Re-sign Jammal Brown or let him walk?

by AKAY47 on Dec 30, 2009 5:21 PM CST

If ever the league and the union agree on a new labour contract and some players become unrestricted free agents rather than restricted free agents, Mickey Loomis will have an important decision to make on our Pro-Bowl LT, Jammal Brown. Before the Cowboys game, I was all for letting Jammal Brown walk and having Jermon Bushrod at LT, but then I saw DeMarcus Ware out-duel Bushrod and now I see how important blind side tackles are. Jammal Brown is one of the best guys on our o-line, other than Jahri Evans. I think he's an important piece to keeping Drew Brees healthy and he should get a new contract from us. So what are your thoughts? Re-sign or let him walk?

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

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really all depends on the mulah

if he wants too much, let him go. he can be replaced

by sernycrusher on Dec 30, 2009 5:32 PM CST reply actions

cya

Ware is an elite player playing out of his mind – has to be double teamed to be stopped, but I say c-ya if he wants too much.

by StDrew on Dec 30, 2009 6:01 PM CST reply actions

left tackle is the most important on the OL

sign Jammal Brown. Don’t let him go. School Bushrod (unless he is already schooled ) in RT and guard position. Go into next season with 8-9 veteran O linemen- they are the heart of the offense. Keep Goodwin, Evans, Brown, Bushrod, Stinchcomb,Nicks, Nesbit and Strief.

Last year we kept all? our our WRs and Rbs (well except Stecker and Patton?) It pays off if you can afford it. I knowmit’s tough, but we are a contender. It will be tough with Reggie, but unless we can get him cheaper, he is a luxury esp re: injuries. Would really love to have him, but we need those linemen and we need LB depth and also other areas. But the OL- with a guy like Drew and Colston, Henderson, Meachem, Shockey and next year Arrington, and then PT, Bell, and Hamilton we need to have that stable base that comes from a good OL.

"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W Bush
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking

by Philinwood on Dec 30, 2009 6:46 PM CST reply actions

agreed...

except I could see Nesbit being let go if need be…

"For us, there is no spring... only the smell of fresh wind before the storm."
-Conan of Cimeria

by tlsk1066 on Dec 30, 2009 7:23 PM CST up reply actions

I'd like to see him back...

…at the right price. You’re not going to school a tackle at guard. They are vastly different positions both mentally and physically.

by mainesaint on Dec 31, 2009 9:12 AM CST up reply actions

Bushrod would be rotational

I rotate him in out at both right and left tackle keeping Brown and Stinchcomb fresh. Stinchcomb is a probowler and so is Brown. With a good rotation going, you cut down on injuries and have fresher players in the fourth quarter.

Ajun Cajun exiled to Charlotte. I miss Mardi Gras and the Jazz Fest so much I could cry.

by Ajun Cajun on Dec 30, 2009 9:29 PM CST reply actions

This is probably the best idea..

I’m all for re-signing Jammal Brown, depending on how much he’s asking for, and you can expect high demands from a Pro Bowl LT

by AKAY47 on Dec 31, 2009 12:50 AM CST up reply actions

I like Bushrod

I dont think anyone was gonna be stopping Ware during the cowboys game. I remember watching Jammal Brown get schooled by good pass rushing ends last year too. I actually remember it happening more often, but that could be attributed to our more balanced offense this season. I Think we’d be good either way. I think Bushrod has the potential to be a pro bowler. Think back since he’s been with us and how many times have you seen him on the field until this year? I cant remember any. I think he’s doing great considering how little real experience he has.

by fruly on Dec 31, 2009 3:50 AM CST reply actions

In my opinion, it depends on four factors:

1. If Brown is fully recovered by the onset of free agency (I wouldn’t go out on a limb for him).
2. What his contract demands are (I wouldn’t break the bank for him).
3. What other LTs are projected to be available in both free agency and the draft (I’d imagine the former would offer better options).
4. Whether next season will be an uncapped year or not (arguably the least important of the four).

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Dec 31, 2009 6:15 AM CST reply actions

Actually, there’s a 5th:

5. Determining the trade value of Stinchcomb. I can’t see Brown signing for RT money, though. I also not sure how attune Payton is to Brown’s starboard suitability, being that he hasn’t played that side since the Haslett regime. This factor would clearly be contingent on the other four, as well as a trade partner.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Dec 31, 2009 6:29 AM CST up reply actions

i would love to see brown at RT

"Give them nothing! But take from them everything!"

