Mr. Scot

I'm just hoping for a better #2 than we have now. I don't really care if it's a free agent, a draft pick, an undrafted kid, a June cut or whatever.

Said it in the other thread... If I were Frank Gore's age, I don't know that I'd want to spend 16 games or more trying to run in that offense.

Like the one whose team went from three straight losing seasons to win its division and go to the playoffs in both of his first two years as a GM?

To be honest, this thread was meant for quick updates, not a debate on free agent philosophy. I'd rather take that discussion somewhere else.

Hey, but at least they were smart with their next year's first rounder. Bjorn Werner is gonna be an opposing team's nightmare... ...at some point

The board filters blocked Titans? Edit: Guess not.

Those organizations put themselves in place for moves like that by being wise over time and building a consistent winner. That's what we're trying to do now, but people are screaming because they want us to go on a Dan Snyder type spending spree and risk it all for one shot at a title (which we're screwed if we don't get). The shortsightedness is just silly.

Conceivable, but never take anything Incarcerated Bob says seriously.

Good luck, there.

We've had our current GM for over a decade? Did we actually fire Marty Hurney in 2005 and I missed it? I swear, to hear some folks talk you'd think Dave Gettleman's been running this team for longer than just two seasons. You guys do realize what hiring a new GM means things change, right?

Which likely means no Greg Hardy.

Or maybe knows the difference between big spending and smart spending. (that particular distinction seems to elude the grasp of several on here)

I see a lot of people mention Fleener. Apparently a fair number of folks think he's better than I think he is. If I'm a DC, Fleener doesn't scare me.

You really wanna use the 49ers as an example right now? Or the Broncos, for that matter? And the Patriots? They don't overspend (they generally don't have to) and they let big money free agents walk on a regular basis. Plus as was pointed out recently, the Pats have one - and only one - guy who is the highest paid at his position, and that's their kicker. This article by Albert Breer has been referenced a lot lately. You might wanna take a look at it. Free agency inspires caution among league's winning teams

This has been true on an annual basis, and analyzed to death, and yet every year as soon as free agency starts people are whining that we won't go out and spend like the perennial losers do.

Two straight years of playoffs is better than anything in this team's history. I know people will say we lucked into last year, but that stretch at the end wasn't luck. Throw in two straight good drafts (last year's arguably the best ever) and I see plenty of reason for optimism.

We hired our current GM in 2009? If not, it'd be kinda silly to suggest current planning started before the guy in charge right now actually got here.

I'm glad we don't. Grigson has shown he's not very good at calculating player value. A first for Trent Richardson? Three million plus for a fourth receiver? Yeesh! His MO reminds me way too much of our former GM. It's all "win now" and worry about the consequences later, which is great if you actually do "win now" but screws you for the long haul if you don't. Kudos to him for making an effort, but I'd much rather have a smart guy taking a methodical approach than a not-so-smart guy going all in on an annual basis. (if I wanted that, I'd call for Hurney to come back) Gettleman is working to build a perennial contender, not a temporary one.

William Floyd hated the Panthers...right up till the moment he signed with them.

Do you see an affordable number two out there better than Cotchery? (speaking primarily of free agents since the draft is still a ways away)

Dianna Marie Russini @NBCdianna · 4h 4 hours ago An NFL head coach just texted me free agency insight. "Some guys don't really want to leave, they just want the feeling of being wanted."

Aaron Wilson @RavensInsider · 25m 25 minutes ago Corey Peters is best friends with Sean Weatherspoon, who's also signing with the Cardinals

Like Byron Bell, Chase Blackburn acknowledging he won't be back... Chase Blackburn @Blackburn5793 · 3h 3 hours ago It will be interesting to see where God takes my family and I in our next stop in my NFL journey. #FreeAgency

From Voth... Black & Blue Review @BlackBlueReview · 1h 1 hour ago But Tampa ... ? RT @ProFootballTalk: Falcons not interested in Greg Hardy, per @DOrlandoAJC http://bit.ly/1NCohoC

The retirement talk is definitely a red flag. Sign Jake Long, draft Cedric Ogbuehi... Now that's a strategy for an organization with a lot of confidence in their team doctors.