GroupThink 3 - Kitty Hawk, 2021

[QuikSand]

This is year two of the GroupThink 3 franchise.

Last season, we managed to take the limping Kitty Hawk franchise out of the league's doldrums and into the playoffs. This year, we'll face a new degree of financial challenges which will add to our degree of difficulty.

Files to get up to date are located below.

[QuikSand]

2022 preseason

As we get things started, we have news from the player front – good news. We aren’t losing anyone to retirement, so we will have a full slate of players returning for roster consideration this year. Perhaps there is a sense that “something is happening” in Kitty Hawk (and I don’t mean the hurricane).

Scout Roosevelt Doyle and Coach Dixon Rivers will stay in place – that’s pretty obvious, I think.

Our balance sheet is the first big pivot for the season – and it’s the news that we realistically expected. We lost $91.6 million last year, and will suffer our penalty as a result. (We will need to stay 10% below the salary cap this season). But it’s not as bad as it seemed. With all our bonuses paid out this last year (a staggering $89 million) that’s quite a lot of our problem. In the coming year, we expect to see that figure drop a great deal right away—and that ought to help our bottom line. And a drop in our salary totals will contribute to that as well. Ticket revenue was up 19% last season – and we will hope to see that continue upward, especially now that we have a good season to bank on.

As we prepare to start the FA period, here is our roster situation – with contracts listed for reference:

Front Office Football: The Fourth Edition
Kitty Hawk Flyers Roster, Contract View
   
  Player                #   Pos  OnTm   EndCnt Exp  Cap Cost        Save if Rlse  
Clayton, Jon            14  QB   2017   2022   5    $3,810,000      $1,320,000        
Sparks, Heath           18  QB   2020   2021   7    $3,410,000      $2,780,000        
Hutchins, Chuck         17  QB   2020   2021   8    $1,610,000      $1,610,000        
Tittle, Bennie          13  QB   2020   2022   2    $990,000        $890,000          
Finley, Daniel          20  RB   2018   2023   4    $8,260,000      $4,000,000        
Strong, Rob             24  RB   2020   2022   2    $920,000        $860,000          
Atkins, Brett           25  RB   2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Withers, Luke           41  RB   2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Rubble, Earnest         39  FB   2020   2023   2    $2,020,000      $1,120,000        
Kowalski, Rondell       36  FB   2020   2021   12   $1,850,000      $1,850,000        
Diana, Julio            80  TE   2019   2021   13   $2,300,000      $1,850,000        
Wayne, Bernard          82  TE   2020   2021   4    $1,190,000      $1,190,000        
Quick, Bert             8   TE   2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Song, Peter             84  FL   2019   2024   3    $9,300,000      $5,550,000        
Sanderson, Robert       83  FL   2020   2023   2    $2,630,000      $1,520,000        
Carr, Kenneth           81  FL   2020   2022   9    $2,400,000      $1,800,000        
Matthews, Julio         88  FL   2020   2021   4    $1,120,000      $1,120,000        
Rheams, Corwin          85  SE   2020   UFA    8    $0              $0                
Andrews, Willie         65  LT   2018   2023   12   $13,000,000     $6,700,000        
Johns, Timothy          61  LT   2020   2021   7    $1,500,000      $1,500,000        
Reese, Bernie           66  LT   2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Hausermann, Dave        72  LG   2020   2021   6    $1,320,000      $1,320,000        
Winters, R.J.           54  C    2012   2022   14   $10,660,000     $8,000,000        
Perry, Lewis            57  C    2019   2021   3    $940,000        $940,000          
Cicci, Carlton          60  C    2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Peterson, Rufus         68  RG   2019   2021   3    $940,000        $940,000          
Otis, Les               67  RG   2020   ----   4    $0              $0                
Kinsey, Lincoln         4   P    2020   ----   3    $0              $0                
Beattie, Mickey         1   K    2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Martin, Cedric          78  LDE  2018   2022   11   $8,850,000      $4,000,000        
Peters, Ellis           70  LDT  2020   2022   8    $2,500,000      $1,800,000        
Littlejohn, Jack        77  RDT  2019   2023   3    $3,790,000      $2,200,000        
Davison, Frank          94  RDT  2018   2022   4    $2,290,000      $1,750,000        
Armstrong, Stan         75  RDT  2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Biegen, Todd            73  RDE  2020   2023*  6    $7,500,000      $6,000,000        
Emerson, Geoff          76  RDE  2019   ----   3    $0              $0                
Mills, J.J.             50  SLB  2020   2021   9    $2,650,000      $2,000,000        
Peterson, Leroy         92  SLB  2020   2021   9    $2,400,000      $1,760,000        
Brito, Byron            58  SLB  2018   2021   4    $2,190,000      $1,690,000        
Wynn, Leslie            99  SLB  2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Daniels, Russell        96  MLB  2020   2023   7    $12,750,000     $10,000,000       
Shon, Desmond           52  MLB  2020   2021   9    $2,390,000      $1,610,000        
Wilson, Roy             93  MLB  2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Davidson, Ty            51  WLB  2020   2021   4    $1,400,000      $1,400,000        
Gillespie, Sammy        90  WLB  2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Henderson, Joseph       42  LCB  2020   2022   6    $4,080,000      $2,980,000        
Duran, Luther           28  LCB  2020   2023   2    $1,480,000      $890,000          
Dole, Orlando           46  LCB  2020   ----   2    $0              $0                
Bordano, Edgar          29  RCB  2018   2022   4    $6,020,000      $4,000,000        
Drake, Spencer          38  RCB  2020   UFA    5    $0              $0                
Hawkins, Ricky          33  SS   2020   2022   11   $4,000,000      $3,000,000        
Reynolds, Louie         30  FS   2018   2022   12   $2,210,000      $1,850,000        
McNair, Orlando         45  FS   2020   2022   2    $1,120,000      $860,000          
   
