Draft And Free Agency
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Our records for the last 3 years as you know are 5-11. 5-11 and 4-12. I am just fine with getting rid of half the crap on this team if we can bring in guys like DJax, Mario Williams, another good WR, and a good CB. We can fill the holes with rookies and lesser known free agents.
Holmgren already stated he is not making any major changes this offseason. Sure we will release some guys and sign new ones, but there is no way in hell that we get rid of half the team. So why make predictions that won't ever come true? You are just wasting your time..
Holmgren already stated he is not making any major changes this offseason. Sure we will release some guys and sign new ones, but there is no way in hell that we get rid of half the team. So why make predictions that won't ever come true? You are just wasting your time..
Who is making predictions? I just stated that if they needed to get rid of half there team I would be fine with it because most of the team sucks anyway
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When does free agency start in reference to the draft? Because one is going to depend highly on the other.
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Zombo said:
Yes! What an addition he would be to that young defensive line. You pay him a boatload, but if you are expecting to be in the playoffs in two years you need these kind of vets.
Guy is consistent as hell and would turn Sheard loose.
Zombo
And at 30 the guy will play at a high level for the duration of his 4 year contract.
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That could be realistic in any sense of the word.
I would like to see the Browns move down inbetween 6-10 if RG3 is on the board and one of the teams give us a call and we pick up their second round pick this year.
Take Morris Claiborne 6-10
Take Burfict at 22
Sign Mario Willams in FA
Sign Desean Jackson in FA
Resign Peyton Hillis
Offense Cordinater Hired
A full productive off season.
This is a complete dream scenario if I have ever heard one. However, that COULD give us the best defense in the NFL assuming Burfict can keep his shit under control and stay on the field.
This is a complete dream scenario if I have ever heard one. However, that COULD give us the best defense in the NFL assuming Burfict can keep his shit under control and stay on the field.
I don't understand why if something is laid out well it is considered a dream scenario, i thought it was completely realistic and would give us the most improvement possible this off season, any futher moves would be nice but any less could leave me wondering why we aren't willing to plug those holes for year 4 (2013) now so we do give ourselves a legitimate chance in the AFC north within two years.
Yes i do believe if we drafted that way our defense would look completely nasty for the next few years and could start to be solid with only the need to fill gaps and not whole defenses.
Offense i only resigned Hillis and threw a contract offer at a WR it could be anyone top tier i don't care but desean brings that added speed downfield and i am sorry Josh Cribbs just doesn't do that for us, so get us someone that has to have over the top help so our 5-15 yard pass game can actually open up.
Does this make us a playoff contender next year if it exactly happened? Hard to say but in my opinion it would be taking steps in the right direction.
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The guys at Sportsmasher.com have the Browns drafting:
4) RGIII but mention that they will probably have to trade up to get him.
22) Melvin Ingram - OLB/DE - South Carolina, fiery pass rusher.
Full analysis here.
Thoughts?
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The guys at Sportsmasher.com have the Browns drafting:
4) RGIII but mention that they will probably have to trade up to get him.
22) Melvin Ingram - OLB/DE - South Carolina, fiery pass rusher.
Full analysis here.
Thoughts?
4) RGIII but mention that they will probably have to trade up to get him.
22) Melvin Ingram - OLB/DE - South Carolina, fiery pass rusher.
Thoughts?
I wouldn't be unhappy with spending a round 1 or 2 pick every year on DE/DT talent. NYG has shown that's a path to success, and one of the strengths of our team is finally the DL. I remember watching games where the Browns started Robaire Smith, Corey Williams, etc - so anything's an upgrade over those fails. We definitely need to either draft or FA a good DE. If Ingram falls, snap him up.. all the mocks I've seen have him going earlier than 22 - at that spot he'll be BPA.
I wouldn't be unhappy with RG3.
After this we can draft Sanu or Minnifield at the top of 2 and they're both upgrades.
The problem with this mock is.. they've got the Bengals wrong. Bengals will draft Janoris Jenkins, a t10-caliber CB who had to leave Florida. Reason is Leon Hall popped his Achilles last year, so he won't be good until 2013.
