Official 2015 Free Agency/Contract Extension Thread

[Patler]

I'm thinking you are developing an Odell Thurman like history with your offensive line calls...lol....Wells.......didn't you call a few future bring spots and essentially ended their careers.......who were they....Atlas Herrion ? Was there a Dwyer ? Adrian Klemm... .....did you like Orange Juice Coston ? And I think you might have made the stretch of comparing Bulaga to that pile of crap Ted Drafted......gosh I've blacked out and can't even remember Sherry Juice's name anymore....lol.......of course I know you were comparing their injury history only....but you really should have not used them in the same sentence......... I've always though Bulaga was our 2nd best OL

It's time for you to make a 100% turnaround Patler.

Join me in the Campen for OL coach of the Year Train !!!!

Either I'm confused, or you are. Maybe we both are!

I've always really liked Bulaga.....when he is on the field. I have, however, pointed out that you need a good backup for him, because I believe he has missed at least one start, and usually more every season so far. Somewhere in the last few pages you can find that I listed Bulaga as my #1 priority to re-sign, ahead of Cobb, because TT seems to be able to find WRs much more easily than OL. I had the same concerns about Wells, because he was always dinged up even when he was playing. Even so, he was a high priority for me because they had nothing behind him.

Atlas Herron - I was trying to read the tea leaves when they opted to keep him in GB for off season work rather than send him to NFL-E.

Sherry, as you call him (God help me, I can't remember his name either!) I disliked from the get-go. I thought he was just as awful when he broke his leg as he was in preseason. I have always contrasted Bulaga and him. Both were tried first at guard. Bulaga did well with it, Sherry was awful. Both went to RT with little or no prep. Bulaga ran with it; Sherry was awful.

The rest I think I ran hot and cold with, just as their careers ascended and declined.

[Pugger]

Either I'm confused, or you are. Maybe we both are!

I've always really liked Bulaga.....when he is on the field. I have, however, pointed out that you need a good backup for him, because I believe he has missed at least one start, and usually more every season so far. Somewhere in the last few pages you can find that I listed Bulaga as my #1 priority to re-sign, ahead of Cobb, because TT seems to be able to find WRs much more easily than OL. I had the same concerns about Wells, because he was always dinged up even when he was playing. Even so, he was a high priority for me because they had nothing behind him.

Atlas Herron - I was trying to read the tea leaves when they opted to keep him in GB for off season work rather than send him to NFL-E.

Sherry, as you call him (God help me, I can't remember his name either!) I disliked from the get-go. I thought he was just as awful when he broke his leg as he was in preseason. I have always contrasted Bulaga and him. Both were tried first at guard. Bulaga did well with it, Sherry was awful. Both went to RT with little or no prep. Bulaga ran with it; Sherry was awful.

The rest I think I ran hot and cold with, just as their careers ascended and declined.

Sherrod?

[denverYooper]

Randy Starks was cut by the Dolphins. Sounds like he's got a lot left in the tank, they just replaced him with Suh.

Bobble really wanted the Pack to bring him in a year or 2 ago.

[vince]

I'm thinking you are developing an Odell Thurman like history with your offensive line calls...lol....Wells.......didn't you call a few future bring spots and essentially ended their careers.......who were they....Atlas Herrion ? Was there a Dwyer ? Adrian Klemm... .....did you like Orange Juice Coston ? And I think you might have made the stretch of comparing Bulaga to that pile of crap Ted Drafted......gosh I've blacked out and can't even remember Sherry Juice's name anymore....lol.......of course I know you were comparing their injury history only....but you really should have not used them in the same sentence......... I've always though Bulaga was our 2nd best OL

It's time for you to make a 100% turnaround Patler.

Join me in the Campen for OL coach of the Year Train !!!!

