Hamlin signs with cowboys

[The Leaper]

Hamlin is the same player as both Collins and Manual...he's a guy who plays better closer to the line of scrimmage. We need a COVERAGE safety...someone who can make some big plays back there when our DL gets pressure on the QB.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think Collins is okay in coverage. He makes mistakes recognizing things, but he has the ability to cover--unlike Manuel. I don't think you can lump him in with the in the box safeties.

It wouldn't have taken a long-term overpaying to get Hamlin. Could have had him at a reasonable amount for one year. If it didn't work out, they could have moved on. If it did work out, problem solved at safety. I like building through the draft, but thought Thompson should have grabbed a couple of projected starters in FA.

[Patler]

There is something wrong with the Hamlin scenario. Supposedly, he is a good safety, but:

He received no interest early.
He received marginal interest now.
He signed a very cheap contract.
He signed a 1 year contract.
Seattle made no effort to retain him, that I heard about.

[retailguy]

So, because he is better than Manual does that constitute signing him to a long term deal making him the starter for years to come? I'd like to think we could do better.

Next year, we'll have money again, but most other teams will not since they went nuts this year. That means we'll have a greater selection of players. Plus, we'll have a better understanding of what we do and don't have.

Dallas signed him to a ONE year contract... Who would have to "tie him up for years to come"? Your point makes no sense. 1 year 2.5m is not a big contract. we need safety help.

[KYPack]

[
.

So, because he is better than Manual does that constitute signing him to a long term deal making him the starter for years to come? I'd like to think we could do better.

Next year, we'll have money again, but most other teams will not since they went nuts this year. That means we'll have a greater selection of players. Plus, we'll have a better understanding of what we do and don't have.[/quote]

I see RG got ya, but I gotta beat ya up, too, Partial.

The teams that went nuts this year won't be all broke next yr.

Teams couldn't manage the cap, so it has been raised. Even the stupid teams will still have money next year to sign some guys. Your model was true in the 90's, but they are gone with the wind now. The majority of teams will have $ to piss away on FA's every year.

I have some reservations about Hamlin. He's goofy, for one. He was out for the year once after being hit in the head with a pipe. And he wasn't on his way to church when he was assaulted.

[Bretsky]

Good. I am glad we don't have him. He's a liability. You guys are getting so bitter that you'd settle for anything at this point. That is a bad attitude.

He's much better than Manuel, but you are right. Anybody with expectations that TT would sign a solid starter or two via free agency with his 22 or so MIL in available cap space is frustratedl The sad part is Hamlin was the highest rated FA that is still out there by most ratings. Teams moved fast to sign the quality that they wanted this year.

So, because he is better than Manual does that constitute signing him to a long term deal making him the starter for years to come? I'd like to think we could do better.

Next year, we'll have money again, but most other teams will not since they went nuts this year. That means we'll have a greater selection of players. Plus, we'll have a better understanding of what we do and don't have.

I never said anything about a long term deal; but it'd be nice to upgrade some starting positions with the 22 Million we have under the pillow

Didn't we say next year last year when TT used all that money to frontload Woodson ? The next year concept only makes us worse this coming year and we're using the theory again. Plus, the cap could go up again next year so there is no guarantee that we will have a greater selection of players for any less money. And several teams still have money to spend now; we're just in the top 4. I just don't buy into this theory anymore.

Cheers,
B

[Bretsky]

I think Collins is okay in coverage. He makes mistakes recognizing things, but he has the ability to cover--unlike Manuel. I don't think you can lump him in with the in the box safeties.

It wouldn't have taken a long-term overpaying to get Hamlin. Could have had him at a reasonable amount for one year. If it didn't work out, they could have moved on. If it did work out, problem solved at safety. I like building through the draft, but thought Thompson should have grabbed a couple of projected starters in FA.

[packers11]

I liked Grant > Hamlin... But oh well

By the way, turn that turtle upside down... ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!

[Patler]

We already know what the cap will be in 2008. It's $116 million. Same increase as for 2007.

[Packnut]

Manuel

Hamlin is a good player. The only reason he did'nt get the big contract is because he did suffer a very serious head injury. Signing a 1 year contract is the same as Johnson. Prove your health and then collect a big check.

You guys can spin it anyway you want but the fact is Manuel sucks and anyone who says different does'nt know squat about football. It was'nt just 1 incident. People have short memories and forget the number of times he got burned because either he bit on PA or is just to damn slow.

Those counting on Underwood were the same ones who claimed Walker needed more than a year cause the injury is so serious. Now because it fits their spin, it's a different story. Underwood played well in pre-season, which really means very little.

At the start of FA, Thompson had the money to upgrade this position and almost every saftey out there would be an up-grade. He did'nt and that constitutes FAILURE on his part. Drafting a saftey will give no help next season cause rookies need to learn. So IF Underwood is not our saviour, then we are condemed to another season of WR's running free in our secondary. How ANY Teddy lover can put a positive spin on this is beyond me......................

[Fritz]

I would have to agree with Patler on this one. Hamlin did not get much if any early interest, and once he did it was minimal - as several TT critics have pointed out, the contract is pretty minimal by NFL standards. These are red flags for me. I just don't believe that TT is "cheap" - the dude forked over ten mil to Woodson last year, extended Franks's contract, Kampman's, Jenkins's, Harris's. No, in March it's not sexy to imagine how much better Colledge and Spitz are going to be, or to imagine Marviel Underwood rehabbing furiously or Culver working out. I know that. But those scenarios provide the Packers with better opportunities to become a much better team than TT running out and signing a new guy just because he's new, which is essentially (in my opinion) what is at work here. When people start complaining bitterly that TT lost out on a fullback that the Cleveland Browns cut, the it seems to me the desire for someone new - anyone new - is the driving force. New is sexy, new is exciting, but new may not be what makes this team better.

We'll see next year.

[Bretsky]

I would have to agree with Patler on this one. Hamlin did not get much if any early interest, and once he did it was minimal - as several TT critics have pointed out, the contract is pretty minimal by NFL standards. These are red flags for me. I just don't believe that TT is "cheap" - the dude forked over ten mil to Woodson last year, extended Franks's contract, Kampman's, Jenkins's, Harris's. No, in March it's not sexy to imagine how much better Colledge and Spitz are going to be, or to imagine Marviel Underwood rehabbing furiously or Culver working out. I know that. But those scenarios provide the Packers with better opportunities to become a much better team than TT running out and signing a new guy just because he's new, which is essentially (in my opinion) what is at work here. When people start complaining bitterly that TT lost out on a fullback that the Cleveland Browns cut, the it seems to me the desire for someone new - anyone new - is the driving force. New is sexy, new is exciting, but new may not be what makes this team better.

We'll see next year.

I too agree with Patler and think there is something more than meets the eye on Hamlin.

Either injury concerns or he's not a great person. One or the other.

I never pounded for Hamlin early on; I really liked Grant and a couple others. The whiners (I'd be one of these) are frustrated because TT has not shored up any starting holes we have with FA going into he draft and had and have a ton of money to do so. The defenders say there is nobody now anyways. Hamlin was the best guy left so that's probably what brought on even more frustration. And now that nearly all of the projected starters are signed, the defenders are pretty close to right. Most of the quality has been signed by those who decided to play.

[Patler]

Re: Manuel

Hamlin is a good player. The only reason he did'nt get the big contract is because he did suffer a very serious head injury. Signing a 1 year contract is the same as Johnson. Prove your health and then collect a big check.

You guys can spin it anyway you want but the fact is Manuel sucks and anyone who says different does'nt know squat about football. It was'nt just 1 incident. People have short memories and forget the number of times he got burned because either he bit on PA or is just to damn slow.

Those counting on Underwood were the same ones who claimed Walker needed more than a year cause the injury is so serious. Now because it fits their spin, it's a different story. Underwood played well in pre-season, which really means very little.

At the start of FA, Thompson had the money to upgrade this position and almost every saftey out there would be an up-grade. He did'nt and that constitutes FAILURE on his part. Drafting a saftey will give no help next season cause rookies need to learn. So IF Underwood is not our saviour, then we are condemed to another season of WR's running free in our secondary. How ANY Teddy lover can put a positive spin on this is beyond me......................

A few inaccuracies in your post.

Hamlin has already played a full season after his injury. His recovery has already been demonstrated. Just like Green, Hamlin should have been able to cash in this year. He couldn't. There must be a reason.

Just because you and I may differ on our assessment of Manual doesn't mean that I don't "know squat about football". In fact, perhaps I do, but you don't!

I don't think anyone is absolutely counting on Underwood, but apparently his recovery has gone well (unlike Walker's at this time) and he has rehabbed under the Packer staff supervision (again unlike Walker). I suspect TT has a good idea of were Underwood is at.

It's not just Underwood, there are several other young safeties with some promise. Only one has to step up and be a player. Culver, Bigby, Peprah are all young guys who could make a move, not to being all pro, but at least to being a legitimate starter.

I think you suffer a bit from the "grasses is greener on the other side of the fence" syndrome. A lot of the FAs out there may not be any better than the young guys coming on.

Maybe TT is a failure, maybe not. At this point I certainly don't know, and I suggest that neither do you. Last year everyone ranted and raved about TT not signing a veteran O-lineman. Maybe one could have helped, but the long term outlook for the O-line is decent right now, just one year later. Could be the same thing for safeties when we look back at it next year.

