2014 NFL Free Agency Thread

The Game Room
41

The Packers sign Julius Peppers. Well, that’s … unexpected.

For now, I’m cautiously optimistic, but not a huge fan. The Packers sorely need a pass rusher opposite Clay Matthews Jr. and Peppers is a physical freak. But he’s 34, not a typical 3-4 DE or OLB, and was not the most motivated person last year. If he can capture his magic for a couple more years, it would be well worth the $8.5 million they’re paying him this year, and depending on the contract details, his potential $30 million.

We will see.

42

Did not see that coming. If the Bears had signed him to that deal I’d be pissed. I just haven’t seen him take over a game in about two years.

Still, people have been making excuses for him saying he’s been playing hurt. If any of that’s true, and he has gas left in the tank this could really suck.

The one thing that would encourage me if I were a Packers fan is that even in his decline he’s still been able to anchor the edge and stuff the run. As he aged and lost a step, he’s started to look a bit more like a 3-4 DE because of his size and wring span.

If the Packers try and use him as a OLB I expect a train wreck.

Hopefully he doesn’t have Reggie White years left in him and that cap number becomes an anchor around the Packers neck.

I’d rather pay Lamarr Houston than Peppers, but we’ll see.

43

I’ve also be wondering what it would look like if the Bears grabbed Jared Allen. Not sure what his going rate would be, probably too much, but he’s been a Bear killer.

I feel like Allen has more left in the tank than Pep.

44

Browns sign Tate. I didn’t like it at first glance because you can just draft a good RB in the 3rd or 4th round instead of overpaying a free agent, but apparently it’s a 2 year deal worth 7.5m, so I’m fine with that. Just about perfect really.

45

They should probably still draft a RB in the 3rd or 4th.

46

Bargain I think. Surprised he couldn’t find more elsewhere, but I guess there aren’t many teams that have a need.

47

Brandon LaFell leaves the Panthers for New England. I don’t recall a team losing all 4 of their starting WRs in one off season before.

48

Edelman re-signs with New England: Report

49

Although it has nothing to do with free agency, I will mention I found a big grin on my face with the news that Jim Irsay was arrested for drunk driving and possession of controlled substances (perscriptions apparently) this weekend. I dislike Irsay, and I’m more than happy to enjoy this latest example of him embarrassing himself.

50

Sounds like the dude has serious problems, not just acting like a spoiled rich kid.

The league is going to hit him hard.

51

4 felony counts? Innocent until proven guilty and all that(especially with hundreds of millions to spend on lawyering), but I wonder how much power the commish has vs an owner. Can he force him to sell it?

52

It’s a tricky thing, there’s a difference between a guy with an illness and just a selfish disregard for the rules. If the reports of his weight loss and sudden downward spiral are true it sounds like the guy flat out needs help.

Not sure the league should do anything quite so extreme until they give the guy a chance to get right.

53

The Trent Richardson trade must’ve hit him pretty hard.

54

The Bengals have refused to match the Browns offer of 10.8 million for Andrew Hawkins, their fourth or fifth best receiving option last year, when he wasn’t injured. He’s 5’8". I don’t have faith in the Browns ability to use him properly at all.

Kinda an “LOL stupid Browns” signing, but we’ll see.

55

I don’t know why people offer contract totals without the length of the contract, giving it no context at all. It’s actually 13m over 4 years, so about 3.25 a year. Which is a reasonable price for a slot receiver. The Bengals are very deep at receiver, so they could spare him - that doesn’t mean he wasn’t any good. The Browns have no one behind Josh Gordon.

56

A couple of questions for the Bears fans and Bengals fans

First, the Bengals.

I read that James Harrison was cut, but didn’t hear any follow-up on that. Do you guys have any insight into why that was? Was he just a salary cap casualty, or was his play falling off faster than anyone predicted, or was he just not a good fit in Cincinnati?

I was a bit surprised when the Steelers let him go, but they had to for cap reasons. They offered him a contract which I believe would have paid him more than he eventually got with the Bengals (I hope James fired his agent over that one), but was still too much for the Steelers, so as much as I hated to see him go, the numbers didn’t work. If he has anything left in the tank, I would love to see him back in a Steeler uniform to finish his career. I’m curios as to what the Bengal fans think, since you watched him all year. I didn’t see much of him play last year, but I have always liked the guy. He always played hard, and he should have been the MVP of the Super Bowl against Arizona for that end of the first half int-for-TD. He was very popular in Pittsburgh, and was one of those guys I couldn’t picture playing anywhere else. I was sad to see him cut, but like. I said, if the Steelers can pick him up for a reasonable price tag and he can still play, he would be a great guy for the roster and LB corps.
Bears fans - what is your thoughts on Cutler? I thought McCown played well last year (I think that’s who I’m thinking of, please correct me if I’m wrong), and i have never been a big Cutler guy. He reminds me of Jeff George in a lot of ways. He is one of those “Cutler is a great player. Just ask him.” Kind of guys.

He’s never really done much in his career, certainly not to earn the kind of money he is making, but I understand the market for a number 1 QB, and apparently, he has his supporters.

But Bear fans, you’ve seen him up close now for a couple of years (minus the injuries). What is your take on him? Is he the guy you want to QB your team, or do you think ultimately they should go in another direction? (Which is what. I thought they would do when McCown played so well last year). Don’t get me wrong…, i know McCown is old (mid 30’s I believe), so I don’t think he was the long-term answer at QB. But I think he played well enough to make me believe that the Bears could find themselves a better QB out there.

I keep hearing about Cutler’s arm strength. Yeah, that’s nice. But Jeff George had a cannon, too. There is just something “missing” with Cutler, IMO. He isn’t the guy I’d want to QB my team.

57

Strikes me as one of those bidding against yourself situations. Can’t see anyone else going that high for essentially a nobody. Maybe he’ll be good, but that’s entirely speculation based on his age and track record.

58

Cutler’s nothing like Jeff George. George actively mutinied against his coaches and was frequently on terrible, losing teams. Jay just doesn’t give a crap about the media.

Bears fans are good with Cutler. Many of us pondered a future with McCown

59

Submitted early by accident…

Bears fans are good with Cutler. Many of us pondered a future with McCown at starter, but realistically that puts us at least 4 years from being a Super Bowl contender. Cutler at least has the tools to carry a team when needed and has done so.

Jay still tends to freelance more than ideal, and there are open questions about his work ethic, or at least about his ability to stick to a system when adversity strikes.

But ultimately he’s not the problem, and it’s better to have a QB you can win with than not. Rather be paying him than Flacco or Romo anyways.

People saying we should have ditched him are a bit too cavalier about saying you can just find a QB in the draft. For every Luck and Wilson there are far more Ponders and Weedens, even if these last few draft classes have been more fruitful than usual.

60

He was an RFA, not UFA, so I wonder what that does to the way the free agency works. The Browns front-loaded the contract so Cinci couldn’t match (I think the big payday is in 2015, when Cinci has a few big contracts coming up) but it looks like they made a legitimate effort to keep him anyway.

I really don’t know - I don’t know much about him other than that he’s a quick midget. But the Browns are pretty lacking in receiver depth after the inexplicable Davone Bess meltdown, so I don’t mind it.