If there has ever been a single season where I could name a player that we we needed, not wanted, this guy has to be him. We have no one on the d-line that has spent anytime in a 34 and Canty has been for years now. Another positive is that he was one of Parcells guys so you know your getting a talented hard worker.

Canty would be a tremendous signing, and probably cheaper than one of the OLB studs like Suggs or possibly Peppers.

so who is he, and why's he so good?

he's a DE that played for the cowboys but is now a FA. if i'm not mistaken i believe the cowboys have considered him a bust all 4 years he was with them. when i watched cowboy games i never heard his name called that much unless the announcers talked about how he has been underachieving. his stats arent that great either but i know DEs in a 3-4 really arent meant to be playmakers. his best year was in 07 with 43 total tackles (30 solo) and 3.5 sacks.

Height: 6-7 Weight: 304 Age: 26

Born: 11/10/1982 Bronx , NY

College: Virginia

Experience: 4th season

Contrary to popular belief, I truly think a proven 3-4 DE is the Packers biggest need defensively. I think we have servicable LBs for a 3-4 transition but we only have Pickett and Jenkins as proven starters on the DL. Neither of them have any experience in a 3-4 defense. Signing Canty would be very beneficial and probably wouldn't cost too much. I keep hearing people saying we should go after guys like Suggs and Peppers. That would be nice but we absolutely "have to" have another DE for the 3-4. Colin Cole(a likely 3-4 DE prospect) likely won't be around next year as he thinks he's friggin Albert Haynesworth or something.

I think Capers will bring a decent pass rush with the existing guys we have but whether or not we get a solid DE to start opposite Jenkins will determine our success with a 3-4 transition. Really, as far as some people think we are from a 3-4 switch, the biggest missing element is another starting DE. The thing that truly helps us with a 3-4 switch is the versatility of Cullen Jenkins and the size of Pickett. I don't think we are that far off. We don't have the pieces to put together a 3-4 defense as good as Pittsburgh or Baltimore certainly, but we do have the pieces to put together a servicable 3-4 defense to build off of, provided we get a guy like Canty to start opposite Jenkins. If not, I'm not sure how much 3-4 we will be playing this year. I highly doubt Capers will try to switch to a 3-4 immediately if he thought we didn't have the pieces to do it. I'm really intrigued by the prospect of getting a guy like Canty. The nice thing about a 3-4 is you don't have to spend a fortune on the DL. Canty is no Seymour or Aaron Smith but he's a servicable starter with experience as a starting 3-4 DE. I honestly think TT would probably pick up a guy like this. This sounds awfully similar to the Chillar signing. I don't see TT going after a guy like Suggs or Peppers but I can see him picking up a servicable starting caliber player with 3-4 experience.

I think you are thinking of Marcus Spears, a 1st round pick of the Cowboys a few year ago who has been considered a minor bust. They play the same position. Canty has been a very good player for the Cowboys, and I have never heard him referred to as a bust in any way.

I agree. He was actually considered a great bargin in the 2005 draft. Before his senior season he was considered a sure fire 1st round pick. He dropped too the 4th because a serious knee injury he suffered that season and an eye injury.

I really think this guy should be our absolute top priority in free agency. I would put a guy like Suggs as second on the list. If we added those two pieces we would have way more than a serviceable 3-4.

The only negative I have heard about this guy is that he has been underachieving since the end of his first season.

If he signs something reasonable and not taking Cory Williams type money then I hope we sign him.

How so? He was a 4th round draft pick who is a proven starter at DE. How is that underachieving? His stats are pretty much what a decent DE in a 3-4 produces. A lot of people from Dallas credit Canty's performance as a reason why Demarcus Ware has been so productive the last few years. The DL's role in a 3-4 is to basically tie up as many blocks as they can to allow the LBs to make plays. Demarcus Ware had 20 sacks this year, while playing next to and behind Chris Canty. I would say Canty is doing pretty well actually if you understand what his role is.

Canty has been solid but he hasn't lived up to the potential he showed his rookie season. Ware has been a beast, the guy is something special and I would give Canty only 10% of the credit.

I would love to sign either Canty or Olshansky, who is also set to become an unrestricted free agent.

I think the pack absolutely need to go after AND GET 1 of these two. We don't necessarily need to bring in studs, but we need to bring in some proven starters who know how to play in the 3-4. These guys are the best 2 available.

And I think he will. TT wasn't very active after the 2007 season because frankly there wasn't very many good players available. The way FA works is that the highest rated players at each position each year get fairly large contracts because other teams are willing to overpay. I think TT will definitely be interested in picking up a few guys this year due to the change in defensive philosophy. I think TT picks up one of these guys. I don't think he will go after high profile guys like Peppers or Suggs but I can definitely see him bringing in Canty or Olshansky. Kampman is going to be our relentless pass rushing OLB so we need to focus on shoring up the DL because I think that is where the biggest hole is. I think TT needs to sign one of these DEs and hope Raji is there at #9. That would be awesome if it happened.

Compare future FA to past FA's

Canty=Pickett

Doable

Here's what Chris Canty - and by extension, probably Olshansky - are looking for. Thank the Raiders!

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives...ontract-to.html



Of course it's doable for GB. But does it sound like the kind of deal the Packers will make with a guy who isn't already on the team? Hmm...

haha. just posted this on the FA thread. too much money...

Granted, there are obviously dead years attached to the end of that Tomly Kelly deal to inflate the overall number, but the 18 mil guaranteed is legit. That's a lot of dough to give to a guy not named Jennings, Collins or Kampman right now...

I do not see TT paying 50 mil for Canty (18 garunteed). NO WAY NO HOW. I consider the guy an above average starter in the 3-4, maybe good starter. I don't see this happening and I would have to say I would agree if he chose not to touch this guy. As much as wee need a player like him on our roster I would have to say it would be bad business. Friggin Raiders.

That could be a good thing. He might decide to test the market, rather signing an extension, and find out that his market value isn't that high.

Canty's agent clarifies his stance on what they expect in FA. In addition, a scouting report.

From PFW:

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Featu...canty021409.htm