Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

EDGERRIN “PLEADS” WITH CARDINALS FOR RELEASE
Posted by Mike Florio on March 3, 2009, 8:52 p.m.

With free agency in full gear and guys getting paid (albeit not the huge chunks they might have wanted), one player continues to be kept on the sidelines.

Cardinals running back Edgerrin James, to whom the team surely won’t pay $5 million in base salary next season after being benched midway through the last one, has been asking for his release since last November.

He has said he was under the impression that it would come after the season. But it still hasn’t.

Per a league source, James has spoken to G.M. Rod Graves, and James has pleaded with Graves to release the veteran tailback. James’ thinking is that, if they’re going to cut him anyway at some point before the season, why not cut him now?

The Cardinals are fully within their rights to squat on James’ contract. But what do they gain from it? More than a few veteran players were dumped prior to free agency to give them a fair crack at the open market.

If the Cardinals plan to keep James and pay him $5 million in 2009, they need to say so. If they don’t, then they should let the guy try to find a job elsewhere.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

Igor Olshansky looks good. He has good height and weight to stuff the run and probably muster some pressure on the QB. He was overshadowed by Jammal Williams on SD's d-line but if we put him next to Haynesworth, Jacobs and Barber will have trouble running up the gut. For me its between Igor and Demetric @ DE unless a better DE is released between now and September and also, Chris Wilson proved he has good pass rushing skills to rotate in pass situations.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

Isn't khalif barnes and angelo crowell still on The market

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=Ruhskins;533238]Just a random note, Ebenezer Ekuban is from the area (I went to high school with him). Too bad he's getting up there in age (33) otherwise I would say let's take a look at him.

For anyone interested here are the Scouts Inc rankings on these players (highest ranking given to a DE is to Seymour in NE - 91)

[B][I]Name Team Rank (notes)[/I][/B]
Berry, ARZ, 71 (note age: 33; 22 tkls/5 sacks in '08)
Davis, ATL, 58 (young: 26; 38 tkls/4 sacks in '08)
Ekuban, DEN, 58 (age an issue: 33; local ties; 38 tks/5 sacks in '08)
Thomas, IND, 57 (age: 27; 28 tkls/0 sacks in '08; face looks weird)
Roye, PIT, 54 (too old: 36; missed a lot of games last season)
Olshansky, SAD, 79 (young: 26; 29 tkls/2 sacks in '08; 3-4 DE, pass rusher)
Green, SAF, (listed as a LB on ESPN)
Carter, TAB, 63 (old: 36; 49 tkls/1 ff/4 sacks)[/quote]

Thanks for the rank numbers Ruhskins. I was told Davis got signed. I havnt seen anything on that. can anyone else confirm this?
Chauncey Davis, DE Height: 6-2 Weight: 274 Age: 26 [url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7304]Chauncey Davis - Atlanta Falcons - NFL - Yahoo! Sports[/url]

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=44ever;533496]Thanks for the rank numbers Ruhskins. I was told Davis got signed. I havnt seen anything on that. can anyone else confirm this?
Chauncey Davis, DE Height: 6-2 Weight: 274 Age: 26 [URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7304"]Chauncey Davis - Atlanta Falcons - NFL - Yahoo! Sports[/URL][/quote]Confirmed.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=Hamoskinz;533459]Igor Olshansky looks good. He has good height and weight to stuff the run and probably muster some pressure on the QB. He was overshadowed by Jammal Williams on SD's d-line but if we put him next to Haynesworth, Jacobs and Barber will have trouble running up the gut. For me its between Igor and Demetric @ DE unless a better DE is released between now and September and also, Chris Wilson proved he has good pass rushing skills to rotate in pass situations.[/quote]We're not going to get a shot at Igor, I hear he's signing in GB soon.

Unless Demetric has a terrible visit, he's probably with SF signing tomorrow.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=GTripp0012;533504]We're not going to get a shot at Igor, I hear he's signing in GB soon.

Unless Demetric has a terrible visit, he's probably with SF signing tomorrow.[/quote]

Why do u suppose the FO let Evans go? Why cut Taylor but not turn around and address our needs?

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=The Goat;533506]Why do u suppose the FO let Evans go? Why cut Taylor but not turn around and address our needs?[/quote]Oh, we'll spend, we just never even offered Evans a contract. We're simply not interested in bringing him back.

The DE market goes about 11 deep with average talent, so we'll have no problem finding a LE if we don't get Orakpo in the draft. No problem at all.

Redskins Insider is reporting that Pete Kendall is the next target. I'd imagine we will make a serious run at Ray Willis very soon.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=GTripp0012;533508]Oh, we'll spend, we just never even offered Evans a contract. We're simply not interested in bringing him back.

The DE market goes about 11 deep with average talent, so we'll have no problem finding a LE if we don't get Orakpo in the draft. No problem at all.

