Donovan McNabb to the Vikings was just one of many notable moves to take place in the NFL this past week.
All is good again. After five months of labor negotiations and apprehension about the possibility that there might not be regular season games played, the NFL lockout finally came to a close July 25th on the 136th day when the NFLPA agreed to the deal that the owners unanimously approved of four days earlier and began the process of re-certifying. It was a joyous day for fans of the game as it meant that now everything outside of the cancelled Hall of Fame game would go on as planned, from training camp to all sixteen regular season games. It also meant that, beginning the day after, the league would embark on an unprecedented period of transactions, where everything from free agency to trades to signing draft picks (something that would usually start in early March and would last for a period of three or four months) would be shifted into maximum overdrive...all while training camp was set to begin taking place! And, yes sir, this week has certainly featured a whole lotta transactin' going on!
So, with that in mind, here is a list of a bunch of notable trades, players signings, retirements and player holdouts of note from the past week along with a few future storylines to watch out for in the coming days ahead in this crazy, never before seen and probably never going to be seen again (at least for another ten years) moment in the history of the NFL:
- Seven days in, no other team in the NFL has made greater use of free agency to help boost their roster and elevate their chances of going to the Super Bowl than the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only were they the winners of the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes (arguably the most coveted free agent of 2011) over teams like the Jets, the Texans (ha!) and the Cowboys, but they've also received Dominque Rogers-Cromartie via trade, improving their pass rush that was second worst in the NFL last year (31 passing TDs allowed) while also adding to their cornerback talent pool that already features Asante Samuel. In addition, they've also managed to sign 2008 Pro Bowler and occasionally great-when-healthy running back Ronnie Brown to back up the explosive LeSean McCoy, defensive end Jason Babin and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins to improve their front four, and quarterback Vince Young to back-up Michael Vick (officially put the rumor of Brett Favre coming back to play in Philadelphia rumor at rest). I think it's safe to say that their odds of winning the Lombardi Trophy in February have risen exponentially over the past few days.
- Speaking of Philadelphia, they also ended up making headlines this past week by trading away Kevin Kolb, former first round pick and the guy that was originally set up to be their starting QB last year (you know, before he got injured in game 1 and Vick took over), to the Arizona Cardinals for Cromartie and a 2nd round pick. Time will tell whether Eagles made a right decision to go for the short term route (Vick) than the long term one (Kolb), but two thing are for sure right now: the Cardinals have improved themselves offensively, and Larry Fitzgerald is a happy man knowing that he will be catching passes from Kolb than from the list of mediocre post-Warner quarterbacks that he had on his roster in 2010.
-The Arizona Cardinals have also signed linebacker Stewart Bradley and tight end Todd Heap to multi-year deals.
- Donovan McNabb has been traded to the Minnesota Vikings for a sixth round pick in 2012 and 2013, leaving behind a legacy in Washington of one wasted season, a lost fourth round pick that ended up going to rival Philadelphia in the April 2010 trade, and a baffling five year, $78 million extension that the team gave him in November. In other words, it was exactly what the Eagles hoped would have happened, and it did.
- Matt Hasselback has been traded to the Tennessee Titans to be their new starting quarterback as well as a mentor for their first round pick, Jake Locker. Apparently, the team decided that they rather enjoyed the Kerry Collins years so much, they felt that they wanted to do it again with another aging, ex-Pro Bowler in the twilight of his career.
- The Seattle Seahawks are apparently the Minnesota Vikings West, signing 6'4'' wide receiver Sidney Rice (who had that breakout, 1,000 yard season in '09 before spending the majority of the 2010 season injured) and quarterback Tavaris Jackson (who is like Matt Hasselback, only more athletic). Considering how much those Seattle residents love angst, I have a feeling that Jackson will be providing them with a lot of it this season.
