andre brown

Stock Down: Week 17

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have hurt their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that did not live up to the expectations that his contract sets for the player.

Matt Schaub– Schaub had opportunities of the last few weeks to basically open a market up for him once he is cut by the Texans next month. While Schaub had been productive in 2011 and 2012 the lasting memories were big game failures and the implosion in 2013. With no expectations, Schaub should have been able to go out and play well enough to get back into that $10 million a year range but with just 229 yards and two interceptions against Tennessee, Schaub has set himself up to have to take a prove it style contract that probably falls around $7 million.

Andre Brown– Brown has become a mainstay in this column with week after week after week of bad play. His return from injury was a great story but it quickly turned sour. Tom Coughlin had to bench him during this game following yet another fumble, his third in three games. If the Giants overhaul the coaching staff Brown may not even get a chance to come back next season and I don’t know many teams that would give him an opportunity outside of New York.

Darren McFadden– I don’t know what does or does not happen with the Raiders executives this week, but not cutting McFadden sure looks like a mistake in hindsight. Always injured and when healthy enough to play he as completely ineffective. McFadden carried the ball 7 times and gained 9 yards. His 379 yards on the year was the second worst of his career and his 3.3 YPC average looks to be his upside at this point. I guess a team will give him a look for a million or two next year but hes close to being done.

New Contract Disappointment Of The Week

Joe Flacco– The Ravens had every opportunity in the world to get into the playoffs when Andy Dalton was turning the ball over left and right, but Flacco simply could not answer the call. There were tons of question marks surrounding the contract given Flacco following his Super Bowl win and this year he did nothing to answer those questions. On Sunday he threw for just 192 yards in 50 attempts and was picked off three times. In fairness to Flacco he was pretty beat up and played through pain, but I don’t think anyone expected 19 TDs and 22 INTs on the year he signs a deal worth just over $20 million a season.

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Stock Down: Week 16

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have hurt their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that did not live up to the expectations that his contract sets for the player.

Stock Down

Miles Austin– 1 reception for 8 yards pretty much sums up the play and importance that Austin has had since signing his ridiculous contract extension in 2010 that cost the Cowboys millions in salary cap penalties. Austin never lived up to the numbers and will likely be cut next season. He’s not even doing a good job auditioning for a new home at this point.

Andre Brown– While it has been a good story for the bounce back from a broken leg, Brown too often can’t get anything going unless it is against a bottom feeder defense like the Cowboys. Brown managed just 2.5 yards per carry on the day and had a fumble in overtime that nearly cost the Giants the victory. Brown might be back with the Giants next season but between injuries and general play I am not sure how many other teams will be interested.

Julius Peppers– Maybe Peppers knows that his time in Chicago is at an end, but he is going out with a whimper instead of a bang. Peppers has just 6.5 sacks on the year, only the second time in his career he has been under 7 sacks, and none in the last three games. Peppers has had some decent years with Chicago and was named to a few Pro Bowls, but he should be cut after this season. He is not the same player he once was and his salary has been outrageous for some time. He’ll latch on somewhere but he needed to show more this season to be considered a special player at 34 years of age and he has not.

New Contract Disappointment Of The Week

Matt Stafford– Stafford signed a lucrative extension in the offseason more for the salary cap mess that the Lions have found themselves in than anything he had accomplished on the field. Stafford was brutal in the game of the season throwing two terrible interceptions, one of which was run back for a score at a time when the Lions should have been putting the game away. Stafford is the classic example of people getting far too caught up in “arm talent” and draft status than what actually happens on the field. Detroit better hope a new coach leads to better play from their franchise QB.

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Stock Up: Week 10

Posted on by Jason Fitzgerald

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

Stock Up

Robert Quinn– It was another dominating performance for Quinn as he made life miserable on Andrew Luck and the Colts. Quinn notched another two sacks bringing his total to 12 on the season with 6 games to go. Quinn will be eligible for an extension this offseason and the Rams general nature has been to lock up their talent sooner rather than later. St Louis has overspent on a number of players in recent years and that should all work in Quinn’s favor. The Rams do own his rights for the next two years but should be able to cash in if he keeps this level of play up.

Golden Tate– Entering the final year of his rookie contract Tate needed to have a quality season to find a decent contract somewhere. From a personal standpoint the stars aligned in his favor with Percy Harvin being injured before the season began and Sidney Rice being banged up most of the year before landing on season ending IR. He has made good with his chances and had a terrific 106 yard performance in the Seahawks wipeout of the Falcons on Sunday. Tate is on pace to shatter his previous career highs and has put up at least 75 yards in three of his last four games. He was considered a lame duck in Seattle but with their cap being tight and his growth as a player he may sneak himself into a nice second tier WR contract with Seattle.

