PreCombine

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by badboy

C, what I keep thinking is you don't have to replace Walter with the $2 m savings. You add that $2 m to other money and bring in a vet WR 2 that could possible be AJ's replacement in 2-3 years. I think K. Short will be as successful next to Watt as Smith or as you say reduce Smith's money and use that to strengthen roster. I refer to keep Smith with drastic reduction in his cap hit. IMO, Quin in only FA we have to re-sign.

I wouldnt disagree with that other than whats behind AJ and Walter now - Martin and Jean. The loss of Posey really throws a monkey wrench into the mix at the position.

I would prefer to keep Smith as well - with a reduced cap hit.

Quin is a no brainer to me , you have to resign him and there has been talk that they will franchise him if a deal cant be worked out.

I dont believe Barwin stays , some team is going to throw stupid money at him.

Dobbins should return as depth on the cheap - No idea what they do with Bradie James who played well enough prior to Cushing going down but was woefully inadequate after.


My views on this draft change with every passing scenario ...

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I wouldnt disagree with that other than whats behind AJ and Walter now - Martin and Jean. The loss of Posey really throws a monkey wrench into the mix at the position.

I would prefer to keep Smith as well - with a reduced cap hit.

Quin is a no brainer to me , you have to resign him and there has been talk that they will franchise him if a deal cant be worked out.

I dont believe Barwin stays , some team is going to throw stupid money at him.

Dobbins should return as depth on the cheap - No idea what they do with Bradie James who played well enough prior to Cushing going down but was woefully inadequate after.


My views on this draft change with every passing scenario ...

Man is that an understatement. I mock what I think is a great draft then think, well what if Barwin goes? I think there is at least a 50-50 chance Wade keep James just for the reason you state. He will be even better with Cush and a season with these players. I realize Phillips ran same D at Dallas but probably tweeked it some.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I dont believe Barwin stays , some team is going to throw stupid money at him.

...

We've got at least until March 12th to negotiate with Barwin before some team offers him stupid money. He said (in one of the podcasts) that he would be interested in signing a one year deal to improve his "stock"

As long as it's not stupid money, I'd be fine with that.

With Barwin, we can move Reed (who is not a pass rusher) inside & draft an outside pass rusher. If that guy & Whitney do well, they'll be our starting OLBs in 2014 & beyond.

Without Barwin, we should leave Reed at OLB & I don't like our situation at ILB & we'll still have to draft an outside pass rusher.

Of course, there's Braman. IF the Texans feel good about him, we could move Reed to ILB & start Braman & Whitney at OLB & still draft an outside pass rusher.

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by badboy

Man is that an understatement. I mock what I think is a great draft then think, well what if Barwin goes? I think there is at least a 50-50 chance Wade keep James just for the reason you state. He will be even better with Cush and a season with these players. I realize Phillips ran same D at Dallas but probably tweeked it some.

James also played for the vet minimum this season .... I could see him sticking around tho if they move Reed inside or pick up another guy in FA or the draft , I dont know if they keep both James and Dobbins there , then you have Sharpton who I believe is in the final year of his deal.

If they are bumping James from the starters spot , you are keeping two of James , Dobbins and Sharpton. I'd prefer Dobbins was one of those two as he was superior in coverage (in limited opportunities) and is a superior ST player. Not sure who I'd keep of the other two - would depend on Sharptons dead money should he be cut I suppose.

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

We've got at least until March 12th to negotiate with Barwin before some team offers him stupid money. He said (in one of the podcasts) that he would be interested in signing a one year deal to improve his "stock"

As long as it's not stupid money, I'd be fine with that.

I recall a statement made by Barwin about if a team made him a big offer he would take it and another about just letting his agent take care of it - If I were his agent , I would not sign prior to that March 12 date and at least test the waters.

With Barwin, we can move Reed (who is not a pass rusher) inside & draft an outside pass rusher. If that guy & Whitney do well, they'll be our starting OLBs in 2014 & beyond.

Without Barwin, we should leave Reed at OLB & I don't like our situation at ILB & we'll still have to draft an outside pass rusher.

Of course, there's Braman. IF the Texans feel good about him, we could move Reed to ILB & start Braman & Whitney at OLB & still draft an outside pass rusher.

