| ProFootballWeekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on some of the latest NFL free-agent
signings. 
Bledsoe contract puzzles some NFL insiders
Buchsbaum: A lot of people, including the Jaguars, are just stunned by the contract
Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe got. The Jaguars told Mark Brunell they’d negotiate in that
area prior to the deal, and it’s just shocking because Bledsoe is being paid like
he’s an elite player. He’s a huge nemesis to the Patriots’ cap and his
contract is holding the team back. Yet, if you speak to most scouts, he’s just an
above-average quarterback who lacks mobility. Contrary to popular belief, Mike Holmgren
was willing to go much harder after Matt Hasselbeck than Bledsoe, because Bledsoe is so
immobile and does not throw well when rolling right or left. He really limits your
offensive options, and it’s very, very hard to protect him. He’s gotten slower
and less mobile as the years have gone by. There were some rumors that Holmgren might look
at Bledsoe, but he didn’t even bother to inquire because he didn’t even want
him. Holmgren felt Bledsoe’s lack of mobility would prevent him from running
Holmgren’s offense. So, yeah, if the guy was on waivers and cleared waivers, they
would’ve signed him. But Holmgren was not going to give up even one high draft pick
for Bledsoe, and if the Patriots did try to trade him, his trade value would have been
shockingly low because of the immobility. For some reason, someone in that organization
loves him, has a blindspot for him, severely overrates him and it’s just a huge
problem for the team. He just destroys the cap every year now, and he’s going to
continue to destroy it. Plus, everything on offense has to be built around him, which
means you need tremendous pass blockers on the offensive line (which Bruce Armstrong was
in his prime, not now). You need receivers that can bail out a quarterback who is not that
accurate, and those are very hard combinations to come by. And to get those players, you
have to pay huge money, which the Patriots don’t have. So he’s putting them in a
Catch-22 position.
PFW: Is this like in the NBA when Juwan Howard was with Washington, where
he’s a good player, but the money is just so far beyond his level that they were
stuck with him for so long?
Buchsbaum: Exactly. And he caps out the team almost, preventing the team from making so
many other moves that would be beneficial to the team. The Patriots would’ve been
much better off with a mediocre quarterback making $2 million a year and using the rest of
the money to fill in in other places. With the talent and the type of offensive line they
have on the team now, they would be more effective with an average, mobile quarterback
than with Bledsoe. They would be no worse off if their quarterback were Jay Fiedler than
Drew Bledsoe.
Panthers reportedly to start Lewis
A South Carolina newspaper has reported that Panthers head coach George Seifert has
told Jeff Lewis he will start at quarterback next year and that Dameyune Craig would be
the backup. That means that Steve Beuerlein will be cut or traded. Rumors have cropped up
that such an action would be taken, especially since Beuerlein, 35, is due a $1.2 million
roster bonus on April 1.
PFW: Can you give your thoughts on Lewis and Craig?
Buchsbaum: Lewis really hasn’t shown he’s able to start. He seemed to lack
poise and regress in the last two years in Carolina. Craig is very erratic. He’s
mobile. He was more impressive as a rookie than he’s been since then. I don’t
think either one is the answer.
PFW: What does Beuerlein have left in the tank?
Buchsbaum: He’s supertough. He reads coverages well. He still has adequate arm
strength. He has absolutely no mobility and he takes a tremendous beating. He tends to
hold onto the ball too long.
Trade talks reach impasse between Chiefs, Rams
The Chiefs reportedly made two offers for Rams QB Trent Green. The Rams didn’t
like either of them. After paying Green a $500,000 bonus, the Rams are likely to take
Green off the market. The Chiefs made the offers after Green visited with the Chiefs for
two days this week.
PFW: What are your thoughts on the trade talks?
Buchsbaum: The Rams already paid the bonus. Kansas City is still interested now that
the bonus is off the books, so they wouldn’t have to pay that. The Rams are very
upset with Kansas City for that. It’s going to be much tougher for the Rams to get a
deal now. The Rams, at the price Green would cost now, with the money they’ve already
spent against the cap, are more inclined to keep him. And Kansas City feels they have a
viable option now in Beuerlein.
PFW: So Beuerlein is their top option now if they lose Green?
Buchsbaum: It looks that way.
PFW: So this is another option that Troy Aikman isn’t figured to be the
No. 1 option. Is it looking more and more like he will be forced to retire?
Buchsbaum: He can go places as a backup, I’m pretty sure, at a low salary. But
it’s up to him. He’s made his own bed now, and he’s got to sleep in it.
OT Todd Steussie waived by Vikings
PFW: What are your thoughts on this move?
Buchsbaum: He’s really fallen off the last couple of years, but he’s still an
adequate left tackle in the league, maybe even above adequate. He played poorly in
’99, started well last year and then seemed to regress a bit. Left tackles are hard
to come by and he can play the position. But the Vikings obviously did not think he was
worth the money he was making.
PFW: Will he be a hot commodity on the market?
Buchsbaum: (The fall-off in production) will scare a lot of teams off, as will the age.
It’s going to come down to price tag.
PFW: Give your thoughts on the status of the Vikings’ offense minus
several players such as Steussie, Randall McDaniel and Jeff Christy.
Buchsbaum: They’ve done a very good job at developing young players such as Matt
Birk. It’s not as bad as you might think. There’s still a chance Robert Smith
will be back. Culpepper gives them unique dimensions as do the receivers.
Lions release OT Ray Roberts
Buchsbaum: He lost his starting job last year and you can’t pay that kind of money
to a backup.
PFW: They’ve been very active along the offensive line this offseason.
What are your thoughts on the unit at this point?
Buchsbaum: They need one more piece to complete the puzzle. They have an adequate
center in Eric Beverly, they have an adequate right guard in Brendan Stai. They’ve
got the two young tackles who’ve got to show they can stay healthy for the whole year
and pass-block well enough. They need a left guard.
Dolphins waive TE Hunter Goodwin
Buchsbaum: He’s a blocking tight end, period. It seems like their making more of a
commitment to other tight ends on their roster, such as the kid they got from the Bears,
Alonzo Mayes. |
