The Rolling 2008 NFL Offseason Thread

Derek Anderson to Atlanta for Falcrumbs no.1 pick. Let's get this done cankles.

^^ atl may need a later pick or a conditional or something but that sounds like a win/win situation. so of course it will never happen.

The Browns, in their last game, had no defensive lineman in reserve. They play a 3-4! THEY HAD THREE LINEMAN IN TOTAL. Atl we will give you rights to Lake Erie for six months in addition to Anderson.

miami is looking to deal the #1 pick...

what to do with Derek Anderson is a tough one. could be that this was a one season flash and his trade value will never be higher, and Brady Quinn will reveal himself to be the real deal (tm). could be that Anderson's actually the real deal (tm) and BQ's career will sink like BQ on draft day.

personally, i'd take the gamble and get a high pick for him. i think the Browns have already said they're keeping him tho?

same thing that happened in sd w/ brees/rivers

which probably ended up as best case scenario for both teams

i don't think derek anderson/brady quinn will turn out the same way

that's a neat comparison, although Anderson/Quinn is like the poor man's version.

which probably ended up as best case scenario for both teams

if they could turn back time, SD would offer a decent contract to Brees without a second's hesitation i reckon. although the big question mark was the injury and they weren't to know he'd stay fit.

Browns will sign Anderson in the off-season and start him next season. The Browns schedule is going to be very difficult (AFC South and NFC East) so we'll see if Anderson is the real deal. He had a pretty medicore last six games. I thnk Quinn is the future and wouldn't mind seeing Anderson traded for a first round pick. Browns won't be going anywhere with their current defense.

yeah, i was thinking that romeo would probably love to get the falcons pick if howie long's kid was still on the board. i'm assuming he still runs a 3-4?

yes 3-4

if they could turn back time, SD would offer a decent contract to Brees without a second's hesitation i reckon.

I doubt it. Smith didn't draft Brees, and Smith is loyal to HIS guys to a fault. I'm not sure who the better quarterback is of the two. Brees spreads the ball around well and doesn't make a lot of mistakes, but Rivers has more postseason wins and as many postseason appearances, and a better regular season winning percentage. If Rivers can cut down on dumb mistakes (which won't be easy since he's an idiot), he will almost definitely be the better quarterback in a few years.

. If Rivers can cut down on dumb mistakes (which won't be easy since he's an idiot),

my favorite thing i've read today.

dude, i will take you word on this as i'm sure you've seen Rivers play more often than i have, but i caught a decent amount of both guys this year, and (despite the way he started the season) Brees is a proven playmaking QB while Rivers seems pretty far away from that. i thought Rivers was going to really find his feet this year (hello misguided fantasy draft) but either he had trouble adapting to the new coaching staff or he just isn't going to develop into the player he was supposed to. i guess we'll see next year. i was genuinely surprised by how ineffective he was in some games this year, even games your guys won.

I think it's undeniable that Brees is a more accomplished quarterback than Rivers right now ... Brees had to be a bit of a gunslinger this year and that accounts for all the interceptions (more than Rivers!), but he piled up a ton of yards and touchdowns. I would be happy to have him as my quarterback, and was bummed when they didn't keep him OR get anything for him.

But on the other hand, in Brees's first two years as a starter, he was 10-17 with 28 TD and 31 INT. His Passer Ratings were 76.9 and 67.5. He didn't have the talent around him that Rivers has (although he did have LDT), but he still didn't play very well.

http://espn.go.com/i/eticket/20080125/assets/photo_lower_r.jpg

brady's smirk says to me "can you believe i'm going to home to fuck this?"

DAMN YOU ESPN!!!!

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/eticket/20080125/photos/etick_splash_tomgisele_310.jpg

?

uh wtf al davis?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3214665

Lane Kiffin is awesome. He is so Gruden II.

Lane Kiffin IS awesome. This is total lulz.

if they could turn back time, SD would offer a decent contract to Brees without a second's hesitation i reckon. although the big question mark was the injury and they weren't to know he'd stay fit.

I don't think so, Rivers had a fantastic first year as a starter, and even though he regressed a bit this year (it's Norv Turner for crissakes!), they've been 25-7 in the regular season with him as a starter.

Did Al Davis really expect that Lane Kiffin was going to take THAT team to the playoffs?

