On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 2:44 PM, Scott Rodgers wrote:
As expected, a rush of free agent signings, trades, and roster moves has consumed the NFL. It seems as though you can't so much as sign on to Twitter or your favorite message board without something (usually somethings) happening. The Eagles just got Nnamdi Asomugha out of nowhere, and still, some of the biggest names are still available (Nnamdi Asomugha, Randy Moss, Plaxico Burress, Braylon Edwards) so we have more than enough to kick off our NFL coverage.
Bryan, I know your team has to figure out just what to do with DeSean Jackson. I also know that they have been linked to Plaxico though right now they seem to have fallen behind the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. Philly also traded your boy, Kevin Kolb, for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second rounder in what, at least for now, looks like a complete steal and then added on Nnamdi Asomugha just now. Besides your own team's drastic improvements and rumblings what has caught your eye so far?
Bryan, I know your team has to figure out just what to do with DeSean Jackson. I also know that they have been linked to Plaxico though right now they seem to have fallen behind the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. Philly also traded your boy, Kevin Kolb, for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second rounder in what, at least for now, looks like a complete steal and then added on Nnamdi Asomugha just now. Besides your own team's drastic improvements and rumblings what has caught your eye so far?
On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 8:09 PM, Bryan McWethy wrote:
Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie? I sure hope your tight ends are phenomenal, or you're not passing on us. The Kolb trade and consequent Vince Young signing is also absolutely one of the best moves this offseason. Yeah, yeah, I'm an Eagles fan, but it's tough to deny that acquiring a 2nd round pick and an above-average corner with tools to be a top ten corner in the NFL for an unproven quarterback isn't unbelievable value. And to sign a quarterback who wins most of his games to play backup is phenomenal. The Eagles OL is shaky (especially with Winston Justice currently on PUP), and that's the reason Vick succeeded, he could move the pocket and buy our OL time. Signing Jason Babin was a good move I thought as well, the Eagles' DL coach Jim Washburn (former Titans DL coach) coached up Babin and recruited him to Philly. They still need a LB but I digress, I'm pleased so far with the offseason, and I'd say the Eagles are the winners right now.
What absolutely blew me away was the money going out to all these players. Charles Johnson for 6 years, $72 million. Santonio Holmes for 5 years, $50 million. Kevin Kolb for 5 years, $63 million. The list goes on and on, and while Holmes' makes sense, player value in free agency is more inflated than ever. Gotta give credit to De Smith and the NFLPA, because this is exactly what they counted on. Teams who spent no money in the uncapped season last year like the Panthers and Buccaneers have to make outlandishly overpaid signings in order to hit the minimum. While the latter years seem like a bit more of a win for the owners, these first few years of the CBA heavily benefit the players.
Although the Panthers are throwing money around like it's play money, I still like their offseason. Charles Johnson WAS one of the top defensive ends available, and he got the money he would have gotten elsewhere, plus extra because who wants to stay in Carolina? Re-signing Thomas Davis and Jon Beason was huge, they're both solid players in their primes, although making Beason the highest paid MLB in football is a bit ridiculous. I love the trade for Greg Olsen too, only surrendering a 3rd rounder. When healthy (big if with this group), a skill position corps of DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Jeremy Shockey (yeah he's still there), Greg Olsen, Steve Smith is very solid. The Panthers definitely need another WR on the outside, but they've got a solid O-Line and almost a complete group of skill players. Cam Newton should have enough to work with to do decently this year, but he'll still have major growing pains.
And then the other team I'm liking so far is your New England Patriots. It's funny because not two hours ago, the Patriots were bandied about as having the best offseason and the Super Bowl favorites, and now in one fell swoop the Eagles have taken all the headlines. The acquisitions of Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth for 3 total late picks of the 12,000,000 the Patriots trade down for every year is a genius move. I'll let you go into further detail there, but those moves really stand to improve them quite a bit. I'm a bit concerned about how many players they released, but it's tough to doubt the New England way after all these years. How do you feel about the Patriots' offseason so far and what other teams do you think did well for themselves? And in contrast to the Eagles, Panthers, and Patriots, what teams have completely whiffed this offseason?
What absolutely blew me away was the money going out to all these players. Charles Johnson for 6 years, $72 million. Santonio Holmes for 5 years, $50 million. Kevin Kolb for 5 years, $63 million. The list goes on and on, and while Holmes' makes sense, player value in free agency is more inflated than ever. Gotta give credit to De Smith and the NFLPA, because this is exactly what they counted on. Teams who spent no money in the uncapped season last year like the Panthers and Buccaneers have to make outlandishly overpaid signings in order to hit the minimum. While the latter years seem like a bit more of a win for the owners, these first few years of the CBA heavily benefit the players.