Andre Brown– I don’t know how much this game really means in the grand scheme of things but it had to be such a personal triumph for Brown that I wanted to include him here. After another crushing injury the Giants rode Brown like an old school featured running back who led the team to the win against the Oakland Raiders. Brown, playing on his RFA contract, carried the ball 30 times for 115 yards and gave the Giants an offensive identity that they lacked all season. I can’t imagine that this was in the cards either, but following a fumble by Peyton Hillis and a costly turnover by Eli Manning the Giants lost confidence in those two and went to Brown to make sure the team did not lose the game off bad offensive mistakes.

New Contract Player Of The Week

Reggie Bush– Bush has pretty much the perfect fit for the Lions offense this season. When teams overcompensate for the pass Bush is right there to pick up big yards against the defense. He provides a steady safety valve in the passing game when the coverage is there down the field. Hes versatile enough to play every down if he has to. I never thought Bush would be this impressive but this is everything people assumed he would be in New Orleans years ago. Yesterday Bush went off for 105 yards on just 14 carries including close to 30 yards on the drive that really won the game for the Lions.

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Camp Position Battles: David Wilson vs. Andre Brown

Posted on by Eddie Rose

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2013 Cap Hit – Wilson: $1,519,205; Brown: $2,023,000

Amount Remaining on Salary – Wilson: $6,684,502 ($5,382,979 guaranteed); Brown: $2,023,000 ($0 guaranteed)

The salaries for the New York Giants’ top two running backs subtly represent the different areas they are in their respective careers. Wilson, 22, is entering the second year of his 4-year rookie deal. Brown, 26, has been through multiple teams’ training camps before finding a nice role with the Giants.

This is less of a position battle because both guys will see plenty of action on the field this season (For what it’s worth, both will be drafted before Round 10 in fantasy leagues this year.) What makes this situation interesting, however, is Coach Tom Coughlin’s relationship with running backs in general. Coughlin (generally) doesn’t care about a contract or what the front office’s expectations for a particular player are.  If Wilson’s fumbling problems resurface or he struggles to find holes in opposing defensive lines, the percentage of carries will tilt in Brown’s favor. If Wilson can show a little more of the electricity on display during his time at Virginia Tech and holds on to the ball, Coughlin will (perhaps begrudgingly) reward him with the ball.

The majority of the carries could prove to be great experience for Wilson, who figures to be on the roster until at least 2015. Brown could be gone next summer (and should he have a productive season, likely will be gone). But if the coaching staff believes Brown will give the Giants a better shot to win, he will see much more than his current third-down back role with the team.

Look for Wilson to have a bigger role early, but for Coughlin to lose trust at the season goes along. Brown was clearly a player that Coughlin enjoyed utilizing in different sets and situations before he went down with injury last season. Luckily for the Giants, I am not the coach. If it were up to me, I would be sending Henry Hynoski up the gut with the ball on downs one to three.

Andre Brown #35 RB, New York Giants

Posted on by Paul Carrozzo

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Andre Brown #35 RB, New York Giants

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And here we go.  David Wilson is an explosive back with the upside of a high end RB1 in the NFL.  Although Tom Coughlin could give any General a run for their money on the topic of discipline, Wilson’s ability alone made his absence in the backfield a mystery.  Everyone (and I mean everyone) claim it is a product of his early fumble and subsequent drop of a Manning pass.  The drop I can understand, but I find it hard to believe that the coaching staff thinks that Wilson is a fumbler.  Guys with fumblitis do not get granted Kick Returner status.

The reason that Wilson will not get the time on the field that his ability dictates, is because he is terrible in Pass Pro.  Pass Pro are the schemes that offenses use to protect the QB on pass plays.  Along with scheme, a player must have the ability to block the defender that he is assigned.  Take it from a former RB, the great college and NFL backs make this look astoundingly easier than it is on the field.  First a read must be made at the line by eight different guys.  These reads are then communicated among the offensive personnel (ever play telephone as a kid?) including the RB who is usually 7-8 yards deep in the formation. Imagine being that far away and trying to keep up with the communication, all along not tipping any information to the defense.  Granted on obvious passing downs this isn’t an issue, but watch how many times there is a missed assignment on non-obvious passing downs. We have heard all spring into the summer how the Giants feel that Wilson has improved on his Pass Pro.  Considering yesterday’s report, I find it hard to believe that the Giants truly feel this way.

This brings us to Andre Brown, a man who has bounced around a bit since being drafted in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL Draft.  He signed his 1 year, $2 million tender in March which makes him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.  He is a devastating runner.  One that can wear down a defense when given a healthy dose of him.  He makes you think of a UPS truck when he is running which is why the slogan “What can Brown do for you?” follows him.  It will be extremely interesting to see him when he is called upon in this hot hand setup.  Brown is the orphan, while Wilson is the crowned prince.  Disney usually makes Brown the victor in these battles.  I believe this real life battle will go the same.

Estimated New Contract: New York Giants 2 years, $6 million