... "We can spend to the cap and we will".
On various boards all I'm finding is cynicism concerning this quote. Mostly statements like... "I'll believe it when I see it", "Ralph has proven he's a cheapskate and a liar", "He's talking about cash to cap" etc. And why not? Isn't that the way it's been for more than a decade?
Here's why I'm leaning toward believing him...
1) I don't ever remember Buddy making any statement to that affect in the past.
2) Logically speaking, in a rebuilding plan, it makes more sense to bring in the high end free agents toward the end. There are bound to be a few key roles remaining to be filled to supplement the few years of drafting. This way, as a business, you're not wasting a lot of finances and career years in the seasons where you're not going to be very competitive anyway.
3) I believe this upcoming season, according to the 3 year plan Buddy spoke of in '09, is the year it's supposed to all come together. And it appears extremely logical to me that we can expect to fill at least 5 key roles between the draft and this year’s free agency class.
In the end everyone can believe what they like. It's certainly justifiable to be pessimistic given the lack of output from this franchise in recent history. But I'm going to take Buddy at his word... I'm going to believe what he said about this being a 3 year plan... And I'm going to believe (being the 3rd year) what he said about being aggressive in free agency.
I have my fingers crossed!
On various boards all I'm finding is cynicism concerning this quote. Mostly statements like... "I'll believe it when I see it", "Ralph has proven he's a cheapskate and a liar", "He's talking about cash to cap" etc. And why not? Isn't that the way it's been for more than a decade?
Here's why I'm leaning toward believing him...
1) I don't ever remember Buddy making any statement to that affect in the past.
2) Logically speaking, in a rebuilding plan, it makes more sense to bring in the high end free agents toward the end. There are bound to be a few key roles remaining to be filled to supplement the few years of drafting. This way, as a business, you're not wasting a lot of finances and career years in the seasons where you're not going to be very competitive anyway.
3) I believe this upcoming season, according to the 3 year plan Buddy spoke of in '09, is the year it's supposed to all come together. And it appears extremely logical to me that we can expect to fill at least 5 key roles between the draft and this year’s free agency class.
In the end everyone can believe what they like. It's certainly justifiable to be pessimistic given the lack of output from this franchise in recent history. But I'm going to take Buddy at his word... I'm going to believe what he said about this being a 3 year plan... And I'm going to believe (being the 3rd year) what he said about being aggressive in free agency.
I have my fingers crossed!
Comment