Okay, okay - I apologize for my hyperbole (I'll never understand why everyone else gets to use it, but I'll keep my butthurt-ness to myself :pottytrain2: ). I'll amend my statement: I'm mystified by how many are reluctant to give the kid a contract. I do know that the money is not infinite - I also know that the safety position is pretty damn crucial and dude is the only good one we've got. And I will add a question: If the team can't/won't pay Collins*, why are we talking about guys like Ryan Clark, or even discussing any improvement @ the safety position? Clark is the only possible FA that even comes close to Collins, and they'd have to pay him, too. In my (probably flawed) opinion, quality safety play is key to any defensive improvement; Collins is the only guy providing that, at this point.
I also think it might be nice (yeah, I said it) to show him some freakin' love. He didn't hold out last year, he's laid it all out on the field for two years, and I just personally think he's earned it. Now, if he and his agent demand that he become the highest-paid safety in the league, well then I might think differently.
*I will insist until my death that on occasion a team has to over-pay for a player. They over-paid to move up to take Matthews, but I can't blame them, given the lift he provided. Do I think that paying a Collins more than his play strictly merits is a great thing? No. Do I think that such a thing is sometimes necessary to compete? Yep.
"dfosterf" wrote:
I'll try this one.
Since you are backing off and going to "reluctant", I promise not to wipe out any schoolkids in frustration, lol
We might need to make some roster moves, re-negotiate some contracts, make other decisions based on how THOSE negotiations proceed...IN ORDER TO show Nick the love. I would submit that this is the most LIKELY scenario, when you factor in our Kampy situation, our Cliffy situation, etc.
You agree that this is a possible scenario? The organization may have decided that it is better to (finally?) sit down in earnest with Nick and his agent AFTER they clear up the other issues as best as possible. I would do it that way if I were them. To go "Nick first"-- You just might hose yourself out of some very valuable cogs in the wheel..and multiple cogs, too.
(We got Kampy getting top 5 money in the other thread even as I post this)
"ILikeThePackers39" wrote: