2014 Free Agency Rumors and or Speculation

[Bretsky]

I think the majority sentiment is that Raji is not a bust.

This is the year Sherrod proves he is not the bust.

Raji is just a disappointment

This is just hopefully the year Sherry develops a man name and starts playing. I hope I'm wrong but fully expect disappointment

[red]

Raji is just a disappointment

This is just hopefully the year Sherry develops a man name and starts playing. I hope I'm wrong but fully expect disappointment

hawk, as a #5 pick is a disappointment

i wish raji was half the player and leader that hawk is

pff had him ranked 2nd to last out of all 3-4 DE's last year, out of the entire NFL. they also said he took 120 some snaps at NT and ranked near dead last there too. so for those holding out hope that things will change with him moving to NT, well pff tells of he sucks there too

i'd love it if raji turns it around and plays great this year, thats great for the team, but what i saw from him last year, i don't see it happening

[Carolina_Packer]

As far as a 4th year player hoping for the 5th year option (first rounders only, right?) I wonder if anyone tried to suggest a possible delay in the decision for players like Sherrod who have so little service time that it would be difficult to make a decision on that option, even after May 3rd. Obviously, this would have to be done on a case by case, but I could see a team being allowed wait until after the 4th year to decide on an option if you have a player like Sherrod who hasn't been able to get on the field. Why should he be in the boat as far as consideration for that compensation? Why should the club possibly have to pay big bucks to gamble on giving a big option to someone who hasn't been able to develop because of injury? I'd also hate to see the Pack just dump him, and then have him get healthy and go elsewhere and live up to his potential.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Bears sign Jared Allen, per this mornings Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,4637847.story

The Bears signing Allen takes a little of the luster off of the Packers signing Peppers. Allen probably has a little more in the tank then Peppers, the Bears upgraded. But the Packers benefit too.

[mraynrand]

Packers sign Peppers and Guion. Bears sign Allen and Jennings. Isn't it about time for the Vikings to start signing some former Packers?

FYI - In case no one mentioned it, Guion is the guy Tolzien faked out of his jock with the spin move on his TD run.

[mraynrand]

The Bears signing Allen takes a little of the luster off of the Packers signing Peppers. Allen probably has a little more in the tank then Peppers, the Bears upgraded. But the Packers benefit too.

In the Packer games, Allen was pretty ineffective and largely uninterested-looking*. Still had over ten sacks, but I think the big slide has started. Was it a motivation thing? Minnesota's offensive ineptitude will sap the desire from anyone; could be that's what happened to Allen.





*twisted ankle at GB

[smuggler]

Allen in his prime was nothing special against the run. Now he's an outright liability. As to which is a better playrr today, it's hard to say, but Green Bay defi itely has the more advantageous contract. The Brars guaranteed the first two seasons of Allens deal and also have a guaranteed roster bonus in year three.

[Bretsky]

Allen in his prime was nothing special against the run. Now he's an outright liability. As to which is a better playrr today, it's hard to say, but Green Bay defi itely has the more advantageous contract. The Brars guaranteed the first two seasons of Allens deal and also have a guaranteed roster bonus in year three.

The whole Allen thing was funny and predictable
"I want to play for a winner"
I want to go somewhere that has stable QB and coaching and is set up to run for a SB
Him and his family went to Seattle hoping to close a deal. Want to play for a winner....

BLA BLA BLA


SHOW ME THE MONEY; IT'S FUNNY HOW THINGS CHANGED....

[Guiness]

Allen in his prime was nothing special against the run. Now he's an outright liability. As to which is a better playrr today, it's hard to say, but Green Bay defi itely has the more advantageous contract. The Brars guaranteed the first two seasons of Allens deal and also have a guaranteed roster bonus in year three.

The deals seemed very similar to me? They have Allen for 2 years for 15.5, so if he falls off dramatically this season they pay for 2 anyways. Only year one is locked for the Pack, for 9M if they want to get out of it after that, or 2 years for 17.5. There is 4M in bonuses available to Peppers, but I don't know how LTBE those are.

[pbmax]

Did U listen to Chip Kelly's interview today ?

No. Do tell.

