Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobalaz  He's proven to be an excellent #2.
Problem is, we've got 3 #2s already (and they're all younger and cheaper) and no clear #1.
If he was released at the start of last season, I'd be all over him.
Right now, not so much so. |
It's certainly tempting so thanks for introducing this discussion piece Joker! Just to piggyback on Tobalaz's good points: I get the feeling Seattle had the same buyer's remorse on their overpaid free agent that we had with Stallworth, Buffalo had with TO, Dallas had with Roy Williams, Jax had with Torry Holt, Cincy had with Lav Coles, and so on...
Free agency has been a very tricky science for the Cleveland Browns the last 11 years. Guys coming here to get their dream salaries seem to be doing so with the understanding that all their hard work is behind them. There's also been instances of bad luck/freak injuries. Here's some Savage era names that impacted salary cap and short term planning without the upside:
Jason Fisk, Trent Dilfer, Joe Andruzzi, Cosey Coleman, Donte Stallworth, Joe Jurevicius (when he wasn't healthy neither were we), Antwaan Peek, Ted Washington, Shaun Smith, Corey Williams, Dave Zastudil, Kevin Shaffer, Willie McGinest (loved him when healthy), Andra Davis (priority #1 was a contract extension for Dr Jekyll and Mr Hides?), Antonio Bryant (bad attitude + dropsies). Bad luck guys: Gary Baxter, Matt Stewart & LeCharles Bentley.
Bad luck or not, it's easier to lose a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick when they're unproven than it is to lose a guy at a position we thought was accounted for on draft day because of the FA commitments we've planned on for the season. KILLS your franchise. How many Centers did we audition after Bentley blew out a wheel? 5 or 6 before we had to BEG Philly for a Center they already replaced with a younger upgrade? And before the Savage era I remembered renaming Lomas Brown to No Mas Brown.
Here's the thing - the Saints got Bentley near the end of round 2 the same year we took Melvin Fowler near the top of round 3. Upper round 2 would have been a STEAL at far less cake commitment for the exchange value the Saints received. It's been tiring watching 1 FA hotshot after another coming here feeling like they're finally rewarded for all their hard work elsewhere. The problem? They completely forget the generous team that's WILLING to pay them wants to receive an exchange value on the field. One that's so much greater than a millionaire RB complaining about a 3 hour work day in public after a Sunday that our defense wasn't tackling very well.
- Tom F.