Thoughts on Saints lack of interest in Briggs (1 Viewer)

[JerseyYat]

Obviously, the Saints brought Vilma in to be the undisputed leader of the defense. They may have thought that adding Briggs to the corps could have potentially undermined Vilma's leadership. In the past, Briggs always claimed that he wanted to go somewhere and be "The Man". He seemed to want to get out of Urlacher's shadow. His "me" attitude likely outweighed his athletic talents in the eyes of the Saints FO.

Here's hoping that Vilma can get healthy and become the centerpiece of the defense. Give the Saints something to build around and provide an identity and attitude. God knows that defense needs both.....

 

[fwaokda]

Someone that claims to have asked Loomis about it said that he was wanting too much money. Seems like a lot of teams thought that way because I don't recall him visiting with anyone.

 

[geauxtigers72]

I think it was because of the ^^^^^^ above. Why break the bank on one player, who feels only one need when we need at least 8. We we are on the level where we dont have to worry about filling 8-10 positions then we'll be ok to sign a big name free agent

 

[MSUSousaphone]

Its because we have that beast of a Shanle! And we were too busy signing the other big name FAs like Henderson and Simoneau and they all break the bank to where we would only have $38 million left. And then we have to re-sign a bunch of players and draft picks, which would leave us with only $18 million.

Anything less than $18 million at the beginning of the season, would just be unacceptable. We need that money just in case we have to bring in Bufford Jordan.

 

[BRSaintfan]

Too much $$ for a run-stopping WLB. His career high in a season for sacks was 2. We have Vilma and Fujita for run stopping. We need a pass-rushing terror at WLB. Prior to the Franchise Tags being doled out, I was hoping the Saints would have inked the Ravens' Terrell Suggs. He's probably the best blitzing 4-3 WLB and is 24 years old and would actually be worth the money.

I think we are going to be handing out contract extensions like crazy this offseason, which is why they are holding onto the cap room. Colston, Will, and Evans are getting PAID.

 

[Danneaux]

31 Teams could have had him at what ended up being a pretty afforadble offer.
Something's up with that. Maybe he's just not that good, I don't know.

I do know he ended up going back to the team he swore he'd never play for again.

 

[MSUSousaphone]

Too much $$ for a run-stopping WLB. His career high in a season for sacks was 2. We have Vilma and Fujita for run stopping. We need a pass-rushing terror at WLB. Prior to the Franchise Tags being doled out, I was hoping the Saints would have inked the Ravens' Terrell Suggs. He's probably the best blitzing 4-3 WLB and is 24 years old and would actually be worth the money.

I think we are going to be handing out contract extensions like crazy this offseason, which is why they are holding onto the cap room. Colston, Will, and Evans are getting PAID.

Then you must be in the camp to get Gold. I'm torn on who I want between him and Johnson.

Johnson sounds like the Briggs type of being a force against the run and Gold seems to be less reliable against the run but a MUCH better blitzer.

I guess if I knew we were drafting Dorsey/Ellis, I would want Johnson since we, hopefully, wouldn't need to blitz every other play, and if we go something else I would want Gold to give us some rush on the QB.

 

[Super Dad]

I think it is a little deeper then just money. Vilma is the leader of this D and thats how they want in period. if they paid Briggs 6yr 40 mil then what would Vilma want after next season.

 

[kt saint]

I think on of the things that does not get mentioned on this board is a players desire to play for the Saints. Seans first yoear he cleaned house of players, good and bad, how did not act as of they really wanted to be here. I think he/they still use that when determining if a player is worth picking up. They want a player that wants to be a Saint.

 

[Supafroius]

I thought this thread was going to say that we would draft a WLB to fill complete the circle.

 

[Urban Legend]

In addition, it is also also possible that Loomis is planning to use some of the cap space to extend and lock up some of the younger talent long term (Colston, Evans, Will Smith). This also doesn't take into account that if Vilma does well this year, he is going to want a big contract and that extending Brown is going to cost a lot of money when that time comes.

 

[BoNcHiE]

In addition, it is also also possible that Loomis is planning to use some of the cap space to extend and lock up some of the younger talent long term (Colston, Evans, Will Smith). This also doesn't take into account that if Vilma does well this year, he is going to want a big contract and that extending Brown is going to cost a lot of money when that time comes.

People don't understand that. There are a ton of teams way under the cap that haven't spent like crazy, not just us.

Cap space doesn't rollover from year to year. Yeah we might have the space to sign a ton of players this year, but what happens next year when we have 3-4 guys to resign to big contracts? Loomis is smart and he knows that. Thats why he isn't going to blow every ounce of cap space this year just because we have it.

 

[saintfan-n-alex]

if Briggs was that good he would have had more interest, unless everyone thought his intent was to stay in Chicago and use other teams to drive up his price

 

[Dragon]

People don't understand that. There are a ton of teams way under the cap that haven't spent like crazy, not just us.

Cap space doesn't rollover from year to year. Yeah we might have the space to sign a ton of players this year, but what happens next year when we have 3-4 guys to resign to big contracts? Loomis is smart and he knows that. Thats why he isn't going to blow every ounce of cap space this year just because we have it.

It would be nice when all is said and done if we could re-sign one or more of those guys to front loaded contracts. Makes it more cap friendly in the long run

 

[Chairman_LMAO]

I do know he ended up going back to the team he swore he'd never play for again.

My theory on that, and I could be way off, is that...

While I don't think Briggs is a bad guy, and would have loved to have him, I do think he's a bit of a loose cannon, the kind of guy who's all about RESPECK™ and who likes to swing his **** around. He fancies himself Mr. Big Man. He's an ego guy.

Again, that doesn't make him a bad guy.

But I think the whole thing about him never playing for the Bears again was posturing. He was running his mouth because he felt like the Bears were showing him DISRESPECK™ and he felt like he had to bow up to save face.

But he never really wanted to leave. For one, the Bears' front office and Lovie Smith have shown via Tank Johnson (among others) that they're pretty <s>weak</s> tolerant of guys who "do their thing" or whatever. They're not exactly quick with the discipline. Dude's got at least 3 or 4 more 3am car crashes in him before anybody at Halas Hall is gonna get fed up. That's a pretty good situation for a guy who likes to think he's too big a deal to be come down on.

And for another, having the Bears eventually give him his money means he "wins." Eventually they realized they had to show the man his proper RESPECK™. Had he signed elsewhere, even for more money, Briggs "loses" considering that kind of mindset, because ultimately the Bears didn't blink. They let him go. The fact that it was the Bears who eventually paid him adds at least a couple of inches, know what I'm sayin'?