NFL 2010 Offseason Thread

[Chun Liroy]

lolbrooklyn

[archibaldcrane]

Jaguars sign Aaron Kampman.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

Terms of deal undisclosed. He's coming off an ACL tear, but should be ready for the preseason. He's a classy guy and a hell of a pass rusher when healthy, but couldn't effectively transition to a 3-4 OLB. I wish him all the best...although he's now on the Jacksonville Black Holes, never to be heard from again.

[archibaldcrane]

How -not- to be a free agent nose-tackle in an uncapped year:

NFL suspends Ferguson for first 8 games of 2010

Fucking dumbass.

MIAMI (AP)—Free agent Jason Ferguson(notes), a veteran nose tackle most recently with the Miami Dolphins, has been suspended for the first eight games of next season for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.

[Tyche]

He was on IR most all of last year. He's, I think, 35 years old. It doesn't surprise me at all.

With that said, the dude was a run stuffer. A damn good player.

[archibaldcrane]

Considering everyone franchised their nose tackles (Casey Hampton, Ryan Pickett, Aubrayo Franklin, Vince Wilfork) this season I'm sure this guy could've found a few teams looking to overpay for his services.

If he wasn't, ya know, fucking suspended for half a season.

[LiquidFriend]

Hm Chiefs bringing in Thomas Jones for a visit Monday. He and Jamaal Charles would be a killer duo if they can improve the O-Line more (namely Center and RG; fuck Rudy Niswanger forever).

[archibaldcrane]

Cleveland is looking to trade Shaun Rodgers, preferably for a QB.

Do the Eagles need a NT?

[Moss]

Considering everyone franchised their nose tackles (Casey Hampton, Ryan Pickett, Aubrayo Franklin, Vince Wilfork) this season I'm sure this guy could've found a few teams looking to overpay for his services.

If he wasn't, ya know, fucking suspended for half a season.

idk, keep in mind there are quite a few 0/1-technique DTs in the draft who could probably step in day one and take up space.

[chazzyphizzle]

I hope leroy is joking about that Urkel thing, jesus.

[Rhinox]

lol

[Conrad]

Cleveland is looking to trade Shaun Rodgers, preferably for a QB.

Do the Eagles need a NT?

Nah we're in 4-3, but I'm sure the Browns will take one of our guys. I'm still wishing, hoping, dreaming that Vick goes to the Browns and joins the Dawg Pound.

[Deejay]

Considering everyone franchised their nose tackles (Casey Hampton, Ryan Pickett, Aubrayo Franklin, Vince Wilfork) this season I'm sure this guy could've found a few teams looking to overpay for his services.

If he wasn't, ya know, fucking suspended for half a season.

Everyone is doing it because Franchising a NT is ridiculously cheap in comparison to other positions. There aren't many highly paid DT's so the average of the top 5 isn't far off from what an above average player would normally ask for. Even looking at the Wilfork situation, he would have made $7 mill this year as the Pats franchise player. He signed a 5 year $40 million which pays him about $8 million per year.

Skilled D-Lineman are becoming more and more important in today's league. However, most of their contracts haven't caught up with their increased value on the field. Team's know this and are more than eager to throw Franchise tags on them instead of giving them the money they deserve.

[Deejay]

This is why I hate the whole Franchise Tag. It prevents breakout players from ever testing the market and driving up the value for future players. The original idea behind implementing the FT was to allow teams more time to sign the players that they want. However, it strips all the leverage that a player gains from PLAYING WELL and gives it right back to the Owners and allows them to figure out a sign/trade or force a player to play and risk injury.

This would be okay if you know, contracts were actually guaranteed in the NFL, but they're not. The Owners need to stop being jewish and just pay their fucking players for doing well. Because if they weren't they'd fucking cut them days before their signing bonus kick in (hi2ujets) anyway.

But back to my main point: D-Lineman SHOULD be going at a premium this year but they aren't because teams simply don't want to pay them until they're absolutely forced to.

[archibaldcrane]

What's a premium? Ryan Pickett (a good but not great nose tackle) will be making $7 million this season with his franchise tag designation.

[Deejay]

As an owner, which do you think is the easier pill to swallow: $7 Million for one year or paying $10-15 million in signing bonuses (guaranteed money) + $5-6 million over 4-5 years?

And that's just for a skilled veteran. I still think the Pats low-balled Wilfork at 8 million per, considering he's the anchor of that defense and easily one of the best NT's in football.

[archibaldcrane]

All I'm saying is that 7 million isn't "ridiculously cheap", especially for a good but not great player.

That being said, in this uncapped year, I don't know why a team wouldn't use it to lock up players longer term - front load the contracts when there's no cap to be hit and free up room in the future. (doesn't really apply to the Packers since they don't reach the cap even when there is one, but for other teams yeah)

[Lordender]

The Jets have given Antonio Cromartie a $500,000 advance on his 2010 salary to help clear up his paternity obligations, a source told the New York Post.

The 25-year-old cornerback told reporters during a conference call on Friday that he had child support issues to clear up so he could report to the team's offseason program March 22.

"I have seven kids in five different states," Cromartie said. "I made some wrong decisions my first two years in the NFL, and now I have to take that responsibility to be a father. I need to deal with my kids and child-support issues. Those things are being taken care of. I'm going to be the best father to them that I can."


lol

[Headspace]

That's some Travis Henry type fucking numbers.

[Moss]

He was probably going for one kid at each road stop. He can always call Travis Henry for advice.

[Headspace]

Also, he has more children than he does tackles against RBs in the playoffs.