Thank Goodness We Kept DWill

[bleys]

I don't know about people's comments last year.. but the point people were making was Goodson has the talent to easily backup Stewart and share the workload if DWill was too expensive to keep or decided to leave.

that still rings true, and for a player entering his 3rd year, this "I told you so" is ridiculous considering if we grabbed Jonathan Joseph instead of DWill, this topic would still be irrelevant. CB is a much bigger hole than keeping 4 talented RBs on the roster.

[panthers55]

I know that is what Hurney said, but I still think there is a lot more to it. You don't see players, especially at the RB position, continue playing on rookie contracts when they have outperformed because they know they have such a short window to cash in. I have no problem with DW being taken care of; he certainly is a class act on and off the field.

Did Hurney say before the lockout that when a deal is done, he is going to take care of DWill?? He said as much, so there was no secret handshake or secret deal, there was an acknowledged understanding that our core group of guys would be resigned. Hurney said that for 8 months and then was true to his word.

End of story.

[bleys]

I don't know about people's comments last year.. but the point people were making was Goodson has the talent to easily backup Stewart and share the workload if DWill was too expensive to keep or decided to leave when CB is a much more glaring hole..

if we let DWill walk for Jonathan Joseph, I would have been okay with that. Instead, the coaching staff is playing the waiting game for a position that needs filled. maybe they'll address it next year.

[Guest Setfree1012]

The OP is right, I remember during and before contract talks many were more or less dismissing D-Will and plugging in Mike Goodson as the #2. Thing is he's no D-Will or Stew, so with D-Will gone and if Stew has to sit out a few (due to injury) were people really serious about turning things over to a fumble prone 3rd down back?

I'm just being honest, I love what Goody brings to the team (versatility, mismatches while split out), I've refered to him as a "Reggie Bushesque" type player but IMO he's better because he has much better vision, thing is he just puts the ball on the ground too much to be apart of a regular rotation until it improves. Here's to hoping he does.

[Guest Spot On Dtan]

Dear god.

Look here folks,

I understand that "DWill" has done a lot for you in the past.

But let's be objective here.

Your GM (according to you "best cap GM in NFL) has dropped the ball on this one.

Big time.

21 million guaranteed to a guy who will be out of the league in 2 years? 43 million overall?

When you have 2 younger, capable back in Stewart and Goodson still under contract.

You'll regret this folks.

And sooner than you think.

[Montsta]

I think I heard in one of the JR interviews recently that he said they draft their own guys, and if you play well, they will pay you and extend your contract after three years. Maybe it was the one with Morgan Fogarty? The lockout obviously delayed a few but he's been true to his word. Kalil is the only one that hasn't been done yet that makes me the slightest bit nervous.

[jtm]

I don't know about people's comments last year.. but the point people were making was Goodson has the talent to easily backup Stewart and share the workload if DWill was too expensive to keep or decided to leave when CB is a much more glaring hole..

if we let DWill walk for Jonathan Joseph, I would have been okay with that. Instead, the coaching staff is playing the waiting game for a position that needs filled. maybe they'll address it next year.

Would you be comfortable with Goodson as our #2 back if DW had walked? I am curious as to others perceptions about Goodson at this point.

I for one, think he is a liability to have on the field until he corrects this problem. If you fumble in the NFL, you lose games. In our division, we can't lose games because of mistakes. At this point, I have zero confidence in Goodson's ability to hold onto the ball.

[teeray]

Yeah totally agree here. In my true d*ckish way I went ahead and reminded all the national guys thru twitter who were pooing the signing bc of Stewart and Goodsen that Goodsen fumbled twice and Stewart got hurt again (albeit minor).

[panthers55]

Dear god.

Look here folks,

I understand that "DWill" has done a lot for you in the past.

But let's be objective here.

Your GM (according to you "best cap GM in NFL) has dropped the ball on this one.

Big time.

21 million guaranteed to a guy who will be out of the league in 2 years? 43 million overall?

When you have 2 younger, capable back in Stewart and Goodson still under contract.

