What does your team need to do in the offseason?

[the pinjockey 0]

Why are you not a Winslow fan? Just the attitude or has he done something else?

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I don't like his attitude, didn't think they needed him, thought better players like Rothlisberger were still on the boards and he's being paid too much.

 

Also Shea and Heiden have proven throughout the season that they can handle the load at the position.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

You'd be crazy to get rid of Winslow. That kid's going to be a star. He & the kid in SD (Gates) are going to be the next Tony Gonzalez's.

[teke184 0]

You'd be crazy to get rid of Winslow. That kid's going to be a star. He & the kid in SD (Gates) are going to be the next Tony Gonzalez's.

I'm hoping that's supposed to have the [/sarcasm] tag...

 

 

I find Tight End to be a pretty useless position in most offenses. With the exception of a few guys like Gonzales, Heap, and Shockey, they're pretty much glorified blockers who might catch 4 passes in a season if they're lucky.

 

 

Unless Cleveland has more of those games like the one Sunday, they're never going to use Winslow enough to justify that contract.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

No sarcasm. Gates is leading SD in receiving (795 rec. yards) by almost a 2-1 margin over the next leading receiver, and is tied w/ Tomlinson for the TD lead for the team (11).

 

Winslow is another guy in the same mold (WR in a TE body). Cleveland would be crazy to not utilize the guy to his fullest. The guy is going to be a big offensive weapon for them. It's a shame he got hurt, because I really wanted to see what the guy would do in his 1st year.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

Shockey has had butter fingers all year. His stock is plumetting. I still like him though.

[NoCalMike 0]

Shockey has always been a player that has a big half and then dissapears once the opposing defense decides to pay attention to him. That has been the story since day one, but of course his MOUTH, unecessary celebrating, and the fact that he plays in NY, has helped his HYPE machine grow.

[tominator89 0]

For the Eagles fans: what kinda deal do you think Buckhalter will get when his contract expires? He's got plenty of potential to be a decent back, but he's injury prone.

[the pinjockey 0]

Minimal

 

He was a restricted FA this past offseason (before the latest injury) when he could have been had for just a fourth round pick and a cheap contract. No one jumped. He is a nice back, but there are a ton of guys out there like him and plenty that don't bring the injury baggage.

[C Dubya 04 0]

Shockey has always been a player that has a big half and then dissapears once the opposing defense decides to pay attention to him. That has been the story since day one, but of course his MOUTH, unecessary celebrating, and the fact that he plays in NY, has helped his HYPE machine grow.

TO's quotes about Shockey after the game were priceless.

 

The guy had one catch and still managed to make a jackass of himself.

[Black Lushus 0]

has any team won the Superbowl with a TE as one of their top, go-to, featured stars?

 

 

I guess Denver with Shannon Sharp but anyone else? was he heavily featured in Baltimore when they won? I can't remember...

[the pinjockey 0]

Sharpe/Chmura/Novacek/Brent Jones/Bavaro were all important cogs in their team's offenses.

 

You, likely, aren't going to win if the Tight End is your only go to receiver, but it helps tremendously for a QB to have the safe throw in the middle of the field which is what the TE often provides.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Green Bay Packers-

 

Add depth on the offensive line. As much as I'd love to keep them all together, I'm not sure if I'll see it happening. The Offensive Line is probably one of the most important and sometimes overlooked position in football, since it's the key to an entire team's offense. Witness this year's Miami Dolphins. If I were them, I'd trade up and use the first couple picks I can on the most dominating linemen in the draft. But moving on

 

Obviously, we need more depth in the secondary as well. While Ahmad Carroll made me trust in him a bit more this past game, that still doesn't make up for how horrible a season's the kid's have. He's only 5'9", and in the NFC North he's going up against guys like Moss and Robinson who are well over 6 feet. Ahmad may have hops, but not over guys like Moss, surely. Even if he schooled Bruce on that jumpball interception on Monday Night.

 

This isn't as big a priority as finding a quality DE opposite KGB, and some big guys in the interior line. Hunt's overrated, or maybe just doesn't fit into the line very well. I'm not sure if this is his contract year or not, but I don't see him playing in Green Bay after his contract is up, which means the Pack will need a big body to replace Grady Jackson, who's 31 this year. James Lee is supposed to be the answer to that, but I haven't seen him really play that much, so I wouldn't know. I'd personally like to see Hunt get released and pick up Corey Simon on the waiver wire.

