So I havent posted in awhile..

So I wanted to post my thoughts on everything that has been happening recently. I'm sure everyone has debated and spoke about everything. Oh well. This is just something else to read about from another persons point of view. I have several things I'm going to bring up. Matt Cassel and his contract. Our teams current state. My thoughts on who should succeed, who could struggle, and who has the jury out on them this season.

First and foremost, I would like to provide my take on Matt Cassel. So lets look at what the possibilities are. He could have played under the Franchise Tag this year and raked in 14 Million. If he has a great season, hes going to be more expensive. With the FA QB's next year, the cost of top end QB's is going to be sky high. Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger will all be getting new contracts. Philip Rivers looks to be the next highest paid QB if he puts up the numbers he put up last year. That, plus a rejuvenated defense with Merriman back, I dont think the Chargers will be the pushover we're expecting them to be. Then again, with Coach Norv Turner calling the shots, god knows what he could do to that team.

My point? Say we paid Cassel his 14 million this year, then next year signs a contract and we gotta pay him 16-18 million in the first year of that contract. Thats 30+million in two seasons. Instead, Pioli did the smart thing. He wasnt worried about the risk of the QB. He was more worried about the cost of the QB over a set number of years. By inking him to this deal, Cassel gets paid between 14 and 15 million this year. If he bombs, he's not going to see any performance incentives. 14 of his guaranteed 28 million will be gone after the first season. However, if he does play well, he'll earn up to 63 million  over 6 years, with 40.5 coming in the first 3 seasons. So we COULD have paid him 30+ in 2 seasons, or we could pay him 40 in 3 seasons if he does well.  

So we are not locked down to Cassel with this contract. If he struggles next season, it's easy to say he doesnt have a supporting cast just yet. So if he doesnt have a great season, who cares? Wait another year, and see if he improves along with the rest of the team the season after. At that point, 2 of the 3 highest paying years of his contract are gone. By year 3, if Cassel isnt tossing 4000 yards, 30+TDs 15 or less INT's, and a 90+ QB rating, then hes not the franchise QB we're looking for. Cut/Trade him and find someone else.

Now I know what you are thinking. "You've got to be crazy to give him 3 years to be good". Thats not what I'm saying. I'm simply saying that is the worst case scenario. If he doesnt do well this year, its easy to look forward to next season when we can improve our OL and WR positions more. If he struggles year 2, I'm done with him. I dont see any reason why our OL and WR's cant be better in the next 2 seasons. Theres no excuse for that.

Had we waited until Midseason to sign Cassel, he may have raised his worth by then. Signing him now to a cheaper, less risk contract, was a great move and I'm very surprised that people have spoke out against this. Its not always about the players. Its about the paying those players fairly and stay under the cap, while maximizing talent on the field.

 

 Next subject...Bobby Engram. I'll admit, when I heard we signed him, I thought "Hey..now he might actually be able to help us a little bit"..you know..hes been in the league for a long time. Has a good work ethic. Great mentor for the young WR's on our team. Personally, I think Mark Bradley is going to become a great number 2. Remember when Samie Parker, Johnny Morton, Eddie Kennison, and Dante Hall were our receivers? I think Bowe and Bradley are better talent-wise than any of them. And we had those guys when Trent Green was tossin 4000+ yards for what..3-4 seasons? Bradley is still young, he was cocky in Chicago and got cut. We gave him a 2nd chance and he did okay last year. He needs to work on his route running and create more seperation..as does Bowe..but thats  something he will get better at with experience.

Anyways, back to Engram. He has only put up over 1,000 yards in his career ONCE. The most TD's in a season...6. He's had 7 seasons with less than 500 yards receiving. Hes had 3 seasons over 800 yards. Hes started all 16 games in a season only once. Now, before I ask my question, in all fairness, he was playing for a running team when Shaun Alexander was around. After Shaun, he had 1 good year (his first 1000+ yard season) then last season Matt Hasselbeck was hurt. But my question is....what in the world is ''great'' about this addition? I'm more excited about the Turtle-Jeff Webb debacle than I am about Bobby Engram.

Bowe and Bradley WILL be our starting receivers, and I say that with confidence. Haley likes Bradley. He has since before he came to Kansas City. Darling, and Engram will probably split the Slot. I see Darling being our Slot Receiver, except on 3rd down. I really dont see Engram playing THAT much. But if he does, I hope he makes the best of it. I havent seen much of him on the field..I dont pay attention to the Seahawks much.

 

Next Subject - Mike Brown is a BEAST. Question is..can he still play at that level with all the injuries hes sustained over the years? What is his rotation? I'm excited about our DB's. Mike Brown, Pollard, Page, Flowers, Carr, Leggett and Washington. We are stacked. I liked leggett last year as our Nickelback..I hope he builds off of last year. Flowers and Carr could become the new Hasty/Carter tandem. But with the addition of Brown, what happens to McGraw and Morgan? Well McGraw is getting old too..and hes not THAT talented. Idk about Morgan. I liked him when we drafted him last years so we'll see how he does.

 

Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey. What a tandem. Hope they work well together.

By the way, I wrote most of this about 3 hours ago, went and played basketball, and finished it. Im tired, hungry, and ready to take a shower. Not proof reading this.