re: Saints

[dalbuc]

When the Bucs would have had to sign Brees McCown wasn't hurt. Now they would have had to go get another #2 at some point but when the decision was made, the Bucs didn't know McCown would get hurt - plus if you are willing to roll ith him as yur #2 you are basically willing to roll with anyone.

What is interesting is that the Saints offer balloons up in year #2 - it was in a lot of ways a one stop try before you buy type deal- so we could have accomodated the contract or at least something in the ballpark.

[alldaway]

The Bucs did not have the cap room to sign Brees.

Brees 2006 cap value: $3.6MM
Simms+Rattay 2006 cap value: $3.5MM

That is misleading.

1. If you cut Simms and Rattay you have to pay the replacements for them. So lets assume Gradkowski is the third QB (275k) but who is the second QB? You have to pay a second QB.

2. The Bucs did not have the cap space to enter a bidding war for Brees services.

The 2nd QB is McCown, who we are paying the same in either scenario (remember this is all going on before his injury, when the Bucs were very high on McCown).  So your Depth looks like:
1.  Brees  2.  McCown  3.  Grads
Plus we would have had a choice draft pick from trading Simms.

We can not assume McCown is not injured.  The Bucs would still need to bring in a second QB and pay that second QB.

And the Saints with cap space were prepared to go into a bidding war with Miami but Miami dropped out.  You can not enter a bidding war for a player without cap space or very little of it.

That is like entering a high stakes poker game with a twenty dollar bill.  It is just not enough.

[bradentonian]

The Bucs did not have the cap room to sign Brees.

Brees 2006 cap value: $3.6MM
Simms+Rattay 2006 cap value: $3.5MM

That is misleading.

1. If you cut Simms and Rattay you have to pay the replacements for them. So lets assume Gradkowski is the third QB (275k) but who is the second QB? You have to pay a second QB.

2. The Bucs did not have the cap space to enter a bidding war for Brees services.

The 2nd QB is McCown, who we are paying the same in either scenario (remember this is all going on before his injury, when the Bucs were very high on McCown).  So your Depth looks like:
1.  Brees  2.  McCown  3.  Grads
Plus we would have had a choice draft pick from trading Simms.

I'm amazed at the change in this team from last season to this one.  They are takin it to Dallas at their house and will move to the #2 seed with a win. Impressive.

[keeponbucn]

Sp calls some great plays and Brees is ridiculous.

[dbucfan]

If a team can block the skill players can make the difference.  If they couldn't block all the skill in the world....

[karen anderson]

Beating the Cowgirls...without Joe Horn.

[bucDsystem]

did we ever have a shot at drew brees... he's truly a beast

[T]

Funny how quickly the Saints built a offensive line and it's taking the Buccaneers 31 years and counting to build a offensive line.

[stereochemistry]

Funny how quickly the Saints built a offensive line and it's taking the Buccaneers 31 years and counting to build a offensive line.

LT Jammal Brown is a second year, both with the Saints, 13th overall draft pick
LG Jamer Nesbit is an eight year vet, 3rd with the Saints, undrafted
C Jeff Faine is a fourth year vet, 1st with the Saints, 21st overall draft pick
RG Jahri Evans is a rookie, drafted by the Saints, 4th round draft pick
RT Jon Stinchcomb is a fourth year, drafted by the Saints, 2nd round draft pick (5th in that round)

It still takes time to build a line, although it should be noted that Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line coach Doug Marrone just joined the team this year.  Hmm.....

[cyberdude557]

did we ever have a shot at drew brees... he's truly a beast

Sure, but Chris Simms had just took the Bucs to the playoffs. You don't lose your job when you do that. QB wasn't even a consideration in the offseason. They thought Chris was our guy, Fiedler would come around and be a back-up, and Gradkowski can sit back and learn the system. That whole plan blew up in every way it possibly could!

[T]

Funny how quickly the Saints built a offensive line and it's taking the Buccaneers 31 years and counting to build a offensive line.

LT Jammal Brown is a second year, both with the Saints, 13th overall draft pick
LG Jamer Nesbit is an eight year vet, 3rd with the Saints, undrafted
C Jeff Faine is a fourth year vet, 1st with the Saints, 21st overall draft pick
RG Jahri Evans is a rookie, drafted by the Saints, 4th round draft pick
RT Jon Stinchcomb is a fourth year, drafted by the Saints, 2nd round draft pick (5th in that round)

It still takes time to build a line, although it should be noted that Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line coach Doug Marrone just joined the team this year. Hmm.....

My point was geared more at the first year coaching staff than the players. If Gruden doesn't go some of the current Buc assistants should go.

Funny how quickly the Saints built a offensive line and it's taking the Buccaneers 31 years and counting to build a offensive line.

Truly amazing!!!

[stereochemistry]

And my point, beyond agreeing with you by bringing up the fact that Marrone is a first year coach on this team, was that it still takes a combination of high draft investment (Brown and Stinchcomb), FA vet pick ups (Nesbit and Faine), and maybe a plugged in player or two (Evans)...they aren't built overnight, but a lot can be said for coaching.

With our offensive line, I really don't know anymore.  Do they have talent and just aren't running a good scheme, or are they average players and always will be.

Either way, I think it's time for Muir to go.  There's got to be a guy out there who has shown some sort of technique that has produced results that can come here.

Either way, I think it's time for Muir to go.  There's got to be a guy out there who has shown some sort of technique that has produced results that can come here.

No doubt about that. I can teach them to be turnstiles.