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If Blackmon isn't available at 4, I'm starting to think more and more about trading back IF RGIII is there at 4. I'm not high on him. So we move back with Washington or Miami and take Coples. Would give us our only complete positional unit and a really good one at that. He would scare offenses and would draw so much attention that Sheard, Rubin, and Taylor would benefit sooooo much. Not to meantion he has the talent to get double digit sack totals every year. This way we would also pick up another 2nd or 3rd round pick or maybe more.
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Pick up Josh Norman- CB in the later rounds.
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Heckert has said and has proven that he will not go after big name people through free agency! We will not get Williams, Djax (who is worse poison than T.O in my opinion) Vjax, or any other big name free agent. We will build through the draft and may get two or three cheap veteran FA's. I'd love to play madden with you guys and get my hopes up but its just not going to happen. No one wants to come to the browns either, so its us and our draft picks against the world. Now that being said, My predictions.. just a few scenarios.
R1 #4...#6 We will not move up in the draft, and the picks will probably go luck, blackmon, kahlil. I see us probably trading back to washington. If anyone saw Quinton Coples at the senior bowl, I thought he did an excellent job. I would also looove to see us get Michael Floyd, who in my opinion is the best receiver in the entire class. This is a can't miss spot. Jonathon Martin is another I wouldn't mind seeing us get.
My pick: Michael Floyd
R1 #22: Burfict is the Troy Palamaulu of linebackers in my opinion. I've seen a good bit of videos and a few of his games. He could be one of the best in the game, and who cares if he is "too angry on the football field" Screw that.. james harrison is always mad, and from the looks of it, Burfict is faster. He can learn the OLB position, and that will give us someone who can rush the quarterback. Someone who can knock Big Ben on his ass! I think M Ingram is going to be a pretty darn big bust. He is short, has tiny arms, and will probably get manhandled on the next level, so please Tom H, do not draft him.
My pick : Vontaze Burfict
R2 #36: Dwayne Allen
R2 #38 (from wash hopefully): Lamichael James. May be a round reach, but the dude is fast. What a great change of pace back if we resign Hillis. We need playmakers and I don't have a hard on for him, but the dude really is good, and I think he could be a little darren sproles.. maybe better.
I think our line will be good next year. Draft a couple more later on, but I think Pinkston grew up a lot this year and lavao will only get better. Deep corner class and we will find someone.
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Heckert has said and has proven that he will not go after big name people through free agency! We will not get Williams, Djax (who is worse poison than T.O in my opinion) Vjax, or any other big name free agent. We will build through the draft and may get two or three cheap veteran FA's. I'd love to play madden with you guys and get my hopes up but its just not going to happen. No one wants to come to the browns either, so its us and our draft picks against the world. Now that being said, My predictions.. just a few scenarios.
R1 #4...#6 We will not move up in the draft, and the picks will probably go luck, blackmon, kahlil. I see us probably trading back to washington. If anyone saw Quinton Coples at the senior bowl, I thought he did an excellent job. I would also looove to see us get Michael Floyd, who in my opinion is the best receiver in the entire class. This is a can't miss spot. Jonathon Martin is another I wouldn't mind seeing us get.
My pick: Michael Floyd
R1 #22: Burfict is the Troy Palamaulu of linebackers in my opinion. I've seen a good bit of videos and a few of his games. He could be one of the best in the game, and who cares if he is "too angry on the football field" Screw that.. james harrison is always mad, and from the looks of it, Burfict is faster. He can learn the OLB position, and that will give us someone who can rush the quarterback. Someone who can knock Big Ben on his ass! I think M Ingram is going to be a pretty darn big bust. He is short, has tiny arms, and will probably get manhandled on the next level, so please Tom H, do not draft him.
My pick : Vontaze Burfict
R2 #36: Dwayne Allen
R2 #38 (from wash hopefully): Lamichael James. May be a round reach, but the dude is fast. What a great change of pace back if we resign Hillis. We need playmakers and I don't have a hard on for him, but the dude really is good, and I think he could be a little darren sproles.. maybe better.
I think our line will be good next year. Draft a couple more later on, but I think Pinkston grew up a lot this year and lavao will only get better. Deep corner class and we will find someone.
