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opcorn:
With 50+ million in cap space, exceeded only by the Jags, I was hoping for more than 'serviceable.'
Look, thats why I was lobbying like hell for Julius Thomas, STILL AM, some people might not get it, but we are mandated to spend most of that cap space Idzik hoarded and there weren't a lot of FA's worth spending it on to begin with, and that number is already dwindling, so dammit lets get some real bang for our buck with Julius Thomas, or at least find out if he's willing to take (lots) of our money. This is someone we can actually get excited about.
technically Raiders and jags have $65 mill, so they have more room. Rumor is Julius Thomas has agreed to a large contract with the Jags and he has already informed the broncos he will sign there.
before free agency even starts the tier 1 CBs are off the market unless Revis is cut today. We're on to tier 2 with House, Culliver, Cro, and Skrine (Browns)
Even though this isn't real because free agency starts tomorrow (depending on what you want to believe)...it is real...Hoyer is a Texan...
Brian Hoyer - QB - Browns
The Texans have reached a deal with Brian Hoyer, according to NBC4's Dianna Marie Russini.
Aside from maybe the Jets or Bills, no team was more desperate for a quarterback than the Texans. Hoyer isn't a game-changer, but he's about the best Houston could do in a thin quarterback market. It's still possible the Texans could bring back Ryan Mallett and have him compete with Hoyer for the starting job. It's been reported by the New York Post that the Jets would likely pick up whichever quarterback Houston decides to discard, likely Mallett or Ryan Fitzpatrick. The latter of those two is still under contract.
Brian Hoyer - QB - Browns
The Texans have reached a deal with Brian Hoyer, according to NBC4's Dianna Marie Russini.
Aside from maybe the Jets or Bills, no team was more desperate for a quarterback than the Texans. Hoyer isn't a game-changer, but he's about the best Houston could do in a thin quarterback market. It's still possible the Texans could bring back Ryan Mallett and have him compete with Hoyer for the starting job. It's been reported by the New York Post that the Jets would likely pick up whichever quarterback Houston decides to discard, likely Mallett or Ryan Fitzpatrick. The latter of those two is still under contract.
Report: Raiders reach deal with Rodney Hudson
Posted by Mike Wilkening on March 9, 2015, 9:04 AM EDT
Seattle Seahawks v Kansas City Chiefs
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The Raiders are spending big to lure away the top center in free agency from a division rival.
Oakland has reached a five-year, $44.5 million contract with Chiefs center Rodney Hudson, Jason La Canfora of CBS reported Monday morning.
The 25-year-old Hudson is PFT’s 23rd-ranked free agent.
For Oakland, the Hudson deal would be a nice victory after other presumed free agent targets have seemingly turned their attention elsewhere. For Kansas City, the loss of Hudson is a setback after striking a potential deal with wideout Jeremy Maclin Sunday night.
Hudson’s pending arrival in Oakland all but closes the door on center Stefen Wisniewski’s return to the club. Wisniewski, like Hudson, is in his prime, so he should be able to find a good job elsewhere.
Posted by Mike Wilkening on March 9, 2015, 9:04 AM EDT
Seattle Seahawks v Kansas City Chiefs
Getty Images
The Raiders are spending big to lure away the top center in free agency from a division rival.
Oakland has reached a five-year, $44.5 million contract with Chiefs center Rodney Hudson, Jason La Canfora of CBS reported Monday morning.
The 25-year-old Hudson is PFT’s 23rd-ranked free agent.
For Oakland, the Hudson deal would be a nice victory after other presumed free agent targets have seemingly turned their attention elsewhere. For Kansas City, the loss of Hudson is a setback after striking a potential deal with wideout Jeremy Maclin Sunday night.
Hudson’s pending arrival in Oakland all but closes the door on center Stefen Wisniewski’s return to the club. Wisniewski, like Hudson, is in his prime, so he should be able to find a good job elsewhere.
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sg3
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There are a couple of big ticket items still lurking out there, namely Revis, Iupati and Bulaga. Let's see what happens with them. Gotta believe that Revis' $20MM (or is it $25 MM) option will not be picked up by Pats, although stranger things have happened in Foxboro with regards to their cap management. Iupati doesn't really thrill me, because of his Cap # and weakness in pass protection. Bulaga at about $8-9MM would be a good investment IMHO, but we would have to figure out something to do with Giaco.
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sg3
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I think I'll miss that pleasure Tomorrow at noon I should be off the coast of Virginia heading south on Norwegian Gem to the CaribbeanThose come tomorrow around noon. Keep an eye open...and the Jets were never in the running for these guys, that wont be stated. But feel free to spend the day looking.
Im hoping for a run at OG Carpenter and one of the CBs, my preference in Culliver, but I know some like House more. Hopefully we can get House, Culliver, or Skrine...but its looking more like Cary Williams and Cro right now. Landing Carpenter would be nice because he's only 26 and a mountain to play RG. Bulaga would be nice also, agreed.
