Faine to Tampa (1 Viewer)

[el super gringo]

per PFT per St Petersburg Times (two scoops already? someone had their raisin... oh n/m)

FAINE TO TAMPA

Posted by Mike Florio on February 29, 2008, 1:11 a.m.

That $44 million in cap space has burned a hole in the pockets of the Buccaneers.

Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times reports that the Bucs have reached an agreement with free-agent center Jeff Faine, previously of the Saints.

Per Holder, the deal makes Faine the highest-paid center in the game.

http://beta.profootballtalk.com/2008/02/29/faine-to-tampa/

 

[vandyt]

Going to be lots of "highest-paid"s this offseason.

Good for Tampa though, they were very weak up the middle at times last season.

 

[QUEZILLA]

What was once the worst O-line in the league has now become one of the teams strengths. Sears / Faine / Joseph... That's a pretty solid interior. IF Petitguot could come back healthy, the OT position could be pretty solid.

Not sure if this needs to be said, but grab TB RBs. May want to take a flyer on Caddy if you can get him cheap. And, don't rule out Gruden taking a day 1 RB.

 

[Godsbrother]

Oh well, there goes my hopes that he might sign with the Steelers.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Oh well, there goes my hopes that he might sign with the Steelers.

No way they were going to shell out that kind of dough. This deal will also increase the price of any other FA C's the Steelers might have had their eye on.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Oh well, there goes my hopes that he might sign with the Steelers.

No way they were going to shell out that kind of dough. This deal will also increase the price of any other FA C's the Steelers might have had their eye on.

There weren't really any others worth looking at, IMO. Maybe a guy like Rex Hadnot who can play a couple spots.Steelers better figure something out, cuz Mahan isn't the answer and I don't see any of the rookie class being a day one starter at C either.

 

[midnightxxxx]

I was hoping this guy would be a Kansas City Chief. We definately need an anchor in the middle of the OL.

 

[greenf7cat]

I was hoping this guy would be a Kansas City Chief. We definately need an anchor in the middle of the OL.

i'm with ya on that!! I was praying for that

 

[acapella]

Nice pickup. Faine is young and the Bucs have the makings of a strong O-Line for years to come. Should open up the run and give the QBs some time to operate.

 

[Bizkiteer]

Nice pickup. Faine is young and the Bucs have the makings of a strong O-Line for years to come. Should open up the run and give the QBs some time to operate.

Agree, it's a good move for them. Considering a few years ago they had a struggling OL, they seem to have made it a focal point to improve it in the last year or so.

 

[Restricted]

add some yardage and a couple TDs to E. Graham's totals next year.

 

[Happy]

Big bump to Ernest Graham. He earned a starting position last year and will be carrying the load again on 1st and 2nd down, possibly 3rd down if Pittman manages to get hurt again.

Pinto Williams has two flat tires and is a waste of roster space at this point.

 

[Pygmy Marmoset]

Faine's okay, but he's not worth that kind of money.

 

[Doug B]

Faine's okay, but he's not worth that kind of money.

Maybe so ... but I am concerned about the Saints' replacing him.

 

[GroveDiesel]

It will be interesting if the Bucs get 2006 Faine or every other year of his career Faine. He was not very great last year. IMO, he's a very inconsistent player. Obviously with the salary cap shooting up and new deals getting done all the time, guys that aren't the best are still going to end up with "biggest contract ever" at their position, but I'm not sure that Faine is really worth of that honor.

 

[Steady Mooobin]

Faine is one of the few OLinemen that I actually like. He was one mean SOB when he came out of Notre Dame.

Good for him.

 

[Balco]

Faine's okay, but he's not worth that kind of money.

Disagree. The Bucs got a 26 year old anchor for the middle of their line. Very nice signing.

 

[Pygmy Marmoset]

Faine's okay, but he's not worth that kind of money.

Disagree. The Bucs got a 26 year old anchor for the middle of their line. Very nice signing.

Honestly, his backup outplayed him last year. The Saints let him go because he was pretty much a turnstyle last year and wanted to be paid as the top C in the league.

 

[QUEZILLA]

Faine's okay, but he's not worth that kind of money.

Disagree. The Bucs got a 26 year old anchor for the middle of their line. Very nice signing.

Honestly, his backup outplayed him last year. The Saints let him go because he was pretty much a turnstyle last year and wanted to be paid as the top C in the league.

The Bucs played him twice last year, so I think they have an idea of where he stands. It was a pretty big need, and the draft is weak at C.

 

[Pygmy Marmoset]

Faine's okay, but he's not worth that kind of money.

Disagree. The Bucs got a 26 year old anchor for the middle of their line. Very nice signing.

Honestly, his backup outplayed him last year. The Saints let him go because he was pretty much a turnstyle last year and wanted to be paid as the top C in the league.

The Bucs played him twice last year, so I think they have an idea of where he stands. It was a pretty big need, and the draft is weak at C.

I'm aware - and Free Agency is pretty bad for center, too. I think the Bucs are gambling Faine will play the way he did in 2006 - the only great year I've ever seen out of him. Frankly, I don't see that happening. But hopefully for the Bucs sake, they'll get something in between.

 

[PizzaDeliveryGuy]

Not a good signing. The guy just isn't very good.

 

[Grahamburn]

Not a good signing. The guy just isn't very good.

Do you have any substance to back up this claim? I get the feeling that the Buccaneers front office staff has the ability to evaluate players more effectively than you.The interior of this offensive line is looking extremely solid, and very young, which is something Tampa fans haven't seen. Ever. Earnest Graham is starting to look like a top ten pick in fantasy drafts.

 

[Pygmy Marmoset]

Not a good signing. The guy just isn't very good.

Do you have any substance to back up this claim? I get the feeling that the Buccaneers front office staff has the ability to evaluate players more effectively than you.The interior of this offensive line is looking extremely solid, and very young, which is something Tampa fans haven't seen. Ever. Earnest Graham is starting to look like a top ten pick in fantasy drafts.

Faine was only worth dropping 9 spots in the second round to the Cleveland Browns year before last. That's how the Saints got him. He's only started 16 games once in his career. He looked terrible last year.But IF he can improve significantly, and IF he can find a way to play at the level of 2006 (which was aided greatly by fantastic play from the rest of the line, too) and IF centers start getting ridiculously huge contracts (which they deserve, don't get me wrong) he might be able to play up to the level of his contract. Lots of ifs, though.