HawkRiderFan
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- Jan 19, 2011
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I think it's a rebuild or at least a re-load where this is a real transition year. I think this goes back to last off-season. I think the front office knew the was coming on the horizon:
-Sherman's $11M - and this was before the injury (trade rumours last year)
-Contracts like Graham and Richardson coming due
-Looming situation with Thomas contract etc.
They knew they would have to make some tough calls regarding the core this off-season so decided to take a risk and go for it last year with the entire core intact:
-Restructure a couple of deals and add Richardson's money even though he had 1 year left - and give up a high pick
-Paying big money to Joekel to bring in a veteran presence on the line
-When the line wasn't working out (and the Fant injury) double down by trading another pick and bringing in Duane Brown.
As we are painfully aware it didn't work. Combination of season ending injuries on D, more shoddy o-line play, and a crappy kicker all there was to show for it was 9-7. Now the price has to pay paid for going all in. Double problem of not being able to pay to keep everyone AND not having 2 of your higher picks in the draft.
It's going to take more than 1 year to reshape things with younger guys.
-Sherman's $11M - and this was before the injury (trade rumours last year)
-Contracts like Graham and Richardson coming due
-Looming situation with Thomas contract etc.
They knew they would have to make some tough calls regarding the core this off-season so decided to take a risk and go for it last year with the entire core intact:
-Restructure a couple of deals and add Richardson's money even though he had 1 year left - and give up a high pick
-Paying big money to Joekel to bring in a veteran presence on the line
-When the line wasn't working out (and the Fant injury) double down by trading another pick and bringing in Duane Brown.
As we are painfully aware it didn't work. Combination of season ending injuries on D, more shoddy o-line play, and a crappy kicker all there was to show for it was 9-7. Now the price has to pay paid for going all in. Double problem of not being able to pay to keep everyone AND not having 2 of your higher picks in the draft.
It's going to take more than 1 year to reshape things with younger guys.