2013 FA Thread (Updates on OP) New: Merling, Brace, Pashos, Trueblood, EJBig, Tapp, White, Williams, MATTHEWS; Re-up: Rex, Hall, Davis, Paulsen, DY, RJax, Lich, Sundberg, Baker, Sav, Golston, Kehl, Polumbus; Paycuts: Carriker, Moss, BMeri, J. Wilson

[Momma There Goes That Man]

Can we please stop with the one piece will complete our puzzle outlook on this team? I loved our run to get in the playoffs but that does not make us contenders. We went seven in a row but also was 3 and 6 up to that point. We also did that with our franchise qb whom we do not for sure have a definate time table for his return. Personally i have enjoyed the infusion of youth over the last two seasons...this is what a rebuild feels like. We are not an aging vet like Seymore away, we are a cb, safety duo, rt, maybe ilb, and dl depth away.

You say that as if every team doesn't have holes. We are a couple pieces (S mostly) away from being a consistent playoff team IMO which is all that matters. Once you get in anything can happen. Teams win all the time with holes, we don't necessarily have to be a juggernaut to compete for a SB. We are very close and we could really close the gap this year finding a couple of the right pieces.

[Rocky52Mc]

Can we please stop with the one piece will complete our puzzle outlook on this team? I loved our run to get in the playoffs but that does not make us contenders. We went seven in a row but also was 3 and 6 up to that point. We also did that with our franchise qb whom we do not for sure have a definate time table for his return. Personally i have enjoyed the infusion of youth over the last two seasons...this is what a rebuild feels like. We are not an aging vet like Seymore away, we are a cb, safety duo, rt, maybe ilb, and dl depth away.

Buddy, a lot of the depth you speak of is sitting on the roster on IR or suspension. Actually all of it. If you want a new CB you're also asking to get rid of a veteran one.

This team is actually a few pieces away from going deep, but maybe you're not looking at it the right way at all. You're viewing it like "We don't have those pieces because we sucked for a long time" vs. Maybe we don't have the exact player at every position. For example: If you think the WR position is solid but lacks a serious consistent possession guy, that's way different then saying WE SUCK BECAUSE WE HAVE NO RECEIVERS.

The reality would be we have 5 guys at that position who contributed.

So based on your wish list, a group of solid guys that could come back and play for us:

Roy Helu HB
Fred Davis TE
Keenan Robinson ILB
Tanard Jackson FS
Brandon Meriweather SS
Brian Orakpo OLB
Adam Carriker DL
Chris Neild DL
Jammal Brown RT

A couple guys on this roster I would want replaced would be:

Jammal Brown
Cedric Griffin
Madieu Williams

[Chump Bailey]

At the right price, the Raiders loss is our gain since we are true contenders. He is an absolute monster. We were already top 5 in the run game without Carriker and Orakpo... Bring in Seymour/Cody and the other guys i've beat the dead horse on and our pass rush would be just as freakish.

I think Terrance Knighton and Sammie Lee Hill are worth considering too. Hill will likely be out of our price range, but Knighton might be available for good value. I have not watched Seymour play in a while, but if he is still up to par as you suggest, Cofield, Carriker, Seymour - with a healthy Rak back and Ryan Kerrigan could be quite devastating.

[darrelgreenie]

Yeah, if Fletcher comes back I'm content to stay pat. If he doesn't, that's an issue. I think having safeties that could cover a linebacker may help as well.

Even if Fletch doesn't come back I would be fine with Perry and Alexander/Kehl until Kennan earns his way into the starting line-up.

FS-via 2nd/3rd round draft pick: Eric Reid/TJ McDonald or FA Glover Quin/Corey Lynch

[skinny21]

Even if Fletch doesn't come back I would be fine with Perry and Alexander/Kehl until Kennan earns his way into the starting line-up.

FS-via 2nd/3rd round draft pick: Eric Reid/TJ McDonald or FA Glover Quin/Corey Lynch

Yeah, I'm sort of expecting a second-tier FA FS and possibly one taken in the 2nd-4th. Just have to assume T-Jax isn't in the team's plans, unless he's brought in to compete with the two aforementioned guys. I wouldn't mind having him back, but I don't want to be forced to rely on him.

[NewEraofSkins08]

Yeah, I'm sort of expecting a second-tier FA FS and possibly one taken in the 2nd-4th. Just have to assume T-Jax isn't in the team's plans, unless he's brought in to compete with the two aforementioned guys. I wouldn't mind having him back, but I don't want to be forced to rely on him.

I agree. Tanard played like a pro-bowl safety in that preseason game against Indy, I'm all for bringing him back to compete.

[Laxpunk2006]

Believe Morris is interviewing in Chicago Saturday for the Bears DC job.

Looks like they signed Mel Tucker. Any other openings we should be worried about or is it looking like we have him locked up another year? I think he really had our guys playing well in the second half of the season.

[LaxinFish29]

I agree. Tanard played like a pro-bowl safety in that preseason game against Indy, I'm all for bringing him back to compete.

Which is why I think Mundy from Pit would be good. He has played both safety positions this year and would give us legit backup for Merriweather and Jax.

