nfoligno

Why settle for St. Clair? I was fine re-signed St. Clair for his versatility. He would play RT, and if we draft one in the 1st, we could move him inside. But we just signed an OT, and there are significantly better FAs on the market to consider over St. Clair. We have plenty of cap space. Why settle on St. Clair at this point when we can get far superior talent like Brown or Moore?

One, I am not saying the money is just awful. I am just making the point of how things have changed. Simply pointing out how, not long ago, he would most likely have been looking at a 3yr deal for MAYBE $6-8m. I realize we don't know how the deal is structured, and I am not making a fuss about the deal. Just pointing out how much more expensive it is taking "flyers" than it was only a few years ago. But that seems to be the market these days. Two, as I said, I don't have a huge problem w/ this deal if (a) St. Clair does not return and ( St. clair signs a deal for considerably more. I would rather have St. Clair than this guy. Maybe, and it is a huge maybe, he has more upside, but St. Clair is a more proven veteran, capable of playing anywhere on the OL but center. But the biggest key for me is simply our pairing him in FA w/ a higher level OL. Still hoping for Moore or Brown.

He's a good kid. I just don't think he has the mental makeup to be a QB in the NFL. He has the heart, and many would argue the physical tools, but I just don't think he has it upstairs. Feel the same way about Simms. That isn't to insult him as a man or a person. Not everyone is cut out to be a starting QB at this level. Good luck to him, but I just do not see the future sucess some are talking about.

One, how times have changed when $14m is considered getting an unknown player w/ some potential on the cheap. Two, I would like to see what St. Clair signs for. Three. My fear is we still sign St. Clair, and consider this guy and St our two FA OL additions. That would make me puke.

I just hope this is a signing instead of St. Clair, rather than w/ the idea of pairing him and St. Clair.

At DT, we have a stud in Harris. We have a young DT many thought very highly of in Harrison. We have Adams, who has been solid, though not special. And we have Idonije. Would it be nice to add another stud next to Harris? Sure. But that is a luxury at a postion we are looking pretty decent at, compared to other areas where we (a) have starters who would struggle to see playing time for most teams and ( have no depth. At OT, for example, we had Williams, who is unproven, and that is basically it. Not even going to discuss WR. FS? Sorry, but DM has had his opportunities and failed, and all other safeties are in the box safeties. QB, FB, SLB and even DE I would rate well ahead of DT. DT situation may not be perfect, but it is FAR better than most any other position on the team.

Actually, I think it is now around $34 or $35m, as the cap is going to be about $4m higher than expected. I would love to add Housh. While he may not play out the life of the dea (how many do) I think few FAs would offer such an instant production as him. W/ that said, I don't see it. I think many teams will make offers, and TJ has indicated he is factoring a teams OL and offense overall, which would seem to put us down on the list. It could happen, but I don't think so if teams like Phily and NYGs make serious offers.

Read a great piece talking about how w/ the short interview times, and recent character issues in the NFL, teams are getting more and more creative in their questions during their 15 minutes w/ prospects. One question that stood out to the reporter. During Laurinatis' interview, one team asked, "When was the last time a LB came out of Ohio state that lived up to his potential". Actually, I think the question was far more negative, though I fail to remember the exact words. Basically implied Ohio state produces a lot of great college LBs who are nothing but average in the NFL. No discussion about Laurinatis' answer, but it was a hell of a question, and one I think bears thought. Many LBs were graded out significantly higher than your boy, and yet none have lived up to their hype in the NFL. Why is your boy different. Sorry, but if we take your boy, I will puke. That isn't to say he isn't good, but when we have holes as great as we do, we can simply not afford to draft such a luxury.

But if you are using Walter, why do you have Jenkins falling to us? I guess that is the thing. I know Jenkins had the weaker than expected 40, but he is still considered likely to be gone. Just seemed a bit odd to have him slip to us, and yet not either of the two OTs so many feel are falling. Then again, maybe it is just me and my OL or bust attitude.

Exactly. I remember a GM (can't recall who) who talked about how teams, scouts, and especially media, evaluate w/ over-evaluation. Basically, the draft has become such a big thing that we spend 24/7 talking about it for months, and player who look elite during the season somehow begin to fall for this reason or that in the offseason. His wonderlick was lower than average, thus he must not be smart enough to read a playbook, despite seeming to have a great grasp of the book in college. Another guy was so fast in college that he was considered untouchable. Yet after a weaker than expected 40, he suddenly drops a round. Yet another guy mauls everyone in front of him, but after not benching 30 reps, he is suddenly weak. Now, a player is too tight w/ his family, so he won't be able to handle the NFL. Sorry, but it just blows me away every year the reasons players rise and fall. I understand some red flags, but others just seem laughable.

