Rough time at bargaining table

[Bretsky]

The only good DE out there is Justin Smith. He'd be a good addition though and sliding Jenkins inside as the pass rush specialist would be ideal.

UFA's command top dollar though. It would be hard to compete with teams willing to slit their own throat for a good but nothing special player.

EDIT: Wait, the Titans had a couple decent ones on the open market too, right?

Hayenworth was the guy everybody liked, but he'll get tagged

Antwan Odom is a very good DE; here is a blurp. He'll get huge bucks though

2. Antwan Odom, DE, Tennessee Titans: In a league starved for pass rushers, here's a 26-year old coming off an eight-sack season. The Titans will be hard-pressed to keep him considering they will have to franchise Haynesworth.

[RashanGary]

It's tough. You have to draft well, that's the bottom line. I'm really hoping for some big time DE's over the next couple years from the draft. I just don't see us ever diving too deeply into the FA pool. There are going to be some contracts taht make your jaw drop over the next couple weeks.

[KYPack]

Man, this is a great thread. I'm sure they did try to tie Williams up, but these guys have agents. His agent knew if he came with a decent sack year, he'd break the bank. Either he gets tagged or he hits FA as a top Dtackle. Either way, the kid's a millionaire.

He will walk. We've got other options. Teams have to let quality players walk when they exceed the team's figure they have budgeted for that guy & his spot. Look at NE, they've let superstar talent walk because they don't fit their dollar matrix. We will do the same and Corey will become an FA.

[Bretsky]

Man, this is a great thread. I'm sure they did try to tie Williams up, but these guys have agents. His agent knew if he came with a decent sack year, he'd break the bank. Either he gets tagged or he hits FA as a top Dtackle. Either way, the kid's a millionaire.

He will walk. We've got other options. Teams have to let quality players walk when they exceed the team's figure they have budgeted for that guy & his spot. Look at NE, they've let superstar talent walk because they don't fit their dollar matrix. We will do the same and Corey will become an FA.

Yes, kudos to this thread; nice to see some good Packer football talk being effectively debated in the slow times

[The Leaper]

Damn.

Some of you are the same ones crying for KGB's head on a platter...wanting the guy cut yesterday because of his salary...then you are ready to fork over $6M+ to a guy who has not proven whatsoever that he is a consistent starter?

If someone is willing to fork over a $10M signing bonus for Williams in free agency, you go girl. Harrell was selected precisely because of this impending departure...and I expect Harrell will become the better player down the road.

[KYPack]

Damn.

Some of you are the same ones crying for KGB's head on a platter...wanting the guy cut yesterday because of his salary...then you are ready to fork over $6M+ to a guy who has not proven whatsoever that he is a consistent starter?

If someone is willing to fork over a $10M signing bonus for Williams in free agency, you go girl. Harrell was selected precisely because of this impending departure...and I expect Harrell will become the better player down the road.

Leap, the market has gone so crazy, I think you about hit Corey's signing bonus. 8-10 Mil SB. The team will want at least a 5 yr deal. I don't think a 40 - 50 mil package is that outrageous. We would have some slight leverage if we tagged him, but there is very little chance in that.

Williams will just be the first of some pretty good players to get roster squeezed and leave. That's the hidden downside of the ability to discover good talent. You can have too much of it.

[cpk1994]

IF Williams makes it to UFA, I'm predicting his contract to be in the 6 year, 45 million dollar range with about 15 up front.

We're the only team that has the one year, 6.25 option and you have to remember this is the best year of the rest of his career as far as him being in his physical prime.

We'll see, Vince. I see the arguement against him but I think there is more value to the #4 DT than the third starting LB or starting FB. I just think it's a very important position and we have the option between impact and a weakness and it only costs a one year commitment of 6.25 to have impact. You also have to remember that having him trickles down to everyone else. By resting Pickett, Jolly and Harrell they'll all be better when they're in. By having Williams, you can sit down the other guys if they have a moderate knee or ankle rather than forcing them through it. Over the course of the year, that depth would pay off even if it costs 6.25.

You are making a mighty big assumption that CW will play one year for 6.25 mil. Even if CW gets tagged, he is under no obligation to accept the 1 year deal. If he isn't going to take it now, why whould he then?

[twoseven]

IF Williams makes it to UFA, I'm predicting his contract to be in the 6 year, 45 million dollar range with about 15 up front.

We're the only team that has the one year, 6.25 option and you have to remember this is the best year of the rest of his career as far as him being in his physical prime.

We'll see, Vince. I see the arguement against him but I think there is more value to the #4 DT than the third starting LB or starting FB. I just think it's a very important position and we have the option between impact and a weakness and it only costs a one year commitment of 6.25 to have impact. You also have to remember that having him trickles down to everyone else. By resting Pickett, Jolly and Harrell they'll all be better when they're in. By having Williams, you can sit down the other guys if they have a moderate knee or ankle rather than forcing them through it. Over the course of the year, that depth would pay off even if it costs 6.25.

You are making a mighty big assumption that CW will play one year for 6.25 mil. Even if CW gets tagged, he is under no obligation to accept the 1 year deal. If he isn't going to take it now, why whould he then?

CW cannot afford to sit out the season. CW's value drops drastically if he spends the year at his house instead of on the field, big guys tend to have problems staying healthy at home. Meanwhile he exhibits character issues to potential suitors for the following season by not reporting. Briggs tried to play this angle and crumbled when the season came along, and he had burned bridges pretty good before he slinked back for the 7 mil one year rental. CW would be getting a huge pay raise to take that 6 million even for just the year. No way he sits, too much to lose, nothing at all to gain.

[The Leaper]

CW cannot afford to sit out the season.

I agree. Pretty much no NFL player is doing himself a favor by sitting out. Players have a finite amount of time to accumulate earnings before injury/age renders them useless to an NFL team.

The tag would not make Williams happy, but he would certainly play if he were slapped with it.

[twoseven]

CW made $875,920 last season. He's going to turn down 6+ mil?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Antwan Odom is a very good DE; here is a blurp. He'll get huge bucks though

2. Antwan Odom, DE, Tennessee Titans: In a league starved for pass rushers, here's a 26-year old coming off an eight-sack season. The Titans will be hard-pressed to keep him considering they will have to franchise Haynesworth.

Is this the same publication that had Corey Williams #4? Personally, I think Odom is decent, but not this good. He has sacks--just like Williams. However, he's not a real difference maker. He played opposite Kyle Vanden Bosch. That helps--just like it helped KGB (and his 9.5 sacks) playing across from Aaron Kampman. Haynesworth--when his head is on right--can be a real difference maker, but he did get tagged.

[b bulldog]

Why not tag him and than try to trade him for as much as we could get for him? I could see TT doing this and than if we get nothing of value for him, we have another good player on the DL for our rotation but I'd really like to see what he could bring trade wise.

[Farley Face]

Bedard just had an insightful comment on this subject on his JSO blog. He applied a statistical formula that concluded CW would be a relative good deal at the franchise salary.

Unlike some of the Cletidus Hunt comparisons, you are only making a one year commitment, and we aren't in a corner where we have to commit our last cap dollars to execute the tag (ala sign Hunt or Holiday, we couldn't afford both).

I vote for tagging him, testing the trade waters, and worst case he plays next year for a shot at the big bucks. Win win in my opinion. Letting him go for nothing seems illogical.

[b bulldog]

I am now solidly in this camp also.

[vince]

bulldog, you traitor!!!

C'mon man, you remember the last 8 games don't ya?!?!