DE/Freeagents

redskincity · Post by **redskincity** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 9:13 am

(Feb. 9, 2004) -- As I said when I reviewed the offensive restricted free agents, this is a pool of talent that is being studied differently since the Washington Redskins hit the restricted free-agent market hard last offseason. I have spoken with a number of personnel people who feel they will have to protect their restricted free agents with a higher tender than they might have if the Redskins hadn't hit the Jets so hard last year.

As I finish up looking at the defensive players who are available, it appears there is potentially less talent than on the offensive side of the ball. But make no mistake about it, there are some very interesting candidates.

NFL teams have a few levels of evaluation they go through as it relates to restricted players:

Can they play at a high level?
Were they drafted at a low enough round that the "home" team has to consider a high tender to protect their investment.
Is the home team under enough salary-cap stress that they potentially can't afford to offer a high tender to protect from losing their good restricted free agents.
Even if they do put a high tender on a restricted free agent, are there ways to structure a contract proposal that could be impossible to match by the home team.

Ifeanyi Ohalete, safety, Washington Redskins: A lot of people feel the Redskins started the signing of restricted free agents, but the most important restricted free-agent signing in the NFL was Bill Parcells bringing Curtis Martin to the New York Jets in 1998. At any rate, a number of teams would love to take a player from owner Dan Snyder, and Ohalete is a good place to start. The 6-2, 222-pound starter was undrafted and his 103 tackles, three interceptions and five passes defended makes Ohalete a guy to go after. I watched the Redskins' game against the Bears in Week 16 when he had 10 tackles and the only question I had was, "What team couldn't he help?"

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7074832

skinsfaninroanoke · Post by **skinsfaninroanoke** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 2:58 am

I agree - I think Iffy and Matt, like most players who started (except the DL) are bashed badly due to the schemes that GE ran this year. Iffy did well this year even with the mistakes that I believe came from poor play calling and communication from Edwards.

I can't believe that one of the team leaders in defensive stats gets let go easily...

redskincity · Post by **redskincity** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 10:32 am

skinsfaninroanoke wrote:I agree - I think Iffy and Matt, like most players who started (except the DL) are bashed badly due to the schemes that GE ran this year. Iffy did well this year even with the mistakes that I believe came from poor play calling and communication from Edwards.

I can't believe that one of the team leaders in defensive stats gets let go easily...

You are on a roll Holmeboy.. I agree.

I think we have the right players in place on defense. They had the wrong teachers(substitute) last year. I think all really need is a pass rusher and one DT with Russell.

skinsfaninroanoke · Post by **skinsfaninroanoke** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 11:09 am

the only problem is that Russell is no longer and will not be with the team. That much was made clear at the end of the season.

I think we pick up Coleman, Washington and Kearse, draft another kid as a backup to move into Washington's place in a couple of years and draft RB - that is the way things seem to be playing out at the moment - until the data changes of course

redskincity · Post by **redskincity** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 11:12 am

skinsfaninroanoke wrote:the only problem is that Russell is no longer and will not be with the team. That much was made clear at the end of the season.

I think we pick up Coleman, Washington and Kearse, draft another kid as a backup to move into Washington's place in a couple of years and draft RB - that is the way things seem to be playing out at the moment - until the data changes of course

Yeah, but that was Spurrier staff talking that trash. They are gone now.

Russell sat out two years and still demanded double teams in his return. Why wouldnt we keep him?

I just dont want to go through what we went through last year.

skinsfaninroanoke · Post by **skinsfaninroanoke** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 11:23 am

I agree - but Ted Washington and Coleman at DT are proven commodities who probably won't demand big bucks. Russell has question marks and also has discipline problems which Gibbs will not tolerate as I am sure you well know

I just don't see Russell back - but if he gets in shape both mentally and physically and can prove himself I will be glad to be wrong