30 FAs in 30 Days: Carl Nicks

[Mr_Tomahawk]

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...1-045ee89b8958

Today's featured player is New Orleans Saints left guard Carl Nicks

NFL free agency begins Tuesday, March 13th at 3:00 PM (CST). With the Chiefs looking to improve depth and competition across their roster, KCChiefs.com will preview 30 potential free agents in the 30 days leading up to the start of free agency. Up first is New Orleans Saints guard Carl Nicks (1/30).

NAME: Carl Nicks
POSITION: Offensive Guard

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-5, 343

COLLEGE: Nebraska

GP/GS: 64/61

AGE/EXPEREINCE: 26/4 seasons

BACKGROUND: A two-time Pro Bowler and back-to-back All-Pro performer, Nicks hasn’t missed a game since joining the Saints as a fifth-round draft pick out of Nebraska in 2008. Nicks is known as a powerful run blocker and for his quick feet in pass protection. He’s started every game at left guard since Week 4 of his rookie campaign.

In Nicks’ four seasons as a starter, New Orleans leads the NFL in 1st downs (1,469), offensive touchdowns (231) and yards from scrimmage (27,046).

AVAILABILITY: An unrestricted free agent in 2012, Nicks will be one of the most appealing players to hit the open market. He’s regarded by most as the prime target of this year’s free agent class of offensive linemen.

According to Nicks in an interview last week, the Saints have yet to reach out regarding a contract extension.

"They never talked to me at all about it really, which I thought was kind of weird," Nicks told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "I talked to (GM Mickey Loomis) the last day before exit meetings, and he said they were going to do their best to try to keep me. So that's the gist of contract talks."

Nicks is reportedly seeking a big contract after seeing teammate Jahri Evans haul in a seven-year, $56.7 million contract in 2010. Evans’ contract was the richest deal given to an interior offensive lineman at the time.

From the sounds of it, Nicks wants to stay in New Orleans. Time will tell if that happens or not.

COACHING CONNECTIONS: Chiefs linebackers coach Gary Gibbs and defensive assistant Adam Zimmer know Nicks well. Gibbs served as New Orleans’ defensive coordinator during Nicks’ rookie season and Zimmer paired with Nicks for two seasons, including the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship squad in 2009.

WHY HE FITS: The Chiefs have keyed an improved offensive line as one of this year’s top off-season priorities. Kansas City is set to return both starters at guard from last season – Jon Asamoahand Ryan Lilja – but it’s hard to argue against Nicks’ accomplishments and his age is appealing as well

Nicks would be a starter for any of the NFL’s 32 teams, which is why he’s one of this year’s marquee names heading into free agency.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

How about the "we don't give a shit about your irrelevant team" perspective? GO BACK TO THE MANE.

That's pretty good.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Its not just about this season. If we spend all the extra $30 million on big contracts, when 2013 comes back and we no longer are allowed to be $30 million over the cap what do we do? I would rather get the first 4 guys plus some others and still have a little room for other young guys down the road. I like Lewis as well, so to me I would rather spend it in other spots.

First of all, we're not allowed to be $30M over the cap next year. The uncapped year was this past one, was it not? Not sure where you are getting that.

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

If we get the first 4 guys you are looking at like $40 million give or take, so anything else is using the role-over money that dissapears next season. I am all for spending, and its not a bad move, but I just would rather spend it somewhere else. I guess this is assuming that we aren't going after Manning.

We're $60M under the cap. We're not talking about cash. Those first 4 guys won't come anywhere CLOSE to counting $40M against next year's cap. With bonuses and everything, they MIGHT count $25M against next year's cap.

We could sign Bowe, Carr, Nicks, Solai, and Landry and STILL have room for Peyton Manning.

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Beyond this, just on my personal feeling of what Pioli will do, I doubt he goes after a bunch of names. If he is only going to go get 1 or 2 big guys I would rather it be Nicks and Soliai. I personally think the best we will see is Carr, Bowe, and Soliai. Not even sure we see that.

I'm not getting my hopes up, that's for sure.

[Fritz88]

Pipe dream.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Fritz88]

Lets pray that the Patriots release Waters so Polio would sign him. He fits our philosophy, he would be am ex Pat.
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[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

First of all, we're not allowed to be $30M over the cap next year. The uncapped year was this past one, was it not? Not sure where you are getting that.

.

