Perry Will Surprise

[HoosierCat]

Every team mentioned has either found a feature back or repeatedly attempted to.

Well, of course. Who wants to waste 4 or 5 roster spots on RBs when 2 or 3 will do? But most were willing to take chances on draft picks, wait for someone to emerge from a scrum, or deal for someone who hadn't worked out or was being replaced. Yet this year, when two of the league's best backs were there for the taking...they drew no interest. At all. As before, teams preferred to draft, wait for the scrum to settle (Minnesota's apparent strategy this year) or sign cheaper, less proven options like Jordan.

Why? Because -- as I've been saying -- having that elite guy at RB isn't necessary. An average one (or two) will do. The NFL is, as you've observed, a passing league; the run plays a supporting role these days. Teams "establish the run." Why? To "set up the pass." Well, if you don't have a passing game, that's sort of beside the point -- as the Bengals teams of the 1990s amply proved. Pats fans last season didn't praise Dillon for his ability to carry the team or run up the score; no, he was "clock-killin' Dillon." His role was to protect the lead, not get it.

If you can get an elite back cheap, sure, you'll take it -- but as was the case with the Pats, it tends to be the last, or among the last, things you do. They already had all the pieces, had already won a Super Bowl without a top back. So WTF, why not? Especially when Dillon was so desperate to get out of Cincy he agreed to work for peanuts.

If you want to point out that teams sometimes find RB's that come relatively cheaply I'll quickly point out that if the back produces as planned he doesn't remain cheap for long.

True...but then you just move on to the next RB. Denver's made a habit of it. Heck, the Bengals have been in the top half of the league in rushing yardage for 10 of the last 15 years, often in the top 10, despite having six different backs lead the team in rushing during that time. The truth is, it isn't had to find an at least adequate RB these days...especially if your offensive line and passing game are already any good. Had Perry gotten on the field last year and produced 300-400 yards rushing and receiving (as did Watson), would anyone have been that surprised to see them let Rudi walk and spend the savings on defense? I wouldn't. I don't think the move would have even been seen as that big a risk.

[HairOnFire]

Yet this year, when two of the league's best backs were there for the taking...they drew no interest. At all. As before, teams preferred to draft, wait for the scrum to settle (Minnesota's apparent strategy this year) or sign cheaper, less proven options like Jordan.

Why? Because -- as I've been saying -- having that elite guy at RB isn't necessary.

You really should drop the rant about teams refusing to trade for Edge and Alexander. After claiming that both players could be had for a 2nd round pick Seattle admitted in the starkest of black&white terms that they were never interested in trading Alexander. Yup, they admitted that they tagged him with the understanding that he'd play this season under the tag and next year as well if he refused to accept their long-term offer. Indy said nearly as much in regards to James. Tagged to play...no serious interst in trading...might tag him again next season.

Seriously, for a guy like yourself who likes to read between the lines you should be able to recognize when a team is posturing for the press...or later...recognize an admission of their true intent when that same press starts asking how serious a team is about getting rid of a valuable player.

[HairOnFire]

If you can get an elite back cheap, sure, you'll take it -- but as was the case with the Pats, it tends to be the last, or among the last, things you do. They already had all the pieces, had already won a Super Bowl without a top back. So WTF, why not?

Again, that example doesn't support your theory. The Pats won championship(s) with a smothering defense. They also became a dynasty without a highly drafted QB, with a roster filled with lightly regarded wideouts playing a short passing game, and without any elite free agent signings. So in many ways they are the anti-Joisey team.

[HairOnFire]

Had Perry gotten on the field last year and produced 300-400 yards rushing and receiving (as did Watson), would anyone have been that surprised to see them let Rudi walk and spend the savings on defense? I wouldn't.

I would have been very surprised. Face it, Perry didn't produce the numbers you mentioned but Watson did and the Bengals still did everything in their power to keep Rudi a Bengal. So why didn't the Bengals look at Watson and Perry as the answer to their prayers instead of paying large coin to Rudi Johnson. They know what they've got in Watson and the title of this thread seems to imply that Perry could surprise us all.