Heckert has said and has proven that he will not go after big name people through free agency! We will not get Williams, Djax (who is worse poison than T.O in my opinion) Vjax, or any other big name free agent. We will build through the draft and may get two or three cheap veteran FA's. I'd love to play madden with you guys and get my hopes up but its just not going to happen. No one wants to come to the browns either, so its us and our draft picks against the world. Now that being said, My predictions.. just a few scenarios.
He never said he wouldn't go after big name people. He said he wasn't going to bring in people solely based on their name. He said they won't hesitate to make moves via Free Agency, if they are the best moves to make for the team. So far, no big name FA's have warranted being acquired, which I completely agree with. That's not to say they didn't make offers, they just didn't overpay like the teams that acquired said FA's had to do.
I seem to remember people shitting themselves over us getting Ray Edwards, claiming Heckert didn't know what he was doing and sucked at his job.
Ray Edwards 33 TACK, 3.5 SACK, 0 FF, 2 FR- Ray Edwards signed a 5 year, $30 million dollar contract.
Jayme Mitchell 34 TACK, 1.5 SACK, 1 FF, 1 FR- Jayme Mitchell makes $2 million next season, in his final year of the contract.
Sounds to me like Heckert made the right choice.
Heckert will make the moves that make this team better overall. Personally, I believe adding Williams would be a good choice, but I can understand if we don't. This draft is deep in DE, and we have the picks to address that need.
But to say he's flat out not going to sign big name guys because he hasn't so far is just ridiculous.
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Steinbach was signed as a FA. He was by far the best FA OL available that year. And he's completely recovered from his back injury - at least from the reports I've seen.
Here's the list of FA signings for Heckert's teams during his stints as GM:
2006 - LB Shawn Barber, WR Jabar Gaffney, QB Jeff Garcia, DE Darren Howard, TE Matt Schobel.
2007 - WR Kevin Curtis, WR Bethel Johnson, DT Montae Reagor.
2008 - DE Chris Clemons, DT-FB Dan Klecko, LB Rocky Boiman, TE Kris Wilson, and CB Asante Samuel.
2009 - OT Stacy Andrews, S Rashad Baker, S Sean Jones, FB Leonard Weaver.
2010 - QB Jake Delhomme, LB Scott Fujita, OL Eric Ghiaciuc, OT Tony Pashos, TE Benjamin Watson
PHILLY IN DEPTH
(cap numbers from USA TODAY salaries database)
2006:
LB Barber - drafted WAS 1998, age 31 (9 yr xp); 1 year, $710k base, $1.918m cap value; not resigned
WR Gaffney - drafted HOU 2002, age 25 (4 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
QB Garcia - undrafted 1994, age 36, 1 year, $710k base, $1.302 cap value; not resigned
DE Howard - drafted NOR 2000, age 29 (6 yr xp); 6 years, $10.5 SB, $25.1m total; released 2010
TE Schobel - drafted CIN 2002, age 27 (4 yr xp); 5 years, $3m SB, $6.95m total; released 2009
To recap: The big 'splash' this year was Darren Howard, a pass rushing specialist who had a couple of double digit sack years with the Saints and one with the Eagles, notching 23.5 in four years of situational use. Garcia was signed as a backup to McNabb, and when McNabb went down Garcia led the Eagles to 5 consecutive wins to close out the season and the NFC East, but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Saints. Barber was a one-year rental at LB and Schobel was a solid #2 TE but did little of note.
2007:
WR Curtis - drafted STL 2003, age 29 (4 yr xp); 6 year, $9.5m guaranteed, $32m total; released 2010
WR Johnson - drafted NE 2003, age 28 (4 yr xp); 1 year; released prior to regular season
DT Reagor - drafted DEN 1999, age 30 (8 yr xp); 3 year, $2m guaranteed, $6.5m total; released 2008
To recap: Curtis was the big prize this year, and had a solid year (incl. 1100 yards on 77 receptions) before getting sidelined with injuries in 2008 and 2009. Reagor was coming off of a serious injury and was signed as a backup, which allowed Philly to trade Darwin Walker for Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb. Only played in 7 games with 2 tackles and released the following year.