You'll regret this folks.

And sooner than you think.

Given how many times we will run this year and how diffcult it is to keep everyone healthy, having plenty of capable guys makes sense. Then again being a Falcon's fan you must be pretty happy you let all you runningback depth walk in free agency to rely on Snelling and Rodgers to back up Turner. If Turner gets hurt your playoff hopes go down the toilet as well. Sooner than you think.

[jtm]

Did Hurney say before the lockout that when a deal is done, he is going to take care of DWill?? He said as much, so there was no secret handshake or secret deal, there was an acknowledged understanding that our core group of guys would be resigned. Hurney said that for 8 months and then was true to his word.

End of story.

Why do you think DW did not hold out for a bigger contract in 2008 and 2009 when he was a pro bowl RB and he made $745,000 in 2009. Every other player in the league is holding out now and DW did not. I don't think he is an idiot. This is why I think JR pulled him aside and told him he would be taken care of. Otherwise, the whole situation doesn't make sense.

[panthers55]

Why do you think DW did not hold out for a bigger contract in 2008 and 2009 when he was a pro bowl RB and he made $745,000 in 2009. Every other player in the league is holding out now and DW did not. I don't think he is an idiot. This is why I think JR pulled him aside and told him he would be taken care of. Otherwise, the whole situation doesn't make sense.

He was. Hurney told him he would be taken care of after the lockout. Plus I honestly think Williams is a loyal guy, wanted to be here and wouldn't complain about his contract. That and the fact he was hurt much of last year gave him little leverage to complain anyway.

[bleys]

Would you be comfortable with Goodson as our #2 back if DW had walked? I am curious as to others perceptions about Goodson at this point.

I for one, think he is a liability to have on the field until he corrects this problem. If you fumble in the NFL, you lose games. In our division, we can't lose games because of mistakes. At this point, I have zero confidence in Goodson's ability to hold onto the ball.

hard to say.. it's discouraging seeing him drop the ball yet again.. the question comes down for me, would Jonathan Joseph, Chris Carr, or Rogers been more of an asset for our team than a stable of 4 RBs....

if Goodson only has 3 fumbles this year, and then 1 next year.. and DWill continues to miss games.. then yes, I think they should have replaced DWill as we invested in the CB position instead..

considering Goodson is only entering his 3rd year, coming off a year where Fox decided to kick back and relax, I think this coaching staff is actually going to emphasize coaching up their players and hopefully this fumbling issue becomes a non-issue this year.. he's already shown he can step up when neither Stewart or DWill was in the game.

[jtm]

Dear god.

Look here folks,

I understand that "DWill" has done a lot for you in the past.

But let's be objective here.

Your GM (according to you "best cap GM in NFL) has dropped the ball on this one.

Big time.

21 million guaranteed to a guy who will be out of the league in 2 years? 43 million overall?

When you have 2 younger, capable back in Stewart and Goodson still under contract.

You'll regret this folks.

And sooner than you think.

Coming from a Falcons fan that has an injury prone RB without a capable backup, and just traded their future drafts away for one player.

[jtm]

hard to say.. it's discouraging seeing him drop the ball yet again.. the question comes down for me, would Jonathan Joseph, Chris Carr, or Rogers been more of an asset for our team than a stable of 4 RBs....

if Goodson only has 3 fumbles this year, and then 1 next year.. and DWill continues to miss games.. then yes, I think they should have replaced DWill as we invested in the CB position instead..

considering Goodson is only entering his 3rd year, coming off a year where Fox decided to kick back and relax, I think this coaching staff is actually going to emphasize coaching up their players and hopefully this fumbling issue becomes a non-issue this year.. he's already shown he can step up when neither Stewart or DWill was in the game.

I guess this is where we can agree to disagree. Most here say we have a stable of 4 backs, but I disagree. We have a stable of 2 backs and the potential for a stable of 4. Goodson and Sutton haven't proven themselves. Goodson for the reasons already discussed and Sutton just hasn't had enough playing time.