|
Originally Posted by JWsleep
Here's my speculation about the whole situation (this may well duplicate someone else's post, but I've lost track):
End of last season: Gibbs says to his players, "if you want out, tell me, and we'll try to accomodate you." Coles is unhappy, says so, and negotiations begin--in good faith-- between Coles and the FO (INCLUDING Gibbs). Combine the hurt toe, the unhappiness, and the lack of a good passing game, and it's not insane, if they can manage the cap.
The only way a move works for the skins is if they can minimize the cap hit. That requires the Coles payback, in some form or other. Best case scenario: Coles pays back 5mil on the bonus, another team trades a reasonably valuable commodity, and compensates Coles with a new bonus. This has to be done BEFORE March 2 to make the cap hit fall in the right place for the skins. Releasing Coles is the worst-case for the skins, as far as I can tell: huge cap hit and no compensation. Thus, it must be a trade, and soon, with the weird Coles payback, which may violate union and/or league rules.
Still, all this is in motion: Coles's agent begins feeling out possible deals, as do the skins. Gibbs keeps talking to Coles, because a deal is VERY unlikely, and Coles is therefore going to be back next year, and the two sides will have to make the best of it. Still, Gibbs has kept his word to do what he can to move disgruntled players.
Then someone leaks the a version of the situation to the Post, but one stressing that Coles will be released. This effectively kills the prospect of a deal, I bet. Who would trade for a player that's about to be released? Anyway, who whould pay the big bonus money to a player with an attitude, declining production, and a hurt toe? Needless to say, Coles's agent is pissed. His client's trade value has been decreased.
The skins, at least in the person of Joe Gibbs, are pissed as well. It certainly looks like someone inside the skins organization has scuttled the possibility of a deal. So Gibbs goes on air to deny that Coles will be released. That's pretty much the only thing he said clearly in the press conference. And Gibbs seems unable/unwilling to lie. When he doesn't want to answer a question, he gives that hemming and hawing non-response thing. All he said is "NO RELEASE." I take it that's true: the only reasonable deal for the skins is a trade, and this also serve to prop up Coles's trade value.
Bottom line: unless some Portis-like trade deal comes up (Jets?), we're stuck with Coles. I figure we'll know by March 2nd. Then I hope Coles has surgery, gets his head together, and wakes up to the fact that things will in all probability be way better around here as far as long passing is concerned. I'm sure Gibbs is making sure that Coles doesn't feel unwanted, and that he's really a desired player, if things go that way. Again, Gibbs said as much. But if Coles wants out, Gibbs will try to accomodate him, because in the final analysis, he's a player's coach.
As for Danny, I'm not really sure why any of this is his fault, except signing Coles in the first place (which seemed a good move to me at the time). This is an exampe of Gibbs trying to keep his word, not of Danny-boy's meddling, IMHO.
(Sorry for the long post! It's February!)
|