So far: CB Jimmy Wilson not expected to be retained CB Cortland Finnegan chopped WR Brian Hartline chopped WR Brandon Gibson chopped OL Nate Garner chopped (seems to want to retire) Criticize them all we want, and there are reasons to criticize, there's nothing wrong with any of these moves thus far.
Basically going as most of us thought. Still some more to come as well. I think we see an extension today.
Our WR situation is looking very promising. Wallace - Being shopped Landry - Staying Hartline - Gone Gibson - Gone Matthews - Staying? Hazel, Matt - ??? McDonald, Tyler - ??? Preston, Michael - ???
I think most of us expected all these moves for the most part...Atleast it's what any competent regime would do, so I was worried.
Dannell Ellerbe will be released but they may be forced to manipulate the timing such that they're allowed to designate him a June 1st cut.
Ellerbe I believe is set to collect $8.5 million cash this year and Wheeler is set to collect $3.0 million. So $11.5 million in 2015. An additional $11.5 million in 2016 and $11.0 million in 2017.
I agree. The only consideration at this point is doing it in a manner that makes the most sense from a salary cap manipulation standpoint. The decision to cut/trade a player should always be made on a cash basis. The decision WHEN to cut/trade a player should always be made on a salary cap manipulation basis.
To think Ellerbe was once tapped as the guy to take over where Ray Lewis left them. Boy did the Ravens dodge a bullet there
No brainer here. He's hurt and he's on board for 5 Mil next year. He had a standard 2 year but really 1 year deal last year. Feel bad for him with his injury - will be tough making it on another team and he played very well for us. But, the writing was on the wall even before the season was over.
Signing him last year was worth the gamble, but it was always a one year move. I'm really glad that he was cut and we can move on. I want to see Shelly Smith next, as there is almost no cap hit and the coaches don't seem to trust him anyways. I expect Ellerbe to be gone too, and as a regular cut. The savings is needed now. Waiting to get the larger number in June helps what? Signing leftovers in the summer? And guys, cutting Wheeler saves all of 300k. For that, he's better on the team playing special teams and as a veteran reserve. Cutting him after June 1 does nothing to give the team more cap room now, and only hurts 2016. Live with him for one more year and then we'll ditch him next March.
We may not be so quick to cut Wheeler. $3 million isn't absurd for a part time player. You don't have to replace Ellerbe's 2014 production so he's an EZ cut, especially getting $8 million out of it. We cut Finnegan, meanwhile, Sean Smith's contract signed in 2013 was worth, by yearly average, the same amount that we signed Finnegan for a year later. I'm hopeful we're moving away from these decisions. Tannenbaum/Hickey seem to be willing to make the right moves in terms of jettisoning personal and Hickey has a partial vote of confidence based on some of his 2014 moves.
It isn't just $3 million. It is $3 million in dead money in 2015 if release right now. It is different.
I think I'm in the minority here, but I'd like to re-sign Finnegan to a cheaper contract to play nickle CB. I think he has some depth value and he's a great mentor, but he's no $5M/year CB, so I understand his release.
I'm not ragging on you when I say this; It's just an honest observation. I could be wrong, but I have yet to see any reported roster move that you have endorsed. Has there ever been a move that you have approved of?
yea, this one and all the other cuts we've made over the last couple days, purging the team of Ireland's dumb *** contracts.
He was OK until he got hurt, a very common theme with last year's FA signees. We might've been better off keeping Nolan Carroll. Better still, we ran two solid CBs out the door in Vontae and Smith. This team gets rid of good players like the plague.