BearSox

I was just about to say, if we suck again next year and Lovie gets fired, Shanny, Gruden, and Cowher (?) is one hell of a crop of head coaches.

Do you honestly expect any GM to go out and say, yeah he will be looking to upgrade the OLine, yeah we want to get a Suggs or Peppers, etc.?

Oh, there's no doubt that Gross was the best LT this past season, but that was more in part due to him being in the perfect scheme where he could play LT. The Panthers have this power running, zone blocking scheme that needs someone like Gross at LT.

The Panthers aren't going to let him go without getting a 1st. It'd be stupid for them not to. The Panthers don't have to trade him, but would probably prefer to because of all that cap. Some team will be willing to give up a first.

I think the Vikings will trade for Cassel, and personally, I don't want to see them get him and would be in favor of pushing up the price tag with bogus leaks to newspapers and such, saying Bears are aggressively pursuing him, etc. Cassel gets criticized a lot for never starting in college, and putting up huge stats in New England, but that doesn't change the fact he was a top recruit (either 4 or 5 star recruit out of high school) when USC got him, has a bunch of talent, and has an incredible work ethic. I remember reading an article last year before Cassel became this potential franchise QB. It talked about how on the sidelines, he'd always keep his helmet on to hear the play call, and then he'd pretend to say it like he was in the huddle and then just watch what Tom did. He has the potential and I'd hate to see him in Minnesota. So anything to drive up the price is fine by me.

Gross isn't the best LT in football, best RT, certainly. He played good at LT, but needed to play there because they drafted Otah, and he's a RT.

They'd only probably trade him if they got value they see fit. They'd get a first rounder for sure, and probably an additional mid rounder. Maybe a conditional pick in 2010.

Apparently Peppers wants to go to a 3-4 team and play OLB... I just want to say he'd be god awful as an OLB, and I think he only wants to do this because his ego is hurt from all the pub 3-4 DE's like Ware and Merriman get. Yeah, Peppers is a physical specimen, but at 6'7", he loses all leverage he had at DE and will not make an impact. If anything, he's a better fit at DE in a 3-4.

I'd be shocked if Dusty isn't cut this offseason. He can't stay healthy, and the tape will show he's played like shit when healthy.

Not happening. If the Cards traded Leinart, it's be a 3-4 million dollar cap hit for them, and they aren't going to sell low on someone they spent the 10th overall pick on just 3 years ago. Also, they still need a backup for Warner, as he is 40, or almost 40. Leinart ain't going anywhere.

I might eat some crow on this one... Peppers says he doesn't want to return (wants his big payday, not the franchise tag), and I guess it turns out if they franchise him, that's a 17 million dollar cap hit! So, unless they cut Delhomme, I don't see how they can afford it. However, I don't see them letting Peppers go for nothing, and that they will franchise him and trade him. Let him and his agent work out a deal with another team, and get back a 1st round pick, and probably a couple more picks in the 3-4 range. Jared Allen got the Cheifs a 1st round pick and 2 3rd's, and I'd say Peppers > Allen.

I don't know why people are complaining. I'll take severely cold over severely hot any day. You can put as much clothes on as you want to stay warm, but you can only take so much off to try and stay cool.

I guarantee you there is no way the Panthers let Peppers get away from them. Without him, there basically goes their defense, as besides for Gamble and Beason, they don't have much on D, and Peppers has been their biggest play maker. After cutting the dead wood and such, they'll likely have 15 million in cap this year. Peppers and Gross are there only major free agents, and they'd likely want to keep Kasay as well, but he'd be cheap, 40 year old kickers aren't that expansive. Also, they don't have a first round pick this year because they traded it to the Eagles last year, so they won't have to give a big huge contract to a rookie. They will likely resign him, but if they can't, they have enough money to tag him.

They're not cutting Delhomme, or else Fox is going to lose all credibility he has a coach (he promised Delhomme he'd be the starter next year). They should (they'd save about 7 million), but they won't. They will cut Ken Lucas, but he'd only save them a couple million, if that. And they aren't gonna be able to afford both Gross and Peppers. Peppers is severely more important to them and he will be resigned. They will let Gross go and likely replace him with someone like Troy Kropog or Jamon Meredith with their 2nd round pick.

nfo, if we cut Wale, we'd save 4.8 million. Well worth it, especially if we can bring in a DE like Suggs or Peppers via. free agency.