$$ - player is in starting lineup, ## - player is inactive.  
   
Players Under Contract: 37
On Active Roster: 37
   
Salary Cap: $174,300,000
Cap Room: $23,570,000
Maximum for New Player: $15,450,000

Cap Room Lost (to old contracts): $12,940,000
   
Cap Room Lost Next Year (to old contracts): $0
Cap Room Required Next Year: $119,580,000

Hmm. By my calculus, we have a real number problem. We need to end up with some $17.5m in cap space… and that means that for the coming season, we are basically already at our limit. Once we sign out expected rookies, we’ll be right about at that figure… but we’ll be nine players short of a full roster. We’ve got work to do, gang.

Time to start thinking about some of the guys making $1.5-$2.5m who are getting marginal playing time. We have little choice but to fill in most of these spots with rookies.

[QuikSand]

File update #1 of 2

[QuikSand]

File update #2 of 2

[QuikSand]

We are in need of a TCY draft file... any ideas? Anyone have a chance to quicksim through the TCY career that was distributed?

If not, I can get to it sommetime Tuesday.

[Buzzbee]

Originally posted by QuikSand
We are in need of a TCY draft file... any ideas? Anyone have a chance to quicksim through the TCY career that was distributed?

If not, I can get to it sommetime Tuesday.

I may be taking 1/2 a day from work and can possibly quick sim a TCY draft file. I should know in a half hour or so.

[Fritz]

Quik left a little thing out.

Our coach, still the youngest in the league, has made tremendous strides.

[Fritz]

I know this might be a big fighting point, but I think we could release MLB Russell Daniels and use that money to replace him and finance our other needs.

We could easily get a MLB that was good enough to replace him AND a high value guard, with enough left over for some rooks.

[Fritz]

looking at "franchise value" the game thinks we have the most valuable roster.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Fritz
I know this might be a big fighting point, but I think we could release MLB Russell Daniels and use that money to replace him and finance our other needs.

We could easily get a MLB that was good enough to replace him AND a high value guard, with enough left over for some rooks.

Might be a fighting point, yes... but not something I'd completely discount as out of hand. His contract is really huge, and at worst Desmond Shon could probably start for us at MLB.

[Buzzbee]

I'm starting to quick sim a TCY career. Should have some draft files in a little while.

[Fritz]

albionmoonlight will think I am picking on his side of the ball, but...

DE Todd Biegen: only played in 9 games. Would save 6 mil

CB Edgar Bordano: Actually, I don't think we should cut him, but most of his sal is not tied to a bonus.

SLB J.J. Mills: he is gone after this season anyway

SLB Peterson: are we getting enough from him?

