Your Team's Players "On the Bubble"

[enamel]

Ok, we all know 2010 Free Agency is going to be a clusterf**k of Restrictions and Tags and holdouts. But one side effect of an uncapped year is that the usual prohibitive red tape of player-for-player trades won't be a problem because cap #s won't need to balance out.

Add to that a get-out-of-jail free card for teams to cut overpaid players who would otherwise be too early in their contract to cut (see speculation around Adalius Thomas or Reggie Bush), and there's likely to be SOME kind of talent pool to replace the 200+ free agents who will suddenly become RFAs.

With that in mind...
Who on your team is on the bubble? Who's a bad fit, or in a bad contract? Who of any value might make trade bait or even be cut in 2010?

I am a Seahawk fan. Here are some names we've got:

David Hawthorne, ILB
Backup to Lofa Tatupu. 16th in the league in tackles despite starting only 11 games as an injury sub. He was a UDFA, and teams might not believe his 11 games prove he can go the distance. If he has no trade value, the Seahawks would at least have to consider dangling...

Lofa Tatupu, ILB
2-time probowler who has struggled with injury the last couple of years. He has a very reasonable long term contract. As a former Pete Carroll guy, he's unlikely to be moved. But this team has a surplus of LBs, and huge holes just about everywhere else.

Josh Wilson, CB
The 2007 2nd rounder is a playmaker: His 2 INTs on the year went for TDs. He's the fastest player on the Hawks' roster, and has chops in the return game (25.0 yard career average with 1 TD). Despite productivity against some large WRs (e.g. Calvin Johnson), Wilson's physicality can't always overcome his 5'9" stature. Even so, he was the best player in Seattle's secondary this year. The new GM, however, has already stated a preference for tall guys at both CB and WR.

Deion Branch, WR
Why anyone would trade for him, I don't know, but there have been rumors. Branch is speedy and runs good routes. He's been labeled "consistent" though he hasn't shown it for a few years. In 4 years as a Seahawk he has averaged 44 catches for 560 yards. He could be had for cheap, but then his contract will need to be renegotiated. His current contract is not cheap.

Julius Jones, RB
Fans will be enraged if he isn't gone in 2010. Could be had for a sandwich. The Hawks o-line has been so bad in the run that it's possible he's better than he looks.

Seneca Wallace, QB
Fleet footed slash QB who'd make a good wildcat option, especially for a team that runs a WCO. He has 4 years of coaching under Mike Holmgren and 14 career starts as an injury sub. The team got serious about running him as a WR in 2008, until an injury to Hasselbeck made him more valuable at QB. The team needs his roster spot to develop talent for the future. At 29 years old, Seneca ain't it.

[MrLavwaythe3rd]

I'd love the pats to get Hawthorne

[enamel]

Who do they Pats look to be shedding? I mentioned Adalius. Will they spend money to keep Bodden? Is Maroney going to be shown the door?

[BigBurd]

Jags fan here lining up in the Hawthorne queue, but before I get too excited isn't he an ERFA becuase he's less than 3 years in? I thought in that case if they tendor him, it will only cost the them like .5M, and his only option is to take or leave the NFL....

For what it's worth I think he has trade value, but I also think he costs so little you're better off keeping him.

[BigBurd]

The Jags GM Gene Smith is not shy about cutting guys. We have already purged Tory Holt, Tra Thomas (LT), and Rob Mier (DT). Rob is done, Holt and Thomas have only a little bit left to offer as backups and both are great locker room guys.

Clint Ingram, LB - drafted 80th overall in '06, started right away for us, didn't get as good as he should have, hasn't gotten better, possibly got worse in his 3rd & 4th year. Someone may gamble on it being just funk. Good locker room guy, but not a "dynamic play maker", can't cover top receiving ends, can't play the read & react scheme we want him to and he's ineffective pressuring the passer. Maybe he was just playing hurt. If all you want is tackles he can do that, he needs a change.

