Kaspers Korner

The Cincinatti Bengals, and the Baltimore Ravens received the highest amount for compensatory picks, with both teams receiving four each.  If those teams, and other compensatory picks adward winners, were smart they use those picks to move up.

Compensatory picks are given to teams that lost more free agents than they signed.  Those picks are at the end of each round starting with the third round.  However, those picks rarely pan out, except the third rounders. 

The smart thing to do is to parlay them into extra picks in the higher rounds.  The reason is that players that have the most impact on a team are within the first three rounds of the draft.  Usually, in rounds four through seven if you were to find a starter for your team you be winning the lottery, because it is that much harder to find starters in those rounds.Es

Teams at the end of the first round, and beyond are willing to trade down, because the money is not that crippling as in the beginning of the draft.  Es[ecially the better teams, because they do not have a lot of holes to fill.  Good teams trade down to get picks in future drafts, so that way if they have a bad year they can bounce back much easier. 

The teams that will most likely to use their picks for trades will be the Ravens, and the Buffalo Bills.  Both teams did very little in free agency.  The two reasons for that is that they both beleive in building through the draft, and both teams starters are all locked up.  The Bills had no starters to resign, and the Ravens only have Terrel Suggs to deal with.

Both teams are picking high in each round due to not so great years.  The Ravens big problem was quarterback, and the Bills was quality at the defensive tackle position. 

The Bills addressed their problems through a trade for Marcus Stroud, and free agency.  Their only other problems are a quality starting tightend, and a complimenting receiver for Lee Evans, and he must be tall, since all the other wideouts are shorter than six feet.

So, when it comes to the draft look for some movement from the compensatory pick winners.

The New York Jets this offseason made a lot of noise at the opening of free agency signing with the signings of offensive lineman Damien Woody, Alan Faneca outside linebacker Calvin Pace, and gave a new deal Kris Jenkins, whom they traded for.  Now, they are making noise in moves to keep some of their own players, and coaches.

It is bad enough for Jet fans that they have to endure the false hope of an improved offensive line with the signings.  Now, they have to put up with quarterback Chad Pennington still on the roster, after he lost his starting job in favor of back up Kellen Clemens.  To top that all of they will probably add another quarterback with a first or second round pick.

Before all this they stupidly guaranteed the contract of wide receiver Laverneous Coles. Coles contract has two more years left on it, so if Coles were to have a horrible season they would not be able to cut him loose.  That is because gauranteed money in contracts still count against the salary cap against a team.  So, even if they would want to cut him next season they cannot, because his whole salary would still count against the cap.

In addition to Chad Pennington, the New York Daily New’s Gary Meyers is reporting that owner Woody Johnson is “absolutely” going to have Eric Mangini as head coach , and Mike Tannenbaum as general manager through 2009.  Jonhson cited that it takes time for teams to develop as the reason for the move. 

Not even Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis would pull a move.  Things can change in an instant, and just ask Davis about that.  Just after one year Al Davis asked head coach Lane Kiffin to resign, and this is just after one year with a franchise that is completely in disarry.

 All Johson had to do was extend the contracts of Mangini and Tannenbaum for one year.  In addition Chad Pennington is not going to help the team by staying.  If anything it will cause more division and resentment between players and management.  In regards to Coles all they had to do was extend it a couple more years, with about the same amount of signing bonus, and they would not be setting a bad standard.

In the end the Jets have no common sense what so ever.

The Green Bay Packers are in a small markey, but thanks to the devotion of the fans, and it marketability nation wide they still make a good profit.  However, Packer’s President Mike Murphy has dropped a major hint to when a lock out would happen.

Murphy, in an article by Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press Gazette, reinterated that the Packers do not like the idea of an uncapped 2010 season.  Murphy would not mention the level of concern with labot issues, but that does not matter.  What matters is that a lockout is coming sooner than expected.

Many people have stated that the Redskins would love the idea of an uncapped year, but after this year, and with this news it is likely that Redskins would go along with the idea.  Even the Cowboys might go along with it, considering what owner Jerry Jones stated about the draft.

Jones this past week confirmed what all fans already thought, and that is drafting at the top of the draft, and missing cripples a franchise.  Also, the Redskins have stopped throwing around money after owner Dan Snyder realized that the best way to build a team is through the draft, and retaining your own players.

A lockout before the 2010 season makes sense, since playing that year would be even too costly for teams like the Redskins.  That is due to the rising demands of players, and if they played during a uncapped year contract demands for free agent would go up, and probably draft picks would increase demands as well.

Also, there would be no revenue sharing during the 2010 season.  That would cripple teams like the Packers, since small market teams rely on revenue sharing to pay the checks of the players.

In the end the current CBA is garbage, and teams like the Packers cannot play with out some components of it.  That means a season without football is coming soon.

