Other teams will absolutely struggle with the precedent set by some of the more recent signings. Because of Reese's foresight and anticipation, the Giants really won't be in the same bind. Haynesworth scored $100 mill over 7 years, which significantly raised the ceiling for front 7 players who you can build a defense around. Now Julius Peppers, Demarcus Ware, and Shawne Merriman (for now) will be significantly raising their contract demands and I can see negotiations becoming much more drawn out. Luckily our best front 7 players have been locked up for a while. Tuck was extended right after the Super Bowl win, which has proven to give us a lot of value, when you consider how much he's developed since then. Umenyiora is similarly locked up. Nnamdi Asomugha also raked in the biggest contract for a CB in NFL history. Reese avoided any potential fallback from that by locking up our best corner, Corey Webster, a few months before Asomugha was even at the negotiating table. Reese has gotten a lot of praise for his talent evaluation (in the draft and through free agency), and justifiably so. But his cap management since he's arrived here has been even more impressive. He's let go of dead-weight (Arrington, Petitgout, Shockey), resisted the temptation of overpaying to retain decent players (Gibril Wilson, Kawika Mitchell), and has secured timely extensions with the real building blocks of this team (Tuck, Umenyiora, Snee, O'Hara, Webster, Jacobs, soon to be Manning). As a result, we've set an organizational precedent where the players who are really invaluable stay here. You don't see whining from players, because they know that they just have to consistently show their value on the field and the team will reward them.
What do you think will be done with your wide receiver issues? I'm starting to think Reese might own Polian, he is just very on top of his game right now.
I think he's keeping the door open for Plaxico. It makes sense when you think about it, because the dude's established in the playbook, well-like in the locker room, and if he does come back he'll have very little leverage in negotiations (I personally think that's why Rosenhaus wants him somewhere else). If Burress isn't coming back, I think Reese ignores the FA market, maybe drafts someone, but looks to the trade market (Boldin, Chad Johnson, and Braylon Edwards are all potential targets). He'll bide his time though, because the longer he waits on the trade market, the more likely those teams will be forced to lower their expectations from the "Roy Williams to Dallas" deal. I still think very highly of Polian though. Reese has done amazingly, but his sample size is nowhere near as large as Polian's. I think Polian, Reese, and Ozzie Newsome are the clear top 3, in terms of football executives.
When I saw the title, "Jerry Reese dodged a frickin' bullet", I assumed he was in a meeting with Plaxico Burress, who adjusted his elastic waistband and nearly shot both of them....
