K Major

I'm just a couch coach but former Bengal La'el Collins passed his physical today with Dr. Neal ElAttrache. I'd make a call.

FYI, this is the doctor who did the operation (Achilles) on Aaron Rodgers.

Ruiz is concussed, Hurst has played poorly, Landon Young isn't very good and Nick S isn't ready as a starter.

Again, what the hell do I know?

BakoSaint

Its certainly worthwhile to give Collins a call. He has been above average at times, hurt and below average at others. He can play multiple positions. I think it is worth giving him a call. But don't give him a 4 year $50 million extension if he strings together a few good games, let him audition here and let someone else take that gamble if it works out and we will take the comp pick. There is no guarantee Collins is better than Hurst, Peat, Ruiz, or Penning but he creates competition and probably he is better than some of them.

Also, bring in someone to coach him who has done good work this decade.

BakoSaint

For an analogy with Ramcyzk and McCoy, Kyle Turley had 6 seasons to begin his career where he started 15-16 games and made an all pro team. After that, he played 14 games total the next 4 years. Carl Nicks had 4 healthy seasons and then horrible injuries. LeCharles Bentley had 4 healthy seasons and then horrible injuries. Jermon Bushrod was a regular starter for 6 seasons, made two pro bowls, got benched for half a year, converted to guard and managed to start a full season, then broke down and never played another full season. Other guys like Roaf, Armstead, and Evans lasted longer, but half of these pro bowl oline careers are short ones.

Ramcyzk is in year 7 as a full time starter. McCoy is in year 5. I don't care so much about age, I think at that position its more about how each unique player handles the wear and tear. We have to be financially prepared that its reasonably likely that one of them is starting to break down, though it could also be neither or both. It's not financially responsible to put ourselves in a position where there is no backup plan if they both don't last forever like a Roaf or Evans.

K Major

In the words of Underhill, “they better figure it out. Do something … & fast”.

You simply can’t keep playing this poorly up front.

rezburna

Garrett Boles seems to be unhappy in Denver. They’re tanking for Caleb Williams anyway. Go grab him.

BakoSaint

Bolles 2023 base salary is $14 million. The Saints are $2.7 million under the cap. The only player the Saints have remaining who could be restructured is James Hurst, generating perhaps $1.5 million to get us to $4.2 million under the cap. This is based on my understanding that roster bonuses are paid by the start of the year and can't be restructured in season, if that is incorrect perhaps we could get to $7 million under the cap restructuring Hurst and Jordan who have about $2 million roster bonuses.

So, the Saints cannot possibly absorb Bolles current salary.

Denver could convert Bolles remaining salary to a signing bonus before trading him, reducing his salary to a league minimum and taking the cap hit themselves, but they would likely ask for significantly higher draft compensation in return for subsidizing our cap by $10 million at the expense of theirs, when they are right at the cap limit, and could gain about $10 million cap room by trading him to a team with cap space. This is especially considering the cap hit they would absorb moving on from Russell Wilson, they need cap relief.

I think we could immediately restructure Bolles to get under the cap. But if we spread that $14 million over 4 years by adding 3 void years to his deal, we are still looking at a $4.25 million cap hit for 2023 requiring a restructure to Hurst (his being willing to help us sign his replacement maybe) and totally maxing out our cap so we are essentially barred from acquiring any other veteran players making above minimum salaries for the rest of the league year. Bolles would likely demand the first year void trigger with a timing that prevented him from being tagged, so we might pay a lot for a one year rental and take a dead cap hit in 2024.

If Bolles wants a big extension this year, we would have to get very creative to do it, in ways he may not like. Essentially whatever signing bonus the the deal includes divided by the number of years on the contract could not exceed $3 million prorated per year for us to make it work with our cap along with a $1 million minimum salary. We could give him a large 2024 guaranteed roster bonus due in March, but he can't cash that check until March, and he might prefer a team who could write him a check today for over $12-$15 million signing bonus (4-5 year deal). I don't know Bolles exact market value, but essentially we could only give him a Granderson / Ruiz level deal if he wants the signing bonus now, and thats only if we restructure Hurst and completely max our cap.

AsylumGuido

AsylumGuido

K Major

Ramz, Ruiz, McKoy, Penning, Hurst etc ... collectively they are ALL bad.

Now we are without a starting caliber QB.

Until playcalling improves & the guys up front start winning their matchups, they will continue to struggle each week.

AsylumGuido

FYI, his name is McCoy, not McKoy. Just sayin'.