2010 Free Agency and CBA Information

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Well how about this line:

LT Okung
LG Dockery
C Hamilton
RG Kuper
RT L. Jones

Well I don't know if Jones would play RT, maybe we can do what the Ravens did with Oher and put Okung at RT and keep Levi at LT.

I can see why that suggestion would be made but I think whoever is better needs to be at LT; I'd take Gaither over Jones any day and understand why they kept him at LT. No favorites/loyalty needed, Jones isn't good enough for it anyways.

[tryfuhl]

If Brady and Manning types were the only ones making a million then a lot of people would be earning about 80k and might think about putting their degrees to use. That's the silliest thing that I've heard in awhile.

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

If Brady and Manning types were the only ones making a million then a lot of people would be earning about 80k and might think about putting their degrees to use. That's the silliest thing that I've heard in awhile.

Silliest thing I have heard in awhile is a NFL Players strike!!!!! Jeez, AH has a $100 million contract guaranteed and he only plays really what, two thirds of a season? Us poor shmucks in Detroit lose our jobs so the automakers keep their profits and bonuses. UAW= U Ain't Workin!!!!!

[tryfuhl]

They need to just extend the current deal a couple of years with an option for a 3rd year if they don't have something worked out by then; get Rosenhaus in there to negotiate.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

They need to just extend the current deal a couple of years with an option for a 3rd year if they don't have something worked out by then; get Rosenhaus in there to negotiate.

As reasonable as your suggestion is, the owners already bowed out of the current deal voluntarily. Extending the current deal is not what they will do.

[GTripp0012]

Wayne Hunter is an intriguing option at RT. He hasn't played a true tackle in three years, instead functioning as a power TE in the Jets' offense, but when you compare that to Ray Willis last year, at least he was on the field a lot for a successful team.

[GTripp0012]

Hamilton is a decent option at guard, he was once a pretty good guard on a very good offensive line, but I don't like Kuper costing us a pick, and the guards market really isn't very competitive at all.

Chester Pitts is the best player out there, but I could see him Franchised (or Transitioned) by Houston. Either way, I'm really not sure that the top end of the guards market is really all that much better than what we have in Dockery/Rinehart/Randy Thomas. Particularly RT, if he's got a year left in that body.

Center and Tackle on the other hand, yeah, we pretty much need to go outside the organization. Edwin Williams at least has a shot at being our next Center, but neither of our next tackles are on the roster.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by Lotus

As reasonable as your suggestion is, the owners already bowed out of the current deal voluntarily. Extending the current deal is not what they will do.

This is true.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Wayne Hunter is an intriguing option at RT. He hasn't played a true tackle in three years, instead functioning as a power TE in the Jets' offense, but when you compare that to Ray Willis last year, at least he was on the field a lot for a successful team.

Like the idea of Wayne Hunter. Especially on a team thats probably going to face it's most difficult task in finding 2 or 3 offensive tackles that can play.

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Hamilton is a decent option at guard, he was once a pretty good guard on a very good offensive line, but I don't like Kuper costing us a pick, and the guards market really isn't very competitive at all.

Center and Tackle on the other hand, yeah, we pretty much need to go outside the organization. Edwin Williams at least has a shot at being our next Center, but neither of our next tackles are on the roster.

Keep in mind Kuper might not cost us any draft picks but if he does it'll probably be one late round pick (4th or 5th, I mean what have guys like Robert Henson and Cody Glenn done for us lately). And for an experienced starter at 27 years of age on the second most difficult position along the line thats not a bad deal. In fact it gives us 3 or 4 years to find a new starter at RG. If our line was in better shape I'd agree about not shelving out any picks for the sake of adding a vet but right now we have two or three good prospects on the line and a lack of time to really develop anyone.

I personally like Edwin Williams and I think with another year or two of development he could easily become a quality starter for us. Still don't sleep on Kory L and especially don't sleep on Rabach in a Zone Blocking Scheme. If we add Kuper and Hamilton then we can leave the interior alone for a good while (two years), adding a part or two along the way. Right now my main concern is the tackle position. Hopefully there will be a surprise release along the way but obviously one of the first two picks will need to be a tackle.

Not sure how Rabach fits into everything but his number indicates that he was actually quite good last year when he got a chance to play. Still I just don't see him as a zone blocker and he doesn't have the same type of expereince that a guy like Dockery has.

As it stands right now we need two tackles that can start next year, one tackle that can back them up, and one tackle that we can possibly develop. We also need a guy that can start at RG and for good measure we'd be well off adding a vet that can play the interior. Obviously I kind of backed into all this but you can see where Im going.

