MMQB SI - Sherman's perspective on MRob's release

[Seaswab]

Everyone flipped out when we cut Lofa too. Bottom line on this team if you are over 30 on this team you better be damn good or cheap or you will be gone. They like young guys.

 

[formido]

There is no denying that Carroll wants players to feel like they mean more to the organization than numbers on a spreadsheet. This is for good reason because, aside from the intrinsic satisfaction it surely brings him, people also perform better when they're working toward a higher goal.

Carroll has taken specific actions to develop this feeling, such as flying out draftee's moms for Mother's Day and paying Browner an uncontracted bonus. It strains belief to think they do these things without partly intending to keep and attract higher value players for less money than other franchises can. This is part of selling the franchise and Carroll's success at this has always been his biggest advantage over other coaches.

So, how the decision on Mike Rob fits into this framework is extremely interesting. For my part, I think it does more damage than any goodwill Browner's bonus bought. You can't usually err on the side of sentiment, and we've dealt with that reality well for the last few seasons. But sometimes you can (and should IMO) because sentiment is part of the story of a football team.

 

[C-Dub]

Everyone flipped out when we cut Lofa too. Bottom line on this team if you are over 30 on this team you better be damn good or cheap or you will be gone. They like young guys.

Lofa was garbage when he was cut. Slow, fat, injury prone, poor tackling skills.

MRob was upper tier of fullbacks. Great blocking, leadership, solid in passing game.

 

[Trenchbroom]

I'm with Brock and Danny on this one. Mrob gets healthy from his virus and gets back to playing weight, agrees to take a lesser salary (and his pay isn't guaranteed after week one--don't forget that) and BOOM, back on the team in short order.

 

[BocciHawk]

Note that he hasn't signed with anyone else... and there are three or four teams out there that would normally pounce on a guy like this instantly.

I believe the simplest explanation. Mike was not going to play for a few weeks, maybe longer. The FO did not want to guarantee an entire year salary for a player that would not play for a while, and we needed that roster spot anyway for extra DL because of the suspensions and injuries there. Simple. They cut him, avoid guaranteeing the salary, hope he gets healthy and when he does we'll resign him. If he gets another offer elsewhere and takes it, that sucks, but it is what it is.

 

[Tech Worlds]

Note that he hasn't signed with anyone else... and there are three or four teams out there that would normally pounce on a guy like this instantly.

I believe the simplest explanation. Mike was not going to play for a few weeks, maybe longer. The FO did not want to guarantee an entire year salary for a player that would not play for a while, and we needed that roster spot anyway for extra DL because of the suspensions and injuries there. Simple. They cut him, avoid guaranteeing the salary, hope he gets healthy and when he does we'll resign him. If he gets another offer elsewhere and takes it, that sucks, but it is what it is.

If he is on an opening day roster his contract becomes guaranteed for that year. That's why nobody is biteing on him right now. Expect that to change after game 1.

 

[SalishHawkFan]

Was he in the yoga room when he got the call?

 

[Hawks46]

Sure wish I could read this.

For whatever reason, I just load the background. I went to the site and went at it the long way....www.si.com loads up, but not the article. Bummer

 

[drdiags]

Sure wish I could read this.

For whatever reason, I just load the background. I went to the site and went at it the long way....www.si.com loads up, but not the article. Bummer

Are you on a phone browser? Rock posted this shortened link in his twitter feed. Maybe you can view it?

http://t.co/nNzYGQAWbU

 

[Greenhell]

Was it ever mentioned what kind of virus MRob had? He really got that sick in a matter of weeks from his last RRR?

 

[ClumsyLurk]

Sure wish I could read this.

For whatever reason, I just load the background. I went to the site and went at it the long way....www.si.com loads up, but not the article. Bummer

My work pc wasn't getting the redirect (maybe IE - or corporate network security issue?).

Worked great once I got home.

 

[dontbelikethat]

Was it ever mentioned what kind of virus MRob had? He really got that sick in a matter of weeks from his last RRR?

The latest RRR's that are based on the team were filmed a while ago at the beginning of training camp.

 

[samwize77]

Interesting take from Sherm.......for certain. Have to reread it to see if theres any underlying insight into his situation next year.

 

[QuahHawk]

Fullbacks are a dying breed, I loved Mrob but he was overpaid and we have to pledge our allegiance to the team. So for versitiity, cap, and youth reasons this can be considered a good move. Shrewd but good move no matter how much i liked the guy. I hope he comes back in a few weeks id we have an injury and take a cheap deal we have a real shot at a SB.

 

[redhawk253]

One of the reasons this was becoming a players destination was because coaching, facilities, and... Players were treated well given opportunities to compete and decisions were made tactfully with the players best interest in mind... See the way leon was handled.. We coulda traded him but gave him an opportunity to sign where he pleased.

This i feel was tactless. We knew what we had going into camp... M rob always gives his all and is a fan favorite and team captain.. To wait til final cuts to surprise him with this and not give him an opportunity to go elsewhere was ridiculous and players will remember how he was treated.

 

[ihawk]

I know Sherm, etc... have *heard* this is a business. They know it intellectually. But Sherm's write up reveals that he was really struck by this. He felt it. It's like the handling of Mrob like just another disposable asset disillusioned him a little. Even when he comments about how there was no ceremony, no chance to say goodbye. Why not hold something special to wish a team captain farewell? Corporations do it. Businesses do it.
I think this bodes badly for any hope of a discount because we're the hometown or because these guys just want to keep the LOB together. Maybe naive to think there would've been a discount anyways, but just reading between the lines here. And maybe not missing out on a discount, per se, but causing upcoming UFA's to negotiate a little harder because we've drawn that line in the sand. I think this could end up costing us more than it saves us.