our only real chance is

saintswhodi · 11-04-2004, 02:07 PM

spk,

At this point, I don\'t see how signing Howard to a long term contract or franchising him are good options. He seems to be going the Joe Johnson route, great early years, then injuries killed his career. Although he could be like Jevon Kearse, who was pretty much banged up all the time after his first season with the Titans, and is awesome now for Philly. I would hate for Darren to go somewhere else and become a star again, but that is a chance I feel we have to take. Our more pressing need is linebacker and someone in the middle of the D beside Young, unless Howard gets healthy, puts on weight and fills this role, which I just don\'t see. Ferguson from the Jets is a DT we need to be taking a look at in free agency cause no way they can sign him, Abraham, and Ellis. And Will Smith has shown flashes, he gets good pressure, and his game will come along. In the long run he gives us better play than Darren, especially if Grant keeps up his stellar performances on the other side. So if signing Howard means dishing out franchise money again, especially with next year being the big money year for Joe Horn, we have to let Howard walk. Or place a transition tag on him or tender an offer and make him a restricted free agent. No way on the franchise tag again. Now, if he goes out in the 2nd half of the year and gets 12-14 sacks, I take all of this back.

11-04-2004, 02:07 PM	#15
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	our only real chance is spk, At this point, I don\'t see how signing Howard to a long term contract or franchising him are good options. He seems to be going the Joe Johnson route, great early years, then injuries killed his career. Although he could be like Jevon Kearse, who was pretty much banged up all the time after his first season with the Titans, and is awesome now for Philly. I would hate for Darren to go somewhere else and become a star again, but that is a chance I feel we have to take. Our more pressing need is linebacker and someone in the middle of the D beside Young, unless Howard gets healthy, puts on weight and fills this role, which I just don\'t see. Ferguson from the Jets is a DT we need to be taking a look at in free agency cause no way they can sign him, Abraham, and Ellis. And Will Smith has shown flashes, he gets good pressure, and his game will come along. In the long run he gives us better play than Darren, especially if Grant keeps up his stellar performances on the other side. So if signing Howard means dishing out franchise money again, especially with next year being the big money year for Joe Horn, we have to let Howard walk. Or place a transition tag on him or tender an offer and make him a restricted free agent. No way on the franchise tag again. Now, if he goes out in the 2nd half of the year and gets 12-14 sacks, I take all of this back.