Hold the phone. He didn't wait until his senior year to dedicate himself. He tried to take him game to another level, but that doesn't imply he lacked dedication prior. As I recall, he was consdiered a likely top 10 pick if he came out last year. Doesn't sound like a lack of dedication. I swear. To me, this just seems to happen all the time. Oher was all but in the last draft. Right up until deadline, it was thought he would be in the draft, but then choose to stay in school. Well, for the longest time, he was among those getting evaluated and everything. Now he has been under the microscope for the last year. As so many GMs talk about. Over-evaluation. I mean, we are knocking him because he is too tight w/ his family? You have got to me shitting me. We have reach new levels of reaching to find reasons to knock a guy.

I did add him, at the beginning of my post.

He isn't on PFW's list, but I mentioned him early on in my post, as well as some others at the end. I assume PFW didn't have him as he was recently cut.

Well, something I heard Oher say that gives some insight, I think. He said that last year he heard many question his toughness. This didn't come from coaches or players, but just what he read and/or heard from scouts last year. Anyway, he said he really committed to the weight room in the last offseason, and took it as a mission in this last season to show how tough he can be. Said he tried to show the fire and "mean streak" he felt many wanted. Now, you can decide whether he pulled that off or not, but he felt he did. My point? I am just not sure I can buy into questions of committment or work ethic. Honestly, I think this is just another case of over-evaluation. The longer you have to evaluate a player, the more things you find to pick at, and as he was thought to enter the draft last year, there has been a lot of time to pick. If that he is a devoute family guy is the worst thing about him, I think I can handle that.

Gotta ask. You have a player regarded as a top 10 pick (Jenkins) falling to us, but do not even offer Oher or Smith as potential drops. Yea, I know about Jenkins combine, but if you are going to use that logic, then Oher and Smith should be choices as well. Also, why not have Duke Robinson in there for the 2nd round?

I guess I see it a bit different. Let's say we draft him, and bring him in to "our family". If you think about it, that essentially is what your team is, and you hear players talk about it all the time. Maybe it takes him a tad longer than some more outgoing players to come out of their shell, but once he does, I think you would see a level of loyalty dedication greater than in most. I understand what you are saying, and "maybe" he would need a bit of extra attention at first, but in general, I see his history as a positive FAR more than a negative.

Brandon Moore? I realize some of this list are not great. At the same time, I have to think most all on this list would be an upgrade to what we currently have.

One, where exactly are you going to play Brooks. He is a WLB. Um, I think we already have one of those. And no, I would not be a big fan of shuffling our LBs all over to make room for him. Two, while we have the cap space (as do most NFL teams this year) that isn't the point. The point, IMHO, is that we are only going to add so many FAs. Take a look at Angelo's history, and show me where he added a bunch of FAs. He usually brings in a couple, plus maybe some veteran minimum additions, but I just do not think you can/should expect us to add many, and if you use up a spot for a LB, I think it is simply going to come at the expense of another position.

Just me, but I still don't see the point. Brooks is a WLB. I think we already have one. June is not a SLB. That is where he played for TB the last two years, but also likely a key reason why his play tanked so much going from Indy to TB. What do we need at LB? Depth and MAYBE you can add a player to compete at SLB, but neither of these two players are good SLBs, and neither are going to be looking at backup roles. I just feel like it would be a waste of a phone call. There are 100 players I would rather Angelo get on the phone w/ rather than waste his time here. Look, I get it. Some pretty good looking names have been thrown into the pool of late, and as fans, sometimes we can not help but to hear a particular name and think, why not. I would simply prefer to focus our attention on the team holes. Further, I think history has shown we will only add so many FAs, so even if the money did workout, a LB addition would likely still come at the expense of other, greater needs.

