# Wait 'Til Next Year - or - You're Your NFL Team's GM! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2006, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524 "2006-02-08T11:05:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/141 "2006-03-22T02:41:09Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > New England is clearly trying out this strategy of letting everyone walk and replacing them with younger, cheaper people. I have to say, they’ve had good luck in the past picking guys off the scrap heap come cut-down time. It’s ballsy, and the fact is, if this were anywhere else, the fans would be going apeshit. Here people have learned to trust Belichik and Pioli. Of course, if the team comes in 6-10 next year… I have no idea what you’re talking about. (Eagles fan). ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/142 "2006-03-22T03:31:06Z")
> [@Jimmy Chitwood](#): > > I have no idea what you’re talking about. > > (Eagles fan). ha…glad you said it, because i was gonna say it. look where it got the eagles. you can replace people with younger, cheaper things sometimes, but you can’t KEEP doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/143 "2006-03-22T07:42:37Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > New England is clearly trying out this strategy of letting everyone walk and replacing them with younger, cheaper people. I have to say, they’ve had good luck in the past picking guys off the scrap heap come cut-down time. It’s ballsy, and the fact is, if this were anywhere else, the fans would be going apeshit. Here people have learned to trust Belichik and Pioli. Of course, if the team comes in 6-10 next year… I’m thinking there’s a better than 50-50 chance we’ll be hearing discussion of the Pats front office getting cocky and thinking they could never screw up after this season. I don’t know their cap situation, and I wonder if letting name guys like McGinnest, Givens and Vinetari go is prelude to them replacing Corey Dillon with someone pricey who doesn’t have a fork sticking out his back, but right now it looks pretty grim. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/144 "2006-03-22T12:39:50Z")
**Omni** , I see that the Bears finally wised up and picked up a backup QB in the form of Brian Griese. Were I a Bears fan, I would be fairly psyched about that. (Despite a similarly good move by the Jets last year turning out to be worthless, in the form of one series by Jay Fiedler.) **Jimmy** and **furt** , I’ve been hearing an awful lot of talk – Mike & Mike, PTI, Around the Horn, etc… – about the NFC East, and how the Eagles are now the worst team in the division of four. Generally they’ve been saying that the Cowboys and Redskins (in no particular order) are the top two teams, the Giants are a solid third and the Eagles a distant fourth. I’m accustomed to the Giants getting no respect. Despite two Superbowl appearances with one win, the Giants haven’t gotten respect around the league since '86. But this is the first I’ve heard people having no faith in the Eagles this century. Do you guys have any thoughts on this? Do you think the Eagles are being underrated, and if so, are you pleased or annoyed by it? Or do you think it’s a realistic prediction for them to again be last in the NFC East, and are just hoping that Donovan & Co. can field a respectable showing? From my perspective, I’m pleased as punch that the Giants are getting very little respect. Taking the field as underdogs has always served Big Blue well. I fully expect the G-Men to make a Superbowl run this year. At very least I want them to do better than the Colts, and I see no reason why they can’t at least do that. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/145 "2006-03-22T18:37:38Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I’m thinking there’s a better than 50-50 chance we’ll be hearing discussion of the Pats front office getting cocky and thinking they could never screw up after this season. I don’t know their cap situation, and I wonder if letting name guys like McGinnest, Givens and Vinetari go is prelude to them replacing Corey Dillon with someone pricey who doesn’t have a fork sticking out his back, but right now it looks pretty grim. The Pats are a good 20 million under the cap, but they need to redo the deals of Richard Seymour and Deion Branch, who each have only one year left on their contracts. It’s been noted that these two, being both (a) young and (b) top-notch performers at important positions, would be FAR more of a tragedy if they got away than the people who have gotten away (though they are still huge risks, especially Vinatieri at the price he likely signed for; Givens will be great in the future, but the Titans were willing and able to overpay for him, while the loss of Willie makes the most sense of the three given the money they already have sunk into his position). There is speculation that the Pats will make at least one major move and several moves of moderate importance at SOME point… but no one’s really sure when it’s going to come. As a fan, I’m certainly nervous at this point, but am reserving judgment until we see them make the moves that they will eventually make. