4 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

They almost definitely didn't leave over money though. They left for a better opportunity. Rodgers would be competing for a starting spot here and Burks would be a backup. Either way, Look at how both players were acquired. They are extremely replaceable and with cheaper options.

I don’t think replacing their level of play is nearly as easy as you believe, regardless of how they were originally acquired. 

8 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

This. 

Yeah it’s not like being bummed about lack of re-signing one of these guys correlates to criticizing Howie or not understanding what they’re doing. I feel like I see more fans saying "stop complaining about what Howie is doing” than people actually complaining about what Howie is doing

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

I don’t think replacing their level of play is nearly as easy as you believe, regardless of how they were originally acquired. 

I think replacing Burks level of play during the season isn’t that hard. He had a few nice games in the playoffs for sure.  The previous year he stunk in the Super Bowl when he replaced Greenlaw. 
 

Rodgers I do think is a borderline starter which isn’t that easy to get 

2 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

I don’t think replacing their level of play is nearly as easy as you believe, regardless of how they were originally acquired. 

You might have a point with Rodgers. Oren Burks is a dime a dozen depth LB in this league.

3 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

And then they'll learn more about each situation and apply critical thinking.

 - Rodgers may not have been assured a starting role here.  Vic may not be enamored with the poor ball skills he showed against the Rams.  They may want to move DeJean to CB2.  Or any number of FO conversations we are not privy to.

 - Burks is looking for the opportunity for a full time starting role, which would not be available here.  They may be high on Trotter.  They expect to see a boatload of Burks available later in FA.

 - They may be keeping as much powder dry as possible for Becton, a quality starter.

 

I wouldn’t have signed any of the FAs we lost today at their respective costs except Burks, but as you said he might have preferred to be elsewhere. Rodgers’ contract was simply too much for an open competition. That’s legit money to be used elsewhere potentially. 

Just now, pgcd3 said:

I think replacing Burks level of play during the season isn’t that hard. He had a few nice games in the playoffs for sure.  The previous year he stunk in the Super Bowl when he replaced Greenlaw. 
 

Rodgers I do think is a borderline starter which isn’t that easy to get 

Yep. Burks is on his 4th team at age 29 and has never had more than 46 tackles in a season. Dude has a few decent games en route to us winning a SB and people are acting like he's Urlacher or something. He's a dime a dozen depth LB.

1 minute ago, T-1000 said:

You might have a point with Rodgers. Oren Burks is a dime a dozen depth LB in this league.

You say that, but he objectively played that role well, as evidenced by him getting a shot at a starting job in Cincinnati. Not all of these dime a dozen types can do that. 

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

I wouldn’t have signed any of the FAs we lost today at their respective costs except Burks, but as you said he might have preferred to be elsewhere. Rodgers’ contract was simply too much for an open competition. That’s legit money to be used elsewhere potentially. 

As far as depth guys I’d like to see Fred Johnson signed. Backup LT is a glaring hole that someone needs to fill and if money is ok then I’d stick either with Fred

https://x.com/MikeSilver/status/1899290623355847126
 

Joey Bosa has similar offers less than $10M. Play with your brother or play in Miami for no income tax 

Still some good players out there at positions of need. Some that won't cost comp picks.

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

You say that, but he objectively played that role well, as evidenced by him getting a shot at a starting job in Cincinnati. Not all of these dime a dozen types can do that. 

Are we talking about the same Oren Burks who **** the bed in the SB in 2024 when he had to replace Greenlaw? The same Oren Burks who is on his 4th team by age 29. The same Oren Burks who has never had more than 40 tackles in a season. He had a few decent games playing on a loaded defense but that doesn't change the fact that he is a dime a dozen depth LB who nobody cared before he signed elsewhere today. I have honestly seen almost as much concern over losing Burks than Sweat and Williams which is laughable.

5 minutes ago, Dwide Schrude said:

Yeah it’s not like being bummed about lack of re-signing one of these guys correlates to criticizing Howie or not understanding what they’re doing. I feel like I see more fans saying "stop complaining about what Howie is doing” than people actually complaining about what Howie is doing

Agree. Everyone who said trust Howie is right and people can also have a bit to digest the people they lost and the small contract OB got.

3 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

You say that, but he objectively played that role well, as evidenced by him getting a shot at a starting job in Cincinnati. Not all of these dime a dozen types can do that. 

Sure but the reason you wanted him signed was because the deal wasn’t all that strong so they viewed him more as a guy with a shot than a starter. We paid Zach Baun more on an average basis last year and weren’t expecting him to start

16 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

They almost definitely didn't leave over money though. They left for a better opportunity. Rodgers would be competing for a starting spot here and Burks would be a backup. Either way, Look at how both players were acquired. They are extremely replaceable and with cheaper options.

 

14 minutes ago, NOTW said:

Comments like the defense is being gutted or however they worded it, taking body blows, they have no depth now, they're losing all this young talent, what is Howie doing nothing is happening, concerned about corner, complaining other NFC teams are getting stronger...reeks of that kind of attitude.

Most are being patient, but there are definitely some guys being over the top about it. I'm just trying to keep people positive and confident.

 

13 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

And then they'll learn more about each situation and apply critical thinking.

 - Rodgers may not have been assured a starting role here.  Vic may not be enamored with the poor ball skills he showed against the Rams.  They may want to move DeJean to CB2.  Or any number of FO conversations we are not privy to.

 - Burks is looking for the opportunity for a full time starting role, which would not be available here.  They may be high on Trotter.  They expect to see a boatload of Burks available later in FA.

 - They may be keeping as much powder dry as possible for Becton, a quality starter.

