As the first flurry of the NFL's free-agency period winds down, it's time to look at some of the moves.
Some I laud.
Some I can't understand.
Some make me wonder why some of the people making decisions make the money they do.
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| Albert Haynesworth is great, but are the 'Skins going to be much better? (AP) |
Here's a look at some of the moves, breaking them into two categories: Thumbs up and Head-scratcher.
Thumbs up: To the St. Louis Rams for landing center Jason Brown. Did they pay too much for him? Yes. Did they have to get him? Absolutely. Brown handled Haynesworth twice last year. You can't discount that for a team that wants to run the football more.
Head-scratcher: Why did the Dallas Cowboys sign Keith Brooking? The reason the Falcons were willing to let him go was because he didn't run that well. Don't the Cowboys need speed on defense? Didn't signing Zach Thomas last year teach them anything about adding a slow-footed linebacker? Brooking will play inside in place of Thomas. Is it really an upgrade?
Thumbs up: To the Miami Dolphins. What a great job keeping your own free agents. They made sure Channing Crowder, Vernon Carey and Yeremiah Bell, three young starters, never made it to the market. That's wise.
Head-scratcher: To the Denver Broncos for even considering trading Jay Cutler. Why would you think about trading a young, franchise passer with that arm? Stupidity rules in the NFL.
Thumbs up: To the Philadelphia Eagles. They added a power right tackle in Stacy Andrews, traded away disgruntled corner Lito Sheppard for a fifth-round pick next year and a conditional 2010 pick, then stood tall as Brian Dawkins, one of their aging leaders, signed with Denver. This is an organization that gets it.
Head-scratcher: To the Denver Broncos for signing Dawkins to essentially a two-year, $9 million deal. The money is fine. It's just that Dawkins isn't the same player he was a few years ago. He wasn't the best safety on the Eagles roster last season. That was Quintin Mikell. Dawkins is a great guy in the locker room, but he lacks coverage skills. In a division with a San Diego team that features Philip Rivers throwing it and Kansas City with Todd Haley and now Cassel throwing it, the safeties need to have cover skills.
Thumbs up: To all the teams that sat and watched as the market went nuts. Free agency just isn't worth it.
Head-scratcher: As much as I like Haynesworth as a player, does he really make the Redskins that much better? Does the $100 million deal put the Redskins in the Super Bowl? The way I see it, they're still the fourth team in a four-team division.
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| Keeping Max Starks is good for the Steelers. (Getty Images) |
Head-scratcher: How can quarterback Byron Leftwich be out there without any suitors? Leftwich was 24-20 as a starter in Jacksonville and he played well in relief last season for the Steelers. You tell me that Cassel's one year of success makes him that much more valuable?
Thumbs up: To the Saints for making sure middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma stays in New Orleans. The Saints have had speed issues at linebacker in recent years, but Vilma changed that last season. They had to keep him.
Head-scratcher: Why teams give so much power to first-time head coaches? Six years ago, Josh McDaniels was essentially a gopher in New England. Now he's making all of the Broncos football decisions? Please.
Thumbs up: To the New England Patriots for signing running back Fred Taylor. He will be perfect in their system and it will be great for the career of one of the most unheralded players in NFL history.
Head-scratcher: Kurt Warner visiting other teams. It's just a charade. He's going back to Arizona. We know it. He knows it. Just get it done. Visiting the 49ers is just an agent ploy. That's a smart move by one of the good-guy agents, Mark Bartlestein. But we know where Warner will play next season.
Thumbs up: To the Patriots. They freed up $19 million in cap room by trading Cassel and Mike Vrabel and now have four picks in the first two rounds of the draft. Some will say they should have received more than a second for Cassel, but I still think they made a smart move. Who knows if Cassel is a one-hit wonder? You're doubting Bill Belichick?
Head-scratcher: The Ravens giving Domonique Foxworth a four-year, $27-million deal. Yes, he's a younger player, but he has been mostly a backup in his career. He did start 10 games last season for the Falcons and played pretty well, but he's not a No. 1 corner.
Thumbs up: Although they overpaid to get defensive end Antonio Smith, the Houston Texans now have a good pass rusher to go along with Mario Williams. Their front four, with Travis Johnson and Amobi Okoye inside, is now young and fast. It could present big trouble for Peyton Manning, David Garrard and Kerry Collins twice a year.
Head-scratcher: A day before free agency opened, with his services there for all to get, former Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams gets arrested and charged with DUI and possession of marijuana. Can you be that dumb?
Thumbs up: To the New York Giants for trying to improve their defense with speed. They added linebacker Michael Boley, who will start at the weak-side spot, and also added a tackle who can pressure the quarterback in Rocky Bernard. I like those two moves. Boley had star ability, but off-the-field problems troubled him last season and he was benched. Maybe a change of scenery will be good for his career.
Head-scratcher: The fact that Steelers corner Bryant McFadden isn't getting more action. He's young and rising. He's a better player than Foxworth.