Wow there's some names there. There've been a ton of lineman who've run the gammut. A lot of guys who didn't make it. I remember being high on Allen Barbre, who was an unmitigated disaster for about two games where he single-handedly got the QB destroyed. Great combine though. Now five years later he's serviceable in Philly. Some guys were just too big of projects. Giacomini. He's starting somewhere I'd say. That's about it. Newhouse got signed by the Giants. Poor bastards.

Sherry's gonna pop up somewhere before it's all said and done. Kansas City maybe.

Atlas Herrion had no stats whatsoever in the NFL. I'd take him over Babre. It took awhile but they got it figured out now I'd say. If Barclay and Tretter stay healthy for a change along with the starters they're talented and deep. Long live Campen.

[vince]

History shows that Ted made the right decision with Wells. They struggled with a couple injuries for a couple years with injuries to Jason Spitz and Saturday was a total bust but EDS held his own and now they're as well situated at Center as any team in the league - a cheap, young bad-ass who'll knock you down and a starting caliber back-up who was ready to start before getting hurt. Tretter was doing a great job at Center prior to getting hurt last year. And Linsley comes out of nowhere to almost instantly become one of the league's leading Centers. Center's covered and - minus Saturday - it has pretty much been handled for years without paying Wells big money to sit on the sidelines injured for the majority of his time since cashing in. He had some injuries in Green Bay that showed some flags as well. Bad back for an undersized interior lineman pushing 30 is a big reason not to pay Wells big money. That was the right call I'd say.

You can make an argument that Finley's been a bigger waste of money. That's been true I guess. There've not been too many bigger teases and wastes of money than Finley's been. When he was good - all to rare - he made the offense look unstoppable at times. Finley underperformed his money for sure but Wells is right up there in terms of wasted dollars spent on players.

[Patler]

History shows that Ted made the right decision with Wells. They struggled with a couple injuries for a couple years with injuries to Jason Spitz and Saturday was a total bust but EDS held his own and now they're as well situated at Center as any team in the league - a cheap, young bad-ass who'll knock you down and a starting caliber back-up who was ready to start before getting hurt. Tretter was doing a great job at Center prior to getting hurt last year. And Linsley comes out of nowhere to almost instantly become one of the league's leading Centers. Center's covered and - minus Saturday - it has pretty much been handled for years without paying Wells big money to sit on the sidelines injured for the majority of his time since cashing in. He had some injuries in Green Bay that showed some flags as well. Bad back for an undersized interior lineman pushing 30 is a big reason not to pay Wells big money. That was the right call I'd say.

You can make an argument that Finley's been a bigger waste of money. That's been true I guess. There've not been too many bigger teases and wastes of money than Finley's been. When he was good - all to rare - he made the offense look unstoppable at times. Finley underperformed his money for sure but Wells is right up there in terms of wasted dollars spent on players.

Spitz was gone the year before Wells, I think. When they lost Wells, they had no one and had to scramble and sign Saturday. As I recall, TT tried to get a couple others, who signed elsewhere. Saturday was about all that was left when he signed. EDS wasn't really in the picture until late that season, after he had proven himself and his commitment to his profession. Somewhat of a checkered history before that.

I sure do like where they are with centers now, but it wasn't pretty between Wells and Linsley. Saturday was awful. EDS was functional, but not really very effective.

At least Wells wasn't a tease. When he played he was pretty good. Finley wasn't reliable even when he was healthy. Never knew for sure what you would get from Finley on a given day.

[smuggler]

In before the Bears trade for Brees...

[pbmax]

Wells also wasn't the best lineman on the team. When Unger went out this year, the Seahawks couldn't function on offense.

I presume they think they have that fixed, over will get it fixed.

[denverYooper]

Thought this was interesting:

[ThunderDan]

Thought this was interesting:

But state taxes are deductible on your federal return so reduce those actual rates by 33-40% to find the real income tax affect.

But you also need to add in sales taxes and other local taxes. FL has a high sales tax rates at around 6.6%.

[denverYooper]

But state taxes are deductible on your federal return so reduce those actual rates by 33-40% to find the real income tax affect.

