Byrd to be a FA

[Mississippi Hog]

Buffalo did not tag Byrd. He will be an unrestricted FA.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10546 ... airus-byrd

[DarthMonk]

All Pro. Age 27.

[markshark84]

Appears to be a solid player in a position of need, but he also seems to be all about the $$$. I read he already turned down a 3 year, $30M offer --- and acted like he had no choice but to do so.... He also sat out training camp last year before signing last season. I am hesitant to sign or get excited about those type of players. I still have nightmares of Haynesworth. I think Byrd wants a >3 year deal in the >$10M range. That would KILL most franchises salary cap --- including ours. You can get a quality S for HALF of what this guy wants.

[riggofan]

Appears to be a solid player in a position of need, but he also seems to be all about the $$$. I read he already turned down a 3 year, $30M offer --- and acted like he had no choice but to do so.... He also sat out training camp last year before signing last season. I am hesitant to sign or get excited about those type of players. I still have nightmares of Haynesworth. I think Byrd wants a >3 year deal in the >$10M range. That would KILL most franchises salary cap --- including ours. You can get a quality S for HALF of what this guy wants.

I like Byrd a lot, but I think you're probably right about that. As bad as it has been, safety is not a position where I want to see the team wrap up a lot of money in one player.

I think we could add a less expensive guy like Taylor Mays or Malcolm Jenkins and still upgrade big time from last year. Maybe get another guy in the draft this year or next year.

[brad7686]

Most of the elite players in this FA class are in the secondary. I expect them to go after Byrd or T.J. Ward pretty hard. They probably wouldn't if there were really good WR's or O-linemen available. But they probly have room to make a splash. Our big needs are safety, O-line, WR, MLB and DE. 3-4 DE is not a glamor position and should be relatively cheap. Same with 3-4 MLB. The WR's in FA aren't good and won't command a lot of money. That leaves us with money to spend on Safety and OT/OG. And we have plenty of cash.

[3of5superbowlskins]

If Byrd does not come at the right price, we need to move on. Isn't Taylor Mays available? He always reminded me of the great Sean Taylor, and just so happens to share the name. He could be a beast. We need to spread the cap around, not tie it up in some greedy player.

[Chris Luva Luva]

I like the kid from Carolina and he'd be a lot cheaper. I also like Ward because he's an effective blitzer from the saftey position. I'm saying no to Byrd, he'll cost too much money.

[riggofan]

Most of the elite players in this FA class are in the secondary. I expect them to go after Byrd or T.J. Ward pretty hard. They probably wouldn't if there were really good WR's or O-linemen available. But they probly have room to make a splash. Our big needs are safety, O-line, WR, MLB and DE. 3-4 DE is not a glamor position and should be relatively cheap. Same with 3-4 MLB. The WR's in FA aren't good and won't command a lot of money. That leaves us with money to spend on Safety and OT/OG. And we have plenty of cash.

Good points. I've seen Linval Joseph's name out there lately (DT/NY Giants). I don't think he'll require "big splash" money, but strikes me as a good player to target.

[emoses14]

Are you safety in FA people thinking that we bring in a free agent free safety to play for 2-3 years giving Rambo/Phillip Thomas (if he is going to play free) a chance to develop? I am not thinking that Rambo should be our starting safety next year, because we saw how that looked this last year. But I find that to be a failure of circumstance/coaching(?) rather than inability on his part. Thomas, I just have no idea about one way or the other.

What I really don't understand is why we would use a draft pick on a safety (unless he was to be special teams fodder/KR/PR and taken in the 7th) when we just drafted 2 last year. Isn't it a bit quick to be giving up on them and drafting another? Especially with our other needs?

[Irn-Bru]

I think Byrd wants a >3 year deal in the >$10M range. That would KILL most franchises salary cap --- including ours. You can get a quality S for HALF of what this guy wants.

In free agency? I doubt it. Quality is uncommon and commands a price.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Are you safety in FA people thinking that we bring in a free agent free safety to play for 2-3 years giving Rambo/Phillip Thomas (if he is going to play free) a chance to develop? I am not thinking that Rambo should be our starting safety next year, because we saw how that looked this last year. But I find that to be a failure of circumstance/coaching(?) rather than inability on his part. Thomas, I just have no idea about one way or the other.

What I really don't understand is why we would use a draft pick on a safety (unless he was to be special teams fodder/KR/PR and taken in the 7th) when we just drafted 2 last year. Isn't it a bit quick to be giving up on them and drafting another? Especially with our other needs?

NFL teams don't start 5th round safeties unless they're 200% desperate. We were that team. Baltimore drafted a safety in the 1st and he didn't start for a few games. Sean Taylor didn't start for a few games. It was inability on his part. It was him being put in a position he shouldn't have been. It was the team having very little choice but to throw him into the fire. I can't blame the coaches for not getting a 5th rounder FS to do something that even Sean Taylor and all his awesomeness didn't do.

[riggofan]

Its always entertaining following the draft to see the expectations fans have for guys drafted in the fourth, fifth, sixth rounds. Ridiculous that we put Rambo on the field in that home opener.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Its always entertaining following the draft to see the expectations fans have for guys drafted in the fourth, fifth, sixth rounds. Ridiculous that we put Rambo on the field in that home opener.

Exactly. Hopefully it doesn't derail is career. Via Mara, the team was put in position to fail and the subsequent effect was the kid being put into a position to fail.

