Is Goff The Answer At MLB?

Monday, March 8, 2010

Rolle Signing Could Be Biggest Free Agent Splurge For Blue

The Giants needed help at safety and got it with the addition of Pro Bowler Antrel Rolle. They did not hesitate in making Rolle the game’s highest-paid safety, but he may be the only big-ticket player the team brings in, for now.

The uncapped year and the free agency rules that accompany it have many teams either confused or cautious. Teams are waiting to see what breaks.

I believe teams are playing a patient game of chess. Since most of the desirable pieces this off-season are restricted free agents (RFAs), general managers and their staffs are calculating whether to draw up offer sheets and surrender draft choices or simply sit back and wait for the draft.

Right now, all teams are measuring the existing pool of free-agents, what other teams might be be interested in them and whether there are better options in the draft. This process could take weeks. We may not see considerable free agent movement again until mid-April.

Giants Still Need An Experienced MLB, But Could Stick With Goff

It’s obvious to everyone from the parking attendants at the Meadowlands to the ownership that the Giants must find a player to replace Antonio Pierce. They need to do this before the draft.

Every fantasy player is telling you they should draft a MLB. I agree, but there is no rookie alive that is going to start Day One of his career calling defensive signals in the NFL. As a coach, you’d have to have your head examined to expect a rookie to run your defense.

They need an experienced player at MLB, and that is why Karlos Dansby was considered a “must-have” for the Giants this off-season. Instead, they opted to spend on a safety, which they also needed. Now, they have to scour the RFA list for a possible deal. There are some good players, but very few that possess the qualifications the Giants need.

Many feel that Oakland’s Kirk Morrison, tendered at a third-round level, might be the answer. So far, the Giants have made no moves in that direction.

I think the Giants are hoping that Jonathan Goff can fill the bill for now. He’s a bright young man and tough player (he has an engineering degree from Vanderbilt) and he has experience with the headset. If he can build on his performance of last season, there may not be an immediate need to draft a linebacker in the early rounds unless someone they covet falls to them.

Fans are barking about Rolando McClain, Brandon Spikes and others as possible first round draft picks, but if you know the Giants that first rounder is rarely a “need” player. They will take the best player available regardless of position.

This is a deep draft and there may be someone at 15 they just can’t pass on. The LA Times projects that player could be Notre Dame WR Golden Tate. A receiver? Think about it. How many receiving options do the Saints, Colts and Vikings have…four or five each? In this pass-happy league, this would not be the craziest move by a long shot.

Notes

It doesn’t appear that QB David Carr will be back. He is roaming around the league trying to land a starting gig. The Giants will work out Colt backup Jim Sorgi today at the Meadowlands as a possible replacement. They are also rumored to be considering Jeff Garcia.

The Giants will also try out another kicker this week – former Panther Rhys Lloyd.

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Safety Antrel Rolle Signed By Giants

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Julius Peppers went to Chicago yesterday and came away $91 million richer. Karlos Dansby, who was supposed to be courted by a slew of teams, was only offered a contract by the Miami Dolphins. He took it.

And Antrel Rolle, a safety coming off of a Pro Bowl year, was made the richest at his position by the New York Giants.

So much for the bidding wars. We now know the strategies of the majority of NFL teams. They are choosing to be cautious. The Bears and Giants were desperate for players at those positions. The Dolphins turned out ot be the only destination Dansby wanted to land.

The rest of the league is taking a powder. There were some other moves. Detroit made some moves, but they need to make so many moves that whatever they do seem inconsequential. The Bears also signed Chester Taylor, who will finally become a featured back at the age of 30.

Atlanta made a solid move by inking Houston's talented CB, Dunta Robinson. The Cardinals continued to reshape their roster by shipping WR Anquan Boldin to Baltimore for draft choices.

Perhaps the exodus of major players in Arizona helped Rolle's decision to take the Giants' money a bit easier. It was thought that Rolle's agent may try to take a Giant offer and leverage it vs others, drawing out the process, but that never materialized.

Rolle fills a gaping hole in the Giants' secondary. Unfortunately, it's at free safety - the position where Kenny Phillips has been penciled in. What will the Giants do? Or is there something we don't know about Phillips' future?

