Diner Morning News: What's Next?

FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

30 April 2009

QUOTE:   “When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don't repeat it. -- Paul "Bear" Bryant, “I Ain't Never Been Nothing but a Winner”

After the draft, every team is happy and thinking Super Bowl – so this might be the best time to make a trade and take advantage of a few teams.  Ron Wolf, the former Packers GM, always wanted to make trades. He loved to trade restricted free agents for other restricted free agents. He acquired Ahman Green when he sent corner Fred Vinson to the Seahawks along with an exchange of draft picks. Wolf loved to trade and always worked the phones looking for a deal. This was his time to think outside the box.  With that in mind, I thought I’d try to stimulate some thinking in the NFL. 

CALLS I’D MAKE THIS WEEK IF…

IF I WORKED FOR THE SAINTS…

I would call the Denver Broncos and find out if they’re going to keep all those backs, and I might throw out a conditional offer of a draft choice for Ryan Torain or Peyton Hillis. I’m not convinced the Saints will be the power team they need to be if they don’t get a bigger, more powerful back. They must find a back who can win on third and one and not always rely on the precision of their passing game. 

I would call the Cowboys and try to twist their arm to see if they’d trade 2008 fourth-round pick Tashard Choice. He’s 215 pounds and has the skills for the Saints’ offense and the power for short yardage. I might even dangle first-round pick Robert Meachem in front of them to see what they think. Cowboys back-up offensive tackle Doug Free would be another target of mine. 

I would call Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum (tell him that Yahoo Dave loves his work) and find out what he’s going to do with disgruntled running back Thomas Jones this year.  Tannenbaum is going to be bogged down with the Mark Sanchez contract, and it will be a bloody battle. What the average fan doesn’t understand about the Sanchez deal is that it can affect the recruiting of next year’s first-round quarterbacks. Dave Dunn, Sanchez’s agent, will do a great job, and the closer the Sanchez deal can get to the Matthew Stafford deal with the Lions, the more it will benefit Dunn’s recruiting efforts. How does this affect Thomas Jones?  There might not be any money left for Jones after the Sanchez deal. It’s worth a call. 

IF I WORKED FOR THE BRONCOS…

I would call GM Ted Thompson of the Packers and find out what he’s going to do with back-up nose tackle Ryan Pickett. Now, I fully expect him to tell me that he’s not trading Pickett, but it’s still worth the call. 

I would also call the Raiders and find out if they're going to dump either of their well-paid defensive tackles, Tommy Kelly or Terdell Sands. Neither is a pure nose tackle, but if they’re in shape, both would help the front seven of the Broncos. 

I would call Seattle to see if I could pry defensive tackle Red Bryant from them (yes, I know I love his game) and use him as my new nose. I doubt they would move him, but you never know. 

I would call Cleveland to see if they want to dump some of the high-priced defensive linemen who were signed by the previous regime. Thinking they might want to move Shaun Smith now that they’ve acquired Kenyon Coleman. 

The Broncos were not able to add beef to their defensive line and must find creative ways to fix this problem. 

Next week, we’ll do a few more -- and I’m sure you guys will have a few ideas.

Now, off to Philadelphia….

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