Jump to content

The WR Market


turningpoint

Recommended Posts

good news, I think, since it puts another name in from of TJ on the open market...from profootballtalk.com:

LAVERANUES LEAVING D.C., REFUNDING TEAM?

In a stunning move, the Washington Redskins are likely to release receiver Laveranues Coles, who has asked to be let go due to his displeasure with his role in the team's offense under Joe Gibbs.

The Washington Post reports that Coles' agent, Roosevelt Barnes, and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder have reached an oral agreement that Coles will be let go on or after February 22, the first day on which teams can release players.

Coles has met twice with Gibbs to express his desire to leave, and Gibbs opted to accommodate his wishes.  In exchange, Coles reportedly will pay back a portion of the $13 million signing bonus he received a week after he inked an offer sheet two years ago while a restricted free agent with the Jets. 

Based on his seven-year, $35 million contract, the release will trigger a cap charge of $9.28 million, which will be offset by the partial refund and by his 2005 salary.  With the team only a couple of million under the cap heading into the start of a new NFL calendar year, some additional restructurings (or some outright releases) will be necessary before the end of the week.

Coles initially asked to be traded during the 2004 season, but management eventually decided instead to release him.  Our guess is that the decision was driven by the fact that receiver Rod Gardner is already on the block, which likely would drive down the compensation the team would get for either guy.  And from a pure ego standpoint, our sense is that Snyder would prefer to appear decisive and get nothing in return for Coles in lieu of suffering widespread criticism for having merely a fourth or a fifth-round pick to show for the chest-thumping pilferage of Coles from the Jets in 2003.

(It's also possible that the rules would not have permitted the 'Skins to get cap relief via a partial signing bonus refund and trade Coles at the same time.  We're looking into that wrinkle.)

Changing gears for a moment, the fact that the 'Skins will be without both Coles and Gardner in 2005 lends greater credence to the possibility that, based on Joe Gibbs' ill-advised statements from last week, the team has been secretly in contact with the agents for receiver Muhsin Muhammad and/or Plaxico Burress, even though both guys are still under contract with the Panthers and Steelers, respectively.  There's clearly an incentive for the 'Skins to make a big push for one or two receivers in the early stages of free agency, which means that there's a heightened temptation to gauge the market now.

And if there's anything to the notion of karma, we're hoping that Roosevelt Barnes has been talking to a couple of teams about Coles' potential value on the open market, so that Laveranues will have a place to land.  Even if the 'Skins catch wind of such discussions, it'll be difficult for the team to call out any black kettles with a straight face, especially in the wake of the Lawyer Milloy incident of two seasons ago.

Coles' addition to the open market reduces the leverage of guys like Muhammad, Burress, and Jerry Porter, since it's one more star receiver who'll be looking to get into a chair before the big-money music stops after a week or two of free agency.  The looming glut of receivers also means that the Vikings will be less likely to trade Randy Moss, since it'll be even harder to pull the Reverse Herschel with so many quality options available via unrestricted free agency.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some potentially good news for those of us hoping they can find a way to keep TJ. Looks like Derrick Mason will be cut in Tennessee and the word out of Washington is that Laverneus Coles will be cut as well.

That adds two more receivers to the free agent market who may draw the attention of the Ravens, Giants et al before TJ would. Anything which floods the market with more receivers will help the Bengals in their negotiation with Housh, I think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

People have banged on how Mike Brown has managed the cap for years, but, becuase they have been responsible and have not played fast and loose with the cap in terms of rolling money into future years, they have avoided backing themselves into a corner like Tennessee has.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess that's fine, but I don't understand why it cannot be discussed in the Bengals news forum since it so clearly impacts the TJ discussion...

It could go in either forum, I think.

As for the topic. I don't think this puts TN in the running for anybody. They'll look for a good WR in the draft.

Washington, on the other hand. I'm sure they could afford him, right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess that's fine, but I don't understand why it cannot be discussed in the Bengals news forum since it so clearly impacts the TJ discussion...

