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

[DC9]

If Carriker is released and not brought back cheaper, does that:
A) raise the likelihood of pursuing someone in FA
B) raise the likelihood we draft someone
C) do nothing, because we expect Neild/Baker to take over NT duties while Cofield slides outside, basically leaving our starting depth at DE untouched (with Merling there for good measure).

Obviously Carriker being released is just rumors, but if it were to happen, my guess would be option C, I thought the staff was high on Neild before his injury, which might indicate he gets the starts while Cofield kicks outside.

I'd go with C, but if he's released I would officially have less of a clue about what we are planning than I do now, lol.

[SkinsBoss]

I would love for this to happen, but not raising my hopes

I'm not greedy, while 18 million would do wonders for us........I'd be pumped if we could even get half of it back. If so, if Byrd out of Buffalo or Moore from ATL are not franchised then we could easily solve one of the safety issues right there. Plus we'd have excess funds to play with to maybe move on a RT upgrade over Polumbus and could probably go and buy a nickel back who would be a big upgrade over Cedric Griffin. Please, let's hope this comes true!

[DC9]

If so, if Byrd out of Buffalo or Moore from ATL are not franchised then we could easily solve one of the safety issues right there.

You might as well get this out of your head right now. Buffalo is trying to sign Byrd long term right now and already said he will be tagged if he doesn't sign long term. William Moore, if he becomes free, will probably be a bit out of our tax bracket.

EDIT: There is a William Moore siting in the post below.

---------- Post added February-19th-2013 at 08:32 PM ----------

Reached by a St. Paul Pioneer-Press reporter Tuesday, Percy Harvin declined comment on his situation with the Vikings.
"Tracked" to his home in Florida by reporter Brian Murphy, Harvin said he had "nothing to say about any of that." It's his first comment on any kind since landing on injured reserve December 5. Harvin's name should be a hot topic at the Combine.

ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley expects free agent Steve Breaston to "certainly interest" the Steelers.
Steelers OC Todd Haley was Breaston's offensive coordinator for the best season of his career in 2008, and head coach for his second-best in 2011. Breaston is coming off a disastrous season, but is just two years removed from posting a 61/785/2 line under Haley in 2011. Breaston could be cheap, veteran insurance for a team that's up against the salary cap and likely to lose No. 1 receiver in Mike Wallace.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the Cowboys and Tony Romo have yet to begin extension talks, but that the Cowboys have informed Romo "how much they want him long-term."
The Cowboys have issued one vote of confidence after another in their quarterback since the end of the regular season, and could wrap up an extension before the start of free agency. There's a sense of urgency to get a deal done, as Romo's 2013 cap number is a team-high $16.8 million.

According to the Miami Herald, the Dolphins have made free agent LT Jake Long "multiple" contract offers.
There were reports in January the Dolphins made a "low-ball attempt" to lock Long up in-season, but this is the first we've heard of offseason offers. Clearly, none of them have been to Long's liking. Beat writer Armando Salguero is "getting the idea" Long's side isn't budging on its demands, and "sensing it has leverage." Long said Tuesday it was on the Dolphins to make a deal happen. They must believe it's on him to be more reasonable.

Titus Young passed through waivers unclaimed, and is now an unrestricted free agent.
Hopefully he's not expecting any calls, because it could be a while before his phone rings. Young's talent should eventually earn him a third chance, but he'll have to go to great lengths to rehab a reputation he's torn to shreds. It might be a long time before we hear Young's name again. That is, provided none of his former coaches decide to take public shots at him.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the Falcons are not expected to use the franchise tag.
It's a surprise, since the Falcons have a readymade candidate in free agent SS William Moore, whom they consider a priority to re-sign. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently reported Moore was "interested in testing" the open market. The Falcons must be confident they can reach a long-term deal before the deadline to apply the tag on March 4. If not, Moore could be heading for a bidding war in free agency.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport believes Cowboys RT Doug Free's release isn't a foregone conclusion.
DallasCowboys.com does, calling Free a "sunk cost" earlier this month. A disaster all season, Free began splitting snaps with Jermey Parnell in Week 14. We suppose Free could remain via a drastic pay-cut, but there's a zero percent chance he's back at his currently scheduled $7 million.

