Batavia Colliders’ Josh Hammond (who currently holds the titles of Owner, GM, President, Director of Pro Personnel, and League Champion) has declined to forecast a Colliders’ repeat in 2012. After being pressed on the topic, Hammond had this to say:
Look, we won the title in 2011 by staying focused and playing one game at a time. That’s not just a cliché; it’s been a successful formula for us. The last thing we need is to pull a Fransburg and start talking about a ‘Title Defense.’ How did that work out for them?
For those of you keeping score at home, it didn’t work out all that well. Fransburg jinxed themselves with such talk, and ended up filling their IR squad with high-priced players that were supposed to be contributors. They didn’t make the playoffs following their 2010 title. And, let’s be honest, half the league makes the playoffs.
Breaking Up the Defense?
In other Colliders’ news, Hammond has informed the agents of LB Patrick Willis and DT Ndamukong Suh that they have his blessing to start looking for trade opportunities.
Patrick Willis has been a standout linebacker, but he will be commanding upwards of $30 in 2012, which is more than the Colliders want to pay, especially given the king-sized salaries that they owe to Aaron Rodgers and Arian Foster.
As for Suh, Hammond grew tired of his underwhelming play and stompiness. When Suh was suspended by league officials, he was permanently replaced in the lineup by Sione Pouha. Interestingly enough, Pouha is a free agent after this season, so unloading Suh would mean that the Colliders will have some work to do this offseason at defensive tackle.
If those agents cannot find trade partners, then they will likely be cut before the start of the new league year. In that case, they will be free agents commanding those high salaries, and would be in danger of sitting out the entire season, as Michael Crabtree and his horrible contract did in 2011. If those players are cut before the new league year, then they will be available to everyone in free agency, so there is not very much incentive for teams to trade with the Colliders.
Both players may very well be worth the money on a team that can afford them, especially given the generous $363 cap number this year. The Colliders, however, would like to move on.
© 2012, Josh Hammond. All rights reserved.
Both Suh and Kyle Williams … what disappointments.
You’re not lying. It seems like there is absolutely no consistency at the position, with the exception of maybe Ngata and Pouha (and Pouha proved this season that he’s not above throwing down a goose egg.) And the fact that the top-2 DTs from 2010 were not even in the conversation is disconcerting. I don’t want to waste money at the position, so I guess I’ll take the risk of being outscored at DT by 16 points every time I play the Chitons.