QB Hutchens: we could pick up a clean 1.6 M (no bonus) but I would hate to lose him.

QB Jon Clayton: Can him

[Fritz]

Oddieis?

Lake Erie has 17 former first round picks on their roster. The game assigns them a roster value of 1, lowest in the league.

[albionmoonlight]

I may not be around so much this week. It depends on how work goes.

Biegen only played in 9 games because of injury. He did well when he was in.

Daniels was supposed to be the centerpiece of the defense when we got him last year. And I was thinking of moving to a 3-4 anyway.

However, because our defense did so well in the 4-3, I want to keep the 4-3 for the foreseeable future.

I am really hesitant to tear up our front seven. They were by far the best part of our defense. No one could run against us.

With all of that said, I will make the sacrifice for the D and say that you can get rid of Daniels. Shon did a great job rushing the passer from the WLB spot, so part of me wants to keep him there. However, he may also be able to be a force at MLB. How does Gillispe look?

However, I would ask that, if we do release Daniels, that we don't hurt the front 7 any more and, if possible, get some depth in the secondary. We did not have injuries back there last year, but we would have been screwed if we did.

Finally, considering how much yardage we gave up through the air, I would like us to get one improved player in the secondary--either a corner or a safety.

[Fritz]

the bastard tricked us!

K Beattie, who was excellent in the pre season, went 26 for 42 last season. By most accounts, that is poor.

[Buzzbee]

Almost there guys. Year 2017 of TCY quick sim. Sorry it has taken so long. I had an appointment at the eye doctor this morning.

[Buzzbee]

Here are two draft files. Don't know which year we need to use. I'll let you guys figure that out.

[Buzzbee]

Here's the second one.

[QuikSand]

Sorry to be away most of today... meetings, followed by pitched battles with a computer virus. Am back up and running now.

[QuikSand]

Here's the file update, with the draft class added and free agency formally begun (so we can see player demands, scout the rookies, etc.).

File #1 of 2

[QuikSand]

File #2 of 2

[QuikSand]

We have a trade offer on the table to consider - Key West wants our backup QB Hutchens. They are offering a deent veteran center (cheap) and a 5th round pick for him.

I probably wouldn't have considered this, but for the fact that Hutches has already been mentioned as a possible release for cap reasons. If we were going to cut him, we could at least poach a draft pick this way.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Fritz
SLB Peterson: are we getting enough from him?

QB Jon Clayton: Can him

I can quickly agree with these two cuts... even before giving much thought to money overall.

[albionmoonlight]

we can kill peterson as far as I am concerned

[Fritz]

Originally posted by QuikSand
We have a trade offer on the table to consider - Key West wants our backup QB Hutchens. They are offering a deent veteran center (cheap) and a 5th round pick for him.

I probably wouldn't have considered this, but for the fact that Hutches has already been mentioned as a possible release for cap reasons. If we were going to cut him, we could at least poach a draft pick this way.

ACK

I mentioned him because he had no bonus to worry about. I think we should keep him. He is an affordable and capable backup who gets along great with everyone on the O.

[Buzzbee]

As a refresher, and to keep it available:

Originally posted by QuikSand

The four affinity groups are:
Aries, Gemini, Scorpio
Sagittarius, Leo, Virgo
Pisces, Taurus, Cancer
Aquarius, Libra, Capricorn

And the six pairs of opposed signs are:
Aries - Aquarius
Taurus - Libra
Gemini - Virgo
Scorpio - Pisces
Capricorn - Leo
Cancer - Sagittarius

And our CURRENT position leaders:

FB - Kowalski - Aquarius - Backfield Leader
TE - Diana - Taurus - Receivers Leader
LT - Johns - Aquarius - Offensive Line Leader
LDE - Martin - Taurus - Defensive Front Leader
SS - Hawkins - Cancer - Secondary Leader

[Buzzbee]

In the "With a name like Smucker's, it HAS to be good" category:

Free Agent FB for the Louisville Hawks - Hanging Chad Smith
Free Agent TE for the Ft Wayne Pistons - Pork Chop Welshans

Honorable Mention:
Free Agent C Dusty Henry - Poor guy. Can't get laid.

