Sound_n_Fury

Even if you discount AW, the average salary of the top 5 CBs this year is $6.4 million (the figure used for the franchise tag). It'll likely be $8 million-plus by 2006.

IMO, no corner is worth the mega-bucks being thown at them today. Look at the following article and tell me a CB is worth more than a QB to any team: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/arti...urricane_force/ "In an oddity that some find difficult to explain, the five highest-paid cornerbacks in the league last year banked more on average ($8.816 million) than the five highest-paid quarterbacks ($8.078 million)."

http://www.stadiumwall.com/index.php?showtopic=22588

I've always thought that Ralph forced the DeHaven firing....

The problem with all the dead time seems to be a lack of callers. The on-air guys then have to then prattle on to fill the time until the next commercial break. The idea of more interviews is great, but I suspect it would cost more in terms of Producers, etc. WGR seems like it's cutting back on costs now that Empire is out of the way. Oh well, maybe we can get back to normal once Training Camp opens up.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050420/4032142.asp West Texas A&M football coach Ronnie Jones resigned Tuesday after a university investigation found he was operating a marketing business from his school office. Athletics Director Ed Harris said in a statement that Jones used state and school resources for personal gain, "taking advantage of West Texas A&M property, facilities, funds, information technology resources, equipment, supplies, services and employee time." No one answered Tuesday evening at an Amarillo telephone number for Jones, a former Buffalo Bills special teams coach who was suspended with pay last week. Harris said Jones, who compiled a 5-27 record in three seasons with the Division II school, abused his authority, exerting undue influence on student-athletes and employees by soliciting memberships in his marketing venture. Jones was a Bills assistant in 2000 under head coach Wade Phillips.

That's my thought, as well. Matthews will play "mentor" for a year, and be like another coach on the field (like Frank Reich and the Doughboy used to do with JK). I'm not sure Holcomb would be as effective in this teaching/confidence building capacity.

Opps...forgot about that. Sigh.

Gibbs, Cerrato Clash Over Plans for Top Pick Statements Raise Questions Over Who Is Running Redskins By Jason LaCanfora and Mark Maske Washington Post Staff Writers Tuesday, April 19, 2005; 4:19 PM The Washington Redskins issued a series of contradictory statements today about whether they were willing to trade their first-round pick in Saturday's NFL draft, adding to the uncertainty about the fate of the selection and raising questions about who is running the team. Coach Joe Gibbs found himself in the odd position of refuting a statement released earlier in the day by vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato and a story on the team's own Web site. The relationship between vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato, owner Dan Snyder and Joe Gibbs, above, has been controversial because the team does not have a general manager to handle personnel issues. (Jonathan Newton - The Washington Post) The team's Web site, matching a news release sent out by the team this morning, reported that the Redskins "will use their first-round pick to select a player in this weekend's upcoming draft" and Cerrato said, "We are not trading that pick." But in his own statement Gibbs provided one of those contrary reports when he said the team will "consider anything." "Are we considering any options we are presented with? Yes, we'll consider anything," Gibbs said. Team officials said Gibbs was unavailable to be interviewed because he was out of the office. As team president, Gibbs has final say on all personnel decisions. Gibbs said on Friday that the Redskins were discussing trade scenarios with "four or five teams" and that trading down was possible. He reiterated that Monday. The Washington Post, citing league sources, reported this morning that the team is exploring several trade scenarios and one involved obtaining Oakland Raiders cornerback Philip Buchanon and the Raiders' second-round pick, the 38th overall, for Washington's first-round pick. This morning, the Post contacted another source with direct knowledge of the discussions who confirmed that the Redskins and Raiders had talked about a deal for Buchanon and that the Raiders favored the deal. The Associated Press this afternoon confirmed the Redskins-Raiders talks about Buchanon but said the Redskins might trade a lower-round pick for Buchanon. But the Redskins don't have second-round pick and few starting NFL cornerbacks in their prime can be had for anything lower. Cerrato has denied since Thursday that the Redskins have even talked to the Raiders about Buchanon, saying "there is no truth to it." The structure of the Redskins' front office has long been a source of controversy. The team is run by the triumvirate of Cerrato, owner Dan Snyder and Gibbs and does not have a general manager, which critics say is to blame for the team's inability to make the playoffs since 1999. Wide receiver Laveranues Coles believed he had been promised his release by the team's front office in January and instead said he was threatened by Snyder when Coles refused to immediately accept a trade. Coles was eventually traded to the Jets. Linebacker LaVar Arrington remains mired in a dispute with the front office over a $6.5 million bonus payment he believes the team agreed to give him but then left out of his contract. A date has not been set for Arrington's grievance hearing against the team.

The Bills traded a future first round pick in a weak draft (2005) as opposed to the Skins who gave up a first in what looks like a strong one (2006). How many folks bet Washington's #1 pick next year will be a lot higher than the 20th slot the Bills gave up this year? Sound like Gibbs got out-voted on this move by Cerrato (a "yes" man if there ever was one) and Danny-boy. I hope Gibbs takes as much of Snyder's money as he can get and retires next year, just like Spurrier. Who knows, maybe that famous coaching genius, GW, might get the job!

I disagree...second round picks still command significant salary & bonus levels. Look at TH. The general consensus is his $1.25 million cap hit is laughably low. Here are the cap numbers on other recent 2nd/3rd round picks: Josh Reed $855,000 Chris Kelsay $723,750 Ryan Denny $692,500 Coy Wire $990,000 Based on these contracts and factoring inflation, I'll bet a second round pick today commands at least $1 million in cap space each. With only $1.2 million in cap room to play with, they'll have to restructure MW just to get enough to pay the draft choices we now have...let alone any additional choices that might be acquired via trade.

