g-dawg Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 http://profootballta...on-to-new-deal/D'Qwell Jackson, MLB - Cleveland Brownsthe top two MLBs in free agency are D'Qwell Jackson and Curtis Lofton. One just came off the market as ProFootball Talk(PFT) is reporting the Cleveland Browns re-signed him at 5yrs, $42 million.That is a lot of payola.I am on record as liking Curtis Lofton but NOT wanting to pay him what he would get in open market. Even you guys that love him generally acknowledge Lofton is not worth $7-$8million per year.I think D'Qwell is a very comparable player - I don't want to tie up $7-8MM per season on a linebacker that does not make impact plays.The market is set now. Lofton is going to want this kind of money - and he will likely get it.I hope the Falcons PASS on Lofton (might as well, everybody else does )here is article from Cleveland Plain Dealer:BEREA, Ohio --Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson signed a multi-year deal with the Browns today, and a source tells the Plain Dealer it's a five-year deal worth $42.5 million.It includes $19 million in guarantees and bonuses, the source said."Dqwell is thrilled with the deal,'' said his agent Brian Mackler. "He wanted to finish his career in Cleveland and this enables him to do that.''Mackler credited the Browns with being willing to keep Jackson around for the long term."They expressed a desire to lock him up and we finished it this morning,'' said Mackler.Mackler and the Browns had a positive meeting at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Friday that led to the five-year contract. If they had not been able to agree, Jackson would've been franchised, a source said.After missing almost two full seasons with separate pectoral muscle injuries, Jackson returned to anchor the defense last season. He played in all 16 games last season, leading the AFC and finishing second in the NFL in tackles with 158.Jackson and Browns President Mike Holmgre will hold a 3 p.m. press conference in Berea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDFIII Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I am not sure Lofton isn't worth that. We have alot of other holes to fill though. As I stated on another thread, I believe Lofton is a very good LB, just not with as many needs as we have. i believe you let him walk and promote Dent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkonator Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 this will be the bechmark where lofton start using as a negotiation and starting point to his new contract, sad to say cuz i really like Lofton, but thats tp much to sign him for. that money needs to be invested some where else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 I am not sure Lofton isn't worth that. We have alot of other holes to fill though. As I stated on another thread, I believe Lofton is a very good LB, just not with as many needs as we have. i believe you let him walk and promote Dent.I agree.......my intent is not really to bash Curtis Lofton (although sometimes I do when i hear how indispenseable he is). I just don't think - given the upgrades needed on D-Line, O-Line and secondary - I don't think the Falcons have the luxury of sinking $7-$8million per year on a player like Lofton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dharma Initiative Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I've never even heard of that guy so Lofton is probably going to cost way too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capologist Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Nah, too much IMO... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Nah, too much IMO...agreed......way too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LookAboutFalcon Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Thats to much for a non play maker, I like Lofton but would rather spend that money on Grimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDirtyWordII Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 To me, that's why the Ryan extension makes quite a bit of sense now. If I remember correctly, Ryan's cap figure alone is north of $13M. By shaving $5-7M off this with a new extension depending on how you structure the contract, you have the ability to pay Curtis.Here is the deal IMO. Lofton has shown the ability to improve. This area of his game is probably weakest, but I'd also say he had his best year all-around. Does he have the turn and cover skills of an Urlacher? No...but what he is gaining is an increased understanding of the overall NFL game and his physical ability is still more than above average.You're right. The market has been set (right around where I thought it would be at $8-9M/year) and I think to say...'let's see what Akeem Dent could do in the middle...', well his big weakness coming out of college was coverage ability too. But you're taking a gigantic risk by thinking he can replace Lofton's run game production not to mention on field leadership.At the end of the day, I think there exists a path to keep Grimes/Lofton while at the same time being significant players in the FA market. It will come at the expense of a nice salary cap cushion which we have now...but in being draft short-handed this year, this seems to be the time to spend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dboyce10 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I think lofton is worth 7 mil a year id give it to him, he is young and our leader on defense, not to mention he has improved every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychic Gibbon Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 At that price? No. Jackson isn't even worth that much, especially considering his seasons ending with injuries as of late. That, my friends, is a desperation contract from the Browns to keep a player they view as totally necessary and then paying him more than the truly elite players at the position, such as Willis and Lewis, to do so. I seriously doubt the Falcons have that mentality with any player now. They can live without players like Grimes and Lofton, but I'm sure they'd prefer to keep them.In any case, if Jackson got that kind of contract from a desperate team imagine what someone like Mario Williams will get. No thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Talon Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 No, rather put that on a game changer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Thats to much for a non play maker, I like Lofton but would rather spend that money on Grimes.I have NO DOUBT that Lofton's agent will point to this contract as a starting point. Jackson is a little more of a playmaker than Lofton(3.5 sacks vs. 1.0) and more tackles(158 vs. 147) but he is also 2 years older (28 vs. 26).I don't blame Lofton - if I was him or his agent, I would point to the Dqwell Jackson contract as well. I simply don't think either of these guys is worth the money - but somebody will pay it - I just don't want it to be the Falcons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDirtyWordII Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I have NO DOUBT that Lofton's agent will point to this contract as a starting point. Jackson is a little more of a playmaker than Lofton(3.5 sacks vs. 1.0) and more tackles(158 vs. 147) but he is also 2 years older (28 vs. 26).I don't blame Lofton - if I was him or his agent, I would point to the Dqwell Jackson contract as well. I simply don't think either of these guys is worth the money - but somebody will pay it - I just don't want it to be the Falcons.Why isn't D'Quell Jackson worth this contract? