Free Agency/Franchise Tag thread 2011

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

OK, let's get straight what we're talking about. We're talking about deciding to pick up yet another high profile free agent, not anything else.

And regardless of how you dresss up that decision to try to acquire that high profile player, it still doesn't hide the fact that this is the NUMBER ONE reason why the redskins are in the position they are in. It's investing too much into a select number of proven high profile players rather than investing intelligently to both proven low profile veterans and young players with potential and talent.

I never focused on one particular player to use as an example. Hell if the redskins can get any of the players that you are considering for a bargain, then by all means sign him to a contract. But if you're gonna break the bank and give him what a high profile free agent EXPECTS, then I will be there to tell you so when the redskins aren't doing well as a team AGAIN. And this is regardless of how that high profile free agent player performs.

Actually THE NUMBER ONE reason why the Redskins are in the position they are in is poor talent evaluation. In 2008 we had 10 draft picks. In the hands of a competent GM and scouting staff that should have set us up for the next 3-5 years of 'young, hungry, low profile talent' but we have one contributing player. The fact we've spent more FA money, traded more picks and missed on more drafted players has far more to do with poor execution than it does poor strategy. The Steelers, Packers, Eagles, Ravens, Patriots, etc. who are perennial winners do one thing better than any others, evaluate talent. We have failed at that task for damn near since Beathard left DC. Don't fall into the camp of 'free agency is bad', we've been terrible at bringing in the right people.

I agree, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. If we were to go out and sign players in the 30's to large contracts, set the market at each position, trade our early round draft picks for role players and expect the Lombardi, you'd have no argument from me. To essentially to ignore talent free agents because free agency hasn't worked before is genuinely insane.