The quick answer is that the Bengals highly valued what Rudi brings to the roster and agreed to pay the required price regardless of whatever options they may have had. They had a good player they wanted to keep and they didn't mind paying the price required to do so. What Perry manages to do is just so much gravy.

[HoosierCat]

You really should drop the rant about teams refusing to trade for Edge and Alexander. After claiming that both players could be had for a 2nd round pick Seattle admitted in the starkest of black&white terms that they were never interested in trading Alexander.

Where? There's no evidence that I can find that that's true. Let's look at Alexander. Here's the book prior to the draft...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/spor...902_hawk21.html

Seahawks keep all draft options open

By José Miguel Romero

Seattle Times staff reporter

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Shaun Alexander will probably remain a Seahawk after the draft this weekend. There appear to be no trade options.

The trade talks have begun, and make no mistake: The Seahawks are listening.

As the NFL draft approaches, teams scramble to try to improve their draft positions or move down and acquire extra picks. The Seahawks have the 23rd overall pick on Saturday, with nine picks thereafter.

For now, anyway.

"I can't think of a reason not to listen," team president Tim Ruskell said. "If anybody called us and said, 'Hey, we're interested in moving up, are you interested?' I'll say yes every time. You wouldn't want to shut down an option or have a team think you're not. You want to have all your options available to you when your pick comes."

The Seahawks have contacted other teams to let them know they are willing to talk trade, but the Seahawks' biggest trade commodity isn't likely to be going anywhere this weekend.

The Seahawks and representatives for running back Shaun Alexander have not had any new conversations in recent weeks, even though both sides have talked to other teams to gauge the interest level in a trade for Alexander.

And after the draft...

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/seaha...p-4419454c.html

All quiet on Alexander trade front

MIKE SANDO; The News Tribune

Originally published: April 24th, 2005 12:01 AM

KIRKLAND – In a surprise of sorts, Shaun Alexander wasn’t a factor on the first day of the NFL draft. The Seattle Seahawks had expected to entertain trade offers for the Pro Bowl running back. But teams showed little interest in Alexander or any of the available veteran runners, Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said Saturday.

“I think people that were really honed in on getting a back got that person out of the draft,” Ruskell said. “Or at least they have convinced themselves that they have got that person out of the draft.”

Alexander remains unsigned.

Seattle owns his rights after naming him its franchise player, but the sides have never come close to striking the long-term agreement Alexander desires.

“It’s a situation that needs to keep being worked on and rectified and come to a good conclusion,” Ruskell said. “We would like Shaun to be our running back.

“Any of the other free agents that are out there in a similar situation to Shaun, I’m sure that’s going to keep being talked about. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open on that.”

And the latest...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seah...023_hawk04.html

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - Page updated at 02:18 p.m

Seahawks Notebook: Alexander appears confident on deal

By José Miguel Romero

Seattle Times staff reporter

KIRKLAND — Shaun Alexander is coming back to Seattle.

This weekend, perhaps. And when he gets here from his private workouts in Alabama, the Seahawks' minicamp will have ended.

Not that Alexander would have reported to practice even if he had been in town. He has yet to sign the one-year franchise tender, hoping rather that his agent and the Seahawks will agree to a long-term deal or that the Seahawks will trade him.

The Seahawks talked to other teams before the draft last month, but nothing materialized. The Seahawks can't negotiate with Alexander until July 15, but coaches are hopeful that he will be at training camp in late July — under a long-term contract or the $6.32 million tender.

I don't see anything that suggests they were faking it. All I see is a complete lack of interest. As for James, I suppose you're referring to this:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...RTS03/504220437

...In which, just before the draft, Polian declares the possibility of trading James "absurd." Well, if you've made a bunch of phone calls...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor..._len&id=2008841

Polian said he will begin to phone teams and make inquiries about interest in the six-year veteran tailback

...and found no interest, yeah, I guess a trade is pretty unlikely.

