thundercleetz

The good thing is that the Cowboys can only offer Gaither a contract with $5.3 million in the first year, and increasing only 10% in every year after that. We would most definitely match that offer, I do not even think Gaither would sign that type of deal unless the contract was mostly guaranteed. And the Colts could not sign Gaither until they lost a free agent, which means they could really only sign him to whatever another team signs Gary Brackett for. This first round tender definitely gives us all the leverage.

You think Ozzie is targeting Walter?

I completely agree. In an earlier post I stated a receiving corp of Marshall, Walter, Clayton, Stallworth, and a rookie would be amazing! Walter is more comfortable in a #2 role next to a superstar receiver, and Clayton and Stallworth have different types of talents and could switch in the #3 role. Yeah, tell our offense that who couldn't score against the Colts on the one-yard line or against the Packers. And Willis didn't have his legs? What are you talking about. The guy is only 28-years old, and was in phenominal shape. He had his burst, power, vision, and breakaway speed back this season, and was definitely an asset in the goal-line situations. I would also say that talent-wise McGahee is a top-ten back. It seems like he has finally gotten the message of how to be successfull in this league. Why let him go now and tear it up for someone else. Sure, I would trade him straight up for Cromartie, but I am not giving up draft picks in addition, talking about getting laughed out of a room... Cromartie is a gambler. If we do not improve our pass rush, he will be just as bad as any other corner on our team. It would be Gary Baxter all over again.

Some interesting ESPN Insider stats on Walter: http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/news/story?id=4964461

From ESPN Insider: I hope a team makes an offer for Gaither. That way we either match it and sign him to a long-term deal or get a first round pick, becuase the alternative is losing him next year in free agency and getting nothing.

We need McGahee back, he is a huge part of this team and is a great complement to Ray Rice. The most encouraging part about keeping McGahee is the committment it shows on Bisciotti's part. With teams recently releasing runningbacks because of high cap numbers, Bisciotti is willing to keep McGahee's high cap number because he is a great asset to these team, even though he is a backup. No way I would trade McGahee and a draft pick for Cromartie. So we would trade a high pick for Cromartie and a receiver? No thanks! Free agency starts on Friday at 12am, lets see what happens! It should be interesting to see if a team signs Marshall to an offer sheet.

I actually disagree with you on this one. A guy over on the Scout board breaks down film on every game and has a scoring system for offensive linemen based upon different factors (pancakes, pulling blocks, reach blocks, yards per play to side, sacks allowed, QB hits), Gaither was by far our best offensive lineman and one of the top tackles. The problem with Gaither is his toughness. He gets hurt way too much for a guy who is only 23-years old and is even younger in football years.

Actually max, this is where I think we have the advantage in having a late first round pick. For example, look at a team like the Seahawks that needs a WR. You think they want to give up the 14th pick for Marshall? A mid-first rounder is probably too much to give up for Marshall, but a late first rounder, that could be perfect compensation. Also, Marshall is a restricted free agent. That means we do not have to trade for him, we can call his agent and negotiate a contract. So in effect, Marshall has all the leverage as to which team he signs with. So this could become a race between the Broncos finding the best offer for him or Marshall signing contract with the team he wants to play for.

Good to have Miggy back! Hopefully B-Rob will be back in the lineup soon. Bell hits two homeruns in his MLB spring training debut, one from both side of the plate. Bell is going to be an interesting guy to watch this spring, could he force his way onto the team?

Walter is hardly in the same league as Marhsall, but what if we traded for Marshall and signed Walter? This would allow Walter to suddenly slip into a very familar role of playing as a efficient #2 guy next to a superstar #1 receiver. Both Marshall and Walter are excellent blockers at receiver and would fit in very well with our run game. Clayton and Stallworth have different talents and both could be used as our #3 receiver, or in four-wide sets. Clayton can be that quick, slot guy (a role he should have been in the past few years), and Stallworth can be put in when we want to keep the defense honest or when we want someone to get some YAC on a drag or dig play (which is how the Pats effectively used Stallworth back in 2007). I do not know about you, but I would LOVE a receiving corp of: 1. Marshall 2. Walter 3a. Clayton 3b. Stallworth 5. Rookie? Add in our offensive line, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain, and Todd Heap and Joe and Cam better make this thing work!