Redskins Insider is reporting that Pete Kendall is the next target. I'd imagine we will make a serious run at Ray Willis very soon.[/quote]

Well that thats the only logical way to see it GT. If we wanted Evans, obviously we could get him.. Guess we sit tight and watch

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

Terrell Suggs 26 Baltimore 99 ← Franchise
Julius Peppers 29 Carolina 94 ← Franchise
Chris Canty 26 Dallas NY Giants 87
Bertrand Berry 34 Arizona 84
Jason Taylor 35 Washington 82
Paul Spicer 34 Jacksonville 81
Kevin Carter 35 Tampa Bay 80
Josh Thomas 28 Indianapolis 80
Antonio Smith 27 Arizona Houston 80
Marques Douglas 32 Baltimore 79
Demetric Evans 29 Washington San Francisco79 (projection)
Igor Olshansky 27 San Diego 79
Chauncey Davis 26 Atlanta Atlanta 79
Ebenezer Ekuban 33 Denver 79
Phillip Daniels 36 Washington 78
Anthony Weaver 29 Houston 78
C.J. Mosley 26 NY Jets Jacksonville 78 (projection)
David Bowens 32 NY Jets 78
Michael Montgomery26 Green Bay 78
Vonnie Holliday 33 Miami 77
Jason Babin 29 Kansas City 75
Jerome McDougal 30 NY Giants 71

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=GTripp0012;533508]Oh, we'll spend, we just never even offered Evans a contract. We're simply not interested in bringing him back.

The DE market goes about 11 deep with average talent, so we'll have no problem finding a LE if we don't get Orakpo in the draft. No problem at all.

Redskins Insider is reporting that Pete Kendall is the next target. I'd imagine we will make a serious run at Ray Willis very soon.[/quote]

I know we all have our favorite resources (disclaimer) but walterfootball has from the beginning of the off-season listed Evans as one of the top DE available, and more specifically the best coming out of a 4-3 system. The guys listed after him are either 1) older (and probably much more worn because Evans really hasn't taken much abuse and hasn't suffered any injuries 2) designated as situational pass-rushers 3) coming off injuries.

... i can't really understand why the FO is down on Evans.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

Just throwing this idea out there: Terrell Suggs is the best linebacker in the game. If we sign him to an offer sheet, it costs us two first round picks. But he's only 26, so if say, we're planning on locking on Orakpo, why not instead just give Suggs a poison pill loaded deal to leave Baltimore?

There's a bunch of problems with that, like it would cost us our first round pick in 2010 as well as the No. 13 pick this year...but it IS Terrell Suggs.

This only occurred to me because I was contemplating why no team ever uses the Exclusive Franchise Tag. The obvious reason is that teams feel that they'd take two first round picks for ANY player on their team.

But if I am Ozzie Newsome, and some team -- let's say the Giants -- offers me a first rounder in 2009 and a first rounder in 2010 for a 26 year old Terrell Suggs, I'm telling them to get lost.

Granted, it's an obscene price to pay. But Suggs, Haynesworth, Rogers, and Landry on the same defense? Holy motherf-ing god.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=GTripp0012;533512]Terrell Suggs 26 Baltimore 99 ← Franchise
Julius Peppers 29 Carolina 94 ← Franchise
Chris Canty 26 Dallas NY Giants 87
Bertrand Berry 34 Arizona 84
Jason Taylor 35 Washington 82
Paul Spicer 34 Jacksonville 81
Kevin Carter 35 Tampa Bay 80
Josh Thomas 28 Indianapolis 80
Antonio Smith 27 Arizona Houston 80
Marques Douglas 32 Baltimore 79
Demetric Evans 29 Washington San Francisco79 (projection)
Igor Olshansky 27 San Diego 79
Chauncey Davis 26 Atlanta Atlanta 79
Ebenezer Ekuban 33 Denver 79
Phillip Daniels 36 Washington 78
Anthony Weaver 29 Houston 78
C.J. Mosley 26 NY Jets Jacksonville 78 (projection)
David Bowens 32 NY Jets 78
Michael Montgomery26 Green Bay 78
Vonnie Holliday 33 Miami 77
Jason Babin 29 Kansas City 75
Jerome McDougal 30 NY Giants 71[/quote]

Antonio Smith signed w/ the Texans. Josh Thomas is a decent run-stopper but almost never gets to the QB (and plays opposite a monster).

... it almost looks like in order to upgrade on Evans we're set on drafting a DE very high... worries the hell out of me.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

And if you think we can land any of the big four tackles or Alex Mack, then forget I wrote.

But ask yourself this: If your only two choices are to have Brian Cushing and a first round pick in 2010, or Terrell Suggs and no first round pick in 2010, what do you do?

I know what I'm doing.

Re: 2009 Free Agents
 

[quote=GTripp0012;533519]And if you think we can land any of the big four tackles or Alex Mack, then forget I wrote.

But ask yourself this: If your only two choices are to have Brian Cushing and a first round pick in 2010, or Terrell Suggs and no first round pick in 2010, what do you do?

I know what I'm doing.[/quote]

Take Rey Maualuga.

... and Evans :D