If he's leaving Dallas, I don't think he's overly concerned about his chances at a superbowl. Bottom line is that we can offer significantly more cash than the Pats to any FA OL that we're interested in. We shouldn't be making the same offer as them.
The guy makes a lot of mistakes as a LT....wonder how he'll handle moving to RT. However we need talent on the Oline...why not make a push for him?
I'd agree with you on this except that the Pats are at their absolute zenith at the moment. They're never going to assemble a better team moving forward. What they do in the next couple of years is going to be the culmination of the Belichik era in New England. Their biggest problem in 2006? Wide Receiver. We know what they did with that for 2007. Their biggest problem in the Super Bowl? Offensive line. Brady was screaming at his linemen by the end of the third quarter. I expect them to make a big play for a RT this off-season. Two more seasons tops for them in the Super Bowl shuffle and they have lost the last two years when they were either there or very close. Kitchen sink.
He is 6-7 and 340 lbs; trust me - opening holes will not be an issue. Something to consider is that he is 32 years old. That is not the end of the road for a lineman, but I don't think we should offer anything more than a 4 year deal with an optional 5th year - ideally, but he will probably want the full 5 year deal and we should probably go ahead. With the average of the top five linemen being $7.5 M a year; I think if we offered $38M total with $20M gauranteed we could get it done.
All good points. I think the main problem in the super bowl, other than the Giants beeing all out more physical than the pats OL...was the RG spot. Neal got hurt...and Hochstein took over who was abused all game long. When Neal is healthy, he's a great guard... So perhaps they address the overall OL depth...and perhaps you're right..and they address RT w/ the kitchen sink where Kaczur is only so-so and has sloppy technique. Let's keep in mind though that they're all over Zach Thomas and Marty Booker...who will both command decent type contracts. That doesnt leave alot of cap room for an elite RT..
I think it also has to be said that the Giants defensive line played an incredible game. I think they would have given almost anybody trouble on that particular day.
If we don't make every effort to grab the best O-line personnel available we're making a huge mistake. This should be "Job One." And I don't care if it's the Patriots we're up against. If Adams (and I'm not saying he is), but if Adams is the best available, we cannot let the Patriots have him. We'll never know how good Clemens (or anyone we draft behind him) is until we improve our O-line. We'll never know how good Thomas Jones will be for us until we improve our O-line. We'll never know how good any WR can be for us until we improve our O-line and we'll never know the true potential of Leon Washington until we improve our O-line. Seeing as how the Patriots' road to 19-0 was thwarted in the end by the fact that their O-line failed to protect Brady, I just don't see Belichick sitting on his ass and not looking to improve his O-line. And I for one will be REAL pissed if the Patriots grab one of the best available players in F/A and we don't make a serious attempt to grab him instead.
I thought he lost more than a step too but Strahan remembered the whoopin by the Ravens and gave everything. Reports said he was all over the guys during the extended halftime. Keeping their motors goin. As far as the o-line. Flo brings vet exp and talent even at 33. Definite upgrade. Can you guys imagine if Alan Faneca were a JET at the same time?! That would be a lot of money but there are other great prospects out there. Finance a damn O-line so we can watch the Thomas show!
