Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post - In a Perfect World: A Look Back at the 'Skins Major Offseason Moves

Sheriff Gonna Getcha · 07-22-2004, 11:08 PM

WOW!!!! This one is WAY out there. Go through any season since the NFL started, and list 50% of the drafted players that YOU think lived up to their billing. You will have a tough time getting to 20%!!!

Easy Hogskin, relax, this is a friendly discussion.

The bottom line is you appear to disagree with me as to how to build a solid franchise. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe in building a team via the draft whereas you prefer to do so in free agency.

I think that the teams that have been solid in recent years are those teams that have the ability to draft well (i.e. the Patriots, Eagles and Ravens). The teams like the 'Skins of 2000 do not tend to last, cost a lot of money, and underperform. It's interesting, if not telling, that teams like the Patriots hoard draft picks while the 'Skins give them away.

Andy Reid says that he pays for the future and not the past. Danny Snyder seems to pay for the past and not the future (although that might be changing). If you draft well, as the 'Skins have recently when they have picks, you build a solid base. Look at our recent drafts and for every disappointment, we will find a hidden gem. Don't look at just one round (i.e. the third), look at every round. Also, don't expect to always get a Pro-Bowler in the 5th, 6th, and 7th rounds.

I think we've done a damn good job of drafting in the high rounds in the past decade and done a good job of getting good values from the mid-rounds whereas the majority of the free agents Dan Snyder has signed have been disappointments.

Also, if you look back at my proposed draft picks, I did not even talk about rounds 4-7, I only spoke about rounds 1-3 with only one of my proposed picks in the 3rd round. So how is it that you are saying that I talked about a bunch of sure-thing third rounders?

We have a pretty solid history of drafting well, so let's play to our strengths and build through the draft. Our track record for free agent acquisitions is much worse. Free agency should be used to add a few players who push you over the top, not to rebuild an entire roster. This is the NFL were talking about not Madden 2005, you can't simply disable the salary cap when it is convenient.

So with all this in mind, I have a few friendly questions for you (I did not mean for that sentence to sound obnoxious).

1. Of our first round picks of the last few years, who has been a bust or disappointment?

2. Of our second round picks from the last few years, who has been a bust or disappointment?

3. Of our major free agency acquisitions, who have been busts and who have been great bargains?

3. Do you think that we have drafted or handled free agency better since Dan Snyder has been here? [B]

07-22-2004, 11:08 PM	#5
Sheriff Gonna Getcha Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 46 Posts: 8,317	WOW!!!! This one is WAY out there. Go through any season since the NFL started, and list 50% of the drafted players that YOU think lived up to their billing. You will have a tough time getting to 20%!!! Easy Hogskin, relax, this is a friendly discussion. The bottom line is you appear to disagree with me as to how to build a solid franchise. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe in building a team via the draft whereas you prefer to do so in free agency. I think that the teams that have been solid in recent years are those teams that have the ability to draft well (i.e. the Patriots, Eagles and Ravens). The teams like the 'Skins of 2000 do not tend to last, cost a lot of money, and underperform. It's interesting, if not telling, that teams like the Patriots hoard draft picks while the 'Skins give them away. Andy Reid says that he pays for the future and not the past. Danny Snyder seems to pay for the past and not the future (although that might be changing). If you draft well, as the 'Skins have recently when they have picks, you build a solid base. Look at our recent drafts and for every disappointment, we will find a hidden gem. Don't look at just one round (i.e. the third), look at every round. Also, don't expect to always get a Pro-Bowler in the 5th, 6th, and 7th rounds. I think we've done a damn good job of drafting in the high rounds in the past decade and done a good job of getting good values from the mid-rounds whereas the majority of the free agents Dan Snyder has signed have been disappointments. Also, if you look back at my proposed draft picks, I did not even talk about rounds 4-7, I only spoke about rounds 1-3 with only one of my proposed picks in the 3rd round. So how is it that you are saying that I talked about a bunch of sure-thing third rounders? We have a pretty solid history of drafting well, so let's play to our strengths and build through the draft. Our track record for free agent acquisitions is much worse. Free agency should be used to add a few players who push you over the top, not to rebuild an entire roster. This is the NFL were talking about not Madden 2005, you can't simply disable the salary cap when it is convenient. So with all this in mind, I have a few friendly questions for you (I did not mean for that sentence to sound obnoxious). 1. Of our first round picks of the last few years, who has been a bust or disappointment? 2. Of our second round picks from the last few years, who has been a bust or disappointment? 3. Of our major free agency acquisitions, who have been busts and who have been great bargains? 3. Do you think that we have drafted or handled free agency better since Dan Snyder has been here? [B]