Team Rumor: Randle El has 3 suitors...

Searching for stories about James Brown's defection, I found this little nugget in a Sporting News article. Apologies if this has already been posted...

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=60138

Antwaan Randle El's stock sure has risen. According to the rumors du jour, the suitors lining up include the Redskins, Bears and Patriots.

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Well, if his #1 priority is winning another SB, we all know which team he'd select.

Seymour93 said:

Searching for stories about James Brown's defection, I found this little nugget in a Sporting News article. Apologies if this has already been posted...

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=60138



Well, if his #1 priority is winning another SB, we all know which team he'd select.

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I think BB would love a multi-positional player like this on the Pats...Won't surprise me at all to see him in a Pats uni next year. Personally, I'm ok with that.

Are the Steelers just going to sit back and let him go? I don't think so.

PATSNUTme said:

Are the Steelers just going to sit back and let him go? I don't think so.

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Yeah, I was puzzled as to why they were left out, because you'd figure that Pittsburgh wouldn't just sit back and let a crucial member of the team move on to a rival. Maybe 'The Fly' is assuming that we, the readers, assume that the Steelers will have the final say???

Well as a Steelers fan, I'm not so sure they're willing to throw a lot of money at him. As a pure receiver he's a poor man's number 2 and an above average number 3. His value comes in his versatility - he's a great runner on screens and direct snaps, plus he can obviously make the odd throw.

That said. the Steelers may be more inclined to invest their money in a better pure receiver. So he could be available.

madmike77 said:

Well as a Steelers fan, I'm not so sure they're willing to throw a lot of money at him. As a pure receiver he's a poor man's number 2 and an above average number 3. His value comes in his versatility - he's a great runner on screens and direct snaps, plus he can obviously make the odd throw.

That said. the Steelers may be more inclined to invest their money in a better pure receiver. So he could be available.

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Good feedback, thanks Mike. That's pretty much how I see him too. I love his speed and versatility, and I think he would be hands-down awesome as our #3. But if I had to pick between him or our Givens to be our #2... it'd be Givens without hesitation.

If I were the Steelers, I would file tampering charges against those 3 teams today just to make them wary of signing one of my players. Teams are NOT supposed to contact another team's UFA until 12:01 AM, March 3rd.

Miguel said:

If I were the Steelers, I would file tampering charges against those 3 teams today just to make them wary of signing one of my players. Teams are NOT supposed to contact another team's UFA until 12:01 AM, March 3rd.

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What evidence, other than this article, do you have that any of these teams have contacted Randle El?

Miguel said:

If I were the Steelers, I would file tampering charges against those 3 teams today just to make them wary of signing one of my players. Teams are NOT supposed to contact another team's UFA until 12:01 AM, March 3rd.

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Happens all the time now and Belichick is probably sick of being on the bad end of the deal.

SoonerPatriot said:

What evidence, other than this article, do you have that any of these teams have contacted Randle El?

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Teams are not supposed to even show interest in another team's free agent until free agency kicks in. IIRC, tampering does not necessarily mean contacting the player. I concede that tampering is hard to prove. But if I were the Steelers I would feel that my negotiations with ARE have been adversely affected by these type of stories.

This article is probably getting its assumption from

A. Felger's article that said Randall -El may be a target
B. He is from Chicago, some have said it would be a good fit
C.Who dont the Redskins go after in free agency.

All due respect, but the Steelers would have to file their tampering charges against some thick headed shrub that works for the Sporting News, another of these geniuses that like to play connect the dots. I'm pretty sure the Skins, Bears and Pats are in the clear.

BTW, I HATE the idea of Randle-El here, just on football alone. He isn't anywhere even close to Givens's league.

Pats67 said:

All due respect, but the Steelers would have to file their tampering charges against some thick headed shrub that works for the Sporting News, another of these geniuses that like to play connect the dots. I'm pretty sure the Skins, Bears and Pats are in the clear.

BTW, I HATE the idea of Randle-El here, just on football alone. He isn't anywhere even close to Givens's league.

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Why is it that everyone thinks Givens is some all pro? He is not even a top 30 WR.

A Rumor is just that a rumor.
For all we know and Steelers know it could have been the
Janitor at Sportingnews talking in the John.

Get real.

KDPpatsfan said:

Why is it that everyone thinks Givens is some all pro? He is not even a top 30 WR.

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He is still better the El.

If we could pick him up as a #3, ok.

But as a replacement for Givens, not adequate!

Miguel said:

Teams are not supposed to even show interest in another team's free agent until free agency kicks in. IIRC, tampering does not necessarily mean contacting the player. I concede that tampering is hard to prove. But if I were the Steelers I would feel that my negotiations with ARE have been adversely affected by these type of stories.

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You know far too much about the NFL to think this is a possibility.

It is widely known that during SB week teams and agents meet and discuss free agents. With all the agents and all the teams in one city it is going to happen. Everyone does it so no one is going to complain about soemone else doing the same thing.

A writter from the Pittsburg Post Gazatte was on The Dale & Holly show and said that he thinks Randall El may go to the Pats as well.

If we signed him as our #3 I'd be real excited. Givens should be a priority at WR though. I want him back. Maybe he isn't a top 30 WR, but he is definitely one of the better #2's in the league.

tatepatsfan said:

If we signed him as our #3 I'd be real excited. Givens should be a priority at WR though. I want him back. Maybe he isn't a top 30 WR, but he is definitely one of the better #2's in the league.

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I agree with the part about Givens and since the Redskins are usually the big spenders in the first part of the free agency signing period they can have Randle-El for all I care give me Givens any day.

I'm in the camp of thrilled to have ARE as #3 and a bit "eh..." as #2. Givens IMO is better, but its not like its a huge disparity.

What I could actually see is the Pats resigning Givens and ARE, with the intention of letting Branch walk in FA in 07, if they think he will command too much money.

Realistically, for 06 it wouldn't be tying too much $$ up in WRs since Branch is on the last year of his rookie deal. It would make for a great trio for 06, and give the team options going into 07.