But the Jags have drafted well previously also. Jalen Ramsey is their best player, Myles Jack, Smith, Fournette, Ronnie Harrison I think will be good, etc. They were not just built through FA. Their biggest problem is not hitting on a QB and not handling success well. If they had drafted Derek Carr instead of Bortles they might have a Superbowl now. They should not have given Bortles that huge contract.

It would be one thing if signing FA's to push over the top never works, but it does sometimes. So you can't say that it cannot work. The Steelers pretty much only build through the draft, they are in the conversation usually but they get beat by the pats just like everyone else, and right now they are imploding.

I think the point is that there is no one sure way to build a team. Think the Broncos regret signing those players? Or the Rams? Or the pats? We didn't win a Superbowl till that defense came together and Booger McFarlane (FA) solidified the interior of that D.

That's probably their upcoming draft. Ed Oliver at 7. A safety or tackle in the second. A RB in the third.

I would pass on Jackson. He wasn’t that great for them. Let Wade Phillips pick him up. He played great for Philips.

McFarland was a trade. The biggest FA of the Polian era was Corey Simon, but he ended up with knee problems, which were IMO due to him letting himself get out of shape.

That would mean it turned out well for them - but not necessarily that it was a smart move.

Sigh

Let me rephrase it. Would you, Chaka, send your team into cap hell for a few seasons in the future, if your window was about to close and you knew you could win a Superbowl.

Just a yes or no, would you do it? I'm asking what you would do.

Didn't Simon have some weird sickness? Yeah, they tried to address DT several ways. Quitcock, Moala. Finally took a trade to do it, so draft capital instead of straight up money.

I'm not sure why this is hard to say yes to.... 31 teams every year dont Win the SB... quite a few Have NEVER won a SB. So hell yes... do what it takes to win one.

If they had landed a competant QB. Would be speaking differently about them. Still hate em but they would have had a lot more success.

I don’t think that’s the route they take. I think they add Foles and stock up on receiving options in Rd 1 & 2. Maybe Metcalf and one of Fant or Hockenson if they drop.

They are punks, except Cambell, I still get steamed of how Ramsey throat punched Hilton last season. But they are a dominant defense and kicked our ass last game. With Nick Foles and some proper leadership, they could be scary.

That would be interesting. I thought about WR, but Fant or Hockenson and a WR. Depends what Coughlin thinks they need most. They did draft Bryan (DT) last year and Chalk (WR). Maybe a TE is what they need. Hockenson would be a good blocker and catcher for them.

I would disagree that Corey Simon was the biggest FA signing of the Polian era. I think it was Adam Vinatieri.

Yes, I realize it is sad that the biggest FA signing over a 10+ year period of time was a PK, but AV is an extraordinary kicker. That free agent signing also let us renounce the idiot kicker.

56 > 97

Although to be fair to Malik, there were many defensive players put into similar positions when going head-to-head with Big Q this past season. :D

If the window is closing? Heck yeah!In our current situation? No way! I think PITT and NO should do what it takes, given their closing windows.

Was fun to watch as well :cool:

Not a very realistic question, but okay. If the "window was about to close" and you want to take a final shot at it, then fine. But that's not where the Jaguars were, and that's not where the Colts are, so I fail to see what this has to do with anything.

I will always chose the chance for sustained excellence over an extended period, rather than blowing everything out for a one season shot at the Super Bowl. It sucks for the fans to go from a Super Bowl contender to having to cut your star players to keep under the cap, and it's just plain more fun to have along term winning organization. Good for the community, good for the players, good for the organization, and good for the fans.

Relax, it was a hypothetical question. You’re so obsessed with the team going over the cap even though we have more cap space than actual cap spent. You don’t get any trophies for having the most money to spend.

But, Jimmy Irsay gets a new guitar !!! :cool:

Nope, you aren't reading my posts very carefully - I just value smart money/roster management and long term planning. That often seems to go out the window in the early days of a free agency period. Look at what the Raiders are doing.

We will have plenty of players to pay big bucks to in a year or two and, although it might not be exciting or headline-grabbing, we need to lay the foundation for that now.

Maybe some more beatnik poems. :rolleyes:

The problem isn't with Irsay on this one. He let Grigson go on spending sprees on day one of free agency.

Ballard has a vision that's based on being conservative with this stuff. I hope it's a vision that I can't see, but right now, I'm definitely wondering about it.

^^^

I was wrong. It isn't the takes that Deon Cain is a sure-fire WR2 that are going to kill me this offseason. It's the fans who can't listen when Ballard explicitly tells them what he's going to do.

Deon Cain Rules !!! #spendthat$$$ :eek:

Its nice if your team embraces long term building. Unfortunately, a lot of these teams turn over the coaches and GM's too much too soon, you are lucky if you get four years now. The Arizona coach got one year. It's win now or be fired for most of the league and it is reflected in everything from draft decisions to FA.

I'm not worried though, Ballard isn't going to do anything crazy. I doubt he breaks the bank for anything but a premier pass rusher.

But just because you have contracts coming up in a couple of years doesn't mean you can't find some guys to help in the short term. This team is in a window right now, if they get blown out again in the playoffs while still sitting on a pile of cash that is doing nothing, people are going to start grumbling. There is being fiscally responsible, then there is being negligent.

There’s a difference between not listening to what Ballard says and not agreeing with his approach. I hear Ballard and fully realize the Colts are taking the Ted Thompson GB Packers approach. I simply don’t like the idea of having an elite QB, sitting on $30m a year in cap space and coming up short every year.

But you understand that is the philosophy and that it can work? You would prefer to go another route, but you recognize that the Colts can win a championship without paying Landon Collins $14MM/year?

They did that because Luck was on his rookie contract. Also, We did make it to the championship game, we have a banner for it :rolleyes:.

Grigson was fired because he couldn't draft... and because he was a dick.

I don't think anyone has a problem with Ballard's approach. Building through the draft is a good strategy and most good teams do it. As long as you are a good drafter.

But you can dabble in FA also. The Steelers have 20 million in cap space, The Eagles have 25, the Saints have 15, the pats have 20 million in cap space. The pats are very average drafters. You don't have to spend it all (and you shouldn't), but you should use some of it if you are in the hunt for a Superbowl.

I have no problem not paying Collins $14m. There is plenty of room between being the Skins and what Ballard seems to advocate. Can Ballard’s approach win a Super Bowl? Of course - he has an elite QB. Thompson won one as well with the super conservative approach and Rodgers. Do you think Thompson maximized the gift he had in Rodgers? I dont.

I fully get that you can’t solve every problem by throwing money at free agents. But I also know you can’t fill every hole on the roster through the draft. That everyone’s hopes at WR2 last year where pinned on a 6th round rookie was to me a failure. Grant was a place holder, not a solution. And Ballard knew it. You can tell by the contract. And it hurt in the playoffs. With an elite QB in his prime they shouldn’t be mortgaging the future for this year, but they shouldn’t be pushing every roster hole to next year’s draft either. There is middle ground there even if many don’t believe it.

Then you understand Ballard’s “vision.” The poster I referenced didn’t comprehend a strategy that didn’t involve going hog wild in free agency.