Like sky said, it could have gone in either category. It's here simply because two of the three original threads were in this forum, so it was easier to move one here and combine them than the other way around.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some potentially good news for those of us hoping they can find a way to keep TJ. Looks like Derrick Mason will be cut in Tennessee and the word out of Washington is that Laverneus Coles will be cut as well.

That adds two more receivers to the free agent market who may draw the attention of the Ravens, Giants et al before TJ would. Anything which floods the market with more receivers will help the Bengals in their negotiation with Housh, I think.

Mason, Plex, Coles and even Porter may all be better WRs than T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

And I will say that a couple of these guys are very tempting.

But I would still rather have TJ back than to have any of them.

Great Team Chemistry ...

The Bengals and TJ are a Perfect Fit for each other.

They need to get that new deal done, and keep him a Bengal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great Team Chemistry ...

The Bengals and TJ are a Perfect Fit for each other.

They need to get that new deal done, and keep him a Bengal.

That's what Marvin's all about! That's why (IMHO) TJ and Rudi will be starting in Cincy all of next season! :player:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

bengals.com said that the Bengals are expressing an interest in Mason.  I'm sure they just want to keep their options open, but I thought it was interesting nonetheless...

I just read that to ...

Peter Schaffer, the agent for Bengals running back Rudi Johnson, is a busy man. He said Wednesday night that the Bengals are one of the teams that has expressed some kind of an interest in former Titans wide receiver Derrick Mason. Schaffer, who says he'll meet with the Bengals here this week to discuss Johnson, is also trying to get a deal for Steelers running back Jerome Bettis.

Asked if the Bengals had expresed interest in Mason, Schaffer said, "Yes." The Bengals look to be trying to touch all their bases because they've also indicated they would like to re-sign wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh before free agency opens next week. Mason, who turned 31 last month, is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he had one more catch than the Bengals' Chad Johnson with 96 and finished fourth in AFC yardage with 1,168.

So picture; Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason and a Healthy Peter Warrick ...

To quote turningpoint ...

INSANE.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So picture; Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason and a Healthy Peter Warrick ...

To quote turningpoint ...

INSANE.

Don't forget TJ! TOTALLY INSANE!! I wouldn't mind picking up another reciever this way at all! :player:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the interest of doing something more constructive than complaining about, as seems likely, the Bengals not resigning TJ (tho I'll doubtless continue to do that, too), I figured I'd take a look at the butt end of the WR market and see what might be around cheap. In no particular order...

1. Jerry Rice, as discussed elsewhere. Downsides: age, many Bengals fans hate him. Upside: experience, can still play at least as good as K-wash.

2. David Terrell, Bears. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?statsId=5455

Reportedly may become a cap casualty now that they've signed Muhammad. Former first-round pick considered a bust, may be a candidate in the "change of scenery" department.

3. Ike Hilliard, Giants. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5463

Due a mid-March roster bonus, 8-year vet may be cut.

4. Kevin Johnson, late of Baltimore. http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/133324

Done amazingly well considering the collection of crap he's had throwing the ball to him.

5. Cedrick Wilson, 49ers. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?statsId=5617

SF would like him back but even Cincy must look good right now. Young comer could be headed for a breakout season in the right circumstances.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Add Mushin Muhammed & Jerry Rice to the list of available FA WRs.

Ty Law got let go, too.

Moosh is off the market now.

BEARS: All-Pro receiver Muhsin Muhammad agreed to a six-year contract.

Muhammad was cut by Carolina on Friday because the Panthers did not want to pay a $10 million roster bonus due Tuesday. The Bears will give him a $12 million guaranteed signing bonus.

Muhammad, who will be 32 in May, caught 93 passes, led the league with 1,405 yards and had 16 touchdowns as the main target after Steve Smith broke his leg.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No Mason, per bengals.com...

It looks like the Bengals are out of the running in the Derrick Mason derby. The jack apparently is too high

Well, there's a surprise, huh? :rolleyes:

Goes on to say that Balti is deep in the Mason hunt, and talks with TJ are now bacvk on the "front burner," for whatever that's worth...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...