It's not that tough when you are consistently bringing in 5 star recruits and always have one of the best recruiting classes in the nation.

Dvoracek blows and will likely be cut cause he can't even stay healthy. Adams is decent, but we need an actual NT, as a NT would improve the defense as a whole, especially Urlacher. Idonije is nothing more then a situational player on passing downs, and Harrison is viewed more as an UT. NT is a BIG need for us. Suggs is a perfect fit for what we look for in a DE. Don't fool yourself into thinking he's not because he plays 3-4 OLB, which is essentially a 4-3 DE who can get to a QB, and the pretty much what the Cover 2 needs at DE. How is Mark Anderson a nice 3rd down pass rusher? Was it his ability to get stiffled at the line and get only one sack on the season, and that sack being a blown assisgnment by the OLine? I still have some hope in Anderson with a real Dline coach now, but I'm not holding my breathe. And he's not talking about the draft. We have the 18th pick, meaning someone we like right now could be a top 10 pick within a few months. You'll hear him talk about the draft after the combine.

I agree with you on Haynesworth, and I'd be shocked if Tennessee didn't resign him. As for Peppers, there's no way the Panthers aren't keeping him. They are going to do everything in their power to retain him. If they lose him, there goes their D, IMO. Suggs makes perfect sense for us though. He'll get paid a lot, but not as much as Peppers or Haynesworth, and he fits what we are looking for in a DE. Right now he's no. 2 on Baltimore's to do list as they need to bring back Ray Lewis. The biggest knock against Suggs in Baltimore is that he's not real good in pass coverage, and that's why they have him play with his hand down most of the time. And he was a stud DE in college. He's got the size, explosion, and the moves we look for in a DE. If we signed him, I'd cut Ogunleye (save about 4.8 million), shift Brown to RDE, and have Suggs play LDE. Also, with Suggs, if we did ever change coaching staffs and schemes, Suggs could play OLB/pass rushing DE in a 3-4 or a SAM in a 4-3. Makes perfect sense to me. Also, he's the youngest and will be 26, going on to 27, at the start of next season. That's beautiful.

I really like Matt Cassel, but no.

The article mentions the possibility of him moving to FS, but as long as we run the cover 2 (or the Lovie 2 as I call it), Tillman NEEDS to be at corner.

I should mention by the way that Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith would NEVER bring him in for a meeting anyway.

Whatever, Barkley still the best QB recruit in the nation, and he's a Carson Palmer clone. He'll push for the starting job in 2010. As for the NC, USC still has a shot, Mustain could potentially be a first round pick IMO. I think Corp will transfer, at least he should (would be wise to go to a place where he knows he can start for two years, and play in a spread offense). As for D, I'm excited to see Everson Griffen get an expanded role as a Junior. Possible top 5 draft pick next year with his amazing physical tools. I also really like that safety they got coming in, 5 star recruit T.J. McDonald. 6'2", 200 lbs and runs a 4.5 40. You don't see too many high school DB's with that size .

They might be losing out on Sanchez, but they have a ridiculous amount of talent behind him. Mitch Mustain was the top rated QB in the country coming out of HS, Corp was a 4 star prospect, and Barkley is currently the no. 1 HS recruit in football. They got plenty of talent at QB. Now they need to figure out how they are going to build their defense back up with a bunch of new starter for next year.

Payne can tackle, but is horrendous in coverage. Right now he is mediocre and can suffice, but once we get our other needs taken care of (QB, OL, WR, NT, DE, FA, SAM... this list seems to get longer and longer) in the next year or two, SS needs to be and should be one of the top needs at the top of the list. Also, while at first after Brown got injured again, I was very adamant about not bringing him back next year, but I'm starting to change my point of view on that. He's still a leader in the clubhouse, and if it's on a cheap incentive based deal for one year, it's worth it. I think if we could get an actual FS, and have Payne and Brown rotate at SS, Brown's chance of injury will reduce and the level of play at SS will increase.

He's not, it's just that none of them stands out above the rest. Remember, there's only 3 other RG's in our division. As for RT, it should be Gosder Cherilus. He's the best RT in the North right now.