Super Bowl contenders with Taylor and Haynesworth?

[Brando19]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/36478404.html

Good article. Hope TT makes one of these moves. Both is absolutely unrealistic.

[Bretsky]

My favorite part

The added bonus with Taylor is if the Packers do fire Sanders and bring in a coordinator that uses a more multiple scheme

[steve823]

Tayler = no

Haynesworth = holy crap wow oh wow oh my god YES

[swede]

A phrase I liked from the article:

"...the monotone Packers..."

Unfortunately, from a fan's perspective, that is a big problem with this team. Can't we have a little pizzazz on the field without having players that shoot themselves or others in nightclubs?

A little head-stomping on the field might be a welcome change of pace.

[bobblehead]

I'll take the head stomper in a heartbeat. I dread the thought of giving him holy shit money and then him pulling a moss and thinking he proved all he needs to prove, but the bottom line is this. He is pretty much the best inside player in the game, he fills a desperate need, and he is in his prime and should be a rockstar for a 5 year contract if he wants too.

If we give him the keys to the city I won't cry even though I hate the idea of blowing the cap on guys who did it in another system. But if we do sign him for funny money and he flops will all the people who bash TT for not using FA give him a pass??

[Guiness]

$8mil eh? I can see where the 'Skins would not want to pay that. He says he knows he's not worth that much - would he be willing to renegotiate and stay there? Or would he force them to release him. I guess it depends if he likes it there or not.

He's had a long enough career, and has his money. You have to wonder, the same as many did last year, how much desire he has left. Would he even be willing to suit up for $3-4 million, which is all I can see a guy who's 34, and had two surgeries last season earning.

[texaspackerbacker]

Jason Taylor? Come on. He ain't worth crap. I read the first post and thought it meant Fred Taylor.

And get off the Sanders-hate already. That's just plain stupid. The defensive problems OBVIOUSLY stem from the plethora of injuries. With any other scheme, things would have been infinitely worse.

Rather than inject a political analogy here, I will just say, check out the thread I'm about to start in the Romper Room.

[RashanGary]

No way to Jason Taylor. He's 34. KGB was 30 when he got injured. This guy is never going to get back from those knee surgeries.

Hayensworth on the other hand, he's a 27 year old DT that is the best in the game at his position. He would instantly make Kampman better. Jenkins would be better. Jolly and Pickett would be better. Any young guys (draft, Jeremy Thompson or Harrell) that show improvements will look better. The linebackers will look better. The secondary will look better. He instantly changes that entire defense IMO. Pat Williams isn't as good, but I look forward to this weekend to see what a really good DT being out of their lineup will do.

[DonHutson]

A few thoughts on Taylor:

1) I was in favor of taking a shot on him last off-season, at the right price - and the right price was less than what the Redskins paid.

2) Now he's a year older at 34, and the guy who has rarely been injured is coming off a year that was plagued by injury. Not a promising trend.

3) Yeah, young Dolphins players may have walked through walls for the guy. But he was in Miami for a decade. He comes in here as another over the hill player fighting for a job. Reputation doesn't translate into leadership nearly as well as personal interaction, so to assume he would step right in and be a leader is a bit presumptuous. Might happen, but not automatic.

4) It is very refreshing to see an older player openly admit he's not worth the money he's making.

5) I'd still be open to bringing him in, at the right price. But that price is even lower now. Working in his favor is the fact that there are no impact pass rushers available in FA - including him, but he's probably going to the guy teams look at first.

6) The long term solution for the Packers pass rush will need to be found in the draft. Several promising DE's are available this year, and most should be available where the Packers are going to be picking. Taylor, if acquired, would be a supplement or stop-gap.

[RashanGary]

6) The long term solution for the Packers pass rush will need to be found in the draft. Several promising DE's are available this year, and most should be available where the Packers are going to be picking. Taylor, if acquired, would be a supplement or stop-gap.

Agreed. There are a bunch of pass rush specialists in the draft this year that could be had with an early 2nd round pick. I don't really want a pass rush specialist though. There is one guy, Everette Brown, at the top of the draft that can do everything. I'd poopy myself if we added Hayensworht and then drafted the stud DE.

[DonHutson]

I don't really want a pass rush specialist though.