[run pMc]

i am just looking at the bottom line, and i even say that that is what i'm doing

i said calling a player a bust or lost for injury only matters when trying to defend the guy who drafted him

in the overall picture, all those players gave us nothing, no matter if it was due to injury or the player just sucked

a draft pick that ended up giving us nothing, or IMO a wasted pick

Fair enough. But any draft pick will be either above, below, or at expectations based on where they were drafted and their reputation. That said, a significant chunk of picks are going to be below or barely at expectations (are R7 picks expected to make the team? start? just play ST?) so patience with any GM is required. Even Matt Millen got something incredible like seven seasons.

I'd say Raji has performed below expectations the last 2 years. Prior to that it was at expectations. Not sure if that makes him a bad pick, but I don't think GB wins the 2010 SB without Raji.

You can call Justin Harrell a bad pick, wasted pick, or a pick that had bad luck with injuries...but I'd hesitate to call him a bust. He was never healthy enough for enough games to show us if he could play IMO. Brian Brohm was a bust because you could see he couldn't play. Terrence Murphy (or Mark D'Onofrio, Gary Berry, etc., if you want to pick on Ron Wolf) were 'bad' picks because of injury/medical. Personally I think checking the spinal cord/neck for stenosis should be part of the standard medical...and if it is, I'm not smart enough to know why it isn't caught and flagged.

[run pMc]

FYI - In case no one mentioned it, Guion is the guy Tolzien faked out of his jock with the spin move on his TD run.

Not expecting much from Guion except TC competition and depth. It sounds like he will backup Raji at NT and be moved around the line sometimes.

If you count the DL group as Peppers, Raji, Datone, Daniels, Worthy, Boyd, and Guion...Guion is likely last on the depth chart (who's better, him or Worthy?)

[run pMc]

The deals seemed very similar to me? They have Allen for 2 years for 15.5, so if he falls off dramatically this season they pay for 2 anyways. Only year one is locked for the Pack, for 9M if they want to get out of it after that, or 2 years for 17.5. There is 4M in bonuses available to Peppers, but I don't know how LTBE those are.

Seems like Allen got more guaranteed money, but he's younger and has more sacks, which will get the CHI fans whipped into excitement.
I think the change of scenery will energize Allen for a while, maybe even a season, and then he'll fall off a cliff. He's been durable, and can rush the QB but he isn't a dominant DE anymore and even when he was you could run at him. Peppers allegedly is flexible and athletic enough to play some coverage as a LB. It's not a bad signing for CHI and will help the other DE (Houston) pressure the QB.

Looking at the NFCN teams --
CHI has added a bunch of FA on defense, so they should be better but paid a lot for a middling, aging defense (and they signed Cutler!)
DET cut Delmas, Burleson and signed Ihedibo, Tate and Pettigrew...they have to deal with Suh and didn't option Fairley and thus could lose both next year. They are in win-now mode and that does not usually work out well.
MIN has a new coach and a lot of roster turnover...and they still have Ponder and Cassel. They've spent a chunk of money on defense and should be better there but they aren't better than several NFC teams and Peterson turns 29 this year. They won't have the dome advantage for the next 2 seasons, but that's another story.

[denverYooper]

In the Packer games, Allen was pretty ineffective and largely uninterested-looking*. Still had over ten sacks, but I think the big slide has started. Was it a motivation thing? Minnesota's offensive ineptitude will sap the desire from anyone; could be that's what happened to Allen.

*twisted ankle at GB

Yeah. Even if he has a bit of a refresh this year, Allen is still a known quantity and has lost a lot of his fear value as a Packer killer. He'll probably help the Bears some, but signing him didn't fix the defense's biggest problem -- they still have a lot of old guys.

[RashanGary]

I have as much respect for Jared Allen as I do any defender over the last 10 years or so. He's a better 4-3 DE than Peppers imo, and would be a better 3-4 DE. Hes just more stout and equally talented at rushing the passer. Peppers intrigues me because he's said to be a freak athlete. If he can move around like a linebacker, he (along with the entire elephant position) bring unpredictability to our 2-4 front.

I like the peppers vision, but liked Allen better as a player.