I'm not understanding all this garbage about getting rid of Mario. The kid plays through pain, and while looking only marginally comfortable (if even that) standing up, he still registered 5 sacks in 17 quarters. Get him comfortable, and he's got the potential to be sackmaster the likes of which the league has never seen. His cap number in 2011 was over $15 mil. and the cap is expected to jump around $10 mil. A backloaded deal isn't anywhere near prohibitively expensive. Besides, he came to a 2-14 football team and watched us grow up from the sidelines. You don't think a deep run into the playoffs is something he wants to be a part of, when it's something he's helped build from the ground up? I just can't see a scenario where we don't have everyone back next year. My gut says it won't happen. Angry Dre literally cried in public over the amount of money McNair gave him. I'm pretty sure he'd be willing to give a little back if it meant keeping Arian or Mario around and happy.
As for the actual point of this thread, I'd love a DeSean Jackson (if he can get some big boy pants), or Stevie Johnson, but I think a guy like Robert Meacham is gonna me more our speed. I've got a feeling Jason Allen walks, so we're gonna have to replace him, though Brice McCain did make strides in the second half.
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