Stillers solid at the corners:

The FO moved to sign both Chad Scott and Dwayne Washington yesterday.� I couldn�t be more pleased.� The first article I wrote following the 2000 season focused on the prospective D-side exodus following 2001; these men were 2/5 D-side starters who could have become UFA, and 2/3 I�d hoped could be retained.� Now, with both CB in the fold, the FO can build from here, rather than re-build later.�

The terms are reasonable; consider the deals struck this off-season:

Last winter, Walker was considered to be the premiere UFA at CB.� He signed early with Denver; the Broncos have long been considered to be cap-geniuses.� If that is so, then the Stiller FO must now be in the same category.� There is very little difference in the Walker, Washington and Scott deals.� Walker�s contract set the standard and Colbert/Kahn anted up.

The Sehorn deal was widely considered to be a cap-killer; that player is 2-4 years older the other CB listed; that interval is the long-term in the NFL.� Sehron�s bonus was out-of-line with any reasonable projection concerning his duration; excluding Darrell Green, who is a natural wonder, there have been few impact 36 year- old CB.� Ronde Barber was an UFA last winter and, after the NYG deal went down, looked for the same kind of thing from T�Bay.� Barber is a nice player but his success depends as much on Sapp, and the rest of the Buc Front 7, as on his own tenacity.� The Bucs refused the NYG lead and, since Barber is a small corner who lacks blazing speed, no other team offered him anything like Sehorn-terms either.��

It could be said that neither Scott nor DW are �lock-down� corners.� Jimmy Smith might argue the point but, generally, this is no lie.� It is worth noting though that, as a tandem, their production does compare well with the elite Titan, Raven and Fin duos.� Consider:

Starks has outstanding numbers; Rolle is clearly a ballhawk but generally the Stiller CB do fare well in these individual match-ups.� Their unit total, 10/32, matches the Titans 9/32, the Fins 10/33 and approaches the Ravens 10/37.� Scott and DW are quality contributors; when, or if, the Stillers can generate a pass rush, well, who knows what they could do?

IMO, this deal has value beyond the field of play.� For some years, Stiller fans and, I�d guess, Stiller players had to feel the franchise was on some treadmill to oblivion. �Draft a player, develop a player, say goodbye to said player.� Lake and Kirkland have made statements to that effect; God knows, we�ve seen it on the M�Board.

I remember when Searcy left town; Leon was the 1^st pick in the Cowher/Donahoe era but, just after Super Bowl Triple X, headed south to play for the Jags, then the Stillers most severe rival.� Bad omen and things got worse; after the �96 season, things got much worse.� Then, the Stillers lost (3) CB, (2) WR, (3) DE and OLB Chad Brown.� Scott was one of many need picks in the following draft and Chad is about the only one who worked out.� At CB, the FO drafted Scott and tried to patch with Woolford.� That patch blew and, next season, Washington came on the scene.

Excluding the mirage of �97, the Stillers have struggled from the �96 off-season to this point.� Yesterday the FO took a giant step towards putting that period down.� You know, we could compare the Hartings signing to Gandy in �98; we could compare Logan to Davis or Alexander; we could even compare Bettis to Kirk or Steed (crucial vets whose careers spiraled downward in contract 3) but, in this instance, there is no comparison to be drawn between the past FO and the new regime.� For the first time in living memory, the Stillers have acted ahead of the FA curve. If that�s the mark of some Colbert/Khan Era, good for them and damn well done.

If Holmes is extended, this all-new Stiller FO will have earned top honors.� The Scott and Washington deals look good in the context set by Denver and Denard Walker.� By the same token, here are some LB UFA deals from last winter that might suggest what it will take to get Holmes or, for Sack fans, Gildon in the fold.�

Fill in the blanks.