I totally agree, but the 280+ pound DE that can get after the QB AND stuff the run is virtually non-existant now days. When they can be found they tend to go #1 over all (Williams, Peppers - and they were selected that high merely on their potential to do both).

So I want the best pass rusher we can get. If he can't play the run, so be it. We'll take him out on run downs. I'm just sick to death of seeing opposing QB's with forever to throw on 3rd and long (and every other down).

To me, ability play the run would be far less important than finding a guy with a variety of moves, and strength to go with speed/quickness. No one trick pony speed guys that will get swatted away by an NFL caliber tackle.

I haven't watched Florida State play this year. If Brown is that good, then so be it. They need somebody.

[MJZiggy]

General manager Ted Thompson kicked the tires on a possible Taylor trade in the off-season but never made an offer. In retrospect, it was a disastrous non-move. Taylor could have helped the Packers in the two areas that ultimately led the team to their doom this season: pass rush and veteran leadership.


"But at the end of the day, I'll be the first to tell you, I stink right now. I need to play better. I need to get comfortable and play better."


A knee injury nearly ended his season in the exhibition season. Then Taylor got kicked in the calf and an ensuing infection necessitated two surgeries.

He's missed four games and is on pace to set career lows in tackles (25) and sacks (1.5). Taylor who has correctly called himself "hardheaded" over the course of his career, likely returned too fast from both injuries. But he's not one to make excuses.


Yes, Greg, I see your point on why it was a disastrous non-move, especially considering he may be available again and he himself doesn't believe he's worth the money he's currently making... :?

[RashanGary]

I don't really want a pass rush specialist though.

I totally agree, but the 280+ pound DE that can get after the QB AND stuff the run is virtually non-existant now days. When they can be found they tend to go #1 over all (Williams, Peppers - and they were selected that high merely on their potential to do both).

So I want the best pass rusher we can get. If he can't play the run, so be it. We'll take him out on run downs. I'm just sick to death of seeing opposing QB's with forever to throw on 3rd and long (and every other down).

To me, ability play the run would be far less important than finding a guy with a variety of moves, and strength to go with speed/quickness. No one trick pony speed guys that will get swatted away by an NFL caliber tackle.

I haven't watched Florida State play this year. If Brown is that good, then so be it. They need somebody.

I agree. Everette Brown is also "undersized" by that standard, but Kampman, Osi and Strahan are tiny by that standard too. He reminds me of Kamp, Strahan type. I'm a huge fan of his. There are a bunch of KGB types that are undersized and play undersized because they're lenky and can't play with leverage. Everette Brown is the undersized guy that plays with leverage and has a knack for keeping the Olines hands off his body.

[DonHutson]

Everette Brown is the undersized guy that plays with leverage and has a knack for keeping the Olines hands off his body.

I guess we'll get to see him up close and personal in the Whatever-the-Hell Bowl the Badgers are in. Hopefully he'll make just enough plays to lose the game and end up 10th in the draft.

[Pugger]

A phrase I liked from the article:

"...the monotone Packers..."

Unfortunately, from a fan's perspective, that is a big problem with this team. Can't we have a little pizzazz on the field without having players that shoot themselves or others in nightclubs?

A little head-stomping on the field might be a welcome change of pace.

:lol: :lol: Yes, we don't need thugs but we could use a little nastiness, especially on both of our lines...

[bbbffl66]

6) The long term solution for the Packers pass rush will need to be found in the draft. Several promising DE's are available this year, and most should be available where the Packers are going to be picking. Taylor, if acquired, would be a supplement or stop-gap.

Agreed. There are a bunch of pass rush specialists in the draft this year that could be had with an early 2nd round pick. I don't really want a pass rush specialist though. There is one guy, Everette Brown, at the top of the draft that can do everything. I'd poopy myself if we added Hayensworht and then drafted the stud DE.

Don't FSU D linemen flame out in the NFL at a really high rate? Makes me a little nervous.

[Fritz]

General manager Ted Thompson kicked the tires on a possible Taylor trade in the off-season but never made an offer. In retrospect, it was a disastrous non-move. Taylor could have helped the Packers in the two areas that ultimately led the team to their doom this season: pass rush and veteran leadership.


"But at the end of the day, I'll be the first to tell you, I stink right now. I need to play better. I need to get comfortable and play better."


