All is quiet--for now

[dblanch66]

Is Clements that good? Has he put together consistent seasons of progress to justify the hype around his free agency? We may be better off not being able to sign him.
Dallas Sucks.

[70Chip]

I would rather trade the pick than spend it on a defensive tackle. We have much more pressing needs at other positions (DE,CB, LB). I don't know why people are expecting to get huge sack numbers from the interior of the defensive line. It's a rare thing in the NFL. In addition DT is the only position on the team at which we actually saw promising play from not one but two rookies. Anyone who thinks the interior of the line is the problem wasn't watching the same team I was last year. Unfortunately if this article is to be believed that apparently includes Greg Williams.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I would rather trade the pick than spend it on a defensive tackle. We have much more pressing needs at other positions (DE,CB, LB). I don't know why people are expecting to get huge sack numbers from the interior of the defensive line. It's a rare thing in the NFL. In addition DT is the only position on the team at which we actually saw promising play from not one but two rookies. Anyone who thinks the interior of the line is the problem wasn't watching the same team I was last year. Unfortunately if this article is to be believed that apparently includes Greg Williams.

Well, the truth is I have no idea if the tackles were more at fault then the ends, but IMO its moot. There wasn't a strong point of the defensive line in 2006. Both the ends and the tackles need upgrading.

I think the D Tackle situation is much more easily fixed. We take Branch. Crisis averted. We then have a guy who can grow into Saleve'a's role (completely off topic, but how in the f gramatically can you show possession of a noun to Joe Saleve'a? Can you put in two apostrophes?) since 2007 is the last year of Joe's contract. It's not like the rookie, no matter who it is, is going to be a quick fix. DT is a great position to make the pick at, IMO.

End of course is also a possibility but I think it's important to give Carter one more season to show how he fits into our scheme. If he doesn't we may very well draft a pure pass rusher in 2008 (1st round). If he does, we can try to find value in a run anchorer in the 3rd or so. But I think the wait and see approach is the best way to go with the end position.

No matter what we do, this D Line is going to be an imperfect unit next season. It why I want the pick there as rookie players in the back 7 tend not to play for Grilliams in year one. Some light FA help can improve the defensive back seven for us, maybe even to the point were we can hide the obvious holes in the D Line.

Here's hoping.

[MTK]

I'm not sure I'd write off the possibility of Clements just yet. If we were to make a splash in free agency I think corner is the one spot worth going after hard and heavy.

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'm not sure I'd write off the possibility of Clements just yet. If we were to make a splash in free agency I think corner is the one spot worth going after hard and heavy.

this seems to be snyders signature. getting a high profile free agent, that everyone thinks that there is no way they end up in washington. remember last season how randle el was on his way to chicago?

[celts32]

I didn't read anything but one mans opinion in that article.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by celts32

I didn't read anything but one mans opinion in that article.

Yeah exactly.

[Hog1]

Well, we can probably agree on one thing. Danny is the MASTER of pulling off the impossible, financially speaking. Don't write off anybody yet

[Schneed10]

I disagree with his analysis on Clements. The team will be able to clear enough space to match or beat any deal on the table for Nate Clements, if they so choose.

When all is said and done, by March 1st I'd estimate the Skins will have at least $15 million in cap room to work with. The writer is clearly not considering the restructures the 'Skins are currently working on/going to work on.

Every year people say the Skins are strapped, the Skins are strapped. And every year, they're all left scratching their heads, wondering how the 'Skins continue to massage the cap year in and year out, allowing them to spring on whatever free agents their heart desires. It's just not going to happen. These writers just don't understand the cap. The 'Skins are in good shape. If they want Clements, they WON'T be outbid.

Now whether the free agency strategy is a good plan is a whole other ball of wax. But regardless, if we want Clements, rest assured we'll get him.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I disagree with his analysis on Clements. The team will be able to clear enough space to match or beat any deal on the table for Nate Clements, if they so choose.

When all is said and done, by March 1st I'd estimate the Skins will have at least $15 million in cap room to work with. The writer is clearly not considering the restructures the 'Skins are currently working on/going to work on.

Every year people say the Skins are strapped, the Skins are strapped. And every year, they're all left scratching their heads, wondering how the 'Skins continue to massage the cap year in and year out, allowing them to spring on whatever free agents their heart desires. It's just not going to happen. These writers just don't understand the cap. The 'Skins are in good shape. If they want Clements, they WON'T be outbid.

