Official 2008 Redskins Free Agency Tracker Thread

[SkinsJock]

I'd love to see a list of all other backups in the league in terms of what they get paid. Why do I have this sneaky feeling Todd would be near the top of that list?

Maybe, just maybe, because you think we always just pay too much and now that we have got a guy that played very well for us at the end of the year and has showed that he can step in and play - you most likely want someone to scream - "we paid too much ...... again"

Guess what - Collins earned it, and it's beginning to look like we might have changed our ways about over-spending for players - just maybe




we kept a guy who is on our team, who contributed, who could have maybe made more elsewhere and now some want to find something wrong - give me a break

[1niksder]

The Jaguars apparently made the "hardest push," but oh no, Dan will solve that and "step up in the end" to make sure he stayed. 3 mil a year for a guy who played well in 4 games over 10 years and is 36 years old is too much.

Sources said the deal is actually for six years, but the final three years are set up as such so they will void automatically (much like Mark Brunell's last deal voided after 2007). But for cap purposes the $3 million signing bonus is spread over 6 years rather than 3 - hence $1.5 million cap hit rather than $2 million.

It's better to get the details of a deal before opening your mouth and complaining about it... that way you don't have to take your foot out of it in order to close it once the details do come out.

[JPM36]

I'd like to see the Redskins pursue Javon Walker. He is exactly what we are looking for in terms of a tall, playmaking WR and would really complement Santana well.

[SkinsFreak]

I'm actually kinda surprised Collins Re-signed. Glad he did, he'll be a decent back-up. But I thought for sure he'd follow Sanders to St. Louis.

I guess Todd got sick of that 7,000,000 page play book too.

[skinz74]

For what it's worth...

The Todd Collins Contract
According to sources, here's the breakdown on the deal TC just signed.

It is indeed 3 years, worth a max of $9 million, with a $3 million signing bonus (but there's a cap-saving quirk as well).

In essence, he'll get $4 million guaranteed - the $3 million signing bonus, a $100,000 workout bonus due this spring, and his $900,000 salary for 2008 (assuming he does not get hurt in the offseason somehow).

In 2009 he has another $100,000 workout bonus and a base of $1.9 million

In 2010 he has another $100,000 workout bonus and a base of $2.9 miullion (again, base salaries in the NFL are not guaranteed).

However, instead of his 2008 cap hit being $2 million ($1 million proration of the signing bonus + $100,000 bonus + salary), it's actually $1.5. How you might ask?

Sources said the deal is actually for six years, but the final three years are set up as such so they will void automatically (much like Mark Brunell's last deal voided after 2007). But for cap purposes the $3 million signing bonus is spread over 6 years rather than 3 - hence $1.5 million cap hit rather than $2 million.

The Redskins made re-signing Collins their chief priority, with owner Daniel Snyder involved and negotiations going well past 2 am and picking up again in the morning, according to sources. The Skins spent considerable time trying to get this done, including Coach Jim Zorn flying to Quincy, Mass. yesterday.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/

[EA7649]

TOO MUCH MONEY!!! 9 mil over 3 years is way too much for a 36 year old back up!!!!!!!

very good chance all that wasn't guarnteed most likely he'll get 2-3 million over the whole contract and 6 in incentives incase he does what he did last year.

[yupchagee]

I'd like to see the Redskins pursue Javon Walker. He is exactly what we are looking for in terms of a tall, playmaking WR and would really complement Santana well.

Only if he's healthy. He can also be an off field problem.

[CanesSkins26]

The Redskins made re-signing Collins their chief priority, with owner Daniel Snyder involved and negotiations going well past 2 am and picking up again in the morning, according to sources.

Danny just can't help himself.

[1niksder]

The Redskins have tendered a contract to exclusive rights free agent Shaun Suisham, meaning that the strong-legged kicker will remain with the team next season.
Under the rules of exclusive rights free agency, Washington had only to tender the contract to Suisham to retain him.

Suisham completed his first season as the Redskins' place kicker.

He played in all 16 games, plus a Wild Card playoff game, and connected on 29-of-35 field goal attempts and 29-of-30 PATs for 116 points.

Suisham hit two overtime game-winners last season, a 39-yarder in Week 1 to beat the Dolphins and a 46-yarder in Week 9 to beat the Jets.

Suisham missed a critical 30-yard field goal in the Redskins' playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 5, but otherwise he was solid most of last season.

Link

[CanesSkins26]

After that missed kick in Seattle, can't say that I wanted Suisham back with the Skins.

[cleg]

After that missed kick in Seattle, can't say that I wanted Suisham back with the Skins.

squishy sucks. There is a notion that he is a strong legged kicker but the dude does not come close to the end zone on kick offs and misses too many kicks he should make. He blows.

