Free Agents we Should Care About

JKool · 01-11-2005, 03:29 PM

BMG,

I like the Hartwell and Payne picks!

I agree that if we got two stud OTs, we could stop there! Anymore than that might kill us fans - we\'d no longer know how to understand the Saints as we know them.

Thrash is a solid possesion guy. He\'d basically replace Pathon. I\'m not sold either, but he ain\'t bad. I\'m sure one of the twenty seven or so guys we have with potential can fill in for Pathon.

As for Woodson, I don\'t know. It is a pipe dream either way. People thought that McKenzie had an attitude problem, and he seems to be playing just fine? What is the relevant difference?

4saintspirit · 01-11-2005, 03:37 PM

Smoot and Orlando Pace seem like pretty obvious choices

JKool · 01-11-2005, 03:40 PM

4ss,

I agree. I should have included Smoot (though I\'m guessing that he\'ll be resigned). I just figured that there is no way Pace hits the market - also we can probably get two of the other guys for his price tag.

saintswhodi · 01-11-2005, 03:49 PM

Actually, Smoot and the Redskins have almost come to the point of agreeing they will have to part ways. It\'s seeming more and more likely Smoot will walk.

Smoot Says Return Is Not Certain
Redskins Cornerback May Leave as Free Agent

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 31, 2004; Page D01

Washington Redskins starting cornerback Fred Smoot said yesterday his bruised kidney will prevent him from playing in Sunday\'s season finale, and he is worried that he may have played his final game for the team.

Smoot was knocked out of the game at Dallas last Sunday with back and kidney problems, and vomited on the sideline. As a potential free agent, he hopes that is not his final outing as a Redskin.

Starting cornerback Fred Smoot said he is worried that he has played his last game for the Redskins. (Toni L. Sandys - The Washington Post)

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\"My last game was a loss to Dallas and I might not be back,\" Smoot said. \"That could have been my last game as a Redskin.\"

Smoot, drafted 45th overall by the Redskins in 2001, was optimistic about the early progress of contract talks with the team but negotiations have stalled over the last month, sources said. Smoot is believed to be seeking a deal in the neighborhood of the six-year, $30 million contract cornerback Shawn Springs signed with Washington last winter, and he regularly has spoken with Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey, who could not agree with the Redskins on an extension last year and ultimately was traded to Denver for running back Clinton Portis in March.

\"I want to be here bad, but it ain\'t about me wanting to be here,\" Smoot said. \"It\'s them wanting me to be here. Like I was talking to Champ two or three weeks ago, and that\'s what he was saying. It ain\'t never really the player. . . . It\'s all about the front office and who they want to be here.\"

Smoot said he has a gut feeling that talks with the Redskins might not result in a new deal, and he has used Bailey as a resource in contending with free agency for the first time. When asked if he was as optimistic about staying in Washington as he was a few weeks ago, Smoot said, \"I can\'t say that I am.\" He believed that if a deal was going to get done, it would have happened by the end of the season. The NFL free agency period begins in March.

Vinnie Cerrato, the Redskins\' vice president of football operations, said that the team\'s offer to Smoot would make him one of the 10 highest-paid cornerbacks in the league.

Coach Joe Gibbs has talked highly of Smoot and the importance of keeping core players such as Smoot on the Redskins. But Washington could face a salary-cap squeeze. Although it is close to re-signing linebacker Antonio Pierce, it also is working on ways to retain highly-paid offensive lineman Chris Samuels and will look to improve by signing free agents in the offseason.

\"We\'re going to make every effort we can to sign him,\" Gibbs said of Smoot. \"We got going real hard on it in the middle of the year and then I think we kind of reached a point there where it was a stalemate, and we\'re going to do everything we can to sign him. . . . You go after it as hard as you can and hopefully you can get something done. But you never know with something like that.\"

So IMHO, we should sign Howard to a deal the Skins will accept, vice versa tham and Smoot, and try to trade for him. Both are unrestricted and wanna be paid.

Danno · 01-11-2005, 04:29 PM

I\'m not the least bit interested in Thrash. He\'s no better than Gardner, Lewis, and Black and has less upside and would cost much more. We also just signed a LA native from the CFL who had over 1100 yards and over 70 catches in 2004. He looks to have some potential, but may be just another Ojo.

Thyron Anderson, WR 6-4 205 Grambling
Montreal Alouettes, CFL
76 catches, 1147 yards, 3 TD\'s

FireVenturi · 01-11-2005, 04:29 PM

Also two guards(Rivera and Wahle)from tha Packers will be available

JKool · 01-11-2005, 05:11 PM

Nice find Whodi.

Danno, you\'ve convinced me. Were those 70 catches in the CFL? They do throw a lot up there.

FV, I saw that, but I don\'t see why we should pay for a name OG, when we have serviceable guys and really need OTs. I don\'t think we\'ll sign a top OG; we may get one in a later round of the draft or a no-namer. I think Holland will be ok with a better tackle at his side, and Jacox is not the worst around. Further, I don\'t think GB can afford to let them go, what with Farve perhaps retiring, they\'ll need a solid front five to protect the newbie.

saintswhodi · 01-11-2005, 05:17 PM

I think one of the GB guard will be gone, but that isn\'t our need, at least not in my opinion. What I would be interested in is free agent centers. Any good ones out there so we can get LeCharles back to guard? If not, Wilkerson from LSU. Nab him in the draft.