[DIE-NASTY]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

Screw it. These guys need to accept a major paycut.Only the cream of the crop should be making a million a year, and I am talking about Brady, Manning, etc. It is sad when in the summer of '07 the NFL asked the Federal Govt for $2 billion to cover operating costs. Maybe the idiots need to scale down their operations(hype machine). AS for the economy, hell yeah you won't see any football in 2011, nobody is going to be able to afford to go to a game, or probably won't care since they will be using every moment they are awake trying to survive.

No football would make me sad.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Like the idea of Wayne Hunter. Especially on a team thats probably going to face it's most difficult task in finding 2 or 3 offensive tackles that can play.

Keep in mind Kuper might not cost us any draft picks but if he does it'll probably be one late round pick (4th or 5th, I mean what have guys like Robert Henson and Cody Glenn done for us lately). And for an experienced starter at 27 years of age on the second most difficult position along the line thats not a bad deal. In fact it gives us 3 or 4 years to find a new starter at RG. If our line was in better shape I'd agree about not shelving out any picks for the sake of adding a vet but right now we have two or three good prospects on the line and a lack of time to really develop anyone.

I personally like Edwin Williams and I think with another year or two of development he could easily become a quality starter for us. Still don't sleep on Kory L and especially don't sleep on Rabach in a Zone Blocking Scheme. If we add Kuper and Hamilton then we can leave the interior alone for a good while (two years), adding a part or two along the way. Right now my main concern is the tackle position. Hopefully there will be a surprise release along the way but obviously one of the first two picks will need to be a tackle.

Not sure how Rabach fits into everything but his number indicates that he was actually quite good last year when he got a chance to play. Still I just don't see him as a zone blocker and he doesn't have the same type of expereince that a guy like Dockery has.

As it stands right now we need two tackles that can start next year, one tackle that can back them up, and one tackle that we can possibly develop. We also need a guy that can start at RG and for good measure we'd be well off adding a vet that can play the interior. Obviously I kind of backed into all this but you can see where Im going.

There have been reports that Kuper may be good enough to fit the power blocking system that McD wants to implement. So he and Clady may be the only Shanahan players that McD would want to keep. It'd be nice if McD let's him walk though, he'd be a nice addition to our team.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

There have been reports that Kuper may be good enough to fit the power blocking system that McD wants to implement. So he and Clady may be the only Shanahan players that McD would want to keep. It'd be nice if McD let's him walk though, he'd be a nice addition to our team.

Crap, and here I was hoping for a fire sale of all things Zone Blocking in Denver.

In the meantime heres a few things I was told by Denver fans regarding Kuper:

Kuper is a RG, he hasn't played RT for Shanny. In 2008 Kuper did not allow a sack in the ZBS. You can have him for a 4th rd pick, i'll take the pick now if you have it with you.

You can have Hamilton...he can play guard or center, but his play has dropped off drastically the last two years (even when we still ran a ZBS). Kuper won't be cut...he is a RFA, and will likely be resigned. He played some RT in training camp a few years ago, but he is much better at RG. He could probably be had for a 3rd rounder, but I think its very unlikely he isn't retained.

Kuper is a RFA, so it will be up to the Broncos whether or not he walks. I think this board is pretty split as to whether or not he will be back. Personally, I think he will.

Chris Kuper (OG) - I don't agree he doesn't fit McDainel's system, but many in here do

Kuper, as far as I know, has only every played guard (college and pro). I don't see him playing RT. He's started 31 games at right guard the last 2 years, and I think he's only allowed 2 sacks. I'd hate to see him leave the Broncos.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Crap, and here I was hoping for a fire sale of all things Zone Blocking in Denver.

Here's a link on that story, this if from Jan 12th....

A big change likely brewing in Denver - AFC West Blog - ESPN

Dennison is a fine coach, but now McDaniels can do what he is most comfortable with. That may mean some change in personnel. Denver loves tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris. Right guard Chris Kuper is also big enough to make the transition.

But Denver could try to make changes at left guard and center where Ben Hamilton and Casey Wiegmann started, respectively.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Here's a link on that story, this if from Jan 12th....

A big change likely brewing in Denver - AFC West Blog - ESPN

Well at least we get Hamilton. That leaves us with the need for one more decent prospect at Guard. Like I said before I like the idea of Kory L. and Edwin Williams starting for us down the line, though I'm not sure how soon they can do it. Actually now that you mention it the interior of the line could easily end up looking like this.

LG - Dockery - Hamilton
C- Rabach - Williams
RG - Kory L. - Rabach

Rabach would pretty much be saved if he proves he can be a zone blocker and we don't bring in another proven vet. Colledge would also be a nice fit at guard if we could get him.

[GMScud]

Here's another interesting wrinkle regarding RFA's:

Teams have a fifth option for RFA tenders | ProFootballTalk.com