UPDATE 11:45PM: Pat McManamon was at the Canton Browns Backers meeting tonight, and reports that Phil Savage said that the team did not extend a contract offer to Boulware today. According to Pat, Savage appeared "cautious" about Boulware's health.
Linebacker Peter Boulware escaped Cleveland today without signing a contract
with the Browns. According to our sources and friends at Seahawks.net, Boulware
has landed in Washington and will be talking to the Seahawks tomorrow.
The Seahawks may have helped themselves afford Boulware on Thursday as they
cut both troubled wide receiver Koren Robinson and cornerback Bobby Taylor.
Neither cut was unexpected, and should provide the Seahawks with some room to
maneuver as they negotiate with Boulware on Friday.
The Seahawks would still be challenged to pay Boulware in a manner
commensurate with the Browns, as Seahawks.net has calculated that the team
likely only
has $2.2 million in available cap space to sign the linebacker. The Browns
have significantly more cap space to use, with estimates ranging from $5 - $7
million available under the cap.
Prior to
being released by the team, Boulware rejected an offer from the Ravens which
was worth considerably more than the Seahawks available cap space.
Most likely, the only the Seahawks can compete with the Browns financially
would likely be to give Boulware a long-term contract with a sizeable signing
bonus spread out over four or five years. While this opens up the Seahawks for
future issues with dead cap space, it would allow them to chase Boulware now.
A factor the Seahawks have in their favor is Michael Boulware, Peter's
brother and a 2004 draft selection. The Browns have to hope that their financial
flexibility helps overcome the Seahawks familial advantages.
A third factor in Boulware's decision his his desire to be used on nearly
every down rather than as a situational pass rusher. Most analysts feel that the
Browns are more likely to use the linebacker in this capacity.
The Browns were going to make a determination about Boulware's ability to
play throughout the game based partly on his physical condition. No substantive
word has been forthcoming from the team regarding the discussions, although
Savage will speak with reporters briefly this evening before a function with the
Canton Browns Backers.
Boulware has said that he hopes to make a decision about his new team soon.
- BDMc