I know this will draw the response of "OMG YOU SUPPORTED CAM'S FIRING", but you can't keep firing coaches after ONE SEASON, Al.

He'll probably hire Mark Gastineau as head coach next or something stupid like that...

I called the Kiffin thing at least two weeks ago on these boards. call me John Clayton Jr.

Bo, you just made me spit coffee all over my office with the Gastineau call. Thanks.

browns will probably tender DA at the highest level, meaning he will cost a first and a third to acquire. i imagine that they'd like to keep both of them around as long as possible, you can never have too many good quarterbacks. eventually they'll have to give one up and probably get good value for him, but i doubt they're in a hurry to unload either dude.

falcons probably should/will take matt ryan, but god if dorsey or sedrick ellis or even chris long are available..... jesus, it would be great to get one of those guys. sedrick ellis is particularly a guy who blew me away watching senior bowl practices this week, he's a legit star.

I think it's undeniable that Brees is a more accomplished quarterback than Rivers right now ... Brees had to be a bit of a gunslinger this year and that accounts for all the interceptions (more than Rivers!), but he piled up a ton of yards and touchdowns. I would be happy to have him as my quarterback, and was bummed when they didn't keep him OR get anything for him.

But on the other hand, in Brees's first two years as a starter, he was 10-17 with 28 TD and 31 INT. His Passer Ratings were 76.9 and 67.5. He didn't have the talent around him that Rivers has (although he did have LDT), but he still didn't play very well.

-- polyphonic, Friday, 25 January 2008 20:11 (3 days ago) Link

ooooof. dude, I really don't think you can hold a QB's first two years against him, especially since he's played at a very high level in the intervening 4 years. in general I don't think you can make a call on any rookie until they've got 2-3 seasons under their belt, but QBs most of all - it's the ultimate developmental position and i think you have to give a guy around 4 years before you really expect him to look like what you had in mind when you drafted him.

sedrick ellis is particularly a guy who blew me away watching senior bowl practices this week, he's a legit star.

^^best case scenario for dolphins is trade down and grab this dude, but it's obv a pipe dream

ooooof. dude, I really don't think you can hold a QB's first two years against him, especially since he's played at a very high level in the intervening 4 years. in general I don't think you can make a call on any rookie until they've got 2-3 seasons under their belt, but QBs most of all - it's the ultimate developmental position and i think you have to give a guy around 4 years before you really expect him to look like what you had in mind when you drafted him.

Right, and Rivers has only had two years, and he's shown flashes of brilliance in those two years. I don't hold Brees' development time against him ... I'm just pointing out that giving up on Rivers now because he hasn't been quite as good as Brees would be pointless because he's outperformed Brees to date in his career. And he was a better prospect than Brees' out of college, both in terms of his collegiate performance and his size/arm.

free agency: DAY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Atlanta Falcons - Re-signed quarterback Chris Redman.
Buffalo Bills - Signed linebacker Kawika Mitchell.
Cleveland Browns - Agreed to terms with quarterback Derek Anderson on a three-year contract.
Denver Broncos - Released wide receiver Javon Walker and linebacker Ian Gold.
Houston Texans - Re-signed wide receiver Andre Davis.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Acquired wide receiver Troy Williamson from the Minnesota Vikings for an undisclosed draft pick; signed wide receiver Jerry Porter.
Miami Dolphins - Acquired defensive tackle Jason Ferguson from the Dallas Cowboys for undisclosed future draft choices; signed wide receiver Ernest Wilford and linebacker Ian Gold.
Minnesota Vikings - Agreed to terms with fullback Thomas Tapeh.
New Orleans Saints - Acquired linebacker Jonathan Vilma from the New York Jets for an undisclosed draft pick.
New York Jets - Acquired defensive tackle Kris Jenkins from the Carolina Panthers for undisclosed draft picks; signed defensive tackle Sione Pouha to a contract extension.
Philadelphia Eagles - Signed cornerback Asante Samuel to a six-year contract.
San Francisco 49ers - Signed cornerback Allen Rossum.
Washington Redskins - Agreed to terms with quarterback Todd Collins.

also; Gibril Wilson headed to OAK, Atlanta reportedly looking hard at Michael Turner, Randy Moss testing the market.

oh, and TB signed Jeff Faine. and the Jets are signing Alan Faneca. and Shaun Rogers is now a Bengal.

