New and Improved Free Agency Discussion and News Mega-Thread

[brat316]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

I think Vincent Jackson let that happen to him two years ago. He held out until the last possible week needed to fulfill his "year of service" towards unrestricted free agency. I wouldn't be shocked in Wallace did the same, but I find it unlikely.

And next year is going to be a mess for the Steelers....they pushed a bunch of money forward, and then will be facing Wallace hitting unrestricted free agency at the same time Antonio Brown his restricted free agency.

I thought they recently put that rule into effect, VJ was hit with Franchise Tag, not RFA tag.

[BeerBaron]

Because of the last year of the last CBA, the years needed to quality for unrestricted FA went from 4 to 6. Jackson would have been a UFA but had 5 years at the time I believe. That's why he only got the RFA offer. Then, the new CBA came into effect and the Chargers franchised him for last season.

[diabsoule]

The Saints have re-signed John Kasay
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/pos...ack-john-kasay

[marshallb]

Vikings agreed to terms with Jerome Simpson on a one year deal per Jay Glazer.

[holt_bruce81]

Originally Posted by marshallb

Vikings agreed to terms with Jerome Simpson on a one year deal per Jay Glazer.

Nice signing, 3 games isn't that bad. Kid has some talent. How do you think this effects the Vikings draft, if at all?

[Bert Macklin]

What's going to happen with Mike Wallace?

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by Bert Macklin

What's going to happen with Mike Wallace?

The deadline to trade for him has passed so he remains a Steeler.

[BeerBaron]

Will probably hold out at least until the end of the preseason. Could potentially stretch it 10 weeks into the regular season coming back just in time to get a year of service towards unrestricted free agency.

Then the Steelers can piss him AND Antonio Brown off next year by franchising one and RFAing the other.

[bigbluedefense]

Let it go BB. I know you want the Steelers to go into some kind of rebuilding mode where they suck for a little while but it's not going to happen.

When you draft as well as the Steelers do, and have a franchise qb which the Steelers have, there is no rebuilding period. You'll miss the playoffs for a year then bounce right back.

[BeerBaron]

Eventually there will be a period of extended suck. It can happen to even the best of them. No one would have expected the 49ers to ever go 9 years without making the playoffs based on how good they were in the 80s or how big of choke artists the Cowboys have become after how good they were in the 90s.

Eventually, there will be a period of more than one year where the Steelers suck.

[Giantsfan1080]

There will be a period when the Steelers suck but it'll coincide with Big Ben retiring.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

There will be a period when the Steelers suck but it'll coincide with Big Ben retiring.

Or him breaking down. His play style doesn't exactly lend itself to a lengthy career.

[bigbluedefense]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

There will be a period when the Steelers suck but it'll coincide with Big Ben retiring.

This^

As long as they have Ben they'll be a good team.

[brat316]

You might get is sooner than you think.

Lets remember before Big Ben we had Tommy Maddox, but didn't suck that bad because of a good defense.

Dick Lebeau isn't a spring chicken anymore and will have to retire soon. Keith Butler has been waiting in the wing and learning. That don't mean ****, he could make the defense suck asss. Let me remind of you have Jim Johnson and McDirmit waiting and learning. McDirimit was terrible, good position coach terrible DC.

If Butler does turn out pretty good, well then you might just have to wait till Ben retires do to injuries, if we don't add some linemen.

His style is fine when he has people to protect him, lets recall the years of him having Faneca, Jeff Hartings. Simmons and Smith pre weight gain and back injury.

[themaninblack]

Originally Posted by marshallb

Vikings agreed to terms with Jerome Simpson on a one year deal per Jay Glazer.

Ahh I'm sad to see Rome go but I wish him all the best in Minny. If the kid can keep his head on straight and continue to improve his football IQ he could be absolutely deadly for you guys. Everyone around here grew tired of waiting for him even though he had a pretty good season this past year in his first shot as a starter. Really wish we would've resigned him and used our 1st rounders to pursue another need but alas.

[Caddy]

Who was the guy that franchised Simpson during BeerBaron's forum mock/free agency?

[Bulldogs]

Falcons and Eagles have agreed to terms on a deal for Asante Samuel. Apparently it's a late round pick. Low risk/high reward so I'm fine with it.

[bigbluedefense]

Great move for Atlanta. Samuel will fit their zone blitz scheme to a T, and he's a very underrated CB. Yes, he's old and yes he's expensive, but Samuel is a gamer and is arguably the best zone CB in the game right now.

Can't tackle for ****, but as a zone cover CB, the Falcons have definitely upgraded their secondary in a big way. For the short term at least.

This was a great move for Atlanta.

[Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

Great move for Atlanta. Samuel will fit their zone blitz scheme to a T, and he's a very underrated CB. Yes, he's old and yes he's expensive, but Samuel is a gamer and is arguably the best zone CB in the game right now.

Can't tackle for ****, but as a zone cover CB, the Falcons have definitely upgraded their secondary in a big way. For the short term at least.

This was a great move for Atlanta.

He restructured his contract from what I've read. I think it's 5 mil a year now. I like it alot, now we can look towards either the O or D-Line in the 2nd round.

[bigbluedefense]

Originally Posted by Bulldogs

He restructured his contract from what I've read. I think it's 5 mil a year now. I like it alot, now we can look towards either the O or D-Line in the 2nd round.

What a steal. You guys are built to play zone coverage anyway, so he fits perfectly, gives you a significant upgrade in talent, and doesn't cost much.

Now you need pass rushers.

[Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

What a steal. You guys are built to play zone coverage anyway, so he fits perfectly, gives you a significant upgrade in talent, and doesn't cost much.

Now you need pass rushers.

Agreed. I'm hoping a guy like Vinny Curry drops to us. I'm in love with his motor. A rotation of John Abraham/Ray Edwards/Vinny Curry/Kroy Biermann at end is actually pretty solid. We need Jonathan Babineaux to rebound though.

[BeerBaron]

So does this mean they move on from Dunta Robinson? I'm not sure I see him as a slot or zone guy...

[Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

So does this mean they move on from Dunta Robinson? I'm not sure I see him as a slot or zone guy...

I've read that we're shopping around Brent Grimes right now. Honestly I'm not sure, maybe one of them ends up playing nickel.

[BeerBaron]

Grimes wouldn't exactly be the one I'd prefer to move on from. Dunta's salary goes from $5 million this year to 8 then 10 then 11.5.

For a mediocre head-hunting CB...no thanks.

[bigbluedefense]

Grimes shouldn't go anywhere. He's a great slot CB and nowadays your slot CB is just as important as the guys on the outside.

He fits the scheme as well. Dunta has to go. He's awful.