GroupThink II: 2002 Preseason -- We still have positions open!

[Tasan]

Okay I think we should move to a new thread. Lets get things going here.

[Tasan]

We need to set ticket prices and get into free agency. I'll set tickets to around the prices of Dallas and New Orleans.

Once thats done, I'll repost the files and we'll start looking at free agency.

[Tasan]

Ticket prices are as follows:

Upper deck: 26
End Zone: 32
Mezzanine: 39
Sidelines: 55
Club Seats: 152
Boxes: 60,000

The link above points to the updated files now.

[strait8]

I'm here Tasan

[strait8]

I'm still getting pre free agency

[Tasan]

hrm, must be a caching problem, as I just cleared everything, downloaded, and it was at the 'continue free agency' button for me. I'll post a link for a differently named file.

[Tasan]

Here is the new link for the files.

[strait8]

Apollo ready for lift off Houston

[Tasan]

Okay, we need ideas on FAs, you guys are the scouts and coordinators, who do you want?

[Neel]

I will download the new file when I get home (where the game is), but as far as FA...
I can't see the file yet of course, but if we plan to address a franchise QB with the first pick in the draft, we should look at picking up at least two good OL prospects here, as well as DL and CB if it looks good....

My log in from home is ND not Neel, so I will post more after I look it over.

[strait8]

At the top of my list are my expensive but not top price free agents.

Jake Kolski DE
Michael Johan DT

These guys are cornerstones of the defence. give me your thoughts in regard to all-around talent versus cost on these two.

Other Mid-Low price free agents who I see as statrers:

Samuel Flynn FS
or Martin Coppa FS
William Dowell DE
JR Roupernian DE Maybe full time or designated rusher Take a little later if available.
Troy Shelton DT (super bargain)
Kyle Krone MLB
Russel Geer (Backup MLB)
Peter Beam SLB
Max kondovski WLB
Dominic Ding backup WLB good bargain
Marcus Kuffrey CB
james bailey CB
Ike Adamski SS

Bargain "future potential" URFA 1st yr FA's
these guys should be offered 2 yr contracts with a 10K bonus. If they flop it only costs 10K. Some will make solid backups or possibly starters

trent Boren SS
Ricky Blake FS
bart edmonston DT
Tracy Lee
Wesley bradley
Wade Rosenthiel DT
Warren Carter DE
Louis Forman CB
Bryant Willis CB

[strait8]

I can hear Neel screaming now. I like what we did last time Tasan.

Was it two #1 and 3 #2"s

Thoughts please gentlemen

[Tasan]

Sorry I havn't chimed in yet, I've been out of town and just now got a chance to fire up the laptop.

What we did last time was trade our 1-1 (round 1 pick 1) for the 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, then the 1-2 for the 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, then picked at 4, then traded the 2-2, 3-2, 3-4 for the 1-10, giving us 2 1sts, 2 2nds, and our third, a pretty good haul.

We could try this again, or stay where we are and pick or try something else, I'm open. I gotta install fof4 on the lapop now, update, grab the file, then look at those fas you mentioned.

[strait8]

Shall we hook up today?

[ND]

Trading down is cool. Multi picks is better for us at this point if we can not land a couple of franchise guys...

I don't mind going heavy of Def. at first. It could give our Offense time to gel.

[ND]

Tasan, if you can pull off a heavy trade down bounty again such as you listed, that would work great for us.

[ND]

Some FA's that look interesting...

Roman Flaschen QB
Kenny Quaal QB
Christian Daniels QB
Archie Scherer QB

Nathan Mullaney LG
Mitch Aleman LG
Neal Lake LT

[strait8]

Higher priced FA
Damon Spano Transition QB 15 years
Croft WR best receiver on the board not over priced
Wood WR looks good

Mid priced experienced players

Slezak TE
Lockwood TE
Perch C
Clements WR
Coffman WR
Meechan G
Dillingham FB
Dietz RB
Fontana Grubb QB lots of potential and a solid backup

First year FA's

I concur with Neel on:
Mullaney G
Lake T

I like Raffensperger G
Ellis QB
James HB
Upton TE

[Tasan]

Okay I will start putting offers on guys a little later today. It will be all the guys listed here, as long as the money is reasonable.

