Thread: Examining Evan Rodriguez.....

I'm a huge fan of Andre Smith. The guy was a dominant blocker last preseason and would have made the team if we hadn't already signed Spaeth. If he can extend his skills into showing he has some goal line pass catching talent I'd love to see us keep him over Spaeth. All Spaeth seems to have as an advantage is that he's a little taller and a little heavier.

Originally Posted by soulman

I'm a huge fan of Andre Smith. The guy was a dominant blocker last preseason and would have made the team if we hadn't already signed Spaeth. If he can extend his skills into showing he has some goal line pass catching talent I'd love to see us keep him over Spaeth. All Spaeth seems to have as an advantage is that he's a little taller and a little heavier.

Speath is mainly a holdover from the Martz era of offensive football in Chicago. He'll never be anything in Tice's offense other than a backup tight end/fullback type. You can get similar production out of Andre Smith ss you can Spaeth. I would imagine that Spaeth may have seen his last game in Chicago.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Speath is mainly a holdover from the Martz era of offensive football in Chicago. He'll never be anything in Tice's offense other than a backup tight end/fullback type. You can get similar production out of Andre Smith ss you can Spaeth. I would imagine that Spaeth may have seen his last game in Chicago.

IDK Dags if that were the case why not cut or trade him during FA. The money saved might have helped saved Okoye. I think Tice keeps Speath. Don't wish to see Smith or Clutts cut.

Originally Posted by short faced bear

IDK Dags if that were the case why not cut or trade him during FA. The money saved might have helped saved Okoye. I think Tice keeps Speath. Don't wish to see Smith or Clutts cut.

Cutting him would have done no better at that time than it would have now in terms of saving salary cap dough. I don't know what Spaeth earns per year, but I doubt seriously it would meet what Okoye commanded in salary.

I do hope that we re-sign Anthony Adams or Tommie Harris to come in and play as backups to the defensive line tangent of Paea, Melton, and Toeaina. We need one more player to round that all out.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Cutting him would have done no better at that time than it would have now in terms of saving salary cap dough. I don't know what Spaeth earns per year, but I doubt seriously it would meet what Okoye commanded in salary.

I do hope that we re-sign Anthony Adams or Tommie Harris to come in and play as backups to the defensive line tangent of Paea, Melton, and Toeaina. We need one more player to round that all out.

Actually it could have because Okoye got very little in guaranteed salary. Just $1.3 mil. The other $700k is a bonus that must be earned. So......I have a suspicion that Lovie thinks Jordan Miller may be able to handle the backup role at NT and he'll move Paea to UT or they're thinking of a vet like AA returning.

The advantage their is that even though AA gets a 10yr vet minimum of around $975k only about half of that counts toward the cap. If they intend to play Paea more this year it makes more sense to have any backup DT only counting $400-$450k against the cap than $1.3-$2.0mil. AA or even Tommie Harris is he can still play offer a cheap solution for a vet who can come in for a few series without hurting you.

Originally Posted by MPBears68

Cutting (not paying) Spaeth this year "saves" about $1.7 million if memory serves. (Correct me, cap gurus, if I'm wrong here). Of course some of that will be spent paying the salary of his replacement, but Smith will be much cheaper and if he plays as well, why not? If you net $1m+ out of that, that's cap moola that can be used to extend Lach which needs to get done.

Let's not go into next years offseason without that buttoned up.

Netting out his salary less the roll up of his SB we save about $1.2 mil in cap space if we cut Spaeth. Then if we take from that what Smith would make as a first year guy $465k gains us about $735k. It's gonna be up to Tice as to which he wants because that's not enough savings to take the lesser player IMHO.

Originally Posted by soulman

Actually it could have because Okoye got very little in guaranteed salary. Just $1.3 mil. The other $700k is a bonus that must be earned. So......I have a suspicion that Lovie thinks Jordan Miller may be able to handle the backup role at NT and he'll move Paea to UT or they're thinking of a vet like AA returning.

The advantage their is that even though AA gets a 10yr vet minimum of around $975k only about half of that counts toward the cap. If they intend to play Paea more this year it makes more sense to have any backup DT only counting $400-$450k against the cap than $1.3-$2.0mil. AA or even Tommie Harris is he can still play offer a cheap solution for a vet who can come in for a few series without hurting you.

Do you think there was an ulterior motive behind not trying to meet Okoye's demands for a salary? The guy was a truly gifted pass rusher when he was in the game.