DiRocco argues for McCourty...

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/11510/devin-mccourty-should-be-jaguars-no-1-target'>http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/11510/devin-mccourty-should-be-jaguars-no-1-target</a>

Damn near perfect fit

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His deal will be better then Earl Thomas 4yrs/40 million 25 mill guaranteed. We must beat that with 4 yrs 44 million 30 mill guaranteed 10 million signing bonus.

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I'm ok with seeing the Jags make McCourty the highest paid FS as he is the 2nd best FS and would be our Earl Thomas.

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As I tried to say ad nauseum, there are going to be a dozen teams that think they are all signing McCourty, and they all have a boatload of cap space and are probably perceived as closer to contention and/or a more attractive market. Such as this from the Eagles beat writer (who suddenly have almost 60 mil in cap space):

 

 


<div><a class="" href='https://twitter.com/EliotShorrParks'><b>Eliot Shorr-Parks</b> <span style="color:rgb(136,153,166);font-size:13px;"><span>@EliotShorrParks</span></span></a> · <a class="" href='https://twitter.com/EliotShorrParks/status/572951155703193600' title="9:46 PM - 3 Mar 2015"><span>1h1 hour ago</a></span>
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<p class="" style="font-size:26px;">I fully expect the <a class="" href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eagles?src=hash'>#Eagles</a> to make a serious run at Devin McCourty if he hits the free agency. Like, sign him within minutes run.

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McCourty must be Jags #1 priority as soon as FA begins. We will have to overpay for him but that's okay with me. He fills such a big hole on our defense and will instantly make a huge impact on all the players around him in the secondary. Must sign

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As I tried to say ad nauseum, there are going to be a dozen teams that think they are all signing McCourty, and they all have a boatload of cap space and are probably perceived as closer to contention and/or a more attractive market. Such as this from the Eagles beat writer (who suddenly have almost 60 mil in cap space):

 

 

<div style="color:rgb(136,153,166);margin:0px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">
<div><b>Eliot Shorr-Parks</b> <span style="color:rgb(136,153,166);font-size:13px;"><span>@EliotShorrParks</span></span> · <span>1h1 hour ago</span>
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<p style="font-size:26px;">I fully expect the #Eagles to make a serious run at Devin McCourty if he hits the free agency. Like, sign him within minutes run.


 

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Not negative, just realistic. 

 

I think the Jags will get 1 marquee FA and a handful of other nice impact FAs, but the tons of people thinking we are getting multiple #1 guys at their position are just silly. The competition is going to be incredibly fierce.

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Not negative, just realistic. 

 

I think the Jags will get 1 marquee FA and a handful of other nice impact FAs, but the tons of people thinking we are getting multiple #1 guys at their position are just silly. The competition is going to be incredibly fierce.

 

So you're telling me we never had a shot at Suh, McCourty and Thomas???

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As I tried to say ad nauseum, there are going to be a dozen teams that think they are all signing McCourty, and they all have a boatload of cap space and are probably perceived as closer to contention and/or a more attractive market. Such as this from the Eagles beat writer (who suddenly have almost 60 mil in cap space):

 

<b>Eliot Shorr-Parks</b> @EliotShorrParks · 1h1 hour ago

<div style="margin-left:30px;color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="font-size:26px;">I fully expect the #Eagles to make a serious run at Devin McCourty if he hits the free agency. Like, sign him within minutes run.


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If any team is perceived as more likely than the Jaguars to sign Devin McCourty, I would like to know what their free safety situation is. Do they just see McCourty as better than their own or do they really not have a good free safety? No team should sign him "just because" when there are bigger holes to fill. Do the Eagles need a huge upgrade at the free safety position?

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If any team is perceived as more likely than the Jaguars to sign Devin McCourty, I would like to know what their free safety situation is. Do they just see McCourty as better than their own or do they really not have a good free safety? No team should sign him "just because" when there are bigger holes to fill. Do the Eagles need a huge upgrade at the free safety position?

Yes the eagles whole secondary is trash.

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Not negative, just realistic. 

 

I think the Jags will get 1 marquee FA and a handful of other nice impact FAs, but the tons of people thinking we are getting multiple #1 guys at their position are just silly. The competition is going to be incredibly fierce.

Correct. People act as if were the only team bidding on these players or something.

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So you're telling me we never had a shot at Suh, McCourty and Thomas???

Heh, contrary to popular opinion 'round these parts...that's what I'm saying unfortunately.

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We're the only team bidding that we care about.

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Correct. People act as if were the only team bidding on these players or something.

I think the reasonable fan understands that we aren't going to sign everyone on everybody's wish list. But if we come away with one or two high prized free agents then its a win win for us.

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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot."

I think the reasonable fan understands that we aren't going to sign everyone on everybody's wish list. But if we come away with one or two high prized free agents then its a win win for us.

 

Correct.  And it's not that people think "we are the only team bidding" - they just realize that we are one of a small handful of teams with the luxury of overpaying more than one big FA if Dave thinks it's justified. 

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Yes the eagles whole secondary is trash.

 

Their safeties are fairly average, but their corner situation is much more dire. Cary Williams was just cut and Bradley Fletcher should be as good as gone with no young guys to replace them. I bet they go hard after Byron Maxwell.

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I think the reasonable fan understands that we aren't going to sign everyone on everybody's wish list. But if we come away with one or two high prized free agents then its a win win for us.

I just wish we could get a nice convo going about the good, underrated FAs without the unrealistic expectations exploding.

 

If we get 1 marquee guy, then a haul that includes something like Brandon Graham, Niles Paul, Derek Newton, and Ron Parker we will be a hugely improved team. 

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Mannn. If McCorty was really as great as everyone thinks why would Belichick let him hit the market? Really. This is a guy who is a team player and has no off the field issues. He was even ok with the idea of being tagged. Does that not interest anyone else? Any chance Bill knows himself his value is overinflated? 

 

For a team like us that is still a bit aways from the playoffs we might as well just draft a corner or two and convert them to free safety.

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I just wish we could get a nice convo going about the good, underrated FAs without the unrealistic expectations exploding.

 

If we get 1 marquee guy, then a haul that includes something like Brandon Graham, Niles Paul, Derek Newton, and Ron Parker we will be a hugely improved team. 

 

Parker is a name to watch, especially if McCourty goes elsewhere.

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they just realize that we are one of a small handful of teams with the luxury of overpaying more than one big FA if Dave thinks it's justified. 

This just isn't true though, there are 8 teams with over 40 mil in cap space, and 18 teams total with over 20 mil. The Eagles just proved by clearing 31 mil in cap space today alone how easy it is to make room if you really want to.

 

Not to mention last year teams like the Saints, Patriots, and Broncos who had no cap room, yet they still managed to find a way to give the largest FA contract of the whole year (Byrd to the Saints) and other big FA (Revis, Ware, Talib, Sanders). 

 

The handful of teams that can sign any of the marquee FA to overpriced deals is literally just about every team in the league if they feel it is worth it.

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