- Albert Haynesworth has been traded from the Washington Redskins to the New England Patriots in hopes that his new location will finally motivate himself to prove that the $100 million contract he signed two years ago was not God-awful. Since both Haynesworth and the majority of the Patriots' fanbase don't find black woman attractive, I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
- In continuation of their quest to apparently acquire players that other teams have gotten tired of, New England has also traded a 5th and 6th round draft pick for Cincinnati's Chad Ochocinco. Ooh, what wonderful juxtaposition! On one side, you have the strict, disciplinarian coaching of Bill Belichick and on the other, you have the fun-loving and exciting to watch Ochocinco. Such a shame to know that those old Ochocinco days are probably going to be over if the man wants to stay with the Patriots.
- Speaking of the AFC East, you have the New York Jets doing their best to try to improve their targets for Mark Sanchez, re-signing Santonio Holmes and, in a rather surprising move, becoming Plaxico Burress' first post-jail playing team. The Burress situation will be a fascinating one to watch, but I have a feeling that it will turn out all right in the end. After all, last time I checked, the man is still 6'5'' and in really good shape to play the position. Meanwhile, in Miami, the Dolphins (in an effort to boost interest and hope from the fanbase) have traded with the Saints to acquire running back Reggie Bush.
-The New Orleans Saints have signed Darren Sproles, quickly filling the void (if there was any) that was lost when they traded Bush to the Dolphins while also adding another notable running back to a roster that already has Pierre Thomas and Marc Ingram. Also signed by the Saints? Wide receiver Lance Moore (again) and defensive linemen Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rodgers. Not bad, New Orleans. Not bad at all.
- So, outside of trading away McNabb and Haynesworth, what have the Redskins done in the free agency market to actually, you know, improve their team? Umm...well, er, uh....how does Donte Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney sound? Or how about Tim Hightower? Remember all those goal-line TDs that he had in 2008?
- In Chicago, the Bears have acquired Roy Williams, formerly of Detroit and Dallas fame, in their quest to add a big name to their wide receiver position, even if that wide receiver is a man who happens to once lead the league in dropped balls and hilarious marriage proposals gone wrong. But, considering that he did have his best statistical season in 2006 under Mike Martz, who is now the offensive coordinator for the Bears, there is a chance that Williams might make a difference (in a good way). In addition, the Bears have also signed former Pro Bowl running back Marion Barber III (yay!) and Amobi Okoye (okay?) while also releasing the team's veteran center, Olin Kreutz, after 13 seasons (choosing instead to sign Chris Spencer at that position) and punter Brad Maynard. Some of you may not think of the Maynard release as a big deal, but for the better part of the decade, this man (along with Robbie Gould) really was one of our offensive MVPs, much like Shane Lechler was in Oakland. I wish Maynard luck in Houston, along with Kreutz in...whatever team he signs in.
- The 49ers are the Jack Twist to Alex Smith's Ennis Del Mar in that San Francisco just doesn't know how to quit the other, even after six mediocre seasons. On the bright side, at least the David Aikers signing was nice, right?
- Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is retired. Apparently, he just felt that there weren't enough good offers to accept, and did what he always did when he wasn't happy: quit. Marc Bulger also announced his retirement this morning, but no one gives a crap about that (not even Rams fans).
- QB Carson Palmer is apparently never going to play another NFL game again. In a July 26th press conference, Bengals owner Mike Brown has made it clear that he will not trade Palmer and that the only team that he will play in 2011 (if he chooses to play) will be in Cincinnati. Palmer, who has made it clear this offseason that he doesn't want to play for Cincinnati and wants to be traded, currently has four years left on a deal with the Bengals worth around $40 million and appears to be as stubborn in his trade request as Brown. So, look out Bengals fans, 'cause here comes the Andy Dalton era!
- In other Cincinnati news, after rushing for two straight 1,000+ yard seasons for the team, the Bengals have wisely re-signed running back Cedric Benson.