2008
DE Clemons - undrafted 2003, age 26 (5 yr xp); 5 year, $4m guaranteed, $12.6m total; released 2010
DT-FB Klecko - drafted NE 2003, age 27 (5 yr xp); 2 year, $600k SB, $2m total; released 2009
LB Boiman - drafted TEN 2002, age 28 (6 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
TE Wilson - drafted SD 2004, age 29 (4 yr xp); 1 year, released piror to regular season
CB Samuel - drafted NE 2003, age 27 (5 yr xp); 6 year, $6m SB, $56m total
To recap: Samuel was one of the most sought-after FA in 2008, where rumors flew that he was asking for a 10 year, $100m contract. Regardless, has been worth the money he's been paid: Pro Bowl in all 3 years since signing, 20 interceptions, 52 passes defended. Clemons was signed as a situational pass rusher after an 8 sack year in Oakland and had 7 sacks in 2 years for the Eagles. Klecko was a weird DT-FB hybrid that never worked out, and the other two guys are footnotes.
2009
OT Andrews - drafted CIN 2004, age 28 (5 yr xp); 6 year, $680k, $38.7m total; restructured 2010
S Baker - undrafted 2004, age 27 (5 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
S Jones - drafted CLE 2004, age 27 (5 yr xp); 1 year, $3m total; restructured that year (-$500k); released 2010
FB Weaver - undrafted 2005, age 26 (4 yr xp); 1 year, $1.75m ($2.5m incent.) total; resigned 2010 3 years, $11m
QB Vick - late signing; 1 year, $1.6m w/ team option for 2010. Franchised 2011.
To recap: No real expected big hauls this year, though Weaver was the best of the bunch in 2009 with a Pro Bowl selection following the season and the richest contract for a fullback in NFL history in 2010, followed promptly by a catastrophic ACL tear in his first carry of the 2010 season. Jones was a sieve and was replaced by Nate Allen, and Andrews was given a big but incentive-laden contract after signing a franchise tender in 2008 and tearing his ACL in Game 16. He remains there as a backup and has restructured to reduce his base salaries. Vick's story is quite well known.
SUMMARY
Heckert only does one big signing per year. He's usually correct, especially Samuels and Howard. Curtis hit in his first year but was lost due to injuries for 2 consecutive years. Note that Curtis hadn't had a history of injury prior to his signing. Andrews was the only big money guy to not live up to his contract, but it was structured to limit cap liability despite the risk they were taking with the his ACL tear. Beyond the big guys, there are a couple of speculative young guys (Gaffney at the time, Weaver, Wilson) and a large amount of gap-filling vets on low-mid level contracts -- similar to what we saw in 2010 with the signings of Watson, Fujita, and Pashos. Delhomme would probably be considered our "big" signing of 2010, but he also serves in that gap filling role and his salary isn't that far off of a starting veteran QB's.
Heckert simply doesn't go for the big bank in free agency. Only once in 5 years has he gone for a top name guy (Samuels) which, in the end, worked out okay. Expect a couple of resigned players, 2-3 low-midrange vets, and perhaps one mid-high level vet once the major smoke has cleared.
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Steinbach was signed as a FA. He was by far the best FA OL available that year. And he's completely recovered from his back injury - at least from the reports I've seen.
Here's the list of FA signings for Heckert's teams during his stints as GM:
2006 - LB Shawn Barber, WR Jabar Gaffney, QB Jeff Garcia, DE Darren Howard, TE Matt Schobel.
2007 - WR Kevin Curtis, WR Bethel Johnson, DT Montae Reagor.
2008 - DE Chris Clemons, DT-FB Dan Klecko, LB Rocky Boiman, TE Kris Wilson, and CB Asante Samuel.
2009 - OT Stacy Andrews, S Rashad Baker, S Sean Jones, FB Leonard Weaver.
2010 - QB Jake Delhomme, LB Scott Fujita, OL Eric Ghiaciuc, OT Tony Pashos, TE Benjamin Watson
PHILLY IN DEPTH
(cap numbers from USA TODAY salaries database)
2006:
LB Barber - drafted WAS 1998, age 31 (9 yr xp); 1 year, $710k base, $1.918m cap value; not resigned
WR Gaffney - drafted HOU 2002, age 25 (4 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
QB Garcia - undrafted 1994, age 36, 1 year, $710k base, $1.302 cap value; not resigned
DE Howard - drafted NOR 2000, age 29 (6 yr xp); 6 years, $10.5 SB, $25.1m total; released 2010
TE Schobel - drafted CIN 2002, age 27 (4 yr xp); 5 years, $3m SB, $6.95m total; released 2009
To recap: The big 'splash' this year was Darren Howard, a pass rushing specialist who had a couple of double digit sack years with the Saints and one with the Eagles, notching 23.5 in four years of situational use. Garcia was signed as a backup to McNabb, and when McNabb went down Garcia led the Eagles to 5 consecutive wins to close out the season and the NFC East, but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Saints. Barber was a one-year rental at LB and Schobel was a solid #2 TE but did little of note.
