Winners1. San Francisco 49ers: They are on the right path. After signing cornerback Nate Clements, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, linebacker Tully Banta-Cain and safety Michael Lewis, the 49ers are looking more like a 3-4 defense. Franklin will help at nose tackle. Clements matches up against the top receivers on an opposing team. Lewis is a physical safety, and Banta-Cain should improve the team's speed at linebacker. Ashley Lelie will help because he's different from the other San Francisco receivers. He has speed and should be able to help in the red zone. The 49ers aren't done. They still have plenty of money and plenty of draft choices to improve their team. 2. New England Patriots: Too bad they didn't do this last year. Had they been this aggressive in free agency then, they might have added that one receiver or one defensive back who could have led them back to the Super Bowl. Linebacker Adalius Thomas is one of the best signings of the offseason. Although he probably won't have as many sacks or tackles as he had in Baltimore, Thomas will be a great weapon for brilliant Bill Belichick. Halfback Sammy Morris and tight end Kyle Brady are good role players for the offense. The most interesting move was trading two draft picks (their second- and seventh-round picks) to Miami for 5-foot-8 Wes Welker. The Patriots like smaller receivers who are quick out of breaks. Although they might have overpaid in draft choice compensation, they acquired a receiver they liked as opposed to just taking guys off the street the way they did last year. 3. Miami Dolphins: Talk about attitude. The Dolphins have a 3-4 defense with Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas and Joey Porter. This looks like an AFC Pro Bowl team. Porter was a great signing. Taylor can get the sacks and force fumbles. Porter and Thomas can be the leaders. The other great part of Miami's offseason is that it has acquired three additional draft choices -- in the second, sixth and seventh rounds -- in trades. This franchise traded away too many draft choices over the years and needs to start getting younger. With nine draft choices in hand and good positioning in the draft, the Dolphins are off to a good start. 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: So much for getting younger. They've added Jeff Garcia at quarterback and Kevin Carter at defensive end, along with signing some role players. The Garcia move could be a great one. The Bucs needed a feisty leader. Although there is no guarantee he will start, Garcia gives Jon Gruden a type of quarterback he hasn't had since Brian Griese was with the Bucs. Gruden runs a complicated system. Garcia should pick it up with no problem. Tampa Bay also added veteran left tackle Luke Petitgout and will look to sign another veteran for the line. 5. Denver Broncos: You have to love the Travis Henry move. He's a 1,200-yard back who should flourish in Mike Shanahan's zone blocking scheme. Plus, it didn't cost the team a draft choice. The Broncos also added the top tight end on the free-agent market, Daniel Graham. Although cornerback Dre' Bly isn't happy about his trade to Denver, the Broncos still picked up a commodity who can either help their defense as a starter or net them draft picks in a trade. Denver might have to let some defenders go to free some cap room, and those losses have to be monitored.Losers1. Baltimore Ravens: They were losers at the beginning of free agency last year but ended up winners, and they could still do the same this year. Ozzie Newsome is one of the best general managers in the game, so he will be active in the weeks ahead. But the Ravens are starting in a hole. They've lost Thomas, Franklin, fullback Ovie Mughelli and right tackle Tony Pashos. They also cut halfback Jamal Lewis, but they probably will get him re-signed. 2. Green Bay Packers: The Packers fell in a hole early by creating a void at halfback with the departure of Ahman Green. Even though they wanted to re-sign him, they didn't want to go over $5 million a year to keep him. They also lost tight end David Martin. Although the Martin loss to Miami might not be a big one, Green Bay is becoming thin at tight end. Bubba Franks didn't have a great year. The Packers need a good offseason to fix their defense, but holes are starting to open in the offense that have to be addressed as well. 3. New York Giants: They have a gaping hole at left tackle after they released Petitgout and Bob Whitfield retired. Left tackle is a tough position to replace, and New York is getting a feel for that. Leonard Davis could have received $24 million in guarantees had he signed on as a left tackle for the Giants, but he opted to sign with the Cowboys. The team also has holes at linebacker after releasing Carlos Emmons and LaVar Arrington. The Giants could be losing kicker Jay Feeley as well. 4. Oakland Raiders: The Raiders don't have a starting quarterback. Although some might say that has been the case since Rich Gannon retired, Oakland has to figure out what to do at its most critical position. As the draft gets closer, Al Davis will be torn. He's going to fall in love with Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Who wouldn't? He's 239 pounds, runs a 4.35 in the 40 and jumps more than 45 inches vertically. JaMarcus Russell is the logical choice at quarterback, but we'll see whether the Raiders are logical. They also have a hole at right tackle after losing Langston Walker to Buffalo for $5 million a year. It wasn't as though Oakland had the league's best offensive line, so it can afford to lose players. 5. Houston Texans: They suffered a blow when Jake Plummer was traded to Tampa Bay, then retired. They want an upgrade at quarterback so they can move David Carr in a trade. For now, they have to hold on to him and say he is the starter. The offensive line still has problems, and who knows how long it's going to take to fix that area? Green was an interesting signing, but the team needs a receiver on the other side of Andre Johnson after releasing Eric Moulds. So far, the Texans haven't made enough offensive moves to move forward in the increasingly tough AFC South. John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
This has to be old because the Ravens got McGahee and they were still the #1 losers in that.I don't know if I agree with the Dolphins pick. Porter is not even a good 4-3 LB. He can't stop the run at all. And who else did they get? They let go Welker, Carter, Barnes, McMichael, Wilkinson...BTW, 200 bucks says if the Skins would've payed Clements $80M we would be the #1 losers, not #1 winners.