Although the Panthers are throwing money around like it's play money, I still like their offseason. Charles Johnson WAS one of the top defensive ends available, and he got the money he would have gotten elsewhere, plus extra because who wants to stay in Carolina? Re-signing Thomas Davis and Jon Beason was huge, they're both solid players in their primes, although making Beason the highest paid MLB in football is a bit ridiculous. I love the trade for Greg Olsen too, only surrendering a 3rd rounder. When healthy (big if with this group), a skill position corps of DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Jeremy Shockey (yeah he's still there), Greg Olsen, Steve Smith is very solid. The Panthers definitely need another WR on the outside, but they've got a solid O-Line and almost a complete group of skill players. Cam Newton should have enough to work with to do decently this year, but he'll still have major growing pains.
And then the other team I'm liking so far is your New England Patriots. It's funny because not two hours ago, the Patriots were bandied about as having the best offseason and the Super Bowl favorites, and now in one fell swoop the Eagles have taken all the headlines. The acquisitions of Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth for 3 total late picks of the 12,000,000 the Patriots trade down for every year is a genius move. I'll let you go into further detail there, but those moves really stand to improve them quite a bit. I'm a bit concerned about how many players they released, but it's tough to doubt the New England way after all these years. How do you feel about the Patriots' offseason so far and what other teams do you think did well for themselves? And in contrast to the Eagles, Panthers, and Patriots, what teams have completely whiffed this offseason?
On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 8:40 PM, Scott Rodgers wrote:
When it comes to the Pats, none of their subtractions are that major except Ty Warren. Just a week or two ago he was saying to all of the Patriots reporters how healthy he was and how he was in the fantastic shape and blah blah blah. All of a sudden it came out that he actually failed his physical and it wasn't related to the surgery he had this past year. I don't really know what's going on there. Maybe some of these guys will return for smaller cap hits but I'm going ahead in thinking if they were cut it was for a very good reason.
Ochocinco is a fantastic upgrade. I know a lot of Pats fans want Randy Moss but it's not going to happen (as much as I wish it could). Deion Branch is a great #2 and Brady loves him, plus having Welker back in the slot makes a lot of difference. This will mean that Brandon Tate is fourth on the depth chart and may very well end up being the best downfield threat on the team. I'm excited about Chad and love the guy, even if I know that Revis completely dominates him. When it comes to Haynesworth I'm unsure what to feel. I am not a big believer in this team chemistry stuff but I just have to wonder what he has left in the tank. Maybe he'll have a big year, maybe he'll just show up against the Redskins, maybe he'll show up too fat to wash himself unless he uses soap on a stick. It's a gamble and he may very well be the best pass rusher the Patriots could get.
When I emailed you this morning no one knew Nnamdi would end up an Eagle. The ten-fifteen minute window where he went from Jet to Cowboy to Eagle was one of the greatest things I have ever seen on Twitter. I got wrapped up in it but it's always exciting when the biggest free agent is involved. Thankfully my team has not one, but two great tight ends that can hold their own. Kudos to you, though.
As far as my biggest losers, I would have to say that there are a few that stick out. The Bengals trade away Chad but also lost Jonathan Joseph. Tack on the fact that Mike Brown is stubborn and refuses to trade a valuable asset in Carson Palmer (well, valuable as in a second or third rounder) and it looks ugly in Cincy (don't forget that Terrell Owens also tore his ACL). The Chicago Bears also look to be losers so far. They were rumored to be trading Olin Kreutz to the 49ers and if there is one thing you know about the Bears, it's that they totally have offensive line depth to spare. I just saw an Adam Schefter tweet that said they have signed Vernon Gholston and Roy Williams and that has to be literally the most depressing pair of signings I can think of. Tack on the loss of Danieal Manning and it looks as though the Bears won't be making the NFC Championship Game again this year.
Out of everyone, though, my biggest loser is the Cleveland Browns. Eric Wright took less money to go to the freakin' Detroit Lions. Eric Weddle left them standing at the altar. Charles Johnson took video game money to go to Carolina. There were rumors that Ray Edwards was on their radar and also took less money to go to Atlanta (let me say that the Browns have said they were never in, but who knows at this point). Their biggest targets this offseason look to be Terrell Owens (who, as I said, is coming off of a torn ACL) and using a supplemental pick on Terrelle Pryor. Between the Bengals and the Browns it's no wonder that the Ravens and Steelers walk into the playoffs. Hell, they could probably load their entire rosters on a segway and still come in first and second in that division.
