Move Carroll to Safety?

[Fosco33]

According to M3, Manuel is the best communicator on the defense and will be seen as a leader by mid season.

I can't say the same about Carroll.

[mmmdk]

According to M3, Manuel is the best communicator on the defense and will be seen as a leader by mid season.

I can't say the same about Carroll.

By mid season??? Who's the leader now?

[Fosco33]

According to M3, Manuel is the best communicator on the defense and will be seen as a leader by mid season.

I can't say the same about Carroll.

By mid season??? Who's the leader now?

Barnett

[Patler]

Speaking of safeties ..... weren't you one of those in the preseason who INSISTED that Manuel was an upgrade over Roman? (sorry if you weren't.)

I doubt I INSISTED on it, because I was never that down on Roman as a player. In fact, I argued with someone (Gureski?) about whether or not he was the weak link in the defense. I described him as being a player you could play with, but would like to improve if you could.

I did like signing Manual to what really is not a very expensive contract, and I thought he could be an upgrade over Roman because I felt he was better against the run and no worse against the pass, but I never thought it was a huge signing. I agreed with letting Roman go after he copped an attitude and others like Underwood and Culver showed potential.

I think TT's attraction to Manual is the same as what he hoped to get from Little last year, a guy that could run the backend of the defense, making the necessary calls and adjustments. Little just couldn't play anymore, so couldn't provide that. Roman has never been described as "a coach on the field." Manual has been, even Collins mentioned it in TC. If he can provide that on the field and play no worse than Roman, it will be an improvement and may take pressure off Collins, hastening his development.

Roman was nothing special. If in the end you have exchanged six of one for a half-dozen of the other, so what?

[Scott Campbell]

Roman was nothing special. If in the end you have exchanged six of one for a half-dozen of the other, so what?

I think they might have kept Roman if Underwood had been hurt prior to Roman being cut, unless he was so unhappy about them bringing in Manual that he wouldn't have been kept under any circumstances.

[mmmdk]

I saw Roman's jersey in week 1 vs the Cards - Roman was barely playing. I don't know about week 2.

Manuel seem pedestrian vs Saints - I didn't see the Bears game.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Roman was nothing special. If in the end you have exchanged six of one for a half-dozen of the other, so what?

Roman made some dumb comments about being betrayed. He did change his tune, tho. When a team invests a big signing bonus in FA, it is natural for the old player to guess that he won't get a fair shake to win the job.

Here's what I would have prefered: McCarthy & Thompson should have reassured Roman that he would get a fair competition for a job. Then have that fair competition.

Roman wasn't making a big salary, they should have kept him for depth. Or cut him at end of summer. As things have turned out, they could use him now.

[Scott Campbell]

Here's what I would have prefered: McCarthy & Thompson should have reassured Roman that he would get a fair competition for a job.

We have no knowledge that such a conversation didn't occur.

[Patler]

Roman wasn't making a big salary, they should have kept him for depth. Or cut him at end of summer. As things have turned out, they could use him now.

They did Roman a favor, cutting him early and giving him a chance to earn a spot elsewhere. Most vets prefer that. He was no longer in GB's plans, so they let him go. It was simply a numbers game, even in training camp.

[Patler]

I think they might have kept Roman if Underwood had been hurt prior to Roman being cut, unless he was so unhappy about them bringing in Manual that he wouldn't have been kept under any circumstances.

I also think that may have happened.

[Harlan Huckleby]

They did Roman a favor, cutting him early and giving him a chance to earn a spot elsewhere.

I don't want the GM doing favors for players at the team's expense. (Although I don't buy this explanation anyway.)

I think Thompson invested a good deal of money and ego in bringing his boy Manuel back from Seattle. He had no interest in seeing a competition with Roman for the starting job. As things played out, Roman probably would be the starter today, if only due to Manuel's injury. At a minimum he would have made the final cut, providing valuable depth.

(My opinion on all this is colored by fact that I thought Roman had a decent season in 2005.)

Thompson made a mistake. Maybe a small one, but the small ones add up.

[Partial]

They did Roman a favor, cutting him early and giving him a chance to earn a spot elsewhere.

I don't want the GM doing favors for players at the team's expense. (Although I don't buy this explanation anyway.)

I think Thompson invested a good deal of money and ego in bringing his boy Manuel back from Seattle. He had no interest in seeing a competition with Roman for the starting job. As things played out, Roman probably would be the starter today, if only due to Manuel's injury. At a minimum he would have made the final cut, providing valuable depth.

(My opinion on all this is colored by fact that I thought Roman had a decent season in 2005.)

Thompson made a mistake. Maybe a small one, but the small ones add up.

ding ding ding we have a winner!

[Patler]

Naw, not having Roman doesn't qualify as a "mistake". Its called "moving on". It's as much of a mistake as not having Grey Ruegamer back. Both might have been better backups than what you have, but you would like your backups to provide something else, too. Versatility, future improvement, special teams play, etc. Roman provided nothing other than being a 4th safety at the time, or the 3rd safety after Underwood's injury. I'm certainly not ready to say he would be starting ahead of Manual.

[KYPack]

They did Roman a favor, cutting him early and giving him a chance to earn a spot elsewhere.

I don't want the GM doing favors for players at the team's expense. (Although I don't buy this explanation anyway.)

I think Thompson invested a good deal of money and ego in bringing his boy Manuel back from Seattle. He had no interest in seeing a competition with Roman for the starting job. As things played out, Roman probably would be the starter today, if only due to Manuel's injury. At a minimum he would have made the final cut, providing valuable depth.

(My opinion on all this is colored by fact that I thought Roman had a decent season in 2005.)

Thompson made a mistake. Maybe a small one, but the small ones add up.

Well Well.

I totally agree with HH in this case.

That must mean I'm dead wrong.

I have BIG problems with TT's moves in the FA arena. Roman & Ruegy are '"marginal" guys. Vets that are playing out the string. They are also better solutions than rookies that will never play in the league.

Neither player could start for us, but they were far better answers than raw rooies that will never play in the league.

Patler speaks of moving on. Yeah, ya gotta move on, but move FORWARD.

We needed a vet in the OLine and a vet in the secondary for back-up going into this season. Thompson's manuverings left us with NO answers, just kids.

That's a fuck-up on his part.

[Harlan Huckleby]

It's as much of a mistake as not having Grey Ruegamer back.

Agreed. I also thought it was foolish to let Ruegamer go before finding decent replacements. Roman & Ruegamer are providing quality depth to other teams, while the Packers are hurting for depth at safety and Oline.