NFL offseason thread 2009

[stuy119]

Kellen Winslow traded to the Bucs.

[dew1679666265]

The Titans resigned Kerry Collins to a 2-year, $15-million deal today. $8.5 of that is guaranteed.

 

Not bad, a bit too expensive, but probably our best option.

Edited February 27, 2009 by dew

[dew1679666265]

The Chiefs acquired LB Mike Vrabel from the Pats for an undisclosed draft pick.

[dew1679666265]

Bart Scott's agent, Harold Lewis, has agreed with the Jets on a 5-year, $40 million deal and they await the approval of Scott.

 

That probably ensures that Ray Lewis will return to the Ravens.

[dew1679666265]

A lot of small nuggets, so I'll keep these confined to one post:

 

Jonathan Vilma will remain in New Orleans with a 5-year, $34-million deal.

 

The Lions and Maurice Morris agreed to a 3-year, $7 million deal.

 

The Bengals have signed safety Chris Crocker to a 4-year, $10 million deal.

 

And finally, Tom Brady and Giselle got married Thursday night.

[dew1679666265]

Bart Scott's agent, Harold Lewis, has agreed with the Jets on a 5-year, $40 million deal and they await the approval of Scott.

 

That probably ensures that Ray Lewis will return to the Ravens.

 

Ok, apparently Scott got the Jets a bit higher. He's agreed to a 6-year, $48 million deal and is now a Jet.

[TruffleShuffle]

well we signed a bengal offensive lineman, i'd say the vince lombardi trophy is headed to philly next year.

[rawaction]

well we signed a bengal offensive lineman, i'd say the vince lombardi trophy is headed to philly next year.

 

And he'll get to play right next to his little brother.

[E.J.]

They just had Breaking News on ESPN saying Matt Cassel was just traded to the Chiefs.

[dew1679666265]

They just had Breaking News on ESPN saying Matt Cassel was just traded to the Chiefs.

 

Here's the link on ESPN.com. It doesn't yet say what the Chiefs gave up, though.

[CubColtPacer]

They just had Breaking News on ESPN saying Matt Cassel was just traded to the Chiefs.

 

Here's the link on ESPN.com. It doesn't yet say what the Chiefs gave up, though.

 

I'm sure Tyler Thigpen is just thrilled about that.

 

This is definitely a Pioli move. But if he had to give up as much as I think he probably would have to, I'm not a fan of it. The Chiefs had enough other holes that replacing their decently capable young QB shouldn't have been on the top of the priority list. Obviously that could change if he gave up less than expected, though.

[Wilson A2000]

A good QB is the single most important position in all of professional sports, so it makes sense to land Cassel. But the Patriots better hope that Brady is ready to go in September. Being traded to the Chiefs is tough. Yeah you make 15 million, but you are on the Chiefs.

[Splendid_Splinter]

Peter King has the Chiefs trading a second round pick for both Cassel and Vrabel.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/02/28/chiefs.trade.for.cassel/?eref=sircrc

[stuy119]

Peter King has the Chiefs trading a second round pick for both Cassel and Vrabel.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/02/28/chiefs.trade.for.cassel/?eref=sircrc

 

Good deal. I agree with Peter's take as to why it happened.

[Flames24Rulz]

Supposedly the Bucs are already in talks with the Chiefs to try to land Thigpen, so take that for what it's worth.

 

I think it's a good deal for KC.

[dew1679666265]

Supposedly the Bucs are already in talks with the Chiefs to try to land Thigpen, so take that for what it's worth.

 

I think it's a good deal for KC.

 

Add Cassell and then send off Thigpen to (somewhat) replace the pick you surrender? Really good move for the Chiefs.

[RynoRules]

Supposedly the Bucs are already in talks with the Chiefs to try to land Thigpen, so take that for what it's worth.

 

I think it's a good deal for KC.

 

Add Cassell and then send off Thigpen to (somewhat) replace the pick you surrender? Really good move for the Chiefs.

 

I am surprised so many people think this is a good move for the Chiefs. Cassell is moderate upgrade over Thigpen, who was pretty good last season on a really bad team. So the Chiefs gave up the 35th pick for an unproven QB who played with a good O-Line and excellent WR's last season. To boot, Cassell's cap figure will probably more than Thigpen and the 35th pick combined.

 

Meanwhile the Pats now have two picks in the 2nd Rnd, clear money and get younger.

[dew1679666265]

Supposedly the Bucs are already in talks with the Chiefs to try to land Thigpen, so take that for what it's worth.

 

I think it's a good deal for KC.

 

Add Cassell and then send off Thigpen to (somewhat) replace the pick you surrender? Really good move for the Chiefs.

 

I am surprised so many people think this is a good move for the Chiefs. Cassell is moderate upgrade over Thigpen, who was pretty good last season on a really bad team. So the Chiefs gave up the 35th pick for an unproven QB who played with a good O-Line and excellent WR's last season. To boot, Cassell's cap figure will probably more than Thigpen and the 35th pick combined.

 

Meanwhile the Pats now have two picks in the 2nd Rnd, clear money and get younger.

 

I think it's a good move for both. The Pats had to trade Cassel and got a pretty decent return for a guy without a lot of experience that they had to move.

 

And Thigpen wasn't pretty good. A QB rating of 76 with a completion percentage around 54% with 18 TDs and 12 INTs isn't much to be impressed with. Obviously, the team wasn't very good, but he did have Dwayne Bowe to throw to. Cassel, who admittedly had better weapons, had a QB rating 13 points higher, threw three more TDs with one less pick and completed almost 10% more of his passes. I think both will improve, but I think Cassel's better now. Cassel has also had better coaching than Thigpen, meaning he should be farther along in his development.