Isaac Bruce is now a 49er.

Browns trade for Corey Williams (GB) and give up a draft pick.

"Shaun Rogers is now a Bengal."

It is only a bit of a push unless they keep Justin Smith around. Team those two guys together and they may have something. They still need a big butt tackle and more linebackers than you can shake a stick at.

vikes pick up madieu williams and fins drop 25 mill on an og from san fran named justin smiley

also sign josh mccown, who should be their starting qb this season

There's a wrinkle! Because of some sort of salary cap regulation, the NFL did not allow the CIN-DET trade, so the Lions have traded Rogers to... the Browns! And they get Leigh Bodden and a third rounder in return! Which is much better value for them than the Bengals deal.

Williams + Rogers is a pretty good haul for the Browns. I guess Rogers is gonna be a 7 or 9-technique DE in the 34, is Williams going to play nose?

Randy Moss testing the market.

This seems incredibly dummm.

Buffalo Bills - Acquired defensive tackle Marcus Stroud from the Jacksonville Jaguars for undisclosed draft picks.
Houston Texans - Signed cornerback Jacques Reeves.
Miami Dolphins - Signed quarterback Josh McCown, defensive tackle Randy Starks, guard Justin Smiley and linebackers Reggie Torbor and Charlie Anderson.
Philadelphia Eagles - Signed defensive end Chris Clemons to a five-year contract.
San Francisco 49ers - Signed defensive end Justin Smith.
St. Louis Rams - Signed kicker Josh Brown to a five-year contract.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Signed tight end John Gilmore.

Bernard Berrian is now a Viking; Donte Stallworth is a Cleveland Brown.

Lance Briggs has been resigned by the Bears.

Huh, I really thought Briggs would sign elsewhere.

Browns have no picks in the first (9-6) 3 three (3) rounds.

CANKLES! You've been a Bodden supporter and it's plain to see. Bodden'd been replaced by Eazy E Eric Wright.

I still think Derek Anderson will be traded.

Donte Stallworth to the Browns. Hopefully he can play linebacker.

Patriots are going to start next season with Jabar Gaffney and Troy Brown at WR.

good move by Minnesota trying to balance their D a little by recruiting a Williams for their secondary.

Falcons sign Michael Turner. Dunno what I think of that.

I really think the Browns only trade DA if another team approaches THEM with a monstrous offer. Their ideal scenario is keeping both guys (DA & Quinn) on the same roster for as long as they can.

Ya, I do like Bodden, tho I understand he kinda sucked this year. Really it's just a good deal for Detroit because a) their CBs were atrocious post-Bly leaving b) it's better value than the pile of lint and dust that Cinci were gonna send them.

Turner is awesome, canks. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

so they ended up moving up 1 spot (from 63 to 62) and getting, in fact, a shitload of picks.

or, y'know, three

so for the only reliable back they've had in 20 years they move up one spot, draft a five foot seven running back who averaged 2.5 ypc, and a safety who the bears don't even list on their depth chart after drafting craig steltz.

great deal fellas.

So Dan Bauzin, Garret Wolfe and Kevin Payne in exchange for the best back the franchise has had in 20 years.

We got fleeced.

xxpost-essentially the same thing ck said two posts ago

Ogden's retiring too?

browns release lecharles bentley, will smith signs 6 yr extension w/saints

According to the local paper, LeCharles asked for his release yesterday morning and then sat outside the building waiting for his mom to pick him up. aw

LeCharlieBrown.jpg

Chad Johnson is acting like a choad. I think pretty much the entire Bengals roster is hoping that he gets dealt away.

I just hope that Cinci can take Washington to the bank. Under Dan Snyder that team is all about paying a premium for big name players.

i don't think he's acting.

HOLY SHIT TIM RUSSERT DIED

will the bills retire his number

the nfl network is showing emergency bills programming now, some special with russert and vincent gallo (!) talking about the city

I love the idea of emergency bills programming

like seriously they have a back room full of sealed containers marked like "IN CASE OF TIM RUSSERT'S DEATH" rows and rows of tapes for every occasion

it's funny cuz they were already showing emergency steelers programming cuz dwight white died

Russert commented on Meet the Press that he went to Woodstock "in a Buffalo Bills jersey with a case of beer"

rip lil russ

type II diabetes, overweight, pretty stressful job, and a bills fan. poor motherfucker never had a chance.

see, i think all the russert critics in the rip thread are probably right, but how can you not warm to a man who wore a Bills jersey to woodstock? i'm glad he won't see Canada steal his team.