The Giants and Kenny Phillips have both assured the public that Phillips' knee rehab is on schedule, yet they went out yesterday and paid Antrel Rolle $37 million dollars to play Phillips' position. For a team that claimed they were going to double-count their chips before every move, this quick strike to secure a free safety seems dubious.

The Giants' made Kenny Phillips their first round selection in 2008 because he had the same attributes as another University of Miami safety- the late Sean Taylor. Rolle is also a former Hurricane. In fact, when Taylor left for the NFL in 2004, Rolle took his slot in Miami and became a consensus All-American.

The signing of Rolle certainly helps the Giants at safety. But is he Phillips' new partner or his replacement?

Let's hope it's the former. Does this also mean that they are not expecting Kenny Phillips to fulfill his promise? Will they take Taylor Mays or Earl Thomas if either player falls to them in the draft? We shall see....

On a side note, the Dolphins released former Giant safety Gibril Wilson yesterday. I wonder if the Giants would consider bringing him back...? Are the Giants still looking for inside LB help? And if so, who might be on their radar now that Dansby and Gary Brackett are no longer possibilities?

The Eagles released LB Will Witherspoon yesterday. He's still got some mojo left. He may be worth a look. Then there are the RFAs. Kirk Morrison of Oakland and Cleveland's D'Qwell Jackson have been mentioned.

The opinion of this writer, that is if the Giants want a real MLB, they send an offer sheet to Houston's DeMeco Ryans. Only 25, Ryans is the league's next big superstar at the position. He was recently tendered at the highest level (a 1st and 3rd round pick) by the Texans and is going to be offered a long term deal.

Take a shot, Jerry Reese. You have our permission. As Clint Eastwood said in The Outlaw Josey Wales....Are you goin to pull those pistols or just stand there whistlin' dixie...?

Fennelly on "2-Minute Drill"

Friday, March 5, 2010

Guide to NFL Free Agency

Thursday, March 4, 2010

What to Expect Come Friday

At midnight tonight, the CBA officially expires. That means there is no salary cap, so teams are not limited in the amount of money they can spend on players.

It also means there is no floor, or minimum team salary requirements. That figure, which now stands at $107 million, no longer has to be spent on players. Some teams, especially smaller market ones, may opt to keep salaries as low as feasibly possible.

Teams that played in the Divisional Playoff round last season will basically be sidelined in free agency. The final four (New Orleans, Indianapolis, New York Jets and Minnesota) cannot sign any UFAs unless they lose one, first.

The other four teams (Baltimore, Arizona, Dallas and San Diego) are limited as well. They can "only will be permitted to sign one unrestricted free agent for $5.5 million (estimated) or more in year one of the contract, plus the number of their UFAs who sign with another team. They also can sign any unrestricted free agents for less than $3.7 (estimated) million in year one of the contract with limitations on the per year increases...."

Free Agents

The unrestricted free agent pool is now 212 players less than it would have been in normal times. The pickings are slim. Since UFAs are required to have six years of service, most of them are 30 years old or close to it. Many believe the there are only a few players worth bidding on, and the price for those players will be not worth the risk.

Teams will be reluctant to pry restricted free agents away from their current employers because the compensation. With a deep draft coming up, teams will want to stockpile picks rather than to forfeit them.

Trades

In the NFL, trades are not as common as they are in other major sports. This off-season, that is bound to change. Teams that covet RFAs from other teams may offer some of their own RFAs in return to avoid surrendering draft choices. It will be interesting to see how this plays out...

Predictions

The Washington Redskins are ready to roll the dice. The NFL's most valuable franchise will throw their hat into the ring for every UFA they feel can help them.

The Miami Dolphins will drive hard to the hoop on Cardinal LB Karlos Dansby, as will the Giants. Money will be the primary factor, but location and direction of the franchise will also be considered.

Julius Peppers, the celebrated Carolina DE, may turn out to be too expensive for the Chicago Bears. It has been revealed that they may have tampered with Peppers at the combine this week. If they drop out, the Eagles and the Giants may try to play a game of one upmanship for Peppers' services.

Many teams will not match offer sheets, opting to receive compensation for the lost players.