[thelongestbreath]

Buddy, a lot of the depth you speak of is sitting on the roster on IR or suspension. Actually all of it. If you want a new CB you're also asking to get rid of a veteran one.

This team is actually a few pieces away from going deep, but maybe you're not looking at it the right way at all. You're viewing it like "We don't have those pieces because we sucked for a long time" vs. Maybe we don't have the exact player at every position. For example: If you think the WR position is solid but lacks a serious consistent possession guy, that's way different then saying WE SUCK BECAUSE WE HAVE NO RECEIVERS.

The reality would be we have 5 guys at that position who contributed.

So based on your wish list, a group of solid guys that could come back and play for us:

Roy Helu HB
Fred Davis TE
Keenan Robinson ILB
Tanard Jackson FS
Brandon Meriweather SS
Brian Orakpo OLB
Adam Carriker DL
Chris Neild DL
Jammal Brown RT

A couple guys on this roster I would want replaced would be:

Jammal Brown
Cedric Griffin
Madieu Williams

While I understand what you and others are trying to say, that list of returns doesn't strike the greatest sense of confidence in myself. I understand every team has issues but we are far from one or two pieces away from contending. Lets just go with the list you gave:



Roy Helu HB -didn't play a down last season sans a preseason game. He also missed time during his rookie season. Not sure I would lock him in as our reliever for Morris. With that said Royster also did not impress me.
Fred Davis TE-Actually I am the most depressed about Sleepy, before he was suspended he had finally shown his worth as a second rounder and last season was on pace for a tremendous season this year. Unfortunately he has a huge unknown factor with his tendon as well as his UFA status. I would love to see him come back and tear it up again however I just don't find it realistic to be back to 100 percent this season.
Keenan Robinson ILB- Good depth however I wouldn't lock him in as my replacement for Fletch. He is great depth though.
Tanard Jackson FS- The earliest he can even be reinstated I believe is right before the end of preseason? Correct me if I am wrong. Still, if he can come back he is unsigned. Who's to say we try with him again. Did show great skill and would love to have had him work out.
Brandon Meriweather SS- Showed promise but it was over the course of a game?
Brian Orakpo OLB- Two seasons in a row with lost time due to the same pectoral muscle tear. I wouldn't mind him back as depth but I prefer Rob50 after this season and let Orakpo come back as just a rusher.
Adam Carriker DL- Only one on the list that I trust to be good to go this season
Chris Neild DL- Does Neild really strike fear for any of you???
Jammal Brown RT- I wont waste time with him since you already said he's worth getting rid of.


Again don't get me wrong I can see our progress but I believe people are underestimating where we are in this rebuild. We have a great base right now and are heading in the right direction but we shouldn't be calling ourselves contenders. It's the same koolaid we've drank after previous "special runs" into the playoffs.

[MrJL]

While I understand what you and others are trying to say, that list of returns doesn't strike the greatest sense of confidence in myself. I understand every team has issues but we are far from one or two pieces away from contending. Lets just go with the list you gave:





Again don't get me wrong I can see our progress but I believe people are underestimating where we are in this rebuild. We have a great base right now and are heading in the right direction but we shouldn't be calling ourselves contenders. It's the same koolaid we've drank after previous "special runs" into the playoffs.

here's the thing. We made the playoffs without most of those guys. That means we already are contenders So if they do come back, we'd be better.

Those "special runs" were us making the playoffs in two out of three seasons, and ended with a change of coaching and the RB we rode hard legs wearing out, so maybe we weren't quite drinking the kool-aid then. Even then we finished 8-8 the next year with one or two very stupid losses in there

by the way, I don't expect out backup nose tackle to scare me, I just expect him to occupy a couple of blockers

[thelongestbreath]

That run which got us there also involved games against the browns and eagles. Like I said we are good and getting better but we are not contenders. However I believe we will have to allow this to be an agree to disagree situation.

Anyways I am sorry if this has derailed the thread, please allow me to use this to return it back to its original purpose.

[2cents]

That run which got us there also involved games against the browns and eagles. Like I said we are good and getting better but we are not contenders. However I believe we will have to allow this to be an agree to disagree situation.

Anyways I am sorry if this has derailed the thread, please allow me to use this to return it back to its original purpose.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying success. Try it, you may like it.

[Cooleyfan1993]

That run which got us there also involved games against the browns and eagles. Like I said we are good and getting better but we are not contenders. However I believe we will have to allow this to be an agree to disagree situation.

Anyways I am sorry if this has derailed the thread, please allow me to use this to return it back to its original purpose.

....and games against the cowboys, giants and ravens. all 3 of which are pretty good teams.

[bobbi3stix]

There is nothing wrong with enjoying success. Try it, you may like it.

Hey I think both ways of the viewpoint, but there have been moments in the season where I just knew we were going to find a way to lose and the team actually came together and pulled it out. It just takes time before we have complete confidence as a fanbase again!

[2cents]

Hey I think both ways of the viewpoint, but there have been moments in the season where I just knew we were going to find a way to lose and the team actually came together and pulled it out. It just takes time before we have complete confidence as a fanbase again!

That's the biggest corner I think the team turned this year. They found ways to win, not lose.