Free agent ILB Bart Scott's player rep says "the door isn't closed with Jets."
Scott's rep also said he plans to work his client's market at the Combine. It's wise of Scott not to burn any bridges, but the fact that the Jets cut him ahead of a scheduled meeting to discuss his salary suggests his days of wearing green are over. The Jets have a readymade replacement in 2012 third-rounder Demario Davis.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel expects the Packers and Clay Matthews to discuss a contract extension at the Combine.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Matthews is due $3.73 million after escalators increased his salary from $1.492 million. One of the league's premier defenders, Matthews could be angling to become the NFL's highest paid pass-rushing linebacker. The seven-year, $79 million contract Dallas' DeMarcus Ware signed in 2009 included $40 million guaranteed.

The Dallas Morning News considers the Cowboys likely to re-sign free agent LB Ernie Sims.
Sims will come cheap, and reporter David Moore believes he could compete for a starting job with the Cowboys' switch to a 4-3 defense shifting DeMarcus Ware to end. Even if he doesn't start, Sims represents highly-experienced veteran depth. It's worth noting that Sims struggled filling in for an injured Sean Lee and Bruce Carter last season.

A source with "knowledge of the situation" tells Profootballtalk the 2013 salary cap will "exceed $122 million."
That's roughly $1.4 million more than the 2012 cap. It's a modest jump, but cap-strapped teams like the Cowboys, Redskins and Jets will appreciate every penny.

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/nfl/football

[darrelgreenie]

If Carriker is released and not brought back cheaper, does that:
C) do nothing, because we expect Neild/Baker to take over NT duties while Cofield slides outside, basically leaving our starting depth at DE untouched (with Merling there for good measure).

Obviously Carriker being released is just rumors, but if it were to happen, my guess would be option C, I thought the staff was high on Neild before his injury, which might indicate he gets the starts while Cofield kicks outside.

C) Carriker was injured for most of the season anyway it easier to replace someone who didn't play

[Bangee7]

If Carriker is released and not brought back cheaper, does that:
A) raise the likelihood of pursuing someone in FA
B) raise the likelihood we draft someone
C) do nothing, because we expect Neild/Baker to take over NT duties while Cofield slides outside, basically leaving our starting depth at DE untouched (with Merling there for good measure).

Obviously Carriker being released is just rumors, but if it were to happen, my guess would be option C, I thought the staff was high on Neild before his injury, which might indicate he gets the starts while Cofield kicks outside.

What, no love for DT's: Chigbo Anunoby & Dominque Hamilton? Never doubt the Chigbo !!

[rick1796]

C) Carriker was injured for most of the season anyway it easier to replace someone who didn't play

That's the second time you have said that about an injured player (Meriweather in the other case) and it just doesn't hold water. You said Meriweather was easily replaced because others played in his spot which is true, but they played poorly. Have we not all been lamenting the safety play all season and offseason? Meriweather is a clear upgrade over the on roster options as he showed in his one game. If we cut him who is an upgrade over the poor play we had last year?

Carriker is at least a case were we had someone with potential to take his place, but the line certainly produced at a lower level than when Carriker was playing. Sadly we know there are a lot of factors mostly named Orakpo that could also be to blame for lack of dline production.

[rick1796]

I should also note that my general philosphy is to fill all holes with reasonably priced FA's so that we can truly draft BPA. Counting on draft picks to fill spots ESPECIALLY after the first round is how you have bad drafts.

[darrelgreenie]

That's the second time you have said that about an injured player (Meriweather in the other case) and it just doesn't hold water.

Of course it holds water. If you aren't playing you aren't contributing if you aren't contributing you're more expendable. You don't need to 'replace' something that wasn't used.
Do you follow?

Have we not all been lamenting the safety play all season and offseason? Meriweather is a clear upgrade over the on roster options as he showed in his one game. If we cut him who is an upgrade over the poor play we had last year?

Once they benced Gomes for Reed the SS spot wasn't the issue FS w/ Maddie Williams was the problem.

The D-line is a rotation Carriker was replaced by Jenkins and Baker

[rick1796]

Of course it holds water. If you aren't playing you aren't contributing if you aren't contributing you're more expendable. You don't need to 'replace' something that wasn't used.
Do you follow?

Once they benced Gomes for Reed the SS spot wasn't the issue FS w/ Maddie Williams was the problem.

The D-line is a rotation Carriker was replaced by Jenkins and Baker

We are gonna have to disagree here. Meriweather was and is better than any other option we have at his position. Saying that since he didn't play we can get his level of production out of the players who already didn't provide it is not logical.
Yes i am aware Carriker was replaced by Jenkins, but we never got much production out of him. If you mean yes we can fill the positions with bodies well then yes i agree.

