HOUND

I didn't find the Foster signing at all shocking. The Panthers drafted Eric Shelton a year ago but after spending the better part of the year on IR they still don't know what they have in him. It's safe to say he's not in a position to assume the starting gig this season. Nick Goings, when asked to, has actually filled in quite well for Carolina. As for the free agent market, despite the murmurs of Shaun Alexander going to Carolina, it was never really a realistic scenario. Carolina will struggle to re-sign some of their own FA's like Witherspoon. They simply didn't have the coin to land a big fish like Alexander. Yes there are health risks with Foster but Carolina is playing it safe ... if Foster underachieves they're only paying him for this season and then they can let him walk. If he has a blockbuster season he's a bargain at 5 mill/year. I think it was a solid move going with the transition tag. I also don't think, that in a glutted free agent RB class that a team will offer up more money to Foster than what the Panthers will pay this season.

If we're going to talk overpriced free agent cornerbacks that we'll likely never sign, I d rather discuss Charles Woodson.

Polley actually played some good ball filling in for Lewis. After seeing him disappoint in St. Louis I didn't think it was possible.

I think you're being a bit overzealous in who you predict we'll bring in as a free agent at OLB. I really don't see Peterson or Witherspoon. Both likely will be out of our price range. I also think 3rd WR is a grossly overrated position. As far as I'm concerned your strength at WR3 should be more in the event the guy needs to start due to injury. I'm not convinced that Carter or Taylor couldn't excel in Toomer's role if he were to go down with an injury (assuming we keep Carter). However I'm grossly opposed to the notion of overspending on a free agent WR who would be brought in just as a 3rd option. We already have three solid receiving options when you include Shockey. This offense is never going to hinge on that 3rd WR slot. I do agree with your recollections of last season. The "we won't attract FA because of Coughlin" banter was a joke. Fortunately, I don't recall too many of the posters I'd consider smart whining about this.

What or who are you referring to with the "weren't even average this year" comment? You lost me. If you're talking about our season I don't see how anybody could be upset with what we accomplished this year. The last game sucked but I'll take a division title, especially an unexpected one, even if it means a bad loss in round 1 in a season where many didn't predict us to be above .500

I said "could've" not "would've" ruined his confidence.

You're confusing two different things. If we drop players into coverage after the snap so that we're just rushing three it doesn't make it a 3-4 defense. It's a disguised coverage. 3-4 simply refers to the presnap base defense. If we line up 4 lineman but drop a guy back into coverage (simlar to how we'd shift Strahan into the outside flat with frequency) it's not a 3-4.

While he didn't have his best numbers game as a pro I'd have to agree that the 4th quarter comeback versus a solid Broncos team was the first time I thought ... "Wow, we're never out of a game with this kid". I'd have to agree that it's his best accomplishment to date. Although my second choice would've been the season finale versus Dallas in '05. If teh Giants lose Eli spends the entire offseason answering for an 0hfer record as a starter. Quite possibly could've ruined his confidence. That win was huge.

Not worth the time spent in this case. Besides, despite Law's lofty numbers last year, his best ball is likely behind him. No sense overpaying for a guy who likely doesn't meet expectations.

I was working off the assumption that the entire play was actually called correctly. First, that the Giants wouldn't have been flagged at all on the play, second that the pass interference call would've stood up. Thus we have the ball with a chip shot field goal and a trip to Tampa.

Money, assuming you have slots left I can likely commit to this. With a baby on the way I have a bit of an x-factor but I should be able to swing it. If I think I can't pull it pff I'll touch base with you at least a week prior so you can fill my slot. Assuming spots are available, let me know what teams I have to choose from so I can begin my homework.

Ty Law was asking for a 10 million dollar signing bonus. Granted he won't get that but we still have no shot. Don't get your hopes up.

It wouldn't have mattered if he didn't score on the play. If they correctly throw the flag the game can't end on a defensive penalty. We'd line up for a field goal from inside the 5. It would've been akin to an extra point.

Gspotter ... I think you're hitting one one of the effective traits of present day succesful defenses. It's not the system .. 3-4 vs. 4-3, it's how well you disguise coverage. If the QB comes to the line thinking you're doing one thing and the defense responds with something completely different they're going to keep the opposing offense out of synch. It may appear that the 3-4 allows for this better but I really don't think it's the case. Teams like the Patriots will actually flip flop back and forth between 3-4 and 4-3 ... then they'll play 2 down linemen and drop guys into coverage. It's all about disguising your packages. That being said, both systems can be exceedingly effective. But as has been said, you design your defense around the personnel you go to battle with.