[Buzzbee]

If we do release Daniels, can we at least entertain the idea of signing MLB Gilbert Austin. He is a Taurus, so there would be an affinity with both our defensive leaders. He is currently asking for $4,870,000 1st year, $5,000,000 2nd year, and $5,150,000 third year (total cap cost). This would also allow us to keep Shon at WLB and give us a little depth at MLB in case of injury. I know Austin is probably a more expensive replacement than Fritz was thinking of, but think he is at least worth a look.

Coupled with this, to reduce salary I would suggest releasing Beigen. Albion pointed out that he played well when he was healthy. I'm not so sure he played $7 million well. Here are his stats:

GP  GS  TCKL  ASST  SACK  BLKD  HURR  PR% TK%
9   9    19    2     5     2     6    4.7  5.8

If we release him we save $6 mil - $1.5 mil bonus = $4.5 mil and he only costs us $3mill against next years cap. I know Albion didn't want to touch the front 7 any more if we let Daniels go, but if we sign Austin above it might help alleviate that concern.

This would leave us with a bit of a shortage at DE, but we could potentially pick up a cheap FA or address DE in the draft. Plus Shon at WLB would help shore up a weak DE.

Releasing these two players would CLEAR nearly $12 million in cap room, if I can add correctly, which is in serious doubt. {$10 million - $2.75 million = $8.25 million clear for Daniels. $6 million - $1.5 million = $4.5 million clear for Beigen. 8.25 + 4.5 = 11.75} Next years cap hit would be $8.5 million for the two.

Just my thoughts. Accept them or shoot them down as you see fit.

[QuikSand]

Just an overall thought here -- how much do we really *need* to cut from this current roster? Instead of pushing the big ticket guys that are on the table, what if we insted shaved something like $6-8 million just by releasing about 6-8 guys who are currently in lesser roles? Wouldn't that free up enough cap space so we could at least fill in the rest of the roster with rookies, and go from there?

My point is... where is this current roster not basically set right now? We are not currently looking for any starters, except perhaps on the OL... this team is pretty much in good shape, right? And that's before we add our first couple of rookies, who ought to help shore up areas that get thinned out by releases.

My thinking is that we at least consider something less drastic that cutting guys who were key players last year - and instead look at releasing a package of cheaper reserves, and taking a fleet of maybe 18 or so rookies into the season. Yes, we will lack a bit of quality depth... but we'll keep most of the team intact from the current year, which I think makes some sense.

Potential cut list along these lines (without a lot of thought):

LB Peterson 1.8
DT Davison 1.7
LB Brito 1.7
LB Davidson 1.4
QB Clayton 1.3
TE Wayne 1.2

We make those cuts, and that spares us about $9 million. We then could basically sit out free agency, and fill in the rest of the roster with rookies. If rookies coats us about $600K each (I'm guessing there), that means we could probably afford to recycle about $7M of that money saved back into about 11-12 rookie players, and use the rest to keep us under the overall salary cap.

So, we'd gain a net of about 5 players (cut 6 and sign 11), which would push our roster to 49 players. We'd be shy of the full 53, but we could field a legal team with 49 guys.


It's an option. Might not be the most palatable, but it's something to consider, I think. And to the extend we cut one high priced guy, we can think of this as a "baseline" that the release allows us to add to.

[QuikSand]

Are TE Diana and FB Kowalski untouchable (as position leaders) when we make cuts here? Our rule specifically says we have to offer them new contracts... the "spirit" suggests that they have to stay, I'd think, but the letter doesn't say so. Any thoughts? They each make about $1.8m and are pretty marginal players...

[Buzzbee]

Re-posting for convenience.

Originally posted by QuikSand
Here is our original set of house rules, as modified by our discussion from some time ago:

- - -

PLAYER ACQUISITIONS
-Players other than undrafted rookies may only be acquired during the draft and the 20-stage FA process
-No initiating trades, other than tades during the draft involving current year's picks only
-Team may respond to trade offers that pass the standard fairness test (alter and confirm)
-Team may not accept a first round draft pick in trade for a reserve player
-Every FA offer to a player requesting any bonus (not including current team members) must include a signing bonus at least as large as the highest year's salary
-Team may make unlimited FA offers before the first week of free agency, and then no more than two more offers before the end of the FA process