I think your thesis about players not wanting to take our money is not entirely accurate. I'm sure it plays a part all things being fairly equal, but most players will go to the highest bidder so long as its a million or two more, maybe two or three if you're one of the elite free agents commanding top dollar, but Julius to the Jaguars proves they'll take your money if its just a good offer. You just have to be super aggressive and super decisive.
IMO the bigger factor is knowing how to work free agency, and its not easy, not every GM is good at it and its especially tough on a novice GM because the speed with which the more experienced GM's attack the A-list free agents, the moment the bell rings, and how they plan their offers in advance and know how to get these guys inked before they leave the building or hang up the phone, essentially not allowing them to take their offers and shop them, this is a real skill and not everyone masters it, especially the new GM's. IMO Idzik got overwhelmed by this a year ago, and I'm starting to fear Mac is meeting the same fate. Not drawing any definitive conclusions, but I'm starting to get that vibe.
I agree on Idzik but im not worried about mac at all. Most of the guys are resigning he would have targeted...I think the measuring stick for him is this time next year. I still think he makes a couple tier 2 free agent additions worth noting...I jut never had high hopes of 2 or 3 tier 1 guys. I think that was unrealistic.
Also, when I said the more money part, while Maxwell may have wanted to join chip for $10 mill per year, I think he would have came here for 14 mill per year from the jets...just my opinion and no one but maxwell knows if that is true or not. But to get the top CB on the market, I feel we would have had to pay a top CB price, where the eagles didnt. No one knows that true or not about Maxwell, but I think we would have had to pay more than the Eagles, that's my real point. I think Chip has established himself and a direction players can buy into, I think Mac and Bowles are building so we need to financially convince players about our program.
I agree with that second part, we definitely have to come in with offers that exceed the more established teams, enough more to make a difference, and we can argue about what this is, but generally speaking you are right, that matters and it has to be factored in for someone like Mac when he is planning to bust out of the gate when the bell rings for free agency.
I don't know how Mac is coping with that reality, but I know Idzik totally misunderstood that dynamic, he actually thought he could low-ball the Tier 1 and Tier 2 free agents and then haggle, and they all said "ADIOS"
I hope thats not happening again.
The thing that scares me is the thing you've talked about too, these A-list guys don't linger, they fly off the board at warp speed and then comes the run on Tier 2, which is almost as aggressive. The Jets fans who preach "patience" just don't understand how free agency works in my view. Patience, in free agency, is NOT a virtue.
patience is what you have when you dont want Revis, Maxwell, or Kareem jackson...those same people preaching patience want those guys, they just dont know better than to say "be patient." Most of them are old...just ask them. They likely still punch time clocks, wonder where phone booths are, and prefer fruit cups over tapioca pudding in the nursing home lunch line. You know who you are.
There's a time for patience, but NFL free agency is not that time. Patience is not rewarded in free agency, its punished.patience is what you have when you dont want Revis, Maxwell, or Kareem jackson...those same people preaching patience want those guys, they just dont know better than to say "be patient." Most of them are old...just ask them. They likely still punch time clocks, wonder where phone booths are, and prefer fruit cups over tapioca pudding in the nursing home lunch line. You know who you are.
The GM's who succeed in free agency live by another creed, the early bird gets the worm. The second they see daylight they are swooping in on those worms like flies on a rib-roast.
Another one I was hoping for...dang, man....
Bears to sign Pernell McPhee, $16 million guaranteed
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 9, 2015, 9:35 AM EDT
Baltimore Ravens v Atlanta Falcons
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The Bears are making an expensive addition to their pass rush.
Pernell McPhee, who emerged as a very good situational pass rusher last season in Baltimore, will sign a new contract to play in Chicago. The Baltimore Sun reports that it’s a five-year contract worth nearly $40 million, including nearly $16 million guaranteed. That’s less than the $8 million to $10 million a year that McPhee was reportedly seeking, but it’s still a good deal for a guy who is not an every-down player.
The 26-year-old McPhee had 7.5 sacks last year while playing mostly in passing situations. He’ll surely help Chicago’s pass rush this year, but he’ll need to improve against the run if he’s going to be worth the money the Bears are paying him.
McPhee was the No. 15 player in our Free Agent Hot 100.
Bears to sign Pernell McPhee, $16 million guaranteed
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 9, 2015, 9:35 AM EDT
Baltimore Ravens v Atlanta Falcons
Getty Images
The Bears are making an expensive addition to their pass rush.