[GSPODS]

Kickers, even of the mediocre at best variety, aren't exactly abundant in free agency. Drafting one is even more difficult. Anyone recall all of the "experts" saying how Sebastian Janikowski was the next "can't miss, second coming of kicking Jesus" draft pick?

Then again, maybe it's career suicide being drafted by the Raiders. Robert Gallery was also supposed to be a "sure thing" draft pick.

But I digress. If the Redskins were really in the market for another kicker, Danny would have been at Rob Bironas' doorstep at 12:01a.m. a couple of days ago. I have a feeling the kicking game is the least of the Redskins' concerns. Whether or not it should be is a different matter altogether.

[SkinsFreak]

Personally, I thought Suisham was much improved last year. His kick-offs were deeper, indicating he worked quite a bit on that aspect of his game during the offseason. 29-of-35 on field goal attempts with 2 game winners ain't all that bad. He made significant improvement last year and could be even better this year. Not saying he's the best, but better than average and it's not like there's a plethora of available kickers out there.

[KennyKenn21]

I know we dont have much "Cap Space" but we have alot of guys making lots of money thats working on the cap issue as we speak to drop it down so we can be active in the market.

Moss is listening to other offers....GIVE HIM ONE!

Getting moss is like creating the Pats offence all over again

Moss.....S.Moss(like Welker) , Rande El (like Stallworth) , ey (better than Watson) and Portis (better than L.M)

COME ON TEAM! Start getting active!!!

Plan B .......Moss too much or bad apple then Work on Hackett...i dont care.....do something!


(sorry, little mad being that my best friends are niners and browns fans and they keep laughing at me that all i have is a resigned backup QB)

HAIL!

[1niksder]

I know we dont have much "Cap Space" but we have alot of guys making lots of money thats working on the cap issue as we speak to drop it down so we can be active in the market.

Moss is listening to other offers....GIVE HIM ONE!

Getting moss is like creating the Pats offence all over again

Moss.....S.Moss(like Welker) , Rande El (like Stallworth) , ey (better than Watson) and Portis (better than L.M)

COME ON TEAM! Start getting active!!!

Plan B .......Moss too much or bad apple then Work on Hackett...i dont care.....do something!


(sorry, little mad being that my best friends are niners and browns fans and they keep laughing at me that all i have is a resigned backup QB)

HAIL!

Do you want them to do something, or just go after Moss?
Moss might help but Moss won't be able to fix all the poblems this team has. his cap number to be plus what the Skins already pay WRs (some here, some NLE) would be too much of a chunk of the cap pie.

[GSPODS]

A '49ers fan laughing at any other team should never be taken seriously. Even before their recent history of losing seasons, does anyone other than me recall how Ed DeBartolo built those championship Niners teams? Quick recap: He was stealing money from other businesses he was involved with to pay player salaries.

The Browns are an up and coming team but the biggest move they have done so far to is re-sign one of their own quarterbacks. Sound familiar?

The Redskins have tried the free agency domination game countless times and it never gets them anything but dead cap space. Personally, I'd like to see the Redskins make moves to obtain more draft picks, and not to trade them all away for more Lloyd's, Archuleta's and the like.

[1niksder]

The Browns are an up and coming team but the biggest move they have done so far to is re-sign one of their own quarterbacks. Sound familiar?

The Browns did trade for Rodgers after the NFL squashed the Cincy/Lions deal

The Redskins have tried the free agency domination game countless times and it never gets them anything but dead cap space. Personally, I'd like to see the Redskins make moves to obtain more draft picks, and not to trade them all away for more Lloyd's, Archuleta's and the like.

I wouldn't be surprised he they pulled off a trade in the next week or so, but at least "the Danny" has kept Redskin1 in the hanger for day one of free agency, they'll do something when the prices come down. Skins fans are use to the team setting the market so waiting on it to settle is something new for a lot of fans.

[GSPODS]

I wouldn't be surprised he they pulled off a trade in the next week or so, but at least "the Danny" has kept Redskin1 in the hanger for day one of free agency, they'll do something when the prices come down. Skins fans are use to the team setting the market so waiting on it to settle is something new for a lot of fans.

I don't anticipate the prices coming down for the few big impact free agents available. I'm just holding my breath and hoping the Redskins don't trade away the farm and the cow for one or two players.

Every season the team looks like contenders on paper. We already know this team is a contender, as is. The team that won the SuperBowl was a team the Redskins were able to defeat. The team doesn't need to make major moves in free agency to remain competitive.

[1niksder]

I don't anticipate the prices coming down for the few big impact free agents available. I'm just holding my breath and hoping the Redskins don't trade away the farm and the cow for one or two players.

