Foxworth Signing: Why So Expensive?
by Rexx on Mar 1, 2009 11:32 AM EST
44 comments
I loved the recent free agent signing by the Baltimore Ravens of former Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, as well as hometown native, CB Domonique Foxworth. However, the price we paid suggests that he was one of the top free agent CB's on the market. With a four year career spanning 60 games, he only started 25 of them and had only one interception last season and has only four for his entire career.
While there weren't too many top FA corners out there, there were a couple on the trading block since the start of free agency, and they were dealt over the past day or so at a much cheaper price than the Ravens paid for Foxworth. Why didn't the Ravens get in on one of those deals and still get the starting CB position filled without spending the big, guaranteed bucks?
The Dallas Cowboys traded CB Anthony Henry to the Detroit Lions for aging QB Jon Kitna, whom everyone knew was not in the Lions plans for 2009. Kitna was probably going to be released if he wasn't traded, while Henry could start in the secondary for most NFL teams. Henry had one interception last season and 29 in his career. The acquisition of Kitna as Tony Romo's backup meant the end of the possibility of former Raven Kyle Boller going to Dallas in that same position. Perhaps the reasoning for the Ravens not looking at Henry was that at 32 years old, he is not much younger than Samari Rolle.
The New York Jets acquired Philadelphia Eagles CB Lito Sheppard in return for two undisclosed draft picks, rumored to be a fourth round draft pick this year and a conditional one next year. Sheppard is only 27 years old but was expendable with last season's free agent signing of Asante Samuel. Sheppard also had one interception last year but already has 18 for his NFL career. Now the Jets have picked up Sheppard and will reportedly be signing free agent and former Raven CB Corey Ivy to their defensive secondary. Wow, that Corey Ivy signing will undoubtedly put the Jets over the top. Now all they need to do to help us even more is to grab little used safety and special teamer, but notable for the stupid personal foul penalty at the end of the AFC Championship Game loss to Pittsburgh, Darren Stone.
Overall, I'm thrilled with the signing of Foxworth, but just wondering if the price we paid for him might preclude us form targeting another player that one of the more affordable options listed above might have allowed us. Only time will tell and if Foxworth goes on to have a shutdown season at CB and the Ravens go deep into the post season to a possible Super Bowl title (hopefully w/ Ray Lewis manning the middle of the defense), then all hats off to him!
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Kinda off topic
But is Stone still on the roster? I thought we dropped him in the superbowl bye week.
by thekoch on Mar 1, 2009 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cross your fingers that we did
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Mar 1, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wondered about the price
But then i remembered how well our front office scouts defensive players and they obviously saw something they like.
"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law
by Reddrummer9187 on Mar 1, 2009 1:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
hopefully
hopefully he does good cus if hes a bust were screwed
by Bm0re blackout on Mar 1, 2009 2:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Free agent signings
The reality of day one of FA is that people overpay. Henry sucks and is in the November of his career. Lito Sheppard is a good CB who wanted CMac type of money and has a significant injury history. Foxworth is only in the league 3 or 4 years is very fast and is a good cover guy. He is not the greatest tackler, but he isn’t very big. In our scheme he needs to cover guys until we hit the QB. He has the speed to do so.
It didn’t look like we would be in line to draft any of the top 3 or 4 CB’s and they have no record in the NFL.
I think it was a good signing, but like you thought it was rather expensive. I trust our pro personnel people. This is Vince Newsome’s first big decision. I sure hope he is right.
by ppdoc on Mar 1, 2009 5:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Giants sign DE Canty
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Mar 1, 2009 6:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ozzyies son
he was in college scouting until kokonis or what ever his name left. Vince is his replacement
I believe..
by thekoch on Mar 2, 2009 12:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not Ozzie's son
They are of no relation. He got promoted when Kokonis left
by DT711 on Mar 2, 2009 8:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It's expensive because...
…everyone else is overpaying for corners. Hall in Washington and Hayden in Indy were grossly overpaid. Compared to their contracts, we actually got a great deal with Foxworth. I have a feeling about Foxworth. I was hoping that we would get him last year. I think he’s going to be great with Baltimore. Not to mention… If we ever hope to beat the Steelers again, we need him to cover Holmes.
Look for a similar problem with Ngata in a couple years since Haynesworth just got his big pay-day. Ozzie should work hard to get him signed to a LONG term deal LONG before the end of his contract. He is only getting better.
by BAL_Hawk on Mar 2, 2009 8:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ngata
I agree we should try to work out a deal but it is likley Ngata will want to test free agency after seeing what Fat Albert pulled in. Either way, we will keep Ngata as he is the new centerpiece of the D going forward.
I can see him being a breakout player in 09’ and a candidate for DPOY, finally getting the recogntiion from the rest of the league that we all know he deserves.
I don’t care if we have to match Haynesworths contract, we do not let Ngata go.
by DT711 on Mar 2, 2009 8:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
vince newsome
vince newsome is the director of pro player personnel. He is no relation to Oz. He took over for Kokinis when he skedadled for the shithole that is the Cleveland Clown franchise.
by ppdoc on Mar 2, 2009 8:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I like this move and don’t mind overspending, because Foxworth is younger and should get better during the deal. He might even move up to become one of the top CBs, since he’d be with Baltimore. At least we didn’t overpay for an aging guy.
However I agree that I’m afraid it might prevent us from acquiring a #1 WR, which I really think was the biggest need to make us Super Bowl contenders. We could draft someone, but it would take them a little while to make an impact. Either way I trust that Newsome will make the right moves. After last offseason, I’ve decided not to second guess him.
by edsachs1 on Mar 2, 2009 9:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Rams are saying
Torry Holt may become available. I know he’s a bit older then we’d like but picking are slim and I think he has way more left then Harrison. Would you guys take a flyer on Holt if the price was right?
by DT711 on Mar 2, 2009 10:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hell yea I would still take Holt
I dont think it should stop us from solving our WR problems, but he would he is definitely welcome here. He would be a great player to put in at the 3 spot and would take some of the attention off mason and clayton. Holt can still play.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Mar 2, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't Holt another "Mason"
Can he get free on the long ball throws?
Rexx
by Rexx on Mar 2, 2009 5:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He could in the past
But he’s getting up there, which is why its not a slam dunk move.
by DT711 on Mar 3, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i’m slightly disappointed so far…again we haven’t landed an elite receiver ourside of Mason (13 years and counting) and it doesn’t look like we will.. we’ll probably get a decent receiver from the draft but then we have development years ahead of us and who knows how that will go. our big expensive signing is a 25 game starter in Foxworth. he is good but we overpaid big time. i’m not sure where the pressure to pay him that amount came from. since Biscotti hangs out at UMD, maybe he saw Foxworth tear up Eastern Michigan years ago. We pay Foxworth but it seems we let Jason Brown go without much negotiating…
by raven on Mar 2, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
There are no elite WR our there that we could really afford
Tampa would just up our deal to Bryant, and besides Bryant, there is really no one else. Boldin would have to trade draft picks, and we need them right now. Our best shot is to draft that Elite Guy you want and we want.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Mar 2, 2009 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was market value
Foxworth’s deal is in line with other FA corners who have signed. If we overpayed, so did a bunch of other teams.
Jason Brown is the highest paid Center in the NFL. That’s why we did not match. Foxworth is payed well for his position but is not near the highest paid DB in the league. It’s all about filling in the pieces of the puzzle. I’m sure they wanted to keep Brown at 5-6 million per, but Oz could not justify spending 7.5 million a year on a Center. Thats what makes him such a great GM. He sticks to his beliefs of right player, right price. Some talk the talk but Oz walks the walk.
Also, there were no realistic options to this point to add a true #1. I’d rather hold tight and add one in the draft and wait for a better opportunity to sign a vet #1. Who knows, maybe the Browns will dangle Braylon or the Card’s will drop there asking price for Boldin. At thios point I’d rather wait then sign anyone of the trash heap.
by DT711 on Mar 2, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I heard a guy on the radio complain about losing Brown
He said he was our best lineman and we should have paid the measly sum of $2 extra per year to keep him. I mumbled that the caller was clueless because that was $2 MORE than what we offered. To make Brown the highest paid center in the game was ridiculous! He had a good year and decent potential but to make him an All-Pro off of one year was stupid. Too bad Bart and Ray didn’t come back together. Bart said he would have stayed if we came closer to the Jets offer. I say good riddance as I respect Ozzie not getting into a bidding war for a money-whore, which Scott became when he pitted the two teams in a bidding war.