But you also need to add in sales taxes and other local taxes. FL has a high sales tax rates at around 6.6%.

Good points TD.

[pbmax]

But state taxes are deductible on your federal return so reduce those actual rates by 33-40% to find the real income tax affect.

But you also need to add in sales taxes and other local taxes. FL has a high sales tax rates at around 6.6%.

Knew a guy who lived in SC a long time ago. When he bought a car, he couldn't just pay the taxes on the sales amount plus $40 (WI charge at the time) to register it. It was sales tax plus $800 dollars to register it for a new car. No idea how it worked or used cars.

[Fosco33]

But state taxes are deductible on your federal return so reduce those actual rates by 33-40% to find the real income tax affect.

But you also need to add in sales taxes and other local taxes. FL has a high sales tax rates at around 6.6%.

True and false. Yes for people making "normal" money. But when you hit AMT level (as all pro athletes likely do) - those deductions often don't exist.

Sales/Property taxes are much higher in states without income tax - but these guys aren't buying 10M homes (yearly) to account for the difference.

[ThunderDan]

True and false. Yes for people making "normal" money. But when you hit AMT level (as all pro athletes likely do) - those deductions often don't exist.

Sales/Property taxes are much higher in states without income tax - but these guys aren't buying 10M homes (yearly) to account for the difference.

Sorry, but you are mistaken on the AMT. The majority of athletes earning W-2 wages would not be in the AMT unless they have other sources of income from very specific sources. The AMT top tax rate is 28% and the top athlete's are paying 39.6%. The regular tax is much higher than the AMT amount.

The sad part of the AMT is it hits the people making 200K-500k which is not the original intent of the law.

[Fosco33]

Sorry, but you are mistaken on the AMT. The majority of athletes earning W-2 wages would not be in the AMT unless they have other sources of income from very specific sources. The AMT top tax rate is 28% and the top athlete's are paying 39.6%. The regular tax is much higher than the AMT amount.

The sad part of the AMT is it hits the people making 200K-500k which is not the original intent of the law.

Fair point. Lets just agree the IRS sucks. For the highest paid NFL athletes looking to sign on day one of FA, I'd guess state income tax is a question.

[Patler]

Sorry, but you are mistaken on the AMT. The majority of athletes earning W-2 wages would not be in the AMT unless they have other sources of income from very specific sources. The AMT top tax rate is 28% and the top athlete's are paying 39.6%. The regular tax is much higher than the AMT amount.

Aren't professional athletes considered independent contractors with 1099 income as opposed to W-2 wages? Does AMT apply to 1099 income? Probably doesn't matter anyway, because after going through the test they likely will have paid enough anyway. As you said, those who fail the AMT test and have to pay extra are usually the moderately well paid more than the highly paid.

[MadScientist]

The other thing is that many states have gone to taxing visiting players, so the difference in tax is only about half the actual state difference.

[Fosco33]

The other thing is that many states have gone to taxing visiting players, so the difference in tax is only about half the actual state difference.

As someone who works in many, many states per year - the home state do credit back taxes to other states. And most companies will gross you up to pay the difference in states without income tax (possibly doubtful for NFL contracts).

[MadScientist]

As someone who works in many, many states per year - the home state do credit back taxes to other states. And most companies will gross you up to pay the difference in states without income tax (possibly doubtful for NFL contracts).

Right, that's why I said the difference would be about half the state to state difference. Half the games are at home, so they pay that state's tax, half are on the road, so they pay that state's tax. Road games in states with no tax would presumably default to the home state's tax. No way does the NFL adjust contracts to account for this.

[Fritz]

There's been a flurry of activity out there. But I haven't heard anything about Raji. I'm hoping the Packers will re-sign him; I think he'll play well this year. Maybe not 2010 well, but if you could put Guion and Raji in a role of alternating at the nose and continue to develop Pennel, you might have something.