[esoxx]

The acid test for TT comes on the opening day of the regular season. If Manual trots out as a starting safety, there will be hell to pay.

[Packnut]

Re: Manuel

Hamlin is a good player. The only reason he did'nt get the big contract is because he did suffer a very serious head injury. Signing a 1 year contract is the same as Johnson. Prove your health and then collect a big check.

You guys can spin it anyway you want but the fact is Manuel sucks and anyone who says different does'nt know squat about football. It was'nt just 1 incident. People have short memories and forget the number of times he got burned because either he bit on PA or is just to damn slow.

Those counting on Underwood were the same ones who claimed Walker needed more than a year cause the injury is so serious. Now because it fits their spin, it's a different story. Underwood played well in pre-season, which really means very little.

At the start of FA, Thompson had the money to upgrade this position and almost every saftey out there would be an up-grade. He did'nt and that constitutes FAILURE on his part. Drafting a saftey will give no help next season cause rookies need to learn. So IF Underwood is not our saviour, then we are condemed to another season of WR's running free in our secondary. How ANY Teddy lover can put a positive spin on this is beyond me......................

A few inaccuracies in your post.

Hamlin has already played a full season after his injury. His recovery has already been demonstrated. Just like Green, Hamlin should have been able to cash in this year. He couldn't. There must be a reason.

Just because you and I may differ on our assessment of Manual doesn't mean that I don't "know squat about football". In fact, perhaps I do, but you don't!

I don't think anyone is absolutely counting on Underwood, but apparently his recovery has gone well (unlike Walker's at this time) and he has rehabbed under the Packer staff supervision (again unlike Walker). I suspect TT has a good idea of were Underwood is at.

It's not just Underwood, there are several other young safeties with some promise. Only one has to step up and be a player. Culver, Bigby, Peprah are all young guys who could make a move, not to being all pro, but at least to being a legitimate starter.

I think you suffer a bit from the "grasses is greener on the other side of the fence" syndrome. A lot of the FAs out there may not be any better than the young guys coming on.

Maybe TT is a failure, maybe not. At this point I certainly don't know, and I suggest that neither do you. Last year everyone ranted and raved about TT not signing a veteran O-lineman. Maybe one could have helped, but the long term outlook for the O-line is decent right now, just one year later. Could be the same thing for safeties when we look back at it next year.

As far as our difference of opinion on Manuel, I prefer to deal in FACT and what my eyes have seen. When debating a point, it does help one to have facts on their side as compared to opinion. Then again, if some people incorperated facts into their arguements, I'd have ANOTHER heart attack!(note: comment not directed at you).

I read virtually everything on the net from former players who are now analysts to everything that's said in the ESPN chats. Yes, some of them are idiots but not all. I have never read a negative on Hamlin's character or play on the field. In fact, EVERYTHING I've read states Hamlin is a very good saftey with above avg cover skills. Now I could post everything that the "experts" have said about Hamlin but think that would be reduntant. I would rather challenge the nay-sayers to post all the negatives stated about him.

As for his injury, he suffered head trauma so your point about the injury factor not having to do with teams shying away from him is wrong. He has a concussion risk associated with him. This was on ESPN and also in a Seattle newspaper posted on the ESPN local newspaper site.

Now as far as the "young guys" go, that is subjective to opinion since there is NOTHING to go on in their NFL playing history. They might turn out great or they might turn out busts. Now since we already have one saftey with question marks (Collins), I prefer to have someone with QUALITY PROVEN NFL PLAYING EXPERIENCE at the other position. May-be it does'nt bother you to watch oppossing WR's running wild in our secondary but it bugs the hell outta me! When it comes to our saftey pass coverage from 2006, ANY grass is greener on the other side. Again, not my opinion but FACT! Re-run the tape my friend. As painfull as it is to watch, it speaks volumes.

As for your point about Thompson, I am not one (contrary to popular opinion) to criticize his every move. He deserves credit for signing Woodson, helping to free up cap space (even if it is'nt used) and re-signing Kampman and Jenkins to name a few. However, he has made his share of mistakes and while batting .500 in baseball is astounding, it does'nt quite cut it for an NFL GM.

Last but not least, my opinions here are well documentated and for the most part more times than not, end up being correct. I was one of the few who argued with the Favre bashers after the 2005 season that he still had some gas in the tank and his 2006 season was proof of that. I argued with almost everyone here that Walker would recover from his injury ahead of time and was right about that. I also argued with almost everyone here that he would not only play but produce. I believe the #'s he posted with a terrible QB and then with a rookie QB were quite an accomplishment. I said he was still a blue chip WR and most experts share that opinion. Finally, when the debate was raging about which coach to hire, I was all over Payton and the guy ends up being HC of the year. These are just a few examples. I believe my record speaks for itself............