-King Leonidas

by DrewBreesManCrush on Dec 31, 2009 9:07 AM CST up reply actions

Provided we have someone better (or with the potential to be better) at LT, so would I.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Dec 31, 2009 9:11 AM CST up reply actions

Actually I’m not so sure the uncapped year is the least important at all. Arguably, in fact, you could call it the MOST important. Why? Because of the convoluted FA rules in the uncapped year.

We are already guaranteed to be one of the final 8 teams. This means that we are already in a bit of a pinch on FA rules. We can’t sign any “big names” to mega deals without losing somebody else first. And even then we can’t pay more than what the lost guy received from his new team. We can sign the cheaper guys, which might actually be a blessing in disguise, but might not as well. And if we really want to get a top-flight player at some other position that needs upgrading, we’ll have to lose a player worth that much or more.

So letting a high-priced player Brown walk might very well be something we NEED to do so that we can sign somebody else we want badly to pick up. Like, say, a top-of-the-line LB. Or DE. Etc.

by FriarBob on Dec 31, 2009 8:02 AM CST up reply actions

Oh and if we do actually win at least one playoff game, the rules get even worse against us.

by FriarBob on Dec 31, 2009 8:04 AM CST up reply actions

I know some of the UFAs are restricted, Evans being one of them. That definitely helps, as far as potential compensation goes. They’re still gonna have to pony up, though. Even if it’s just a one-year tender.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Dec 31, 2009 9:14 AM CST up reply actions

True. But 2 mil a year is a lot cheaper than 6+. I think in many cases they’ll be delighted if they can keep their RFAs for that price. And if they get signed away by somebody else, they get extra draft picks. They really don’t have much to lose.

by FriarBob on Dec 31, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions

Interesting. I didn’t know they had rules set up for the possibility. I’ll have to read up on that. It seems odd that the league can dictate anything of the sort, outside of a mutually agreed upon contract. I’m assuming this is all fine print in the expiring CBA.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Dec 31, 2009 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

Short version is that regardless we will be heavily restricted and if we win the first playoff game even more so. This was all part of the old CBA as a “poison pill” intended to make everybody want to avoid there being no uncapped final year of the CBA. Well that was the intent at least, but apparently the economy (or stadium problems, or greed, or even all of the above) is bad enough that the owners are willing to swallow their end of the poison in hopes of putting enough pressure on the players to give up some ground in the negotiations.

Here are a few good summaries:

http://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/1/16/725767/q-and-a-about-the-nfl-s-up
Too long to quote, but gives a great Q&A summary

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d808736ba&template=with-video&confirm=true

Well, there will be a “Final 8” rule in 2010.

The rule will restrict the final eight teams in the playoffs from signing free agents. The final four teams shall not be permitted to negotiate and sign any unrestricted free agent to a player contract except for players who acquired their status by being cut or were on the final four team when their contract expired. Playoff teams five thru eight get a break to sign one player with a salary of $4,925,000 or more and any number of players with a first-year salary of no more than $3,275,000 and an annual increase of no more than 30 percent in the following years.

There is a mechanism to permit the final eight teams to sign an unrestricted free agent for each one of their own unrestricted free agents who sign with another club as long as they don’t spend more than what their own lost player received from his new club.

http://www.3rdstringsafety.com/2009/10/no-one-wins-with-an-uncapped-year/

Teams

For teams, there is one major downside, the Final Eight Plan, that affects only the teams that reach the Divisional Round (the second week) of the playoffs.

Teams that lose in the second week will be limited in their ability to sign unrestricted free agents. They’ll be able to sign one UFA to a large contract (more than about $5 million per year), and as many players as they want to small contracts.

Teams that reach the Conference Championships, however, get both presents and coal in their stockings. Win or lose, by being one of the final four teams, they will be subject to three major limitations:

    * They can resign their own players with no additional restrictions beyond those placed on any other team.
    * Beyond that, however, they can only sign one free agent for each one they lose, and the departing free agent’s new contract sets a limit on the size of the new player’s contract.
    * The teams can trade for players given franchise and/or restricted free agent tenders, but they cannot circumvent the above rule by trading for a player they couldn’t sign as a free agent.
    * The teams are free to sign players that clear waivers, but not all players go through the waiver process before becoming UFAs.

by FriarBob on Dec 31, 2009 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

sigh blockquote is a real pain sometimes.

by FriarBob on Dec 31, 2009 10:42 AM CST up reply actions

One more (very good) link for your enjoyment:

http://insidethecap.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-free-agency-will-look-like-in.html

by FriarBob on Dec 31, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

Core

The o-linemen are just as important as many of the other higher profile offensive pieces. Perhaps moreso in some cases. I believe the team would regress without him.

