Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

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.

Replacing Smith, Vilma, and Harper with equal to or greater talent would not be too difficult.

Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

I disagree sort of. It won't be cheap.

They are certainly overpaid, but they are also all above average players.

Even average players cost more in free agency than they're worth.

Replacing them with comparable players will save some money, but nowhere near what we need to get under the cap.

Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

Meet me 1/2 way?

In regards to Smith... I just want a new name to whine about. :)

Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

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?

Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

Did you say Smith and Harper are above average players??

Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

Its debatable. Smith has certainly declined but he's always been up and down. Its impossible to grade any player on this defense based on 2012. None of them were used to their strengths, and Sean Payton said nearly the same exact thing two weeks ago.

Harper, when used as a traditional Strong Safety, is indeed above average. As a deep centerfield safety or in a 2 high safety system... uhhh not so much.

Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

Ellis,Smith,Vilma,Harper,Ellis,Robinson,Shanle all need to go salary and performance all add up give the young guys a shot at it. I think the rest can do as well if not better than all of these. If we are lucky to find one or two top FA,s then go for them if not let our scouting team do their work. No way should we stay with what we got. Jenkins may be on that list but There may still be hope for him. Jenkins has more than enough speed but never gets help over the top. This should be the highest priority hands down. Some will disagree and say it is the line but who is on the line Ellis and Smith

Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

Oops Ellis twice so double that with Him

Re: Time to start releasing players?
 

This, but I would add Patrick Robinson.