Originally posted by merm49:
Let's keep it short and simple. Out of our main upcoming FAs, who do you want to keep. As a corollary, who would you like to be let go?
For me, Walker is the only absolute must keep out of the core 5 FAs Soap, RJF, Moss, DW, and Goldson. While his hands are a bit suspect and he's seems to be prone to a couple fumbles/season, his versatility is key to our multifaceted offense and he's a hell of a special teamer. While he's fast as hell for a TE, he may be even more valuable as a blocker on traps, pulls, and out of the backfield. Plus, the dude straight-out balled in the SB.
Next, I'd like to keep Goldson, at the right price (wouldn't we all). I have a feeling that even if he was tagged, he'd hold out anyways. He's a big hitter and makes plays, but he also gets burned periodically in coverage and has a penchant for late and/or helmet-helmet hits. That said, I, like others, would be very weary of Whitner (I'm already weary of him as it is) plus a rookie back there (unless we go after a FS) in FA. In a perfect world, we keep Goldson and let Whitner go, either drafting his replacement or perhaps even moving Culliver to FS and Goldson to SS. I think that could work quite well. Goldson is a hard hitter and great in run support, and Cully's natural position is FS anyways. There's not a whole lot of safties who transition to CB; as we all know (Lott, Charles Woodson as the prime examples) it's often the other way around. Culliver's biggest problem seems to be turnign his head and locating the ball in coverage...putting him at FS would largely remove that problem.
I think RJF is a valuable piece, but he might get starters money elsewhere. Soap, while he's been here forever and has awesome hair, doesn't offer a whole lot. If Moss wanted back on the team, I'd welcome him I guess, but he doesn't really seem to have it anymore and sounded a bit displeased with his role at media day.
I wouldn't be bothered by letting Rogers go, but it sounds like we'll keep him. He's a solid player, nothing more; '11 was obviously a fluke taken in the context of this year and his entire career. Whitner's a great character guy, tackler, and in run-support, but a HUGE liability in coverage. If this were Madden (and we didn't have the best LBs in the game) I'd move him to OLB; since it's not, I'd cut him, but I feel that's unlikely. Otherwise, Goodwin could be let go to save some cash. He's nothing special, and we could give Looney a shot--who got some nice press the last week or two.
Whomever pays RJF is getting a very average player. And he will get more than he is worth. Sound like Soap?
Please go back and watch the tape of Moss playing. For all of his rah rah and being a good locker room guy, he played like washed up puss by letting up on deep balls and running out of bounds when he could. Then he finally talks and when he does he complains about not being more involved. AND he refers to himself as the greatest of all time. PASS.