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychic Gibbon Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Why isn't D'Quell Jackson worth this contract?When healthy he's extremely good, the problem is that he has a habit of having season ending injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdzul Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 **** I love Lofton but thats a lot of cheddar..... Will be interesting to see who ponies up that much cash... I know the Eagles need Linebacker help, but not sure on their cap situation. Who else, Tampa Bay has a ton of cap room.. Who else???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 To me, that's why the Ryan extension makes quite a bit of sense now. If I remember correctly, Ryan's cap figure alone is north of $13M. By shaving $5-7M off this with a new extension depending on how you structure the contract, you have the ability to pay Curtis.Here is the deal IMO. Lofton has shown the ability to improve. This area of his game is probably weakest, but I'd also say he had his best year all-around. Does he have the turn and cover skills of an Urlacher? No...but what he is gaining is an increased understanding of the overall NFL game and his physical ability is still more than above average.You're right. The market has been set (right around where I thought it would be at $8-9M/year) and I think to say...'let's see what Akeem Dent could do in the middle...', well his big weakness coming out of college was coverage ability too. But you're taking a gigantic risk by thinking he can replace Lofton's run game production not to mention on field leadership.At the end of the day, I think there exists a path to keep Grimes/Lofton while at the same time being significant players in the FA market. It will come at the expense of a nice salary cap cushion which we have now...but in being draft short-handed this year, this seems to be the time to spend.My problems with re-signing Lofton are well documented - I believe Falcons need MAJOR renovations to the offensive and defensive lines - I would like to see some BIG free agent acquisitions to help. To me, re-signing Curtis Lofton is an opportunity cost of signing some of the bigger names I could otherwise get.Now, if Mario Williams and Carl Nicks both become unavailable prior to the Unrestricted Market opening and there are not major difference makers - then I might change my stance on Lofton. Regardless, at $8 million per season, I think Lofton is a bad investment but I do like the player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychic Gibbon Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 **** I love Lofton but thats a lot of cheddar..... Will be interesting to see who ponies up that much cash... I know the Eagles need Linebacker help, but not sure on their cap situation. Who else, Tampa Bay has a ton of cap room.. Who else????The Eagles are hugging the cap. As for teams with plenty of room to work with, the Bucs and Chiefs have more than enough room to get into multiple bidding wars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwifalcon Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 (edited) Dawg I'm finding it harder and harder to get excited about FA as it looks like it doesn't matter who we go for we are going to have to over pay.Secondly I think we have to adddress a certain area of this team and fix it in FA and go hard at it also.I don't agree with spreading the money out and trying to fix everything because at that point I really think we are only using half pie fixes and not fixing one area properly.If they do sign Lofton for similar $$$$ good luck to #50 but I gotta say for me it is 6 mill per max. Edited February 27, 2012 by kiwifalcon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creative Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I'd rather keep Grimes, make a shot at Williams (or Abe..) than pay Lofton this much. Honestly, I like him a lot.. but you gotta believe Dent was taken with this in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Why isn't D'Quell Jackson worth this contract?In my opinion, the only MLBs worth $8+ million/season are the major impact players. Ray Lewis, Brian Urlach, Patrick Willis - those types.I like putting the big dollars to players w/ difference making ability in this order:1) QB2) LT3) DE4) WR5) CB6) DT7) WLB8) MLBI just think MLB is not a premium position in the NFL and - unless you have a difference maker - then don't put premium dollars there. To me $8 million/season is premium money for that position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDirtyWordII Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 When healthy he's extremely good, the problem is that he has a habit of having season ending injuries.But he's coming off a BIG year and he's got a long history with the organization. While you can argue that his durability is in question, reports indicate that there are probably some safeguards for the Browns in this scenario. At the end of the day, when Jackson has been on the field...he's a very similar player to Lofton. With some attributes/abilities being greater in some areas and less in others, you would probably say they are in the same tier.So we've seen quite a few MLB's sign long term deals in the last 12 months and the argument I see most often that doesn't seem to make any sense is 'Lofton should take a pay cut because he doesn't make plays'. If you stack his production next to other MLB's who have signed contracts...it compares favorably. But we're essentially saying that he should be OK with taking 80% of market value. I don't get that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creative Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 (edited) For comparisons sake, PFF's rating from this season.. (remember, these are ONLY comparable if the player plays in the same position)Jackson: +18.4Lofton: +12.9 Edited February 27, 2012 by Creative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I can't wait until THIS off season is over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdub051082 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 50/50. he does continue to improve and lets face it. major upgrade over brookings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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