Quote:
Originally Posted by nunusguy
I think Mario is perhaps only marginally better than Barwin as a 3-4 OLB, but the really significant consideration is value and since we can likely resign Barwin in the 2012-13 free agency for only half the monetary consideration that Mario will command this year, and that's also assuming that Connor has his second consecutive double-digit sack season, it seems foolish to me to pull out all of the stops to retain Mario.
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Jason Babin got $30 million after 5 years of nothing and one year with 13 sacks on a losing team. If Barwin puts up a 2nd consecutive double digit sack season, on a winning team (superbowl), just as salaries are increasing, he will see at least $50 million. And if he doesn't put up double digit sacks it is not a marginal difference between Mario and him.
But I don't see why it is one or the other. In no way does resigning Mario mean Barwin walks down the road. Like I said, the Giants prove a defense does not have two pass rushers. They have 4+ and it works. The Ravens don't have 4 and the Patriots OL swallowed up Suggs. The AFC Championship runs through New England almost every year, and their is a blueprint to beating them. Kill the QB. There is no way cutting Walter and JJ (nearly $5 million combined), or extending someone else to defer big salaries until 2014 (they could do this easily with Mario) is not a better idea than giving up our best pass rusher.