ROSTER MANAGEMENT
-Team may not renegotiate or extend any player contracts
-Team may not enter the regular season with a chemistry conflict
-All positional team leaders must be starters for the team
-All positional team leaders must receive at least a qualifying offer from the team for a new contract

FINANCES
-Ticket prices for each level must remain consistent with lower of two closest teams, geographically
-If team runs an operating deficit, the following year the team must remain 10% under the salary cap
-The preceding effect is cumulative - two running annual deficits require staying 20% below cap, etc.
-Cannot have both scout and coach in the top ten salaries of the league

ACCOUNTABILITY
-A coach with a losing record the season his contract expires can not be rehired
-Last place in the division gets the coach fired (unless it is his first year with the team)
-Last place in the conference gets the "starting" QB sacked (unless he is in his first 3 seasons)
-Last place in the league gets the coach, starting QB, and scout canned.

[Buzzbee]

My initial thoughts without going through in-depth analysis is that cutting these marginal (at best) players and replacing them with more, not significantly cheaper players isn't going to have a huge impact on our cap.

{Edited for faulty logic}

And I don't think this takes into consideration players like Corwin Rheams, Brett Atkins, or Luke Withers that we might want to re-sign. Not to mention replacing or re-signing both our P and K. Just not sold on the idea yet.

[Buzzbee]

Dola - One move that might save us a few hundred thousand would be to cut C Lewis Perry ($920,000) and re-sign C Carlton Cicci ($750,000). Cicci appears to be the better player.

[Buzzbee]

Dola2 - Not to say cutting these guys is necessarily a bad idea. Just don't know if it is going to give us enough wiggle room.

[Buzzbee]

Originally posted by QuikSand
Are TE Diana and FB Kowalski untouchable (as position leaders) when we make cuts here? Our rule specifically says we have to offer them new contracts... the "spirit" suggests that they have to stay, I'd think, but the letter doesn't say so. Any thoughts? They each make about $1.8m and are pretty marginal players...

Since we went 11-5 and won a playoff game in our first year, it might be best to go with the spirit of the law rather than the letter. Also, we only have one more year on each's contract. Adds a little element of strategy in who we have as group leaders.

Just my $0.02.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Buzzbee
Since we went 11-5 and won a playoff game in our first year, it might be best to go with the spirit of the law rather than the letter. Also, we only have one more year on each's contract. Adds a little element of strategy in who we have as group leaders.

No real argument there - that' my inclination, too.

But let's not count these guys out after this season - if we put an offer on the table for them, we're pretty likely to get them both back and have them until they retire (or are eclipsed as positional leaders).

[QuikSand]

The more I look, the more I think that the single best candidate we have for a cap-motivated release is DE Todd Biegen. Couldn't stay healthy last year, and when he was he still wasn't all that impressive on the field. Plus, he doesn't have all that much tied up in bonus money - so we could save a ful $6m this season by releasing or trading him.

If we decide that we need to make up cap space in chunks, this looks like the first one to me. Of course, our defensive front is going to be priority one for the draft and/or whatever we decide to do in free agency this year, starting with the list of potential cap cuts I listed above, and continuing with the deliberations of cutting guys like DE Biegen and MLB Daniels.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by Buzzbee

LT - Johns - Aquarius - Offensive Line Leader

this is new for 2021

[Buzzbee]

I was wondering about that. I knew that he wasn't a starter, and was trying to remember if we started him, but set his playing time very low. After reading Fritz's post I remembered that C Winters was our O-Line leader last year.

[Fritz]

I would really like to keep Wayne. His blocking may be top notch soon and he would help offset our so so situation at RT. Also recall that Diana is not a 16 game starter, so we something in the way of a backup.

If he is on a cut list, can he be held onto until after the draft?

[Fritz]

Originally posted by Buzzbee
I was wondering about that. I knew that he wasn't a starter, and was trying to remember if we started him, but set his playing time very low. After reading Fritz's post I remembered that C Winters was our O-Line leader last year.

No, his play time was high and he played almost every snap. Our depth a T leaves a little to be desired. Actually, he would not be so bad if the RG postion could improve. As it is, the right side of the O-line is just not solid enough. I hope the draft allows us to address this issue, at least for the future.

