Free Agent Update - Mo Collins

[crizpynutz]

Six weeks into free agency, the Raiders and starting right guard Mo Collins have yet to find common ground in terms of his return to the team.
It had to be a calculated gamble, one the Raiders have made in the past with unrestricted free agents who expected to -- but were uncertain of -- generate a credible amount of interest on the free agent market.

The Raiders, given similar circumstances including that of defensive tackle Grady Jackson a year ago, have been slow to make an offer, preferring to see what the market would bear.

Their assumption: the market wouldn't bear what the athlete thought it would.

In Jackson's case, they were right and the athlete was wrong. Jackson had been the Raiders' best defensive lineman in 2001. He either led or was high on the team in just about every defensive category except counting calories.

He wanted a deal that would pay him $5 million a year and he seemed to have every right given the fact that the player who lined up alongside him, Darrell Russell, was due to make $9 million ... and Russell wasn't playing nearly as well or as consistently as Grady was.

Ultimately Jackson signed with New Orleans for less than a third what he wanted from the Raiders. The Raiders probably would have given him the same deal he got from the Saints, but in Jackson's mind, the die had been cast. He was another of a legion of NFL players who would accept less to play elsewhere, hurt that his original team had spurned him.

The Raiders did all right. They targeted San Diego tackle John Parrella and were delighted when he became the bulwark of their front seven in 2002. As much as they could have used Jackson alongside Parrella, they were able to "rent" Sam Adams for one year to plug that gap. Adams may not have been the force Jackson had been, but he sufficed.

From Jackson's perspective, he at least has the knowledge that the Raiders are once more in the same bind they were before bringing Adams aboard. Adams is in Buffalo and the Raiders are again looking at a tackle threesome that lacks a huge enforcer.

Could the same thing now happen with Collins?

It definitely could. There are two differences: one, Collins has received precious little interest around the league. At one time, early in free agency, he was among the targets of the Washington Redskins.

Instead, the 'Skins opted for Jets free agent Randy Thomas, who broke the bank with a seven year deal worth $28 million, including a $7 million bonus.

Since then, the market for Collins appears to have dried up.

The Raiders stilt do not seem to be in a hurry to reach a deal that will rush Collins back into jersey number 79. Collins doesn't need a weather map to know which way the wind is blowing.

He knows they don't feel pressured to do anything prior to the draft later this month.

The reason is the presence of Matt Stinchcomb on the bench awaiting his next crack at starting.

The Raiders drafted Collins with the 23rd pick of the 1998 draft and installed him as the starting left tackle by Game 6.

A year later, the Raiders chose Stinchcomb with the 18th pick of the 1999 draft. Collins and Stinchcomb slugged it out for the starting job through most of training camp until Stinchcomb suffered a serious shoulder injury that would shelve him for the remainder of the year.

When the 2000 season started, the two first rounders were once more locked in a battle for the starting left tackle job. Stinchcomb won and Collins was moved to right guard, where he prospered right away despite his unfamiliarity playing inside.

Eventually Stinchcomb, battling a second injury, gave way to undrafted Barry Sims at left tackle. Sims excelled from the beginning and suddenly, Stinchcomb was without a job.

However, Collins had leg and knee injuries in 2001 and 2002. Last year, when Collins injured a knee, the club moved Stinchcomb in as starting left guard and shifted Frank Middleton to Collins' position.

When Collins returned in October, Stinchcomb went back to the bench but the club was convinced he was at last ready to start and perform at least close to his first round status.

And now Collins, whose weight -- like Jackson -- has been an issue, is a free agent. If he leaves, the Raiders have a first rounder ready to plug in -- a player who is due $1.32 million.

That's not bench money. And so, they can comfortably bide their time and Mo Collins is left to stew over his options.
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Still looking good for the Raiders. I love how they are willing to spend money when it is worth it, but are also willing to be frugal when necessary. With a little luck, we'll get Mo back at a reasonable price.

[sevilla]

I think this is a pretty fair summary of the situation.

I have mentioned my concerns before about his weight. He's listed at 325, the same as he was as a rookie. I am doubtful of this, as he seems to grown at least 2 more chins in the meantime. Unless he does something about this, I hate to think what size he is going to be by the time he reaches 30. My main memory of SB, is how horribly unathletic our OL looked.

Personally, I wouldn't be that upset to see him leave, especailly if we draft Faine or someone else who can play C and G.

I am also not as down on Stinch. as some of you are. My main concern with him is not ability, but his proneness to injury.

