[Salaam, Demps Cut] Preparing for the Superbowl (more great moves by Smithiak!)

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by papabear

Oh please, just because you don't like Salaam doesn't mean he doesn't have something to offer. Pitts isn't a T. Winston doesn't have near the experience that Salaam did. Salaam has been in the league for 11 years at the most important/difficult position on the line, and a starter for most of it. You don't spend that much time at the position and not learn a few tricks of the trade. I don't know how much he helped coached Brown (or the other guys) but I've always heard positive things about Salaam as a teammate so I would assume he was helpful to the younger lineman.

I don't have any problem with them letting him go. I think we have adequate back up plans, but the veteran presence is more important off the field than on it. I'm glad Salaam was here the last three years.

Just because the guy is likeable doesn't mean we can't be honest about the quality of football he played here. He was barely servicable for most of the time. I'm glad he was here to, but he shouldn't have been playing last season. Butler and Frye were both much better tackles than he was at that point in his career. Perhaps they wanted him there to tutor Brown. Fine, but he still was a poor LT at that point. Nothing wrong with being happy that the team is making good personnel decisions. That's all this thread was about. Teams don't win playoff games with tackles playing at the level Salaam has played the past 2 seasons.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Just because the guy is likeable doesn't mean we can't be honest about the quality of football he played here. He was barely servicable for most of the time. I'm glad he was here to, but he shouldn't have been playing last season. Butler and Frye were both much better tackles than he was at that point in his career. Perhaps they wanted him there to tutor Brown. Fine, but he still was a poor LT at that point. Nothing wrong with being happy that the team is making good personnel decisions. That's all this thread was about. Teams don't win playoff games with tackles playing at the level Salaam has played the past 2 seasons.

Plenty of teams win playoff games with a backup the level of Salaam, and that's what he was last year.

Either way I face a quandary here, Alex Gibbs' o-line knowledge vs. Dalemurphy's football omnipotence. Kind of like ditka vs. a hurricane. Too close to call. I guess I just have to defer to your brilliance again.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by barrett

Plenty of teams win playoff games with a backup the level of Salaam, and that's what he was last year.

Either way I face a quandary here, Alex Gibbs' o-line knowledge vs. Dalemurphy's football omnipotence. Kind of like ditka vs. a hurricane. Too close to call. I guess I just have to defer to your brilliance again.

especially since apparently Gibbs feels the same way I do. They cut him before camp because he's already convinced Butler is the better player- even though there hasn't even been as much as a team meeting since the season ended. Interesting, Salaam was signed to a tiny deal through the season and Butler is a RFA, whom they will now have to tender for more money than they were paying Salaam, and yet the job has been handed to Butler without even one off-season workout. Looks like the coaches saw the same things I did last year.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

especially since apparently Gibbs feels the same way I do. They cut him before camp because he's already convinced Butler is the better player- even though there hasn't even been as much as a team meeting since the season ended. Interesting, Salaam was signed to a tiny deal through the season and Butler is a RFA, whom they will now have to tender for more money than they were paying Salaam, and yet the job has been handed to Butler without even one off-season workout. Looks like the coaches saw the same things I did last year.

That's my point. That's why I am deferring to your brilliance again. That and your 398 career home runs. You're the man Dale.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Interesting, Salaam was signed to a tiny deal through the season and Butler is a RFA, whom they will now have to tender for more money than they were paying Salaam, and yet the job has been handed to Butler without even one off-season workout. Looks like the coaches saw the same things I did last year.

First off dale I am glad you decided to join our board and I hope you continue.

Now for my point to your statement above, we are assuming that Butler will be the swing tackle, they could sign another veteran or draft someone higher than we expect, and then we would be wrong.

Don't you love the off season?

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by painekiller

First off dale I am glad you decided to join our board and I hope you continue.

Now for my point to your statement above, we are assuming that Butler will be the swing tackle, they could sign another veteran or draft someone higher than we expect, and then we would be wrong.

Don't you love the off season?

True, what if they surprise us all and draft Oher in the first?- with the idea of kicking Winston in at guard

And you're right... I'm assuming this move has a lot to do with their faith in Butler. Since I wasn't on this board last August/September, there is no history of me being bewildered that they kept Studdard and Salaam around at the expense of what I thought appeared to be much better players- cetainly players with more potential and a better fit of the pure ZBS. I'm simply encouraged to see that the organization has raised their expectations. My problem with the team keeping Salaam is that they knew exactly what level of play he would give them- and, IMO, that level is unsatisfactory for a team attempting to win... Meanwhile, they exposed Frye to the P.S. That, I think, was a big mistake and I'm elated that they aren't exposing Butler to the market in order to keep Salaam this year.

[mussop]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

True, what if they surprise us all and draft Oher in the first?- with the idea of kicking Winston in at guard

And you're right... I'm assuming this move has a lot to do with their faith in Butler. Since I wasn't on this board last August/September, there is no history of me being bewildered that they kept Studdard and Salaam around at the expense of what I thought appeared to be much better players- cetainly players with more potential and a better fit of the pure ZBS. I'm simply encouraged to see that the organization has raised their expectations. My problem with the team keeping Salaam is that they knew exactly what level of play he would give them- and, IMO, that level is unsatisfactory for a team attempting to win... Meanwhile, they exposed Frye to the P.S. That, I think, was a big mistake and I'm elated that they aren't exposing Butler to the market in order to keep Salaam this year.

First I would be really excited about our OL if we were to draft Oher. That would be sweet. Second I agree about Fry. I guess the coaches seen something we werent privy to. I sure thought he would turn out to be a quality backup at worst.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

they could draft someone higher than we expect, and then we would be wrong.

I could see this crew drafting Jamon Meredith in the 2nd round (he's from S. Carolina and he's an "athletic" OL). Immediately following the pick, I'd have to replace my T.V. because I'll probably through a Guinness bottle right through the screen.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Just because the guy is likeable doesn't mean we can't be honest about the quality of football he played here. He was barely servicable for most of the time. I'm glad he was here to, but he shouldn't have been playing last season. Butler and Frye were both much better tackles than he was at that point in his career. Perhaps they wanted him there to tutor Brown. Fine, but he still was a poor LT at that point. Nothing wrong with being happy that the team is making good personnel decisions. That's all this thread was about. Teams don't win playoff games with tackles playing at the level Salaam has played the past 2 seasons.

I never said anything about him playing great the last couple of years. His skills were in decline when he first arrived here, and I was one of those praying for an upgrade last year. I was simply referring to his amount of experience and the knowledge that comes with it, nothing else. I agree he was not who I would want as a starter, but you shouldn't discount how much a player like him can help in the film room, during practice, and on the sidelines by teaching the younger guys like Brown and Butler. Unless he decides to hang em up I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a similar role on another team this year.

I think the fact that they are letting Salaam go says as much about their confidence level in Brown as it does about their faith in Butler (or your abilities as a talent evaluator ). If they didn't have plenty of faith in Brown they would likely bring back Salaam and his experience. Salaam was making 830,000 last year with a cap number of about 1.1 MILL. I don't know what his salary would have been this year, but I'm sure he was due at least a small raise. Butler will not likely get more than a second round tender IMO, so he will earn either 1 MILL for the low tender or 1.5 Mill for the second round tender(it's possible they give him one of the higher tenders but I doubt it). Their salaries would have been relatively close this year. The decision to keep the younger one who has been developing nicely or an older guy who's skills are declining as your back up is not exactly one that requires the use of a crystal ball.