| Owens and Bledsoe |
So what? Owens will be a headline signing, but if he was mad at then Pro Bowlers Garcia and McNabb, what will he do to Bledsoe? I seemed to watch a lot of Cowboys games last year, for some reason, and Drew skipped balls on outs, threw to the wrong shoulders on ins and is still the best overthrower in the NFL. My bet is on Owens actually trying to have Mr. Bledsoe whacked; Moltisanti-style. After all, he has a house in Jersey, can't be that far from the Bada Bing.
Posted by Randy Ball at 3/17/2006 7:16:00 PM |
|
| Comments (3) |
|
|
| Ravens Sign Lewis .... and Mike Anderson |
Ugh, there's a platoon I'm staying away from already. This doesn't even have the upside of running behind the Broncos' offensive line.
Also, I'm not sure what to make of the Chester Taylor signing in Minnesota. I like him, but I'm not sure if he's much better than Mewelde Moore, or how much they'll split the time there.
Posted by Jeff Erickson at 3/14/2006 5:31:00 PM |
|
| Comments (1) |
|
|
| New Twist for Hutch |
| The Steve Hutchinson contract situation just got a little more interesting Monday. The NFL Network reports that Minnesota's offer sheet includes the clause that Hutchinson must be the highest-paid lineman on the team or have the whole $49 million be guaranteed.
Now, the question is if that clause applies to the Seahawks if they match. If it does, then there's no way they'll match. Walter Jones is the highest paid lineman and they're not likely to pay Hutch more than Jones. And, obviously, the Seahawks aren't about to guarantee a seven-year $49 million contract.
The collective-bargaining agreement states a team must match the "principal terms." Time to bring in the lawyers to hash out the definition of "principal terms."
Posted by Jason Thornbury at 3/14/2006 11:32:00 AM |
|
| Comments (2) |
|
|
| Hutchinson Update |
| The Tacoma News Tribune has a good round-up of the Hutchinson contract situation. (The TNT's football coverage, btw, consistently outduels the two Seattle papers.)
1. Minnesota’s offer includs a $10 million signing bonus, a $6 million roster bonus and a $585,000 2006 base salary for a $8.585 million salary-cap charge.
2. Hutch is already penciled in for a $6.391 million transition-tag salary, making Minnesota's offer only an additional $2.2 million for 2006 should the Seahawks match it, leaving plenty of cash for other signings.
3. The franchise tag would have paid Hutch $6.983 million, but also likely would have staved off a long-term deal, forcing the Seahawks to franchise him in 2007 for $8.4 million.
4. The compensation "protection" the Seahawks forfeited by not franchising Hutch is irrelevent. Teams aren't likely to give up two first-rounders to sign a franchise player, and the Seahawks can still negotiate with the Vikies for compensation if they promise not to match the offer.
Whichever route the Seahawks took, they were going to have to pony up for Hutchinson. The transition tag, at least, gave them a shot at a smaller contract. The Vikes called their bluff, though. I'd be surprised if the Seahawks let him walk.
Posted by Jason Thornbury at 3/13/2006 12:06:00 PM |
|
| Comments (2) |
|
|
| See Ya, Joe |
For obvious reasons, I was a little skeptical of Joe Jurevicius' claim that he signed with Cleveland because he wanted to play in his hometown. But apparently he turned down more money to stay in Seattle than the $10 million deal he got from Cleveland. The Seahawks are going to miss him.
Posted by Jason Thornbury at 3/13/2006 10:34:00 AM |
|
| Comments (1) |
|
|
| Edge makes the NFC West more interesting |
With the arrival of Edgerrin James, games in the NFC West, which are typically high scoring and fantasy smorgasbords, just got more interesting. Last season, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald still went nuts against coverage designed to stop the pass because the Cardinals couldn’t generate anything resembling a running attack. While true a lot came in garbage time, the passing game was the only show in town for the hapless Cardinals.
Enter James, who provides an immediate upgrade to a running attack ranked last in the leauge in 2005. Imagine what the receiving duo will do in 2006 against single coverage as defenses have to play things honest with the threat of James in the backfield. Moreover, James is an accomplished receiver and blocker. Defenses, especially the safeties, can’t cheat towards Boldin or Fitzgerald. Someone will have to stay home and play straight-up. James gives the team much needed balance on offense.
I concede the Arizona offensive line will need a lot of work, but that can be worked on in mini and training camps. Moreover, didn't the Arizona offensive line go through injury issues last season? It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Cardinals use one of their early picks on an impact offensive lineman during the draft now that they don't have to address running back. Heck, maybe they try and package a deal to move up in the draft to target D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
An elite running back like James can make something out of nothing unlike J.J. Arrington, who was tentative last year. I really like this signing for the Cardinals.
Posted by Herbie Teope at 3/12/2006 3:03:00 PM |
|
| Comments (7) |
|
|
| Think the Seahawks are kicking themselves? |
Chalk this up under the, "What were they thinking?" category.
The Seattle brass has to be absoltely kicking themselves right about now for using the transition tag on Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson. Why they didn't use the franchise tag to ensure compensation if they lost him is going to forever be a mystery.
The Vikings' reported seven-year, $49 million offer with $16 million in guarantees is absolutely out of this atmosphere. I don't see Seattle matching it.
Posted by Herbie Teope at 3/12/2006 2:56:00 PM |
|
| Comments (6) |
|
|