A knee injury nearly ended his season in the exhibition season. Then Taylor got kicked in the calf and an ensuing infection necessitated two surgeries.

He's missed four games and is on pace to set career lows in tackles (25) and sacks (1.5). Taylor who has correctly called himself "hardheaded" over the course of his career, likely returned too fast from both injuries. But he's not one to make excuses.


Yes, Greg, I see your point on why it was a disastrous non-move, especially considering he may be available again and he himself doesn't believe he's worth the money he's currently making... :?

Thanks, Zig. I was wondering if anyone else saw the illogic - it was a disastrous non-move, to not sign a guy that would've cost a second round pick, a big contract, and who ended up having a shitty season.

Yes. A disastrous non-move, absolutely.

[TennesseePackerBacker]

6) The long term solution for the Packers pass rush will need to be found in the draft. Several promising DE's are available this year, and most should be available where the Packers are going to be picking. Taylor, if acquired, would be a supplement or stop-gap.

Agreed. There are a bunch of pass rush specialists in the draft this year that could be had with an early 2nd round pick. I don't really want a pass rush specialist though. There is one guy, Everette Brown, at the top of the draft that can do everything. I'd poopy myself if we added Hayensworht and then drafted the stud DE.

Don't FSU D linemen flame out in the NFL at a really high rate? Makes me a little nervous.

Jamaal Reynolds

[Bretsky]

from fanball.com

The News
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is weeks away from wrapping up a deal that could be as large as $60 million, according to Adam Schefter of NFL.com.

Our View
Haynesworth is expected to land a five- or six-year deal worth an average of about $10 million per season, with well over $25 million guaranteed. Teams reportedly interested in his services include Atlanta, Denver, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Tennessee.

[The Leaper]

How the hell can Indy afford Haynesworth?

[Partial]

Magic.

[RashanGary]

from fanball.com

The News
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is weeks away from wrapping up a deal that could be as large as $60 million, according to Adam Schefter of NFL.com.

Our View
Haynesworth is expected to land a five- or six-year deal worth an average of about $10 million per season, with well over $25 million guaranteed. Teams reportedly interested in his services include Atlanta, Denver, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Tennessee.


The contract sounds about right. How would they know who's interested right now? The seasons not even over. If Ted and company are interested it won't come out for a while.

[KYPack]

from fanball.com

The News
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is weeks away from wrapping up a deal that could be as large as $60 million, according to Adam Schefter of NFL.com.

Our View
Haynesworth is expected to land a five- or six-year deal worth an average of about $10 million per season, with well over $25 million guaranteed. Teams reportedly interested in his services include Atlanta, Denver, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Tennessee.


The contract sounds about right. How would they know who's interested right now? The seasons not even over. If Ted and company are interested it won't come out for a while.

I'd think it will be a little richer than that, but yeah, that's what the price of an FA like him would command. I'd think the AS would be around 12 mil. 25 - 30 is about right for the guarantee.

[denverYooper]

Eff Haynesworth, go after his backup. The kid had a helluva day:
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29761&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter


Game ball
Rookie Jason Jones, who started in place of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, had the game of his short career against the Steelers. The second-round pick out of Eastern Michigan picked up 3.5 sacks and forced three fumbles.

[rbaloha1]

Both signings aid the defense with leadership and nastiness.

Unsure of Taylor's health but recall what was said about Woodson.

[cpk1994]

Jason Taylor? Come on. He ain't worth crap. I read the first post and thought it meant Fred Taylor.

And get off the Sanders-hate already. That's just plain stupid. The defensive problems OBVIOUSLY stem from the plethora of injuries. With any other scheme, things would have been infinitely worse.

Rather than inject a political analogy here, I will just say, check out the thread I'm about to start in the Romper Room.BS. Sanders is horrible and all you are doing is making excuses. PLayers on other teams are coming out and saying they know what the Pacdkers D runs when they run it. That is an indictment of Sanders right there. Sanders either has incriminating photos of you or you are realated to him and he pays you money. Snaders is incompetent and must go.

