Bailey Rumors

[HuddleClubKid]

Just read a recent post on Bailey on the Insiders.. It sounded like the Chiefs were closing in on a deal.. What have you guys heard?

Link: http://story.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=115&p=2&c=236269

I read that Gibbs was so-so on Bailey. Chiefs need this guy badly!!!!

[Joe Seahawk]

This Rumor is from a very respected writer and paper in the Seattle area...


Rumor has Alexander traded to Redskins for Bailey
MIKE SANDO; The News Tribune

INDIANAPOLIS - Player-for-player trades are rare in the NFL, but this one makes too much sense to ignore. Both teams would benefit in big ways.

The Seattle Seahawks would receive a Pro Bowl cover cornerback to pair with youngster Marcus Trufant. The Washington Redskins would get the running back Joe Gibbs needs to make his offense take off, plus ample salary-cap relief to sign more players.


Champ Bailey for Shaun Alexander, straight up.


The notion sprang to life Saturday while Gibbs, in his second tenure as Redskins coach, brushed off questions about pursuing Cincinnati running back Corey Dillon.


"As to who we'd be interested in, right now that's something we want to keep to ourselves," Gibbs said during a break at the college scouting combine.


Bailey, 24, is on the trading block because Gibbs' team has salary-cap problems, too few draft choices and a glaring need at running back. He stands to collect $6.8 million as Washington's franchise player, a figure that would vanish from the payroll if Bailey were traded.


Alexander is entering the final year of his contract with Seattle. The odds of him returning in 2005 seem slim, so why not get the NFL's best cover corner in return?


The salary cap often makes such deals prohibitive, but trading Alexander would come at little cost to Seattle because so little of his contract remains on the books.


The team is already some $15 million beneath the revised cap of $80.5 million. That's more than enough wiggle room to sign Bailey to a long-term deal even if left tackle Walter Jones played for the franchise-player value of nearly $7.1 million.


Why trade a 26-year-old runner as talented as Alexander and with no history of injuries?


Let us count the reasons.


Alexander covets a stage bigger than Seattle currently offers. Never mind that Cortez Kennedy earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors on the 1992 Seattle team that finished 2-14. Alexander seems resigned to second-class status in Seattle.


What better place to shine than the nation's capital? Unable to crack 1,500 yards in any of his first four seasons, Alexander could conceivably eclipse 1,800 with Gibbs calling the plays.


"He doesn't get the credit he deserves because he's playing in the late game or at time when other games are going on with other featured backs," an NFC personnel director said late last season.


Alexander would understandably prefer an offense centered on his considerable running skills, not the pass-oriented attack coach Mike Holmgren has installed to great effect. Besides, scouts privately note that Alexander's obvious disdain for pass blocking could prove costly for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.


Put Alexander in a run-oriented offense, hand him the ball 25 times a game and suddenly his blocking wouldn't matter so much. He might also become more amenable to polishing his game.


Meanwhile, the Redskins would be getting the most prolific prime-time runner in the game. Alexander's Sunday night résumé features a 266-yard game and a five-touchdown first half. In 2003, he topped 110 yards rushing four times in the final seven games as Seattle nailed down its second playoff berth in 15 years.


Only Kansas City's Priest Holmes (61) has more touchdowns than Alexander (50) since 2001.


"Everybody says, even myself, that I need 25 carries to be at my best," Alexander once said.


"Without tooting my horn or being arrogant about it, I've been blessed to make plays with less than 25 carries. But I still believe if I have 25 carries, it's going to be crazy."


Might Washington be willing to find out? On the surface, Alexander appears to be precisely the kind of marquee player Redskins owner Daniel Snyder can't resist.


Would the Seahawks explore such a trade? A chance to land Bailey would surely pique their interest, particularly because Alexander is probably gone in 2005 anyway.


The team would have to find another running back, a much simpler task than finding a shutdown corner.


Talks don't materialize - Seahawks senior vice president Mike Reinfeldt did not attend the combine after pondering a trip earlier in the week.


Face-to-face meetings with the agents for Jones and receiver Darrell Jackson seemed destined to go nowhere, anyway.


In fact, given the rocky history of the Jones negotiations, the sides probably came out ahead by not meeting.


Front-office rumblings - As Seattle's contract negotiator since 1999, Reinfeldt has been at the center of the team's journey to salary-cap flexibility. His future in Seattle could become an issue, however, after Rein-feldt's contract expired this month.


Reinfeldt has worked without a contract in the past, but Seattle's front office was considerably less crowded in those days.


The addition of general manager Bob Ferguson, coupled with more active stewardship from president Bob Whitsitt, has some in the league wondering where Reinfeldt fits in over the long haul.


Whitsitt downplayed the issue at the Super Bowl, but time will tell.


Local watch - Michigan defensive end Larry Stevens is skipping combine workouts while he rehabs an injured left shoulder.


Stevens, a product of Wilson High School, planned to participate in an on-campus workout scheduled for March 13.


Tacoma-based scout Rob Rang, owner of www.westcoastdraft.com and formerly an assistant at Stadium High, projects Stevens as a later-round pick.


"A lot of it depends on his speed," Rang said. "I will say we couldn't stop him at Stadium."


Catching up with 'Tez - Kennedy, who retired from the Seahawks after the 2000 season, is helping out the New Orleans Saints at the combine.


The eight-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2006. Kennedy remains friendly with several former Seattle employees who landed with the Saints a few years ago.


