Dallas tagged, Lilja signed

by BigBlueShoe on Feb 19, 2008 11:28 PM EST in Colts News Comment 19 comments

The Colts slapped the franchise tag on TE Dallas Clark. Now, they work on a long term deal. And speaking of deals, the Colts signed OG Ryan Lilja to a 5-year-deal; no terms or money numbers as of yet.

I think Lilja was the obvious re-sign, and it likely means Jake Scott is a goner. Tip to torontocoltsfan for posting about this in the diaries.

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love dallas

I love Dallas and how he turned down that deal Polian said they offered him which was similar to the one given to Bobzilla. Dallas is a dick and he's smoking if he thinks he's worth more than 30-35 mil for 5-7 years especially since he seems to have issues with catching passes in big moments. I mean don't get me wrong, I like that he is on the team and enjoy watching him play but this crap pisses me off.

The best is he had that interview with that Iowa paper/site where he implied making 4.5 mil was plenty for the game he loves and on the team he loves yet bam, there he is turning down that type of cash. I love when athletes lie.

Athletes kill me...

by Rob L on Feb 20, 2008 9:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jake Scott

Since I'm a Steelers fan, I've been keeping an eye on the Colts offseason moves to see if one or both of the guards would be resigned. What kind of player is Jake Scott?

www.behindthesteelcurtain.com

by cgolden on Feb 20, 2008 10:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

Dallas has been productive but really has only had 1 great year. I think maybe if we just keep him 1 more year while Gonzo develops we'll be fine. I agree with Rob L, he is getting greedy if he's asking for more than 4.5 mil a year. I mean the franchise tag is worth that for 1 year, and I would consider Dallas to be at or around that level, but no more.

by yellowsnow on Feb 20, 2008 10:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

Don't get me wrong I like Dallas Clark but when we drafted him I was kind of crossing my fingers for Witten instead. Wouldn't it be nice to have Witten now when it seems we'll probably only have Dallas for one more year.

by BlueVol03 on Feb 20, 2008 11:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

wow, a Colts fan who thinks Witten is better

than Clark...nice. BBS said creatures like you didn't exsist.

by Terry on Feb 20, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

aojgiajg

He didn't say Witten was better fyi.

by KingRichard on Feb 20, 2008 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he didn't have to because

its as obvious as Manning being a great qb. Clark would be just a guy on most teams, he's nothing special like Witten.

by Terry on Feb 20, 2008 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Terry

That's retarded. We can agree to disagree on Witten v. Clark, but if you don't think Clark isn't a top 5 Te, you are smoking crack.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Feb 20, 2008 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

face reality BBS, he isn't

He doesn't have Manning throwing him the ball, he's just another TE. I'd take Witten, Gonz, Gates, Miller and Cooley over Clark any day.

The guy is a one trick pony (no pun intended) and that trick wasn't performed all that well since he dropped like every other pass thrown to him this year or at least it seemed that way.

by Terry on Feb 20, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Facing reality

So you argue that what makes Clark and Witten comparable is not Clark's ability, as he is just another player without the Colts, but Witten is special. You say that Manning makes Clark, but Witten is great, period. No Romo necessary. Manning makes average tight ends look great, and Romo has a great TE blocking and catching for him.

Just to clarify, the logic you use to magnify Witten (BTW, my favorite Cowboy) over Clark admits that Manning is better than Romo. I mean, we all know this. I'm just wondering if your logic is circular homerism or if you are outright confessing that Manning is the better QB.

by coltsfanawalt on Feb 20, 2008 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

dude, I never once ever said Romo

was better than Manning, at least not yet. He's still young and learning how to play QB, while Manning is in his prime. He has the potential to be the best, but he's obviously not there quite yet.

Regarding Witten and Clark, my argument is that Witten would be an all-pro TE for many teams in this league.

Clark couldn't. He needs to be in a great passing offense that utilizes his strengths. Bottom line, Clark is just a big WR, while Witten is a complete TE with no weaknesses.

by Terry on Feb 21, 2008 9:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hahaiogojag

It's as obvious as you having the intellect of a gnat.

by KingRichard on Feb 20, 2008 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Terry

Somewhat.

I think Witten is better and I think Manning does make Clark better. But I think Clark would also be an above average TE on any other team, just not as good as Witten..

by yellowsnow on Feb 20, 2008 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well...

There is a really big difference in how they play and how they are utilized in their offenses. Jason Witten is more of a traditional tight end; Clark not so much (unfortunately). I understand that Clark makes mismatches a good amount when he lines up in the slot, but it makes alot more sense to me that he could make even more mismatches if he ran his routes from the line like Witten. We've been over this though.

by KingRichard on Feb 20, 2008 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ejtiajgijag

I just think they are using him all wrong. Ever since Stokley was hurt all year in 06, he's been playing as a receiver instead of a tight end. I'd like to see the Colts start playing him in more traditional places like on the line and have Gonzo play in the slot instead.

by KingRichard on Feb 20, 2008 11:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hope so too

If the Colts do that, then Gonzo should be ready to take over completely in the slot in '09 and we can let Clark walk. I don't know if we need another receiver-type player signed to a big contract. Marvin is getting $12M this year (as I looked on one of the salary cap reports in the Diary about it), Reggie is getting $6.7M this year, and Gonzo is getting $1.3M. So that's $19M between the 3 starting WRs, and then Dallas is getting $4.5M with the franchise tag. $23.5M between 4 players on the roster with a max of $116M..that's 1/5 of our total cap. How much more can we invest in receivers in the long run?

by yellowsnow on Feb 20, 2008 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Witten/Clark

I like them both and they both have their stengths/weaknesses. I like Witten better because we're from the sam area growing up and he played for the Vols. However, I think Witten could put up some extraordinary numbers with Manning throwing him the ball instead of Romo.

by BlueVol03 on Feb 20, 2008 12:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Scott

I was surprised by Lilja's resigning. I figured that Scott, who can double at tackle, was a better fit, especially if only one of the two can be resigned. I wonder if this makes it more likely Dylan Gandy, another versatile guy, will be back.

Surprised, but not disappointed. I think a healthy Lilja is one key to an improved running game. Another key, since I haven't mentioned it in this post, getting rid of Kenton Keith (or giving him a bilateral upper extremity transplant).

The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.

by Coltsfan58 on Feb 20, 2008 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

In other news

Various news outlets are reporting that the Colts have signed Clark to a long term deal.

So, looks like the Colts' core is intact. Next set of FAs: Jeff Saturday and Booger. I can't see the Colts keeping Booger, but I could see another team trading a few low picks for him for salary cap relief. I don't think Saturday is going to get a long term deal, few years at most. Either this year or next, we have to look at drafting his replacement.

Check out my blog, Sports Circuits! - http://sportscircuits.wordpress.com/

by MonkeyBusiness on Feb 20, 2008 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs