NFL Offseason 2006

Borat Pri Hagafen · February-24th-2006, 12:06 PM

NFL | Upshaw tells agents to be ready for an uncapped 2007 season
Fri, 24 Feb 2006 08:19:59 -0800

ESPN.com's John Clayton reports NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw told a seminar of agents Friday morning, Feb. 24, to prepare for a 2006 season without a collective bargaining extension, setting up an uncapped year in 2007. "March 3 will be the beginning of a new league year and we are just not there yet," Upshaw said. "I'm taking the position now that it won't get done." Three major issues were cited by Upshaw as the reason for no collective bargaining agreement extension. 1) Neither side can agree on the percentage of total revenues that will go to the players. 2) The NFLPA won't agree to any type of CBA extension that doesn't have a new revenue sharing plan in the future. 3) Upshaw's third difference is the league's "G-3" program in which money is loaned to teams by the league to finance new stadium construction.

Borat Pri Hagafen · February-24th-2006, 12:11 PM

Jason Cole, of the Miami Herald, reports the Miami Dolphins expect the Minnesota Vikings to release QB Daunte Culpepper before the Vikings are scheduled to pay him a $6 million roster bonus March 17. Because of that belief, the Dolphins have resisted the offer to trade for Culpepper. The Dolphins and Vikings recently discussed a trade for Culpepper.

Jason Bivins · February-24th-2006, 01:37 PM

DOOM. Seriously, isn't Upshaw being a bit of a moron here? While the players and agents might hold some temporary advantage, isn't it the case that if there is no CBA and there is an uncapped year that the owners will hold all the cards at that point? I could easily be mistaken here, but if this is right then it would seem like an unwise gamble on the players' part. Oh, and lots and lots of teams will be fucked as well.

Borat, where's Brees going to end up?

Borat Pri Hagafen · February-24th-2006, 07:46 PM

It's too early to have a good answer for that, especially if Culpepper is going to be on the market also. I think Baltimore might be the best fit for him, but i've heard talk about Miami, Chicago, the Jets, Oakland and a bunch of others.

I'm not 100% convinced he's leaving just yet, although it's probably just a case of denial.

Enforcer · February-24th-2006, 08:11 PM

Some SI guy was on the radio this morning (not Peter King, though), saying the Lions were in the mix, if not at the top of the list, for teams Brees could go to.

It won't happen, though.

Enforcer · February-24th-2006, 08:18 PM

The Lions hung the franchise tag on LT Jeff Backus, who will make almost $7 million in 2006. That's top five money at the position. If they lost Backus, there's a dearth of viable replacements, so he kind of has the Lions by the balls in that respect. Backus is a hard worker and a warrior. He's loved by the coaching staff. He's started all 80 games the team has played since he joined the team.

The only problem I have with him is I'm not sure he's any good. I mean, I have to think Rod Marinelli, as an OL type guy, would know who's good and who's not. But watching the Lions offensive line the past two seasons, almost every horrendous missed block or pass coverage breakdown has pointed to Jeff Backus.

Typical Lions stuff. Just another day in the life of a Lions fan. Nothing makes sense, it's like dropping acid and gazing into a disco ball. Pure insanity, confusion and illusion.

Borat Pri Hagafen · February-24th-2006, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Nothing makes sense, it's like dropping acid and gazing into a disco ball.

Excellent.

I think Volek is a better fit for them, and probably cheaper as well. Is Garcia still under contract?

Mike Williams, the OT, who was a top 5 pick for the Bills a few years back and has been a colossal bust, either just got waived, or is about to be waived. LeCharles Bentley is probably the best available lineman, now that Hutchinson (and Backus) have been tagged.

Bentley is probably my top choice among all available free agents, for the Chargers to pick up.

Gordon B · February-26th-2006, 11:07 PM

Vince Young scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test.

A score of 21 = average intelligence, 14 = score of an unskilled worker.

There's no way I'd draft him with the 3rd pick or anywhere close to that knowing his results.

Beyond his lack of intelligence, the score indicates that Young didn't think it was worth his time to take a Wonderlic review course before taking the test.

Here's a sample of the type of questions asked. I scored 9/9 but I would expect most people reading this post to do likewise.

http://www.efplfp.stealingisgood.com/wpt.html

bostontricky · February-26th-2006, 11:14 PM

Gordon, could you imagine Young playing a position besides quarterback for someone? Something more to the RB side of Kordell Stewart, for example? Or more to the QB side of Randle El? (Which is hard to conceive of, considering Randle El probably has the better arm...)

Bring back the single wing!

Jon Abbey · February-26th-2006, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Here's a sample of the type of questions asked. I scored 9/9 but I would expect most people reading this post to do likewise.

http://www.efplfp.stealingisgood.com/wpt.html

I hope not too many of them are this irrelevant:

"The hours of daylight and darkness in SEPTEMBER are nearest equal to the hours of daylight and darkness in:

June
March
May
November"

not knowing that kind of thing really hampered him against USC.

I'd like to test Gordon and Vince about their knowledge of Houston hip-hop, from DJ Screw on forward, and see how that worked out.

Gordon B · February-27th-2006, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

I'd like to test Gordon and Vince about their knowledge of Houston hip-hop, from DJ Screw on forward, and see how that worked out.

That's arguably the most nonsensical thing you've ever posted. I find it hard to fathom somebody with an IQ of 70 or 75 being able to master an NFL playbook or being able to read complicated defenses at the line of scrimmage and then audible if neccessary. Furthermore, as I already pointed out, Young's unwillingness to take a review course to at least hide his low IQ from the NFL combine indicates a prima donna attitude, like "screw it, I'm Vince Young."

Gordon B · February-27th-2006, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostontricky

Gordon, could you imagine Young playing a position besides quarterback for someone? Something more to the RB side of Kordell Stewart, for example? Or more to the QB side of Randle El? (Which is hard to conceive of, considering Randle El probably has the better arm...)

Bring back the single wing!

Boston, I can't imagine Vince Young agreeing to play another position.

More thoughts on Wonderlic. Maybe he's not dumb but just never put any effort at all into school. Well, that's not a good sign either.

I think NFL GM's see Young as a quarterback with a chance to be a good one. However, the consensus is that he won't thrive in a traditional offense. The offense has to be geared to him, i.e. not that complicated, lots of plays out of the shotgun, not too highly structured.

I'll be anybody a cd that Jay Cutler, the Vanderbilt QB who never played for a winning team is picked before Vince Young.

Gordon B · February-27th-2006, 07:49 AM

Well, the lastest rumor this morning is that the person who graded Young's test had the wrong answer key; the real score is 16. If so, that's good news.

I'll still offer the one cd bet that Cutler is picked before Young.

Borat Pri Hagafen · February-27th-2006, 08:08 AM

NFL QB's need to be quick mentally, or they'll never be great, so I'd agree that a 6 would be a huge concern for a QB. 16 is probably acceptable. There's just so much to master, and you really need a high aptitude in order to fully develop.

I still think Leinart will go before both of the other QB's (to New Orleans at #2) but Cutler could easily go to the Titans at #3. I'm holding off on any predictions until after everyone's worked out for the scouts, which will be early April for Leinart and probably Young as well.

I love the draft and all draft-related hoopla. I've said it many times, if the draft were on opposite the Super Bowl (and the Chargers weren't involved), I'd watch the draft in a second.

Culpepper is apparently getting his $6 million roster bonus, so I'd say it's fairly safe that he won't get cut after all.

moneyp · February-27th-2006, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Well, the lastest rumor this morning is that the person who graded Young's test had the wrong answer key; the real score is 16. If so, that's good news.

Now what about his inability to throw deep? Or was he using the wrong answer key in the Rose Bowl, too?

Enforcer · February-27th-2006, 09:59 AM

The sports world at large overreacts to the last performance of every player and every team. There's no better example of that than Vince Young and his Rose Bowl performance. I will be drop dead stunned if he pans out in the NFL as a QB.

Chris D · February-27th-2006, 10:39 AM

I'm just hoping the Packers figure out a way to blow it with the No. 5 pick. They've pooched the big ones before. Mandarich and Terrell Buckley, baby.

Jon Abbey · February-27th-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

That's arguably the most nonsensical thing you've ever posted. I find it hard to fathom somebody with an IQ of 70 or 75 being able to master an NFL playbook or being able to read complicated defenses at the line of scrimmage and then audible if neccessary. Furthermore, as I already pointed out, Young's unwillingness to take a review course to at least hide his low IQ from the NFL combine indicates a prima donna attitude, like "screw it, I'm Vince Young."

actually, you're the one who jumped the gun on the whole thing. clearly his IQ isn't actually that low, I've read interviews with the guy.

and the question I excerpted above has nothing to do with IQ, it's simply knowledge that someone may or may not have, and it's totally irrelevant to his future in the NFL. as Mone said, his seeming inability to throw deep is worth discussing, this IQ discussion seems like borderline slander so far to me.

Jon Abbey · February-27th-2006, 12:11 PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3687374.html

excerpt:

"Many executives believe the Wonderlic test is culturally biased"

exactly, hence my Houston hip-hop comment, which I believe is dead on. a knowledge of DJ Screw and UGK is about as relevant to your job (Gordon's) as some of those questions are to the job of NFL QB. the one I cut and pasted above has absolutely nothing to do with IQ.

Borat Pri Hagafen · February-28th-2006, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

"Many executives believe the Wonderlic test is culturally biased"

The SAT is culturally biased too, but if you get a 500 combined, you're not going to be able to grasp how to run a pro offense. Fine, that one question doesn't necessarily correlate to his intelligence, but considering a score of 10 represents basic literacy, a 6 would be very troubling for a QB.

Obviously it's not perfect; the best example of this is Marino's 16, but again, a 16 isn't a 6.

Assuming the link Gordon posted is somewhat comparable to the real test as far as difficulty, a score of 6 (out of 50) would be roughly equivalent to 1 (or very generously, 2) of those 9 we looked at.

I don't need my franchise QB to understand geometry, but it would be terrific if he could recognize what pattern 8,4,2,1,1/2, 1/4 represents, or which is the 9th month.

There is no chance that i'd invest countless millions in a QB as a top 5 pick if he scored in single digits on that test. If that makes me culturally biased, racist, or whatever, so be it.

Jon Abbey · February-28th-2006, 09:48 AM

but the point is that he didn't actually get a 6, at least depending on which story you read.

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-1st-2006, 06:06 PM

So, if they don't reach an agreement by tomorrow, it looks like the cap for this season will be $92 million, as opposed to the projected $105 million. I assume there'll be a ton of contract restructuring going on, but it's going to be brutal. A lot of big names on the market, and they're probably not going to get anywhere near what they think they deserve.

A team like the Raiders can afford to cut Collins and Sapp and anyone else they need to, because clearly they're going to suck regardless, but what does a contending team that's way over the cap, like the Skins do to get under?

2007 would then be uncapped, so anyone could have as high a payroll as they wanted for that one season.

Apparently Snyder has the power to either make this happen or not make this happen either way, as he's 1 of 9 owners for the big market teams, and they need a 24-8 vote, but while he obviously would benefit tremendously from an uncapped year, he'd be arguably the most screwed this season if it's only $92 million.

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-1st-2006, 06:12 PM

The Denver Broncos shaved $14.99 million of cap room Wednesday, but it came at a big price for talent.

The Broncos released three starters -- defensive end Trevor Pryce, running back Mike Anderson and tight end Jeb Putzier in moves that pull the team within a couple of millions of the $92 million salary cap.<<<<<<

The best part is that the Raiders and Chiefs are in horrible cap shape, so everyone in the division will be shedding starters other than the Chargers. Well, unless you count their starting QB.

Enforcer · March-1st-2006, 06:17 PM

This would work out well for the Lions, too. They're under the cap by estimates ranging from $10 million-$20 million.

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-1st-2006, 06:41 PM

Sam Madison released, Brad Hopkins, Lawyer Milloy, Stephen Davis...

Tomorrow is going to just be brutal. Favre, McNair, maybe Arrington, Priest Holmes, Moulds, Jimmy Smith, Pennington, Aaron Brooks, Jamie Sharper, Faulk and a cast of thousands.

Captain Hate · March-1st-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Bivins

DOOM. Seriously, isn't Upshaw being a bit of a moron here?

A bit of a moron would be a major step up for Upshaw, who gets his ass handed to him by the owners every time there are negotiations. He's so stoopid that they could probably tell him that it was a white person's ass and he'd believe them.

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-2nd-2006, 08:15 AM

$94.5 million is the new estimate for the cap, so that's a little better at least. I have a feeling we're going to see a lot of Latrell Sprewells this year though.

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-4th-2006, 09:54 AM

Matt Millen: "Hey Coach, do you remember that NFC Championship game you guys had against the Bucs?"

Martz: "Of course. Winning that game was maybe more impressive than our Super Bowl win. I wish our Lions had some of the toughness of that Tampa team."

Millen: "Oh, that's great, i'm glad you feel that way. What would you say if i told you i just signed one of the starters from that team to play for us?"

Martz: "I'd be thrilled! Did we get Derrick Brooks? Lynch?"

Millen: "Uhhhhh"

Martz: "Oh, you must've signed Sapp. Well, that's ok, some of our younger guys can learn a few things from him, even if he's past his prime."

Millen: "Well..."

Martz: "Not Sapp? Just tell me, Matt. We can use all the help we can get."

Millen: "Shaun King. I signed Shaun King."

Martz: "Seriously, how do you still have a job?"

Gentle Giant · March-9th-2006, 09:01 AM

I am bereft.

My Patriots motto for next season is "Get it back!", but we need to keep our playmakers first.

Patriots cut ties with McGinest
Team gains room under new cap
By Ron Borges and Jerome Solomon, Globe Staff | March 9, 2006

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- Only minutes after the NFL's owners voted 30-2 to extend the collective bargaining agreement six years, the Patriots ended their 12-year agreement with all-time postseason sack leader Willie McGinest, according to one NFL personnel director last night.

McGinest's name popped up on the wire of vested veterans who had been released in cost-cutting moves almost immediately after the CBA extension was announced around 8:35 p.m.

Although the Patriots were not struggling to get under the new cap figure of $102 million, McGinest carried a prohibitive salary cap figure of more than $7 million for next season, a number he told the Globe a week ago he felt would surely result in him becoming a free agent unless the team chose to rework his deal.

Although the Patriots reportedly remain hopeful of signing McGinest, league sources said last night that the Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, and several other teams intend to explore signing McGinest, who last year became the all-time postseason sack leader (16), passing Hall of Famer Reggie White (12) and Bruce Smith (14 1/2).

McGinest, 34, started all 18 games last season and ranks third on the team's all-time sacks list (78), just 1 1/2 behind Julius Adams. Andre Tippett tops the chart with 100 sacks.

McGinest was second on the team with six sacks during the regular season (trailing Rosevelt Colvin's seven) and set an NFL playoff record with 4 1/2 sacks in the Patriots' 28-3 wild-card win over Jacksonville Jan. 7.

Although McGinest told the Globe in an exclusive interview last week that he would like nothing better than to finish his career with the Patriots, he was also excited about the possibility of exploring the free agent market for the first time. It is the same situation veteran wide receiver Troy Brown found himself in a year ago, when he was offered more money to play for New Orleans than he received to return to New England.

After much soul searching, Brown said he listened to the pleadings of his family and returned to New England. Now McGinest may find himself facing a similar pull -- the battle between a financial decision and a heartfelt one.

With the free agency period expected to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, the money under the cap will play a role in what the Patriots do with their two most important free agents -- kicker Adam Vinatieri and wideout David Givens. Negotiations have been slow with both players, as the Patriots have been reluctant to make any long-term deals because of the labor uncertainty.

Expect them to take on Vinatieri first. While kickers don't carry nearly as much value as position players -- Tom Brady received more in a roster bonus this month ($12 million) than Vinatieri has made in his entire 10-year career -- Vinatieri is considered to be among the most valuable of the available free agents.

Dallas, coached by Bill Parcells, who brought Vinatieri to the Patriots as an undrafted rookie in 1996, will be among several teams that would try to sign the game's top clutch kicker. Because of the relatively small amount of money kickers demand, expect the Patriots to be in the ballpark of whatever Vinatieri is offered, giving them a solid chance or retaining his services.

Vinatieri was paid a little more than $2.5 million last season, and it might take a ridiculous offer for the Patriots not to bring him back.

Givens, who had a career-best year last season (59 receptions) despite missing three games with a knee injury, is looking to cash in after playing for less than $1 million in his first three years. As an unrestricted free agent, he was tendered a midlevel deal for $1.43 million in 2005.

With top receiver Deion Branch due to become a free agent after the 2006 season, the Patriots would possibly go from having among the cheapest starting receiver combinations in the league to an overpaid twosome if they match what Givens and Branch can get on the open market. More likely, the team will replace Givens with a less-expensive alternative, and sign Branch to a long-term contract before the 2006 season begins.

The labor agreement also gives the Patriots a formula for working up a solid blueprint to sign defensive lineman Richard Seymour and tight end Daniel Graham to contract extensions. Each is entering the final year of his contract.

The Patriots have already started to work deals with some of its free agents. They have agreed to a two-year deal with safety Artrell Hawkins, who joined the team at midseason and started six games down the stretch.

The team's remaining list of unrestricted free agents includes: Brown, tackle Tom Ashworth, receiver Tim Dwight, tight end Christian Fauria, linebackers Don Davis and Matt Chatham, and running back Heath Evans.

Brown and Ashworth are the only ones in that group who received starter-level playing time. Brown has not said whether he plans to retire, though he indicated during the season that he is likely to be back for another year.

Showing Peyton his place.

Chris D · March-9th-2006, 09:35 AM

With the new cap, the Bears are about $20-25 million under. Randle-El can expect some late-night calls, I'd imagine.