QUOTE: “Don't be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.” -- Bertolt Brecht
Seneca Wallace was traded from the Seahawks to the Cleveland Browns for a late round pick in the 2011 draft, which is essentially giving him away for nothing. The reason teams can no longer trade a player for past considerations, which was the norm years ago, is that the league outlawed that provision. Now, teams must trade a substantial pick for a player, albeit a conditional one. This deal for Wallace is basically the Seahawks giving him away instead of just cutting him….
I suspect this will not be the last move the Browns make at quarterback as the offseason progresses. Wallace now allows the Browns to cut Derek Anderson before they have to pay a roster bonus. But the Browns are not done acquiring quarterbacks. This move makes it clear that the Browns will be a West Coast offense, and head coach Eric Mangini has no choice but to run this style….
In another trade in which was player was essentially given away, the Bucs acquired wide receiver Reggie Brown from the Eagles. Brown was not going to be a part of the Eagles this year, and this move now gives him a chance to make a team. The Bucs clearly are taking a “look see” at Brown, which costs them nothing….
Based on the way cornerback Lito Sheppard played for the Jets last year, I’d be surprised if many teams are interested in his services right now. There might be some interest after the draft, but not now….
Pittsburgh made some serious moves Monday, signing Ryan Clark back after he took a visit to the Dolphins. I fully expected the Fins to make a run at Clark, but re-signing with the Steelers is a good move for both the team and player. When I saw that the Steelers had signed safety Will Allen, I thought they had moved along from Clark, but they now have both. They must continue to improve their secondary….
New Orleans Saints FS Darren Sharper will be healthy for next year, but the knee scope, which was basically a clean out, will prevent him from visiting other teams. Even so, he’s still wanted back by the Saints….
The Raiders had to cut defensive end Greg Ellis before the fifth day of the league year because his entire 2010 salary would have been guaranteed had he been on the roster. They also cut Javon Walker so they could dump his bad contract into the uncapped year. Walker made about a million a catch….
Does wide receiver Terrell Owens really help improve the Bengals’ passing game if they sign him? I don’t think so. He struggles to escape press and is no longer a No. 1 wideout. The Bengals would be better with Antonio Bryant if they can tolerate his off-the-field act….
I’d be surprised if the Broncos didn’t sign Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green today to help improve their line. He could play defensive tackle on third downs and give them an inside pass rush….
Most teams do not offer skill and injury guarantee money in future years because of the funding rules in the NFL. If teams only injury guarantee future years, they do not have to fund the money with the league office, so this move helps to save cash flow. Normally, teams will have trigger clauses placed in contracts that allow skill and injury to be set in future years once an incentive has been achieved. When this happens, the club gets away from the funding rules. I’d be shocked if Julius Peppers did not have ways to skill and injury guarantee years 2011 and 2012.
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For a look at moves the top eight teams who can't sign free agents should make, check out this article from Bleacher Report.
Mike,
TO still beat lots of guys deep in 2009. He may be good for little else, but he can still fly. That QB situation in BUF was pretty brutal but he was 9th in the league for catches of 40+. I think there's significant value in his ability to stretch a defense and there's no reason to believe that will change in 2010.
Considering Palmer only connected 5 times on passes of 40+, I think TO looks like a good addition.
The browns finished last year winning their last 4 games largely as a power running team.
Why would they switch to another offense w/o a QB to run it (or is Wallace a starter)
What off-field act with Antonio Bryant are you talking about!?! Bryant was a total team player in Tampa, he was the ONLY real WR the Bucs had. These "off-field" problems are a myth that neither you or most of the MSM have any idea about. The local hacks here are led around like stockyard cattle, by the Bucs FO. Antonio Bryant made more spectacular catches in 2 years in Tampa than all the WR's combined in the Bucs history. Some team is going to get one helluva an NFL WR in Antonio Bryant, and there will be NO "off-field" problems. Research is dying practice.
Well,
Lombardi, I hope the Broncos bring in Jarvis Green as that bolsters our defense all the more. As I stated on your facebook profile, the best thing Darren Sharper can do is hang out in his hyperbolic chamber at night, get healthy during the day and be a stud for the Saints once again. Antonio Bryant would be a good choice for the Bengals as Marvin Lewis' skin is already thick enough to deal with controversial players. Assuredly, he has to be an upgrade from Laverneaus Coles who I predict will never play at a high level again, if at all anywhere. Thanks again!
I'm thinking the Wallace move means that Troy Smith can probably forget about Cleveland. I can't see more than one roster spot (and draft pick) being allocated to acquiring backup QB's from other teams. I'd expect them to go into camp with Quinn, Wallace, a mid-to-high round developmental QB, and a rookie FA flyer.
@ Dave - You are kidding, right? While Bryant may have been an okay guy in Tampa, the guy has a failed drug test and a reckless driving just off the top of my head. He also pissed off Parcells in Dallas and Nolan in SF. These are just the tip I'm sure. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for letting the guy play and succeed, etc so don't think I have some axe to grind here. However, that said It is simply ignorant of you to say that someone other than yourself hasn't done research here.
Heh, you're thinking of a hyperbaric chamber BRAD. A 'hyperbolic' chamber sounds more like something Chad Ochocinco would sleep in.
On Ellis leaving Oakland, he's fit for a 3-4 or 4-3, isn't he? Maybe not an every down player now, but adding nearly ten sacks a season to a D line is a good item.
"...the best thing Darren Sharper can do is hang out in his hyperbolic chamber at night..."
It's the greatest chamber ever made! This chamber will change the way all of us think about chambers - nay - it will change the world! Step inside the hyperbolic chamber, and nothing will ever be the same again!
Acquiring Wallace was an interesting move in Cleveeland. It seems that Holgrem is setting up the team in his likeness rather than Mangini's. This does not bode well for Mangini. If this is true, Anderson and Quinn are probably already gone, with Anderson sent packing early this year and Quinn maybe playing for one more year.
I suspect that Holgren is looking at backup quarterbacks who are schooled to his liking. Kolb in Philadelphia is probably high on the list but most likely unattainable. The dark horse is Matt Flynn in Green Bay, who may turn out as good as Hasselbeck, Holgrem's Green Bay import during his Seattle days. A darker horse is Stephen McGee of the Dallas Cowboys. Of course this assumes Cleveland doesn't draft their QB of the future during this years NFL draft.
Dave, you moron: if Bryant didn' have issues, he'd be signed, already. Hell, if he didn' have issues, he'd still be in Tampa.
And the only reason we feel so free with our insults, you imbecile, is because you chose them as your preferred means of making a point. Like chumps usually do.
Jerk. Learn to read and deduce from evidence.
Punk.
Rumors in Detroit that after DA tests opportunities to compete for starter role, he'll take a back-up role for a team - and that could be the Lions? I think he'd be a better fit in Arizona, unless I missed where the Cards picked up a #2 already?
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Mar 09, 2010
10:41 AM
Not directly related to your post, but I was wondering if you paid any attention to the conference last week at MIT on the limits of analytics -- Bill Polian and Jonathan Kraft were both there. I'm sure a lot of NFP readers would be interested in your thoughts on analytics as used in pro football.