This pissed me off...
 

Randle El signs on with Washington
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON

The Washington Redskins snagged their second receiver in two days of free agency Sunday, agreeing to terms with Antwaan Randle El for a seven-year contract that could be worth up to $31 million.

The signing comes one day after the Redskins sent a third-round pick in this year's draft and a fourth-round selection in 2007 for San Francisco receiver Brandon Lloyd. Randle El and Lloyd are expected to be formally introduced at Redskins Park today.

Randle El caught 35 passes for 558 yards last season.

I wish he'd stayed with the Steelers, since his other choices seemed to be Chicago and most of the NFC East. Stupid Dan Snyder... :mad:

Anything that hurts the Steelers gets the thumbs-up from me.

I realize that he's a pretty exciting player, but an $11m signing bonus for a guy who has basically proven that he isn't an every down receiver seems too much to me. I like him a bit... I'd like to have him on my team as my 3rd wideout... but i'm not sure I'd pay top-starter money for the privilege.

Of course, I woudln't have given David Patten (?!?!?) a big contract, either.

Other than Punt returns, I certainly won't be missing the mental midget.

Mental Midget?

The guys plays WR, lines up at QB and RB, plus plays special teams. Pittsburgh's execution during "gimmick" plays directly correlates to his ability and expertise. That doesn't really make any sense to me?

-Chas

He DID throw their only TD in the Super Bowl.

He made approximately 6 big plays this whole season. Meanwhile he missed a bunch of catchable balls, ran east west on too many punt returns. Plus you get the added bonus of seeing him bitch to the ref about interference at any given opportunity, probably once every game. Even the daggar play vs Cincy, he ran about 10 yards way too far on that flea flicker, and almost screwed it up. I did like some of the things he brought to the table, but definately not a player worth more than 3 million a season, and that is even sketchy.

He's my favorite current player not named Peyton Manning, but I think he's best suited as a third WR. And Washington definitely overpaid.

I just wanted him to go to a team that I could root for.

wow, that's way too much for him and the 49er guy.

But he went to school at Indiana. Maybe he needs an Against All Odds tribute as well.

And seven years to boot. Yikes.

I thought the Redskins learned their lessons from the Deon/Bruce Smith overspending days.

Ahh, I guess getting lucky with Santana Moss last year spoiled ole Danny Boy, and he's back to his crazy spending ways.

Im with Stevew on this one. I like Randel El but not for that amount of money, i was glad the Steelers didnt try to counter. I really dont think we will miss much of a beat without him. As a WR he is average, a good returner even tho he does run east west too much, but the thing i hated about him was the way he would complain about not getting a call basically on every play. Good luck to the Redskins with him

As a Skins fan I'm excited and scared about getting Randle El and Lloyd... Do I think it will help the offense on the field after watching the shmucks out there that called themselves WRs and weren't named Moss? Most definately YES!... Do I understand putting this much money behind these two guys? Ummm, no...

I wonder who the Steelers will use/get now?

I think it's fairly obvious that the seven years does not reflect more commitment in the deal, but probably less. In all likelihood, this is a 7 year deal with $11.5m in bonus, where the first 2-3 years are for minimal salaries, and then there will be a "reckoning" after year three (or so) where the team will have to decide whether to renegotiate or cut him. The 7 year deal, rather than (say) a 5 year deal, is just an accounting gimmick to reduce the cap for this season.

The guaranteed money is the thing. $11.5m is a good deal more than even the Bears were offering.

I think it's fairly obvious that the seven years does not reflect more commitment in the deal, but probably less. In all likelihood, this is a 7 year deal with $11.5m in bonus, where the first 2-3 years are for minimal salaries, and then there will be a "reckoning" after year three (or so) where the team will have to decide whether to renegotiate or cut him. The 7 year deal, rather than (say) a 5 year deal, is just an accounting gimmick to reduce the cap for this season.

The guaranteed money is the thing. $11.5m is a good deal more than even the Bears were offering.

I wonder who the Steelers will use/get now?

THe one thing I will say... After the first few years, Snyder (or his crew) seem to have really figured the salary cap out...

Woohoo! Bears didn't get him. Good.

Please don't forget that Hines Ward was a college QB.


If anything this will force the Steelers to bring in a real #2 WR and let Hines run the trick plays. I see this as an improvement in two ares for the Steelers.

I would of threw a fit if the Steelers tried to match the offer.