Strongman competition - Isaac Sopoaga, a defensive lineman from Hawaii, opened eyes by cranking out 42 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench press. That was the most at the combine since UTEP's Leif Larsen did 44 in 2000.


He was only joking - As the Indianapolis Colts struggle to re-sign quarterback Peyton Manning, GM Floyd Reese of the rival Tennessee Titans joked about encouraging Manning's agent, Tom Condon, to keep upping his demands.




Mike Sando: 425-822-9504
mike.sando@mail.tribnet.com





http://www.tribnet.com/sports/footba...-4715678c.html

[DenverChief]

party pooper

[tk13]

Alexander would be right up Gibbs' alley...

As for the Chiefs, the defense has to find a way to stop the run first and foremost. If we can't do that, blowing a zillion dollars on Champ Bailey isn't going to accomplish much but allow him to rack up his tackle numbers as Clinton Portis shreds the front 7. I think bringing in Gunther alone should help remedy this quite a bit... that's why I want Bailey... but for all the people on here who were wanting all kinds of change on defense and were complaining about how standing pat showed the front office doesn't care, I'm surprised so many are able to accept just adding one guy who has nothing to do with our biggest weakness on defense. I think the WR's we face next year have nothing on the running backs we'll see. The run defense MUST be solid next year, we face Portis x 2, Tomlinson x 2, Jamal Lewis, Deuce McAllister, Fred Taylor, Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn, Stephen Davis, Edgerrin James, Eddie George, Dominick Davis... all of those guys have the ability to go for 100+ against a porous defense...

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by tk13

I'm surprised so many are able to accept just adding one guy who has nothing to do with our biggest weakness on defense

the fact that you think cornerbacks have nothing to do with the running game makes the rest of your post fairly pointless to read.

[Chieficus]

As for the Chiefs, the defense has to find a way to stop the run first and foremost.

Personally, I think we might already have what we need to stop the run...

Holliday is supposed to be a run-stopper...he did fine in GB. Sims can fill a gap. Browning is not great but ain't poor...he's solid enough to not be owned play after play...Hicks...well...every line has their weakness (aside from that, he's been a solid pass rusher before, and I think that's what Gun is gunning for from him...should we re-sign him)...LB's--Fujita has talent, ability, brains and speed...Barber is solid and Maz's strength is stopping the run...

The problem in the run game is that the scheme resulted in our guys getting pushed around and not striking first at the point of attack.

Aside from that...you get a shut down corner in there, you can leave him on an island and use a safety for run support...

And how many times did we see D-linemen and LB's drop back into pass coverage??? You guess wrong on doing that and it weakens the run support greatly...

Get a top-flight corner and the whole D improves...

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Chieficus

Get a top-flight corner and the whole D improves...

agreed

in fact i think getting 2 guys would solidify our defense dramatically

1. shutdown corner (champ bailey)
2. big fat tackle (ted washington)


these 2 guys(along with gunther) makes our defense 100% better

[WebGem]

I just got home, what's the deal?

[munkey]

Originally Posted by Chieficus

Get a top-flight corner and the whole D improves...

Agree 100%.

Robinson's scheme did nothing to help what appears to be a weakness in our line, backers and safties.

I'm really thinking Vincent is the short term answer...like Hasty.

[Chieficus]

I'm really thinking Vincent is the short term answer...like Hasty

My head tells me that a guy like Vincent is what we're going to get...would not be opposed to signing him and then drafting Derrick Straight (not just since I'm an OU fan, but realisitically I think he'll be the best CB still availiable by our pick) and then boot Bartee out the door...

But my heart still clamors for Bailey...

[munkey]

Originally Posted by lazarus

agreed

if fact i think getting 2 guys would solidify our defense dramatically

1. shutdown corner (champ bailey)
2. big fat tackle (ted washington)


these 2 guys(along with gunther) makes our defense 100% better

you beat me BASTARD....

But we do think alike...

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by munkey

you beat me BASTARD....

[tk13]

Originally Posted by lazarus

the fact that you think cornerbacks have nothing to do with the running game makes the rest of your post fairly pointless to read.

Maybe I shouldn't have said "nothing", I guess I forgot it was most definitely McCleon and Warfield's fault Portis ran for 5 touchdowns.....

[munkey]

Originally Posted by Chieficus

But my heart still clamors for Bailey...

I know but it's not going to happen.


To me Bailey is a double edged sword.

Unless we sign him to a long term deal (which won't happen) he might be here 3 years max.

If we win a superbowl and I do mean IF then its worth it.

I guess I just don't see this happening.

If I'm wrong pick the sig and I'll wear it till opening day.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Wile_E_Coyote

& if he gets injured

You mean like Sylvester Morris or Ryan Sims?

What if ANY player get's injured?

YOu don't win a super bowl trying to grab average talent. That's how you become average. We've been average.

We don't have ONE stud on this defense, and we only have one probowler. Sims or Fujita might step up this year, they might not.

Bailey is the best in the league at what he does. If Trent is worth a first round pick, Bailey is worth 5 of them. AND he's young. AND we need help in our secondary. AND this allows Gunther to run the defense he wants to run (blitz like crazy, play man/bumb n' run coverage.)

This pick does for Gunther's defense what Trent Green did for DV's offense.....

[munkey]

Originally Posted by tk13

Maybe I shouldn't have said "nothing", I guess I forgot it was most definitely McCleon and Warfield's fault Portis ran for 5 touchdowns.....

Not to be a D!ck but what do you know about football?