WEDNESDAY WATERCOOLER
Move over Wallstreet...
NFL free agency is set to begin on Friday at 12:01am and like Wallstreet, this free market could get crazy. We are already seeing teams get busy by releasing aging talent and high-priced veterans. With the clock ticking, there's still much work to be done for some.
In the desert, the Cardinals could be clock watching as their window of opportunity to resign quarterback Kurt Warner counts down. The two sides are working to get a deal done, but apparently the teams' current offer does not quite meet Warner's expectation of being paid like an elite quarterback. This one may actually run past Friday, but all signs say that the Cards are the only team currently in the running and it would be a surprise not to see the Bidwell family open up the checkbook and get a deal done.
There have been a few serious rumors flying around linking the Titan's defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth with the Washington Redskins. Everyone in football knows Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is not shy with the checkbook, considering what many analysts are saying the going rate will be for Haynesworth services, it doesn't sound to far fetched to think Snyder could be sizing up this big catch.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens could be making plans to move forward without linebacker Ray Lewis. The Sun is reporting the team could be close to reaching a deal with potential free agent linebacker Bart Scott. The general feeling in most football circles is that the Ravens are likely to sign one or the other. If Scott does resign, Lewis would likely become a free agent and could very well move on with a new team. Nothing has been determined, but it is sounding more and more like Lewis will NOT be a Raven in 2009.
The Giants have also been very busy this offseason inking running back Brandon Jacobs to a four-year deal said to be worth $25million. Jacobs had been designated with the team's franchise tag, but it was always in the plan to get him signed to an extended contract. The importance of getting this deal done soon, it now opens the door for the team to turn its' focus to free agency.
The big rumors flying out of the big apple these days, the Giants now have their sites set on free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. With the recent re-signing of Brandon Jacobs, the team is free now to put all their efforts towards landing a big name in free agency.
The Free Agency clock strikes midnight this Friday, then the real fun begins!
More Housecleaning...
The Jets didn't wait for spring to start their cleaning. On Wednesday the team released veteran wide receiver Laveranues clearing some cap space ($6million in guaranteed money) and allowing the team to maneuver more freely through free agency. Coles 31, was looking for a long term deal and now he be able to shop around to find that deal.
The Rams, busy trying to clean that mess that was 2008 have released a pair of veteran players, quarterback Trent Green and wide receiver Drew Bennett. Bennett a risky signing in 2006 had not played a full season since 2004 and last year was no different after he injured his foot in Week one missing almost the entire 2008 season. Green was signed last offseason back up Bulger, but this July he turns 39 and is clearly near the end of his 15-year career.
The Buccaneers were big news makers on Wednesday emptying out a couple of drawers by releasing quite a few familiar names. Wide receivers Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway made sense, both are aging veterans that have lost a step or two. The surprise releases came with the departure of running back Warrick Dunn and linebacker Derrick Brooks. Dunn is 34, but seemed a good fit and played well for the team in 2008. Brooks came as the big shock, even he did not see it coming. The recent player releases by the Buc's front office has put the team around $60million under the cap and is sure to make them a major player in this year's free agency.
The GM Game.
Time to step up...
With Free agency just hours away, it now comes time for some teams to make big decisions. Are they going to be a player or just spend another season just going through the motions.
Before the start of last season the Vikings were one of those teams many experts felt had the talent to challenge in the NFC, but could the team put it all together. While the Texans were not viewed in quite the same manner, going into the 2008 season the team had just come off its' first 8-8 season with a lot of promise to improve.
Let's Play GM..
So the Vikings did not put it all together in 2008. As a matter of fact the team stumbled in the first round of the playoffs last year and played spectator the day of the Super Bowl along with 30 other teams. The Texans found themselves right back where they were in 2007, at 8-8 and 3rd in the AFC South.
With free agency imminent and the draft a few months out, it's time for these two teams to get even more aggressive and put up or shut up. This is now time to teeter or twitter, it's time to step up...
In Minnesota (est $20m under the cap)...
