ODawg said:
Now can somebody fill me in on what the boys are going to do in the FA market and how our chances are this coming year??????
Alright...since ya said please and it's your B-day an all. Here's my grand overview.
First off, our needs. We pretty much all know it, but here they are anyway. We need to upgrade RT, LB, FS, K and probably WR and if possible C.
Most of what we do will be result of what we think of the guys on our team already. We'll get a good feel for the coaches opinions based on who we pick up
Start with RT: Petitte, a 6th round rookie could improve, so he'll probably be on the team next year to allow for that. But at this stage, we can't expect him to start in 06.
Fabini is sitting around twiddling his thumbs right now. If we are looking for vets to upgrade our starting line-up while we develop guys like Petitte, then Fabini is the guy. He's 31...not ridiculously ancient for an OL and could give us 3-4 good years. I think this is a an easy choice.
Staying with OL, look at Center. Al Johnson may or may not be our center of the future. He's further along than Petitti, so if we has the staff's confidence we're looking at another ex-Jet in Mawae. The guy is old, but plays a similar (if better) game as Johnson and would be an excellent tutor.
I'm telling you, an
excellent signing if we plan on Johnson taking over in a year or two. ( errr...or a year and a half). Give him a short term contract for a reasonable rate and we're in good shape.
On the other hand, if the staff feels Johnson is not going to develop, then we need to cut our losses right now and go for LeBentley. This is completely dependent on the CBA getting done though. Without a new CBA LeBentley will eat up all our room. LeBentley is gonna COST bigtime.
Next, FS. Davis was almost adequate, but would do better if we were kept on Special teams. So, in this case I don't think we're hangiing our future on a young guy who's going to develop. Of course we do have a relative unknown in Beriault, but I got the impression that he's more of a SS. we'll have to see about that.
So...with that in mind we are porbably going to be unfullfilled at the FS position. I can see yet another ex BP player in Marco Colman coming over for a Aaron Glenn type contract, but something tells me we are not going to get involved with the Chris Hope sweepstakes. We have a ton invested in the secondary already.
Every year, some position is left to chance. I don't see us being major players in FA at FS.
Kickers. I want Vinatieri. whatever the $$.
...but we'll probably end up with Bryant.
LB. Not sure where we'll go in FA, but I'd think a LB is pretty much a lock in the draft.
WR. I am praying that TO does not come here. that's all I have to say about that.
So there ya go.
Enjoy.