[strait8]

I like the look of UFRA's listed above. I do not think we can count on them as more than backups. I have found this from personal experience. Sometimes they surprise you but not often.

We should try to define a mid priced vetran at all positions and sign them. This will mean we will probably have to cut some of the expansion draft losers to fit all the draft choices if we trade down.

I did this and ended up with about 14 mil of cap room at the beginning of the season. Our extra draft choices will not add much burden, so we should be ok.

[Neel]

That strait8 sounds like a sound plan.

[Tasan]

give me a player at each position and i'll sign them. i like most of the guys you guys have mentioned already.

remember my job is to write the checks and provide guidance. gimmie some more names ;- )

[Neel]

Tasan, is the latest file posted right now?

[Tasan]

yeah

[strait8]

Hi Tasan:

Here are my choices by position. Of these, 4 are expensive Spano QB Croft WR Johann DT and Koski DE. I think the two defensive guys are the cornerstone of the defensive line, Spano is a two year QB who will steal us a couple of games and Croft looks like a decent receiver to go with the only good expansion player we signed.

Tapley and Crone are also Mid high price as is Perch. I think all are affordable.

In the case of needing two of a position like G or WR we should sign both vets.

The rest are mid priced or down right steals.

QB Damon Spano Christian Daniels

RB Dave Dietz 2) Bryan Hurst

FB Patrick Dillingham 2) Dennis Jolly

TE Kendrick Legge 2) Ron Slezak

WR freddie Croft 2)Mike Nikaido 3) Dante Wood

C Ray Perch, 2) Tony Goldman

G Larry Meecham 2) Jason Heath

T Andre White 2) Chris Ellis

DEFENCE

DE Jake Kolski 2) William Dowell

DT Michael Johann Troy Shelton

MLB Kyle Crone 2) Nick Darnick 3) Willie Whittington

OLB Tim tapley 2) Peter Beam 3) Scott Raspberry

CB Marcus Cuffrey 2) Corey Stephan 3) Bryan Bozarth

S Martin Coppa 2) Cedric Newville 3) Samuel Flynn

The ball is in your court Tasan

[strait8]

I see you are online

[Tasan]

QB Damon Spano signed with Atlanta in the first week. WR Fred Croft got a better offer from Cincy also, and I upped our initial offer. Several players signed with us in week 1

No defections in week 2, and several more signings by us.

Week 3 saw OLB Tapley consider an offer from Indy, and FB Dillingham consider one from Pittsburgh, I bumped up our offers on both a little.

OLB Tapley signed with detroit in week 4 for just a hair over what we had offered. Punk. Several more players signed with us though, and we had no more defections. I put an offer on OLB Beam.

Week 6 sees OLB Beam consider a SIX year offer from Cincy, which is crazy. We'll adjust our 4 year offer, and find a backup option in case. I backload the offer to Beam to give us some flexibility too. Several more players sign.

Week 7 sees Beam get ANOTHER 6 year offer from the Saints this time. Wow. 2 more players sign with us, leaving us with 3 offers pending, 2 of which are just considering us.

Week 8 is gone and we are down to Beam and CB Bradley considering offers, with Beam still stuck on the Saints crazy offer. Heck guy, stick 'em for those 6 years!

Week 9 passes and now only Beam remains, still stuck on the Saints offer.

Week 10 goes by, and on Saturday night we get a phone call. Its Peter Beam, he says he wants to talk, and he's got a new agent. By midnight, we have our deal. Beam will be tackling players for us this year.

This concludes our current signing stretch. We got everyone we wanted except for QB Spano. There aren't many QBs left out there, so we'll probably roll with who we have right now and maybe a draft pick.

We are at week 11 in the FA process, and have about 22 mil left. I'll take suggestions for further signings, or we can sit on the 58(!) players we have under contract and await the draft, where we will pick up 7-9 more players. I'm already working the phones trying to trade around a bit to see what we can get.

[Tasan]

New file is here .

[strait8]

Hi Tasan

Good Job. Too Bad about Spano.

I would do suggest the following. Cut the 7 listed below to take to 51.

