I think you're taking this pigeonholing idea and taking it to the extreme... to the point it's absolutes... which isn't what happened at all, it's clear preferences.Of course you want guys to be interchangeable, and has Mike Pettine has said, offenses at times can force the SS to play as the FS so there has to be a certain degree of interchangeable....

That being said, some guys are just much better in coverage than others and there isn't enough talent to go around... some teams (including the Packers between Collins and Haha) didn't have a single good FS, the idea that all would have two is almost unattainable. There is usually one you'd much rather lock them into FS as much as possible! Would you want Atari bigby or Morgan Burnett at FS over Nick Collins? Heck NO!

Teams have differentiated between the two for decades that's why there is a FS and a SS and not two just Safety. Even back in LeRoy Butler day!

[list=1]

This is even true for the Patriots! CLEARLY Devin McCourty is the FS and Patrick Chung is the SS.

I think you're just misunderstanding what I'm saying and how the current NFL is.

[*] Yes absolutely, but there isn't enough talented coverage guys to go around, and they play slightly different roles and usually they're better suited for that role[/list]

---

Perhaps I could have stated my point better, but I believe defenses will evolve. I believe you will see less of a discernible skill set difference between FS and SS with the safety position getting lighter and quicker. This development is essential to deal with spread offenses. In order to effectively disguise coverages without sacrificing quality, it is essential. The pure SS who can't cover is a dinosaur, which is why Jones has effectively been a bust.

To Beast's point: This was the point I was attempting to make. Further, this is why Jackson at FS may make sense.

---

Okay you completely confused me with the old school comment, as what you're talking about is new school in my mind.

Old school is to keep the old LB/SS types in my mind.... which by the way still have a place on defense (if they're physical and though enough), just it's as a coverage ILB role which is where I think Jones belongs. And they did have the SS play a lot of Dime LBer last year!

Also I didn't realize how did this relate to Landon Collins... as I think Collins can cover, just not elite level you want at FS... but Collins could very well be the best SS (and highest paid of active SS only types). In other words I don't know about Kam Chancellor (injured/retired) or Eric Berry (signed as a FS but not plays SS) money.


Yes it may make sense, though I think keeping him at CB makes more sense as he has the physical skill set, but not the experience and was coming along as the end of the year. Plus we need more CB talent/depth, even keeping him, as neither King nor Alexander have been fully healthy for the last two years.

And some always bring up Breeland, but Breeland himself played less snaps than King due to his own injures and while he had great ups, he always had great downs and PPF rated him lower than Jackson even. So I wouldn't match what the Panthers offered him last year before he failed his physical which I think was $8 million per year... but he would be nice depth to have, just need it at a better price.

---

we have alot of money tied up in unhealthy guys. It seems many of us want to tie up even more money on more unhealthy guys.

---

Hall of Fame talent at a position you don't have to break your cap to sign someone at. If he's into coming to GB I would be about it. Landon Collins too. Safety is a good position to spend on in FA since you don't have to pay QB money for a good one like you do CB and Edge.

Earl Thomas is the best safety in the league, and he was playing like it before he got hurt, and he didn't even attend Training Camp.

His reasons for wanting more money are genuine. He's the reason why the LOB was as good as it was. He's smarter, more instinctive, and more reliable than Richard Sherman ever was.

Talk about him being injury-prone, but that's every player in the NFL. Scared money don't make money.

I'd take him and Mathieu in a heartbeat. Landon Collins is literally another Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. His play last year was every indication that he is.

---

Fuck Earl Thomas.
He’s declining, he wants that big money, and he’s Shithawk scum.

Fuck no.

JDL, don't hold back...tell us what you really think. There is no judgment here.

---

He hasn't declined. He was the best safety in the league last year

---

We have a need at FS.

Earl Thomas is an FS.

Last year Earl Thomas was a top-level FS before injury.

Maybe I am mixing him and Kam up, but I also believe that the last 1-2 years he was a locker room distraction (visiting Cowboys after game, publicly politicking for a different contract, flipping the bird to the crowd when being taken off the field...).

If risk = (probability) * (impact), how do you rate the following?
-he won't be as good as last year due to age (what is probability,, and what is impact on team if this is true?)
-he won't be as good as the past because after two "freak" injuries, he is sub-consciously affected and his quality of play is affected as a result.
-he is a headcase, and fails to live up to his talent as a player or leader due to contract issues, etc...

---