2009 NFL Season Thread - Page 3

You may end up with Matt Cassel instead. Bucs may need to blow that situation up and start over again. Barber is old. Brooks is old. Gruden & Kiffin are gone.

I think you guys have something like 40 million under the cap, which is good. If it were me, I would draft a QB and some recievers and take my lumps for a year or two.

The problem is between the debt from Manchester United and a huge dip in season ticket sales, the Glazers can't afford a bad team on the field. Smart fans will probably understand we're rebuilding, but you don't fill a stadium with smart fans, and if this team struggles, that's even less money coming in.

Anyone want to a guess where Marvin Harrison will end up? Many think he's done, but i'm sure some team will pay him what he's seeking.

I hear Philadelphia.

There is nothing worse than being mediocre. Either be really good or really bad (and grab a top draft pick). Since their Super Bowl win, the Bucs have been the definition of mediocre. Just good enough to be in contention for a playoff spot or to lose in the first round. It's obvious you need a QB. When was the last time the Bucs had a franchise QB? I know most of that is Gruden's fault, but now he's gone. Most of the time it takes a rookie QB a few years to get it right...so if they draft a QB high in the draft you know which direction they are heading. Of course they could decide to go the free agent route, but who is available? Cassel? They certainly can't stick with Griese or Gradkowski or whoever, can they?

Dickson, I'm assuming you're a Bucs fan, were you in favor of the Gruden firing?

I wasn't calling for his head, but I had no problem with the Gruden firing. Everything with him seemed to be a stop-gap measure -- there was never any development of young offensive talent, he was always bringing in older free agents.

And he had a history of being a little two-faced -- he told McCown he was starting all week if Garcia couldn't go leading up to the Atlanta game last year only to put in Griese at the last minute, and one year when the opening game was in New Orleans he practiced Michael Clayton (who's from NO) and put in all kinds of special packages for him, only to deactivate him for the game after Clayton had gotten tickets for about 80 friends and family.

Plus, the fans were speaking with their wallets by not buying/renewing season tickets, so something had to be done.

Probably Doug Williams, and that cheapskate Culverhouse just let him walk.

All that stuff about Gruden waking up at 3:17 am and working 21 hour days...true or urban legend? It didn't seem as if the players were sorry to see him go, either.

I'm smackdab in Redskin country and people are salivating at the prospect of picking up a guy like Gruden in place of Zorn...who seems a little clueless.

Say what you will about Gruden but he did win a Superbowl with basically Tony Dungy's team. Something Dungy himself wasn't able to do.

Until he got to Indy, of course.

Steve Young was a franchise QB. Just not your franchise...

Where all washed up players go. Oakland.

This makes me very happy as I have Anthony Gonzalez in my Keeper league. Hope the Colts don't sig a stud WR till draft day.

And the Bucs go berserk today, releasing Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, Warrick Dunn, Cato June and Derrick Brooks.

Yes, you read that right -- Derrick Brooks.

He's definitely lost a step, but I thought for sure he'd retire before being cut from the Bucs. He's been the face of the franchise for so long. Now, this could be a case where we cut him and sign him for a reduced price, but for now, he's no longer a Buc.

That said, it's good to see the new management not desperately clinging to past glories. It's time to look forward.

That is good for the Bucs. You will probably not be very good next year but I think you gotta take a step back to take two steps forward.

Wouldnt mind seeing Brooks in Giant Blue. I think we will probably be going after Bart Scott first, however. I can also see Brooks with the Cowboys.

Totally agree. Plus the fact that the Bucs would have had a tough season even if they'd kept these players -- that schedule is brutal.

Your division is tough. I think Carolina probably takes a step back but Atlanta and New Orleans take big steps forward. Not a bad year to go into the tank though, you will have some pretty good QB options coming in the draft of 2010. How do you think Tim Tebow would look under center?

A lot of fans want that, and I like Tebow, but until someone other than a classic pocket passer wins a Super Bowl, I'm not going to be convinced by these running QBs.

I'm a little torn on him as well. All lefty QBs look a little awkward, but I think he has shown that he has an arm to go along with his legs. He's also the type of guy that other players would follow, he's got that "it" factor that can't be measured. Brennan and Bradford are also coming out. I think the Bucs are gonna draft a young QB this year, although probably not in the first round.

Not as a QB I hope. Haven't heard anyone say he'd make a good pro.

bob loblaw, Sam Bradford is staying at Oklahoma for at least the 2009 season. He might go to the NFL after his Jr season (2010)...on the other hand he could defy expectations and finish his senior year meaning he would not be available til the 2011 draft.

He may not be, but can he be honestly that much worse than Seneca Wallace? Dan Orlovsky?

Yes. It's the system, not the QB.

Tebow's got more of an arm than some starting QBs I've seen, and they guy knows how to put a team on his back. Somebody will draft him as a QB.

Fleed, I was referring to the 2010 draft for both Bradford and Brennan.

Somebody will draft Tebow as a QB. He is much bigger than somebody like Seneca Wallace or Dan Orlovsky. Plus he has had unprecedented success in the country's toughest conference. I bet Florida becomes more pass oriented this year and you will see what this guy can do. I'd probably take him over half the starting QBs in the NFL right now.

A system that's all of three years old?