I almost prefer Reed inside with or without Barwin. We have heard statements about moving him inside from the team .... tho thats likely based upon Barwin's resigning. I dont know if thats the case or not. They could keep James , move Reed inside anyway while drafting or signing a guy or two outside. That would really cover their bases should they have injuries again.

I'd like to see Braman get a shot ... just dont know if he's polished enough. He's raw but has the skills. At the least , he'll still be a ST standout and an insurance policy outside.

I could see 9 LBers on the roster come opening day and right now only Cushing , Reed , Braman and Mercilus are guaranteed to be among them.

James , Sharpton and Barwin are maybe's.

Mister Alexander , Ruud , Keyaron Fox and Nading should be gone.

We'll have to wait for the first dominoe to fall before we have a clue who the others will be. This is going to be an interesting offseason despite the likelyhood of a big signing being slim because they have so many FA's (22).

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I recall a statement made by Barwin about if a team made him a big offer he would take it and another about just letting his agent take care of it - If I were his agent , I would not sign prior to that March 12 date and at least test the waters.

If the Texans are offering $4M for 2012 & they expect offers to be in that range..... $6M at the most, then I'd take the one year deal. If he has the season he expected to have, he'll be offered $8M - $12M/yr. If he has a repeat of 2012, that $6M/yr wills till be there.

If I were Rick Smith, I'd tell him I need to know by March 12th. If he is undecided, our offer goes away & we start over, meaning it will be lower, $2M... past March 12, we're moving forward as if Barwin is not part of this team.

I think the players feel they are onto something special & want to stay. Unless they believe they'll get interest from the other contenders, I think we should be able to work out something "reasonable"

[Insideop]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

If the Texans are offering $4M for 2012 & they expect offers to be in that range..... $6M at the most, then I'd take the one year deal. If he has the season he expected to have, he'll be offered $8M - $12M/yr. If he has a repeat of 2012, that $6M/yr wills till be there.

If I were Rick Smith, I'd tell him I need to know by March 12th. If he is undecided, our offer goes away & we start over, meaning it will be lower, $2M... past March 12, we're moving forward as if Barwin is not part of this team.

I think the players feel they are onto something special & want to stay. Unless they believe they'll get interest from the other contenders, I think we should be able to work out something "reasonable"

I just wonder if Barwin wants to stay. I know he will say that, but Mario said the same thing. When teams start waving that stupid $$$ at him I guess we'll find out if he really wanted to stay, just like Mario.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Insideop

I just wonder if Barwin wants to stay. I know he will say that, but Mario said the same thing. When teams start waving that stupid $$$ at him I guess we'll find out if he really wanted to stay, just like Mario.

If they don't sign before March 12th, I think either they didn't want to stay bad enough, or we didn't want them to stay bad enough.

Imo, after March 12th, they're no different than any other FA & you'll have to overpay to get them. I don't want to overpay for any of them.

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

If they don't sign before March 12th, I think either they didn't want to stay bad enough, or we didn't want them to stay bad enough.

Imo, after March 12th, they're no different than any other FA & you'll have to overpay to get them. I don't want to overpay for any of them.

I think you underestimate the agents. They are about getting themselves the most money .... and to do that they have to get their clients the most money.

Its not often a players tells his agent "Team X is the only team I wish to play for, get it done."

[Insideop]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I think you underestimate the agents. They are about getting themselves the most money .... and to do that they have to get their clients the most money.

Its not often a players tells his agent "Team X is the only team I wish to play for, get it done."

This is where that "wants to stay" thingy comes into play. But, TK is right. March 12th will tell us one way or the other.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I think you underestimate the agents. They are about getting themselves the most money .... and to do that they have to get their clients the most money.

At the end of the day, the player is still the client.

It wouldn't be a question if Barwin had a big year, but he didn't & he knows it. He said that he's open to signing a one year deal & that would be so his agent can maximize his next contract. Whatever he'll be offered in FA he would have to believe it would have been more if he had a double digit sack year.

It's highly unlikely that another team would even offer him a one year deal. If he thinks that is best for him, & if I were his agent I would tell him it is, then that's what he's going to be looking for.

[badboy]

C, SHarpton's cap is about 3/4 of 1m dollars and dead money about $134k. He has flashed when healthy but that is rare. IMO, we must improve that area immediately. Miniscule savings but need someone to play.

TK, I agee with the ultimatum from Smith on Barwin; don't allow his agent to play us against teams.