[RashanGary]

Eff Haynesworth, go after his backup. The kid had a helluva day:
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29761&season=2008&displayPage=tab_gamecenter


Game ball
Rookie Jason Jones, who started in place of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, had the game of his short career against the Steelers. The second-round pick out of Eastern Michigan picked up 3.5 sacks and forced three fumbles.



Hopefully they think they have something there and let AH go.

[cheesner]

from fanball.com

The News
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is weeks away from wrapping up a deal that could be as large as $60 million, according to Adam Schefter of NFL.com.

Our View
Haynesworth is expected to land a five- or six-year deal worth an average of about $10 million per season, with well over $25 million guaranteed. Teams reportedly interested in his services include Atlanta, Denver, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Tennessee.
That would be tampering if those teams have expressed an interest.

Wonder if those rumors were pre-injury. Not sure he is worth as much now.

[Partial]

Not a contender. Not even close imo. As I have pointed out numerous times, offensively we are simply not getting it done in recent weeks and our average is high because of early season success.

We need to address these issues, and they start with play calling, and demand more consistency from every offensive group outside of the receivers.

[Lurker64]

Not a contender. Not even close imo. As I have pointed out numerous times, offensively we are simply not getting it done in recent weeks and our average is high because of early season success.

We need to address these issues, and they start with play calling, and demand more consistency from every offensive group outside of the receivers.

A few key pieces in a few key positions can make all the difference on a time scale of less than a season. Last year the Dolphins flirted historic futility and were only saved by overtime heroics due to one badly blown coverage. But despite losing their veteran leader, the addition of a few key free agents and a few contributing draft picks, different coaching attitudes, combined with relative good luck with injuries, and an easy schedule and this team is sitting in the catbird seat as concerns their division with one week to go in the season.

So I cannot agree that we are not close. Supposing we sign Haynesworth, draft Orakpo, Harrell finally gets it together, Rodgers improves like we're expecting him to, some of the project guys progress nicely, and the playcalling (and overall execution) improves, I'd say we're absolutely close. Very few teams aren't close (really, Oakland and Detroit and maybe St. Louis.) Teams regularly go from 5-6 wins to 10-11 wins in the following season in this league (and vice versa).

So who knows? Projecting doom and gloom about the future isn't very useful, accurate, fun, or productive. Teams go from to top to the bottom and the bottom to the top in the blink of an eye in this league. On a down year, you could pick apart any team in the league . On an up year, nobody has any warts.

Though, to be honest, I don't think Taylor would do much for us. I'd rather draft another DE (though, the prospect frightens me) than sign an aging vet. If Peppers somehow hit the market, I'd be excited but that's not likely to happen.

[Partial]

Not a contender. Not even close imo. As I have pointed out numerous times, offensively we are simply not getting it done in recent weeks and our average is high because of early season success.

We need to address these issues, and they start with play calling, and demand more consistency from every offensive group outside of the receivers.

A few key pieces in a few key positions can make all the difference on a time scale of less than a season. Last year the Dolphins flirted historic futility and were only saved by overtime heroics due to one badly blown coverage. But despite losing their veteran leader, the addition of a few key free agents and a few contributing draft picks, different coaching attitudes, combined with relative good luck with injuries, and an easy schedule and this team is sitting in the catbird seat as concerns their division with one week to go in the season.

So I cannot agree that we are not close. Supposing we sign Haynesworth, draft Orakpo, Harrell finally gets it together, Rodgers improves like we're expecting him to, some of the project guys progress nicely, and the playcalling (and overall execution) improves, I'd say we're absolutely close. Very few teams aren't close (really, Oakland and Detroit and maybe St. Louis.) Teams regularly go from 5-6 wins to 10-11 wins in the following season in this league (and vice versa).

So who knows? Projecting doom and gloom about the future isn't very useful, accurate, fun, or productive. Teams go from to top to the bottom and the bottom to the top in the blink of an eye in this league. On a down year, you could pick apart any team in the league . On an up year, nobody has any warts.

Though, to be honest, I don't think Taylor would do much for us. I'd rather draft another DE (though, the prospect frightens me) than sign an aging vet. If Peppers somehow hit the market, I'd be excited but that's not likely to happen.

Assuming all of that will happen is crazy. Miami improved because they had a big change at the top and all the way down. That has caused a bit of a spark. They had some talent last year, there star player was just injured.

I too crave the spicy one at DE.