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

[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.

[Roy P]

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.

I'm glad Salaam was here the last three years.

Chester has played T in the NFL before and many people on this board wanted him to play LT after Spencer went down. He is also a Veteran on this football team, so I would expect him to become more of a leader and mentor.

Salaam provided some invaluable service to this team in the lockerroom. I will not deny that. However, his play on the field will not be missed terribly. It was time to let him go for the good of the franchise.

If the Eagles can let a leader like Brian Dawkins walk out the door, we should be able to get by without Ephraim. I realize that there's a difference in salary, but the point is that leadership only has so much value.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Chester has played T in the NFL before and many people on this board wanted him to play LT after Spencer went down. He is also a Veteran on this football team, so I would expect him to become more of a leader and mentor.

Yes, but he only did it for one year. He doesn't have the same level of familiarity with the position as Salaam. I don't doubt Pitts ability as leader on that line one bit.

Salaam provided some invaluable service to this team in the lockerroom. I will not deny that. However, his play on the field will not be missed terribly. It was time to let him go for the good of the franchise.

Don't disagree at all.

If the Eagles can let a leader like Brian Dawkins walk out the door, we should be able to get by without Ephraim. I realize that there's a difference in salary, but the point is that leadership only has so much value.

True, although I was referring more to Salaam as a type of player/coach than as a locker room leader. Truthfully, Salaam might not even be very good as a teacher. I have no way of knowing for sure, but I think it's a pretty good guess. Either way he served a valuable role on this team. It was definitely time to for him to go and let the younger guys develop. I'm just not going to start doing cartwheels because he's gone. I think he did a good job of doing what we asked of him the last few years, back-up both T spots and fill in when needed.

[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.

[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.

[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.