According to an email I just received. Sorry no link yet to be found. Coakley was a third-round pick out of Appalachian State in '97. He was due a large salary this year in addition to a 500,000 roster bonus tomorrow. Parcells had talked to Coakley in past weeks and told him what role he wanted him to play. A restructured contract could not be worked out.
Odds are good Bradie will start. The question is where because they are not sure what scheme they will run yet. Parcells wants to go 3-4, but we'll see if he can pull off the personnel issues....
Of course, don't be surprised if Coakley is back if he doesn't find good fortune in the open market. I believe Dallas wants him back, just at a much lower number. He is too small for the standard 3-4, but he would be a good passing-down player.
End of that - Coakley is now a Ram. I guess he fits the mold on that team to some extent. 5 years - $14.5 million. I always liked the player - I hope he does well there.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BearsFan1)</div><div class='quotemain'>That is too much money for coakley, isnt he kind of old?</div> He's 32, and on the surface its too much money. He gets a $3 bonus, and its $1 million in the first year. I suppose it could be loaded heavy on the backend in voidable years that they don't plan to have him. He's projected as a starter at St Louis, where Pisa T has moved from OLB to safety. At Dallas, he would have been a nickel back at best. It was a good move for Dallas to clear that space, but he still may have a few productive years left in the right system.
well, i dont see it as that great of a thing, i mean what other proven linebacker do we have? i mean i havent heard much about bradie james, just a small bit...but we will see, and if we go 3-4 what are we gonna do about the other linebackers??hmmm i mean with all the money we have to spend lets not be to frugal...