List the FA, you want the Bills to chase after in the off-season.

[Ingtar33]

I figured that since this would be a hot topic over the next few months I'd start the ball rolling with the first serious consideration of who the Bills should pursue in the off-season.

Starters who probably will be gone next year...
Riemersma, Centers, Jenkins, Robinson, Price (FA, maybe), Ahanotu (maybe), Hollis (FA, maybe), Newman (FA, maybe), Prioleau (FA)

Free cap space...
16mil-20mil (10 or 12mil dead cap comes free + maybe 6-8 mil from these guys)

U.F.A. we should pursue...
B.Noble (DT, Dallas) he's a young wide body with only 4years experience who has a nonstop motor, and is an excellent run stopper, he should be a relative FA steal if we can snatch this one away from Dallas for less than 4mil a year.
C.Simon (DT, Philly) he's a young blue-chip wide body, who's only been in the league for 3 years, who is already one of the premier pass rushing DT's in the business... he may be franchised, and will certainly draw top dollar in FA (5-10mil a season) this off-season, making it unlikely the Bills will win his services.
R.Colvin (SLB, Chicago) he's young, fast and everything we need in a pass rushing LB, he will draw top dollar as the best pass rushing LB in FA this season… unfortunately, with the signing of Favors it is unlikely we will pursue him.
T.Spikes (WLB, Cinci) he's a young blue-chip tackling machine, and perhaps the best WLB in the game, will earn top dollar in FA this year (I think the Bengals have used the franchise tag on Dillon). Of all the FA, this is the guy I'd like to see more than any other, the problem is we'll be bidding against a lot of other teams for this one.
S.Barber (WLB, Philly) he should be on our shortlist since it is unlikely we can win a bidding war for Spikes since there is always some team who will be willing to throw a boatload of money at the guy, and is probably the next best WLB on the FA list.
D.Jackson (FS, TB) he's a young (25year old) big play FS, who is a sure tackler, and has a good nose for the football. Next to Spikes, this is the next most important guy to get; unfortunately I think the Bucs will resign him.

[Ingtar33]

BTW: here is a list of the restricted and unrestricted FA next year... Free Agents

[Ingtar33]

The D I'd love to see... (and think we could swing cap wise)
RDE: Jones
DT: Williams
DT: Noble/Simon (Nobel at 3.5mil or Simon if we can steal him for less than 6mil)
LDE: Schoebel

SLB: Colvin/Favors (Colvin only if we can get him for less than 4mil a year).
MLB: Fletcher
WLB: Spikes (at 8mil)

CB: Winfield
CB: Clements
SS: Wire
FS: Jackson (at 2-3mil)

=14mil in salary (18 with Colvin, 16 with Simon, 20-21 with both)

[WG]

Do you know of anywhere where it's a little more categorized by position? I'll poke around as well...

[Bert102176]

LB Chris Claiborne(UFA), LB Mike Peterson(UFA), FB Rob Konrad(UFA), or FB Marc Edwards(UFA), DT John Thornton(UFA), S Kwamie Lassiter(UFA), ), DT Barron Tanner(UFA), LB Peter Boulware(UFA), DT Kelly Gregg(RFA), S Larry Whigham(UFA)- for special teams, WR Kevin Johnson(UFA)- only if Price leaves, DT Bernard Whittington(UFA), DT Brandon Noble(UFA), LB Takeo Spikes(UFA), LB Rosevelt Colvin(UFA),

[Ingtar33]

I don't like going after a FB, I like the way Burns is developing... I picked the LB's with an eye to speed... however those are good guys if money is an issue (I don't see Detroit giving up Claiborne though)

[Bert102176]

can always hope

[Ingtar33]

true... however I'd prefer, Spikes at WLB, but then again beggers can't be chosers right?

[Dozerdog]

Great work Ingtar!

Since there won't be a Jets breakdown (and i think the readers probably want to be spared a gruesome autopsy anyways I took the liberty of making this a front page article.

I hope you approve!

Looking ahead to the Free Agency Market

[The_Philster]

Am I missing something? Burns at FB? If he's playing there and I missed it, it's only been a game or two. At 5-9, 215 lbs, he's kinda small for the position, isn't he?
Crosby has been doing a solid job at FB for two seasons now, IMO.

[SABURZFAN]

i'd like to see a couple LB's come in and we switch back to the 3-4 defense.

[Ingtar33]

sorry, I meant Crosby... don't know what I was thinking...

[Ingtar33]

Hmmm... a 3-4 with

RDE Jones
DT Williams
LDE Schoebel

WOLB Favors/Newman
WILB Spikes (played this position in Cinci when they ran the 3-4) (8mil)
SILB Fletcher
SOLB Colvin (4-6mil)

CB: Winfield
CB: Clements
SS: Wire
FS: Jackson (at 2-3mil)

Not too bad... it would be cheaper to fill this squad than it would be to fill our 4-3... Infact we would probably be able to put a lot of pressure on the QB with either of there line-ups

[Ingtar33]

too bad we'd need a different DE than Schoebel, he's not right for a 3-4

[itsandthings]

Corey Simon is not an free agent until after the 2004 season, and I doubt Philly is looking to cut him.

He is under contract in Phildelphia through the 2004 season at very cap friendly prices. He was drafted in 2000 and signed a 5-year deal (4 years plus an option for 2004 Philly already picked up).