Here is the big difference in the scenario... the QB position is so ridiculous in the tag numbers verses most other positions and the fact that the Packers don't have a ton of cap space currently.
Even cutting loose a player like Clifton would still not give the Packers the flexibility in FA that one would like. Not the Ted will use it, but it basically cuts down the options.
Can they create more space.. sure they can, but creating space now comes at a cost later, it always does.. so basically you are pushing off problems onto tomorrow, that Ted doesn't do frequently.
Quarterbacks - 2012 projected tag numbers
An the "naive" part... you seriously don't think Flynn would sign a one year deal for 12 to 14 million if the numbers offered by other teams don't come remotely close to that number?
What does he have to really lose by doing so? One year of starting?
He is a backup that barring a major injury puts himself at little risk of being injured or hurting his market value.
Do I think Flynn is going to garner a 10 million per season offer? Maybe someone pulls an Arizona and overpays.. but I think history tells us that it doesn't pay off often to overpay in FA. The odds probably are worse than drafting in the top 10 before the new CBA was put into place.
To me.. the risk outweighs the reward in tagging Flynn and hoping a market is there. Unless we have an illegal wink nod agreement in place already, which I don't think Ted does much of.
The other factor in this game is what would be the return on trading Flynn. Sure we might find a team desperate enough to overpay as well in trade chips. But reality is that Flynn doesn't have enough proven game experience under his belt to garner that can't miss type of gamble from another team. Kolb is a lesson there.. If someone steps up and pays Flynn we win in compensatory pick. If he goes on and starts for another team we win in terms of a compensatory pick. Sure we are limited in the windfall we may gain.. but the risk is very low.
Some are pointing to Cassel.. major difference.. Cassel played an entire season and was consistent, not great by any means, over the course of that season. Sure you can argue that he was a product of that system in NE.. and probably correctly, but he still performed and won over the course of a season.
But at the end of the day, really I think if no one comes knocking on the door with a competitive offer in terms of salary, does one really think Flynn loses much if he takes a one year high dollar contract that the tag would afford him. To me.. that is the definition of "naive".
Oh.. and the other factor I didn't even touch on, is that Harrell has been in Mike McCarthy system now a couple of seasons and as well has shown in limited action that he can perform. So again.. if Flynn inks that tag tender.. was it a risk we had to take?
Originally Posted by: Pack93z