 

At the end of the day, I’m sure we’ll be fine.  But like others have pointed out, we lucked out with injuries this past season.

If we have the same luck next season and guys like Trotter Jr. and Ringo step up - we’ll be fine.  That’s a lot of "ifs”  

And maybe signing both Rodgers and Burks would have made Becton difficult to sign - so here’s to bringing Becton back.  😅

2 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Still some good players out there at positions of need. Some that won't cost comp picks.

We’ve lost enough guys that signing a sub 10 mil free agents won’t kill our high comp picks anyway. And if Becton doesn’t re-sign you have even more leeway

1 minute ago, Ace Nova said:

 

 

At the end of the day, I’m sure we’ll be fine.  But like others have pointed out, we lucked out with injuries this past season

If we have the same luck next season and guys like Trotter Jr. and Ringo step up - we’ll be fine.  That’s a lot of "ifs”  

And maybe signing both Rodgers and Burks would have made Becton difficult to sign - so here’s to bringing Becton back.  😅

You do realize that the off-season doesn't end after day one of free agency, right? They can still sign guys to replace both Rodgers and Burks or at least guys who can provide depth and fall back options to Ringo and Trot JR if they don't cut the mustard.

6 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

Are we talking about the same Oren Burks who **** the bed in the SB in 2024 when he had to replace Greenlaw? The same Oren Burks who is on his 4th team by age 29. The same Oren Burks who has never had more than 40 tackles in a season. He had a few decent games playing on a loaded defense but that doesn't change the fact that he is a dime a dozen depth LB who nobody cared before he signed elsewhere today. I have honestly seen almost as much concern over losing Burks than Sweat and Williams which is laughable.

I think many expected to lose them. I haven't ready any sky is falling posts about OB, but he played well in the system and was a known commodity. When a guy can play that well in the SB vs the Chiefs it's a nice guy to have.

We've had a lot of LBs recently pass through who weren't including the biggest signing at LB last year. I think it's more disappointment not taking into account him wanting to start that came out later. They will be fine. Give some the night, though. 

38 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

If BG doesn't announce his retirement by Wednesday, I'm thinking there's a chance he could return for another season.

Not after tearing his triceps again

1 hour ago, ToastJenkins said:

Also getting anything for Pickett is robbery.

 

but i am still super salty about trading for Him in the first place

 

He was a defensive meltdown away from us having the #1 seed…it all worked out in the end, but he wasn’t bad when called to actual action.  

1 minute ago, T-1000 said:

You do realize that the off-season doesn't end after day one of free agency, right? They can still sign guys to replace both Rodgers and Burks or at least guys who can provide depth and fall back options to Ringo and Trot JR if they don't cut the mustard.

Well yeah - obviously they’ll do that.   They’ll need to pay them too though and to save what?  Maybe a half million - a million at the most over what Burks signed for?  Yeah it’s a head scratcher.  
 

But Howie knows what he’s doing so I’m fine with being patient. 

8 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

Are we talking about the same Oren Burks who **** the bed in the SB in 2024 when he had to replace Greenlaw? The same Oren Burks who is on his 4th team by age 29. The same Oren Burks who has never had more than 40 tackles in a season. He had a few decent games playing on a loaded defense but that doesn't change the fact that he is a dime a dozen depth LB who nobody cared before he signed elsewhere today. I have honestly seen almost as much concern over losing Burks than Sweat and Williams which is laughable.

Yes, the same Oren Burks. We aren’t treating him like he’s irreplaceable or that he’s as good or as valuable as Sweat or Williams. You’re completely missing the point, which is he played good football for us as a special teamer and as a spot starter. You can pretend that any ol’ LB we plug in can play as well as Burks both in spot duty and on special teams, but we know that’s not true. 

Is it the end of the world? Of course not. But he was cheap and we are unsettled at LB opposite of Baun at the moment. It’s OK for folks to acknowledge that.

12 minutes ago, Ace Nova said:

Well yeah - obviously they’ll do that.   They’ll need to pay them too though and to save what?  Maybe a half million - a million at the most over what Burks signed for?  Yeah it’s a head scratcher.  
 

But Howie knows what he’s doing so I’m fine with being patient. 

Burks signed for 2.5 million and Rodgers signed for 7.5. Burks can be replaced with someone for around 1 million (which is what he signed for last off-season) and they can bring in a reclamation project at corner (St. Juste, Stokes, Fulton)  to compete with Ringo for probably 2-3 million. So we are looking at potentially saving 6-7 million in cap space and being no worse off.

1 hour ago, Diehardfan said:

Screw sustainable IMO when they have a dominant team that can win again. Nothing is guaranteed down the line with Johnson getting older. Get another ring.

Your "all in” vote has been duly recorded.

2 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Yes, the same Oren Burks. We aren’t treating him like he’s irreplaceable or that he’s as good or as valuable as Sweat or Williams. You’re completely missing the point, which is he played good football for us as a special teamer and as a spot starter. You can pretend that any ol’ LB we plug in can play as well as Burks both in spot duty and on special teams, but we know that’s not true. 

Is it the end of the world? Of course not. But he was cheap and we are unsettled at LB opposite of Baun at the moment. It’s OK for folks to acknowledge that.

I'm not missing the point. I have said multiple times that he played well for a few games after Dean got hurt. He was a good ST'er and depth LB to have. Fortunately guys like that are all over the league and I trust Howie/Fangio to find someone else like him for around 1 million like they did with Burks last off-season. Either way the Bengals told Burks he would have an opportunity to compete for a starting job and that was never going to happen here so under those circumstances he simply wasn't coming back unless we overpaid for him and even then he might have chosen to the better opportunity in Cincy.