Geez, I've always liked Borges whenever he's been a guest on WGR or Empire, but I'm amazed he'd write such a negative column on a team that's won as much as the Pats have over the past four years. Sounds like Beantown's starting to loose some perspective...

The problem with all these "stockpile draft choice" scenarios is: how are you going to pay for these guys?? The Bills are $1.2 million under the cap now. Even if you restructure MW, they don't have much cap room to sign multiple second and third round picks, let alone first rounders.

NFL: Greeg Easterbrook (of TMQB fame) NHL: Jim Kelley, Harry Neale Play-by-play: Joe Buck, Rick Jenerette

Hey, GW begged Gibbs to pick Sean Taylor last year, and look what a mess that's turning into! http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm If the Skins are targeting Buchanan from Oakland, whose salary is only $1.5 million, it's unlikey they want to pay top dollar for a new long-term contract fro NC. How much cap room does Washington have, anyway?

He makes Kyle Turley look calm and rational.

Geez, all I was proposing was to get back into Round 1 so we'd have a shot at one of the OT's who'll be there at 20-30. That seems realistic in terms of both the cap and what other GMs would be willing to do with TD.

He's been given the franchise tag, but has not signed the one-year tender offer yet. Seattle's asking for less than a #1 pick, which seems a resonable price to pay for the 2004 NFC rushing leader. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seah...844_hawk11.html

I don't think TD and TM would be against moving up to the latter part of the first round, say between picks 20-32. I saw an article somewhere that mentioned that in all the years the Tom's had worked together, they had never had a first pick as low as the 55th slot. That tells me they'll work hard to find a way to move up somehow, probably to the 20-44 range, where the contract values are still reasonable.

A lot can happen between now and next Saturday, but how about this scenario: Step 1: assuming Seattle trades Shaun Alexander somewhere on draft day... Step 2: The Bills swap TH and our second (55th pick) for Seattle's #1 (23rd pick). We then draft either OT Khalif Barnes or Jammal Brown, whomever is still on the board. End Result: Assuming both players develop (never a given), we end up with our starting OLT and QB for the next 6-10 years for the cost of three second and one fifth round draft choice (the TH selection in 2001, the second and fifth we gave Dallas last year, and our 55th pick in 2005). http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/seaha...p-4399210c.html

TT's a good center who's playing his final year as a Bill. Now is the time to begin grooming his replacement and Spenser is the guy with the most potential in this draft class.

As a big Chris Spenser fan, this tidbit from Gosselin is interesting: "Chris Spencer has never allowed a sack. Repeat, never — not in high school, not in college. That's seven consecutive seasons of keeping his quarterback upright. He got some help in high school, though. "We didn't throw the ball," Spencer said. "We ran the ball every play." But Ole Miss threw the ball, especially in Spencer's first two seasons when Eli Manning was the quarterback. Now Spencer is skipping his senior season to turn pro. His challenges will be greater, but his goal remains the same. "I don't plan on giving up a sack," Spencer said." Speaking of not giving up a sack, Jammal Brown of Oklahoma is not far behind: "The Oklahoma Sooners were once the foremost rushing team in the land under Barry Switzer. But under Bob Stoops, they throw the ball. That puts pressure on your blockers to protect the passer. How's this for protection — Jammal Brown allowed only one sack in 805 pass attempts by Jason White the last two years. He was a four-year starter and three-time All-Big 12 pick for the Sooners."

I love analyzing the draft and all the grand plans that get thrown around on TSW for trading up/down etc. Most of them usually based on "...if we could only get this guy, we'd be all set..playoffs, here we come." Yet, every year when I look back at prior drafts, I always wonder what the furor was about. Here are the top 5 offensive player ratings at each position from Pro Football Weekly's 2003 draft guide. A few names jump out (one big notable one, too!), but really, how many of these guys are "difference makers" even after two years in the league? To me, it just shows how much of a team sport football is, where guys play important roles, but don't make or break a team's roster for the most part. Next week's draft will be fun, as always, but the new players we acquire will have a lot of development to do and may have only a limited impact on the 2005 record. Quarterbacks: Carson Palmer USC 6.60 Byron Leftwich Marshall 6.50 Kyle Boller Cal 6.40 Rex Grossman Florida 6.10 Chris Simms Texas 6.05 Running Backs: Willis McGahee Miami 6.50 Larry Johnson Penn State 6.20 Lee Suggs Virginia Tech 6.10 Chris Brown Colorado 5.90 Onterrio Smith Oregon 5.90 Wide Receiver: Charles Rogers Michigan St. 6.51 Andre Johnson Miami 6.50 Taylor Jacobs Florida 6.00 Kelley Washington Tennessee 5.80 Bryant Johnson Penn State 5.80 Tight Ends: Jason Witten Tennessee 6.00 Dallas Clark Iowa 5.90 Bennie Joppru Michigan 5.50 Robert Johnson Auburn 5.30 Aaron Walker Florida 5.30 Offensive Tackle: Jordan Gross Utah 6.45 Kwame Harris Sanford 6.30 George Foster Georgia 6.10 Wayne Hunter Hawaii 5.80 Brett Williams Florida State 5.60 Offensive Guard: Eric Steinbach Iowa 6.38 Vince Manuwai Hawaii 6.00 Montrae Howard Florida State 5.80 Derrick Dockery Texas 5.80 Torrin Tucker S. Mississippi 5.60 Center: Jeff Faine Notre Dame 5.99 Al Johnson Wisconsin 5.60 Bruce Nelson Iowa 5.60 Dan Koppen Boston College 5.55 Wayne Lucier Colorado 5.38

Think of the marketing possibilities! http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_13564...es.strangecrime

Good 'ol Ronnie Vinklarec! (no more Ronnie's in Buffalo, please) http://www.smumustangs.com/coaches_bios.as...football&ID=235