This is how I see it. If anything, this will speed up signing Gaither to a long-term deal. We are essentially letting Gaither go out and set the market himself. A first and third round tender is basically a franchise tag, no team will make an offer on him and it says the team is taking a wait-and-see approach. But with only a first round tender the compensation is realistic enough where if a team really wants Gaither, they will make an offer. If a team makes him an offer, we get to match it. If the offer is too high, we get a first rounder. It is a win-win in my opinion.

I completely agree! I just saw this and this is a very interesting development. The Broncos only give a first round tender on Marshall? What this tells me is that they have set in their minds what they would take for him, and are almost baiting a team to make an offer on him. I mean the Chargers gave Floyd a first and third round tender! Like you said, Marshall is only 25-years old and is much better than anything that we could get in the first round. Make it happen Ozzie!!!!

He didn't give the Bills any trouble last season and their team was a wreck. Harbaugh, Flacco, and Ray have a strong grip on this team. We had a roller coaster ride last season and the locker room stayed strong throughout it all. The same could not be said for when Billick had similar seasons. We are a winning team, and as long as we are winning there will be no problems. TO just wants to win, he knows he needs the Super Bowl to cement his legacy as a Hall of Famer. Like I said, I do not think this move will happen, but I think TO would have a lot to offer for this team. I would take one-year of TO if it helped me get to the Super Bowl, but obviously I would prefer getting someone like Boldin.

You wouldn't take 69 receptions for 1052 yards and 10 TDs? Of course we want the younger, stud receiver. What I am saying is that is worst comes to worst, TO would not be a bad option.

I completely agree with you, actually. This could be the only opportunity we have to sign a legitimate number one receiver for a couple of offseasons. In other words, the are no other receivers out there on the market that we could give that money to, so why not give it to someone as good as Boldin? Bisciotti has already expressed he is willing to pay whatever it takes to put the best team on the field, well Boldin is the best available option at WR and would make this team a lot better. The only other way we can get a number one receiver is by drafting one, which would not be very expensive as we always draft near the end of the round. You convinced me, I would give a second rounder for Boldin!

Yes, this is why I am hesistant to give up a second rounder for him. He will be 30 in the middle of the season, and even though his last two injuries (ankle and jaw) have been fluke injuries, his physical style of play makes him vulnerable to injury. Nevertheless, if we get him for a second rounder and give him a new deal, I will not complain. But I do have my reservations. I hope we can get him for a Willis McGahee-type deal (a third this year, a third next year).

I am sorry, but that last statement is simply untrue. TO is still very much a elite talent in this league who can score from any point on the field. Ask the Jaguar corners who tried to guard him when he errupted for 9 catches for 197 yards and a TD in week 11. We do not have a playmaker at reciever on this team that can blow up for that type production any given Sunday. The guy averaged 15.1 YPC this past. Like him or not, he can still get deep and rack up some serious YAC, and defenses have to account for him. Like Schmuck said, if TO could guarantee you 55 recpetions for 800+ yards and 5 TD and win two games for you, you take him. Who did TO have throwing to him this season? No one, that's who. TO did not lose any physical ability last year in Buffalo. As much as you guys might hate him, the guy works harder than anyone in the league at keeping his body in peak physical condition. With a QB like Joe, you have to think he could return to his 2007 and 2008 production when he had a good QB throwing to him (81 receptions, 1355 yards, 15 TDs in 15 games in 2007, 69 receptions, 1052 yards, 10 TDs in 16 games in 2008). Everyone says how a guy like Mason is getting better with age and everyone expects the same production from Mason if he comes back. Well, TO has aged the same if not better than Mason, he is still an elite talent. Even with that said, TO is a last resort for this team. If we cannot get one of Boldin, Marshall, Jackson, or Floyd, TO will be in the mix, believe that. And what if Mason leaves us for another team or retirment? You better believe TO will be in the mix. This team is built to win now, and if we will not go into the season with Stallworth as our #1 receiver. Nevertheless, TO is a last resort considering how much Ozzie hates him. I think Ozzie would rather bring Mason and Clayton back, bring in a guy like Kevin Walter (I hear we like him a lot), trade for Boldin/Floyd and/or draft a receiver, and have Stallworth. That should be fine. No true #1 receiver, but you have 5/6 quality guys with different talents.

