Ask the expert: Jerry Angelo

by Gary Shelton on March 2, 2017 · 0 comments

in general, NFL, Tampa Bay Bucs

Jerry Angelo is a former personnel director for the Bucs and former general manager of the Bears. Each week, Angelo answers your questions regarding the NFL. Send your questions to GarySheltonsports@gmail.com with "ask the expert'' in the subject line. The most interesting questions will be selected.

Thursday, 4 a.m.

Among those who were not kept by their teams was running back Adrian Peterson, who has obviously had a fine career with seven 1,000-yard seasons. But in two of his last three, he had less than 100 yards rushing. He’s 32 and coming off an injury. If it was your team, how interested would you be  in him?

I would have interest if I didn't have an established runner. My thinking would be tempered in terms of how much we’d pay him. I would look at what the Colts are paying Frank Gore and present that to him.

It would be a take-it-or-leave-deal. There wouldn’t be any real negotiating. The problem with Peterson, other than what you stated, is that he no longer is your featured back and doesn’t offer you anything on

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special teams and he’s a poor third down back. So he will have a very limited role on game day and he is eating up a roster spot for being at best a co-starter. That means he gets about 10 to 15 touches a game. Not an ideal situation. Bring in the fact that his durability is now a concern, and it could have you talking yourself out of bringing him in for a visit.

NFL teams will begin their intense draft preparations this week at the Combine. Were  you more interested in times, or with what you got from meeting with the players?

The interviews were much more important. Because you knew if you liked the player or not on tape. You had a pretty good idea of what his speed was going to be and what type of workout he was going to have.

But you really don’t know somebody until you sit down with them and visit about the topics you care about. The interview would help me decide; if he were going to be a good fit for the team, in terms of the locker room.

I put a lot of stock in team chemistry. So having the opportunity to visit and delve into a player’s character was very important to me.

Would you be interested in Jamal Charles? Does he have anything left?

Again, I would defer to what I said about Peterson. I would have interest, but tempered, because of where he is in his career and his durability concerns.

Unlike Peterson, he can be used on third down and that would make him more attractive for me, because he can offer more versatility for your offense.

How about Eddie Lacy? Does an overweight running back concern you?

Absolutely. When backs can’t control their weight, it affects their longevity and performance. When you’re young you can get away with the pronounced fluctuations in body weight, but my experiences have taught me, that will catch up to you at some point.

They will go on a crash diet, lose the weight, but their body isn’t fooled by it. The body no longer responds to this kind of treatment. Because you punished it, rather than nurturing it, you reap what you sow.

The Jets cut Darrelle Revis this week. At one time, Revis could play with anyone. Has he lost too much to be of value anymore?

Revis has never been the elite player he was since his injury. His days with the Bucs were limited, not just because of his salary, but because he was just an average player. He got paid a lot of money based on his reputation. I wouldn’t pay him any more than the minimum.

Guys like him erode your team and your cap, because they are imposters. Paying him the minimum makes him real!

The Washington Redskins tagged quarterback Kirk Cousins for the second straight year, meaning he’ll make a whopping $23.94 million dollars this year. That would have been too many dollars per ounce of talent for me. How about you?

The mistake the Redskins made was not doing a deal with him last year. They needed to let him go out into the market place and test the waters, knowing no team would be willing to pay him the money they would.

Is there some risk? Certainly, but that is the risk you have to take when you aren’t sold on a player, particularly for a quarterback. When you let your fears control your thinking, things like this happen.

I’ve been there. I’ve done it and regretted it. Now you have payed him 40 million dollars and you don’t have a long-term deal in place. That's ridiculous.

Atlanta receiver Mohammad Sanu blames the Falcons’ collapse in the Super Bowl on Lady GaGa. I’m sure you’ve heard some excuses over the years, but isn’t that a good one?

Sanu must be a Madonna fan. I think the person to blame is the guy with the headset on, who is responsible for managing the game. You might say he got a little GaGa!!!

The Chiefs signed Eric Berry to a six-year, $78 million contract Isn’t that a lot for a safety?

No, not if you think he’s special. That is obviously what the Chiefs' brass thinks.

When they talk about Hall of Fame snubs these days, most fans care about only the recent players. But which one of these would you put into Canton? Jerry Kramer, L.C. Greenwood or Alex Karras?

L.C. Greenwood, you could say he got over shadowed by all the great players around him. I think there were five players on the Steelers defense during Greenwood's tenure that went to Canton. The other two were the featured guys for their teams. So there is more of  a reason to question them.

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