[HoosierCat]

Again, that example doesn't support your theory. The Pats won championship(s) with a smothering defense.

They also won without an elite RB (as did Tampa the year before). More to the point, they whipped the team with 1,444-yard, 4.5-yard-average Stephen Davis.

So why didn't the Bengals look at Watson and Perry as the answer to their prayers instead of paying large coin to Rudi Johnson.

Because they preferred what they saw as a lower-risk course. As I've said before, it's also a lower-reward course.

[HairOnFire]

Where? There's no evidence that I can find that that's true. Let's look at Alexander. Here's the book prior to the draft...

I'd say keep looking if you're really interested. If it helps your surfing adventures I'll add that the comments I recall were made during the meaty period of free agency, not a few days prior to the draft.

As for the newer remarks they're sort of a mixed bag don't you think?

Why not listen? (Indeed. Why not pray for miracles? Couldn't hurt.)

Somebody may want to move up a few spots. (They didn't, and this isn't the same sort of deal as previously mentioned, ehh?)

We've been talking to teams, but..... ( Well there ya go, some interest at last. But what's with the but?)

[HairOnFire]

...In which, just before the draft, Polian declares the possibility of trading James "absurd."

Yeah, that'll do just fine. Pretty black & white I'd say. The funny thing is that I hadn't read that nugget and previously would have said that Seattle was more upfront about not being interested in trading Alexander than the Colts were about not trading James. In retrospect I'd have to say Polian's words were even more blunt than the Seahawks remarks....which I expect you to keep looking for.

That said, can we drop the Edge rant now?

[HoosierCat]

retrospect I'd have to say Polian's words were even more blunt than the Seahawks remarks....which I expect you to keep looking for.

Sorry, chum, prove your own claims. I waste enough time on these boards as it is.

That said, can we drop the Edge rant now?

Because Polian said that he wasn't really trying to trade Edge after he said he was really trying to trade Edge...he'd even make the phone calls for him?

Kind of a case of "pick your Polian" ain't it?

[HairOnFire]

retrospect I'd have to say Polian's words were even more blunt than the Seahawks remarks....which I expect you to keep looking for.

Sorry, chum, prove your own claims. I waste enough time on these boards as it is.

Won't happen, mostly because I'm far too lazy to spend any time looking for articles I've already read. Besides, I'm not really trying to prove anything to anyone.

We're just talking, right?

But the truth is "out there" and if you're not willing to look for the needle-in-a-haystack Seahawk quotes then I'll simply make do knowing how quickly you found a quote of Polian's admitting that the idea of trading Edge was "absurd". Props to you for the legwork.

And even bigger props to me, ehh?

[not-another]

retrospect I'd have to say Polian's words were even more blunt than the Seahawks remarks....which I expect you to keep looking for.

Sorry, chum, prove your own claims. I waste enough time on these boards as it is.

Won't happen, mostly because I'm far too lazy to spend any time looking for articles I've already read. Besides, I'm not really trying to prove anything to anyone.

We're just talking, right?

But the truth is "out there" and if you're not willing to look for the needle-in-a-haystack Seahawk quotes then I'll simply make do knowing how quickly you found a quote of Polian's admitting that the idea of trading Edge was "absurd". Props to you for the legwork.

And even bigger props to me, ehh?

You people slay mia.

[schweinhart]

I hear you Notna.

Slay ain't nothing but not fumblin' when they get there w/ a vengeance. I remain hopeful despite the obvious. Football players like Kenny Watson make it that way.

[Kazkal]

I will give him a chance before I judge,he got hurt before he had a chance.

I think teamed up with rudi they'll be a great dou sense he can catch the ball and rudi will run it down their throat.

[schweinhart]

No dude. Kenny Watson is your backup RB.Let them try and tackle him