Key Free Agents for 2009

[Dave Gray]

I like Housh, and think he's be good here.  He would be an immediate impact.

I want nothing to do with Jacobs on this team.  Our running problems are due to blocking, not the runners.

I don't know Asomugha that well, but if he's truly a great corner, I'd pay top dollar.  I think that's a position I'm willing to overpay for to lock down. 

And Hayneworth is a thug with mental problems, which turns me off.  ...but he's a great player.  There's a reason that the Titans aren't going to keep him around.  I bet he's a major distraction.  I think that we already have one thug on this team (Porter) and you don't want the foxes running the henhouse, so you might proceed with caution.

[Brian Fein]

Honestly, Asomugha is the only guy on this list I'd be interested in, but I assume he's gonna have people lining up at his door to throw money at him. 

[fyo]

Judging by how quarterbacks basically haven't thrown a single pass his way all season, Asomugha is the only real shut down corner in the league. Of what little I've seen him play, I'd argue he's the best corner in the league.

I'd have NO problem if he came here for $10 mil a year.

[Tepop84]

I love how you assume that, if we were to bring in another back, Ronnie Brown would be the one to go.  I'm certain they'd dismiss pothead long before they give up on their #2 overall pick.

One guy makes 1 million and one guy makes 9 million.  Ronnie brown is not 8 million better than ricky.  If you bring in Jacobs, you are going to have to get rid of some dead weight (hint brown).

[fyo]

One guy makes 1 million and one guy makes 9 million.

Sigh...

Your information is incorrect. (Never trust the USA Today NFL Salary Database).

Ricky reworked his contract before the season, which included a per-game roster bonus of $93k for this year bringing his 2008 salary to $2.2 million. Ronnie received his year-4 roster bonus (typical rookie contract) this season, so that makes his salary for 2008 quite high (about $9 million, as you say).

Looking forward to next year, which is what's relevant considering that salary for this year has already been paid:

Ricky is scheduled to earn $3.3 million.
Ronnie is scheduled to earn $3.6 million.

Both become free agents after the 2009 season.

I also feel I should add that a players performance isn't the only thing that dictates monetary value. Perhaps the only player more likely than Ricky Williams to get kicked out of the NFL permanently is Adam Jones. Ricky is just a twitch away from being gone.

Updated contract source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26664402/

[Brian Fein]

Even if your ridiculous numbers were correct, Ronnie IS 8 million better than Ricky in that Ricky could be GONE at a second's notice.  Funny - we've been here before.  As a Dolphins' fan, you'd think you've learned that putting all your eggs in the Ricky Williams basket is a good way to end up with scrambled eggs.

[ochizon]

As a Dolphins' fan, you'd think you've learned that putting all your eggs in the Ricky Williams basket is a good way to end up with scrambled eggs.

Not even.  You can eat scrambled eggs.  You would more likely end up with egg on your face, to keep with the egg analogy

[Dave Gray]

To defend Ricky, I think that the concerns about him are now greatly diminished.  He's contributed for a full season, without incidents or getting a lot of media attention.  ...or getting injured.

I think this speaks to his character.  Sure, anything is possible, but I think that after having survived a full season under the new regime, that you can have more confidence in him.  He isn't the complete wildcard that he once was.

[Tepop84]

Even if your ridiculous numbers were correct, Ronnie IS 8 million better than Ricky in that Ricky could be GONE at a second's notice.  Funny - we've been here before.  As a Dolphins' fan, you'd think you've learned that putting all your eggs in the Ricky Williams basket is a good way to end up with scrambled eggs.

The chances that Ricky gets suspended and Ronnie has a career ending injury are about the same.  But, Ronnie isn't 8 million dollars better than any runningback in the NFL, so comparing him to ricky doesn't matter.

[fyo]

The chances that Ricky gets suspended and Ronnie has a career ending injury are about the same.  But, Ronnie isn't 8 million dollars better than any runningback in the NFL, so comparing him to ricky doesn't matter.

You seem to have skated nicely over the fact that the difference between Ricky and Ronnie next year will be $300k.

The $8M is EXTREMELY misleading, so stop spouting it. It just makes you look stupid. Rookie contracts almost always have a big bonus in year 3 or 4. Often it's even guaranteed, so cutting a player wouldn't even help.

It's like a player getting a big signing bonus and you say, well, he isn't worth $20 million this year, because, well, no one is worth $20 million. You have to look at the whole contract.

Anyway, since this was a discussion about who would get cut if someone like Jacobs was brought in, the two relevant numbers are $3.3M and $3.6M. Everything else is water under the bridge.

[Tepop84]

You seem to have skated nicely over the fact that the difference between Ricky and Ronnie next year will be $300k.

The $8M is EXTREMELY misleading, so stop spouting it. It just makes you look stupid. Rookie contracts almost always have a big bonus in year 3 or 4. Often it's even guaranteed, so cutting a player wouldn't even help.

It's like a player getting a big signing bonus and you say, well, he isn't worth $20 million this year, because, well, no one is worth $20 million. You have to look at the whole contract.

Anyway, since this was a discussion about who would get cut if someone like Jacobs was brought in, the two relevant numbers are $3.3M and $3.6M. Everything else is water under the bridge.

Brown will count for more than 3.6 million against the salary cap next year.

[Tenshot13]

Brown will count for more than 3.6 million against the salary cap next year.

Who cares?  This isn't a Ronnie Brown thread, and we aren't getting rid of him, so knock it off already!

[fyo]

Brown will count for more than 3.6 million against the salary cap next year.

Firing him will only SAVE $3.6 million, just like firing Ricky will only SAVE $3.3 million.

In this case, the actual money these guys will be paid is exactly what you will save by firing them. Cap AND real money.

[Tenshot13]

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/01/17/is-peppers-done-in-carolina/


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Adam Schefter
Peppers ready to part with Panthers

Posted: Adam Schefter | Adam Schefter | Tags: Carolina Panthers, Julius Peppers

Any hope that Carolina had of signing Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers to a long-term contract extension is being sacked.

Peppers’ agent, Carl Carey, said this weekend that his client will not sign a long-term deal with the Panthers this offseason — or ever – and that his client prefers to move on to a team for which he can make the leap from great player to elite one. The Panthers are aware of Peppers’ demands, and they want him to remain in Carolina for the remainder of his career.

Peppers’ contract expired after the 2008 season, and he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the signing period opens Feb. 27.

“He feels strongly that he needs to make a change to make that leap,” Carey said of Peppers, who turns 29 on Sunday.

Peppers prefers to play with a new team, in a new city, perhaps one that uses a 3-4 scheme that would better serve his skills.

Now, part of the mystery surrounding Peppers’ future in Carolina has been solved: There does not seem to be much of one.

This leaves Carolina in a dilemma. It still can slap its franchise tag on Peppers, but there is a risk the defensive end will not sign it, and the Panthers will have $16.7 million counting against their salary cap. Plus, Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross also is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, and Carolina cannot slap a franchise tag on both players.

It’s one or the other, and Peppers does not want to stay.



Hmm...I think Peppers would look good in aqua and orange...then we wouldn't have to worry about a pass rusher in the draft.

[dolfan13]

it would seem to be a good fit, but man how much is he going to command on the free market?

can you say $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$