[daraydaz]

Originally posted by sevilla

I am also not as down on Stinch. as some of you are. My main concern with him is not ability, but his proneness to injury.

The same can be said about MO and it may be why teams are shying away from him. Let's face it, he hasn't exactly played 16 games each of the last few campaigns. Maybe if he showed a commitment to conditioning and weight control, he might improve his lot.

[GoDeep]

About Grady, i mean what did they do, they went out and got Adams. I guy with a bigger weight problem then Grady had, if that was the REAL reason that got rid of him. Q? Is not signing Mo related to the Robbins problem? Ya know, Rich is really going to need a solid O line in 2003, perhaps more than he ever did. And there won't be any kind of a running game as long as Gannon is our QB, or as long as he can throw the ball....and NO, this is not ragging on Rich.

[joltnjoey]

The good news is that while Collins was hurt Stinchcomb played well while in the starting lineup. In fact while Stinchcomb was playing Gannon had some of his better games of the year. I really dont think there will be a huge dropoff in talent if Collins goes and Stinchcomb starts. The main differance will be how the playing styles of the two men differ. Collins is obviously a roadgrater while Stinch is more athletic and moves better in space. With the kind of offense we ran last season Stinch would probably be the better fit. The only question is if we are going to pass pass pass like last year or are we going to be looking for more balance. Either way I think Stinch proved last year he can play and will fit right in if he can stay healthy. Lets also not forget about Langston Walker, if Stinch fails I think Langston has shown he is versatile enough to move in and take over that spot.

Bottom line is if Collins leaves we have plenty of options. The only thing it will hurt will be our depth.

[GoDeep]

Bottom line is if Collins leaves we have plenty of options. The only this it will hurt will be our depth.

That's fine, if the Raiders are injury free in 2003. if not......

[raider-md]

Economics say they can't afford and shouldn't pay Collins FA money to return AND Stinch 1.3 to sit. Today's reality is personnel decisions must be made on more than just football. That said, I wouldn't be shocked to see Collins return at a discount, but I really don't expect it.

Stinch will be just fine. Walker may move to LT and Sims to the inside, but if not, you still have Walker in reserve. Then add Ashmore and Badger to the mix - and you just KNOW we'll draft a lineman, so the quality and depth is fine. AND if we bring BRobb back, we also have Treu in reserve, so OL is the least of our current worries.

I recommend spending the money on a young WR, some defensive linemen and defensive backs.

[sevilla]

Originally posted by raider-md
Economics say they can't afford and shouldn't pay Collins FA money to return AND Stinch 1.3 to sit. Today's reality is personnel decisions must be made on more than just football. That said, I wouldn't be shocked to see Collins return at a discount, but I really don't expect it.

Stinch will be just fine. Walker may move to LT and Sims to the inside, but if not, you still have Walker in reserve. Then add Ashmore and Badger to the mix - and you just KNOW we'll draft a lineman, so the quality and depth is fine. AND if we bring BRobb back, we also have Treu in reserve, so OL is the least of our current worries.

I recommend spending the money on a young WR, some defensive linemen and defensive backs.

[sevilla]

I would agree with your comments about Stinch. , Walker etc, but with the health concerns over Sims, Robbins and Kennedy, feel we have to go after Faine or somebody similar.

[RaiderInNY]

Alot of talk of Wayne Hunter, OL from Hawaii.

[daraydaz]

I don't think we have to panic in the first round and draft OL. Brett Williams from FL St intrigues me. He'll be available late second round most likely and he excels against SPEED RUSHERS. We can go C in the second with Al Johnson or the Nelson kid who plays every OL position or draft a Brett Romberg in the 4th or 5th. Romberg also can play guard.

[raider-md]

Originally posted by sevilla
I would agree with your comments about Stinch. , Walker etc, but with the health concerns over Sims, Robbins and Kennedy, feel we have to go after Faine or somebody similar.

Yea, that's kinda where I was going. This will probably be big Lin's last season but you just know we're gonna draft a lineman - we ALWAYS do. So with everyone we have signed today, along with our picks, it not like we have to overspend for Collins.

[Karl]

**** that injury prone fat peice of ****. Our OL needs to get more athletic and dumping Collins and drafting Faine would do just that.

I think signing Parella to the deal that Jackson wanted is what really pissed him off. It would have been nice to keep Grady, but his ego wouldn't have it.

[SoCalRaider]

Losing Collins will take away from our ability to run and we lose some depth. But considering we failed to do something about another more important position which I won't mention, in the big picture (no pun intended) losing Collins won't be that detrimental.