2007:
WR Curtis - drafted STL 2003, age 29 (4 yr xp); 6 year, $9.5m guaranteed, $32m total; released 2010
WR Johnson - drafted NE 2003, age 28 (4 yr xp); 1 year; released prior to regular season
DT Reagor - drafted DEN 1999, age 30 (8 yr xp); 3 year, $2m guaranteed, $6.5m total; released 2008
To recap: Curtis was the big prize this year, and had a solid year (incl. 1100 yards on 77 receptions) before getting sidelined with injuries in 2008 and 2009. Reagor was coming off of a serious injury and was signed as a backup, which allowed Philly to trade Darwin Walker for Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb. Only played in 7 games with 2 tackles and released the following year.
2008
DE Clemons - undrafted 2003, age 26 (5 yr xp); 5 year, $4m guaranteed, $12.6m total; released 2010
DT-FB Klecko - drafted NE 2003, age 27 (5 yr xp); 2 year, $600k SB, $2m total; released 2009
LB Boiman - drafted TEN 2002, age 28 (6 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
TE Wilson - drafted SD 2004, age 29 (4 yr xp); 1 year, released piror to regular season
CB Samuel - drafted NE 2003, age 27 (5 yr xp); 6 year, $6m SB, $56m total
To recap: Samuel was one of the most sought-after FA in 2008, where rumors flew that he was asking for a 10 year, $100m contract. Regardless, has been worth the money he's been paid: Pro Bowl in all 3 years since signing, 20 interceptions, 52 passes defended. Clemons was signed as a situational pass rusher after an 8 sack year in Oakland and had 7 sacks in 2 years for the Eagles. Klecko was a weird DT-FB hybrid that never worked out, and the other two guys are footnotes.
2009
OT Andrews - drafted CIN 2004, age 28 (5 yr xp); 6 year, $680k, $38.7m total; restructured 2010
S Baker - undrafted 2004, age 27 (5 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
S Jones - drafted CLE 2004, age 27 (5 yr xp); 1 year, $3m total; restructured that year (-$500k); released 2010
FB Weaver - undrafted 2005, age 26 (4 yr xp); 1 year, $1.75m ($2.5m incent.) total; resigned 2010 3 years, $11m
QB Vick - late signing; 1 year, $1.6m w/ team option for 2010. Franchised 2011.
To recap: No real expected big hauls this year, though Weaver was the best of the bunch in 2009 with a Pro Bowl selection following the season and the richest contract for a fullback in NFL history in 2010, followed promptly by a catastrophic ACL tear in his first carry of the 2010 season. Jones was a sieve and was replaced by Nate Allen, and Andrews was given a big but incentive-laden contract after signing a franchise tender in 2008 and tearing his ACL in Game 16. He remains there as a backup and has restructured to reduce his base salaries. Vick's story is quite well known.
SUMMARY
Heckert only does one big signing per year. He's usually correct, especially Samuels and Howard. Curtis hit in his first year but was lost due to injuries for 2 consecutive years. Note that Curtis hadn't had a history of injury prior to his signing. Andrews was the only big money guy to not live up to his contract, but it was structured to limit cap liability despite the risk they were taking with the his ACL tear. Beyond the big guys, there are a couple of speculative young guys (Gaffney at the time, Weaver, Wilson) and a large amount of gap-filling vets on low-mid level contracts -- similar to what we saw in 2010 with the signings of Watson, Fujita, and Pashos. Delhomme would probably be considered our "big" signing of 2010, but he also serves in that gap filling role and his salary isn't that far off of a starting veteran QB's.