I'm more forgiving of Russert's flaws as an interviewer than a lot of those guys, but yeah...Bills fans go to heaven in the express lane.

enjoy him for the four games he's healthy enough to be on the field, houston.

Former Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin has agreed to contract terms with the Houston Texans, according to a league source.

Colvin was released by the Patriots earlier this offseason, primarily due to financial reasons. He had a salary cap charge of more than $7 million.

Colvin has recovered from a foot injury that ended his 2007 season in late November. He took free-agent visits to Indianapolis and Houston.

In other news regarding fragile defensive players, Bears signed Tommie Harris to a 4 year deal

Wait, the Bills want to move to Canada?

harris isn't exactly fragile, he's played in 16 games 3 of his 4 years in the league and played in 12 of the bears games in 2006 and that injury was a muscle injury, not a tendon or ligament.

I thought he missed some, if not most, of last year. I'm happy to stand corrected

he may not always be 100% but he was always on the field.. he's a dominating presence on the interior d-line for them.

offseason portis hijinks...

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story;jsessionid=56D69146979716F8A811C9D1DA03DFF2?id=09000d5d808fd0cf&template=with-video&confirm=true

I found an autographed Peter Warrick Seminoles mini-helmet in my warehouse. (Why do I have a Peter Warrick autographed mini-helmet? God only knows.)

Does this deserve a place of honor on my mantle?

bears sign former lions rb kevin jones to 1-year contract; dallas sign franchised safety ken hamlin to 6 year extension

also, BJORK is now a linebacker for the bengals.

okay, explain Bjork

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6874

jason taylor ---> 'skins

i was sort of annoyed when i first heard the skins got taylor, but hearing than they lost philip daniels and a backup on the first day of camp lessens my annoyance.

dont worry they'll be paying for it in a coupla years when taylor's retired and they dont have any young talent (or championshipz) to show for it

chargers release eric parker, sign luis castillo to 7-year contract; bears extend brian urlacher; jets sign batman

*sigh*. We'll miss you JT. Oi, these are trying times!

Parker is pretty good slot receiver. Someone should take a shot on him. He's like the poorer man's Wes Welker.

devin hester drives a luis vuitton impala.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/4967/img0051ld4.jpg

for christ's sake devin, you're a pro bowler. time to buy some big boy clothes instead of dressing like your a fucking five year old.

Did this holdout come out of nowhere, or was it anticipated in Chicago, ck?

wasn't COMPLETELY unexpected. both sides said they wanted to get a deal done and hester showed up at OTA's as a sign of good faith and had popped off saying the bears weren't really trying to get a deal done. when the OTA's finished he still didn't have a deal done so.... but no, he never said he'd hold out if he didn't get a new deal.

Poor timing by Hester. Then again, he pretty much is the offense.

I saw today that Hester reported. Seems like a joke that he makes the minimum while a guy like Gholston gets a $21 million signing bonus.

somewhat related to when belicheck had lb (and now asst. coach) don davis line up at safety:

Which position he plays is secondary for Tank Williams

07:34 AM EDT on Wednesday, July 30, 2008

By SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

Tank Williams, left, defends against Benjamin Watson on a pass that went incomplete in yesterday’s afternoon practice.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

FOXBORO — At least he’s honest.

Asked yesterday if he’ll be listed as a safety or linebacker when the New England Patriots’ final regular-season roster comes out in early September, Tank Williams didn’t try to get creative with his answer.

“I’m not sure. I’m not sure at all,” he said with a chuckle.

Once one of the rising young safeties in the NFL, Williams was signed to a one-year deal by New England in the offseason. But since arriving in Foxboro, he has been learning the inside linebacker position, and working there almost exclusively during on-field work.

