2009 NFL Season/Off Season discussion

[D]

Definitely not smart having Maclin over Boldin but I understand why Philly did it.

Maybe McNabb's ego can't handle a WR bigger and more popular than he?

[Axl4Prez2004]

Definitely not smart having Maclin over Boldin but I understand why Philly did it.

Maybe McNabb's ego can't handle a WR bigger and more popular than he?

D, that's totally not the case.  McNabb doesn't have a huge ego (in relative terms of course because every great athlete has an ego, it's a pre-requisite).  I'm really surprised some folks have that misconception though.  A bit too sensitive?  Yes, a bit.  Choke artist?  Hell no.  Big heart?  Hell yeah.  Most talented qb Philly's ever had?  Oh yeah.  Future HOFer?  Definitely.   

Sandman, if that's the fact on the money, and the Eagles have it to spend, but won't, I will agree with you...that's crazy.  Now, were the Cards asking for a 1st and 3rd rounder for Boldin?  I still think that's too much.  Here's another thought.  If Boldin's such a no-brainer to grab...how come other teams with similar receiver issues didn't snap him up?  What will happen when Boldin isn't playing against the 2nd best opposing corner...what happens when you give a guy $10 mill. who has had the luxury of playing #2 to arguably the best wr in the game Mr. Fitzgerald?  I think those are legitimate questions and probably played into why they didn't pursue Houshmandzadeh.  Peters is a low-risk high return guy...Boldin's riskier than Peters.

[sandman]

this is a reliable source. and i've seen other sources list it very close to the $37M referenced below. i don't believe this includes peters deal, so the current number is probably around $26M, still about the 4th most in the league.

last year the eagles had to extend contracts just to be above the required BASEMENT level of the cap. that's right, they were struggling to spend the required minimum. kudos to them for finding their way to the NFC Champ game (after a very average 9-6-1 season), but i have to believe they could have signed another difference maker along the way that could have gotten them over the hump.

keep in mind this is one of the most profitable sports franchises in america, with some of the most dedicated fans. and they have been significantly under the cap each year. the thing that bothers me is that they like Boldin. they have inquired about him numerous times. i believe a #1 pick would gotten it done.

and then there's Dawkins. they wanted dawkins on this team. they made him a decent offer. it would have cost them another $2M per year to keep him. seems kinda silly to go with a lesser option (sean jones) when you have about $40M of cap space.
 

Salary Cap Space As Of April 22

Posted by Mike Florio on April 22, 2009, 10:41 p.m. EDT

Arizona Cardinals: $1.29 million.
Atlanta Falcons: $23.67 million.
Baltimore Ravens: $968,000.
Buffalo Bills: $11.82 million.
Carolina Panthers: $2.69 million.
Chicago Bears: $20.96 million.
Cincinnati Bengals: $16.26 million.
Cleveland Browns: $20.27 million.
Dallas Cowboys: $10.35 million.
Denver Broncos: $16.3 million.
Detroit Lions: $10.72 million.
Green Bay Packers: $27.89 million.
Houston Texans: $10.75 million.
Indianapolis Colts: $7.10 million.
Jacksonville Jaguars: $16.94 million.
Kansas City Chiefs: $32.3 million.
Miami Dolphins: $13.19 million.
Minnesota Vikings: $17.32 million.
New England Patriots: $4.67 million.
New Orleans Saints: $4.29 million.
New York Giants: $4.37 million.
New York Jets: $12.62 million.
Oakland Raiders: $9.33 million.
Philadelphia Eagles: $37.44 million.
Pittsburgh Steelers: $440,000.
San Diego Chargers: $8.56 million.
San Francisco 49ers: $26.11 million.
Seattle Seahawks: $7.41 million.
St. Louis Rams: $10.67 million.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $35.54 million.
Tennessee Titans: $13.05 million.
Washington Redskins: $5.96 million.

[gilee7]

I know the Dawkins issue upset a lot of fans because of what he's meant to this team, but I think, on the field, the Eagles upgraded that position. Dawkins is still a good player, but he isn't what he once was. He only made the Pro Bowl last year because of his name.