Heckert simply doesn't go for the big bank in free agency. Only once in 5 years has he gone for a top name guy (Samuels) which, in the end, worked out okay. Expect a couple of resigned players, 2-3 low-midrange vets, and perhaps one mid-high level vet once the major smoke has cleared.
Steinbach was signed as a FA. He was by far the best FA OL available that year. And he's completely recovered from his back injury - at least from the reports I've seen.
Here's the list of FA signings for Heckert's teams during his stints as GM:
2006 - LB Shawn Barber, WR Jabar Gaffney, QB Jeff Garcia, DE Darren Howard, TE Matt Schobel.
2007 - WR Kevin Curtis, WR Bethel Johnson, DT Montae Reagor.
2008 - DE Chris Clemons, DT-FB Dan Klecko, LB Rocky Boiman, TE Kris Wilson, and CB Asante Samuel.
2009 - OT Stacy Andrews, S Rashad Baker, S Sean Jones, FB Leonard Weaver.
2010 - QB Jake Delhomme, LB Scott Fujita, OL Eric Ghiaciuc, OT Tony Pashos, TE Benjamin Watson
PHILLY IN DEPTH
(cap numbers from USA TODAY salaries database)
2006:
LB Barber - drafted WAS 1998, age 31 (9 yr xp); 1 year, $710k base, $1.918m cap value; not resigned
WR Gaffney - drafted HOU 2002, age 25 (4 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
QB Garcia - undrafted 1994, age 36, 1 year, $710k base, $1.302 cap value; not resigned
DE Howard - drafted NOR 2000, age 29 (6 yr xp); 6 years, $10.5 SB, $25.1m total; released 2010
TE Schobel - drafted CIN 2002, age 27 (4 yr xp); 5 years, $3m SB, $6.95m total; released 2009
To recap: The big 'splash' this year was Darren Howard, a pass rushing specialist who had a couple of double digit sack years with the Saints and one with the Eagles, notching 23.5 in four years of situational use. Garcia was signed as a backup to McNabb, and when McNabb went down Garcia led the Eagles to 5 consecutive wins to close out the season and the NFC East, but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Saints. Barber was a one-year rental at LB and Schobel was a solid #2 TE but did little of note.
2007:
WR Curtis - drafted STL 2003, age 29 (4 yr xp); 6 year, $9.5m guaranteed, $32m total; released 2010
WR Johnson - drafted NE 2003, age 28 (4 yr xp); 1 year; released prior to regular season
DT Reagor - drafted DEN 1999, age 30 (8 yr xp); 3 year, $2m guaranteed, $6.5m total; released 2008
To recap: Curtis was the big prize this year, and had a solid year (incl. 1100 yards on 77 receptions) before getting sidelined with injuries in 2008 and 2009. Reagor was coming off of a serious injury and was signed as a backup, which allowed Philly to trade Darwin Walker for Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb. Only played in 7 games with 2 tackles and released the following year.
2008
DE Clemons - undrafted 2003, age 26 (5 yr xp); 5 year, $4m guaranteed, $12.6m total; released 2010
DT-FB Klecko - drafted NE 2003, age 27 (5 yr xp); 2 year, $600k SB, $2m total; released 2009
LB Boiman - drafted TEN 2002, age 28 (6 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
TE Wilson - drafted SD 2004, age 29 (4 yr xp); 1 year, released piror to regular season
CB Samuel - drafted NE 2003, age 27 (5 yr xp); 6 year, $6m SB, $56m total
To recap: Samuel was one of the most sought-after FA in 2008, where rumors flew that he was asking for a 10 year, $100m contract. Regardless, has been worth the money he's been paid: Pro Bowl in all 3 years since signing, 20 interceptions, 52 passes defended. Clemons was signed as a situational pass rusher after an 8 sack year in Oakland and had 7 sacks in 2 years for the Eagles. Klecko was a weird DT-FB hybrid that never worked out, and the other two guys are footnotes.
2009
OT Andrews - drafted CIN 2004, age 28 (5 yr xp); 6 year, $680k, $38.7m total; restructured 2010
S Baker - undrafted 2004, age 27 (5 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
S Jones - drafted CLE 2004, age 27 (5 yr xp); 1 year, $3m total; restructured that year (-$500k); released 2010
FB Weaver - undrafted 2005, age 26 (4 yr xp); 1 year, $1.75m ($2.5m incent.) total; resigned 2010 3 years, $11m
QB Vick - late signing; 1 year, $1.6m w/ team option for 2010. Franchised 2011.