3-4 is hardly a new concept it's just a bit tougher to find the personnel to play it. Nosetackles have become quite rare. Most Defensive Ends don't like the scheme as it severely limits their numbers and thus hurts them come contract time. Linebackers tend to love it as they're the attackers in the concept but still, it takes the right kind of guy. Money's right, you don't just decide to play a 3-4, you need to first have the parts, then figure out if you want to make it work. If the players don't buy into it (See Dom Capers in Houston) then the performance isn't just bad, it's terrible.

Either Lewis already played his last year as a Raven or he'll retire as one. But I don't think you'll see him leave Baltimore after the '06 season. IIRC his cap charge actually goes down, although not significantly, after this season. The Ravens won't cut him for cap reasons. The only way he leaves town is if he pulls a T.O. and tries to disrupt his way out the door, which wouldn't surprise me. Thing is, the Ravens are absolutely correct not to restructure the guy. He signed a fat deal a few years ago that gave him a lot of guaranteed money up front, I believe it was something like a 12 million dollar signing bonus, which at the time was a huge chunk of change. Even at his current contract he's second only to Derrick Brooks in salary. basically the guy has nothing to bitch about. However, he sees the writing on the wall. His current contract has him locked up to finish his career as a Raven and doesn't have another fat payday (translation: signing bonus) remaining. Thus Ray-Ray is suddenly unhappy and wants out of town so he can cash in again with someone else. Ozzie is too smart to fall for this crap. Only way Lewis leaves prior to this season is through a trade. Even if he goes the whiney tool route, I see the Ravens, similar to the Eagles, digging in. Lewis doesn't have a leg to stand on. He's being paid good money this season. And the Ravens organization stood by the guy throughout his off field transgressions. He should be kissing their ass, not begging his way out of town.

Here's a free agent name to toss out there, especially with the likely loss of Greisen, Rocky Calmus of Indianapolis. They likely won't have the money to resign him. He was a relatively highly regarded prospect but has struggled to remain healthy. He likely wouldn't carry a high price tag but has a nice upside and he's young.

Go to Carolina or Seattle. Carolina is really easy on opposing fans. The people are downright polite unless you are a raging asshat. In which case you get what you deserve. Seattle is a great town. I haven't been in the new football stadium but I worked in the new baseball park the year it opened. Seattle gets a bum rap over the rain deal but damn it's a cool town. Excellent bars and restaurants. If you have extra time you can always go fishing out on the Puget Sound and catch some fat salmon or monster halibut. The new stadium looks excellent.

If you don't want a rookie to man the left tackle slot than all the more reason to draft one this year when, in theory, he shouldn't need to start. Don't get me wrong guys. I'm not saying we should only take a Left Tackle with our first pick. Lets see what's available at the slot. But that being said, if the prospect is higher rated than what we're staring at in the secondary or linebacker, then yes, we should go O-Line. No need to draft a need position but settle on a lower rated guy. My criticism regarding Money's post is the complete absence of a left tackle in the entire mock draft. Methinks that's an oversight.

I think a first day rookie could do as good a job as Whitfield if it came down to it. What I think everybody is forgetting is that at some point we'll need to draft a guy for that slot. Why not now?

Don't laugh, you may not be that far off.

I posted this in another thread but it's more relevant here. I read an article by Pasquerelli where he quotes an unnamed AFC Salary Cap guy who states he's worked every conceivable angle on the Redskins cap and there's no way they can get under it at present. If the NFL doesn't work out a new CBA the Skins won't be able to comply with the current cap. They'd have to basically restructure a huge number of contracts down to the league minimum and then make up the difference in guaranteed bonuses. I'm willing to be that's not something Daniel Snyder would like to do. For all the people who seemed so concerned that an uncapped salary structure would play into the Redskins hands, well at least in the short run, they couldn't be more wrong! The Skins, probably more than any other team, need a new CBA ratified and they need it soon.

Hope has said he wants top dollar. Chances are if that's too rich for Pittsburgh it will be too rich for us. The Steelers are pretty similar to us in how they spend money and pursue free agents. I'd put the chances of Hope wearing Giants Blue in '06 as slim.

Don't know if I was being vague but in no way, shape or form am I mandating cutting Petitgout. My point is that it's very realistic that we'll need to replace him in the next few years. Since we likely won't find a replacement that's affordable through free agency we need to look to the draft. If we don't want to use our first rounder on a Left Tackle then it's even more important that we draft one this year so that he has some time to learn from Petitgout and is ready when called upon to start. Boohyah's cheerleaders are the best suggestion I've seen in this thread.

I wholeheartedly agree that adding playmakers on defense is needed and will make us a championship caliber team. However we currently have 1 starting grade Left Tackle on the roster. I'm sorry but I can't count Whitfield as anything more than a fill-in. I don't see Diehl or McKenzie ever playing the left side. If the guy we want on defense is there in the first round then go with him, but I think an eventual starting left tackle prospect needs to be taken on day 1.