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/146 "2006-03-22T23:59:27Z")
> [@Least Original User Name Ever](#): > > the cards gonna play the lions in the NFC championship game? The lions? Lets not get crazy here. Granted they did nab Josh to battle Kitna at QB. Arizona should have a nice shot at the playoffs. Hey playoffs would be nice for me right now. Osip ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/147 "2006-03-23T01:02:12Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > **Omni** , I see that the Bears finally wised up and picked up a backup QB in the form of Brian Griese. Were I a Bears fan, I would be fairly psyched about that. (Despite a similarly good move by the Jets last year turning out to be worthless, in the form of one series by Jay Fiedler.) I can’t believe you just told me to get excited about the signing of Brian Greise…what a topsy turvy world. I’m much more concerned about the signing of Gilmore, apparently an indication they’ll continue to not care about the TE position. I’ll come back with more after the fantasy baseball draft. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/148 "2006-03-23T01:47:08Z")
I don’t see nothin’ wrong with a little Brian Griese. > [@Ellis Dee](#): > > Jimmy and furt, I’ve been hearing an awful lot of talk – Mike & Mike, PTI, Around the Horn, etc… – about the NFC East, and how the Eagles are now the worst team in the division of four. Generally they’ve been saying that the Cowboys and Redskins (in no particular order) are the top two teams, the Giants are a solid third and the Eagles a distant fourth. > > I’m accustomed to the Giants getting no respect. Despite two Superbowl appearances with one win, the Giants haven’t gotten respect around the league since '86. But this is the first I’ve heard people having no faith in the Eagles this century. Do you guys have any thoughts on this? > > Do you think the Eagles are being underrated, and if so, are you pleased or annoyed by it? Or do you think it’s a realistic prediction for them to again be last in the NFC East, and are just hoping that Donovan & Co. can field a respectable showing? Last in the division is _realistic_, certainly. They sucked last year, and everyone in the division has added some new dimension thus far this offseason, so I don’t think anybody can argue that it isn’t realistic. I’m not ready to call anything a lock because so much is up in the air, but my thoughts right now? I’m a tiny bit worried, and slightly less confident that they’ll get back on top of the division than I was at the end of the season. It wasn’t hard to see what was wrong with the Eagles last year. In no particular order: McNabb was hurting badly, they got no pass rush, they didn’t run the ball, none of the “other” receivers distinguished themselves much, special teams was a glaring weakness, and they just didn’t stop anybody in general. Oh, and they had some off the field problems. OK, so, here’s the good news – 25+ under the cap this offseason, TO is a thing of the past, and there are a few appealing options in free agency, etc. Use the money wisely, plug the holes, and 2005 was just an injury-riddled malignant tumor of a season that we could all put behind us and move on as the gold standard of the NFL. That’s certainly what the organization was putting out there, and to a certain extent I was ready to buy it. Just by glancing at the first page of this thread, you can see that I wholeheartedly endorse the additions they’ve made thus far – Barber’s about a 300% upgrade every second he’s on the field (ay, there’s the rub), and Darren Howard was the defensive end I wanted. OK, looking good. Hell, I even mentioned Jabar Gaffney by name, so I’m right on board with the moves they have made. It’s the ones they haven’t that have me just a little bit on edge. Missing out on Bentley was a serious cock-block for me, because I was absolutely frothing at the mouth when I heard they were gung ho about him. With him and Shawn Andrews most likely side by side (one way or the other), how can you not run the ball, right? Then he ends up with Cleveland. Randle El was another guy they were supposedly targeting – never materialized. Mike Anderson – gone before he even visited. This isn’t Madden, and you can’t just sign whoever you decide you want, but they haven’t fixed everything that needed to be fixed. As we sit here today, I really don’t like the look of the offense. I especially worry about the combination of no offensive line help and no running back with the still-mediocre receiving corp. It really looks like they’re confident with the same old offensive formula, and that they’re just going to pick up some schlub during camp to fill the power running role, like **furt** said – another Lamar Gordon. In light of the big steps backward the defense has taken, like I said, I’m worried. I’m sure they’ll draft help on both lines, and almost certainly a linebacker and another receiver, but they’re not all going to help right away. Most likely, only two or three of them will. If that’s the case, where does this team hang its hat? Rhetorical question – on #5, obviously. I have no problem with that, but I don’t see the help around him that I thought I’d see. I really banked on either a “name” receiver or an accomplished back to pair with Westbrook, and it’s looking like that’s not going to happen, which is absolutely not going to get it done in this conference the way it did in years past. All that said, Dallas doesn’t impress me much, and I believe both Washington and the Giants are beatable, at least. It’s certainly not time to despair, but _if_ this is the look we’re going to show on offense, I’d put them at about 25% for last place, 60% for third in the division. Now, wow me with day 1 of the draft, or trade Hollis Thomas and a 3 for Javon Walker, and all of a sudden I’m on board without reservation. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/149 "2006-04-23T01:15:26Z")
