Springs, Washington, and Griffin...

Asomugha will command more than Nate Clements on the open market ($20 million bonus, $80 million total).

The excess cap space teams have found themselves with in recent Marches has led to excess inflation on free agent "prime age" players. Players like Shawn Springs, who don't fit that prime age, go for much less and return better value for the dollar.

Case in point: Derrick Dockery gets $49 million at age 27, Pete Kendall gets $3.5 million at age 35. Recognizing that Kendall was acquired in a trade and then renegotiated, but still. That's the recent trend.I definately understand. But I'll entertain the dream of a Rogers-Asomugha CB duo until the day Nnamdi signs elsewhere. At the very least, we should investigate the possibility.

I'm thinking it would not be a stretch at all to suggest that those two are the two best CBs in the NFL right now.

all three of these players are valuable to our team. springs is a must keep imo, smoot isnt good enough for a #2 corner at this point. griffin may not be putting up huge numbers like he did in his first season but he is still a good run stopper and we should hang onto him. i am getting tired of marcus washington missing games with nagging injuries but he is still a very good linebacker. if possible we should keep all of them

This is a really interesting subject...
im pissed with springs lately...the man plays amaxing when in...but i dont know if his heart is in the game anymore.
I can see if we get a dominant lb in the offseason marcus being released.
I love the guy but this year he just seems to have lost his fire.
And griffin, that is a tough call. There are plenty of ur guys that will be up for extensions or resigining this year...
I truly believe we need to lock up campbell, and moss.
i believe carlos needs an extension as well. But if hte cba falters...why does any of this matter?

I'm not questioning Springs' willingness to play hurt as he's played hurt alot over the last few years, but..

If he can't be on the field consistently, why would we want to resign him? He's great when he's on the field.

I'm not questioning Springs' willingness to play hurt as he's played hurt alot over the last few years, but..

If he can't be on the field consistently, why would we want to resign him? He's great when he's on the field.

As much as I like SS when healthy on the field. They guy can't stay healthy or on the field. Every sense hes been here its been one thing after another in relation to injuries. The birthdays have caught up to Shawn, if you can't stay on the field and earn your paycheck your useless. We certainly can't afford to have an old #1 CB next season again thats good for half the season, that makes no sense.

I don't think especially after at least the start of this season or lack there of SS will be back next year OR even in this league for that matter. I think it's going to be time to move on, the guy makes way to much money to be on the sidelines every game watching the team play. And I think we have seen Los take the needed steps to be the #1.

I would like to see Griff back next season if workable. MW is still a serviceable LB for the right price.

Springs is a keeper...no brainer IMO,
Griffin is a keeper too, because our DT's are young and ok..we have no real depth.
Washington on the other hand, is underperforming and probably should be benched or used to rush the passer on 3rd and long or something.
The reason that hasn't been done yet?....intangibles, intensity, leadership....and tangibles.
Is HB Blades actually better than a old M Washington?
Right now, its probably a break even...so why mess with it?
I just dont see the upside right now.

The off season is a different story.
Washington will have to be cut or become the 4th LB, unless he gets his crap together.

I think responses like skinsfan_nn are appropriate here: you have to look at each situation in isolation after factoring other things like the cap, current personnel at each position, the draft and the free agency market.

First off, think about the cap: My thinking is that all three of these guys are probably capable of producing but are they worthwhile at their current salaries? I would say a healthy Springs warrants the salary and the other two do not. So the second question is whether they are willing to negotiate. If not, then I think you could likely see either of them gone after the June cuts because at this point the cap hit won't be monumental for either.

Second: Current personnel at each position understanding that you can't just think about starters but also have to consider depth. I think we have weak depth at linebacker. After Blades, who do we have? I'd say the same thing at DT. In fact, I think you can make an argument that Griffin is the only tackle with any pass rushing capabilities at this point. At cornerback we have two solid players but also no depth. In other words, I don't think any of these units is strong enough to justify an outright cut. It's not like we have a star waiting in the wings at any of these units or have depth at any of these units.

Third, you take into account the market. This is the area I'm probably least knowledgeable about but if free agency or the draft is strong in linebackers and defensive tackles for instance, I think that impacts your thinking on those positions. It looks as if there may be some players along the D-line available in free agency so that may impact the situation with Griffin.

Finally you need to consider chemistry. These guys aren't playing fantasy football. What would the impact be if we were to suddenly cut three guys who are considered leaders on the defensive side of the ball? Are these guys leaders in the locker room? Do they have a positive effect on the younger players?

In general, the question of cutting veterans is a pretty complex one. Just trying to outline some of the considerations.

...could be released next year to trim 14 million from the cap. They play great when healthy, and I love them all, but they each miss games because of injuries fairly regularly. Do you guys (and girls) think that they could do anything this year on the field that could convince management to keep them (barring a salary cut)?

I think it would take a Pro Bowl for Springs. Washington and Griffin would have to play amazing down the stretch and in the post season.

This team needs a major infusion of youth along the O line, D line and LB. The only way to do that is to part ways with Springs, Washington and Griffin. Griff could come back for a reduced salary, but seriously, when was the last time anyone remembers Marcus Washington making a big play? And Springs isn't worth 5 mill for 10 games a season.

We have got to get younger and faster and that starts by shedding the older players who are not playing up to their salary status.

Hail from DC Pro Sports Report, BTW!

This team needs a major infusion of youth along the O line, D line and LB. The only way to do that is to part ways with Springs, Washington and Griffin. Griff could come back for a reduced salary, but seriously, when was the last time anyone remembers Marcus Washington making a big play? And Springs isn't worth 5 mill for 10 games a season.

We have got to get younger and faster and that starts by shedding the older players who are not playing up to their salary status.

Hail from DC Pro Sports Report, BTW!

add in JT and the total is like, 22mill for next year alone.