[skinny21]

Please, God. That would be awesome.

---------- Post added February-19th-2013 at 03:30 PM ----------



Yes, if anyone on the Dline is going to be a cap casualty it's going to be Carriker. And that'd be the right move.

My problem(s) with losing Carriker:

A) Haslett called him his best run defender (of the linemen I'm assuming)
B) he had a pretty high sack total (for a 3-4 end) in 2011
C) our pass rush looked solid with he and Orakpo, and then pretty poor w/o those two.

Jenkins did seem to grow as the season went on, and we are up against the cap, so Carriker's release wouldn't come as a shock. I'd be happy to have him back though.

[thesubmittedone]

My problem(s) with losing Carriker:

A) Haslett called him his best run defender (of the linemen I'm assuming)
B) he had a pretty high sack total (for a 3-4 end) in 2011
C) our pass rush looked solid with he and Orakpo, and then pretty poor w/o those two.

Jenkins did seem to grow as the season went on, and we are up against the cap, so Carriker's release wouldn't come as a shock. I'd be happy to have him back though.

Oh, I totally agree. I like Carriker. But, that's why I worded it the way I did. IF someone on the Dline is going to be a cap casualty, then Carriker is the most expendable in my mind. I'm hoping none have to be cap casualties, though... that'd be best. But I just can't see putting Carriker above Bowen, Cofield or Jenkins. That's not a slight on Carriker in my mind, just indicative of the type of quality we have on our Dline right now.

[Skins3000]

If Carriker is released and not brought back cheaper, does that:
A) raise the likelihood of pursuing someone in FA
B) raise the likelihood we draft someone
C) do nothing, because we expect Neild/Baker to take over NT duties while Cofield slides outside, basically leaving our starting depth at DE untouched (with Merling there for good measure).

Obviously Carriker being released is just rumors, but if it were to happen, my guess would be option C, I thought the staff was high on Neild before his injury, which might indicate he gets the starts while Cofield kicks outside.

How about D. None of the above because of one player's bloated salary in D. Hall. D. Hall alone is going to free up 7.5 million if D. Hall is released. I expect a restructure on the low end of 2 million but we will see.

[Momma There Goes That Man]

He's washed up now, and was never particularly skilled before. He's a replacement-level body now, if he wasn't before. I think we can do better for around the same price, if we don't bring back Freddy.

Casey, Lynch and Toler should be our FA targets. All will be pretty cheap contracts with a lot of upside and are solid fits for us at positions of need. I'd love to see that. That would really open up the draft for BPA IMO

[Lavarleap56]

* I didn't say Carriker is going to get released just to be clear. It wouldn't surprise me if he was a cap casualty though.

Reasons:

1. Contract- 13-base salary of 3.7 with a signing bonus of 300,000.. Figures jump next season to 4.7 base with 1.4 bonus. Not crippling BUT needs to be addressed.See 2...

2. Jenkins- High 2nd round pick with high potential. Was set to start at LDE over Adam in 2011 before his ACL injury. Contrary to popular opinion Jenkins is even if not better than Carriker in run defense. JJ came on as the season went along and 2nd year back from his ACL will be big. JJ can't develop riding the bench.

3.Injury- Who knows how Carriker will return coming back from a torn quad. I would expect him to be fine but you never know.

4.Play- Carriker was solid but Pro Football Focus has 1 positive game grade for him over his last 18 games dating back to 2011. Adam;s best games as a Redskins were in 2010 week 16-17 and since then has been average at DE with a PFF overall grade of -9.7 for 2011.

Jenkins problem was trusting his knee, discipline in his rush, and finishing plays. Jenkins found himself getting around the QB more towards the end of the season but needs to finish thoase plays to take the next step.

Skins signing Merling and Brace ( both are LDEs) is a indicator they are trying to find bodies for the rotation. That could mean they don't plan on having Golston back or it could mean they want to find cheap experienced bodies behind Jenkins.

Should they release Carriker, I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

[DogofWar1]

How about D. None of the above because of one player's bloated salary in D. Hall. D. Hall alone is going to free up 7.5 million if D. Hall is released. I expect a restructure on the low end of 2 million but we will see.

Right, well that's the obvious answer, but I was mainly looking at it from the perspective of what happens "if" Carriker is released. LL said it's a rumor, obviously not confirmed nor necessarily likely, but it's a possibility and I was wondering what that would mean for the DLine and the depth there.