 

Also, fire Bob Slowik and pick up a defensive coordinator who knows what the fuck he's doing. That blitzing shit earlier this year nearly cost us the season, and he's taken one small weakness in the secondary (whoever is trying to fill Mike McKenzie's spot, be it Ahmad Carroll, Michael Hawthorne, or Bhawoh Jue) and exposed it as our Achilles' Heel.

 

I don't think the Packers need to be looking for a QB in the draft, either. Even if Favre wants to retire, Craig Nall's been getting groomed for that chance for a couple years now, and the coaching staff is apparently high on JT O'Sullivan (and apparently also something else). Maybe they can use a later pick on a QB if they feel it's really necessary, but Pederson's gone after this year (thank god), and Favre might not be playing long after, especially if by some chance the Pack happen to get to the Super Bowl. That's definitely the way Favre probably wants to go out, ala Elway, instead of the Marino way.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Bettis won't retire for another year or three. If he hadn't had such a good year I would agree he'd be done after this year.

 

Plaxico may stick around because the Steelers look to have a solid unit of guys. Both he and Hines Ward are in their primes with a dominant running game and a young QB. How can that not be an appealing situation? Hopefully he'll bypass a little cash to stay and win some championships.

 

And everything else I agree with you 100%. CB seems to be their most glaring hole.

I don't think Bettis will retire after this season either. I really don't see the Steelers keeping him though, unless he takes ANOTHER pay cut.

 

I don't think Plex would stay if they didn't offer him BIG money. Well, unless they franchise him.......

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Also, I think although Larry Foote isn't the "impact player" that they like to have in the middle either, BUT they like to go with the homegrown guys and won't be able to afford to bring in that "impact" guy.....

 

Regardless of what people think......Ward isn't going anywhere. He was unhappy that he wasn't given a contract extention after last year and the Steelers said that he would get that contract after this season.

[Guest Vitamin X]

has any team won the Superbowl with a TE as one of their top, go-to, featured stars?

 

 

I guess Denver with Shannon Sharp but anyone else? was he heavily featured in Baltimore when they won? I can't remember...

Shannon Sharpe was pretty much the ONLY offense Baltimore had that season.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

TE is definitely exploding as more of a utilized position this season. It's almost like getting a pass catching TE is now the way to go and it's definitely paying off.

 

Antonio Gates: 69 catches, 795 yards and 11 TD

Tony Gonzalez: 64 catches, 838 yards and 5 TD

Eric Johnson: 65 catches, 684 yards and 2 TD

Jason Witten: 58 catches, 667 yards and 5 TD

 

Those 4 guys place in the Top 17(incl. WR) among catches on the season!

 

Other Valuable TE's...

Randy McMichael: 51 catches, 622 yards and 4 TD

Alge Crumpler: 43 catches, 709 yards and 6 TD

 

Jeremy Shockey, Daniel Graham, Bubba Franks, Mark Campbell and Dallas Clark all have 5 TD. Marcus Pollard despite only 20 catches has 6 TD on the season.

[Dr. Tom 0]

Poor Todd Heap. Without his injury, he'd have some good numbers, too. Fucking Joey Porter and his cheapshot... I hope that asshole breaks his leg in the last regular-season game.

[Precious Roy 0]

Patriots:

 

Keep Crennel and Weis at all costs. Yes, they'll get a ton of offers. Yes, they both deserve a shot at being the head guy. But there's no telling what effect losing either or both of them might have on the team. Pay them low end head coach $ if need be, just keep em at the Edge. Of the two I think Crennel is more likely to test the head coach waters.

 

Re-sign Vinatieri, Troy Brown, Joe Andruzzi and Tom Ashworth and David Givens. Keep David Patten and Jarvis Green if possible.

 

Other than that just keep finding quality players to plug into the system. Defensive depth will be a priority with guys like McGinnist, Law and Harrison not getting any younger. WR depth is another key, especially if either Givens, Patton or god forbid both move on.