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee] Oh, now that all our teams have an extra $10 million to spend, what big name free agents do you covet? For the Giants, it’s a no-brainer: **LaVar Arrington**. He has said publicly that he wants to stay in the NFC East, and that he specifically couldn’t see playing for the Cowboys. That leaves two teams, the Giants and Eagles. The Eagles just today signed Shawn Barber at Arrington’s position. That leaves only the Giants. I expect the deal will get worked out and announced early Friday morning. Gonna be a GOOD year for Big Blue, by far the most watched team in the NFL. Go Giants! [/QUOTE] Okay, my prediction was only off by, uh, 43 days. Not that it was a protracted negotiation or anything. Geez, I thought the week-long contract deal with Plaxico last year was bad, but Arrington’s deal drove me batshit crazy for these past SIX WEEKS. (John Clayton said the Plax deal was over a month long. It was not; it was fewer than 7 days.) Okay, so as you can imagine, this Giants fan is happier than a pig in shit right now, addressing our biggest hole with a potential superstar. There’s a great thread on [giants.com](http://giants.com) where people are gathering quotes from the Redksins, Eagles and Cowboys boards, and I thought I’d share. I’ve bolded my favorites: > [@Redskins Fans](#): > > “I hate this, lets all take a moment to say good bye to Mark Brunell’s life.” > > **“oh… balls. Goodbye Brunell”** > > “You guys asked for it, now Lavar is gone to a team in our own division. Great Job to all the fans who wanted him gone. Now pat your self on the back.” > > “I am absolutely serious on LaVar signing with Giants will possibly haunt Redskins for the next 5 seasons.” > > “Well this sucks. As long as he didn’t go to the NFC East, I’d be happy. Giants are gonna be good next year. Ain’t this a B\*\*\*h.” > > “the giants are division champs, the giants are the team to beat.” > > “This is NOT a good thing for the Skins. Lavar will be yet another former Skin that comes back and eats our lunch. He is an upgrade to the Giants defense any way you slice it.” > > “He will cause problems for us just like Pierce and Hasselbeck did last year. He will give more insight into the Skins offense and defense.” > > “The Giants have improved no doubt. Congrats Lavar playing off the edge behind Usi is sick.” > > **“I guess we’ll see Jason Campbell soon this year…lol”** > > “Arrington along with Pierce IMO where total disaster moves for the skins. Just imagine if something was done and both of these guys were right now with the Skins. SB for sure or one sick defense like the 85 Bears. The Giants IMO just took a huge step towards kicking our butt this year.” > [@Cowboys Fans](#): > > " damitt, i new this was going to happen. what the @#%$ didn’t greenbay or miami sign him. this sucks! the giants pass rush is going to be sick! are o-line better get a hell of alot better then they were last year. i know flozell is coming back, but he is coming off major leg injury. i am not worried about anyone else in the division exept the giants. they have a dominating front with osi and strahan and now lavar. we are going to have are hands full. this sucks! " > > "If Arrington can stay healthy, he’s a great pick-up for the Giants. Their D could be pretty scary this year. The big question is, how will he get along with Coughlin? All in all, depending on the specifics of the contract, I thnk the Giants did well signing him. I know one thing for sure. I want to see him play against the Skins this year… " > > **“Their D just got retardedly sick…”** > [@Eagles Fans](#): > > “the giants were going to be better than us this year anyway to be honest.” > > “Anyone thinking that Arrington would not have helped the Eagles is drinking too much kool aid. Giants get better, Eagles do nothing.” > > “This makes the Giants more of a threat to us than the Cowgirls.” > > “This guy staying in our division makes this division even tougher, and that team up north the favorites to repeat. If Manning gets better next year, we need to look out!!” > > “eagles go 5-11” > > **“What hurts most is not that we didn’t get him but that another division rival has improved a major weakness of theirs and we continue to save money.”** ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524/150 "2006-04-23T17:16:05Z")
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee] Okay, so as you can imagine, this Giants fan is happier than a pig in shit right now, addressing our biggest hole with a potential superstar. [/QUOTE] That makes two of us, **Ellis**. Keep those knees healthy, and this’ll be a monster improvement where we desperately needed it. Glad to read those quotes – nice summary. One of the reasons I’ve soured on team message boards is the insane amount of overly-optimimistic fanboy thumping – it seems that no matter what happens, 90% of posts are “we’re still gonna kick ass!”. Good to see fans of the other NFC East teams realize what they’re in for. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-til-next-year-or-youre-your-nfl-teams-gm/343524.md?page=7)