[Buzzbee]

Perhaps with the release of Beigen, coupled with QS's suggested trimming of the fat, we might be in pretty good cap shape.

Next question is, will that be enough. We were pretty heavily in the red last year, and with ticket prices fairly stagnant I don't see much in the way of increasing the top line. That means in order to improve the bottom line we've got to slim down our expenses. The 10% cap hit should help, but I don't think that alone will get us there.

Speaking of ticket prices, did anyone do anything to adjust them or make sure we were still in range?

[Buzzbee]

Originally posted by Fritz
No, his play time was high and he played almost every snap. Our depth a T leaves a little to be desired. Actually, he would not be so bad if the RG postion could improve. As it is, the right side of the O-line is just not solid enough. I hope the draft allows us to address this issue, at least for the future.

I stand corrected. Well, actually I'm sitting, but anyway...

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Buzzbee
Speaking of ticket prices, did anyone do anything to adjust them or make sure we were still in range?

I did adjust ticket prices, but had to fudge the rule a bit. For some reason, Ocean City seems to have dropped most of its ticket prices from last year - which would necessitate us doing the same under the rule as originally envisioned. Instead, I moved our ticker prices to be below the midpoint of the two closest teams, which amounted to a moodest increase over last year. I expect we'll see some minor bump in revenues, but not a huge one from that.


But overall - we're going to have a VERY tough time getting into the black this season, no matter what we do. We already have two of the cheapest front office staffers possible, and we are going to have very modest bonus costs this year under any circumstance. What else is there for us? I don't know... maybe if we get a couple of home games in the playoffs, that could help boost revenues... but past that, I'm out of ideas to save our skins.

[Buzzbee]

Originally posted by QuikSand
No real argument there - that' my inclination, too.

But let's not count these guys out after this season - if we put an offer on the table for them, we're pretty likely to get them both back and have them until they retire (or are eclipsed as positional leaders).

Yes, wasn't thinking about having to offer to them again. Of course if their performance is lackluster, we might get them cheaper. *shurg*

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Fritz
No, his play time was high and he played almost every snap. Our depth a T leaves a little to be desired. Actually, he would not be so bad if the RG postion could improve. As it is, the right side of the O-line is just not solid enough. I hope the draft allows us to address this issue, at least for the future.

RG Irv Wallace would make a nice addition, albeit a chemistry-neutral one, as a Leo. Regardless, at under $1m, h could probably evolve into a good player. He is, however, only seeking a one year deal. FYI

[Fritz]

Originally posted by QuikSand

But overall - we're going to have a VERY tough time getting into the black this season, no matter what we do. We already have two of the cheapest front office staffers possible, and we are going to have very modest bonus costs this year under any circumstance. What else is there for us? I don't know... maybe if we get a couple of home games in the playoffs, that could help boost revenues... but past that, I'm out of ideas to save our skins.

we were onlky drawing around 58,000 a game last season. With our 11-5 record we should see a little more fan interest.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by QuikSand
RG Irv Wallace would make a nice addition, albeit a chemistry-neutral one, as a Leo. Regardless, at under $1m, h could probably evolve into a good player. He is, however, only seeking a one year deal. FYI

If we picked him up, could we make an organizational agreement to prioritize a good run G in the draft? A year as a backup and anyone we pick up could probably start in 22.

[QuikSand]

Fritz, I'm looking at the QB position, and forecasting out past this year into next. Check out free agent QB Ethan Francis, who has played only sparingly for Memphis, and is now a free agent. He'd have some natural affinities, and might accept a bargain-basement contract. He's not the ideal combination of skills in my book, but does he look like an overall better play than Chuck Hutchins? (I'm just assuming that Sparks will be gone after this season, no matter what we do)

[QuikSand]

Looking at RG... Rufus Peterson, our incumbent starter, doesn't look all that bad to me. He posted uninspiring stats last season, but without a real investment there, I don't know what else we'd expect. He wasn't terrible (27% KRBs and 1.4% SkA are underwhelming, but not tragic numbers) and is still cheap for this year -- with another year under his belt. I think it's tough to see us doing a lot better there immediately.

No argument that G is a place we'd liek to bring along a youngster, with a starting job in 2022 in mind. But after checking out Peterson, I'm thinking that we go after a rookie, rather than a free agent.