To recap: No real expected big hauls this year, though Weaver was the best of the bunch in 2009 with a Pro Bowl selection following the season and the richest contract for a fullback in NFL history in 2010, followed promptly by a catastrophic ACL tear in his first carry of the 2010 season. Jones was a sieve and was replaced by Nate Allen, and Andrews was given a big but incentive-laden contract after signing a franchise tender in 2008 and tearing his ACL in Game 16. He remains there as a backup and has restructured to reduce his base salaries. Vick's story is quite well known.
SUMMARY
Heckert only does one big signing per year. He's usually correct, especially Samuels and Howard. Curtis hit in his first year but was lost due to injuries for 2 consecutive years. Note that Curtis hadn't had a history of injury prior to his signing. Andrews was the only big money guy to not live up to his contract, but it was structured to limit cap liability despite the risk they were taking with the his ACL tear. Beyond the big guys, there are a couple of speculative young guys (Gaffney at the time, Weaver, Wilson) and a large amount of gap-filling vets on low-mid level contracts -- similar to what we saw in 2010 with the signings of Watson, Fujita, and Pashos. Delhomme would probably be considered our "big" signing of 2010, but he also serves in that gap filling role and his salary isn't that far off of a starting veteran QB's.
Heckert simply doesn't go for the big bank in free agency. Only once in 5 years has he gone for a top name guy (Samuels) which, in the end, worked out okay. Expect a couple of resigned players, 2-3 low-midrange vets, and perhaps one mid-high level vet once the major smoke has cleared.
Great job man. Excellent post.
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What would make me happy is if Luck dropped in our hands at #4 and we are able to keep the rest of our draft plans in tact.
Head or Gut? -
What would make me happy is if Luck dropped in our hands at #4 and we are able to keep the rest of our draft plans in tact.
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Steinbach was signed as a FA. He was by far the best FA OL available that year. And he's completely recovered from his back injury - at least from the reports I've seen.
Here's the list of FA signings for Heckert's teams during his stints as GM:
2006 - LB Shawn Barber, WR Jabar Gaffney, QB Jeff Garcia, DE Darren Howard, TE Matt Schobel.
2007 - WR Kevin Curtis, WR Bethel Johnson, DT Montae Reagor.
2008 - DE Chris Clemons, DT-FB Dan Klecko, LB Rocky Boiman, TE Kris Wilson, and CB Asante Samuel.
2009 - OT Stacy Andrews, S Rashad Baker, S Sean Jones, FB Leonard Weaver.
2010 - QB Jake Delhomme, LB Scott Fujita, OL Eric Ghiaciuc, OT Tony Pashos, TE Benjamin Watson
PHILLY IN DEPTH
(cap numbers from USA TODAY salaries database)
2006:
LB Barber - drafted WAS 1998, age 31 (9 yr xp); 1 year, $710k base, $1.918m cap value; not resigned
WR Gaffney - drafted HOU 2002, age 25 (4 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
QB Garcia - undrafted 1994, age 36, 1 year, $710k base, $1.302 cap value; not resigned
DE Howard - drafted NOR 2000, age 29 (6 yr xp); 6 years, $10.5 SB, $25.1m total; released 2010
TE Schobel - drafted CIN 2002, age 27 (4 yr xp); 5 years, $3m SB, $6.95m total; released 2009
To recap: The big 'splash' this year was Darren Howard, a pass rushing specialist who had a couple of double digit sack years with the Saints and one with the Eagles, notching 23.5 in four years of situational use. Garcia was signed as a backup to McNabb, and when McNabb went down Garcia led the Eagles to 5 consecutive wins to close out the season and the NFC East, but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Saints. Barber was a one-year rental at LB and Schobel was a solid #2 TE but did little of note.
