I think we are 2 LB's from having a pretty good linebacking corps. QUOTE]
I'm going to add a wild longshot offseason theory. (please - not too much abuse for this)
I can think of two perfect LBs for our Defence- Chris Long and Jason Taylor.
Anyone who doesn't think BB may be interested in Long, read the Official NFL website scouting report on him. I think he may after been after him for years.
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/chris-long?id=276
I would quote bits of it, but IMHO it just doesn't do it justice. The analysis and Q and A is interesting too.
Then think that Al Groh, the LB coach for BB when he was DC/HC at the Giants, Jets and Browns has been coaching him defence in College.
He'd be learning as a rookie from Bruschi, AD, Vrabel, (maybe even Taylor and Seau). I can't think of a better environment to send your no.1 pick into than learn the game than from 4/5 multiple probowlers and HOF candidates.
There are some BIG questions with this scenario though
Could you fit it under the salary cap? Can you trade up to no.1? what about the rest of the draft? and finally ..........
Look at Miguel's roster page. 19M under and 50 players. and IMHO there's not a single bit of fat on the roster whatsoever. No injured players and not a single player who is overpaid. And this appears to agree with the point well addressed by AndyJohnson in another thread. Although the positions at LB, CB and WR are now thin.
No. 1 salary averages 10M/year!! but the rookie hit i believe will be much less (i'm sure someone can help me with that).
Taylor included with Long would solve a lot of problems on defence, and may only involve a third. (He's got a 7.5M salary this year - but the dancing on tv during preseason i'm sure would be a big factor in lowering this).
A good mid round CB, S (or both) are required, the question is, is the draft like last year, where not many selections got near our final roster (but got starts elsewhere), how many other draft picks do we need? a TE possibly? Would BB bunch up some picks and take someone like Cason to fill a need? Or does he want to keep as many as possible?
We have the 7th overall (7M/year!!), a 2nd and two thirds. The dolphins would love to move down, and we have the ammo.
So this leads to the final mystery?
Randy Moss.
There's no 10M contract in this scenario, and would explain a lot of things this offseason, including the very chivalrous non-use of the franchise tag. Here is your 2-3M Randy, all we have left of the cap, want to jump on the gravy train and play to win?
My guess TB will take a salary reduction to help keep Moss, and Moss will play for peanuts just to be part of this team. (But if he doesn't, its a straight fight for no.1, no.3 and no.4 reciever in training camp between Gaffney, Washington and CJ).
Can you fit Long, Taylor, Moss and draft picks into 19M? Probably not. But i think Beoli are going to try.
I may be dreaming and completely whistling in the wind on this one, and we'll build through the draft with the 7th, and/or pick up some good cheap FAs - but until i see Randy sign a big deal, this is my hunch. At the moment they've got the cap space to sign Moss, and they're not. IMHO BB is fishing for something much bigger.
His Captain on Defence for the final stages of the TB era, and the next 10 years!!
Finally...... BB HAS been at least around in the drafting of a high pick first round LB.
He was the Giants LB and ST coach in 1981.
2nd overall - LT.