And nobody in their right mind would want Maclin over Boldin. Boldin, imo, is a top-10 WR in this league. Maclin could very well turn out to be Freddy Mitchell for all we know.

But, like I said, we don't know just what the Cards were asking for in a trade. We can ASSUME, but we don't know. If the Cards were serious about trading Boldin, they would have. The Eagles, Giants, and Titans were all inquiring. The Titans actually said that the Cards wouldn't return their calls on draft day. I don't really think the Cards want to trade Boldin or ever did. With him on the team, they have the best WR duo in the league by far. You know Warner and Fitzgerald have already lobbied hard for them to keep Boldin.

If some other team had traded for Boldin, I would've been upset with the Eagles. But since nobody did, I have to believe that either the Cards were demanding way too much or they never were serious about trading him anyway. With that in mind, I'm happy they got Maclin. I don't think he'll be a bust. He may not run great routes at this point, but he's very fast (the Eagles probably have the fastest WR corps in the league now with Maclin, Jackson, and Curtis--- take that, Al Davis!), and he has great hands. He's certainly a play-maker. He'll probably return punts next season, allowing Jackson to focus soley on his WR duties. I don't see him starting yet, but I think the Eagles will find ways to get him heavily involved. In 2-3 years I think he'll prove to be the best WR from this year's class.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Gilee, you're absolutely right...Jones is an upgrade over Dawkins.  No way is he a "lesser option." 

Sandman, you are right!  If the Eagles really are leaving that amount of money on the side and failing to put it into their roster, they fucking deserve to lose.  I enjoy Florio's stuff.  btw, Philly's am 950 had some very good draft coverage on Saturday.  1410 sometimes gets a bit too fluffy.  Just sayin'.

Listen, do you honestly think even if Philly or NYG offered their 1st round picks to AZ, they'd have parted with Anquan Boldin?  I don't think so.  You're talking about a team that made it to the Super Bowl last year, and will have to defend the NFC against teams like Philly and NYG.  PLUS, the 1st round picks Philly and NYG had were not sweet picks.
Arizona got who they needed at #30 anyway in Beanie Wells who is way better than a #30 pick.  I think AZ is smiling right now.

[Rage in the Cage]

Arizona got who they needed at #30 anyway in Beanie Wells who is way better than a #30 pick.  I think AZ is smiling right now.

Edgerrin James got what he wanted to; his release. I think a team like the Saints could really use him considering they passed on Beanie.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Arizona got who they needed at #30 anyway in Beanie Wells who is way better than a #30 pick.  I think AZ is smiling right now.

Edgerrin James got what he wanted to; his release. I think a team like the Saints could really use him considering they passed on Beanie.

The Saints made a great pick getting Jenkins.  They needed help in the secondary in a major way.  Between Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, I still don't see the need for an expensive bruiser.  There has to be a cheap 3rd and 1, short yardage back out there.  Edgerrin will demand too much money for what he's worth at this stage of his career.  That said, my heart goes out to him after losing his wife to leukemia recently.  What a terrible disease.

[gilee7]

So supposedly Brett Favre is meeting with Brad Childress this week to talk about coming out of retirement again and play for the Minnesota Vikings, which is where he was hoping to go last year.

How do you feel about this, Axl4Prez?

[loretian]

I know I'm not the person being asked, but living in Minnesota (and being a Vikings fan), and having many friends who are stupid enough  to root for the Packers, I want this to happen only so they will feel as much pain as possible, and realize their bullshit team is as bullshit as Brett Favre's loyalty to the Packers.

   (No, I'm not actually as bitter as I sound)

[Axl4Prez2004]

So supposedly Brett Favre is meeting with Brad Childress this week to talk about coming out of retirement again and play for the Minnesota Vikings, which is where he was hoping to go last year.

How do you feel about this, Axl4Prez?

Sorry it took a while to get back to you...I've been orgasming ever since I heard the news Childress and Favre are actually meeting to discuss Favre becoming a Viking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                         

Does that tell ya how I feel?   