Asomugha is a local boy, grew up in California, went to Cal, and got drafted by the Raiders. That helps. Nnamdi's main desire is he wants to play for a winner. In 14 years of combined football (through HS, CF and NFL) he has played on a team with 1 winning record. He finally started showing frustration this season after they released Hall. But then late in the season the culture supposedly started changing around Cable, the Raiders won a few games, and decided to keep Cable around. Aso missed the TB game but he was on the sidelines next to Cable all game long going apeshit. A small glimmer of hope finally arrived. If the Raiders decided to go with another coach, I really think the chances of signing Aso would've been much harder. Then when Al Davis offers a CB to a deal, per year, as the richest player in NFL history, how can you say no? Nnamdi is making $15 mil a year for the next 3 years. The next closest CB makes under $10. Talk about overpaying. Basically they're giving him what he would have made if he'd been tagged for the next 3 years, only instead of being guaranteed only one season's pay, he's getting at least two.

They'll have some money to spend. They released a bunch of guys - Kwame Harris alone cleared $7 mil - and Al Davis is the master of restructuring contracts. They won't be able to go out and sign two or three elite FA but they'll be able to plug in a few holes after the initial first few spending spree days, when the market goes down. It's funny going on Raiders boards and people talking about guys like Haynesworth - which is totally unrealistic. They'll go after the second tier players. Best case may be someone like Stacy Andrews, a good player, coming off an injury, who may not be able to land a big contract. He may have to sign a one year, prove it deal, where there's a big roster bonus in the second year.

Probably going to see a lot of cuts today as teams try to clear cap room before the FA deadline tonight. Maybe not as major as what the Bucs did yesterday, but something worth keeping an eye on.

Bob Loblaw, Ok, I missed that.

Free Agency doesn't start til tomorrow but Miami has been busy. ORT Vernon Carey signed for 6 years, Channing Crowder for 3, SS Yeremiah Bell for 4 more yearsand Ex-Giant FS Gibril Wilson signed for 5 years.

Apparently D. Hall has signed a bid deal with Washington ($54 mil). As a Giants fan all I have to say about this is: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

And as I sit here at 12:30 am watching the NFL live show I have come to realize that John Clayton is one sexy muthafucka.

Gonzo works best in the slot, fast kid with great yards after the catch. I'm sure the Colts will pick someone to have as the other WR, they really just need someone that is fast and can catch a ball, nothing too special. With Wayne on one side, Clark and Gonzo working the inside, I really don't think the Colts will miss much of Marvin. I loved Marvin as a player but he is getting up in age and it was to make this move. Great news on the new contract for Saturday. Now the Colts just need to get that running back situation figured out.

Marvin will not play in Oakland, he' is WAY above that! (i hope)

Yeah, a guy who attempted to murder someone is "WAY above that!".

Well, looks like the Dan Snyder still hasn't learned anything--they sign MeAngelo Hall for 6 years, $54 million, and rumor is they're about to sign Haynesworth for something like $100 million.

Martianman, Haynesworth signed for 7years $100 million contract...with a guaranteed $41 million.

Jesus, the Redskins are going to have no depth this year. So glad the Bucs didn't descend into this madness.

We're the offseason champs again! YESSSSS!! We took a year off to recharge our batteries but started this year off with a bang!

Albert Haynesworth = Dana Stubblefield part deux

In all seriousness, I like Haynesworth but he had a scheme he could thrive in and excellent teammates around him Tennessee. He currently has neither in Washington.

The Hall signing is classic Redskins. The guy was cut...by the Raiders...in mid-season...only 4 months ago. Who could have even dreamed that he would be recieving a $54 mil contract with $22 mil guaranteed? At least you can kind of justify the Haynesworth signing.

Hall is now a hero of mine. Here is a guy who gets traded (because his old team had tired of him), signs a giant deal with lots of guaranteed money, gets cut for bad play, keeps that nice chunk of change, signs a modest deal mid season, and then re-ups for more giant guaranteed cash. That is $ 46.5 million dollars in two years. $ 46.5 million ! For a guy one team got rid of and another kicked to a curb mid season. If he can pull that off in these trying times, then wow !

The Bucs just traded a pair of undisclosed draft picks to the Browns for tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. The picks are apparently conditional, and as long as they're not too insane, this is a great deal.

It's hilarious... people are furious here and I love it.

People on the boards I read are acting like Alex Smith and Jerramy Stevens are this elite TE group and wondering why we brought in Winslow.

With Bryant and Winslow, we now have two receiving threats for the first time in ... well, since Doug Williams was here.

Holy shit, Richard. As long as your guys find a QB, you could be right back at the top of the NFC South heap.

Do not forget there is a reason the Browns wanted to get rid of him. He can be a distraction and is a 'me' type player. With major injury history.

SI is reporting a 2nd round and 5th round picks. I did not see a mention of them being conditional. Not a bad move if Tampa plans on giving him a big contract (that will make him a happy vice angry soldier). He is a weapon, and helps the Bucs attack out.

That's a pretty good deal for him, baggage and all. Now they just need somebody to throw the ball to him.

He's already the best TE in team history. Or at least since Jimmie Giles.

ALSO: The Vikes have traded for and signed Sage Rosenfels. Really? Sage Rosenfels?

Fred Taylor goes where all former RBs go to die...New England.

And the Patriots have reportedly traded Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs.

Who will the Texans turn to when Matt Schaub inevitably gets hurt?

EDIT: And damn, Jonathan Vilma resigned with the Saints. Tampa Bay had him targeted, but him changing positions may have been a sticking point.