With the recent rumor indicating the team could be trading for quarterback Sage Rosenfels, despite what some critics may think, the move is an upgrade at the position. The Vikings have a big play receiver in Berrian who could emerge as one of the elite, if they can find someone to get him the ball. Last season Minnesota fans saw that both Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson struggled to do that with any kind of consistency. In Houston Rosenfels showed great chemistry with the Texans big time wideout Andre Johnson. If this move gets done, this would be a good sign that the offense is moving in the right direction. The next move would be to add another quality target to compliment your big play deep threat (Berrian). A couple of names I would consider, for dollar value or maybe veteran leadership; Amani Toomer, Nate Washington. Toomer gives the offense needed leadership, but Washington has the talent to be added as a starter with Rice and Wade playing more in the slot. The defense will not need much retooling, but it could use help in the secondary. Two names to target for the right money cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Bryant McFadden.
With the recent rumor indicating the team could be trading for quarterback Sage Rosenfels, despite what some critics may think, the move is an upgrade at the position. The Vikings have a big play receiver in Berrian who could emerge as one of the elite, if they can find someone to get him the ball. Last season Minnesota fans saw that both Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson struggled to do that with any kind of consistency. In Houston Rosenfels showed great chemistry with the Texans big time wideout Andre Johnson. If this move gets done, this would be a good sign that the offense is moving in the right direction. The next move would be to add another quality target to compliment your big play deep threat (Berrian). A couple of names I would consider, for dollar value or maybe veteran leadership; Amani Toomer, Nate Washington. Toomer gives the offense needed leadership, but Washington has the talent to be added as a starter with Rice and Wade playing more in the slot. The defense will not need much retooling, but it could use help in the secondary. Two names to target for the right money cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Bryant McFadden.
In Houston (est $25m under the cap)...
After two full seasons of .500 ball, that's 32 games of going no where except where you started. It's time for this franchise to separate itself for the sub .500 clubs and step into the upper half. The team is loaded with playmakers on offense, if they can all stay healthy in 2009. In 2008 the Texans finished 3rd in the NFL averaging almost 400-yards of offense per game. Their struggles last season was scoring touchdowns (ranked 17th in scoring), something that can improve with a healthy lineup. To shore up the short-yardage offense, the draft would be the first place I would start looking for a big body bull-dozer. A possible name that could come to mind, running back Lamont Jordan if the draft lacks the options to my liking. On the defensive side, this team had huge holes against the running game. While it may only be rumors, as the GM my first move would be to put a call into defensive tackle Shaun Roger's agent. The defense has some talent and a big time pass rusher in Mario Williams, but what it is missing is an immovable force on the inside. Rogers was solid in 2008 and if there's a chance to bring him over, that's my move. Inside with Rogers and Williams on the outside, the Texans defense would have a chance to vastly improve and compete with the Colts, a team they lost to twice by a total of 10 points.
Sure playing GM with any NFL franchise is not an exact science and it's easy for someone disconnected from the situation to pick and choose, speculate, or second guess, but that's what makes it fun. And while I might not be hearing from Pat Bowlen or Jerry Jones anytime soon, I am thankful that big Al from the Bay area has not left me any messages. That is one tough situation to rectify and one job I do not envy.
Keep checking back for more football....
By David G. Ortega
After two full seasons of .500 ball, that's 32 games of going no where except where you started. It's time for this franchise to separate itself for the sub .500 clubs and step into the upper half. The team is loaded with playmakers on offense, if they can all stay healthy in 2009. In 2008 the Texans finished 3rd in the NFL averaging almost 400-yards of offense per game. Their struggles last season was scoring touchdowns (ranked 17th in scoring), something that can improve with a healthy lineup. To shore up the short-yardage offense, the draft would be the first place I would start looking for a big body bull-dozer. A possible name that could come to mind, running back Lamont Jordan if the draft lacks the options to my liking. On the defensive side, this team had huge holes against the running game. While it may only be rumors, as the GM my first move would be to put a call into defensive tackle Shaun Roger's agent. The defense has some talent and a big time pass rusher in Mario Williams, but what it is missing is an immovable force on the inside. Rogers was solid in 2008 and if there's a chance to bring him over, that's my move. Inside with Rogers and Williams on the outside, the Texans defense would have a chance to vastly improve and compete with the Colts, a team they lost to twice by a total of 10 points.
Sure playing GM with any NFL franchise is not an exact science and it's easy for someone disconnected from the situation to pick and choose, speculate, or second guess, but that's what makes it fun. And while I might not be hearing from Pat Bowlen or Jerry Jones anytime soon, I am thankful that big Al from the Bay area has not left me any messages. That is one tough situation to rectify and one job I do not envy.
Keep checking back for more football....
By David G. Ortega
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