 

I should add I don't dislike Thigpen, I just think Cassel's a better bet to develop into a good NFL QB. And I think overlooking adding a veteran like Vrabel to a young team can't be overlooked.

Edited February 28, 2009 by dew

[Post Count Padder]

Great deal for KC. They get a more-than-capable QB and a good, veteran LB.

[CubColtPacer]

Supposedly the Bucs are already in talks with the Chiefs to try to land Thigpen, so take that for what it's worth.

 

I think it's a good deal for KC.

 

Add Cassell and then send off Thigpen to (somewhat) replace the pick you surrender? Really good move for the Chiefs.

 

I am surprised so many people think this is a good move for the Chiefs. Cassell is moderate upgrade over Thigpen, who was pretty good last season on a really bad team. So the Chiefs gave up the 35th pick for an unproven QB who played with a good O-Line and excellent WR's last season. To boot, Cassell's cap figure will probably more than Thigpen and the 35th pick combined.

 

Meanwhile the Pats now have two picks in the 2nd Rnd, clear money and get younger.

 

I think it's a good move for both. The Pats had to trade Cassel and got a pretty decent return for a guy without a lot of experience that they had to move.

 

And Thigpen wasn't pretty good. A QB rating of 76 with a completion percentage around 54% with 18 TDs and 12 INTs isn't much to be impressed with. Obviously, the team wasn't very good, but he did have Dwayne Bowe to throw to. Cassel, who admittedly had better weapons, had a QB rating 13 points higher, threw three more TDs with one less pick and completed almost 10% more of his passes. I think both will improve, but I think Cassel's better now. Cassel has also had better coaching than Thigpen, meaning he should be farther along in his development.

 

I should add I don't dislike Thigpen, I just think Cassel's a better bet to develop into a good NFL QB. And I think overlooking adding a veteran like Vrabel to a young team can't be overlooked.

 

Cassel's also 2 years older, had the easiest receiver in the entire NFL to throw to, and didn't have to play from behind all season like Thigpen did. Those are huge advantages that help drive up a QB's efficiency numbers. Plus, Thigpen was able to use his mobility to escape and throw away a lot of passes that Cassel took sacks with that hurt Thigpen's passing numbers.

Thigpen also ran for 80 more yards than Cassel and had a 6.2 Y/A compared to Cassel's 3.5.

 

There really isn't a ton to suggest that Cassel is a lot better than Thigpen. They both still have huge question marks surrounding them. When you add in that 1 of them is receiving 14 million dollars more than the other one (and Thigpen was cheap for the next 2 years) it makes you question why Cassel is such a better buy to give up a big draft pick for.

 

Now Vrabel is a nice get. And a 2nd rounder is a pretty good price for the two of them together. But I don't see how the Chiefs need Cassel enough that it is a good price for them. They could have used that draft choice on an impact player and then gotten another impact player in free agency and likely still have a little money left over for another decent player.

[dew1679666265]

Cassel's also 2 years older, had the easiest receiver in the entire NFL to throw to, and didn't have to play from behind all season like Thigpen did. Those are huge advantages that help drive up a QB's efficiency numbers. Plus, Thigpen was able to use his mobility to escape and throw away a lot of passes that Cassel took sacks with that hurt Thigpen's passing numbers.

Thigpen also ran for 80 more yards than Cassel and had a 6.2 Y/A compared to Cassel's 3.5.

 

There really isn't a ton to suggest that Cassel is a lot better than Thigpen. They both still have huge question marks surrounding them. When you add in that 1 of them is receiving 14 million dollars more than the other one (and Thigpen was cheap for the next 2 years) it makes you question why Cassel is such a better buy to give up a big draft pick for.

 

Now Vrabel is a nice get. And a 2nd rounder is a pretty good price for the two of them together. But I don't see how the Chiefs need Cassel enough that it is a good price for them. They could have used that draft choice on an impact player and then gotten another impact player in free agency and likely still have a little money left over for another decent player.

 

If it had been just Cassel that the Chiefs got, I might agree with you. But considering they also got Vrabel and have the ability to deal Thigpen for something of some value (my guess would be a third or fourth rounder if Rosenfels brought a fourth), is not a (even slightly) better QB, veteran LB and fourth round pick not more valuable than a slightly worse QB and a second? If it's a third they can get for Thigpen, then it's definitely a very good deal.

[dew1679666265]

Kellen Winslow traded to the Bucs.

 

And they've announced the compensation:

 

The Browns received a second-round pick this year and a fifth-round selection in 2010 for Winslow

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Cowboys have traded CB Anthony Henry to the Lions for QB Jon Kitna.

[OleMissCub]

 

Jonathan Vilma will remain in New Orleans with a 5-year, $34-million deal.

 

YES!

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/sedrick.gif

[Vanilla Ice]

Pretty disappointing off-season so far in Atlanta.

 

We cut Lawyer Milloy and let our top three free agents all leave (Dominique Foxworth, Michael Boley, and Keith Brooking).

 

I am really sad to see Foxworth go as he had blossomed in 2008 into a very good corner. I wish we had re-signed one of the linebackers. We have only one starting-caliber LB under contract now. However, Boley and Brooking were both much worse last year than before. Brooking was pretty clearly on the downside of his career. I can't bring myself to be that upset with the loss of Milloy, though.

 

We have return 5 starters from a mediocre defense from last year. We will focus completely on defense this draft. I have faith in Dimitroff to bring in good under-valued players after what he did with the offense last year.