The Sanctioned FA 4PM Tracker Thread (merged)

[SEA_Pat]

And, suddenly, Mankins becomes an amazing bargain...

Or he's established the benchmark and so becomes the new starting point in the ever-escalating NFL salary world. If only the real world worked like that.

 

[JackBauer]

I'm not certain of that at all.

You would have an All-Pro #1 overall pick, a Pro Bowler, and the #3 overall pick with a year's worth of valuable experience under his belt...looks absolutely fantastic on paper.

Key difference being the Giant's line looks good in, you know, reality. Therefore, they're still better until proven otherwise.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

I'm not certain of that at all.

You would have an All-Pro #1 overall pick, a Pro Bowler, and the #3 overall pick with a year's worth of valuable experience under his belt...looks absolutely fantastic on paper.

People will begin to talk about this soon if the Mario deal happens, and it's looking pretty good at the moment.

Justin Tuck, Chris Canty, JPP, and Umenyiora...

Look, the Bills d-line will be very, very good if they stay healthy, which they haven't in the past, but the Giants line has done it on the biggest stage twice.

And Mario Williams is pretty darn good, but Julius Peppers has more to do with Williams' hype and market than Williams does.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Key difference being the Giant's line looks good in, you know, reality. Therefore, they're still better until proven otherwise.

We'll see. Downplay it all you want, but the potential to be the best d-line in the NFL would be right there with Mario Williams on board. We are talking about proven players coming together too, not rookies. Scheme and chemistry would be the issues, certainly not talent.

 

[JackBauer]

We'll see. Downplay it all you want, but the potential to be the best d-line in the NFL would be right there with Mario Williams on board. We are talking about proven players coming together too, not rookies. Scheme and chemistry would be the issues, certainly not talent.

I'm not downplaying anything. I'm merely noting that the Bill's line is unproven and that the Giants do and in all likelihood will have a better defensive line.

 

[chicowalker]

Giants line was pretty inconsistent last year. Some of that may have been due to injuries, but injuries are something you would need to consider in comparing them. (I didn't watch the Bills much, or the Texans.)

 

[patman12]

There is a possibility Shawne Merriman could be the 4th guy on the line, too...I know, he's done right? Never know. He gets one last shot.

HGH or anabolics?

 

[SEA_Pat]

Lloyd starts to make sense for the 49ers when you think about it. They just lost their #2 WR, and as Alex Smith has a lot of accuracy issues and his forte is acrobatic catches, that would be a nice match. If the WR market is suddenly going crazy and middling receivers are getting way overpaid, might be better to pass on FA, hope Ocho gets it and draft someone promising.

 

[Uncle Meat]

HGH or anabolics?

Merriman's career fell apart because of injuries, not steroids IMO.

 

[Uncle Meat]

I'm not downplaying anything. I'm merely noting that the Bill's line is unproven and that the Giants do and in all likelihood will have a better defensive line.

The players ON the line ARE proven though...two guys played together for 5 games. Now we should have all three.

Detroit doesn't have a bad line either. Like somebody said, the Giants' line isn't always consistent. I think it's fair to project a top-five line, though, for the sake of argument. That's pretty good.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

Merriman's career fell apart because of injuries, not steroids IMO.

During his best season, he was on steroids. That was the only season where he was healthy, and it was shortened by PED suspension. It's not unusual for the body to break down when either the body can't cope with the unnatural testosterone flow or the dependency on steroids to produce the hormone.

Let's not make this a p***ing match because the Bills are relevant again.

Question: How do you feel about the kind of money he's going to get?

 

[Wilfork#75]

Do we really need to argue about the Bills line? If they sign Mario it will be very good. Does it really matter if it is better than the NYG.

 

[sevengables_2207]

Per Rotoworld, former Chargers SS Steve Gregory apparently will be coming to Foxboro for a visit..

 

[Keyser Söze]

Per Rotoworld, former Chargers SS Steve Gregory apparently will be coming to Foxboro for a visit..

Yes!! another cheap FA offseason.

 

[JackBauer]

The players ON the line ARE proven though...two guys played together for 5 games. Now we should have all three.

Detroit doesn't have a bad line either. Like somebody said, the Giants' line isn't always consistent. I think it's fair to project a top-five line, though, for the sake of argument. That's pretty good.

Dareus most certainly is not proven. Oh, and who starts at DE across from Williams?

 

[JackBauer]

Yes!! another cheap FA offseason.

Really, is there any need for this crap?

 

[Rob0729]

Yes!! another cheap FA offseason.

Jeez, not even 24 hours into the season and people are biatching.

They are also reportedly interested in Kendall Langford who would definitely upgrade the DE position.

Funny, with all the hooplah about Ochocinco and Haynesworth in training camp who were two of the more marquee acquisitions of last year's free agency period, the Pats struck gold with three castoffs, "cheap" free agents in Brian Waters, Andre Carter, and Mark Anderson.

 

[LetsGoBuffalo]

This looks very promising if you root for the Bills

Not sure why he'd fly his fiancee in if he wasn't intending to sign.

 

[Uncle Meat]

During his best season, he was on steroids. That was the only season where he was healthy, and it was shortened by PED suspension. It's not unusual for the body to break down when either the body can't cope with the unnatural testosterone flow or the dependency on steroids to produce the hormone.

Let's not make this a p***ing match because the Bills are relevant again.

Question: How do you feel about the kind of money he's going to get?

Where do you get this Merriman info? He was suspended in his second year. He made All-Pro in his first three seasons, including the year he was suspended...they don't suspend you the day you fail a test, either, or anything close to that. Goodell publicly stated that Merriman had tested clean 19 out of the 20 times he was tested since coming into the league: this was said when Merriman had only been in the NFL for two seasons.

People want to make out Merriman to be some kind of poster boy for steroids, and it's just not true. The issue is whether he can recover from his injuries, which is questionable to say the least.

As far as Mario, if he signs here, I'm fine with the money. It's too much, but I'm fine with it because that's what it takes. The Bills typically go into the season with millions in cap-space anyway, so the difference won't be apparent. Ralph Wilson reported said "spend it all" this year. They'll be a cap-floor next year (?), I believe. I can't think of a better way to spend this money...I'd rather SPEND it, is the point. A few years from now (or whenever), Mario will no longer be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL IMO.

Pass rush is just about Buffalo's biggest issue. We get Mario, and we can do so much better filling other needs in the draft. Maybe pick up another free agent, too.

 

[Wilfork#75]

This looks very promising if you root for the Bills

Not sure why he'd fly his fiancee in if he wasn't intending to sign.

The problem could be, even if he does like the deal, she probably has veto power. Chicks always control these things. Does look good for the Bills though