Ochocinco is a fantastic upgrade. I know a lot of Pats fans want Randy Moss but it's not going to happen (as much as I wish it could). Deion Branch is a great #2 and Brady loves him, plus having Welker back in the slot makes a lot of difference. This will mean that Brandon Tate is fourth on the depth chart and may very well end up being the best downfield threat on the team. I'm excited about Chad and love the guy, even if I know that Revis completely dominates him. When it comes to Haynesworth I'm unsure what to feel. I am not a big believer in this team chemistry stuff but I just have to wonder what he has left in the tank. Maybe he'll have a big year, maybe he'll just show up against the Redskins, maybe he'll show up too fat to wash himself unless he uses soap on a stick. It's a gamble and he may very well be the best pass rusher the Patriots could get.
When I emailed you this morning no one knew Nnamdi would end up an Eagle. The ten-fifteen minute window where he went from Jet to Cowboy to Eagle was one of the greatest things I have ever seen on Twitter. I got wrapped up in it but it's always exciting when the biggest free agent is involved. Thankfully my team has not one, but two great tight ends that can hold their own. Kudos to you, though.
As far as my biggest losers, I would have to say that there are a few that stick out. The Bengals trade away Chad but also lost Jonathan Joseph. Tack on the fact that Mike Brown is stubborn and refuses to trade a valuable asset in Carson Palmer (well, valuable as in a second or third rounder) and it looks ugly in Cincy (don't forget that Terrell Owens also tore his ACL). The Chicago Bears also look to be losers so far. They were rumored to be trading Olin Kreutz to the 49ers and if there is one thing you know about the Bears, it's that they totally have offensive line depth to spare. I just saw an Adam Schefter tweet that said they have signed Vernon Gholston and Roy Williams and that has to be literally the most depressing pair of signings I can think of. Tack on the loss of Danieal Manning and it looks as though the Bears won't be making the NFC Championship Game again this year.
Out of everyone, though, my biggest loser is the Cleveland Browns. Eric Wright took less money to go to the freakin' Detroit Lions. Eric Weddle left them standing at the altar. Charles Johnson took video game money to go to Carolina. There were rumors that Ray Edwards was on their radar and also took less money to go to Atlanta (let me say that the Browns have said they were never in, but who knows at this point). Their biggest targets this offseason look to be Terrell Owens (who, as I said, is coming off of a torn ACL) and using a supplemental pick on Terrelle Pryor. Between the Bengals and the Browns it's no wonder that the Ravens and Steelers walk into the playoffs. Hell, they could probably load their entire rosters on a segway and still come in first and second in that division.
That's enough from me, though. If there is anything I missed on those teams feel free to add on to the terrible three. What teams other teams do you think should have hoped for the lockout to continue?
On Sat, Jul 30, 2011 at 11:03 AM, Bryan McWethy wrote:
I think Denver really squandered an opportunity too by not being more active. DeAngelo Williams was there for the taking, and coach John Fox couldn't convince Denver to jump on the opportunity. Knowshon Moreno looked like a stud coming out of college, but he simply hasn't lived up to the hype. Additionally, they waited too long to trade Kyle Orton, so Miami went and signed Matt Moore instead as a free agent to compete with Chad Henne. Now, Tebow isn't getting snaps with the first team, and his development is further stunted. This is either damning to Tebow as a sign that John Elway doesn't buy into him as the franchise quarterback, or complete mismanagement by the Broncos. They have little else to flaunt this offseason, as I can't think of any free agent signings they've made besides Willis McGahee (which is a decent one, but he's not a starter).
I think two teams quietly doing a solid job are the Jaguars and Rams. The Rams got Quentin Mikell pretty cheap compared to other safeties this year, and he's graded out as the best safety in the NFL by Pro Football Focus in 2008 and 2010, that's going to help them a lot. Adding Harvey Dahl at guard is a great addition, and Mike Sims-Walker is an overlooked WR who will emerge as the #1 of the group, and they only had to give him one year. I don't think they're done, but I'm impressed so far. The Jaguars are really addressing their run defense, signing S Dawan Landry and LB Paul Posluszny right out of the gates to big deals. Neither will lead a defense, but both are solid players in the bigger picture. They also picked up speedy LB Clint Session from the Colts, a good signing that not many will notice. They've done a good job, but they still need offensive weapons. Mike Thomas is a good receiver, but not a #1, he's probably better in the slot due to his diminutive size.
There's still plenty of time left, but the offseason picture is beginning to clear up. In the next post, we'll look at risks, under-the-radar signings, and camp holdouts this offseason that look to have a major effect.
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good read
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