Not that he’s complaining.
Related links

PatsBlog · Training camp: Pats activate Harrison Tue 8:03 PM

Tank Williams stats page

Training camp schedule

“I knew I was going to be doing a lot of things; when you come in here you know that you have to play a lot of positions,” Williams said. “So I just came in with the mindset that wherever they were going to put me I was going to learn the defense for that position and go out there and try to play it well.” Though at 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, Williams is a little on the light side compared with the Patriots’ other inside linebackers — Tedy Bruschi, Jerod Mayo, Victor Hobson and Eric Alexander are all in the 240-250 pound range — he has embraced the change.

Physically, one of the biggest challenges for Williams at linebacker is taking on linemen more frequently, and mentally, it is learning not just a whole new system — having played with the Vikings for the last two years — but also the intricacies of a new position. He has leaned on Bruschi as well as other Patriots defensive veterans to ensure that he’s calling the right coverage or to see if he can make a read quicker.

“He’s good at times and other times he has to learn things,” Bruschi said of Williams. “He’s never done it before. He’s learning. It’s different for him taking on guards sometimes at that level (closer to the line of scrimmage); he’s used to second-level sort of situations where he has a little more space. But surprisingly he’s accepted it all and he’s done a good job with it, doing the best he can out there. He’s still with the first group, working hard.”

Bill Belichick is pleased with Williams’ versatility, which can go a long way with the Patriots. “Tank is a very versatile player. He has played in the secondary, he has played close to the line of scrimmage, he’s been productive in the kicking game, he can blitz and he can cover,” Belichick said. “How that will all work out, we’ll just have to see, but he can do a number of different things and we will work with him in those different roles.”

While this is the first time Williams has played linebacker in the NFL, he does have some experience at the position. He remembered that in his final year at Stanford one of the team’s linebackers was hurt. Williams, being big for a safety, was asked by then-coach Ty Willingham to play linebacker and safety against Oregon, with the Ducks ranked top-five in the country; the Cardinal went into Eugene and handed Oregon its first home loss in several years.

“So I went from free safety on one play to playing linebacker on another play and back to safety,” Williams recalled yesterday. “You have to know the defense pretty much in and out when you’re a safety or a linebacker, so the way I look at it, the more you know and the more I show that I am able to play these positions, then I give myself a better opportunity” to stay in New England.

Growing up in Bay St. Louis, Miss., Williams was a football fan, but mentioned Ronnie Lott and Steve Atwater as hard-hitting players he favored. He also liked to watch the New York Giants, whose defense was anchored by Lawrence Taylor and current Pats’ defensive line coach Pepper Johnson and coached by one Bill Belichick.

Belichick often regales his players, particularly the linebackers, with stories of those Giants. Williams hasn’t heard any yet — he has to keep his priorities in order.

“I haven’t heard too many stories yet,” he said. “I’ve been too worried about getting in my playbook and learning my assignments first. After I feel comfortable doing that and making all the assignments and checks out there, then I’ll ask for a story or two. But right now, I think that is the least of my worries.” As for that opening day roster, Williams isn’t too concerned whether there is an LB or an S next to his name — he just wants his name on there.

“As long it’s on the roster and it has me doing something helping this team, then I really don’t care what it says.”

sma✧✧✧@pr✧✧✧.c✧✧

Steve Smith suspended for the first two games of the year for breaking the nose of his cornerback in a training fracas. I suppose they really CAN'T trade him, so this kind of punishment is supposed to make him think twice in the future but it's gonna be hard for the panthers to get out of an 0-2 hole.

Boldin wants off the Cards.
"I'm a football player. That's about it," Boldin said Tuesday when asked to characterize his dealings with the coach these days.

looks like kevin curtis is having hernia surgery; eagles would be nuts not to trade for boldin at this point

ok, uhm, WHAT??

my vote for most surprising thing in the chad johnson article on espn.

In the end, though, what shocked me wasn't the giant five-horse fountain in the front driveway or the 6-foot red velvet "Alice in Wonderland" furniture pieces. It wasn't the cheesecake cooking in the kitchen like we were on the set of "Mad Men," the Lynyrd Skynyrd ring tone on his cell or the fact that before posing nude in his garage for The Magazine, Johnson told me he was seriously thinking about legally changing his last name to Ocho Cinco so the league couldn't touch him when he wore it on his game jersey.

Merriman is going to try to play despite having two torn ligaments. I am not happy about this. :/

agreed.