I remembered Hines was a QB, but I thought it was high school only? I meant who will the Steelers use as their 2nd WR? Anyone have a list of WR FA? :)

What a great signing. Couldn't be happier...

Now the 'Skins need to go out and grab Archuleta.

um, already done ;).

He was a WR, RB, and QB in college.

i used to be jealous of all the skins signings, every offseason.

now, i laugh. enjoy your cap hell.

signed, a giants fan.

That cap hell that we're in this season that everyone said we would be in?

I do enjoy it, I really do!

What's interesting to me is that this is the the third year in a row the Redskins have overpaid for talent in free agency. Have they discovered a new salary cap gimmick, or is it just a matter of time until their salary cap day of reckoning comes they end up with an FOF salary cap hell season where they can only carry 51 players without cutting their starting quarterback?

well, the cap went up $17m this year. that was unexpected, but helped you this time.

That's funny - you could have cut and pasted that from some other 'Skins hater's post for the past six off-seasons...say what you want about the 'Skins front office, but they do a great job managing the cap.

matt - i think the "secret" is they give these guys lots of showy upfront money but have them on real long deals. Plus, they renegotiate the bejesus out of their roster every season...

Looks actually like it was fairly easy.

http://redskins.scout.com/2/507127.html

Ward became the starting QB for Georgia his Freshman year after an injury to the regular starter. But, he started that year at the RB position.


Hines WArd was the Peach Bowl MVP after throwing for over 400yds and rush for over 50yds.

LOL And, this is why I will see Pro Bowl LB Lavar Arrington in a Skins uniform this year? :eek:

another 6 yr, 30m deal handed out by wash today. this time to de/olb carter.

i continue to love it

still signed, a giants fan

Arrington did not fit into their plans so his reluctance to renegotiate his deal meant he was gone. The Redskins have done a great job of managing the cap considering that they let guys go but manage to keep moving forward.

We let Pierce and Smoot go last year and got by fine. I really hope that Arrington goes to the Giants so you can feel our pain. All that talnet and desire and yet no discipline to channell the immense talent he has.

One of my friends is a Steelers fan and convinced me that it would be a good pick up for us. Pittsburgh is a run first team and Randle El will do well for us. If he can catch 40 balls a year it will be worth it. We just need someone to soften the coverage for Moss.

Mark my words the Redskins will:
Sign Todd Collins to mentor Jason Campbell in Saunders offense
On gameday the Skins will dress Brunell, Randle El, and Campbell, and leave Collins inactive for an extra spot on gameday.

Ummm.. maybe the STUPID owners didn't expect it, but the Skins and other teams did.

This is very good news for the Cowboys.

Indeed. :D

Randel-El makes Wayne's look like a blue light special!

I wanted him to go to Indy as the third WR.

I think it's hard to criticize the Redskins for overpaying for talent (which I think they do overpay). Six years ago I thought they were going to be in cap hell in 3 years. It never happened and every year it's the same thing. I think they understand the cap better than anyone else in the NFL and with an owner who's willing to spend cash up front they seem to stay out of too much trouble. Also, overpaying players tends to create good will with them so most are willing to restructure their deals to help keep the system going.

That explains why the Redskins have all that cap room. I mean, they don't even have a starting quarterback, do they?

If they would have spent the money from Randle El or Lloyd on Drew Brees, I think they'd have been in much better shape. Of course, I'm not a HOF coach. :D

but they pay someone like they are one...

Dola: What the hell is with that formatting?!

I don't know that I'd say the Skins understand the cap better than anyone, but they definitely have an owner willing to spend what it takes to get players. I doubt most owners are that willing to put out that much in signing bonuses every year.

But would you agree that the Skins are not headed for some impending cap doom?

It's not even that. You end up with a collection of big headed fat cats. Kills the team concept and overachivement if you have enough money to burn for 2 lifetimes.

Overpaying for good talent(not superstars, elite) is just a bad way to go about it.

I don't know...I've seen several articles in the last couple years where the writer says that another team's cap expert says the Redskins will be in trouble in free agency and every time they end up bringing in as much if not more than anyone else. The last one was just a couple weeks ago where either Peter King or Len Pasquelli (sp?) reported that according to another teams capologist even with a new CBA the Redskins wouldn't be able to sign both a WR and a DE. They've signed 2 expensive WRs, an expensive DE and a high dollar S.