Dre' Bly wants to be a Skin? That's What I Hear

I think the real story here is why Springs want's out so badly? He is looking more and more like Champ when he wanted out. I think some of these guys see the direction of the Skins and become disconcerted about our ability to ever field a legitamate contender, we are like a revolving door for personel, an inferiour talent leaves, so an inferiour talent is brought in, and on it goes.


I have, and always will be skeptical of a player while playing for one team, and is under contract to that team, expresses a desire to be playing for another team. Springs has let it be known he'd lie to play in Denver, so maybe that's where he should be if a sensible deal could be worked out. I'd like to see him stay, he, Smoot and Rogers would be a nice combination, but if the guy's unhappy here then I'd rather move in another direction.

I have, and always will be skeptical of a player while playing for one team, and is under contract to that team, expresses a desire to be playing for another team. Springs has let it be known he'd lie to play in Denver, so maybe that's where he should be if a sensible deal could be worked out. I'd like to see him stay, he, Smoot and Rogers would be a nice combination, but if the guy's unhappy here then I'd rather move in another direction.

Is he unhappy because of mgmt asking him to take a pay cut? If that's why, then maybe they can mend that by paying him his full salary, since it appears it will cost big $ to replace him w/Bly.
I remember JLC writing that at the end of the season Springs was jokingly telling players it was nice working w/them. Maybe he had his hopes up that he'd be cut & he could test the mkt.?
I obviously don't know, but it doesn't sound unreasonable to be upset when asked to take a pay cut.

If Springs is unhappy that he was asked to take a paycut, then I don't understand. If I was asked to take a paycut, and I didn't want to, then I would just say "no". That would be the end of it, and I wouldn't be unhappy. There are several good reasons for a team to want players to take less money. He doesn't have to take it personal.

As for job security: if I am confident in my skills, then I wouldn't be worried about losing my job (for very long). I'd just get another one. It's not hard to do in the NFL, if you have skills. On the other hand, if I knew that I was getting paid more than I deserve, and I wasn't confident in my skills (and my ability to get another job), then I would be worried.

It seems like Springs is losing confidence in his ability to play well and/or his ability to stay healthy. Maybe the FO is correct in trying to get rid of him now, instead of waiting through another year of potential injuries when his value will be even lower.

If Springs is unhappy that he was asked to take a paycut, then I don't understand. If I was asked to take a paycut, and I didn't want to, then I would just say "no". That would be the end of it, and I wouldn't be unhappy. There are several good reasons for a team to want players to take less money. He doesn't have to take it personal.

As for job security: if I am confident in my skills, then I wouldn't be worried about losing my job (for very long). I'd just get another one. It's not hard to do in the NFL, if you have skills. On the other hand, if I knew that I was getting paid more than I deserve, and I wasn't confident in my skills (and my ability to get another job), then I would be worried.

It seems like Springs is losing confidence in his ability to play well and/or his ability to stay healthy. Maybe the FO is correct in trying to get rid of him now, instead of waiting through another year of potential injuries when his value will be even lower.

Never said he was taking it personally. In fact, all indications are that Springs is just conducting biz - he wants to try the mkt. & by refusing the pay cut he's increasing his chances.
At the same time, he is under contract & the Skins don't have to let him go or seek a trade. See my earlier post on this thread - this is cat & mouse between he & the FO; Skins have the power to keep him as he's under contract, but he has the power to only accept that contract & not take the cut.

Is he unhappy because of mgmt asking him to take a pay cut? If that's why, then maybe they can mend that by paying him his full salary, since it appears it will cost big $ to replace him w/Bly.
I remember JLC writing that at the end of the season Springs was jokingly telling players it was nice working w/them. Maybe he had his hopes up that he'd be cut & he could test the mkt.?
I obviously don't know, but it doesn't sound unreasonable to be upset when asked to take a pay cut.


In his case I don't think it's unreasonable for him to at least consider restructering his contract. He has one of the highest cap figures on the team. It's no like they're asking him to take a pay cut per-say. I think he's afraid to alter his contract in a way which calls for future considerations because he may not be around to collect it anyway. It's obvious he's out for all he can get right now, and I believe the money has always been his primary objective.

Bly is out for the Snyder payday, not much else. His record doesn't warrant all it would take to get him (including combo of picks, players [Springs a/o Betts], plus the caysh).

Springs, despite his father's Cowgirl heritage, does have local ties and probably is doing his own counter-leveraging against a paycut. Based on figures other guys are getting, he doesn't deserve a cut. 2005 he was decent; let's face it, lots of injuries besides his also hurt the team last year.
IMO, even at two years older than Bly, he's still a better player. Let's not forget what happened when we let Bailey and Walt Harris leave. From memory, they've done OK for themselves.

Final analysis: keep Springs, forget Bly, trade down the #6 for an extra pick or two and see what happens. Besides, if the Skins were anxious to dump Springs, they could have used their "post-June1" exemption and dumped him March 2nd, while being able to treat him as a June 1st cut. That new rule allows him to hit the market before the money is dried up and the team can move on with their replacement plans.

Of course, the very threat of dumping Springs on June 1st could be a ploy by the Skins to get him to restructure/take a pay cut. So complicated this salary cap game. It all looks like Monopoly money to me.

I don't have a problem paying Springs what is owed him. He signed a contract. The team signed it also. I will say that some players on the team have different values. I give you Samuels as an example....He has restructured almost every year because he knows we maybe close to a championship and he wants to be a part of it. He wants a ring. Some players care more about the money for bills, or retirement, or for whatever reason they have. several other players have restructured also some of them are no spring chicken either. I just wish Springs would restructure knowing he possibly might get a ring and worry about this next year if he's wanting to play for Shanahan.

I'm pretty surprised by the comments in this thread. My feeling is Bly is significantly better than Springs.

If Bly comes along with some picks as we trade down in the draft with Denver, and then we trade Springs for another pick to somebody, I think we will have:

- Gotten younger and more durable at CB.
- Gained draft picks to develop our youth and depth.
- Built an affordable foundation of talent, a much more palatable way to build a team now that average guards are getting $18 million signing bonuses.

I'm pretty surprised by the comments in this thread. My feeling is Bly is significantly better than Springs.

If Bly comes along with some picks as we trade down in the draft with Denver, and then we trade Springs for another pick to somebody, I think we will have:

- Gotten younger and more durable at CB.
- Gained draft picks to develop our youth and depth.
- Built an affordable foundation of talent, a much more palatable way to build a team now that average guards are getting $18 million signing bonuses.

Agree with it all except the point that Bly is significantly better.

Let's break it down:

Bly is 30 before the season starts; Springs is 32 (not a whole lot of difference)

Bly has started at least 10 games in every year or his career; Springs has started at least 10 games in all but two years of his career

Bly may or may not have some character issues; Springs is a character guy and God-fearing (which joe gibbs loves)

Bly is seeking to restructure a deal and get more money/security; Springs is doing the same; Bly would probably command a roughly equal or higher cap hit.

Bly is a local guy who wants to come back home; Springs is also a local guy who loves playing at home also

Bly is currently on the Denver roster but expressed interest in playing here; Springs has expressed interest in playing in Denver but is on our roster

Bly has to come in and learn a whole new system! Springs already knows our system and is poised to contribute if he stays on the roster

That last factor has to be what sways the tide in favor of Springs staying with the redskins