2007:
WR Curtis - drafted STL 2003, age 29 (4 yr xp); 6 year, $9.5m guaranteed, $32m total; released 2010
WR Johnson - drafted NE 2003, age 28 (4 yr xp); 1 year; released prior to regular season
DT Reagor - drafted DEN 1999, age 30 (8 yr xp); 3 year, $2m guaranteed, $6.5m total; released 2008
To recap: Curtis was the big prize this year, and had a solid year (incl. 1100 yards on 77 receptions) before getting sidelined with injuries in 2008 and 2009. Reagor was coming off of a serious injury and was signed as a backup, which allowed Philly to trade Darwin Walker for Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb. Only played in 7 games with 2 tackles and released the following year.
2008
DE Clemons - undrafted 2003, age 26 (5 yr xp); 5 year, $4m guaranteed, $12.6m total; released 2010
DT-FB Klecko - drafted NE 2003, age 27 (5 yr xp); 2 year, $600k SB, $2m total; released 2009
LB Boiman - drafted TEN 2002, age 28 (6 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
TE Wilson - drafted SD 2004, age 29 (4 yr xp); 1 year, released piror to regular season
CB Samuel - drafted NE 2003, age 27 (5 yr xp); 6 year, $6m SB, $56m total
To recap: Samuel was one of the most sought-after FA in 2008, where rumors flew that he was asking for a 10 year, $100m contract. Regardless, has been worth the money he's been paid: Pro Bowl in all 3 years since signing, 20 interceptions, 52 passes defended. Clemons was signed as a situational pass rusher after an 8 sack year in Oakland and had 7 sacks in 2 years for the Eagles. Klecko was a weird DT-FB hybrid that never worked out, and the other two guys are footnotes.
2009
OT Andrews - drafted CIN 2004, age 28 (5 yr xp); 6 year, $680k, $38.7m total; restructured 2010
S Baker - undrafted 2004, age 27 (5 yr xp); 1 year, released prior to regular season
S Jones - drafted CLE 2004, age 27 (5 yr xp); 1 year, $3m total; restructured that year (-$500k); released 2010
FB Weaver - undrafted 2005, age 26 (4 yr xp); 1 year, $1.75m ($2.5m incent.) total; resigned 2010 3 years, $11m
QB Vick - late signing; 1 year, $1.6m w/ team option for 2010. Franchised 2011.
To recap: No real expected big hauls this year, though Weaver was the best of the bunch in 2009 with a Pro Bowl selection following the season and the richest contract for a fullback in NFL history in 2010, followed promptly by a catastrophic ACL tear in his first carry of the 2010 season. Jones was a sieve and was replaced by Nate Allen, and Andrews was given a big but incentive-laden contract after signing a franchise tender in 2008 and tearing his ACL in Game 16. He remains there as a backup and has restructured to reduce his base salaries. Vick's story is quite well known.
SUMMARY
Heckert only does one big signing per year. He's usually correct, especially Samuels and Howard. Curtis hit in his first year but was lost due to injuries for 2 consecutive years. Note that Curtis hadn't had a history of injury prior to his signing. Andrews was the only big money guy to not live up to his contract, but it was structured to limit cap liability despite the risk they were taking with the his ACL tear. Beyond the big guys, there are a couple of speculative young guys (Gaffney at the time, Weaver, Wilson) and a large amount of gap-filling vets on low-mid level contracts -- similar to what we saw in 2010 with the signings of Watson, Fujita, and Pashos. Delhomme would probably be considered our "big" signing of 2010, but he also serves in that gap filling role and his salary isn't that far off of a starting veteran QB's.
Heckert simply doesn't go for the big bank in free agency. Only once in 5 years has he gone for a top name guy (Samuels) which, in the end, worked out okay. Expect a couple of resigned players, 2-3 low-midrange vets, and perhaps one mid-high level vet once the major smoke has cleared.
Great job man. Excellent post.
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Zombo said:
That sounds Fair...
Zombo
I was thinking something more like this:
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I would love, love, love to see the Browns...
Re-sign : DQwell Jackson and Peyton Hillis
Sign : Mario Williams, Matt Flynn, and Mario Manningham
Call me crazy, but that is some talent right there and is certainly possible... Williams I see as the most unrealistic signing of the bunch
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I would love, love, love to see the Browns...
Sign : ...and Mario Manningham
Call me crazy, but that is some talent right there and is certainly possible...
We can only hope
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What would make me happy is if Luck dropped in our hands at #4 and we are able to keep the rest of our draft plans in tact.
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