If Favre's biceps tendon hadn't been injured last year, the Jets would have done some damage in the playoffs.
Berrian, Harvin, Peterson, Taylor............and Brett Favre.

Kurt Warner was 38 and just fine playing in the Super Bowl last year.  Favre's what, 39?  No prob. 

Loretian, if we get Brett, we've got a legit shot at at least an NFC Championship game.  I so hope this happens. 

[D]

Yes this would be incredible for Minnesota.

Favre did well last year till the injury. i mean even though the Jets went 9-7, that is still a 5 game improvement.

In Minnesota, he will have a RB for the first time in a very  long time. Will remind me of Elway in his last year at Denver.

[JuicySwoos]

Childress was filmed entering Winter Park (the Vikings headquarters) this morning at 7am, so it is in doubt whether or not he has met with Favre yet.  The soap opera continues.

[Axl4Prez2004]

What a soap opera.  Let me say this as a Vikings fan...if we don't get Brett (which right now that's the way it looks like) I do have confidence in Rosenfels.  The guy can play.  Turdvaris has to go.  He's a choke artist.

btw, any qb with "Rose" in their name has to be good.  GNFNR baby, GNFNR! 

[JuicySwoos]

The Favre soap opera is not yet over....latest "report" from ESPN is that Favre sent the Vikings X-rays of his shoulder, and if anything less than major surgury is required, he is going to sign with the Vikes. 

Makes you wonder who exactly these "sources with knowledge of the situation" really are, maybe the custodian and the winter park lunch lady?

[loretian]

This article appears to offer some insight: http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/44624062.html

One thing of note is that they essentially claim all the BS in the media right now is due to Favre just wanting to avoid Off-season training.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Alright, this is loosely an NFL topic.  Syracuse is getting Paulus at quarterback!  You may have heard of him...he was a 6' 1" 185 lb. point guard down at Duke.  He'll be going to grad school at SU and playing football...sweet!

...to make it NFL related, he did have a tryout with the Green Bay Packers.  I think they basically told him they want to see what he can do on a college team.  Very cool. 

[faldor]

Alright, this is loosely an NFL topic.  Syracuse is getting Paulus at quarterback!  You may have heard of him...he was a 6' 1" 185 lb. point guard down at Duke.  He'll be going to grad school at SU and playing football...sweet!

...to make it NFL related, he did have a tryout with the Green Bay Packers.  I think they basically told him they want to see what he can do on a college team.  Very cool. 

Might give people a reason to actually watch Syracuse football for the first time in YEARS, just to see what he's got.  That program has gone so far downhill.  They used to be solid, but have steadily fallen off.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Alright, this is loosely an NFL topic.  Syracuse is getting Paulus at quarterback!  You may have heard of him...he was a 6' 1" 185 lb. point guard down at Duke.  He'll be going to grad school at SU and playing football...sweet!

...to make it NFL related, he did have a tryout with the Green Bay Packers.  I think they basically told him they want to see what he can do on a college team.  Very cool. 

Might give people a reason to actually watch Syracuse football for the first time in YEARS, just to see what he's got.  That program has gone so far downhill.  They used to be solid, but have steadily fallen off.

Yeah man, they've been awful for years.  I really think he's going to make something happen up there.  At the very least, it should help recruiting.  NFL scouts will definitely be keeping an eye on him...and therefore on the rest of the team.

Favre is seeing Smoking Guns doc!  How cool is that?  Smoking Guns, you lucky f'er!   
If only Favre had the damn surgery done earlier...I'm starting to think it may be too late to see him leading my Vikes this Fall.

[D]

Favre is gettinga consult from DR James Andrews about surgery on his biceps tendon

this is exciting

[Axl4Prez2004]

^D, I had heard unfortunately there may be more going on with him than just the biceps tendon tear...unless we hear he's going in for surgery very soon, I just don't see him playing this year...but there's always next year.   Hell, he's Brett Favre, he may take off as much time as Axl and then come back!