- The Carolina Panthers have made it a mission in this short free agency period to lock up their own, signing running back DeAngelo Williams for 5 years and $43 million and defensive end Charles Johnson for 6 years and $72 million. They have also acquired great receiving tight end Greg Olsen from the Chicago Bears. That's great and all, Carolina, but that still doesn't solve the fact that you are coming off a 2-14 season, are playing in a tough division, and have two awful quarterbacks (Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen) and one soon-to-be awful quarterback (Cam Newton) battling for the starting job.
- It's official: to the shock of nobody, the Colts have resigned quarterback Peyton Manning to a 5 year, $90 million contract extension, tying him with Tom Brady for the highest annual salary in the NFL with $18.5 million per year.
- The St. Louis Rams have signed former Jacksonville wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker and are probably going to sign Cadillac Williams to back-up Stephen Jackson at running back (UPDATE 08/03: It's official).
-Eric Weddle has signed a deal with the San Diego Chargers to become the highest paid safety in the league for 5 years and $40 million. Seriously.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers expectedly re-signed cornerback Ike Taylor.
- The Houston Texans made a slight improvement to last year's historically bad passing defense, signing cornerback and kick returner Daniel Manning, formerly of the Chicago Bears. They've also re-signed Matt Leinart, because....
- Running back Willis McGahee, second in the league behind the Jets' Antonio Cromartie for most kids by an active player, was signed by the Denver Broncos.
- Meanwhile, in Titletown, the defending champion Green Bay Packers have been pretty quiet on the free agency side of things, outside of re-signing players like wide receiver James Jones and releasing linebacker Nick Barnett (who ended up later signing with Buffalo). However, because the core players that helped them win a Super Bowl last year (Aaron Rodgers, Charles Woodson, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk, etc.), not many Packers fans seem to mind that (nor should they).
- In NFL holdout news, Titans running back Chris Johnson, who has led the league in rushing since 2009, has been missing the team's training camp after wanting to restructure his contract (the bargain price of $800,000 this season), of which he has vastly outplayed in the last three years (and then some!). The man reportedly wants a deal that is worth at least $30 million guaranteed. Elsewhere, fellow 2008 draft class member DeSean Jackson, one of the fastest players in the game and owner of two straight 1,000+ receiving yard season with the Eagles, has also been thinking about holding out while Bears running back Matt Forte was rumored to be holding out until he didn't. In the Meadowlands, Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora (who had a great season last year) was allowed to seek a trade after skipping a few days of training camps, until that stopped.
- Every first round pick of the 2011 NFL draft has been signed expect for the Patriots' Nate Sodler (#17), the Chargers' Corey Liuget (#18) and the Giants' Prince Amukamara (#19).
-Notable free agents still left on the market: Michael Bush (RB), Leonard Davis (DE), Derrick Dockery (DE), Braylon Edwards (WR), Shaun Ellis (DE), Malcolm Floyd (WR), Tamba Hali (LB), Olin Kreutz (C), Bryant McKinnie (T), Terrell Owens (WR), Clinton Portis (RB), Steve Smith (WR), Pat Williams (DT), and Ricky Williams (RB).
-Major QB controversy in Denver! Tebow vs. Orton! Jesus vs. Neckbeard! Orton's looking good at training camp! Tebow's struggling! No one's getting traded! One start, the other sits on the bench! WHO'S! IT! GONNA! BE! BYAAAAH!
(Probably Orton)
- And, in what is probably the worst thing to come out of this wave of post-lockout NFL news, HBO officially announced that there will be no "Hard Knocks" this year since none of the 32 teams want to be a part of it. So, expect to wait at least a year to see more great moments like these broadcasted every Wednesday in August:
I hope that you thought this compilation of news was thorough enough for your reading pleasure. The league's annual preseason kicks off Thursday, August 11th with Baltimore vs. Philadelphia, Jacksonville vs. New England, Seattle vs. San Diego, Denver vs. Dallas and Arizona vs. Oakland. Man, it feels good to just be able to say that!
Sincerely,
Your pal: mj15
If you have any opinions on today's post, or if you just have any suggestions or tips for my next blog entry, e-mail me at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mails are greatly appreciated.
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