Originally Posted by Danno (Post 478008)

Oh I agree that all 3 will have to re-structure or "bye-bye". Its just no gonna save us nearly as much as their 2013 cap hit suggests.

I'm a Harper fan, but no way he's worth that kind of cash. No safety in this league is worth that. Donte Whitner was absolutely schooled in the Superbowl. He couldn't cover squat.

He looked every bit as bad as Harper/Jenkins and he's widely considered one of the best in the NFL

Torching DB's is just the current state of the pass-happy NFL now. The best secondary in all of the NFL was torched in the playoffs by Matt Friggin Ryan.

I'm not sure there's much difference between an A-Plus safety and a C-Plus safety anymore. So why pay A-plus money for one?

Originally Posted by Luda34 (Post 478096)

I would let Ellis, Smith and Harper go.

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 477998)

Signing bonus money accellerates to the year you cut them. It can no longer be spread over the life of the contract once you terminate the contract.

Cutting Will Smith only saves 7 million, not 14.
Cutting Vilma only saves 6 million, not 8.6.
Cutting Harper only saves 4 million, not 7.
Cutting Hartley only saves 1.1 million, not 2.6

And then you have to add the cost to replace those players.

Originally Posted by saintsfan403 (Post 478135)

In regards to Vilma, he's already been replaced by Lofton. Replacing him as an outside backer probably won't be that hard, especially with the shift to a 34.
Having a better pass rush would also help out harper, so maybe keep him around for another season to see if he improves?

Originally Posted by hagan714 (Post 478167)

micky has his work cut out for himself this off season

Originally Posted by TheOak (Post 478159)

We need to stop keeping players one more season to see if they have improve.

Neither Smith or Vilma has had a flat or up season in the last two years. We are not going to get better keeping declining players for one more year.