Now whether the free agency strategy is a good plan is a whole other ball of wax. But regardless, if we want Clements, rest assured we'll get him.

the only reason it didn't happen already is cause of the new tv deals... BUT, we are DEFINITELY at a competitive disadvantage every year, since we lead the league in dead cap, which is money spent on player's that are no longer working for you, and the price/performance deals dan snyder and crew make for free agents are vastly inferior to those made by most teams, which again, puts us at a disadvantage.

if the skins clear 15$mill and st louis has $20mill clear, we can't win unless they let us. we CAN be outbid, cause the skins overspent immediately once the cap raised when other clubs didn't, and now the lions may have $40mill or something insane in cap space, and we have to hustle new contracts to existing players for more future dead money to make space. we're just paying on credit instead of with cash, but it really does hurt the team and its ability to maximize talent over a longer period of time.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by That Guy

the only reason it didn't happen already is cause of the new tv deals... BUT, we are DEFINITELY at a competitive disadvantage every year, since we lead the league in dead cap, which is money spent on player's that are no longer working for you, and the price/performance deals dan snyder and crew make for free agents are vastly inferior to those made by most teams, which again, puts us at a disadvantage.

if the skins clear 15$mill and st louis has $20mill clear, we can't win unless they let us. we CAN be outbid, cause the skins overspent immediately once the cap raised when other clubs didn't, and now the lions may have $40mill or something insane in cap space, and we have to hustle new contracts to existing players for more future dead money to make space. we're just paying on credit instead of with cash, but it really does hurt the team and its ability to maximize talent over a longer period of time.

Yeah I'd definitely prefer a more draft-centric approach. It would, as you say, maximize talent over time.

But the cap space still wouldn't be a problem for the 'Skins unless Nate Clements was somehow now worth a $20 million signing/roster bonus or something ridiculous. Which he's not. The Rams, in your example, have plenty of cap space to outgun us if they wanted to. But they still wouldn't totally bust the payscale just because they have the cap room. Besides, if any team has shown the propensity to overpay and blow up the payscale for players, it's us. We're still likely to win any race in which we earnestly enter for a player's services.

I'm not arguing that overpaying for Clements is a good idea. But if the team wants him, I think they'll get him.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yeah I'd definitely prefer a more draft-centric approach. It would, as you say, maximize talent over time.

But the cap space still wouldn't be a problem for the 'Skins unless Nate Clements was somehow now worth a $20 million signing/roster bonus or something ridiculous. Which he's not. The Rams, in your example, have plenty of cap space to outgun us if they wanted to. But they still wouldn't totally bust the payscale just because they have the cap room. Besides, if any team has shown the propensity to overpay and blow up the payscale for players, it's us. We're still likely to win any race in which we earnestly enter for a player's services.

I'm not arguing that overpaying for Clements is a good idea. But if the team wants him, I think they'll get him.

yeah, i don't disagree with any of that. We're just not in the best relative shape compared to other teams. clements probably wants a champ bailey deal though (salaries rise yearly since its a growth industry, and the new tv deals also created massive pay inflation). If they put a lot of the money in the first 3 years, it'd really f with our ability to get him plus dock (or other OG) and a LB (we also have a #6 draft pick to pay).

[TheMalcolmConnection]

If worse comes to worse, there's always Hood or Smoot.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

If worse comes to worse, there's always Hood or Smoot.

I doubt Smoot will come back. Is he going to be cut? I think he is still under contract with the Vikes. He just left 2 years ago.

[JGisLordOfTheRings]

Originally Posted by artmonkforhallofamein07

I doubt Smoot will come back. Is he going to be cut? I think he is still under contract with the Vikes. He just left 2 years ago.

LOL...Roderick Hood can suck an egg and Smoot probably doesnt want to come back. Like Malcolm said, I heard he's heading out the door also. I would much rather have Clements that Samuels. Samuels is a lot of flash and this and that but, he has some strong positions backing him up too. Clements is solid, a little older than I would like, but solid. And thats what we need. We need a #2 CB that can catch when the ball hits him in the damn hands, unlike Mr. Rogers, who should get moved into the #3 CB spot with that.

Schneed10: You sound pretty educated in your analysis and you seem to be spot on. I hope to GOD you're right!