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

[SemperFi Skins]

As it is, I'd much rather RJax be on the field in coverage situations... No offense, but Orakpo can't cover a baby with a blanket.

[DC9]

They should give his agent permission to shop him for a 4th rd pick.

is that fourth round pick going to give you 5 game changin turnovers next year? In his first year of real action?

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 11:57 AM ----------

Again, I said it has little to do with the desire of the team to keep him.

Yeah? Making plans to have all three on the field has little to do with the team wanting him here?

Did you do your taxes yet?

[rick1796]

is that fourth round pick going to give you 5 game changin turnovers next year? In his first year of real action?

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 11:57 AM ----------



Yeah? Making plans to have all three on the field has little to do with the team wanting him here?

Did you do your taxes yet?

I think he meant their desire to keep RJax has little to do with their ability to keep him based on the cap.

i don't agree that there is any chance he walks. 2.02 is too easy to scrounge up for keep a player like RJax, but yeah.

[TheLongshot]

Yeah? Making plans to have all three on the field has little to do with the team wanting him here?

What I said was that it might not be in the team's hands, particularly if they have to make a lower tender offer because of cap issues. They can plan all they want, but if a team makes an offer they can't match...

[DC9]

I think he meant their desire to keep RJax has little to do with their ability to keep him based on the cap.

i don't agree that there is any chance he walks. 2.02 is too easy to scrounge up for keep a player like RJax, but yeah.

Yeah, I mean if he was UFA than we would be up against it, but if we tender him at worst we get a pick out of hit. We'll be fine.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:05 PM ----------

What I said was that it might not be in the team's hands, particularly if they have to make a lower tender offer because of cap issues. They can plan all they want, but if a team makes an offer they can't match...

then we get a pick. 2nd or 3rd round tender would be fine. I think a team would cough up a 4th in a heart beat, possibly a 3rd but I doubt it. We should be safe at the level.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:07 PM ----------

Twitter is blowing up on the Mike Shanny interview with Larry. That was from days ago... are they looking in this thread to get ideas?

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:11 PM ----------

NFL.com's Albert Breer reports the Saints have "made it clear" they want to re-sign free agent LT Jermon Bushrod, and that the sides plan to talk next week.
The Saints have sent mixed signals on Bushrod's future, but appear ready to make him a competitive offer before the start of free agency on March 12. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last month Bushrod is not a candidate for the franchise tag. Coming off a middling season, Bushrod would further flood a crowded tackle market if he reaches free agency.

Cardinals released CB William Gay.
He had one year remaining on a two-year deal. Gay started 15 games last season, but was a major liability in coverage. He's still only 28 years old, but the Cardinals apparently weren't banking on a return to form. Arizona has created $5.25 million in cap space by releasing Gay and LB Stewart Bradley.

[SemperFi Skins]

DC9 - We are both about to very happy - Hopefully his price tag is reasonable, or at least more reasonable than London Fletchers is.

Let's put the name of a relatively unknown middle linebacker into the hopper today and see what you think. Today's focus is on Brad Jones, a middle linebacker from the Green Bay Packers.

Injuries and ineffective play by others finally gave the 26-year-old four-year veteran a chance to show what he could do in 2012. In 10 starts he had 77 tackles, two sacks, four passes defensed and a forced fumble.

In compiling a list of the best linebackers available via free agency SB Nation has included Jones. saying "with the ability to play inside in both a 4-3 and 3-4 scheme, Jones should generate plenty of interest."

Jones received a +6.8 grade from Pro Football Focus. In 839 snaps, he was +4.1 against the run and +4.6 vs. the pass. PFF ranks Jones as the No. 3 free-agent linebacker expected to hit the market. PFF writes:


He might lack highlight plays, so fans might not be excited to have someone like Brad Jones on their team, but the fact that he can play both run and coverage well makes him a valuable option.

Kevin McCauley of SB Nation's Packers web site, Acme Packing Company, doesn't see Jones as a viable 4-3 middle linebacker for a contending team. Via e-mail, he wrote:


Jones started his career as a 3-4 OLB, where he wasn't adequate as a pass rusher. He moved inside due to injuries to Desmond Bishop and D.J. Smith this season and was better as a 3-4 ILB than he was as an OLB. He's very strong against the run and adequate, but certainly not good for a ILB in pass coverage. It's certainly possible that he could play 4-3 MLB, but I don't think he's someone a 4-3 team with playoff aspirations should be depending on to fill that hole and start 16 games.

http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/2/28...-mlb-green-bay

[TheLongshot]

then we get a pick. 2nd or 3rd round tender would be fine. I think a team would cough up a 4th in a heart beat, possibly a 3rd but I doubt it. We should be safe at the level.

Some else already pointed out that there is no 3rd round tender. It is 1st, 2nd or the round the player was drafted in (which is 7th for Jackson.)

[SemperFi Skins]

William Gay - DB - Free Agent Cardinals released CB William Gay.
He had one year remaining on a two-year deal. Gay started 15 games last season, but was a major liability in coverage. He's still only 28 years old, but the Cardinals apparently weren't banking on a return to form. Arizona has created $5.25 million in cap space by releasing Gay and LB Stewart Bradley. Related: Cardinals
Mar 1 - 11:34 AM

Jermon Bushrod - T - Saints NFL.com's Albert Breer reports the Saints have "made it clear" they want to re-sign free agent LT Jermon Bushrod, and that the sides plan to talk next week.
The Saints have sent mixed signals on Bushrod's future, but appear ready to make him a competitive offer before the start of free agency on March 12. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last month Bushrod is not a candidate for the franchise tag. Coming off a middling season, Bushrod would further flood a crowded tackle market if he reaches free agency.
Source: Albert Breer on Twitter Mar 1 - 11:55 AM

Michael Johnson - DL - Bengals CBS' Jason La Canfora reports the Bengals "have indicated" they will use the franchise tag on free agent RE Michael Johnson.

Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter Mar 1 - 12:10 PM

[DC9]

DC9 - We are both about to very happy - Hopefully his price tag is reasonable, or at least more reasonable than London Fletchers is.

http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/2/28...-mlb-green-bay

That would be too good.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:19 PM ----------

Some else already pointed out that there is no 3rd round tender. It is 1st, 2nd or the round the player was drafted in (which is 7th for Jackson.)

Ah my bad on that. Thank you for clearing that up, Longshot. That makes sense now.

[SemperFi Skins]

That would be too good.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:19 PM ----------



Ah my bad on that. Thank you for clearing that up, Longshot. That makes sense now.

Im weary of his coverage skills but that's why we desperately need an in-the-box SS like TJ McDonald or bring back Meriweather to cover TE's and be an extra rusher too.

[DC9]

It could be worse:

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter
How's this timing: Stewart Bradley was in customs, coming home from honeymoon in Australia, when Cards called to say they were cutting him.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:24 PM ----------

Im weary of his coverage skills but that's why we desperately need an in-the-box SS like TJ McDonald or bring back Meriweather to cover TE's and be an extra rusher too.

Yeah, but even when London was still good at coverage a decent to good QB could drop a ball over him to the TE. I think the defense is going more to SS vs TE match-ups anyways. Couldn't agree more with you.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:25 PM ----------

Mike Garafolo ‏@MikeGarafolo
Word is the Bengals will be putting the franchise tag on DE Michael Johnson.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:25 PM ----------

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter
Bills are placing franchise tag on S Jairus Byrd.

[SemperFi Skins]

You know, I found something extremely interesting when reading one of these cap situation articles...

So much credit is given to Bruce Allen, Shanny and Co... but one name that goes unmentioned is Eric Schaffer.

Eric Schaffer is the Washington Redskins’ vice president of football administration, and if this Washington Post story is any indication, he is a hero.

When the lockout was lifted, the team had an accelerated time line with which to make trades, negotiate contracts and start to build what would be the 2011 team. It was at that moment that Schaffer began the five-day run that would go on to become Redskins lore.


Schaffer, 37, came to work on July 26 at 6:30. That was a Tuesday. He didn’t leave Redskins Park until Saturday, around 4 a.m. It was a work shift that lasted more than 90 hours. Schaffer didn’t sleep and didn’t shave. He was fueled by coffee and sporadic meals. He lost seven pounds.



It’s enough to make even the biggest men end up in the corner crying in the fetal position.

“At any given time, I probably had 10 different deals going on at once,” he told the Post. “Agents calling me, I’m calling them. Some are calling Bruce. Coach is popping in, ‘How are things going? This is what we’re thinking. Let’s talk about this and this now.’ ”

Just thinking about it makes us crazy. This guy deserves a muffin basket.

The rest of the story is worth a read, and it’s clear that Schaffer is one guy we are glad to have on our side of the battle.

“What we’re doing, it’s something I really believe in,” he said. “You don’t want to let anyone down, you don’t want to let the team down. This is my job, and all this, it’s exciting for me.”

http://www.nbcwashington.com/blogs/c...127233218.html

He is responsible for fitting the overpriced contracts in a capped year,

http://redskins.studiotigaapps.net/m...ont_office.pdf (Staff Bios)

He is the man responsible for drafting of the contracts.

At 10 a.m., as coaches reached out to players to explain why Washington was the right fit, Schaffer contacted agents. He’d identified eight players the team had pegged as priorities. He had e-mails ready for each agent, outlining proposals and contract structures. Defensive linemen Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen were among this group.

The whirlwind of activity was mostly confined to Schaffer’s office, a 10x10 room with a pair of computers, a flat-screen television, photos of his kids on the wall and Joe Gibbs’s book near the doorway. When he hung up with one agent, there were a dozen more to call.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2...-redskins-park

[Rypien1191]

Schaffer has been our cap wizard for a while... he's the one who is always saving us when everyone is always saying we'll be in cap hell.

[DC9]

You know, I found something extremely interesting when reading one of these cap situation articles...

So much credit is given to Bruce Allen, Shanny and Co... but one name that goes unmentioned is Eric Schaffer.

He was a baller last year and I think he didn't sleep for the first 4 days of free agency. He was a big part of our success and very important to our front office.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:57 PM ----------

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer
Tags going out mean other guys will be free ... Andre Smith, Thomas Howard, Rey Maualuga from Cincy; Andy Levitre in Buffalo.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:57 PM ----------

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer
Tags going out mean other guys will be free ... Andre Smith, Thomas Howard, Rey Maualuga from Cincy; Andy Levitre in Buffalo.

[SemperFi Skins]

He was a baller last year and I think he didn't sleep for the first 4 days of free agency. He was a big part of our success and very important to our front office.

---------- Post added March-1st-2013 at 12:57 PM ----------

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer
Tags going out mean other guys will be free ... Andre Smith, Thomas Howard, Rey Maualuga from Cincy; Andy Levitre in Buffalo.

I'd take a flier on Rey Maualuga. He's the typical "change of scenery needed" scenario.