I am getting at the role-over cap money. We are 60 over as you know because we are allowed to use the 30 from last year we didn't use. In 2013 we won't be allowed to use that extra 30 million, so if you spend it all this season we will have to get rid of 30 million for the 2013 season.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I am getting at the role-over cap money. We are 60 over as you know because we are allowed to use the 30 from last year we didn't use. In 2013 we won't be allowed to use that extra 30 million, so if you spend it all this season we will have to get rid of 30 million for the 2013 season.

All of the numbers I've seen suggest we're $60M real dollars under the cap. What's the purpose in reporting a team is XXX under the cap when everybody knows they have to account for rollover? It would be more accurate and easier to just suggest the Chiefs are $30M under instead of $60M. Surely every talking head out there hasn't completely dismissed the rollover money?

[O.city]

Even if you take the rollover into effect, just frontload the contracts this year if you have too.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by O.city

Even if you take the rollover into effect, just frontload the contracts this year if you have too.

It would be the smartest thing to do.

Instead of slowly climbing contracts sign any FA's to front loaded/multi year deals.

There is absolutely no excuse for not keeping BOTH Bowe and Carr as well as signing 2-3 impact FA's...

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Rausch

It would be the smartest thing to do.

Instead of slowly climbing contracts sign any FA's to front loaded/multi year deals.

There is absolutely no excuse for not keeping BOTH Bowe and Carr as well as signing 2-3 impact FA's...

This.

This.

And more "this".

[Bump]

upgrade RT in free agency. Draft a guard on day 2. Resign Bowe and Carr, sign Peyton Manning and we will win the Superbowl. OR trade up to get RG3. I'm gonna go ahead and say it, RG3 will be more NFL ready than Luck. I know you guys associate all black QB's who can run as if they are all just another Mike Vick, but RG3 is different. He's smart (very smart), a student of the game and is the type of player that wants himself to be great and he's not all flash without enough substance. He's gonna make Cam Newton look terrible and Cam Newton is a beast.

But Pioli isn't aware of this, unfortunately.

[Thig Lyfe]

Why would we sign a guard in FA when we have a perfectly fine first round pick to use?

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by Bump

upgrade RT in free agency. Draft a guard on day 2. Resign Bowe and Carr, sign Peyton Manning and we will win the Superbowl. OR trade up to get RG3. I'm gonna go ahead and say it, RG3 will be more NFL ready than Luck. I know you guys associate all black QB's who can run as if they are all just another Mike Vick, but RG3 is different. He's smart (very smart), a student of the game and is the type of player that wants himself to be great and he's not all flash without enough substance. He's gonna make Cam Newton look terrible and Cam Newton is a beast.

But Pioli isn't aware of this, unfortunately.

First of all, there isn't a right tackle in free agency that is anywhere near as good as the guards available in free agency.

Nicks is an immediate pro bowler.

Sign Nicks (or grubbs, for that matter), draft Reiff or Martin in the first. Soliai, Bowe, Carr, and I wouldn't mind seeing D'Qwell Jackson come in, either. Guy's a tackling machine, and let's not forget we were 26th in the league against the run last season.

Oh, and if RG3 were white, he'd be the #1 overall pick and it wouldn't be close. No one can convince me that race isn't a factor. People can see the GPA, see the degrees, the production, the resume, everything. The second they see the corn rows, they think he's a risk. Sad.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Landry is today's FA. You know what makes me ?

Flowers
Carr
Berry
Landry

[Bump]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

First of all, there isn't a right tackle in free agency that is anywhere near as good as the guards available in free agency.

Nicks is an immediate pro bowler.

Sign Nicks (or grubbs, for that matter), draft Reiff or Martin in the first. Soliai, Bowe, Carr, and I wouldn't mind seeing D'Qwell Jackson come in, either. Guy's a tackling machine, and let's not forget we were 26th in the league against the run last season.

Oh, and if RG3 were white, he'd be the #1 overall pick and it wouldn't be close. No one can convince me that race isn't a factor. People can see the GPA, see the degrees, the production, the resume, everything. The second they see the corn rows, they think he's a risk. Sad.

that is true about RG3, especially in the mid-west. It just is what it is. But RG3 is a special player and one of a kind, I think he's gonna win multiple Superbowls if he gets on the right team.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Those interested in a Pro-Bowl guard. RT @15miller: Carl Nicks said new contract has to be more than teammate J Evans $56.7 M dollar deal.