You made some good objective points Chris, and I like to further expand upon them. Gerald Sensabaugh, according to comments made from Jack Del Rio, has looked very good in camp and had a very good game against the Falcons. Brian Williams on the other hand has been slowed by injury, and up to this point has not done anything to separate or win the SS spot. The TU has quoted JDR as having Brian Williams being the starter for the upcoming Fins game. Now this does not mean that he has won the SS job, it simply means he wants to see how Williams performs against the first stringers of the Dolphins. JDR has mentioned several times not to get caught up in depth charts fore the regular season starts.

Now turning the attention over to the CB spot, Florence was brought in with the expectation to replace Williams as the starting CB opposite Mathis. The Jags certainly didn’t spend 12 million in a guaranteed signing bonus to be a backup or be a nickel CB. I think we all can agree that so far Florence has won that job, and has looked great playing CB. That leaves the nickel CB spot, and according to Vic who gets his info from the coaches, has said that Starks is having one of the best camps of ANY Jags player, and will be giving the opportunity to COMPETE for the nickel CB spot.

Now looking at it from a MANAGEMENT perspective, and NOT a FAN perspective, why would you pay Brian Williams 6 million for this coming year(Jags02 has this amount) to play the nickel? Why would you keep Williams at 6 million when up to this point, has not been clearly better than Starks or Sensabaugh who are much cheaper and younger?

The only reason I can see is if their is an injury to Mathis or Florence that knocks them out of action for any extended length of time. There also might be something in the structure of the contract that makes it difficult cap wise to outright cut Williams, which is something I have not found out about yet.

I know as FANS we like to have a roster full of pro bowl players from the first string to the third at whatever the cost, but from a business standpoint which is exactly how I am looking at it, I don’t see the Jags keeping Brian Williams if everything remains status quo.

The paragraph thats shaded cut out the rest of what I typed. I will post it here.

Now looking at it from a Management perspective, and Not a FANS perspective, why would you pay Brian Williams 6 million this year(according to Jags02 numbers) to be a nickel CB? Why would you keep Williams at 6 million, when you have players that are much cheaper and younger in Starks and Sensabaugh? Why would you keep Williams when he up to this point hasn’t done anything to separate himself from Starks or Sensabaugh?

Can well all relax with this whole cutting Brian Williams movement? Yes he got torched by Reggie Wayne every time we played Indy but he is definitely an above-average cover guy who can tackle pretty well. Let’s also not forget the Sensabaugh has never played a full season as a starter. If Philly can keep Litto, Brown and Samuel, we can definitely work with our big three CB’s. Plus, if Mathis or Florence went down with an injury we would definitely be questioning our depth at the position.

The Eagles have been trying to unload Lito ever since they inked Samuel to a contract. From all the reports that I have been reading, the major stumbling block has been Lito wanting a rich contract from any team that wants him. Like I said it doesn’t make much sense to keep a guy like Lito or in the Jags case Williams as a back up or nickel at the price the Jags are paying him. Especially when the Jags have cheaper and just as talented players in Sensabaugh and Starks.

I agree with you as I have already stated, that if an injury took out Mathis or Florence for an extended length of time, then the Jags would be forced to keep Williams. Although to keep Williams on the roster at 6 million a year, for they sole reason of just in case their is an injury, is quite foolish.

I know being a fan you like to keep everybody, but from a management position it makes no sense.

I like to also mention that beat writer Michael Wright in the sporting news, mentioned that draft pick Trae Williams was also having a good camp. A lot of the draft pundits were calling the Jags selection of CB Trae Williams in the fifth round a steal. Of course he hasn’t played a regular season game yet, but the news is quite encouraging.

sounds like a practice squad player to me.

Not really if you go by the fact that the Jags have been keeping five CB’s on the roster every year.
1. Mathis-starter
2.Florence-starter
3.Starks-nickel
4.Trae Williams-dime
5.Witherspoon-return man

1.Nelson-starter FS
2.Sensabaugh-starter SS
3.Fudge-backup
4.Prioleau-backup special teams
5.Nkang-special teams ace

Thats how I have the final roster for the secondary, barring injury.

If thats true Pksiv that there is no savings, and the Jags have that much in dead money from cutting Williams, then there be no reason to cut him. Are you sure about this Pksiv? Where are you getting your info?

I havent read all the replies but I just wanted to point out- when you’re trying to win a division title, and maybe even a superbowl, you don’t play a player just because he is due to make more money. You play who will do the best job.

My guess is that Del Rio is counting on the front 7 to stop the run plays and B.Williams to be mostly a cover safety. Would he stand up to constant abuse of tackling a running back? Maybe not.. but he doesn’t have to, the linebackers, tackles, and ends will do the brunt of that work. The worst that could happen is Williams doesn’t make a few tackles and JDR puts Sensabaugh in the game for the duration- no harm, no foul. It’s about winning- not whose paycheck will be bigger

One injury at CB or either of the Safety position with that final roster and I think our secondary may actually be worse than last year’s. I think what we’re paying B-Dubs is well worth it for this season since he adds depth to both those positions, which is a pretty valuable trait. Of course, I wouldn’t be opposed to drafting a DB next year and unloading Williams, but for this year I think we’re going to need him.

Williams has according to the numbers and amortization of his contract which he signed in 2006. He was signed with a 10 million dollar signing bonus, for six years at 32 million. The contract pays him his signing bonus in 2 million dollar installments over 5 years which would total 10 million. He has played 2 years, which would leave 6 million in amortization. His cap hit this year is 6 million with 4 million his base, and 2 million in amortization.

So What all that basically means is the Jags are held hostage regardless of how good or bad Brian Williams plays, by his contract. The Jags would actually lose money by cutting him this year, and actually are tied to him till 2010.

I should have stayed awake more in math class, and I would have avoided this topic. I saw that 6 million cap hit and I said no way in hell were the Jags going to pay that under the circumstances I have outlined. But after putting on my accountant hat and crunching the numbers, the Jags would lose money by cutting him.

In a way I am very glad I am wrong, because it just means that the Jags will be that much stronger in the secondary.

At least I generated quite a buzz for your website Chris, controversy always keeps people entertained. : )

Don’t we spend so much time in nickel coverage that it is almost equal to the base group playing time wise? For the Jaguars the starter/nickel distinction is less important than for some teams.