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AFC North starting to crumble


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Thought it was interesting the stuff that is happening to our rivals in our division. I think troubled times are on the way...with everybody except us, of course.

BROWNS: Phil Savage's run of bad luck continues. Ever since the draft, the rookie Browns general manager has faced one brushfire after another: running back Reuben Droughns threatened to hold-out for a new contract and tight end Kellen Winslow had a season-ending motorcycle accident. And now left tackle Ross Verba says he will hold out unless the Browns honor a promise he said was made by former coach Butch Davis to redo his contract. Verba reworked his deal when he missed the 2003 season after biceps tendon surgery.

RAVENS: USA Today Sports Weekly reports that linebacker Ray Lewis seriously wants a $50 million signing bonus on a new deal.

STEELERS: Seven players are entering the final years of their contracts, but the team is working on an extension with only one of them - wide receiver Hines Ward.

You add that to that that our group, whom the skill players are signed through 2008, our rookies shining, and we are beginning to address extensions with guys on the line, has all starters on O back and stronger at every position on D. Does this spell AFC domination for the next 5 years? In the NFL's strongest division no less.

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Our guys are "technically" signed until 2008 but I read somewhere that if the players and owners don't work something out by next year, the union has threatened to "decertify?" the players. Effectively voiding all contracts. 2007 will be an uncapped year and we get to watch all our guys go to New York or Los Angeles.

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Thought it was interesting the stuff that is happening to our rivals in our division. I think troubled times are on the way...with everybody except us, of course.

BROWNS: Phil Savage's run of bad luck continues. Ever since the draft, the rookie Browns general manager has faced one brushfire after another: running back Reuben Droughns threatened to hold-out for a new contract and tight end Kellen Winslow had a season-ending motorcycle accident. And now left tackle Ross Verba says he will hold out unless the Browns honor a promise he said was made by former coach Butch Davis to redo his contract. Verba reworked his deal when he missed the 2003 season after biceps tendon surgery.

RAVENS: USA Today Sports Weekly reports that linebacker Ray Lewis seriously wants a $50 million signing bonus on a new deal.

STEELERS: Seven players are entering the final years of their contracts, but the team is working on an extension with only one of them - wide receiver Hines Ward.

You add that to that that our group, whom the skill players are signed through 2008, our rookies shining, and we are beginning to address extensions with guys on the line, has all starters on O back and stronger at every position on D. Does this spell AFC domination for the next 5 years? In the NFL's strongest division no less.

If I'm not mistaken don't we have 10-11 free agents heading in to next year?

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Our guys are "technically" signed until 2008 but I read somewhere that if the players and owners don't work something out by next year, the union has threatened to "decertify?" the players. Effectively voiding all contracts. 2007 will be an uncapped year and we get to watch all our guys go to New York or Los Angeles.

I'm no contract attorney, but I think if the NFLPA is decertified, it only affects the areas covered by the collective bargaining agreement, not individual contracts with teams. It bascially means (as I understand it) that players would be free to negotiate for a specific piece of the TV revenue, for example. Apparently the NFLPA has decertified in the past, so it doesn't mean the world is going to come to an end if they do again.

The uncapped year, on the other hand, could cause problems, but I'm sure the owners will show some restraint, if only for their own good.

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I think them booting ray lewis could have a posative effect on that team....

They got 3 outstanding lb's as it is.

No team could benefit from losing a linebacker like Ray Lewis. His the best in the game, period.

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Ray will stay but Bart Scott will be a force when he gets his shot.

The Ratbirds have done a good job keeping teams guessing about the look on D between 3-4, 4-3, and 46.

In a 3-4, they'd miss Hartwell. In 4-3 or 46, the teams that run between the tackles will fare best but in a 46 they'd have to have the FB lead block or, in the Bengals case, pull Steinbach to block between Williams and Big Willie. Overall, teams should run better vs. Ratbirds this year if they can adjust to the D scheme right. But it's gonna take an I in the backfield w/ a very athletic FB.

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