The Weakest Link...
 

You're the GM (and every one of you know you'd love it), who/what do you perceive as the weakest link?
He's my top five…

1. OLB-Haven't heard Hodges name called in 2 years. Is Allen still on this team? Rodgers has been good, but he's not the long term answer. I think with the play of Ruff, we may move Cie Grant outside next year and take advantage of his speed. Hodge better start showing us something.

BTW: Does anyone else find it odd that Ruff is arguably playing better than Takeo Spikes? And I don't wanna hear anybody say I told you so because nobody did. Even the biggest Ruff supporters acknowledged he would only be average to good.

2. CB-Take your pick. Ambose and Carter are aging fast. Thomas is a decent #2 but not much more. Craver is too big of a question mark with his drug problems and mediocre performance.

3. RDT-Whitehead can't go 16 at the RDT. I love him, he's a true warrior, but he's better coming off the edge or spot starting. Kenny Smith is average but appears to be getting a bit better. You know, a motivated 315lb Grady Jackson would be perfect.

4. WR- As much as I hate to admit it, I was wrong about this position. Pathon is a good #2, and Horn is a solid #1 but aging. But Stallworth has been a HUGE bust so far. Granted I think he'll get his muscle-pull probs behind him eventually, but we didn't pay him a zillion dollars to wait 2 years for his body to adjust to the NFL. It has become blatently clear to me why this club selected 2 WR's last year. I think they knew what we're just now discovering... Donte cannot be depended upon to develop into a true #1 WR. I think Gardner will eventually move ahead of Donte over the next 2 years. Heck, a 32 year old, beer truck driving, min-salary, arena league special-teamer is turning into a better (more dependable) WR than Donte right before our eyes.

5. LT-I think Gandy has played well. Not great but good. But he has about 2 or 3 years left. We better get a young LT in here soon. From what I've read Stinch doesn't have the lower body of a true LT. We'll probably move him to RT or inside. I think Hoakie said he'd make a good center or guard.

The Weakest Link...
 

I see Stinch taking over for Fontenot, but that still doesn\'t leave us very deep at tackle. the only thing I would change about your list is bumping the tackle up to #3, and bumping everything else down one.

The Weakest Link...
 

In free agency I\'d have to go with the corners. There will be some very good corners available this year. I agree with keeping Ruff in the middle and seeing what Cie can do outside. If you go get 2 good corners through free agency you can draft for the best player available, whether that be OL or DL. Also lest we all forget, at some point in the near future we need to look for a backup RB. I like Ki-jana but still not sure he can hold up.

The Weakest Link...
 

Yeah - Pick up a stud corner and a stud linebacker in free agency. Look for a solid but probably not stellar DT and utility lineman. Draft another CB and/or LB, a LT, and TE. Follow that with RBs and WRs.

Stallworth has been poo. I trusted the scouts two years ago when they said that he hadn\'t made it through a season at Tennessee without injury to his hamstring and that he probably would end up being injury prone in the NFL. They were dead on. This guy\'s been on the field for all of what? Ten games in two years. Strain here, pull there. Get on the damn field and make some plays.

The Weakest Link...
 

how can u guys say that donte is a bust in only his 2nd year. i know he has had injuries, but when he is on the field, he makes plays, gets in the endzone. not only that but they guy is only 22!! 22 years old, and u guys are calling him a bust? geez. in about 3 years, then if the same thing is happening, then i would call him a bust, but he is only 22, give the guy a break.

The Weakest Link...
 

Well I said \"a HUGE bust so far. Granted I think he\'ll get his muscle-pull probs behind him eventually, but we didn\'t pay him a zillion dollars to wait 2 years for his body to adjust to the NFLso far\". I\'ve also said he\'d develop into a good WR eventually.

But we\'re paying him huge bucks and getting very little return.

I wonder if we put a \"give him some time\" clause in his enormous contract?

The Weakest Link...
 

we signed donte to a 6 year deal worth up to 8.9 million so we are paying him a lil over 1 mil a year. thats not bad for a guy who has huge potential. which i believe he will reach sooner then later

The Weakest Link...
 

That actually sounds pretty good to me. Looks like they did get a \"give him some time\" clause in his contract , sort of.
I do agree Pak, I think he may be absolutely dominant in his 3rd year.

The Weakest Link...
 

I don\'t see any signs of dominance. All I hear is how he doesn\'t run routes well, doesn\'t cut well, and can\'t hold on to the ball. Beer man has speed if that\'s all you want. Stallworth wasn\'t impressive at all on returns when he had to do it. I don\'t know what all the fuss is about.

The Weakest Link...
 

Well, Stallworth set a record for TD catches for rookies last year, in spite of missing several games. If you haven\'t seen any signs of dominance, I can\'t understand why? Maybe you are just focused to intently on the negitives. Fans are too impatient and it\'s all about \"what have you done for me lately.\"

What happend to giving a player time to develop? Maybe it\'s hard to see the big pitcure. Maybe Stallworth will never be a doninite receiver, but the point is, it\'s way too early to even be suggesting that.

The Weakest Link...
 

Thats what we\'re talking about.
That sentence describes just about every 1st or 2nd year WR in the NFL. Some of the best WR\'s playing today had the exact same thing said about them early in their career.

My original point was he was a bust THUS FAR...
Paks point was give him some more time before using the bust label...
My next point was we payed too much to wait...
Paks rebuttal was we structured his contract knowing he needed time...
My point was, cool, he\'ll probably stud out next year...
Your point was back to my original point...

Its like a big AB opinion vicious circle

The Weakest Link...
 

Tweeky -- I don\'t think it\'s fair to say Stallworth has been a BUST. I think it\'s fair to say that he hasn\'t lived up to expectations THIS year. He did fine as a rookie last year, even though he missed some games. This year he has been a BIG disappointment, mainly because of injuries.

Fans get tired of hearing the word \"Potential\" but that\'s usually what young players have. First and second year players hardly ever develop into pro-bowl players that quickly. When the guy has been on the field healty, he has produced more times than not. So, to be saying he has been a bust is unfair, IMO. Maybe injury prone would be a better term.

The Weakest Link...
 

Well thats kinda what I meant by BUST.
To me a bust is a player that hasn\'t met expectations. It doesn\'t matter (to me) if by injury or performance.
But I see your point. A lot of people think BUST as performance only.
Ki-Jana Carter wasn\'t really a bust to many because injuries prevented him from what was most likely going to be a stellar career.

Bottom line: I think Donte will eventually stud out. But so far he\'s disappointed me by not being on the field to prove himself.