@unsympathetic said:

Meachem will be much worse for us than he was last year in NO.. he's not worth it. Same with Garcon and Mario.

I can see where you are coming from with Meachem and Mario, but Garson? He's not all world, but did you see what he did last year with who was throwning the ball for Indy?

Meachem will be much worse for us than he was last year in NO.. he's not worth it. Same with Garcon and Mario.

A good RDE won't be available in the draft when we finally get around to picking - perhaps in the second round, assuming Shanahan buys Manning and Holmgren trades up. Since Avril was tagged and Mathis was resigned, I like Langford from Miami - he played in a 3-4 last year.

RT can be addressed with one of our picks in the third round this year.

LB can be addressed with Tulloch who played for the Lions last year.. he's very good, but he might not accept transitioning to OLB. Jarret Johnson and Leroy Hill are good options at OLB as well - not sure about Wheeler's pass coverage, which is something Cleveland needs.

But maybe we should look at Kareem McKenzie, as a short-term replacement at RT. He was just released by the Giants.

Jeez, teams are getting smart and re-signing all their good players and dumping all the garbage... what's with that???

And...

I'd hate to beat a dead horse, but what's going to happen with Hillis? Do you guys really think it's a good idea to let him test the market? He's a starting running back with incredible power, and soft hands out of the backfield, in his prime... I gotta think some team is going to want him, leaving us with a HUGE hole to fill... literally

Manning cant help that much before either getting hurt or retiring still leaving us the need to find a young franchise QB..

And flynn just isnt going to be worth his asking price at all when you compare the player quality difference across the board between GB and the browns he will look and play like a 7th rounder..

Keep in mind that GB has a system that accommodates its players, while shurmurs system is yet another failsauce "my way or no way" one size fits all system thats been outdated for 20 years, and manning was basically given the power to run the offense for the colts, and squirmur most certainly will have none of that and neither would manning want anything to do with a vanilla offense that does not have great talent but more importantly wont let him call any of the on the field shots..

@ballpeen said:

We have to plug a few of the holes with solid, young vets who are proven performers.

while i agree, guys that fit this bill are few and far between....mainly because they have worth and are often retained. just look at the franchise tags.....FA is full of guys that either performed poorly, or didn't play up to their contracts....with a few exceptions.

wallace fits the bill, at a heavy cost. williams does as well, but will command 10-12 mil a year. im not so sure players like garcon do tho....

All I know is people can say you build through the draft, and mostly that is correct. Especially when you have a good team. When you suck as we do, building through the draft is a slow process and IMO doesn't work. You have to add a few pieces when and where you can to augment the process. Free agency isn't a way to build a championship team, but it is a way to help build a respectable team. Then and only then can you start thinking about championships.

Heck has stated we will probably be more active in FA this year, and he better be right. We have many holes on the team and all of them can't be addressed in the draft. We have to plug a few of the holes with solid, young vets who are proven performers. Free agency is all about needs, so start filling some of those needs. I frankly don't care what it costs. It's not my money. The way I view it is if you are way under the cap, you aren't trying to win.

@cribbs-is-the-man said:

Interesting article on Flynn (you may need ESPN insider), I just have a bad feeling about him... I hope we dont commit big money to him. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7652058/teams-give-big-contract-free-agent-qb-matt-flynn-nfl

Im surprised I havent heard more about Kolb on the boards lately, esp considering how much he was talked about a year or two ago... If Manning goes to Arizona, I gotta think Kolb will be available. Obvious ties with Heckert and seemed to be out of place in the Arizona system last year..

Can you copy and paste the article for those of us that are not fortunate enough to be an insider?

@jnuh said:

We would be able to offer the Steelers the 22 for Wallace eventhough he is a RFA.

And if the Squeelers would take the 22 for him we would be foolish to not make that deal. He is a much better option then any WR we can take at 22.

We would only be able to do this if we straight up made a trade.

If we signed Wallace to a contract and the Steelers failed to match, then we'd have to give up the #4.

Im surprised I havent heard more about Kolb on the boards lately, esp considering how much he was talked about a year or two ago... If Manning goes to Arizona, I gotta think Kolb will be available. Obvious ties with Heckert and seemed to be out of place in the Arizona system last year..

http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=479029

RFA Tenders: (Note: Under the new CBA there is no 1st and 3rd compensation tender, the max is a 1st round pick compensation tender.) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc? key=0ApLM6OkdirHYdHJNbUx0eVdxWkVBNFduazh6NEoxMVE#gid=0 spreadsheet and include this quote: Quote:

note: a team in possession of multiple selections in a round must surrender their own pick in the event that they naturally pick prior to the other pick that they own) in the event said team opts not to match.

Right of First Refusal & One First Round Selection: $2.26M Right of First Refusal & One Second Round Selection: $1.93M Right of First Refusal & Player's Original Round Selection: $1.59M Right of First Refusal: $1.26M

ERFA Tender: $0.615M

@jnuh said:

We would be able to offer the Steelers the 22 for Wallace eventhough he is a RFA.

And if the Squeelers would take the 22 for him we would be foolish to not make that deal. He is a much better option then any WR we can take at 22.

No he is already tagged I believe it would have to be the #4 pick, no way do I do with this with a division rival, give them a top 5 pick.

A first round draft pick to the squeelers ????????????

BS. Surely you are kidding.

And if the Squeelers would take the 22 for him we would be foolish to not make that deal. He is a much better option then any WR we can take at 22.

Zombo said:

I was just messin' with ya, lol.

I'd take any of those receivers, Hillis, and I'd love a veteran DE, I think Marcus Bernard has a long to go to be what we are looking for.

Zombo

I think the RE position does need to be addressed, but free agency doesn't look to hold much there any longer. Marcus Bernard would be a great backup and 3rd down pass rusher either at end or OLB. I would love to see any of the receivers mentioned and I know it's a complete long shot; however, I would give up the 22nd pick and make a move for Mike Wallace.

OT

Anthony Collins - Cincinnati - age 26

King Dunlap - Philadelphia - age 26

Neither are great, but could start at RT for us

DE

Kroy Biermann - Atlanta - age 26

Jeremy Mincey - Jacksonville - age 28... highly doubtful he leaves

Mario Williams - Houston - age 27... I wish

William Hayes - Tennessee - age 27

I'd probably rather have a 2nd to 4th rounder. A lot of talent at this position in this year's draft

OLB

Rocky McIntosh - Washington - age 29... love the name. would fit 4-3

RB

Mike Tolbert - San Diego - age 26

Tim Hightower - Washington - age 26... recently injured

Kahlil Bell - Chicago - age 25

All would fit well in WCO, but don't have experience w/ it (other than Hightower in AZ), and could be suitable replacements for Hillis if he decides to leave; however, I still take Hillis over all 3 of these guys.

Edit: just saw on espn where he got tagged, unfortunately.

Not too many guys out there. I think Jayme Mitchell will be released this year, add in Bernard and this position could be addressed in the first 4 rounds of the draft.

AR

************************************************

I'd stick with Colt before I'd sign Flynn, cept to replace Seneca Wallace.

There's one RT that the Browns can get in the 3rd round that could start, I think.

Fa is a crapshoot. The player has to be affordable... and want to come to a team that isn't completely built yet.

And has to have skills better than what is currently on the team. And not be a locker room cancer.

There are a bunch of really solid DE's in the draft. @@

I like the DE out of Jacksonville. Forget his name.