« What’s On Hit? | Main | The very last Brett Favre retirement article »
NFL Free Agency Sucks This Year
By H20 | March 20, 2008
So, it’s Henry here with my first official STN update. I’m going to take some fire away from Gibby here, and write the first sports article for the main page. You’ll have to excuse me for the aesthetically unpleasant article while I accustom myself to working with this thing. One and two and three and go!!!
As any diehard NFL fan such as myself knows, ’tis the season of Free Agency in the NFL. Players whose contracts run out and whose services aren’t deemed valuable enough for the team they’re on go out into the wild world of unemployment looking for a new job elsewhere.
Now, don’t get me wrong. In some ways, Free Agency is great. By and large it’s a side-effect of the Salary Cap, and this is what makes the NFL the fun, unpredictable league it is. A team can go from being great one year, to terrible the next (see: the Raiders after the ‘03 Superbowl). The opposite is also very possible (see: the Steelers going from 6-10 in ‘03 to 15-1 in ‘04). This also makes a dynasty that much more impressive; love them or hate them, what the Patriots have done in the NFL this decade is absolutely amazing.
But, looking at free agency this year is making me hate NFL owners and GM’s. People like Al Davis make me want to throw up into a pile of buffalo crap and bathe in it to clean myself. It’s getting to the point where the way free agency is being handled is becoming detrimental to the league.
I base this particularly off of the rediculous free agent signings that have occurred this year. I want everyone who follows football to partake in a little exercise. Close your eyes, and clear your mind. Now, off the top of your head, think of the best defensive tackles that you can. Who comes to mind? Pat and Kevin Williams? Marcus Stroud? Tommie Harris? Vince Wilfork? Shaun Rodgers (when he actually wants to play)?
How about Tommy Kelley?
…who?
That’s what I said. I’m a pretty damn big football fan, and I hadn’t even heard of the guy. Looking at his stat line showed me why. Nothing particularly great about them. But…guess what? He’s the highest paid defensive tackle in football.
All sorts of players are getting crazy contracts like this. Javon Walker, who’s been out two of the last three years with a knee injury, got crazy, Randy Moss type money to play for Oakland as well. Justin Smith, a solid, but unspectacular defensive end is getting the big payday as well. Even Corey Williams, who was pretty good here in Green Bay but not a full-timer or face-of-the-franchise type of guy, is getting paid like he’s going to save the Browns’ defensive woes. And every time another one of these types of contracts are signed, it makes my shriveled little soul die a little more.
Who knows? Maybe the season will start and come Thanksgiving in November, the crow will compliment the turkey I’m eating quite well. But can ANYONE, Al Davis included, look me in the eye and tell me that Tommy Kelley is worth throwing $50 million guaranteed money at? I doubt it.
This is sending the wrong message to players; do some decent work for a few years, and you’ll eventually be rewarded for your mediocrity if you play free agency right.
It just seems increasingly rare to see a Free Agent signing that really, really affects a franchise. Remember when Deion Sanders went to the Cowboys in free agency? He became the face of the defense and helped the Cowboys to their ultra-successful run in the 90’s. The Packers signed Reggie White when he was a free agent from the Eagles, and he (along with Brett Favre) turned the entire franchise around. Priest Holmes came from Baltimore and gave Kansas City fans some hope for a return to success by giving them some of the best years at running back the franchise has ever seen. Curtis Martin went from the Patriots to the Jets and kept his 1,000 yard/season streak going for years. We’re still in the process of the Drew Brees era in New Orleans, but he’s clearly the best quarterback the team’s had in decades. Even Randy Moss last year was arguably the most important cog in the Patriots ability to go 16-0.
Do any of the free agent signings this year look like they could do that? Not really. Again, it’s too early to tell, but with the types of contracts that these guys are signing, unless they can walk on water, fly, and turn whatever they touch into gold (in addition to playing flawless football) it’s going to be hard to justify the money these men are given.
I realize that part of this is because teams are getting better at keeping their marquee players. You’ll never see Peyton Manning hit the free agent market, for example. But it’s disappointing to see people like Tommy Kelley getting paid more money than actual marquee players like Dwight Freeney, Marcus Stroud, Jared Allen, etc.
That’s all I have for now. I have another bit of a rant about the Draft and rookies, but I’ll save that for another time.
~H2O
Topics: Sports |
6 Responses to “NFL Free Agency Sucks This Year”
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Question: what kind of bear is best? False. Black bear.
Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar galactica.
Hi. I just wanted to let you know that I didn’t read any of your article at all. It was incredibly well-written; I’m impressed.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I was on Yahoo and found your blog. Read a few of your other posts. Good work. I am looking forward to reading more from you in the future.
Tom Stanley
March 21st, 2008 at 8:02 am
damn you Henry.
*takes back what is left of my thunder*
but you’re right for the most part. As long as folks like Al Davis and Matt Millen can have vital roles in their teams personnel decisions, there will at least be some sort of comic relief in the NFL
March 21st, 2008 at 8:03 am
p.s. i have something planned for the NFL draft as far as writing goes, but i think i may do that tommorrow just so i beat you.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:34 am
Al Davis has clearly lost his mind and just feels like digging the Raiders into a deeper hole before he finally croaks.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I think Andy’s got it right. It’s probably like you see old people doing all the time — taking the “I’m too old to care” attitude :p
And Gibby…I also have a draft article. I should write mine first…but I’ll let you, since yours will no doubt be more insightful than mine