Cushing Injured in Jets Game on MNF

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by barrett

I know everyone thinks it's a great idea, but what team has an extra middle LB laying around (and why is he an extra). Who is going to deal a guy who is worth having in the middle of the season. Do the people suggesting it have a name in mind or is it just "unnamed but better than Dobbins and worth roughly a 2nd or 3rd guy who plays 34 ILB."

LZ's article mentions some names that could be candidates for a trade, with Tavares Gooden, ILB, 49′ers as the most interesting. Gooden is behind two pro bowl level starters, is on a one year contract, and according to LZ the 49ers might be interested if we offered a 3rd, but then again they might not be willing to trade their depth.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by painekiller

LZ's article mentions some names that could be candidates for a trade, with Tavares Gooden, ILB, 49′ers as the most interesting. Gooden is behind two pro bowl level starters, is on a one year contract, and according to LZ the 49ers might be interested if we offered a 3rd, but then again they might not be willing to trade their depth.

Just my opinion, but why would a team with Superbowl aspirations trade depth for future picks? I would think a trade partner, if that's the route to go, would come from the bottom quarter of the league.

[HPF Bob]

I did a little more digging last night regarding teams who might deal players and who they have and what they might want and, unfortunately, most of the guys who fit the descriptions are playing hurt right now which make them real iffy to deal.

Derrick Johnson of the Chiefs would be an excellent addition as he has really blossomed since KC went to a 3-4 and they moved him inside. Unfortunately, he's only in year two or a five-year deal and his guaranteed money is actually quite tame so he would be hard to pry loose even if the Chiefs are inclined to give up their season and Johnson might not fit under the cap.

I also looked at the Cowboys for any more guys who might have been in Phillips' system. No way the Cowboys part with Sean Lee and the other starting ILB is nicked plus I doubt Jerry Jones is anywhere close to throwing in the towel.

Barrett Ruud is out there unsigned so, if we trade, one thing we'd need to ask is whether that person is worth more than simply signing Ruud. I really don't want to risk expecting Sharpton to come back and be healthy. I'd rather find more depth somewhere.

[WMH]

Rudd being signed is about all you could expect of the street at this point. May continue to tinker/look for trades, but that's just not the NFL's thing. Not to mention, with our cap situation, its going to be a lower tiered guy anyway.

[today]

If after a few games we can't fill the hole that Cushing left, I like the idea of trading a pick for LB help before the Week 8 deadline. How much cap room do we have?

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Derrick Johnson of the Chiefs would be an excellent addition as he has really blossomed since KC went to a 3-4 and they moved him inside. Unfortunately, he's only in year two or a five-year deal and his guaranteed money is actually quite tame so he would be hard to pry loose even if the Chiefs are inclined to give up their season and Johnson might not fit under the cap.

Signing a Derrick Johnson would put us right back into a Cushing-DeMeco type situation after this year when Cushing is back with the team and on the field.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Signing a Derrick Johnson would put us right back into a Cushing-DeMeco type situation after this year when Cushing is back with the team and on the field.

No it doesn't. The other ILB for the Texans is Bradie James. Cushing-Johnson would not be a problem. The problem with Cushing-DeMeco was that DeMeco was a pure MLB and didn't adjust to being a 3-4 ILB.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

No it doesn't. The other ILB for the Texans is Bradie James. Cushing-Johnson would not be a problem. The problem with Cushing-DeMeco was that DeMeco was a pure MLB and didn't adjust to being a 3-4 ILB.

I agree 100%. You can have 2 great 34 ILBs and maybe even pay two (the 49ers do). But when one of those guys is simply not a 34 LB (inside or outside), you are in a Demeco/Cushing situation.

I would have no problem with a deal for Derrick Johnson. I know he is a 3 down LB and an upgrade I'd pay for at this point.

But we saw Rudd in the preseason and I like Dobbins more (I actually like Dobbins more than James). Rudd as the 3rd ILB is fine, but I am not even convinced he is a real step up from Alexander.

And maybe Sharpton can't be counted on in a regular situation because of health, but this is not a regular situation. I'd rather have a few games of Sharpton if he is temporarily healthy, than someone off the scrap heap.

So basically, unless a guy like Johnson falls in our lap I think we are going forward with what we have, and probably more of Nolan/Demps/Keo/McCain/Harris?, or even Reed as a standing LB in Dime situations.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

No it doesn't. The other ILB for the Texans is Bradie James. Cushing-Johnson would not be a problem. The problem with Cushing-DeMeco was that DeMeco was a pure MLB and didn't adjust to being a 3-4 ILB.

The biggest problem with Demeco was his contract. Same with Winston. Both were solid starters, good teammates and even team leaders (more Demeco here than Winston). If they had been on the books at $1 mill each, I have no doubt both would still be here. While Demeco is a better fit in a 4-3 than a 3-4, he was not such a liability that this was why he was shipped off. I don't think anybody thinks we upgraded with Brady James. It's just that Brady James cost about 1/8 of what Demeco was going to cost.

[HPF Bob]

Good point, Joshua. Ryans wasn't giving us the production that matched his salary. Not sure that James is either but he's not costing as much.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Joshua

The biggest problem with Demeco was his contract. Same with Winston. Both were solid starters, good teammates and even team leaders (more Demeco here than Winston). If they had been on the books at $1 mill each, I have no doubt both would still be here. While Demeco is a better fit in a 4-3 than a 3-4, he was not such a liability that this was why he was shipped off. I don't think anybody thinks we upgraded with Brady James. It's just that Brady James cost about 1/8 of what Demeco was going to cost.

Yeah, DeMeco signed the big contract after the 2009 season when he was a Pro Bowler and an every-down player. Last season, though, he was no longer part of the nickel defense and Sharpton had cut in on his snaps early in the year. With his cap number he just wasn't the same value, especially for a team squeezing to get under the cap, so they opted to try to get by with the significantly cheaper James/Sharpton combination.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

No it doesn't. The other ILB for the Texans is Bradie James. Cushing-Johnson would not be a problem. The problem with Cushing-DeMeco was that DeMeco was a pure MLB and didn't adjust to being a 3-4 ILB.

Only one non-OLB in Wade's defense remains on the field in nickel situations and therefor only one of them is an "every-down" player which means having a lot invested/big contract in both DJ & Cushing wouldn't be feasible (cap wise) just as it wasn't with both DeMeco & Cushing on the roster. If it was "money was no object", we would certainly still have DeMeco along with Cushing, but as a part-time player, Demeco was a luxury we just couldn't afford while James isn't that expensive as a part-timer.

[HPF Bob]

But DJ's salary averages $3M/yr over the remaining years which isn't that bad plus we might want to let Cushing's knee heal next year by not demanding he be on the field so much. Anyway, I don't think the Chiefs do this deal unless they are really ready to pull the plug on this year and start trading away assets. They're starting Brady Quinn for Matt Cassel this week but I don't think that's a sign they are giving up yet.