Pernell McPhee, who emerged as a very good situational pass rusher last season in Baltimore, will sign a new contract to play in Chicago. The Baltimore Sun reports that it’s a five-year contract worth nearly $40 million, including nearly $16 million guaranteed. That’s less than the $8 million to $10 million a year that McPhee was reportedly seeking, but it’s still a good deal for a guy who is not an every-down player.
The 26-year-old McPhee had 7.5 sacks last year while playing mostly in passing situations. He’ll surely help Chicago’s pass rush this year, but he’ll need to improve against the run if he’s going to be worth the money the Bears are paying him.
McPhee was the No. 15 player in our Free Agent Hot 100.
Of course the Pats are after other free agents too!
Jabaal Sheard - LB - Browns
The Bucs, Bengals, Seahawks and Patriots are all reportedly in the running for free agent OLB Jabaal Sheard.
As a 26-year-old who has scheme versatility, Sheard has plenty of suitors. He's shown he can stuff the run as a 3-4 outside linebacker and get after the quarterback as a 4-3 end.
Related: Bengals, Patriots, Seahawks, Buccaneers
Pernell McPhee - LB - Ravens
Bears agreed to terms with OLB Pernell McPhee on a five-year, $40 million contract.
The deal includes nearly $16 million in guarantees. McPhee played behind Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil last year, but still posted 7.5 sacks, 64 quarterback pressures and 24 quarterback hits while lining up everywhere from nose tackle to defensive end. He was PFF's No. 2 3-4 OLB, behind only Justin Houston. It's an excellent get for the Bears, who now have themselves a difference-maker for a defense that was ranked 30th in both 2013 and 2014.
Related: Bears
Ted Ginn - WR - Panthers
The Charlotte Observer reports the Panthers will sign KR/WR Ted Ginn.
Because Ginn was cut by Arizona last month, he's free to sign immediately. Ginn spent the 2013 season in Carolina, logging 36 catches and a career-high five touchdowns while showing some deep-ball chemistry with Cam Newton. He'll replace Philly Brown as the Panthers' new primary kick returner and will fill a situational deep-threat role. He may even have to serve as Newton's No. 3 wideout.
Marcus Gilchrist - DB - Chargers
The Jets have expressed interest in free agent SS Marcus Gilchrist.
Infusing the secondary with talent is a priority for the Jets. Gilchrist has struggled in coverage of late, but is at least capable of playing both safety and some nickel corner. The Redskins are also among the teams expected to show interest.
Related: Jets
Jabaal Sheard - LB - Browns
The Bucs, Bengals, Seahawks and Patriots are all reportedly in the running for free agent OLB Jabaal Sheard.
As a 26-year-old who has scheme versatility, Sheard has plenty of suitors. He's shown he can stuff the run as a 3-4 outside linebacker and get after the quarterback as a 4-3 end.
Related: Bengals, Patriots, Seahawks, Buccaneers
Pernell McPhee - LB - Ravens
Bears agreed to terms with OLB Pernell McPhee on a five-year, $40 million contract.
The deal includes nearly $16 million in guarantees. McPhee played behind Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil last year, but still posted 7.5 sacks, 64 quarterback pressures and 24 quarterback hits while lining up everywhere from nose tackle to defensive end. He was PFF's No. 2 3-4 OLB, behind only Justin Houston. It's an excellent get for the Bears, who now have themselves a difference-maker for a defense that was ranked 30th in both 2013 and 2014.
Related: Bears
Ted Ginn - WR - Panthers
The Charlotte Observer reports the Panthers will sign KR/WR Ted Ginn.
Because Ginn was cut by Arizona last month, he's free to sign immediately. Ginn spent the 2013 season in Carolina, logging 36 catches and a career-high five touchdowns while showing some deep-ball chemistry with Cam Newton. He'll replace Philly Brown as the Panthers' new primary kick returner and will fill a situational deep-threat role. He may even have to serve as Newton's No. 3 wideout.
Marcus Gilchrist - DB - Chargers
The Jets have expressed interest in free agent SS Marcus Gilchrist.
Infusing the secondary with talent is a priority for the Jets. Gilchrist has struggled in coverage of late, but is at least capable of playing both safety and some nickel corner. The Redskins are also among the teams expected to show interest.
Related: Jets
I am not denying the fact that we have a lot of holes to fill, but big splurges in FA typically don't equate to success on Sundays. I'd rather sign the tier 2 guys like Bulaga, Carpenter, Culliver, Moore or House to bridge the talent gap, sign your own and draft the rest. That's why I'm reserving judgment on the off-season until the summer.
I'm okay with passing on the edge rushers because I really don't see any elite free agents at that spot, and after we traded for Marshall we probably took ourselves out of the running for White or Cooper and are now zeroed in on that terrific crop of edge rushers, and we'll probably go on that clock with no more than one of them (Fowler) off the board, and maybe he's still on the board too, so that appears to be where we're going with that pick now, unless Mariota slides to 6, then all bets are off.