Cap

[Patler]

If these guys don't pan out, none will be worth resigning. Then we'll have a whole NEW crop of 1st and 2nd year players making up the majority of the team. Again. TT's job rests on his draft classes being worth resigning to really big contracts.

Isn't that the case with EVERY GM's draft classes? If they don't work out, they aren't worth resigning, and the GM drafts players to take their places.
There is nothing different about the Packers or TT in that regard.

[pack4to84]

I wish we could trade cap space for draft picks. Then TT would have like 3 first rounders next season.

[Charles Woodson]

If these guys don't pan out, none will be worth resigning. Then we'll have a whole NEW crop of 1st and 2nd year players making up the majority of the team. Again. TT's job rests on his draft classes being worth resigning to really big contracts.

Isn't that the case with EVERY GM's draft classes? If they don't work out, they aren't worth resigning, and the GM drafts players to take their places.
There is nothing different about the Packers or TT in that regard.

except that the Gm shouldnt only rely on the draft. And i see what bbbffl66 is saying; if alot of these guys arent worth resigning, then we draft new players to take there spot and again like the past 2 years we will have alot of 1-2 year players.

[Packgator]

If these guys don't pan out, none will be worth resigning. Then we'll have a whole NEW crop of 1st and 2nd year players making up the majority of the team. Again. TT's job rests on his draft classes being worth resigning to really big contracts.

Isn't that the case with EVERY GM's draft classes? If they don't work out, they aren't worth resigning, and the GM drafts players to take their places.

If not enough of them "work out" then it is often the job of the "NEW" GM to draft players to take their places.

[Patler]

If these guys don't pan out, none will be worth resigning. Then we'll have a whole NEW crop of 1st and 2nd year players making up the majority of the team. Again. TT's job rests on his draft classes being worth resigning to really big contracts.

Isn't that the case with EVERY GM's draft classes? If they don't work out, they aren't worth resigning, and the GM drafts players to take their places.
There is nothing different about the Packers or TT in that regard.

except that the Gm shouldnt only rely on the draft. And i see what bbbffl66 is saying; if alot of these guys arent worth resigning, then we draft new players to take there spot and again like the past 2 years we will have alot of 1-2 year players.

So how many FAs should he have signed, and at what experience level?

If you can sign some decent 4 year vets, like Pickett, it can turn out OK because they have potentially another 6 years or so of decent play before they start to decline, but how many of those are there available? Anyone already in their 6th-8th year will have to be replaced in 4 years or so anyway, so you haven't extended your longevity at all. If he had signed Moss, even if he stayed, in 3-4 years they would be looking for a replacement anyway.

That's why I think free agent signings today have to be very selective. Getting a guy like Pickett is a very good deal. Decent player, decent cost AND absent injury could fill a position for at least 6 years, maybe a few more. Selectively signing someone like Woodson fills a critical need, but certainly is no long term answer. All he does is buy you a few years to draft a replacement or sign a much younger veteran.

I've said all along, the critical time for me in developing an opinion of TT will be when the team gets close with all the drafted "kids" and a few key FAs could push them into true playoff contention. Will he be just that little bit more aggressive to bring a couple in? I don't think anyone can say for sure at this point.

[Fritz]

Anybody who uses the overpaid cliches are neglecting the changing times IMO. Salaries are going up with the cap.

It's fine if your GM does not want to play I guess, but I'd hope we hold the GM accountable for improvement either way.

He'll find ways to use up the cap space, as Patler has noted many times, by the end of next season.

I'm sure we'll be set up wonderfully cap wise for 2008 as well; hey maybe we can participate in free agency while wages go up another tier that year

Maybe not; maybe they'll all be overpaid

He does use the cap space, it's true. It's just that often he uses it in ways that are not as splashy as they might be. It can be disconcerting, when all the media trumpets buying - not just in sports, but everywhere - as the answer to all questions.

I think it would behoove the organization to hand out Ben Franklins to all the anxious fans, to compensate them for their stress during TT's inactivity in free agency.

[Bretsky]

Anybody who uses the overpaid cliches are neglecting the changing times IMO. Salaries are going up with the cap.

It's fine if your GM does not want to play I guess, but I'd hope we hold the GM accountable for improvement either way.

He'll find ways to use up the cap space, as Patler has noted many times, by the end of next season.

I'm sure we'll be set up wonderfully cap wise for 2008 as well; hey maybe we can participate in free agency while wages go up another tier that year

Maybe not; maybe they'll all be overpaid

He does use the cap space, it's true. It's just that often he uses it in ways that are not as splashy as they might be. It can be disconcerting, when all the media trumpets buying - not just in sports, but everywhere - as the answer to all questions.

I think it would behoove the organization to hand out Ben Franklins to all the anxious fans, to compensate them for their stress during TT's inactivity in free agency.

Well, I'd rather have him use up the cap space with other means than frontloading deals for the bettement of the future........but......do you want my address for the Ben Franklin's ?