Why you should not necessarily be enamored with FAs (A 2014 article by Albert Breer)

[top dawg]

The article is a little dated, but it still explains some principles that successful franchises use in regards to free agents as hypothesized by Albert Beer from speaking with some unnamed execs.

The four core principles that Breer came up with are as follows (each followed by my paraphrased explanations):

1. Ask the most important question

Find out why the guy is free AND ask yourself why the player is free.

2. Limit how much you project

Basically, don't get too overly excited about what the player can do in your system, but be realistic, and especially refrain from what I will term up-projecting (thinking that a player will become a great or elite core player in your system, when they weren't that for their former team).

3. Watch your draft haul

Think of compensatory picks kind of like a budget, whether you're assigning them to spend and save later, or comfortable with losing them within your own valuations.

4. Weigh the devil you know vs. the devil you don't

Sometimes spending a little more to keep the players that you know, especially your core guys, is sometimes better than taking a chance on a guy that may come into your system and fail to meet expectations. Keep the politics and the dynamics of the team in mind when making this type of financial decision because it could have greater repercussions as players WILL notice.

I think that it was an interesting analysis for those concerned with how Dave Gettleman will---and should--- go about acquiring free agents. Overestimating a player's skills and overpaying for those skills are generally a bad thing. You have to know what you're getting, and spend accordingly, to sustain success.

Now Breer did mention the win-now-or-your'e-fired philosophy, and perhaps the cap floor as reasons why some GMs may throw caution to the wind, but most of the time it's better to err on the conservative side, as most of the good franchises specialize in homegrown talent.

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency/story/0ap2000000332415/article/nfl-free-agency-inspires-caution-among-leagues-winning-teams

[LinvilleGorge]

4. Weigh the devil you know vs. the devil you don't

 

This is my point with Bell vs. Oher.  Well, the opposite actually.  We KNOW that Bell is atrocious in OUR system.  It's almost impossible to imagine someone being worse, unless we put Chandler back on the field again.  Bell was the devil we knew and Oher is the devil we sorta know (formerly played under Matsko).

 

I don't think anyone is expecting Oher to turn into Orlando Pace for us, but I think it's fair to expect him to at least be better than Byron Bell.

[top dawg]

This is my point with Bell vs. Oher. Well, the opposite actually. We KNOW that Bell is atrocious in OUR system. It's almost impossible to imagine someone being worse, unless we put Chandler back on the field again. Bell was the devil we knew and Oher is the devil we sorta know (formerly played under Matsko).

I don't think anyone is expecting Oher to turn into Orlando Pace for us, but I think it's fair to expect him to at least be better than Byron Bell.

I am even more comfortable with Other because John Matsko knows both of them. Oher may not end up as our starting LT or RT, but apparently the O-line coach, HC and GM believe that he is an upgrade (however modest) over Bell. And Oher providing depth is probably the worst case scenario in their equation.

[top dawg]

I think that this needs a bump.  Scot referenced Breer's article in another thread and bypassed my thread altogether. That's not nice.

[Mr. Scot]

I think that this needs a bump.  Scot referenced Breer's article in another thread and bypassed my thread altogether. That's not nice.

 

Actually I posted that same article about six minutes before you did.

 

 

But if it helps, i considered linking to this thread rather than my own.

 

In the end I just decided to link directly to the article.

[top dawg]

Actually I posted that same article about six minutes before you did.

 

 

But if it helps, i considered linking to this thread rather than my own.

 

In the end I just decided to link directly to the article.

 

Well, I'll give you that.  But, mine is better. 

 

While you were posting away, I was trying to help people to understand by paraphrasing, otherwise I'd likely have posted it first.

 

Scary?   Something about great minds...

[Mr. Scot]

Well, I'll give you that.  But, mine is better. 

 

While you were posting away, I was trying to help people to understand by paraphrasing, otherwise I'd likely have posted it first.

 

Scary?   Something about great minds...

 

Well, technically it's what your thread was about.

 

Me?  I just threw it in.

 

Probably did deserve its own discussion given some of the crazy reactions here.

 

[Mr. Scot]

Relevant to this topic...

 

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer  ·  2h 2 hours ago

Crazy thing is even after the McCourty deal, the world champs only have one guy who's highest paid at his position -- and it's the kicker.

 

[top dawg]

 

Relevant to this topic...

 

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer  ·  2h 2 hours ago

Crazy thing is even after the McCourty deal, the world champs only have one guy who's highest paid at his position -- and it's the kicker.

 

 

I can't but help give old Belichick his props, but we're gonna see how good he really is without Brady in a few years.  That dude covers over a multitude of sins.  I mean, BB did win with Cassel that one year, and I suspect that Garropolo is going to be pretty good...Who am I kidding? Bill knows his poo! 

[LinvilleGorge]

Other than Brady, who do they have that theyone can argue should be the #1 paid player at his position? If they retain Revis, he may be.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Other than Brady, who do they have that theyone can argue should be the #1 paid player at his position? If they retain Revis, he may be.

Gronk, Revis, Gostkowski

[stirs]

Wonder which college will pick up Chip Kelly in 2017?