Brandon Winey as a starter

[CrazyCanuck]

The only type of restructuring that would help would be an extension.

I don't understand Samuels logic. He says he won't restructure now, but might do so next year?

Let's fast forward to one year from now:

Samuels's 2005 cap hit will be $9.6M. His salary for 2005 will be $6M.

If he has a good year in 2004, he will be in the driver's seat and will be able to demand more from the Skins in any extension. Plus he'll know that if the Skins cut him he can find a good offer elsewhere, probably with a nice signing bonus.

If he has a bad year in 2004, then he will likely not want to restructure either since he'll be due $6M in salary in 2005, and any restructure or new deal would probably want to pay him less.

So I don't really see his logic when he says he might restructure next year. He might be trying look better in the public's eyes.

[CrazyCanuck]

So the way I see it, Samuels either restructures now or he's gone for sure in 2005.

If he's gone for sure in 2005, then we should definitely look to unload him now for a high draft pick.

[joecrisp]

Excellent points, Canuck.

I'm okay with dealing Samuels before the draft-- I just don't want to see him packaged with the #5 pick. The Skins have more leverage and value with that pick than with any player they might consider trading away. If they deal Samuels for more players or picks (preferably mid-first round at minimum for one pick), while retaining their #5 pick, that would be fine.
Don't get me wrong; it's not going to be easy to replace Samuels. I really believe he's going to return to Pro Bowl form under Bugel's guidance. But if he's not willing to restructure now, then the time to deal him is now.

[Duffman003]

Theres no way we would get a first round for samuels the way he our quarterbacks have been getting killed. He has not done well under the spurrier regime with offsides and sub par blocking. I would be surprised to get a second for him, but I would rather keep Samuels and let bugel at him.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by joecrisp

Excellent points, Canuck.

I'm okay with dealing Samuels before the draft-- I just don't want to see him packaged with the #5 pick. The Skins have more leverage and value with that pick than with any player they might consider trading away. If they deal Samuels for more players or picks (preferably mid-first round at minimum for one pick), while retaining their #5 pick, that would be fine.
Don't get me wrong; it's not going to be easy to replace Samuels. I really believe he's going to return to Pro Bowl form under Bugel's guidance. But if he's not willing to restructure now, then the time to deal him is now.

I think Crisp pretty much hits the nail on the head here. But I don't think we should be jumping on the Winey bandwagon just yet. He's a solid player but I can't see him being better than a healthy Samuels. I think it's important to remember that Winey joined the lineup right around the time Dockery was starting to find his groove. Samuels had to help compensate for a lot of Dockery's early rookie mistakes.

[Carnage]

He was the third overall pick, why are we surprised at these numbers? Even if we think he didin't earn every dollar last season, dumping him for anything less than the third overall pick is insanity. Just be glad he is not Courtney Brown.