Stray Arrows: Browns, Jets After Samuel
The good news: It looks like Asante Samuel and the New England Patriots are breaking up. The bad news: It looks like the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets are the favorites to splurge and sign the Pro Bowl cornerback. From Boston.com:
Now Samuel is set to hit the market, and media speculation has identified the Jets and Browns as possible suitors. Shavers is restricted from speaking with clubs until free agency begins.
“We’re kind of waiting on the 29th to kick in,” he said. “This process is winding to an end and I think this situation has been pretty transparent for the last two years. It’s been no secret where he’s been and where he’s trying to go and what he’s trying to do. He’s been playing himself into that top category for the last couple years now. Now is the time to be compensated at the level you’re playing.”
That being said, not only does it look like the Chiefs aren’t frontrunners to acquire Samuel’s services, but it also looks like he’s expecting a record payday. Wouldn’t it be smarter for us to pursue DeAngelo Hall? I understand that we’d have to give up our beautifully early second-round pick, and probably a decent future first-day pick as well, but wouldn’t it be worth it? Honestly, I think Samuel will end up costing $10-20 million more than Hall, easy. The free agent market is that scarce when it comes to cornerbacks.
But we’ll let you decide since you’ve voted so heavily for Samuel. Should we run a campaign for a Samuel signing or a Hall trade?
How about a 3rd option in the poll, pass on both?
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:14 pmHow about a fourth option in the poll: People need to stop thinking that the Cover 2 is some magical scheme where you don’t need talent to handle the NFL’s new rules and phenomonal receivers. I like that
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:18 pmI agree with merlinn, where is the neither option?
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:24 pmWell the Cover 2 did win the COLTS a Championship without great corners. Just ask the Saints how good Jason David is?
FACE!
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:25 pmThere’s no FACE on that. The rules changed even more last year. And don’t even use the Giants’ secondary as an example. They don’t run the system, and drafted Aaron Ros in the first round and had great back-ups like R.W. McQuarters, not to mention the fiercest pass rush I’ve probably ever seen.
Average corners don’t get it done in the NFL any more, not even in the Cover 2. Look at the final four…
Samuel, Harris, Woodson, Cromartie, Jammer, Gay, Madison, Ross, etc… teams with good corners.
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:49 pmAnd that strategy didn’t work out quite as well for the Colts this year.
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 pmI am all for good corners, I just don’t think you need great corners to run the cover 2. I would rather put my money into a great front 7 and have good corners than have great corners and a good LB core.
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:54 pmJason David is a Cover 2 corner, that’s what he’s good in, watching the QB and reading his eyes. The Chiefs really run their corners in straight man, while the rest of the D stays in Tampa 2.
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:01 pmAdam, I never mentioned the Giants. I think the problem this year with the Colts was more injury than anythin else.
I will use the Giants because they have a great 7 and a decent secondary. I think if we make our front 7, especially front four we can win with good CBs in the Cover 2. No need to trade away draft picks for one, especially if they are wanting two early round picks or a first.
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:06 pmZach: I am with you!
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:10 pmDifferent strokes for different folks. All I know is that the four teams that made the championship games and beyond were stacked at CB.
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 pmI think we might actually have to look at Lito Sheppard, too. Problem is that the Eagles are now denying that he is available. I think the key is signing an OT with the thought that Jake Long won’t be there. If he is you just move Starks or Dame inside and hope that it works, I guess. But otherwise that would let us pick Sedrick Ellis first, and a guy like Joe Flacco or Rogers-Cromartie next.
I still like Hall a ton, though. Kid is only 24–that’s scary.
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:18 pmAnd Cornelius made a great point about our corners mostly playing man. They got burned a lot last year. As far as investments go, they were Waterworld. They flopped!
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 pmwe dont need them, wait another year on corner… what we need is left tackle, guard , and linebacker… in that order… just because it is a deep draft doesnt mean we will get a starter from the late rounds… and who ever said third round was late is nutz…lol, yes we had shields from round three… but left tackles come from round one… and without a trading partner, which wont happen… we will draft claddy or long. (yes I know this was a thread on Corners) in free agency the chiefs should go after Fitzgerald this year… he plays much better and bigger than does, Stallworth… Fitz just fits this system better
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 pmAdam moving a tackle inside or out, is very hard , most of the time… just take welbourn for instance… he couldnt make the switch from guard to right tackle…. it isnt an easy switch, some players can but we cant keep signing free agents hopeing they can switch poss., also take a look at your fav. BELL at linebacker… yes he came from a three four… and that hurt him. And for crying out loud… we just waisted five years of drafting DTs and we want to bring in another??? no friggen way… yes ellis is a stud… but our *D* is farther than just a DT away…seriously it is… and from this years drafting standpoint… the CHIEFS will be able to move light years ahead with drafting the top two spots on the o-line, and using the fre agent market, to grab a wideout, and a linebacker… yes just two spots in my oppinion…
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 pmWhat I am saying is dont grab a free agent corner this year, draft one next year… they have some good ones coming out next year… As for our cover two, Gunther has them in man so as to allow us more pass rushing ability,.. given time this version works allot better than the tampa two.(when the players get used to it, they will explode , trust me)
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 pmI’m not sure where all this "linebacker" business is coming from. Are you honestly suggesting Surtain and Law are better than the "weak link" in our corps (Harris)?