I realize many were disappointed when Gross and Carey re-signed, not to mention Starks getting tagged, but it seems like the pool of FA OL is not bad at all. I see quality at both OG and OT. PFW just came out w/ their list of top 100 FAs (though they include restricted and tagged players). I was surprised to see how many OL were on the list. Not only that, but we are seeing more veterans getting cut for cap reasons than expected, and they have not even made the list yet, like Brandon Moore. 11. Jason Brown - C-OG / Baltimore Ravens - Age 26 / FA Type: Unrestricted The marquee Ravens free agent whom no one seems to be talking about, Brown is set to cash in after impressive stints at both left guard and center in back-to-back seasons. Strong enough to anchor at center but athletic enough to thrive at guard, Brown is one of the top free agents available at both positions. 23. Stacy Andrews - OT / Cincinnati Bengals - Age 28 / FA Type: Unrestricted Received the franchise tag last offseason, then surprisingly struggled before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 16. The 6-7, 342-pound Andrews has flashed Pro Bowl talent at points of his career, and if he does not re-sign with the Bengals, some team will take a chance on him, considering his ability. However, the knee injury likely will hurt his earning potential. 29. Mark Tauscher - OT / Green Bay Packers - Age 32 / FA Type: Unrestricted A tough, smart right tackle who gets every bit out of his ability, Tauscher is a player admired by his peers and coaches. He is coming off a knee injury that might limit his value on the open market, but if, as expected, he is ready for the start of the season, Tauscher figures to again hold his own at an unappreciated position. 60. Brad Meester - C / Jacksonville Jaguars - Age 32 / FA Type: Unrestricted When healthy, Meester has been one of the steadier centers in the AFC. However, he has missed stretches of games in the past two seasons with injuries. If durability concerns are proven to be behind him, he could prove to be one of the better interior linemen available in free agency. 68. Chris Kemoeatu - OG / Pittsburgh Steelers - Age 26 / FA Type: Unrestricted Kemoeatu is a massive left guard who is best in the running game. However, he has struggled somewhat in pass protection. The Steelers will try to bring him back if the price is right. 72. Pete Kendall - OG / Washington Redskins - Age 36 / FA Type: Unrestricted A steady, durable guard, Kendall could re-sign with the Redskins, presuming they have the salary-cap flexibility to do so. Kendall remains a capable starter after all of these years. 74. Jon Stinchcomb - OT / New Orleans Saints - Age 29 / FA Type: Unrestricted Stinchcomb has started every regular-season game during Sean Payton’s time in New Orleans after having struggled with injuries earlier in his career. He has developed into one of the NFC’s better right tackles. 84. Khalif Barnes - OT / Jacksonville Jaguars - Age 27 / FA Type: Unrestricted The Jaguars are expected to let Barnes, who has 57 career starts, depart as both sides look for a fresh start. Barnes may have potential to develop further, but he enters free agency with something to prove. 86. Marvel Smith - OT / Pittsburgh Steelers - Age 31 / FA Type: Unrestricted Back problems ended Smith’s last two seasons, and he appears to have lost his starting OLT job to Max Starks after the Steelers gave Starks the franchise tag. A few players ranked high by others, but are not even on this list: Mike Goff - OG/ San Diego Cooper Carlisle - OG/ Oakland Donald Penn - OT/ Tampa Bay Daniel Loper - OT/ Tenn

Not interested. No saying jack negative about either, and in fact, I remember being very high on June when I thought Briggs was a goner, but now? We just don't have the money to spend on such luxuries. While it may not be what it once was, LB is still one of our strongest units on the defense, and probably the entire team. It just does not make sense to go out and spend money at LB when we have such glaring holes at most every position on the roster.

You had me at "more OL" Frankly, I am neither for, nor against your idea. I simply have no clue how well Bowman would transition. A concern I have is, Bowman was considered to have medical issues and potentially a bit brittle for the NFL. Would a move to S not expose him in this regard more than playing CB?

Looking at CNNSI's mock draft, by Don Banks Just for the record, he has us drafting OT Eban Britton, and provides the following comments, John Tait's retirement puts the Bears in the market for another offensive tackle, and while the higher-rated Michael Oher remains on the board, the word is he started taking on water at the combine and will continue to sink as the scouting process continues. Teams just don't have as much patience for draft prospects with character issues as they did in the pre-Roger Goodell days. He also previously stated, Teams aren't as willing as they once were to look the other way for a player who has either character or medical issues attached to his name. It's a play-it-safe kind of era in the NFL, and that may really hurt a player like Andre Smith or fellow offensive tackle Michael Oher, who I've got tumbling to the second round. Question I have is, what character issues is he referring to. I have seen others allude to character concerns too. From what I can tell, there are none. I realize Oher had a tough life growing up, bouncing from foster home to foster home after being put on this earth w/ a pair of crappy parents, but his early life only seems to have molded him into a solid character. Even w/ all the homes and school changes, I have read little (nothing actually) about his being a bad kid growing up or getting into trouble. More important, I have seen nothing of him having "character issues" in college. He made Dean's List as a sophmore, and seems like a very solid character. So I guess I am just wondering if I am missing something, or if some writers assume anyone w/ a difficult upbringing must have questionable character. I realize the character issues w/ Andre Smith, who had the well publicized bad showing at the combine, and was suspended for his bowl game after dealing w/ an agent, but I have never heard about anything having to do w/ Oher. Anyone else have insight?

Do you mean Jason Brown from Baltimore?

Phillips has always played SS, but I believe he could move to FS, especially w/ how we view the position. He has good, not great, coverage skills. He has shown to be capable of interceptions and ball tracking, and done well in coverage from the SS position. Yea, I know there is a difference, but at the same time, I think he is just the sort of FS our staff has been looking for and wanting. I love your idea of adding two safeties. One of the Williams playing FS and Phillips at SS. But as much as I love that idea, it just is not going to happen. In terms of G. Wilson, I have liked him for some time. I wanted to get him last year, but Oakland paid him a boatload. He was the starting FS on the SB champion NYGs, and actually did well last year w/ Oakland, but is being dumped (I believe) for cap reasons. Check out PFW. They actually have G. Wilson a few spots ahead of Phillips (49th and 51st, respectively) while Eugene Wilson does not even crack the top 100 list of FAs.