Sound_n_Fury

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1999808 "Even before he broke his foot and missed the Patriots' last 12 games, the cap-conscious team was not expected to bring him back at his full salary; Law had said he wasn't inclined to restructure his deal. To restructure his contract, Law would have had to take a significant pay cut because New England's philosophy is more geared toward players having contracts in the $2 million and $3 million range."

Here's what the same guy had to say about the Lee Evans pick last year: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...html#draftboard "The NFL likes big receivers, and there were plenty to be had in the 2004 draft: Roy Williams, Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Williams, Michael Clayton. Lee Evans was the shrimp at 5-10, so he slid, despite the fact he was one of the fastest receivers (4.37) and biggest producers on the board (19.8-yard career average at Wisconsin). Buffalo took him with the 13th overall pick, and he wound up on the NFL all-rookie team with nine touchdowns and a 17.6-yard average. Mark Clayton is the little guy (5-10) who will slide in the first round of this draft despite his speed (4.40) and college productivity (220 catches and 31 TDs at Oklahoma). The tall guys - Braylon Edwards, Troy Williamson and Mike Williams - all could go before him, but don't be surprised if Clayton has the best rookie year of them all. " IMO, Gosselin's the best NFL columnist not working for a major magazine.

His first sentence shows he doesn't have a clue, so why would anything else he has to say be true. I've been reading the SF papers almost daily and haven't gotten this impression at all: "Less than 72 hours away from the biggest franchise decision in the past decade, the pitiful, undermanned San Francisco 49ers are behaving like they are on the verge of drafting the next Peyton Manning or Donovan McNabb with the No. 1 pick in Saturday's National Football League draft. "

Er, The Pats had a rookie and a converted WR in their secondary last year and they did OK...

Actually, I like the next photo in the series better: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...4&e=7&ncid=1756

I think the reason MW's agent hasn't made noise about renegotiating is because TD hasn't made it a priority yet. My guess is it will become one after the draft and June 1 FA signings are complete. If it came down to keeping either MW or NC, I'd pick Nate. But at $9 million per year, my answer would be neither. The Pats have created the best working model in the salary cap era, one that budgets that kind of money only for the QB position (and only because TB is the best in the biz).

This guy thinks he's Jerry Sullivan! Too funny...

Maybe. But I guess I'd say, "Mike, try getting that much somewhere else." Enough already. We'll agree to disagree...but IMO, the likelihood of MW renegotiating is a hell of a lot higher than it is of him being cut. Wanna put some money on the outcome?

MW's contract call for the following over the next three years: - 2005: $4M base + $3M roster bonus. $1.5M other NLTBE in 2005. - 2006: $4M base + $3M roster bonus (option year). $1.5M other NLTBE in 2006. - 2007: $5M base (option year). $3.5M other NLTBE in 2007. Redo it to a 6-year deal at say $18 million in salary, turn the $6 million in roster bonuses into a signing bonus and scrap/redo the NLTBEs (which are just funny money, IMO). You'd get something like this: Years 1-3: $2 million salary + $1.21 million pro rated SB from original contract + $1 million pro rated new SB = $4.2 million cap hit. Years 4-6: cross that bridge when you get to it ($3 million remaining SB if cut) I'm only taking a quick-n-dirty stab at this, but TD will find a way to whittle this down to a more manageable figure. MW's original contract was on par for where he was picked. If teams had to cut all high round draft choices due to the impact of salary escalators, then no one would ever want to draft in the top 10 again. Agents design these back-loaded contracts with the assumption of getting another big signing bonus when they're renegotiated. It'll happen with MW, too.

The most important element of a defensive game plan is to stop the run. Quality DT's that can cog the middle and protect LBs running to the ball are the key to accomplishing this. With regard to the Bills, I have a nagging feeling SA may only have one more good year left in him...he wore down terribly in the Pittsburgh game last year, when the Steelers ran so well. TD's modus operandi has always been to draft a replacement for a key player one year early, so I'd not be surprised to see a DT like Hawthorne be the pick if they stay at #55.

MW will restructure his contract...no way will he be cut.

Strike one... Strike two.. Strike three... Ignore

Bird-dog... Bubble butt... Body lean... Hip snap... Hand punch... Flattens out...

How do you figure: Mcgee's cap hit is $482,500 and Thomas's is just $305,000, so you're talking about less than $1.5 million under your scenario...doubtful these kind of guys will ever get the big bucks. In contrast, NC's 2005 hit is already at $3.5 million.

MW's contract will be redone and his cap hit will be significantly less on opening day. Arguments that $8 million for NC is OK because of MW's contract are silly, IMO. Williams' cap number has jumped in the OFF-SEASON only and there's no way TD goes into 2005 with that figure hampering the teams flexibility to sign rookies or impending FAs.

Maybe...maybe not. Vikings set to move up, or down BY DON SEEHOLZER Pioneer Press April 20, 2005 The Vikings have talked to some teams at the top of this weekend's NFL draft, but that doesn't mean they're looking to trade up from the No. 7 spot. In fact, according to team vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, they could just as easily end up moving in the opposite direction. "I don't want to name teams," Brzezinski said Tuesday. "I will confirm we have talked to teams ahead of us and behind us. We're looking for value. We want to know what it would cost us to move up. It's also possible we could move back for the right value." Minnesota, which owns the seventh and 18th selections of the first round, reportedly has talked to San Francisco, Miami and Cleveland — which are scheduled to pick first through third, respectively — about a possible trade. The Vikings' No. 1 need is at wide receiver, and a top-three pick likely would ensure them a shot at this year's top prospect, Michigan's Braylon Edwards, or Southern California's Mike Williams. Anything is possible, according to Brzezinski, but he said the chances of a trade down are just as likely. That won't create the same buzz as the trade-up rumors, but Brzezinski said the Vikings will continue to talk trade with teams above and below them and that he expects those discussions to continue through Saturday. "It's likely we'll pick at seven," he said. "All we're doing is exploring our options. We're wide open."

Miller had a big night, but not quite that big! Norm Milley scored the first Amerks goal. http://www.amerks.com/FeatureStories.aspx?news_id=447

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/footbal...-dolphins-front

Yep. Here's their third "throw back" jersey, that will be on sale soon: http://www.vintagetrends.com/vintage/itemd...=Bowling+shirts

Buzz, click...er, Houston, we have a problem: Requested file not found. The link you followed may be outdated or inaccurate. This error may have one of several causes: The address or file no longer exists.

The Skins are $1.4 million under the cap right now...how are they going to pay a "top 5" CB salary to anyone? http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor...john&id=2004973

Sigh...I wish we could just consolidate all these "NC to the Skins" threads, so they don't clutter up the board.

I think Seattle would jump all over trading Alexander for the 25th pick...I hope Miami would be stupid enough to pull the trigger on this.

Eat as many as you can...they may not be around much longer! http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=KKD&t=1y

LOL! How many guys do you want to exclude before you get a salary figure you're comfortable with.