Cedric ferguson
TJ herek
Antonio Sedor
Peter Pizr
Terry White
Kevin Wicox
Ed Tyrell

These are all guys we would cut anyway. This will also free more cap space.

We do not have atrue WLB. I would like to take a crack at Max Kondovski who is looking a lot more affordable now. Also Michael Peterson at DT looks like a steal now.

Neel may see a couple more for offence he wants. If so we might have to prune a few more before the draft.

[Tasan]

We can actually be way over 60 at the draft, we just need to be under 60 by training camp. I do agree though, that there are plenty of easy cuts, most of the guys taken in expansion can go.

[strait8]

Have you taken free agency any further forward?

[Tasan]

I was waiting to see if Neel spoke up. I guess not. I'll advance it now.

[Tasan]

The Turk came and visited 7 players, and now we are at 51. I put offers on TE Marcus Welch, OLB Max Kondovski, and DT Michael Pederson. Welch signed that week, and after considering a 6 year offer from Oakland, Kondovski signed a 3 year deal with us on week 13, along with Pederson. That puts us at 54 players before the draft, and still 19 million under the cap. I'm stopping player signing for now. We'll look at things after the draft and see who's available then.

[Tasan]

New file is here

[strait8]

There is always just scraps available after this firstdraft so we better be sure that we are covered at most positions.

As far as the draft goes our biggest needs are QB, WR CB and OT I think.

What is your take?

[Tasan]

Okay my favorite target in this draft looks like JaJuan Pressley, RB. He's gonna be a stud to help us get through the tough times. I don't think a good QB will be available if we trade down far.

[strait8]

I bet both Zumdahl and Ingersoll are available at No.2. Pressley will be available at No.4 possibly as low as N0. 10.

I'd make the first trade and see who carolina picks.

[strait8]

Do you want to go for one offensive and one defensive player or use the draft to beef up the offence.

[Tasan]

I think the offense really needs work right now, we could land either a top OT or QB with the #4 pick if we go that low.

[strait8]

I'm sure thats ok with Neel. So lets go.

[Tasan]

We start the draft by dealing our 1-1 to Carolina for the 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, and 4-2. Whew.

There pick:

1. Carolina - Zumdahl, Spencer, QB, Oregon

[strait8]

I was sure they would go for defence or possibly Roddy (OT).
I have been so wrong,

Great trade 4 for 1. You know Detroit will take Ingersoll so do we trade down again? I say we do

[Tasan]

Should we try to go to 3 or screw over Detroit and go to 4, and Buffalo will take Ingersoll? Either way, we get one of the stud OTs.

[Tasan]

Moot point, Detroit won't deal their top 3 picks for it, so we pass on them and go to 4.

Deal to Buffalo:

Houston 1-2 (via Carolina) for Buffalo 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4

We are really picking up the mid level picks. I think Buffalo really wants a QB because they lost theirs in FA.

[strait8]

Lets go and make the trade at for 3-1. I really like Brandon Roddy more than Hunt.
Just get enough extrapicks to insure we get a another #1,

[Tasan]

2 and 3:

2. Buffalo - Ingersoll, Robert, QB, Fresno State
3. Detroit - Wirthel, Bernardo, DT, Tennessee


We have our choice of OTs, or some other quality players.

[strait8]

I like Roddy here and pressley lower. but you are the GM go for it.
I will be offline for about 45 minutes while I go home for dinner.

[Tasan]

Yeah I think Roddy will be the pick here, he's just too phenominal to pass on, even though Hunt is Idolized by Fans.

[Tasan]

So here we are:

2. Buffalo - Ingersoll, Robert, QB, Fresno State
3. Detroit - Wirthel, Bernardo, DT, Tennessee
4. Houston - Roddy, Brandon, T, Miami, Florida

[Tasan]

Now that I look at teams to come, I've got a bad feeling about Dallas. They are real weak at RB, with their best RB being a 13 year vet. They will take the 2-2, 2-4, 3-2 and 3-4 to get us to 1-6, but are we definately locked into that RB?

One option would be to just let things go til mid to late 1st, trade in there at a lower price and pick RB Brad Kozempel, if we really want a good RB. Or we can wait and trade with Cincy at 10, they want 2-2, 3-2, 3-4 or 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-4