John Lynch to be released

I agree that Lynch would be an upgrade, but 1. He will be too expensive, he has not shown a year of diminished skill and therefore will be demanding "in my prime" money" and #2 He is 32 years old, reminds me too much of another DB that we signed and ended up being washed up when he showed up...give ya a hint he fields punts with his facemask

Sounds like he could be headed to the Jets anyway, he's really tight with Herm Edwards

I'd rather have Taylor for roughly the same amount of money.

if the pay is right I'd love for him to sign on. which safety spot is his strongest? think of how much better he could make taylor if we draft him. heck he could possibly even tutor Bowens and Ohalete enough to make them atleast representable safeties. but I also think his signing would be awesome in that we shored up our safety spot with a big upgrade and allow us to draft winslow or trade down knowing our safety isn't the weakest link on the defense anymore.

I'd rather have Taylor for roughly the same amount of money.
True. The guy has been compared to RWilliams - except that Taylor is said to be quicker and possess better cover skills.

Lynch has said it wasn't about the money. He loves the game so much etc. Maybe he won't be too expensive? I for one would love to have him and Taylor back there. With the 5th rd pick back, do we draft Taylor and a CB and concentrate on shoreing up the DL through FA and undrafted?

According to the Orlando Sentinel (Chris Harry is an excellent NFL beat reporter), the Bucs will retain Lynch's rights and hope to trade him. The team gave Lynch's agent permission to shop Lynch around the league and to try to make a deal for him. The Orlando Sentinel says that the Bucs are looking to get a sixth round pick next year for Lynch.

Lynch already offered to take a large salary cut (he was going to make $4.1M next year in Tampa) to stay with the Bucs but the team decided to go with Jermaine Phillips instead.

Next year's sixth round pick is not much of a price for guy who has a couple of good years left in him. And if he was willing to take a large cut from $4.1M to play next year, that sounds pretty reasonable to me...

if that's all it takes and he's willing to renegotiate his contract then there is no question u try and make this deal. a 6th rounder for one of the best players at his position? no-brainer imo.

According to the Orlando Sentinel (Chris Harry is an excellent NFL beat reporter), the Bucs will retain Lynch's rights and hope to trade him. The team gave Lynch's agent permission to shop Lynch around the league and to try to make a deal for him. The Orlando Sentinel says that the Bucs are looking to get a sixth round pick next year for Lynch.

Lynch already offered to take a large salary cut (he was going to make $4.1M next year in Tampa) to stay with the Bucs but the team decided to go with Jermaine Phillips instead.

Next year's sixth round pick is not much of a price for guy who has a couple of good years left in him. And if he was willing to take a large cut from $4.1M to play next year, that sounds pretty reasonable to me...

They will release him they have no leverage, I don't know why they are even bothering to hang on, they won't pay him on his original contract and they won't pay him even if he takes a significant pay cut, everyone know's it, so why would he exept a trade when he can be an unrestricted free agent and go any where he want's? sound's like this new GM the buc's have isn't to bright, or he think's everyone else is stupid.

The reasons the Bucs are letting him shop for a deal are several-fold.

1. They don't owe him a dime until he is due to get a roster bonus in mid-May. They will put him on the waiver wire instead of paying him, but until then, they can try for a low round draft pick next year.

2. Other teams that need/want Lynch are motivated to pay a 6th round pick next year and negotiate a new deal with Lynch's agent so that they do not get caught up in any kind of bidding war to sign him as a free agent. For the price of a 6th rounder next year, you are sure to get a solid player at a price that you and he negotiate.

3. John Lynch is providing a home for Herm Edwards' son in Florida as the kid finished high school there. Edwards wanted him to finish school there and left him in Lynch's care when Herm went off to NY. So if you are a team other than the Jets and you want Lynch, it behooves you to make a deal now with the Bucs. I think there is some "bonding" between Lynch and Edwards here...

Be careful about calling the new GM in Tampa an idiot. He is the son of George Allen who has some "Redskins credentials". Lots of folks here might not think that Redskins heroes produce idiotic offspring. ;)