 

The Patriots have a habit of finding diamonds in the rough or underrated players who have the skills to excell in their system, and with their recent track record I'll be confident with whatever players they bring in.

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle 0]

The Patriots most important off-season move should be to keep Scott Pioli, who could go to Miami or Cleveland

[Cuban Linx 0]

Titans Goal #1 - Keep Steve McNair happy and make the talk of him quitting nothing more than talk. Volek's played pretty well whenever he's been in but their best chance of winning is with McNair at the helm. A team that wasn't stuck with injuries at pretty much every position would help too.

[Black Lushus 0]

I know it's hard to take for you Titans fans, but Steve McNair really should hang it up before he ends up crippled for life...they should go for the gusto and either make a free agent QB move or take one in the draft since they will obviously get one of the higher picks...I cringe every time I see him take a hit anymore...

[Gert T 0]

Cincinnati Bengals

 

Re-sign Peter Warrick, only if he'll take a pay cut, I expect him gone though because the Bengals need to spend their money on.......

 

Rudi Johnson. I don't think the Bengals will let him go, but I know Rudi isn't thrilled a deal was not done. He's proved himself this year, he deserves the money.

 

The Bengals need to get a center in the draft because Rich Braham doesn't have too many games left in him. Bobbie Williams is the weak link on the O line, but is improving so some more depth on the O-Line would be good.

 

I'd like to see the Bengals get a D-Line who could come right in and start because who knows if Tony Williams will come back at his previous level.

 

Throw in a decent CB-S in the draft who is also a great special teams player.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I know it's hard to take for you Titans fans, but Steve McNair really should hang it up before he ends up crippled for life...they should go for the gusto and either make a free agent QB move or take one in the draft since they will obviously get one of the higher picks...I cringe every time I see him take a hit anymore...

I second this opinion. Favre and McNair have both played in the league for roughly the same amount of time, only Favre has had the benefit of a fantastic offensive line in front of him in what is now the "decline" of his career (a claim still dubious since he's been playing the best football of his career outside 95-97 in the past couple seasons) in which he can take a beating more. McNair's tough as nails, but he's been getting whacked all the damn time (even if the sack numbers don't necessarily show it, but he gets hit a lot) and willing the team to win despite having no receivers or a running attack. The Titans more than likely won't be going anywhere in the next couple years, what with how good the competition in the AFC is as of late, so maybe it's time for Tennessee to let McNair move on with his life, and think about his health and his family, and go into a small rebuilding mini-phase.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

No receivers? Derrick Mason?

[Guest Vitamin X]

Who?

[Crimson Platypus 0]

2004: 70 catches 833 yards 11.9 ypc 5 TDs (through 11 games)

2003: 95 catches 1303 yards 13.7 ypc 8 TDs

2002: 79 catches 1012 yards 12.8 ypc 5 TDs

2001: 73 catches 1128 yards 15.5 ypc 9 TDs

 

That's who.

 

 

 

 

-edit- added 2004 stats

[Guest Vitamin X]

I KNOW who he is, what I'm saying is those are pretty average numbers for a #1 receiver. Not bad by any means, but not really anything worth mentioning. Aside from the apparent fantastic season he had last year with nearly 100 catches and almost 10 TD's.

 

EDIT: It's also fair to note that Mason is leading the league in receptions, from what I just saw on the season's stats. That is impressive considering the instability at QB.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Yeah I know you know who he is. Granted he isn't TO, Moss or Harrison, but considering the fact that McNair is always hurting - leading to sporadic QB play, and that the Titans are basically a run-first offense, that's not bad numbers. Put Mason on a team with consistent QB production and watch his numbers soar.

 

 

 

-also edit - No one is TO, Moss or Harrison. It's really hard to compare someone to three of the best WRs off all time (who all happen to be playing during the same time period)...

[Guest Cerebus]

Well the good thing about the Pats is, with the exception of Brady, they don't rely on just one or two mega stars (like, say, Atlanta). They are a team in every sense of the word, nothing flashy, but they are a well-oiled machine. The best thing they can do is make sure they keep the team as efficient as it is, which will mean making sure as few of its members leave for free angency as possible.