Quote:
Originally Posted by GusFrerotte
Exactly. Both are probably the major reason why we haven't, but I think the others are also correct. The FA pool this year are mostly 30 year olds or higher. The change in direction and putting more emphasis on the draft will yield nice results. I just hope our scouts step up there game and we do draft to cover needs.
|
This is the most important point. As long as we maximize every draft pick, that is all I ask. If every player we draft becomes a good pro that will go along way to getting us back to the playoffs. Not drafting well top to bottom in the draft is what has hurt us most since Snyder took over and is a big reason why he gets bashed.
If you look at the top five winning teams in the NFL from 2000-2008
1) New England
2) Philadelphia
3) Pittsburgh
4) Green Bay
5) Colts
Besides being very good at drafting players, they are not the consistent/usual big spenders in the FA market. I am not saying they do not spend in FA. New England has spent big here and there. But overall they are not the big spenders like the Redskins.
What really impresses me about these 5 teams is every two to three years they make the very difficult decision to not re-sign some of their own very expensive FA. Some of them pro bowl level players. They just let them go and replace them with recently drafted rookies.
This keeps them young and keeps their payroll in better shape. They keep winning.