01-11-2005, 03:29 PM	#11
JKool 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,423	Free Agents we Should Care About BMG, I like the Hartwell and Payne picks! I agree that if we got two stud OTs, we could stop there! Anymore than that might kill us fans - we\'d no longer know how to understand the Saints as we know them. Thrash is a solid possesion guy. He\'d basically replace Pathon. I\'m not sold either, but he ain\'t bad. I\'m sure one of the twenty seven or so guys we have with potential can fill in for Pathon. As for Woodson, I don\'t know. It is a pipe dream either way. People thought that McKenzie had an attitude problem, and he seems to be playing just fine? What is the relevant difference?
	"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

01-11-2005, 03:37 PM	#12
4saintspirit 500th Post Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 690	Free Agents we Should Care About Smoot and Orlando Pace seem like pretty obvious choices
4saintspirit 500th Post Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 690

01-11-2005, 03:40 PM	#13
JKool 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,423	Free Agents we Should Care About 4ss, I agree. I should have included Smoot (though I\'m guessing that he\'ll be resigned). I just figured that there is no way Pace hits the market - also we can probably get two of the other guys for his price tag.

01-11-2005, 03:49 PM	#14
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Free Agents we Should Care About Actually, Smoot and the Redskins have almost come to the point of agreeing they will have to part ways. It\'s seeming more and more likely Smoot will walk. Smoot Says Return Is Not Certain Redskins Cornerback May Leave as Free Agent By Jason La Canfora Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, December 31, 2004; Page D01 Washington Redskins starting cornerback Fred Smoot said yesterday his bruised kidney will prevent him from playing in Sunday\'s season finale, and he is worried that he may have played his final game for the team. Smoot was knocked out of the game at Dallas last Sunday with back and kidney problems, and vomited on the sideline. As a potential free agent, he hopes that is not his final outing as a Redskin. Starting cornerback Fred Smoot said he is worried that he has played his last game for the Redskins. (Toni L. Sandys - The Washington Post) _____NFL Basics_____ ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¢ Scoreboard ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¢ Standings ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¢ Statistics ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¢ Team index ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¢ NFL Section _____Free E-mail Newsletters_____ ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¢ Redskins See a Sample \| Sign Up Now ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã‚Â¢ Maryland Terps See a Sample \| Sign Up Now \"My last game was a loss to Dallas and I might not be back,\" Smoot said. \"That could have been my last game as a Redskin.\" Smoot, drafted 45th overall by the Redskins in 2001, was optimistic about the early progress of contract talks with the team but negotiations have stalled over the last month, sources said. Smoot is believed to be seeking a deal in the neighborhood of the six-year, $30 million contract cornerback Shawn Springs signed with Washington last winter, and he regularly has spoken with Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey, who could not agree with the Redskins on an extension last year and ultimately was traded to Denver for running back Clinton Portis in March. \"I want to be here bad, but it ain\'t about me wanting to be here,\" Smoot said. \"It\'s them wanting me to be here. Like I was talking to Champ two or three weeks ago, and that\'s what he was saying. It ain\'t never really the player. . . . It\'s all about the front office and who they want to be here.\" Smoot said he has a gut feeling that talks with the Redskins might not result in a new deal, and he has used Bailey as a resource in contending with free agency for the first time. When asked if he was as optimistic about staying in Washington as he was a few weeks ago, Smoot said, \"I can\'t say that I am.\" He believed that if a deal was going to get done, it would have happened by the end of the season. The NFL free agency period begins in March. Vinnie Cerrato, the Redskins\' vice president of football operations, said that the team\'s offer to Smoot would make him one of the 10 highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. Coach Joe Gibbs has talked highly of Smoot and the importance of keeping core players such as Smoot on the Redskins. But Washington could face a salary-cap squeeze. Although it is close to re-signing linebacker Antonio Pierce, it also is working on ways to retain highly-paid offensive lineman Chris Samuels and will look to improve by signing free agents in the offseason. \"We\'re going to make every effort we can to sign him,\" Gibbs said of Smoot. \"We got going real hard on it in the middle of the year and then I think we kind of reached a point there where it was a stalemate, and we\'re going to do everything we can to sign him. . . . You go after it as hard as you can and hopefully you can get something done. But you never know with something like that.\" So IMHO, we should sign Howard to a deal the Skins will accept, vice versa tham and Smoot, and try to trade for him. Both are unrestricted and wanna be paid.

01-11-2005, 04:29 PM	#15
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Free Agents we Should Care About I\'m not the least bit interested in Thrash. He\'s no better than Gardner, Lewis, and Black and has less upside and would cost much more. We also just signed a LA native from the CFL who had over 1100 yards and over 70 catches in 2004. He looks to have some potential, but may be just another Ojo. Thyron Anderson, WR 6-4 205 Grambling Montreal Alouettes, CFL 76 catches, 1147 yards, 3 TD\'s

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01-11-2005, 04:29 PM	#16
FireVenturi Cold as Ice! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Da Big Easy Posts: 2,978	Free Agents we Should Care About Also two guards(Rivera and Wahle)from tha Packers will be available

01-11-2005, 05:11 PM	#17
JKool 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,423	Free Agents we Should Care About Nice find Whodi. Danno, you\'ve convinced me. Were those 70 catches in the CFL? They do throw a lot up there. FV, I saw that, but I don\'t see why we should pay for a name OG, when we have serviceable guys and really need OTs. I don\'t think we\'ll sign a top OG; we may get one in a later round of the draft or a no-namer. I think Holland will be ok with a better tackle at his side, and Jacox is not the worst around. Further, I don\'t think GB can afford to let them go, what with Farve perhaps retiring, they\'ll need a solid front five to protect the newbie.
	"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

01-11-2005, 05:17 PM	#18
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Free Agents we Should Care About I think one of the GB guard will be gone, but that isn\'t our need, at least not in my opinion. What I would be interested in is free agent centers. Any good ones out there so we can get LeCharles back to guard? If not, Wilkerson from LSU. Nab him in the draft.