Rexx
by Rexx on Mar 2, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i say we get TJ, Springs, and Holt…how about them apples data dudes.
by raven on Mar 2, 2009 6:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
TJ to Seatle
5 year deal.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Mar 2, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gross!
Talk about going for the cash. Why Seattle? An aging, always hurt Hasselbeck w/ a bitch of a sister-in-law, a poor team that could always compete in the not-so-tough NFC Worst, but will never get out of the first round of the playoffs. Guess the market wasn’t looking good for TJ and he had to grab the first good offer? Oh well, just another good player that killed us going out of conference. Just helped us in some ways!
Rexx
by Rexx on Mar 2, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can see why he chose Seattle
If they remain in a west coast offense with their new coach. He could catch a ton of balls there, and was probably sold on the team being able to bounce back to where they were 2 or 3 years ago. I thin the appeal of Hasselback over Tavaris or Sage sealed the deal for him. I would have gone to Sota’, I think they have aa chance to make a run this year.
I agree that I love seeing these WR’s leave the AFC North. No Nate W., No TJ. Niiiice
by DT711 on Mar 3, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
TJ is also from the West Coast
Didn’t he go to Oregon or something like that?
Rexx
by Rexx on Mar 3, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oregon State
Him and Chad played together there.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Mar 3, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yuck..that would be the last place..you get gloom, whale watching and strong coffee…kind of like MaLoRs last overnight date.
by raven on Mar 2, 2009 7:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Na me and your sister had a great time
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Mar 2, 2009 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Foxy
I’m from Denver and this signing is just insane. The guy couldn’t play, that’s why he was traded to Atlanta last year for a 6th rounder. In my opeinion we were lucky to get a 6th for him. The guy just totally stunk in his three years+ in Denver. One interception and three pass deflections and he gets 7 mil a year. Crazy
by Aquila on Mar 2, 2009 8:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
There could be a very good reason he had a tough time in Denver
With All Pro Champ Bailey on the other side, opposing QB’s were targeting Foxworth while rarely throwing to Champ’s side. That makes it tough when the opponent can game plan throwing the ball your way all day. Look at Fabian Washington: With Asomongu whoever on the other side, Washington was benched and traded for a fourth round pick, after being a first round draft pick in 2005 (sounding familiar?). He came to Baltimore and fit in the system so well and has done great by our standards. Maybe not a shutdown corner but with our pass rush and safeties, it works. Same thing will probably happen with Foxworth. So many players come here and succeed (Washington, Leonhard), while those who leave rarely do as well as they did here. I’ll take that risk w/ Foxworth, but the money seemed insane, as always.
Rexx
by Rexx on Mar 3, 2009 9:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
"No risks, no rewards"
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Mar 3, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
thats true.. i had a much better job and life in b-more before i left..im coming back damn it.
by raven on Mar 3, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I like it
With our pass rush, the main job of the corners is to not let opposing WR’s get behind them. We now have two of the fastest, quickest CB’s in the NFL, who both run a sub 4.4. forty. Fabian and Foxworth might not have been world beaters in the past, but they fit perfectly into our system, which has consistently been one of the best defenses year in, year out.
One teams trash is another teams treasure.
by DT711 on Mar 3, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
He had a very solid rookie season in Denver. Also, who the hell looked good on Denver’s D the past few years. When a defense is terrible, it reflects poorly on everyone in it. I saw Champ get burned time and time again the last few years. Does he stink?
by DT711 on Mar 3, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
all i have is stats and cash to go by and at this point i’d have to agree with you Aquila.
by raven on Mar 2, 2009 9:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
who knows..maybe all his time spent in an oxygen deprived state will give him super human powers in Baltimore…like most CB’s he’ll be fine if we find a way to pressure the QB outside of Suggs 8 sacks…go get Shawn Rodgers and let the “fat” guy rip up the middle. he reminds me of a cross between Zeus and Sam Adams. box of chocolates there for sure…
by raven on Mar 3, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
As the say,...
…a corner is only as good as the pass rush in front of him. If we get to the passer, Foxworth will have a career year. Denver has zero pass rush last year and he just ddn’t fit in at Atlanta.
Rexx
by Rexx on Mar 3, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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