It's a rather stupid article because the teams that spent money, regardless of weather they spent it well or not are labeled as 'Winners', and the teams that did not spend money are automatically labeled as 'Losers'. For example, the 49ers are labeled as the #1 Winner despite the fact that they overpaid for mediocre talent like Michael Lewis, who lost his starting job last season, but he got 10 million guranteed anyways.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Mar 10 2007, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>For example, the 49ers are labeled as the #1 Winner despite the fact that they overpaid for mediocre talent like Michael Lewis, who lost his starting job last season, but he got 10 million guranteed anyways.</div>Isnt mediocre to fellas like Adam Shefter, Rod Woodson, and many others that said that he's very talented and the Eagles are just retarded and benched him just to re-sign him for cheaper :whistling:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (david81 @ Mar 10 2007, 06:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Mar 10 2007, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>For example, the 49ers are labeled as the #1 Winner despite the fact that they overpaid for mediocre talent like Michael Lewis, who lost his starting job last season, but he got 10 million guranteed anyways.</div>Isnt mediocre to fellas like Adam Shefter, Rod Woodson, and many others that said that he's very talented and the Eagles are just retarded and benched him just to re-sign him for cheaper :whistling:</div>Yeah, because teams in the middle of a playoff race bench talented players over money. Honestly, do you realize how retarded that sounds?I'm sure the Patriots benched Banta-Cain in the playoffs too, not because he has absolutely no ability to stop the run, but because of money. Right? :whistling:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Mar 10 2007, 07:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (david81 @ Mar 10 2007, 06:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Mar 10 2007, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>For example, the 49ers are labeled as the #1 Winner despite the fact that they overpaid for mediocre talent like Michael Lewis, who lost his starting job last season, but he got 10 million guranteed anyways.</div>Isnt mediocre to fellas like Adam Shefter, Rod Woodson, and many others that said that he's very talented and the Eagles are just retarded and benched him just to re-sign him for cheaper :whistling:</div>Yeah, because teams in the middle of a playoff race bench talented players over money. Honestly, do you realize how retarded that sounds?I'm sure the Patriots benched Banta-Cain in the playoffs too, not because he has absolutely no ability to stop the run, but because of money. Right? :whistling:</div>He was benched way before that lol... Dont see why they would take Consedine out just to put Lewis back in right there.Banta-Cain was just too tired from sackin Pennington earlier in that postseason
I still say build through the draft, i don't care who you are. Huge FA signing sprees don't usually work in the longrun (see redskins) but picking up one or two key FA's for cheap and building through the draft will get you to the playoffs (see Jets, Saints last year, Patriots and Colts over past few years).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PurplePeopleEaters @ Mar 12 2007, 02:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I still say build through the draft, i don't care who you are. Huge FA signing sprees don't usually work in the longrun (see redskins) but picking up one or two key FA's for cheap and building through the draft will get you to the playoffs (see Jets, Saints last year, Patriots and Colts over past few years).</div>I agree with you, but big spending can workout as well if you are careful. If you are going to spend the big bucks on a player, it damn well better be one that fits the system you are currently running. Too often teams pick up a Cover 2 Corner and then ask them to play Man, or pick up a 3-4 Linebacker to play in their 4-3 Defense. If you're going to overpay for a system player, make sure it's the right system.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Mar 12 2007, 06:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PurplePeopleEaters @ Mar 12 2007, 02:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I still say build through the draft, i don't care who you are. Huge FA signing sprees don't usually work in the longrun (see redskins) but picking up one or two key FA's for cheap and building through the draft will get you to the playoffs (see Jets, Saints last year, Patriots and Colts over past few years).</div>I agree with you, but big spending can workout as well if you are careful. If you are going to spend the big bucks on a player, it damn well better be one that fits the system you are currently running. Too often teams pick up a Cover 2 Corner and then ask them to play Man, or pick up a 3-4 Linebacker to play in their 4-3 Defense. If you're going to overpay for a system player, make sure it's the right system.</div>True. I, however, see the patriots not following their own system and being stupid. They see that their players are getting older and that they need to go on a big spending spree to get it to the next level. WRONG. Wait one more year, the young receivers are better, get some more players in the draft etc. Don't overpay for 3 mediocre wide receivers for no reason.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PurplePeopleEaters @ Mar 12 2007, 07:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>True. I, however, see the patriots not following their own system and being stupid. They see that their players are getting older and that they need to go on a big spending spree to get it to the next level. WRONG. Wait one more year, the young receivers are better, get some more players in the draft etc. Don't overpay for 3 mediocre wide receivers for no reason.</div>The Patriots are on the wrong side of the hill, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison are on their last legs, they can only keep Asante Samuel in a Patriots Uniform for so long as he'll probably be gone next offseason. Stallworth and Washington's contracts are structured in a way so they'll be cut after the season and they're looking to lose Ty Warren and Rosevelt Colvin after 2008. Their window is rapidly closing without doing a total rebuild as they're set to lose alot of talent over the next 2 seasons, that spending spree I actually agree with as they're going for the one last shot at the Gold before a Total Rebuild is needed, and I doubt Belicheck sticks around for that rebuild, as he's from the Parcells school of getting out of the sinking ship.
The thing is that the spending spree won't work. Maybe in other years where you wouldn't have to give Stallworth, Washington, and welker such bulky contracts. Why not just roll with what you have and actually go on the spending spree in two years? I just don't see the patriots getting any better by putting more mediocre players on their roster and pushing the other mediocre players that showed potential farther down the depth chart.
