the money and draft picks in the world does not matter if they don't produce!

[81forHOF]

Originally Posted by WhereRURiggins

Spending all the money and draft picks in the world does not matter if they don't produce!

Yeah, and if your Aunt had balls she'd be your Uncle.....but that goes without saying.

[freddyg12]

I love this fa period so far. I agree w/GMScud though, it's hard to call it a change in philosophy just yet, we did the same thing in 05 & 07 when cap room was limited. The difference is that this year Vinny said in the begginning that it would be a quiet fa.

There are a lot of guys on the market that will come cheap, mainly players released. Question is how much can they contribute? We'll see if the front office can bring in the right ones. Maybe they've been reading the warpath & are enamored w/the vet minimum philosopy of the board!

[Skins fan 44]

Look where it got us a couple of years ago with Lloyd and Arch. Just build thru the draft and get a couple good solid back ups off of free agency. Look at the Colts of there starters last year they drafted the majority if not all of them.

[Stuck in TX]

Originally Posted by Skins fan 44

Look where it got us a couple of years ago with Lloyd and Arch. Just build thru the draft and get a couple good solid back ups off of free agency. Look at the Colts of there starters last year they drafted the majority if not all of them.

Look at the Giants... last year they drafted 8 players, all of which made the final roster. Looks like Danny and Vinny are ready to EARN a ring instead of try to BUY one.

[diehardskin2982]

I just feel that some talent like Moss is can't miss, so we should make a run at him. Plus I think its a great trade market that we should take part in. Lastly I think many agents are upset that we have taken this approach to free agency.

[redwagonskins]

Originally Posted by diehardskin2982

I just feel that some talent like Moss is can't miss, so we should make a run at him. Plus I think its a great trade market that we should take part in. Lastly I think many agents are upset that we have taken this approach to free agency.

Really? Ask the Raiders about his can't miss talent. I will agree that he is a top player when everything is going right (i.e. Tom Brady is dishing the ball to him and they run off 18 straight) but the slightest bit of adversity and the guy goes off the deep end (i.e. walking off the field at FEDEX and his entire time in Oakland). Why overpay for a less than sure thing (although we do know he can find his way to the locker room without any directions)

And who gives a crap if agents don't like us because we are no longer the stalking horse. If it means not getting a guy like Briggs because he can't get paid mega-bucks so be it. Last year the guy threatened to sit out. Now that we are no longer pushing the market, he gets a much smaller than expected contract. It just shows how we overpaid in the past and if that means we don't get the next Archuletta and Lloyd, I'm ok with that. Players go where they want to go, not where their agents say. I think it's actually a relief that we aren't a pawn of the agents running up the market for useless players.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by redwagonskins

Really? Ask the Raiders about his can't miss talent. I will agree that he is a top player when everything is going right (i.e. Tom Brady is dishing the ball to him and they run off 18 straight) but the slightest bit of adversity and the guy goes off the deep end (i.e. walking off the field at FEDEX and his entire time in Oakland). Why overpay for a less than sure thing (although we do know he can find his way to the locker room without any directions)

I think he played hurt most of 2006. But when he was with Oakland in 2005 he was as good as any receiver we've had in a long time.

[redwagonskins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think he played hurt most of 2006. But when he was with Oakland in 2005 he was as good as any receiver we've had in a long time.

As good as any receiver we've had is not exactly a bench-mark for paying the guy the big $ that he wants as well as taking on the potential baggage. As for 2005 he had 60 catches for 1005 yards and 8 TDs. In comparison, Santana had 84 for 1483 and 9. Laveraneus (in NY) had 73 for 845 and 5 and the year before had 90 for 950 and 1. He does match up with the output of our guys and former guys but I wouldn't pay big $s for any of these guys either.

[Campbell17]

Last year was a wait and see... boom 9-7.

[Daseal]

Here's my take on it. When we were big players in free agency, the contracts weren't quite as big. We would spend draft picks in order to get proven talent. We massaged the cap pretty well, and it worked. However, our players weren't getting the type of contracts and guarantees players are now. Nate Clements is a good DB, but was he THAT good? The guaranteed money is just too much now.