Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I think we need to continue to be financially prudent. So he comes here, then Rocky gets healthy and then what? We have two starting LBs, one with a huge contract and one who is a wasted draft pick if he doesn't play.

Let's draft one in the mid to late rounds, continue to use Blades and Godfrey and wait and hope Rocky gets healthy.

With Gibbs gone, it's going to be interesting to see just what type aproach the FO is going use in it's atempt to acquire talent.

Briggs will probably be coveted, but it could be a difficult deal to do. I would pass on it and rather consider both O & D lines. Blades has potential, but the status of Godfrey is uncertain because he had considered retirement prior to coming back last year.

[hail_2_da_skins]

Why all this talk about over-priced free agents? The Redskins need to go in a different direction and acquire younger more durable players through the draft. Cut or trade the dead weight and get draft picks.

[BigSKINBauer]

if the money is works out i think he would be great. I remember when we almost got him a while back. I am pretty sure i wanted him back then. Obviously, I would love chad johnson too but i don't think our salary cap could even come close to it. We are in pretty bad cap space going into next year. Other teams probably can outbid us but when danny boy wants, danny boy gets. Even if we could do it next year it puts us in shackles for years after. I guess i am for a passive approach and getting our finances back in order over the next two or three years. That is boring though and signing big name players is fun. Doesn't really work with us but it is definitely fun...

Moreover, we're the Washington Mother Fucking Redskins; the salary cap works around us. When is cap hell coming?

[SmootSmack]

So with Blache's increased role I wonder if this improves the chances of Briggs coming here. They were together for one year in 2003.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

According to this article, Lance Briggs is considering testing the free agent market. As you'll recall, we almost traded for him, but the Bears wanted Rocky McIntosh and we balked. Pretty good move that we did, as Rocky has turned into a fine player.

But now that Rocky is hurt and won't play for much of 2008 (and if he plays at all he won't be himself), do we consider signing Briggs?

Before we jump on the cost issue, let me say that if the Skins want him, they can make cap room for him without much trouble. That will not be a big issue. Where we'd get into cap trouble is if we tried to sign three or four studs like Briggs.

I think we should go for it. He's had an amazing season in a year when Chicago's D has been off. He's actually been better than Urlacher this year. I'm all for a prudent move here or there in free agency, without overdoing it. He'll be expensive, but the talent is crazy. This should be our one free agent signing, IMO.

SI.com - NFL - Briggs wants to test free agency waters - Wednesday December 19, 2007 7:31PM

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! O-line and a pass rushing DE!!!!

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Honestly, for once, my predictions for the upcoming year are no longer based on any type of example.

With Cerrato now leading the team (in essence) and a WHOLE new crew of coordinators, I'm using purely guess-work. I'd say and hope that Vinny and Danny both learned from the short Gibbs-era and would exercise some prudence when it comes to the salary cap.

While we might take a step back next year, it's wise to be smart financially so we can make steps in the future. We as a fan base are so incredibly impatient, we need to learn, just like the upper management to exercise some rationality.

[BrunellMVP?]

no reason to sign briggs unless he's willing to give us a washington discount...

[freddyg12]

In all fairness, let's not forget that the new collective bargaining agreement was signed in 06, which allowed us to avoid "cap hell" or perhaps cap purgatory at least. If a new deal was not struck we would've had some serious decisions to make.

Restructuring & pushing bonuses back eventually catches up & we've seen it before. The Skins have adjusted to the cap well, and have shown restraint when they've had to, e.g. the 05 & 07 offseasons.

[GTripp0012]

But the 23 million over the cap figure also contains a roster bonus to Cooley that is worth like 12 million, and he's going to receive it as a signing bonus, which will shave 10 million dollars off that 23 million number.

Realistically, we are working 13 million over right now.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

But the 23 million over the cap figure also contains a roster bonus to Cooley that is worth like 12 million, and he's going to receive it as a signing bonus, which will shave 10 million dollars off that 23 million number.

Realistically, we are working 13 million over right now.

Excellent point. The last time I ran that cap analysis, Cooley's new contract wasn't yet reflected in Canuck's cap sheets, and yet I was still going off King's number of $20 million over which included the $12 million roster bonus.

Long story short, I need to update my numbers. I'll do so in a new thread. The picture just got singificantly better.

[GTripp0012]

In reality, the ONLY two numbers that count towards the salary cap is a) money that is guarenteed, and b) money that has been earned.

Everything else is just a projection of salary to be earned and has no tangible value on the cap itself.

As Schneed just mentioned, $25 million dollars over five years was the deal that Fletcher signed to play here. However, Fletcher received 10.5 million of that as a SB, and earned $900,000 in base salary last year. Add the 900,000 to the 10.5 mil and Fletcher has EARNED 11.4 ish million as a Redskin. So that 25 million dollar contract is only worth 11.4 million if Fletcher never plays another down of football as a Redskin.

Now, out of that 11.4 million, only 3 million has been recorded to the cap in a prior year. So if the Redskins were to release Fletcher, they would owe the remaining 8.4 million to the 2008 cap. That is to say the Redskins have no way of not paying that 8.4 million at some point. It's being spread over the life of the contract, but the Redskins are on the hook for 8.4 million to Fletcher no matter what.

Now, when Fletcher gets paid for the 2008 season, the Redskins will owe him another 1.3 million in base salary. That, as well as another portion of his SB, is scheduled to hit the cap this year. Assuming no restructuring, that's 3.5 million against the 2008 cap, and then Fletcher is owed the remaining EARNED 6.3 million over the final three years of the deal.

But yeah, that's the rough n' simple version.

[celts32]

Honestly even after the Rocky injury I didn't see LB as a glaring weakness. Sure i don't have coaches tape or anything but I saw every play live or on TV and I don't ever remember thinking what is that guy doing on the field about one of our LB replacements. What we need to do is convince Godfrey to play another season.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by celts32

Honestly even after the Rocky injury I didn't see LB as a glaring weakness. Sure i don't have coaches tape or anything but I saw every play live or on TV and I don't ever remember thinking what is that guy doing on the field about one of our LB replacements. What we need to do is convince Godfrey to play another season.

I agree, unless there's a plan to draft someone to groom for Marcus Washinton's spot. I don't believe they're planning that far ahead though.

If Godfrey comes back, he along with H.B. Blades should do fine even in Rocky's absence. Maybe they pick up one more experienced vet who can fill in.