After the first few days the salaries come down but not the SB. In a week or sothe Bonus money will come too. Once the market settles I hope Bryant Johnson is still looking for a team (he didn't get any calls on day 1 so we might get lucky, My first choice was Ernest Wilford but the Tuna beat us to him and he came cheap. The WR price really hasn't been set yet and the Skins don't need to set it by going after Moss. I don't know if slightly over paying for Bernard Berrian would be a bad thing

Every season the team looks like contenders on paper. We already know this team is a contender, as is. The team that won the SuperBowl was a team the Redskins were able to defeat. The team doesn't need to make major moves in free agency to remain competitive.

They'll make some pick-ups down the road, this is just the start of the off-season. The April Draft would be a good place for them to be focusing on and with the June 1st cuts (some they may be able to help), comes the cap space from the BLloyd cut

[SkinsFreak]

We’re about 18 hours into the NFL free agent signing period and the sounds of silence are emanating from Redskins Park.

Well, near silence anyway.

The Redskins did ink quarterback Todd Collins to a three year deal that will be worth at least $9 million ($3 million guaranteed), perhaps more with incentives.

He signed the contract knowing that he would be the backup to Jason Campbell. Collins provided a feel-good story last year, coming in for an injured Campbell and leading the Redskins to four straight wins and a playoff spot.

The uplifting, underdog tale—Collins hadn’t see any extended playing time in a decade—provided us with something to smile about in the wake of the murder of Sean Taylor.

Not to minimize the retention of a backup QB who has proven he can win, but that hardly qualifies as the big splash to which we have become accustomed around this time of year.

The start of free agency usually means that the fax machines crank all night long as the number crunchers work various “what if” cap scenarios through the wee hours of the morning, but all reports say that there is little activity in Ashburn.

Redskins One is in the hangar, getting a much-needed extended rest after logging many hours in the air during the coaching search. No free agent visits are scheduled.

That bears repeating. No free agent visits are scheduled.

It used to be tough to get a room at a hotel near Ashburn this time of year as they were all booked with free agents and their entourages waiting to take their shots at getting a fat paycheck signed by one Daniel Snyder.

All across Redskins Nation there are definite signs of withdrawal. After years of being accustomed to the thrill of being in the mix for the biggest names in the free agency pool, there is the hollow feeling of, well, hollowness. Nothing.

Many aren’t handling this well.

They are sitting at the keyboard, banging out messages about every released player and every pending free agent wondering how he might look in burgundy and gold.

Others are staring at their phones with the local sports talk radio phone number on the speed dial, waiting to call in and rip Snyder for overpaying yet another bum.

But the activity all is elsewhere. The Eagles inked Asante Samuel for five years and $47 million. In Miami, the Tuna is reeling in players left and right. Tens of millions of dollars are being guaranteed almost every hour.

It’s just like Vinny Cerrato said it would be a week or so ago. The Redskins are following the market instead of setting it. They’ll let everyone else pick up the big tabs and settle for some leftovers in a week or so.

But, of course, that’s no fun. Acting responsibly usually isn’t. It’s like sitting at home doing your homework on a Thursday while all your friends are at a party.

In the long run, it’s what you need to do. But at the moment it sure is boring.

[SkinsJock]

It would be nice to hear from those who are constantly faulting Snyder. They could at least point out that Snyder is acting strangely in that we seem to be looking at adding players that fit because in the past almost all of the additions according to many critics were not sound NFL decisions on his part.

I think that Snyder wants to add players that will make the team better because he has changed his ways



one other change is to get rid of Cerrato - we don't need him

[CanesSkins26]

Every season the team looks like contenders on paper. We already know this team is a contender, as is. The team that won the SuperBowl was a team the Redskins were able to defeat. The team doesn't need to make major moves in free agency to remain competitive.

I don't think that this team is a contender on paper. Not with our mediocre line play on both sides of the ball. Against Seattle we were physically abused by both of their lines. Until we get younger and more talented on both sides it's going to be the same old story. Yes we had injuries on the offensive line, but even if we start the season with all of our starters, the likelihood of all of them staying healthy is very low considering the age of our starters. On the defensive line we just straight up lack talent. Fix those areas, add a receiver, some cb depth, and some safety depth and then we can talk about this team being a contender. For once the organization is laying low and looking like they are actually trying to build a team instead of buying one.

[spudstr04]

Has anyone heard any new rumors. I know that we are one of like 10 teams looking at Javon Walker. I am sure we are looking at Hackett, but what about other players like a DL or OL?

[Countertrey]

I know that we are one of like 10 teams looking at Javon Walker.

Man, I hope not. He is an outstanding player, but has managed to talk his way out of two class organizations, now... that says something. Plus, who knows what his knee looks like.

[spudstr04]

I know that we are one of like 10 teams looking at Javon Walker.

Man, I hope not. He is an outstanding player, but has managed to talk his way out of two class organizations, now... that says something. Plus, who knows what his knee looks like.

yeah, i really do not want him. I say we play it safe and get either Bryant Johnson, DJ Hackett, or just stick with the draft....NO WALKER< NO OCHO CINCO!