The Buffalo Bills have been searching for different streams of revenue, which prompted the experiment with Toronto.  That idea has people confoundedly confused, considering that the Bills have never sold the naming rights to Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The main reason that Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. has not sold the naming rights to the stadium is that the sale of the naming right would not be enough to be worth while.  However, that is not the case anymore as the Dallas Cowboys, according to The Dallas Morning New’s Suzanne Marta, will break the record deal of 20 years, $400 million dollars.  The record is held by the New York Mets, and New Jersey Nets.

Even if the Bills were to bring in one quarter of the $400 million that would still mean $5 million a year for the Bills.  They probably will get more, considering that the Indianapolis Colts sold theirs to Lucas Oil on their new stadium for $120 million for 20 years.

For the Bills to get that kind of money they would have to build a new stadium, which would have to be fully funded by the government.  The reason being that Wilson has stated publicly that building a new stadium would be detrimental to the team, since it would raise ticket prices.

However, that idea would be welcomed with open arms in an instant.  Downtown Buffalo is in the opening stages of their downtown revitalization project.  City of Buffalo mayor Byron Brown, and Erie County executive Chris Collins have stated that a new stadium is needed.

The fact is that Wilson does not want a naming right deal, because it would force the next owner of the Buffalo Bills to commit to Buffalo till at least 2012, which is when the lease on Ralph Wilson Stadium expires.  The reason of not committing to Buffalo is, because it is in decline.  However, Buffalo is one of the poorest cities in the USA.

The fact of the matter is that Wilson is an out of touch with reality owner that does not understand that if he stepped up, and work with the city he could help turn around the city of Buffalo, and bring in more revenue at the same time.

The Carolina Panthers last year struggled most of the year last year, due to the injury to Jake Delhome.  However, the offensive line has been the focus of fixinf this offseason, and the moves will not pay any dividends right away.

The Carolina Panthers are looking for a quick fix by signing all the offensive guards they can to fix their offensive line.  They can sign whoever they want, but it will not solve their problems.

The Buffalo Bills are the biggest examples of this.  Last year they threw $75 million total at guard Derrick Dockery, and offensive tackle Langston Walker.  The moves did nothing as the Bills offense was still near the bottom of the league.  The reason being their running game did not work well.

What most people do not understand that is it takes time for good offensive lines to come together.  Their is a lot of spoken, and unspoken communication that goes on between lineman, and for the play to work eveyone has to be on that same page.

The Panthers can sign whoever they want, but it will not solve any problems this year.  Down the road things could come together, but that is still a big if.  

In the end some teams just do not learn.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a team spinning its wheels. It has gotten to the point where Buc fans are desperate or a franchise quarterback, and another top receiver.

The next chapter in the Buc’s search for a franchise quarterback will take place in this years draft.  For many Buc fans it is  foregone conclusion that quaterback Chris Simms will not be with the club much longer, after Simms decided not to participate in Tampa Bay’s voluntary offseason workouts, plus skipped last week’s quarterback orientation. 

Anwar Richardson of The Tampa Tribune figured the events meant two things, “Simms no longer wants to play for Tampa Bay and is sitting out because he wants a trade, or Tampa Bay has told him not to show up because the Bucs will deal him.”

Many fans feel that the struggles Simms had was due to his skills not fitting the West Coast Offense head coach Jon Gruden runs. Fans feel the Simms will be next in a long line of former Buccaneer quarterback that went on to win the Super Bowl with another team.

Gruden himself stated that earlier this offseason that it was about time the Bucs use a high draft pick on a quarterback.  Now, with Simms skipping stuff it is only time before Simms is gone.

Also, in the Bucs report a question by Richardson was posed to fans if the Bucs should  pursue Chad Johnson.  The Bucs are in need of a young prospect, since both starters are getting up in age, in football years.  Also, wide receiver Michael Clayton has been a bust, since his rookie season when he caught 80 receptions and over 1,000 yards receiving.

Many fans would love to have Johnson, or anyone other top notch receiver.  However, many feel that having one will not matter without a franchise quarterback.

In the end Buccaneer fans have only one person for their woes, and that is head coach Jon Gruden.

Evem though the Dallas Cowboys had a great season with a 13-3 record they still have holes.  Accodring to Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News the biggest holes are wide receiver and running back.

The Cowboys lost running back Julius Jones to free agency, thus creating a need.  At wide receiver Terry Glenn is getting old, and Patrick Crayton is not that great.  Also, some players are getting older, and will need replacing soon.

The wide receiver position is their greatest need.  They simply do not have a compliment to wide receiver Terrell Owens, and are only going to get one in the draft.

Running back is a need with Julius Jones gone.  However, it is not as a big of a need as the wide receiver position.  That is due to Marion Barber III stilll with the Cowboys.  They do need a back up for him though.

