Money spent on Safety

[Anyong Bluth]

So, we just watched a ton of Safeties all sign Big money deals at breakneck speed right after the 4pm deadline passed.

Many on here have said signing a top caliber FA Safety would be committing too much money between the FS and Berry, playing at SS.

So why have so many teams rushed to sign virtually the entire crop of FA Safeties so fast - a pretty clear indication of it being the position most coveted by a majority of teams.

We've seen the results of terrible play from the Free Safety position, and now what the rest of the league thinks about having a legit guy at the position.

What's the amount you feel is reasonable to money committed to our starting Safeties?

[AustinChief]

Crap I thought this thread was going to be about smoke detectors and bike helmets.

[AustinChief]

I have no idea what the proper amount to spend is, but it's pretty clear that teams are scrambling to emulate the Seahawks right now. Welcome to the latest trend.

[Dayze]

I think it's large blend of how those choose to generate pass rush.
they might not have to blitz to get an effective rush/push/sack etc. Or they might need to blitz and want a killer safety tandem.

Cooper, while an awesome find, got exposed a bit late in the season. Which, is to be expected. I think he'll do nothing but improve. Flowers and Cooper could be a good tandem (at least until Flowers gets even older).

our secondary got roasted late last year, IMO, because we had dick for a pass rush and had to resort to blitzing to even stand a chance.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Dayze

I think it's large blend of how those choose to generate pass rush.
they might not have to blitz to get an effective rush/push/sack etc.

Cooper, while an awesome find, got exposed a bit late in the season. Which, is to be expected. I think he'll do nothing but improve. Flowers and Cooper could be a good tandem (at least until Flowers gets even older).

our secondary got roasted late last year, IMO, because we had dick for a pass rush and had to resort to blitzing to even stand a chance.

I still think Cooper will improve, and having Crap, at best, for help over the top didn't do him or any of our cover guys favors. Not to mention, I do believe that once teams figured out just what a liability Lewis really was, it forced our hand in how we were able to call coverages, aggressiveness in the press, etc, to alleviate the responsibilities and pressure put on Lewis.

[DaWolf]

All I know is, you can't be paying two safeties 10 mil each, and still have to pay Flowers, and still have to pay DJ, and still have to pay Hali, and still have to dish out new contracts for Houston and Poe over the next few years.

I look at it this way: if Berry were on the open market, he'd probably be getting the dough he currently is (or less. I think I read that he got more guaranteed money than Byrd did thanks to the CBA at the time dictating what #5 overall gets). So he is your big money safety. Better pair him with a younger, cheaper complimentary player.

Seattle will be committing 10 mil total between Chancellor and Thomas. Berry by himself is costing us almost 12 mil...

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

All I know is, you can't be paying two safeties 10 mil each, and still have to pay Flowers, and still have to pay DJ, and still have to pay Hali, and still have to dish out new contracts for Houston and Poe over the next few years.

I look at it this way: if Berry were on the open market, he'd probably be getting the dough he currently is (or less. I think I read that he got more guaranteed money than Byrd did thanks to the CBA at the time dictating what #5 overall gets). So he is your big money safety. Better pair him with a younger, cheaper complimentary player.

Seattle will be committing 10 mil total between Chancellor and Thomas. Berry by himself is costing us almost 12 mil...

Hali and Flowers Are with us for next year, and that's it unless they redo their contracts that are more in line with their age and level of play in their careers.

Sad but true, because I love both those guys.

As for younger and cheaper- if their going that direction in the draft, then I pray to God, they've identified their guy and are confident they're going to get him for sure.

At least they didn't blow it, and give Carr the contract Dallas ended up signing him to (51 million)

[Anyong Bluth]

Double post

[OldSchool]

Dump Flowers and sign/draft another corner who can provide the same amount, or lack, of coverage for much much cheaper and bam, you have room for another good safety across from Berry.

[BryanBusby]

I think a big part of the high contracts for FA safety this FA period is due to a really weak safety draft class.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

I think a big part of the high contracts for FA safety this FA period is due to a really weak safety draft class.

It's not actually that weak. It's just that almost all of the other positions are stronger (except for RB). It's still a decent class.

[BryanBusby]

Okay really weak is probably stretching it, but it's definitely a weak class. I don't see a safe bet like Vaccaro in this draft and apparently neither do NFL teams if Byrd is getting 9 mil per year from the cash strapped Saints.

There's plenty to dislike about Clinton-Dix and Pryor is Dashon Goldson 2.0.

[jkw87]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Dump Flowers and sign/draft another corner who can provide the same amount, or lack, of coverage for much much cheaper and bam, you have room for another good safety across from Berry.

You're still on this cut Flowers kick. We get it, you don't like him, and most agree that he's overpaid.... But it's also getting old and is a terrible idea. Whether you like to admit it or not, he's the best corner on the team.. Cutting the best player at a coveted, and very important position is just terribly stupid all around.

We didn't sign any free agents and there's none out there that are going to garner a large contract at free safety. It's cool to hate the guy, it's an 'in' thing to hate some player, but the cutting thing isn't necessary. That's the first thing that comes from you usually and it's dumb. Just ride the cap until next year and see what happens. I think he's been a relatively reliable corner prior to last year, you don't cut somebody for one bad year...

[Rasputin]

I'd take two Eric Berries on this team.


Just don't have the clone making machine done yet and can someone get me a sample of his hair?

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by jkw87

You're still on this cut Flowers kick. We get it, you don't like him, and most agree that he's overpaid.... But it's also getting old and is a terrible idea. Whether you like to admit it or not, he's the best corner on the team.. Cutting the best player at a coveted, and very important position is just terribly stupid all around.

We didn't sign any free agents and there's none out there that are going to garner a large contract at free safety. It's cool to hate the guy, it's an 'in' thing to hate some player, but the cutting thing isn't necessary. That's the first thing that comes from you usually and it's dumb. Just ride the cap until next year and see what happens. I think he's been a relatively reliable corner prior to last year, you don't cut somebody for one bad year...

To be reasonable his salary isn't terrible this year - and only got really jacked up when he was Nice enough to restructure last year. Next year, his number balloons, so this was a dead issue when he first signed it. They knew going into 2015 it was either sign a new deal or part ways with the Chiefs. He's not getting an absurd amount this year except for his restructuring to help us out last year.

CONTRACT:
6 yr(s) / $49,350,000

SIGNING BONUS $10,000,000

AVERAGE SALARY $8,225,000

GUARANTEED:$22,000,000

FREE AGENT:2017 / Unrestricted

Categories below in order
(sorry, table format won't carry over from source as I'm on my mobile)

YEAR
BASE
S. BONUS
MISC.
CAP HIT
DEAD

2011: 1,000,000 2,380,000
-0- 3,380,000 -0-

2012: 5,750,000 2,000,000 250,0008,000,000 -0-

2013: 3,350,000 3,000,000
250,0006,600,000 6,250,000

2014: 5,250,000 3,000,000 2,250,000 10,500,000 7,000,000

2015: 6,250,000 3,000,000 2,250,000 11,500,000 -0-

2016: 6,500,000 1,000,000 2,250,000 9,750,000 -0-

2017 UFA

$22 million guaranteed

Annual Workout Bonus: $250,000

2014-16 Reporting Bonus: $2 million

2013 Restructured $4 million from salary to signing bonus/ 4 years


I believe, if we had cut him the year, the cap hit including dead money would have actually meant we literally could not have signed someone reasonably without it basically costing more than just keeping him unless we started a rookie drafted in the 3Rd round or later.