The Cards want a second rounder and change. Unless their demands come down, I don't think this one is happening.

The Cards want a second rounder and change. Unless their demands come down, I don't think this one is happening.

Right, Towson Catholic, that is what I meant to say. The blogs said Williams came in looking like he was in great shape. If you look at the YouTube dunk contest video, you can see that Williams is a very thick guy. It would not surprise me if his lack of strength was because he was cutting weight a little bit to pick up some speed. Even if that is true, the fact that he was close to a 4.62 is alarming. Combine that with his terrible interviews and he seems like a guy that is just waiting to blow up. Maybe if he is there in the third or fourth round I would take a flyer, but not any higher. Two guys to keep an eye on: Taylor Price, WR, Ohio U. - 6' 204 pounds, 4.41 40, 37" vert. Consistent production at Ohio. He is a guy who has deep speed, great hands, excellent body control, and strong enough to fight a press. Ran great routes at the combine easily coming in and out of his routes. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Southern Methodist - 5'11" 186 pounds, 4.41 40, 39.5" vert. Very quick guy (4.10 SS) along with deep speed. Outstanding production at SMU. He has the potential to be a major mismatch as a slot guy in the NFL.

I think Peter Schmuck of the Sun says it best: " If T.O. could guarantee that he'd catch 50 balls next year and make two game-winning plays, would you want him?" I am going with coach Harbaugh on this one, I am interested in any player that could make this team better. TO put up impressive numbers on a horrible Bills team last year and he did not cause any team drama. TO gave the Eagles one very good year where he put them in Super Bowl contention, I will take one good year of TO for the potential baggage that could follow. Here is the key with TO, if you win, he's fine. He is at that point in his career where he knows he has to win a Super Bowl. The guy is still a top receiver, I'll take him. I have heard conflicting reports on whether we are truly interested in him or not, we will just have to see this one out. In my opinion, this could come down to a desparation move by Ozzie. It is looking like the Cards want a second rounder and change for Boldin, Marshall is going to cost too much, and so are Floyd and Jackson. That leaves TO as the best of the rest. This team is desparate for receivers, and TO is desparate for a winning team to play on, it could be a match.

He missed the playoffs this year because of an ankle injury, nothing chronic just a fluke injury.

Like I said, keep an eye on this Carlton Mitchell out of USF. Like I said, at 6'2" 196 he posted a 4.42 40 (4.49 official) and 16 reps on the bench. His production at USF was decent and he is coming out as a redshirt junior so he is still a little raw and might take some time to develop, but he made big strides each year (he has been the team's #1 receiver since his RS freshmen year). He not only has fast track speed (Mitchell runs the 400 and competes in long jump for USF) but he plays fast too. BTW, Mitchell is the consensus best blocking receiver in the draft and is tough enough to go over the middle and take a hit. Keep an eye on this guy.

Also, don't discount Damian Williams. He may have run a 4.53, but when you are as smooth as him in running routes you play a lot faster on the field than your timed speed. At 6'1" 197 pounds he put up 19 reps on the bench with a 38-inch vert. He would definitely be a good target for Joe in the over-the-middle intermediate passing game.

I agree with you, we need a big receiver. I do not see us taking Tate in the first round, it just does not match up with our personel. By the way, Tate body catches way too much for my liking. We need a guy with a larger catching radius who can work the middle of the field.