Why should we let Spears walk?

DaBoys · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 1634 Location: Lubbock Texas

Spears may be a bust, because he was picked in the first round. While he hasn't been steller he does contribute. I wasn't totally on board with letting Canty go, untill I saw how much money he was getting out of the Giants. Spears is a former first round pick, and im am uneasy letting that investment go, right as he is coming in to his prime. Though his tackle production seems to be down at the moment he does have two sacks already this season. As a 3-4 DE he isn't going to put up mind blowing stats, year end and year out, but he contributes in other ways. We do have Bowen and Hatcher, and that right there may be reason enough to let him go. Spears is younger than Hatcher, and the three make for a nice DE rotation. PLUS when Ratliff gets dinged, who do they have taking reps at NT? Spears. To me Spears is one of the more versitile D-linemen we have, next to Ratliff himself. It's not like if we let him go, Bowen and Hatcher will be the guys. We saw with the release of Canty that we will probably bring in another starter. We need all four guys (Igor, Spears, Bowen, Hatcher) to have an effective rotation. Ratliff said his production is up this year due to the effective spells he gets from Junior Siavii. Why search free agency to bring a replacement that may or may not get the same result. I am a firm believer in keeping a TEAM intact. He knows our system, he has report with our players, and he is a solid starter. Just because you never see him on ESPNs top ten plays doesn't mean the big man in the trenchs isn't doing his job. Some of you may say he hasn't done anything to warrent staying, but to me he hasn't warrented being let go. We aren't even sure what contract he will be expecting. If it's resonable I say sign him, and eliminate one less need. We won't have to draft one, sign one in FA, and we can concentrate our offseason on different needs. We already have to many needs to intentionally cause another one. If he puts up numbers as he has over the past few years, I can't say that losing him will be much of a loss.

My question is this: He has two sacks through seven games, If he ends the year with 25 plus tackles and 5 sacks, do we still let him go?

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atran35 wrote:

BigD88 · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 1057 Location: Happy Valley

We shouldn't let him go at all.
He is very valuable piece of our defense. It all starts with the front line in the 3-4 and he has done a great job of not giving up any room to run, stuffing his gaps and allowing our LBs to swarm to the football.
I honestly think it's stupid to even think about letting him go.
He won't demand as big of a contract as Chris Canty.
He's too valuable and a lot of people need to get over the fact that he's not gonna put up great numbers in our system. No 3-4 DE ever does.
It would be a terrible move to let Spears walk.
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TheGame316 · Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 381

It's quite simple, It's about the money Lebowski

If he wants Canty money he goes

If he wants Olshansky money he stays...
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atran35 · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 1135

I would keep him. He does his job...we can't have all pro bowlers on the line.

textaz03 · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject:

it all depends on what goes on in FA and the draft. If we get a huge space eating NT such as Vince Wilfork yes, Spears is as good as gone. Reason why, Ratliff would be moved to the outside. Ratliff's combination of speed and strength and knowledge of the game would out way that of Spears. I would put money on Ratliff being a much better DE than that of Spears.

We have all seen what Ratliff as done to Centers and Guards when getting double teamed. He is a force to be reconed with. Now you slide him over to the end, where he is lined up next to Ware (assuming we could get a guy like Wilfork). Who are you going to double? Ware or Ratliff or Wilfork? All 3 can destroy single protection. Wilfork with RG and Center, Ratliff with LG and Ware with LT and TE help; Ratliff sneaks through. OR Wilfork with Center and LG, Ratliff with LT and Ware one on one with TE; Ratliff and Ware both blow through with a sandwich sack.

The key is just to have a big body in the middle who can handle the constant double teams to keep the pressure off the ends. If the Rat can handle the share with his smaller frame and find is way into the backfield, he can def. find his way there out on the end.
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Dirk Gently · Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 783

CowboyMojo · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 1492 Location: Denison, TX

Don't forget that Richard Seymour is going to be a free agent too I believe. We'll see how much guys like him command in terms of $$$. That should help set a price for Spears. If the contract is out of the realm of reality let him go. If we can resign him for decent money then keep him here.
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SHSTE92 · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 912

DaBoys · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 1634 Location: Lubbock Texas

TwCowboys · Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 464

He has been playing better every year and i think these last two years have been his best, If he was as bad as most say he was, then he wouldn't have kept his job for how many years. I'd take him back without a problem. If money is a big issue, then hes not so inreplaceable to the point where he can demand so much money, not that I think he feels he should even get "canty" money.
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SHSTE92 · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 912

Northland · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 668 Location: Ajax, Ontario

We need to see what the market will be. I think Spears is a solid 3-4 end. That being said we can't break the bank for him.

For me the issue is the lack of strategic vision that the organization has. If Spears, for example, has proven to be a player that does not fit into our long term plans, why not draft his replacement a year or two before his contract is due to expire? That way you cover yourself, assuming the new guy works out.

Case in point is the Eagles. Several years agon they had Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor as their starting corners. They draft Sheppard and Brown and everyone scratches their collective heads. Next thing we know, Vincent and Taylor are gone, and the Eagles don't miss a beat. This is the sort of long term planning that I think we need to embrace. The Eagles have not won a SuperBowl, but the field a very competitive squad every year.
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shadow walker · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 11685 Location: FT. Meade

i hate how people talk about moving ratliff over from NT to DE. guys ratliff is playing at an all pro level right now at NT. KEEP HIM THERE.

i mean if i remember correctly, alot of you were calling for someone named roy williams to be moved from FS to SS and it happened in 07 where he had one of his worst years of his career.

as for spears, i say we keep him. if we have to pay a little money for him its fine as long as it isn't outlandish as canty. i mean, i would think we could reconize that the loss of canty has affected the production of demarcus ware. it also doesn't help that spencer is really useless rushing the passer and doesn't have a sack and we're halfway through the year.

spears is an underrated assest to us. if there's anyone we let go its jason hatcher because im sure he'll want big money
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DWARE94BALLIN · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 559

I would love to resign Spears. He does his job and gets better every year. 3-4 DE don't usually put up sack #'s. Miles is next in line, right after that is you Marcus
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