I’m hoping that tasting success will convince Benson to loosen up the purse strings to keep the core of this team together should it come to an uncapped year.

by Jimbo03 on Dec 31, 2009 8:20 AM CST reply actions

Fat chance. We’re still a ridiculously small market and the automobile industry is in shambles. You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. Our 2009 W-L record is likely our only saving grace in attracting top tier talent on the open market. Even then, I’d have to think it will be the players making concessions in terms of the big buck, not Tom Benson.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Dec 31, 2009 9:09 AM CST up reply actions

True. But with the dearth of available free agents to begin with (and the signing restrictions added in) we’ll almost have to pick up some cheap free agents who maybe are worth a bit more but are willing to play for less to play for a contender.

by FriarBob on Dec 31, 2009 10:43 AM CST up reply actions

I agree 100 percent !!

The Saints have murdered teams with the long ball. That evaporates without giving the play time to materialize. Not to mention the obvious. Protecting Brees! Saints are a lot deeper in talent in other areas if they have to cut to get it done. PAY THE MAN !! GEAUX SAINTS

by saints-fan-in-miss on Dec 31, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

OOPS this was a response to Jimbo03

by saints-fan-in-miss on Dec 31, 2009 10:39 AM CST reply actions

Isnt all this theoretical...

If next year is uncapped… isnt JB still a RFA?

You gotta go there to come back

by bondcrash on Dec 31, 2009 2:55 PM CST reply actions

Yup he would be. But if we fail to tender him somebody else would snatch him up in a new york second. Most likely he’ll be tendered at 1st or 1st &3rd level. But that would give us options on trading at least.

by FriarBob on Dec 31, 2009 5:12 PM CST up reply actions

bushrod sucks he cant block!!!!! why do u think drew has been getting hit so much this year he gets beat every other play

by ckycracker on Dec 31, 2009 3:13 PM CST reply actions

One thing to keep in mind

I think we only have one more year until we have to pay Carl Nicks what he is really worth. That rookie contract is running out and he is going to require a major pay increase. I don’t think we can afford to lose him, so it might be good to figure that into our plans now and free up some cap space.

"That Brees is a good quarterback." - Giants Free Safety Michael Johnson after a 48-27 Saints victory.

by VAsaintsfan on Jan 1, 2010 7:37 AM CST reply actions

Depend on how much money it’s going to cost to keep him, we are not going to mortage the team to keep him. yes Bushrod didn’t have a good game against Dallas,but up until then he has played well alone with OL Strief, the Saints did win (13) games and zero loses. I will not bring back OL Nesbit, he’s over paid and not a starter. this off season focus should be DT and LB’S : I like DT Terrence Cody 6’5 – 365 we need someone to clog up that middle. we can’t stop nobodies run and it’s killing us. second; we need speed at LB. I like OLB Perry Riley 6’2 – 245 out of LSU good tackler , good cover skills and speed, also free agent Derrick Johnson would be a good pick up from the Chief. a running back in the third round. I like RB Anthony Dixon 6’1 – 235 out of Mississippi State. with these addition’s the I think will be in good shape.

by KENTROO'S on Jan 2, 2010 8:51 AM CST reply actions

$$$ of course!

I firmly belive believe NFL games are won and lost on the O-line and D-line. I’m always in favor of drafting those positions, epsecially when the next Deion Sanders or Payton Manning is not readily availble. I’m not sure how much Brown will command inthe free market, but i think it says something to Drew Brees and the coaching staff when you don’t resign an All Pro player. I for one belive the saints have been lucky since we lost Roaf, Bentley and and that other crazy takcle we had. Players like that are not easy to replace, but we managed to do it (Faine, Stinchomb, Brown) . How many times do you fellas think the saints will be lucky like that? I’m not saying break the bank on the guy, but he sure seems worth 3-4-5 million a season to me.

by jray2000 on Jan 2, 2010 6:50 PM CST reply actions