Around the League

[Bartender]

I see Cincy tagging him, but than again, I can see them passing. Their owner HATES spending money and tagging him will give him a huge 12 something million dollar 2011 year. And I think they really like the though of Leon Hall being their number 1 and getting a newer cheaper number 2.

[Icness]

Jonathan Joseph isn't going back to Cinci? By whose account? Last I heard they do still want him back, they just don't want to sign him before the new CBA is done, and they would be really dumb to let a guy that good, and fairly young, walk for nothing.

They want him back, but affordable. He's going to ask for more than Mike Brown is willing to pay and Brown will not spend more than what he intially has in mind for a guy. The franchise tag is an option but they would have done so already. They like Morgan Trent quite a bit and they were relatively pleased with Brandon Ghee, so they're not afraid to let Joseph go.

And yes, the Bengals are absolutely dumb enough to let good young talent walk away.

[TSE]

The current temperature of the NFL is that teams will use that franchise tag no matter what to keep their quality players from getting away. Ryan Kalil just got one and he was ecstatic about it as were a couple of others. I saw some articles on this earlier and it sounded to me like Cinci was planning on using the tag on him as a fallback if they can't get a deal, so sounds to me like they are locking him down one way or another. Joseph is really a trade candidate in disguise, with the tag leverage he has he will get just that or work a deal he wants, I'd be shocked if they didn't tag him or negotiate a price, that sounds to me like a distant longshot unless there's something I don't know that's bad about Joseph that the team insiders may be thinking. But we don't need Joseph to be available to sign Asomugha, so if the Lions want to get a free agent CB to help out in a serious way, then they have one less marquee option, they'll figure out which level of CB investment they want to make and get somebody new in a matter of time.

[Icness]

Joseph is free, they didn't tag him by the deadline. After what the Raiders just did with Stanford Routt--3yrs, $31M--there's zero chance he winds up in Cincy. No chance in hell Mike Brown pays over $10M per year for a #2 corner when Leon Hall is already making that $$ too.

That Routt deal sets the corner market at a higher price tag than it should be. That could mean cap issues to get Joseph or Cromartie, assuming a cap comes back into play.

Lions met with several linemen and specialists in Indy. However, don't read ANYTHING into who meets with whom at the Combine. Last year I sat in a team box and the team did not meet with one player that they wound up drafting. As another example, when Joe Staley went to the 49ers he was shocked because he'd never met any of their coaches.

[TSE]

Well that's good news that at least we can consider entering the bidding for what could be some crazy contracts. fyi I just saw that Paul Soliai was tagged at the last minute too.

[TSE]

Reports coming out that Vince Young will be released when the lockout ends. Come on over buddy! I really like Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton, but they're both dead to me if we can get Vince. We should deal all 3 of our QBs. Argggh, this is killing me! We could have had Andrew Luck and Vince Young as our top 2 QBs going forward for the long-term. Now it's just a fictional fantasy tale.

[kellmellus50]

I agree 100% i would grab vince young in a heartbeat.

[TSE]

Roy Williams is being released. Maybe we can sign him and hope for a breakout year and then trade him again?

[kellmellus50]

Over 40 games, Williams, a local hero (Odessa and the University of Texas), caught 94 passes for 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110727/SPO ... z1TIfRbHWt

[ajaX82]

Chad Johnson and Haynesworth to the Pats...whoa boy

[TSE]

Yeah and I'm pretty bummed about Olsen going to Carolina, I was counting on a Scheffler swap for him.

[Collymore]

Gotta love the compressed FA window, alot of action in the Yahoo FA tracker.

[Icness]

Mercifully Vince Young signed in Philly to compete for the #2 job with Mike Kafka. I don't expect he will win that battle. Any QB that responds to a coach asking him to show leadership by skipping camp and threatening suicide, stay the hell away from that.

The Olsen deal is a mixed blessing for the Lions. He was a matchup problem for the back seven, but he was also a thorn in Cutler's paw and one of the worst blockers in the league. I like it for Chicago in that they weren't going to pay him what he will demand next offseason and actually acquired a pick instead of trading them away.

Ray Edwards to Atlanta is a good move for them, but I still have this nagging suspicion they're headed for a fall.

[TSE]

Who will fall, Atlanta, or Minnesota? And what makes you think they will have trouble?

[Icness]

Who will fall, Atlanta, or Minnesota? And what makes you think they will have trouble?

Both. Minnesota has lost a lot and still has no OL, easily the worst team in the NFC North.

Atlanta lost some solid players and really only added Julio Jones and Edwards. I thought they overacheived a little last year and they'll come back some anyways, but now their lack of depth looks like more of a problem. Michael Turner is a year older with more mileage too. They're still good but I don't think 13-3 is realistic. Maybe 9-10 wins and a Wild Card?

[chrbal]

Isn't McNabb a Viking, what could possibly go wrong there

[TSE]

Who are we trading for Asante Samuel or DRC? MAKE IT HAPPEN!

[Icness]

Who are we trading for Asante Samuel or DRC? MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Heard from a reliable source that Mayhew called the Eagles inquiring about Samuel's availability but was rebuffed. The Cullen Jenkins signing took away any need they have for DL, so that kills the top trading assets Detroit has anyway. They might have had interest in Stanton but the Vince Young signing squashes that need. What else can we offer, reserve O-linemen and 3rd string running backs? For a Pro Bowl corner? Would you take that deal?

[TSE]

Well dont' look at me, my plan was to sign Vince Young, he would come here to start, cause I already would have traded all 3 of my QBs at this point, so we could have had Samuel for some of that material, and then picked up Vince Young cheap and free. Maybe we need to trade them whatever they want, which we can get by trading Stafford to another team. They can tell us a list of their favorite players and we can work a 3 way deal. See how easy this is, once we trade Stafford, all kinds of options open up!

Screw Samuel anyhow if the price is too high, rumor has it Osi's on the block now. LOL

So KVB to replace Osi and what else do we have to pay, answer that one now if Samuel is dead? I'm in on giving Osi a 5 year deal. I'll give any man that can come up with 10 FFs along w/11 sacks in a season a 5 year deal; I'll take my chances. lol

[TSE]

Randy Moss retires. How about a 2 year deal in Detroit? Hellz yeah, kick Stovall and Rashied to the curb and let's get a real player . It would also free us up to swap out WR Trade Baitleson.

KVB + Baitleson to bring Asante to Mosstown?