Offensive tackle, backup quarterback, and cornerback, are two positions of need or future replacements.  Both Anthony Henry and Flozell Adams are over 30 years old, and will need to be replaced.  Backup quarterback Brad Johnson will be 40 soon, so they need a young guy they can groom to step in, once Johnson is gone.

With two picks in the first round the Cowboys should be easily able to get whatever they need.  The only question will remain is can these draft picks have an immediate impact right away.

The Minnesota Vikings are one of the teams many think that could wind up in Los Angeles.  Things took a step closer to that being reality as the State’s Senate Taxes Committee approved a $2 million study, to be completed by January, on how to replace the Metrodome.

Already the study is being met harshly, with the Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty leading the way.  According to the Star Tribune’s Mike Kaszuba governor Pawlenty, said this about the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, who pushed for the study with the backing of the Vikings, “I’m disappointed that they would take $2 million and spend it on a study of financing options for a Vikings stadium. It’s been studied 15 times.  It’s not rocket science.”

The move by the Vikings and the commision was really stupid.  According to the article, state officials face a budget shortfall.  Now, add in an additional $2 millions dollas, and you got a really big mess. 

The Vikings lease with the Metrodome expires in 2011.  Two years ago a proposal was put to a vote before the same committee, and was turned down.  Then last year the Vikings had a tentative deal with the owners of the Star Tribune, which the Vikings would have purchased four blocks from the Star, but it fell through.  The deal was part of a plan for the stadium to be built near the Metrodome.

Another problem is that on the county level there is no county that is willing right now to raises taxes to help fund the stadium.  The Minnesota Twins got help from Hennepin county, which levied a county wide sales tax.  The Twins stadium is slated to open in 2010.

The fact of the matter is that the Vikings, and the government of Minnesota is far apart on the issue.  Now, with the Vikings doing damage to the State’s economy bridges are being burnt, and a stadium might never get done.  Even if a propsal was approved by the legislature, the governor could still veto it.

In the end it was a dumb move by the Vikings, and will come to haunt them in the end.

Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson turned his team around, and was  very close to a trip to the Super Bowl.  Eventhough, he came up short he still won The Sporting New’s NFL executive of the year.

Thompson won executive of the year for turning a team that was one of the worst in 2006 to one the best in the NFC, with a 13-3 record.  However, the Packers play in the weaker conference, and turn arounds is easily do able. 

New York Giant gm Jerry Reese was the runner up, evethough it was his first year on the job, and he Giants won the Super Bowl. Thompson has been on the job, since 2005, and has just now put things together.  On top of that the Giants beat the Packers to go to the Super Bowl, but still other NFL executives feel he is the better gm.

Next year will be the real test for both.  The Packers winning next year depends on quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who finally gets a chance to start after the retirement of Brett Farve.  The Giants on the other hand have a franchise quarterback on Eli Manning.

In the end the better gm is the one with the most championships.  Right now Reese 1-0 over Thompson.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is very eager to have the 2008 season open, since this season will be the ignagural season for Lucas Oil Stadium.  Later on in the interview with the Indianapolis Star Irsay went on to say he is confident that Harrison will return to old form, after missing 11 games to injury last year.

The matter of the fact is that Harrison’s better days are gone.  in a game that can leave people paralyzed, Harrison getting into his 11th season without having suffered a major injruy is remarkable.  From the first round of the 1996 draft Harrison is one of the few that are still effective. 

The players that played last year that still play from that round one include Jonathan Ogden, Simeon Rice, Terry Glenn, Walt Harris, Eddie Kennison, Pete Kendall, Eric Moulds, and Ray Lewis.  Ogden is most likely going to retire, Rice was cut twice last year, Harris has been a journeyman, Glenn has injury problems, and Moulds is a shadow of what he was with the Buffalo Bills.

Irsay said this to the Indystar on Harrison,  “I’m not a doctor. It really comes down to their expertise. But the type of problems he’s had, there’s just no reason (for him not to fully recover). There’s no reason both knees can’t be sound. The one knee (left) that had the cartilage problem, that’s pretty much sound and ready to go. The other knee is coming along and there’s no reason he can’t be ready (for ‘08).'’

Even if Harrison come back completely healthy, with his age, how can one be sure he will not miss significant time again.  Also, at some point his play will start to slip, and will probably start to show this year.

Irsay went on that he would like Harrison to retire as a Colt, but that depends on Harrison. “That’s the way you hope it turns out, but you just don’t know. Sometimes a player is not ready to say, ‘I’m ready to retire,’ and you’re saying, ‘You should retire.’ Ideally you want that storybook type of thing. Wouldn’t it have been nice if Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice retired as 49ers and Cowboys? Yes, but you just never know,'’ said Irsay.

Only time will tell how this storied career will end.