February 24th, 2008 at 12:19 amIf I hear one more thingabout us needing a linebacker, I will go off
NAPOLEON HARRIS IS FINE! He had 116 tackles last year. My God! Let’s give the guy another year. He also had 3 PD, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF, and INT, etc… it wasn’t like he did nothing. And it was his first year behind suspect DTs. C’mon, people. I don’t care if we do play the Cover 2–our CBs blew last year, and would have in any coverage scheme.
Cornelius, thank you for being the voice of reason here.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:37 amFitzgerald is a No. 1 WR, and we already have one of those. We need to spend that money on a lockdown corner or a left tackle. Besides, I hear Fitz will be retained. And if he isn’t he will cost a damn fortune. Great player, but not a great fit.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:39 amFitz will cost us so much more than Stallworth would it’s not even funny. No and no.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:40 ami just want to point out a fact about Kendrell Bell. He is exactly what Shaun merriman is. All he ever was, was a blitzing linebacker. We did to him, what we are doing to Derrick Johnson. Because of our coaching styles and packages we try to use linebackers as blitz/cover/man guys. We dont use linebackers to their strengths. Seriously, the only reason DJ hasnt made it to the proball is because he doesnt get any stats. We dont let him blitz enough to get sacks and we dont let him cover enough to get picks.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:27 amI say we grab Hall… Adam, youre right… He is 24! If THATS not “youth” in which Herm is looking for, then I dont know what is… Sure, hes got some behavior issues, but again hes young and under Herm and THIS organization, he’ll shape up into a man… Atalanta was freakin ghetto, man… Nap is cool for another year, if we can draft Ellis, Dorsey, or sign Shaun Rogers.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:46 amThink about it… either have Dorsey or Ellis with our mean machines Hali and Allen… OR Otah, Waters, Starks, Weigman (or my wish… Faneca) D.Hall, and DRC at CB and D.Bowe and D. Jack at WR! PFFFFT! YA GOTTA LOVE IT!
February 24th, 2008 at 5:51 amI think Napoleon deserves another year. He wasn’t horrid and he might just need some adjustment time to the new system. Plus if we got him another DT that might make the difference. We gave up on Kawika Mitchell and now he has a ring, so I dont think LB is our problem.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:57 amwe still need to draft a line backer, as said by me before we need back ups… and our third round pick would be great for the replacement of edwards… or as people have said… for DJ, when he moves to the other side, after edwards retires… I hope this explains it better.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:01 pmYeah, but I think LB can wait until round four or five, or even until next year. But I hear we are letting Keyaron walk, so it probably won’t wait.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:25 pmEdwards can make it another few years, but I think he should be moved to the inside. Look at the slough of capable, OLD middle linebackers in the league. Seau, Bruschi, Taylor, Lewis, just to name the top of the crop, Edwards in his day has done just about as much, if not more, as these guys, and he’s just starting to lose his edge. MLB doesn’t need to be as fast, but needs to be smart, a leader of the defense, and have a knack for knowing where the ball is. Guess what? Donnie fits that to a T. If Keyaron Fox does walk, and we also release Kendrell, then we are rather short on backers. I don’t see us going after Lance Briggs (I think he’s not that great, he’s good don’t get me wrong, but they funnel tackles straight to the guy in that systen Chicago runs.) But I see us trying to get SOME young backer(s). Maybe trade a 4th-5th rounder for a semi-young special team’s ACE who can help out our weak ST and gain knowledge of the system so he can play in years to come. I don’t think a fifth round pick will cut it, though; we could use a guy with the caliber of an A.J. Hawk, Lofa Tatupa, or Patrick Willis.
February 24th, 2008 at 8:09 pmxxlp I agree with you I like Donnie even more than most people liked DT…who by the way was way over rated… but it is not to soon to bring in a replacement… and I really dont want them to go past number 4 without a linebacker… the second third rounder would be Ideal this year
February 25th, 2008 at 1:41 amI posted a comment on another Post about this very issue. xxxlp, I LOVE the idea of putting Donnie in the middle. He is so freakin’ smart when it comes to the game. And he’s seen just about every offensive look in the NFL… more so than Nap Harris… My OPINION (redbeard) is that we bring in Jonathon Vilma as our strong linebacker. Put Donnie in the middle, calling the shots. And putting DJ on the weak side just blitzing his brains out, and flying around smashing people. Now that sounds just about perfect to me.
February 25th, 2008 at 2:16 amthat works as well roc, but I was only intending as a replacement for the future… this years set up of us drafting will or could land us an excellent linebacker with our second third round pick, and we have gone too many years of not drafting a player a year before we need them… we did it at corner before and now at o-line… to stop this trend would be to draft a linebacker to come in now and learn the system, before we are four years past needing one… And as I recall, Donnie has already proven he can play inside, he did it here
February 25th, 2008 at 7:00 pm