Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent

[SmootSmack]

There is a rumor the Niners might be targeting Briggs as well. Not sold on Carter. I'm torn on Berrian, I like him but I'm just as happy with Reche.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

There is a rumor the Niners might be targeting Briggs as well. Not sold on Carter. I'm torn on Berrian, I like him but I'm just as happy with Reche.

Yeah I'd expect Briggs will get a lot of attention. He's the only real impact LB available. As for WR, none of the guys available in free agency really float my boat. Bryant Johnson is probably the best of the bunch for me, but I don't know how Arizona lets him get away. Berrian doesn't do a whole lot for me, neither does Carter. If we want to improve WR, we're probably looking at the draft. Anything in free agency will pretty much serve just to fill out depth.

[Smooter]

I really hope we don't land Briggs. I think we're fine at linebacker. As far as the WRs go im not sure. I'd like to think we're fine there if we resign Reche. CB seems to be a big concern to me though.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

There is a rumor the Niners might be targeting Briggs as well. Not sold on Carter. I'm torn on Berrian, I like him but I'm just as happy with Reche.

I'm torn on Berrian too. He's a burner but not much else, still it would be nice to have that speed in the slot.

[JoeRedskin]

As to Briggs, if we can get him at a competitive price then I'm all for it. (Vet min + incentives - I kid, I kid). Schneed's right - we are paper thin at LB and, again, I think GW's defense is really places a heavy burden on the LB's and Corners.

Given our cap status, I am not sure we will have a lot of flexibility in pursuing big names and, while I am sure we can make solid offers, there are a lot of teams that are way under the cap. These teams can make huge offers (See SF for Nate Clements last year) that simply blow everyone out of the water. Some of these same teams are not big players in FA, but every now and then they may wish to "go big" to convince their fan-base that they are serious.

I also think the UFA market tends to be pretty sparse these days as teams have realized that holding onto their own guys makes a lot more sense. Yes, even the Skins realized this.

With all this said, I do not expect Briggs to land here even though he would be a good pickup. I just see us as getting out-bid. As for other UFA's, I don't see anyone worth blowing up the salary scale for. Briggs? Yes. Berrian, Johnson? No.

I expect that we will resign, restructure most of our own and pick up some back ups like last year. We will probably make a play for Briggs but get out bid.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I think we need to continue to be financially prudent. So he comes here, then Rocky gets healthy and then what? We have two starting LBs, one with a huge contract and one who is a wasted draft pick if he doesn't play.

Let's draft one in the mid to late rounds, continue to use Blades and Godfrey and wait and hope Rocky gets healthy.

[hail_2_da_skins]

Why all this talk about over-priced free agents? The Redskins need to go in a different direction and acquire younger more durable players through the draft. Cut or trade the dead weight and get draft picks.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by jamf

Money is limited, We have to spend it on the lines.

Amen!!! Start building this team from the inside out so we can win the battles in the trenches consistently. We can always move HB Blades to Rocky's WLB position. I'm more concerned about CB depth with Rogers coming off an ACL and Springs possibly moving on if he's unwilling to restructure.

[Monksdown]

We're going to be renegotiating some big contracts to give us some wiggle room next year. I cant see them doing that for the linebacker corp. I think we need to spend our money on both sides of the line, and maybe the receiving corp.

[BigSKINBauer]

if the money is works out i think he would be great. I remember when we almost got him a while back. I am pretty sure i wanted him back then. Obviously, I would love chad johnson too but i don't think our salary cap could even come close to it. We are in pretty bad cap space going into next year. Other teams probably can outbid us but when danny boy wants, danny boy gets. Even if we could do it next year it puts us in shackles for years after. I guess i am for a passive approach and getting our finances back in order over the next two or three years. That is boring though and signing big name players is fun. Doesn't really work with us but it is definitely fun...

Moreover, we're the Washington Mother Fucking Redskins; the salary cap works around us. When is cap hell coming?

[SmootSmack]

So with Blache's increased role I wonder if this improves the chances of Briggs coming here. They were together for one year in 2003.

[Giantone]

You are already over next seasons cap by 23 million and don't have a head coach,you have other problems.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Giantone

You are already over next seasons cap by 23 million and don't have a head coach,you have other problems.

The cap won't be an issue as we've covered many times lately in other threads.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

According to this article, Lance Briggs is considering testing the free agent market. As you'll recall, we almost traded for him, but the Bears wanted Rocky McIntosh and we balked. Pretty good move that we did, as Rocky has turned into a fine player.

But now that Rocky is hurt and won't play for much of 2008 (and if he plays at all he won't be himself), do we consider signing Briggs?

Before we jump on the cost issue, let me say that if the Skins want him, they can make cap room for him without much trouble. That will not be a big issue. Where we'd get into cap trouble is if we tried to sign three or four studs like Briggs.

I think we should go for it. He's had an amazing season in a year when Chicago's D has been off. He's actually been better than Urlacher this year. I'm all for a prudent move here or there in free agency, without overdoing it. He'll be expensive, but the talent is crazy. This should be our one free agent signing, IMO.

SI.com - NFL - Briggs wants to test free agency waters - Wednesday December 19, 2007 7:31PM

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! O-line and a pass rushing DE!!!!

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I think we need to continue to be financially prudent. So he comes here, then Rocky gets healthy and then what? We have two starting LBs, one with a huge contract and one who is a wasted draft pick if he doesn't play.

Let's draft one in the mid to late rounds, continue to use Blades and Godfrey and wait and hope Rocky gets healthy.

With Gibbs gone, it's going to be interesting to see just what type aproach the FO is going use in it's atempt to acquire talent.

Briggs will probably be coveted, but it could be a difficult deal to do. I would pass on it and rather consider both O & D lines. Blades has potential, but the status of Godfrey is uncertain because he had considered retirement prior to coming back last year.