[Countertrey]

Are you safety in FA people thinking that we bring in a free agent free safety to play for 2-3 years giving Rambo/Phillip Thomas (if he is going to play free) a chance to develop? I am not thinking that Rambo should be our starting safety next year, because we saw how that looked this last year. But I find that to be a failure of circumstance/coaching(?) rather than inability on his part. Thomas, I just have no idea about one way or the other.

What I really don't understand is why we would use a draft pick on a safety (unless he was to be special teams fodder/KR/PR and taken in the 7th) when we just drafted 2 last year. Isn't it a bit quick to be giving up on them and drafting another? Especially with our other needs?

NFL teams don't start 5th round safeties unless they're 200% desperate. We were that team. Baltimore drafted a safety in the 1st and he didn't start for a few games. Sean Taylor didn't start for a few games. It was inability on his part. It was him being put in a position he shouldn't have been. It was the team having very little choice but to throw him into the fire. I can't blame the coaches for not getting a 5th rounder FS to do something that even Sean Taylor and all his awesomeness didn't do.

Thanks, CLL... I've made this exact point several times before... it's irritating that folks continue to make this argument. Rambo was placed in a completely untenable position last season... far better players have had much longer to adjust. I'm hoping he makes some big gains this year.

[Chris Luva Luva]

I'm hoping he makes some big gains this year.

Yeah. Preseason will be very telling and obviously his play on special teams. If his tackling doesn't drastically improve, I can see him being released during the cut-down. At the very least he has to contribute on teams.

[DarthMonk]

Donte Whitner - Big hitter with corner speed and skills.

Chris Clemons - FS with corner speed. Doesn't miss games.

Both likely in the 3-6 million range?

[UK Skins Fan]

I can't see the Redskins being serious players for Byrd. With as many holes on the roster as we have, it would be foolish to put so many dollars into one position after committing to Orakpo. Our defence would be significantly better with reliable safety play - no need to break the bank for a superstar at this point. Clemons from Miami would seem a more sensible option.

Wait - couldn't I have just copied and pasted a very similar post to this from this time last year?

[riggofan]

Its funny Byrd seems to be the "top free agent safety" by some sort of media consensus. Bill Polian has him ranked lower than Chris Clemons:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/freeagency/

[SkinsJock]

In free agency this season and with the many issues we have - I think the Redskins will spend less on more rather than over spend on a few ...

I doubt that Byrd or any 'high price' free agent is being brought in here from another franchise this season

[riggofan]

In free agency this season and with the many issues we have - I think the Redskins will spend less on more rather than over spend on a few ...

I doubt that Byrd or any 'high price' free agent is being brought in here from another franchise this season

I want to agree with you, its just that we still have that guy who owns the team lurking in the background...

[PulpExposure]

Its funny Byrd seems to be the "top free agent safety" by some sort of media consensus. Bill Polian has him ranked lower than Chris Clemons:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/freeagency/

And he rates Bethea as the best, which makes complete sense once you understand that he drafted him.

Of course, Polian ranks Donald Brown as a top notch free agent, which is a total joke considering the Colts have looked to replace him ever since Polian drafted him in the first round...

[UK Skins Fan]

Its funny Byrd seems to be the "top free agent safety" by some sort of media consensus. Bill Polian has him ranked lower than Chris Clemons:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/freeagency/

And he rates Bethea as the best, which makes complete sense once you understand that he drafted him.

Of course, Polian ranks Donald Brown as a top notch free agent, which is a total joke considering the Colts have looked to replace him ever since Polian drafted him in the first round...

Sometimes, a little context is useful when reading these expert rankings. That Polian list is radically different to any others that I've seen, so I'll take it with a pinch of salt.

[riggofan]

Its funny Byrd seems to be the "top free agent safety" by some sort of media consensus. Bill Polian has him ranked lower than Chris Clemons:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/freeagency/

And he rates Bethea as the best, which makes complete sense once you understand that he drafted him.

Of course, Polian ranks Donald Brown as a top notch free agent, which is a total joke considering the Colts have looked to replace him ever since Polian drafted him in the first round...

Sometimes, a little context is useful when reading these expert rankings. That Polian list is radically different to any others that I've seen, so I'll take it with a pinch of salt.

I don't disagree, but I'll still give it a little more weight coming from a successful GM vs. a bunch of bloggers reinforcing what everyone else is writing.

[PulpExposure]

I don't disagree, but I'll still give it a little more weight coming from a successful GM vs. a bunch of bloggers reinforcing what everyone else is writing.

That's fair, but remember he was fired years ago from the Colts for being a disaster of a GM at the end of his tenure (including hiring his son as GM). And despite him essentially hanging out his shingle to get hired, he hasn't been picked up by anyone. Because of that, I do take what he says with a grain of salt, as I'm not sure how relevant his current view of players actually is.

[DarthMonk]

I don't disagree, but I'll still give it a little more weight coming from a successful GM vs. a bunch of bloggers reinforcing what everyone else is writing.

That's fair, but remember he was fired years ago from the Colts for being a disaster of a GM at the end of his tenure (including hiring his son as GM). And despite him essentially hanging out his shingle to get hired, he hasn't been picked up by anyone. Because of that, I do take what he says with a grain of salt, as I'm not sure how relevant his current view of players actually is.