Pckfn23 wrote: ↑14 Aug 2021 13:58
NCF wrote: ↑14 Aug 2021 13:23
Pckfn23 wrote: ↑14 Aug 2021 12:45
Clay Matthews didn't play for a team in 2020 after he was released by the Rams in March of 2020. There is probably a VERY good reason a 34 year old EDGE rusher/LB wasn't picked up for an entire year.
I think there is. There wasn't a lot of pomp and circumstance, but I think I have seen it reported that Matthews decided to sit the year out because of COVID. Your point remains for THIS Spring, but I think most just assumed retirement. Maybe this is a case where he thinks he has more left than evaluators do. Maybe its finances. But, if he can perform anywhere near his 2019 season with the Rams or even his last few years in GB as our #4 pass rusher, why the hell not?
Also, he is not taking the roster spot of someone with potential... sorry, but Galea and Garvin are as jaggy JAG's as you can get. I just don't see anything there that I would forego a bona fide EDGE player (with inside experience, as well). That #4 spot isn't some super deep bench spot. Those guys play. Ramsey got snaps last year. Garvin got snaps last year. They sucked. You need every bit of juice out of that guy because pass rushers were not made to play every snap... especially when they are doubling is IDL with our personnel.
Matthews did not sit out 2020 due to COVID:
https://www.nfl.com/news/clay-matthews- ... aying-2020
Ramsey had 75 snaps. Garvin had 85 snaps. I am not really keen on signing Matthews for 160 snaps at almost $1.1 million. Sure, the money savings is only about $400,000, but I don't want him taking more snaps than that anyway. I would be fine with a JAG taking 160 snaps or less than 10 a game.
If Matthews wants more than Vet Minimum, I don't want him.
If Matthews wants more than 160 snaps on the year, I don't want him.
If Matthews did make a team last year because his talents have fallen off, I don't want him.
In short, there are a lot of reasons why I wouldn't want him.
OK, I feel like that article does more to support my claims than refute them, but let me restate, to be clear, since you are a dear, dear friend.
Matthews did not sit out 2020 because he had zero opportunities, he sat out because he didn't have the right opportunity. Maybe it was money, maybe it was the depth chart, but, in my opinion, and, as surmised by Packers beat writers, given the uncertainty in the world, he decided he was better off staying at home in 2020. At was, at least, a partial consideration (as obvious as that may same).
The rest of your points, I don't necessarily disagree with. If 160 snaps, that's 160 snaps of an experienced pass rush versus essentially a give up (Garvin probably had 2 nice rushes on the year). We also complain, and rightfully so, about the number of snaps the pass rushers have to play, so I am more than happy to give up some of those reps in the mid-2nd quarter so long as they are from someone who can be productive. We have definitely seen scenarios, and in my opinion, somewhat avoidable scenarios, where Z/Preston were gassed in crunch time.
My position is, I want him if he is still at that 2019 level, will accept a low/minimum salary, and be OK with a very secondary/tertiary role.