Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

[BigRob]

BUCS TO PURSUE WASHINGTON
Posted by Sheil Kapadia on February 26, 2009, 8:53 p.m.

"The Bucs have serious interest in Steelers wide receiver Nate Washington, according to Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times.

Washington is looking for between $7-$8 million in guaranteed money, per the report.

Tampa Bay, which cleared $12.45 million in cap space by cutting five veterans yesterday, will have competition for the 25-year-old receiver.

A source told the Nashville City Paper earlier this week that the Titans have interest in Washington, and Holder reports that the Rams are also believed to be in the mix.

Washington had 40 catches for 631 yards and three touchdowns last season, averaging 15.8 yards per reception. He spent three seasons in Pittsburgh."

Its been real. See ya Nate.

[Acero]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

Hope he goes to Tampa or St. Louis... wouldn't want to see him a Titan.

Time for Limas Bean to step up.

[Mel Blount's G]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

Right after franchising bryant...
[url]http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/antonio-bryant-accepts-franchise-tag/[/url]

Antonio Bryant Accepts Franchise Tag
Posted By Anwar S. Richardson at Feb 26, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Updated Feb 26, 2009 at 06:12 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant has accepted the franchise tag recently given to him by the Bucs, ensuring he will remain in uniform at least one more season.

Lamont Smith, his agent, confirmed it to The Tampa Tribune via text message late Thursday afternoon.

Placing the tag on Bryant gave the Bucs a measure of protection against losing Bryant in the free agent market, but also required the Bucs to pay Bryant $9.8 million in 2009.

Bryant had hoped for a long-term deal, at least five to six years, and negotiations between he and the Bucs can continue even now that Bryant has signed the one-year offer. If a longterm deal is not reached, he will be eligible for free agency again in 2010.

Bryant had 83 receptions for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns last season, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s premier receivers after sitting out one year because of a league suspension. Smith previously said Bryant earned $760,000 last season.

[Wolfhound45]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

Hope he goes to Tampa or St. Louis... wouldn't want to see him a Titan.

Time for Limas Bean to step up.

We already have a tall, speedy wide receiver on this team that drops passes at the worst times. And we spent a high draft pick on him.

[steelz09]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

haha -- very true.

Congrats Nate, go get your money and forget the team that didn't cut you when at least 25+ other teams would have cut you.

He'll be another Steeler that'll sail out into the sunset with filled pockets but won't do anything with the next team that signs him. "THAT" team will find out that he's NOT a #2 WR. He's a good #3 though.

It's just a shame that Ben and him had a good relationship... oh well

[Iron Shiek]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

I have to say though that Tampa could basically be "rumored" to be pursuing every Free Agent on the market. I mean they have "more cap room than Abe Lincoln" (ha...Mike Florio, PFT, is the source on that quote) and cut players at virtually every meaningful position.

But alas, they are in major cost cutting mode and in all honesty they are going to go lean from everything I am hearing. I think the will sign enough people to get to the salary "floor" but no big names. I guess Nate isn't a big name, but I don't see them dishing out $7-8 million for a WR like him (i.e. 3rd WR)...

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

Best of luck to you, Nate. Coming in as an undrafted FA, you exceeded my expectations, and filled a vital role as our #3 WR. Thanks, and enjoy your big payday.


PS...if you're an Obama fan, you know, believing in "spreading the wealth around" and "economic stimulus," you could cut me a check for 20 grand or so...

[Discipline of Steel]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

I actually wouldnt mind seeing Nate get a big contract to be a "#2" receiver for the Titans. I think he would turn out to be just that...a #2. (for those of you who appreciate bathroom humor, Im talking to you StlrzD)

but alas, it looks like he might be headed to the Lions where his getting overpaid will make no difference to our SB run next year.

[Chachi]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

'tis the nature of the bidness.

good luck, Nate.

[calmkiller]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

Since he was a Undrafted Free Agent coming in and we lose him, we won't get a comp pick for him correct? Or am I completely off base with that?

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

Since he was a Undrafted Free Agent coming in and we lose him, we won't get a comp pick for him correct? Or am I completely off base with that?

You are mixing up your RFAs and your UFAs. If he was a RFA like Colon, he would have received a tender, and depending on that tender we would be compensated somehow if he was signed elsewhere - unless it was the low tender since he was undrafted.

As a UFA, next year the powers that be will do all their calculations. They will consider the UFAs we lose and those we sign. They then use some type of decision making process - that nobody else knows - to determine if we should receive compensatory picks and at the end of which rounds.

Factors in determining include contract size, role signed for, and probably a few other things.

For example, this year everyone thinks we will get a 3rd rounder, and they say it is for Faneca. In reality though, it is Faneca + Haggans + Tuman (I think that was it) and subtract our signings of Fox + Moore and I don't remember if there was anyone else. If you figure that those we lost (except Faneca) and those we signed are a wash, then that leaves Faneca outstanding. He signed a huge contract to be a starting LG, so that is figured to fetch us a 3rd.

Looking at next year....... we are expected to lose Washington, BMac, Kemo, and Marvel to FA. I expect Nate and BMac to get very high paying deals, Kemo a pretty big one, and maybe some small, short deal for Marvel. On the buying side, I don't expect to see much, and certainly no big signings.

If those we pick up can be cancelled out with Kemo and Smith, that leaves the two big signings outstanding. I would not be surprised if we end up with say two extra 3s or a 3 and a 4 next year in the draft.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

I actually wouldnt mind seeing Nate get a big contract to be a "#2" receiver for the Titans. I think he would turn out to be just that...a #2. (for those of you who appreciate bathroom humor, Im talking to you StlrzD)

but alas, it looks like he might be headed to the Lions where his getting overpaid will make no difference to our SB run next year.

That joke was only funny when Najeh Davenport was the #2 RB on this team.

[feltdizz]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

haha -- very true.

Congrats Nate, go get your money and forget the team that didn't cut you when at least 25+ other teams would have cut you.

He'll be another Steeler that'll sail out into the sunset with filled pockets but won't do anything with the next team that signs him. "THAT" team will find out that he's NOT a #2 WR. He's a good #3 though.

It's just a shame that Ben and him had a good relationship... oh well

I smell Nate hate...

[Oviedo]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

I have to say though that Tampa could basically be "rumored" to be pursuing every Free Agent on the market. I mean they have "more cap room than Abe Lincoln" (ha...Mike Florio, PFT, is the source on that quote) and cut players at virtually every meaningful position.

But alas, they are in major cost cutting mode and in all honesty they are going to go lean from everything I am hearing. I think the will sign enough people to get to the salary "floor" but no big names. I guess Nate isn't a big name, but I don't see them dishing out $7-8 million for a WR like him (i.e. 3rd WR)...

I heard yesterday that they are like $61M under the cap which means they will have to spend like $35M-40 to get the floor.

They are also negotiating with their RFA LT Donald Penn so that will suck up some but they have some serious spending to do with Haynesworth off the market.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Say Goodbye to Nate the Skate

And word I'm hearing is McFadden is going to sign with the Lions! I lost all respect for that guy if he signs with them. I know the guy wants to get paid but signing with teams like the Raiders or Lions tells me you are only about one thing. Everyone wants to get paid but respect and integrity should be right in line with money. I'm not even saying sign with the Steelers but Bryant...Come on...You just climbed up a 4 foot step ladder next to a 50 tree!!!