Quentin Groves, DE - drafted 52nd in '07, here we have a classic 6-3, 260lb, 4.6 40 tweener who can only play as a 4-3 DE on passing downs. If anyone wants a project/specialist rusher I'm sure you can have him for the right pick, we might keep him around for one more year depending on who we draft this year. He may have talent.

Reggie Nelson, S - taken 21st overall in 2007 - can't tackle, can't cover, and always gives away coverages. Not be particularly fast in pads, and is definitely particularly stupid. Had a decent rookie year, follow-ed by grotesque performances until he made slight improvements in this this year. In the last 29 starts he's only manged to defend 9 passes... an OK number if you're say a DT. HOWEVER he really did a great job leading with his head in college so everyone remembers him as a "big hitter", he ran a 4.37 40 at the combine, and he has dreadlocks, which to date remain his most notable accomplishments. They are of course entirely eclipsed by this most egregious play (stick with it until the commentated replay):
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-high ... 27-yard-TD

[LAKESHOW]

cut reggie bush, and this is very very difficult to say, because WE have had a great run in new orleans. great city. great fans. however, business is business. Should they cut the President, the team will not be able to repeat and lead the team to another championship. but hey, they will FOREVER be superbowl champions, that can never be taken away.

a guy who is a weapon offensively and on special teams is a valuable asset. coach payton has built the offensive system around his talents and its proven itself during the playoffs. reggie has scored in every playoff game besides the superbowl. however, wonder how the receivers are ALWAYS open over the middle? reggie like basketball, spreads the floor. safeties, strong safeties, linebackers get wide to cover him, and that opens up the field. another reason is, a football season is very long. so injuries etc. happen. but what happens when its a 1 game elimination? opponents panic and MUST gameplan around this guy. punts go short, shanked, give him the high ball, or like arizona, actually kick off to him.

when a 1 game elimination comes into play, you would much rather have a game breaker like him on your side, having opposing teams gameplan and take the time to try to take him out of the equation. that opens up the tight ends etc... over the middle. lock him up one on one with a backer, and that is a battle in favor of reggie. the playoffs, the big games, reggie has shown he is a BIG GAME player. that CANNOT be replaced with a guy who looks "reggie bush" like.

kim, myself and reggie, hope that he stays. but again, football is a business. and with as many free agents that the saints have, a business decision must be made.

[enamel]

Jags fan here lining up in the Hawthorne queue, but before I get too excited isn't he an ERFA becuase he's less than 3 years in? I thought in that case if they tendor him, it will only cost the them like .5M, and his only option is to take or leave the NFL....

For what it's worth I think he has trade value, but I also think he costs so little you're better off keeping him.

Hawthorne is cheap and under contract with the Hawks for 2010. He could still be a trade chip because it would be a shame to park a guy of his talent on the bench while you have semi-pros starting in the secondary and on both lines.

The point of this whole thread is that player-for-player trades are going to be more workable in the uncapped year. Trying to get a gauge of what players everybody's team might be looking to unload or, as in Hawthorne's case, be using as trade bait to get stronger somewhere else.

[enamel]

cut reggie bush, and this is very very difficult to say, because WE have had a great run in new orleans. great city. great fans. however, business is business...

The issue with Bush is that he's due $8M in 2010 and $11M in 2011. I think the Saints can use the good feelings from the Superbowl to get him to renegotiate. If he declines to restructure and forces them to cut him, how many teams are going to line up to pay him even $5M a year?

[Bleeding Blue]

I have no clue what the Colts are planning to do, but something needs to be done with Bob Sanders. The guy doesnt even play 1/2 his games and makes a stupid amount of money. He has to be held together with duct tape at this point.

[Munchlaxatives]

Steve Slaton may be available.

Keep in mind Houston = Denver under Shanahan. Think Ruben Droughns.

[dula14]

The entire roster, coaching staff, trainers, administrative personnel, etc. Boy is it great to be a Raider fan!

[Reks]

Hawthorne would be a great addition in Philly. Their lack of LB depth is the main reason they struggled this year.

[Iceman778]

thats is only because of their players