There was a lot of action at the start of free agency, with a couple teams trying to make big splashes early on.
Moves I like:
- All Denver moves -- Denver signs FS Brian Dawkins, RBs Correll Buckhalter and JJ Arrington. Denver gets a lot better with this one. Brian Dawkins is a beast and will bring toughness to the defensive side of the ball. I really like Buckhalter, who played very well as backup to Brian Westbrook. However, Denver still has not done anything to shore up their awful linebacker core. Dawkins will help stop the run, but Denver was at the bottom of the league last year in rush defense and I don't think they will do much better if they don't address their needs at LB.
- Chiefs trade for Mike Vrabel -- Vrabel has been a big-time leader during his time with the Patriots. He will bring his leadership skills and experience to a Chiefs defense that does not have that. However, this in no way means that the Chiefs are going to become a shutdown defense. Most non-Chiefs fans couldn't name a single player on that D except for Bernard Pollard who shredded Tom Brady's knee on the first series of last years NFL season. I am surprised the Patriots would let him go for only a 2nd round pick, but Belichick must feel that with the emergence of Jerod Mayo that Vrabel was expendable. I would look for the Patriots to go heavy on defense in the draft.
- Patriots sign RB Fred Taylor -- I think this is a great move for the Patriots. Fred Taylor is a proven guy that will do well in the Patriots system. He can still grind out yards and make some big plays. I think Taylor still has plenty left in the tank and with a healthy Tom Brady back, there will be plenty of holes for him to run through. Maroney has been a bust, and I'd be surprised to see him back in a Patriots uniform again.
- Jets sign LB Bart Scott -- Peter King tells a great story of how Ryan recruited Bart Scott. Rex Ryan gets one of his guys from the Ravens that he knows how to use effectively within his great defensive schemes. The Jets defense was already strong last year and it only gets better with Scott playing the middle and being a leader on the field. If Ryan can get Vernon Gholston to play up to the potential the Jets pinned him to have when they selected him 6th overall in last years draft, then the Jets defensive unit can see a big upswing this season.
- Chiefs sign QB Matt Cassel -- Cassel played very well last year when Tom Brady went down, but I think more credit goes to Belichick's fantastic coaching job than to Cassel's ability to play quarterback. Cassel was a product of an extremely successful Patriots system and I doubt that he will be able to replicate that success in a new system. It will help that Cassel has a decent receiving core in Tony Gonzalez and emerging star receiver Dwayne Bowe, but I think new head coach Todd Haley will have his work cut out for him. While I'm not sure of how much a role Haley had in Matt Leinart's development (Haley has spent the majority of his career as a receivers coach), Leinart is on the verge of becoming a bust and has not developed well at all. Also, Cassel will be getting paid $14 million this season, that is a big number for a QB that has only started 15 games.
- Redskins sign DT Albert Haynesworth to 7-year, $100 million ($41 million guaranteed) deal -- The largest guaranteed contract in league history goes to 27 year old Haynesworth, who has not played a full season since his rookie year and doesn't have the best reputation as a locker room guy. It is a huge gamble for the 'Skins that could reap big rewards if Haynesworth stays healthy and motivated. If the Redskins underachieve, then I doubt Haynesworth will play to his potential. Also, there is little chance that Haynesworth will be able to play out the full length of his contract or even legitimize the $41 million in guaranteed salary, it is just too hard for an athlete of his size to stay healthy over a long period of time. I do not think there is any coincidence that Haynsworth would have the most productive season of his career during a big contract year. Redskins owner Dan Snyder has always been known to take big gambles and give out big free agent contracts - lets just say his track record has not been good.
- Cardinals yet to resign QB Kurt Warner -- it astounds me that Warner has not been resigned yet. What is worse is that he has already talked to other teams. Warner just took the Cardinals to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, and there is no reason why he couldn't do that again. One thing that worries me is that Warner has come out and said that this is going to be his last contract and wants to make sure he is taken care of, i.e. I'm gonna get mine. Warner shouldn't fool himself into thinking there is a better situation out there.
Joufie, allow me a moment to say a few things. First, how dare you set up a sports blog without first telling me yourself. Such insolence will be dealt with in due time. Now, on to your comments. The Denver moves did not impress me for several reasons. The certainly add a savvy vet who can crush people with Dawkins, but their defensive woes were their lack of pass rush and run D. Neither have been addressed. And who cares if they signed two career back up running backs? Each one will start one game at some point due to the fragile group already in place, be mildly affective because Jay Cutler is good, and be an after thought. Just like mentioning them as a good move should have been. The Pats parted with Vrabel simply because he is getting older and is expensive. Why not draft someone younger and cheaper? The Chiefs could certainly use his veteran presence, but he won't mean more than one or two extra wins. Fred Taylor is ancient, maybe not in age, but in carries. And he is chronically injured. The Pats will use him sparingly, and he will have two or three 100yrd games, but will be otherwise forgettable. Bart Scott to the Jets is a steal for Rex Ryan. He will still have to adjust to his first year at the helm in a very tough division with little room for error. The D has talent, and he should have them in shape, but outside of their line on O they have ??? at every position.
ReplyDeleteNext, the moves you don't like. I agree more often here. Cassel will play better than any QB the Chiefs have had in recent memory for sure. But they are still the Chiefs. They might win 6 or even 7 games in that awful division, but I don't expect much. The Haynesworth deal is par for the Snyder course. Its just so typical. Enough said there. As of today, the Cards are negotiating with Warner, who is willing to take less than what SF offered to stay in Zona. The current sticking point is Zona's unwillingness to guarantee at least 6 a year for him. Foolish.
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