Saints sign Jairus Byrd to a 6 year deal

Discussion in 'New Orleans Saints Forum' started by islstl, Mar 11, 2014.

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  1. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    Did not think this was possible.

    Why do I keep doubting Loomis?

    Arguably the best free safety in all of football (I would place Thomas ahead of him). Here is the writeup from Pro Football Focus:

    https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/02/21/ranking-the-2014-free-agents-safeties/

    Summary: After receiving the franchise tag a year ago, Byrd reluctantly played the 2013 season without a long-term contract. Buffalo was forced to tag him after the two sides couldn’t reach a deal and although that decision didn’t seem to work for either side, it is once again a possibility this year. A training camp holdout, Byrd didn’t crack the starting lineup for the Bills until Week 8 because of a foot injury and there was some doubt about his dedication to the team. However, once inserted into the lineup he missed just 16 defensive snaps between Week 8 and Week 16.

    Byrd is a playmaking safety and is as steady as they come. He has graded in the red (-1.0 or worse) just four times since the start of 2010 and not once in 2013. Finishing eighth in overall safety grade and seventh in coverage, Byrd missed just four tackles on the year. In 2012, he also missed just four tackles despite playing 400 more snaps and led all safeties with a+20.0 coverage grade.

    With the emphasis on pass catching tight ends and multiple wide receiver formations growing, players like Byrd will be in high demand. Last year he made roughly $6.9 million under the franchise designation, but if he hits the open market this year he will be looking at a contract closer to the $10 million a year that the highest-paid safeties are getting.
     
    islstl, Mar 11, 2014
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    fanatic likes this.
  2. mctiger

    mctiger RIP, and thanks for the music Staff Member

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    I love this move. Byrd may not have the pure football instincts of Tyran, but he definitely has a proven nose for the football. If Rob Ryan can get a little more of a consistent pass rush out of the front 7, JB will flourish in the Black and Gold.
     
    mctiger, Mar 11, 2014
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  3. fanatic

    fanatic Habitual Line Stepper

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    Same here, but I thought all FA $ was going to re-sign Graham. Will we still be able to afford him? I know they franchised him as a TE, so maybe we can get away with it for a year or so. But then what?
     
    fanatic, Mar 11, 2014
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  4. mctiger

    mctiger RIP, and thanks for the music Staff Member

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    @fanatic Patience, grasshopper, trust your Loomis.
     
    mctiger, Mar 11, 2014
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  5. fanatic

    fanatic Habitual Line Stepper

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    I have total faith in him. Alot of the bandwagners were pissed when they let Moore and Sproles go, but they can't see the big picture. The only thing I'm wondering is how we'll afford Brees, Byrd, and Graham and still fill other holes on the team. I guess they're going to let Graham fly as a franchisee this season and worry about a long term contract next year.
     
    fanatic, Mar 11, 2014
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    Cajun Sensation and mctiger like this.
  6. MLUTiger

    MLUTiger Secular Humanist

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    Fans need to understand that not all contract money counts towards the cap. The Saints are always a few million under the cap, but that never stops them from signing the players they want. The Saints still have yet to restructure any contracts for current veterans and there are still more players who will likely get cut. Until Jimmy Graham actually signs a piece of paper, there is plenty of room.

    Leaving Graham tagged will cost them more this year, too. If he signs a contract they can manipulate how much hits the cap this year versus next year. If he stays tagged, it's all going to hit the cap if I understand correctly. I have no doubts that they will sign Graham, unless someone offers two 1st round picks.

    Also, Sproles has not been released. He is still a Saint.
     
    MLUTiger, Mar 12, 2014
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  7. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    Look for some restructures for Bunkley, Grubbs, Colston and maybe even Evans or Brees.

    If the Saints deal Sproles (which would be good since we would lose the dead money off his contract helping our cap by $750K), then we are right at the cap limit with the signing of Byrd (estimating $3.5 million cap hit for 2014). I figure a $12 million signing bonus and $1.5 million base salary for 2014.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2014
    islstl, Mar 12, 2014
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  8. fanatic

    fanatic Habitual Line Stepper

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    Most knowledgeable fans know this, but the fact remains that they have very little cap room, if any, now with the signing of Byrd, they have as yet not locked up the best hybrid TE in the game to a long term deal, and still have other holes to fill. But, Loomis is one of the most creative GMs in the game, so if anyone can find a way, it's him.

    And, I think you're right about the entire amount of Graham's franchise tag hitting the cap this year, so it would be better to sign him now to a deal and spread that money out over the life of the contract. We'll see what happens.
     
    fanatic, Mar 12, 2014
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  9. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    http://overthecap.com/teamcap.php?Team=Saints&Year=2014

    $2.2 million bonus (Total $13.2 million bonus) + $1.3 million base salary.

    Saints will be $2.35 to $3.1 million under the cap, depending on whether the Saints can trade Sproles vs releasing him.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2014
    islstl, Mar 13, 2014
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  10. MLUTiger

    MLUTiger Secular Humanist

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    And that's before asking anyone to restructure.
     
    MLUTiger, Mar 13, 2014
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