As a fan, you want to see your team buy the big guys. You read the articles and predictions about where so-and-so is going to land once the dust settles. Most of all you PRAY that your team doesn’t spend 10 million dollars of cap on that one guy who was supposed to be a stud, but he ends up wasting all of your money. In reality, you never quite know what’s going to happen in free agency. Especially in the NFL.
No one knew Lebron was going to team up with his three buddies four summers ago and become the most hated man in professional basketball. People didn’t think Albert Pujols was going to leave St. Louis for 240 million dollars three winters ago. And how could we forget, Peyton Manning becoming a free agent in March of 2012, and subsequently leaving the Colts for brighter pastures in Denver. When you think about it, that’s three athletes who can be seen (at the time of their decision) as the poster-child of their respective sports who have moved during free agency within the last five years.
In the NFL it’s different; most of the really big names stay put, seeing as though most of them are quarterbacks. Manning’s situation was totally predicated on circumstance, money, health issues, and future outlook. No one blames Manning for leaving, and no one blames the Colts for letting him go, except Skip Bayless.
This free agency period has split opinion between fans and NFL executives. Due to the influx of ten million dollars in the NFL’s salary cap this season, teams have more to spend. And so they have; as the saying goes, “go big, or go home”. One team that has embraced this notion is John Elway’s Denver Broncos. After taking getting shellacked in the playoffs by Seattle, Elway has armed his team with a defense that if healthy, can rival that of even the Seahawks. Demarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, Von Miller, Terrance Knighton and a healthy Chris Harris Jr. form a pretty astute unit. Now a few queries.
Demarcus Ware figures to be an instant hit opposite Von Miller in Denver
1. What about middle linebacker? Danny Trevathan played admirably last season, but the team needs a field general. The Broncos will have lots of pressure at the line with Knighton, Miller and Ware, as well as good coverage with Ward, Talib, Harris and Duke Ihenacho’ but who’s manning the middle?
2. Zane Beadles left for a bigger paycheck in Jacksonville, meaning theirs an empty spot at left guard. The Broncos need to get that sorted to make sure their jewel is protected in the backfield this season.
3. As for the talk about Denver ruining their future with big contracts, the critics can shove it. The fact is, barring injury, Peyton Manning still has about three years left. Maybe that goes down to two if they win the Super Bowl in either year one and or year two; but Manning will play at a high level. The investment in TJ Ward (4 years/23 million) was brilliant, as Ward is still somewhat of a youngster and has a great football IQ. The front office may have given him a little too much at 6 years/57 million, but it’s clear that they want to win now, and Talib helps them do that. Ware’s deal for 3 years/30 million seems fair when at a 34 year old Julius Peppers received 3 years/17 million from the Packers (Peppers is 34 to Ware’s 31 years of age).
All in all the Broncos have positioned themselves well to compete for three Super Bowl titles.
Now for our friends in New England. I’ll keep it brief. At first I was deliriously happy at the non-movement coming from out east as the Pats lost Talib and failed to make any moves of note on the first few days of free agency. Now, I feel a little worse. If your a Pats fan you’re more than satisfied with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner teaming up as corners in New England, and that’s what you’re looking at. If you’re a normal human being and you hate the Patriots your happy with the fact that Vince Wilfork is on his way out and the Patriots haven’t gotten better on offense. It looks as though Julian Edelman is headed back to NE, but that’s not saying much. The run game won’t be much better from last season, Rob Gronkowski is an injury waiting to happen, and the team is losing a huge asset in Wilfork, literally. As long as the Pats have Belichick and Brady, there’s always a chance. That being said, New England might have to settle for second or third best in the AFC next season, which brings us to the Colts.
GM Ryan Grigson did a masterful job of drafting future assets in 2012 after the franchise had gutted their coaching staff along with at least ten stalwarts from the previous decades twelve win teams. Since then, Grigson’s been firing blanks. First, the massive amount of money spent on players of average quality in last spring’s free agency, then the disappointment that came with the 2013 draft class, and then the Trent Richardson trade that drew the ire of Colts fans just about every Sunday. Grigson has done a little better this time around, with three big signings. D’Qwell Jackson and Arthur Jones, albeit at a high cost, will give the defense an instant upgrade. Bringing in Hakeem Nicks was a solid move, as the former Giant was picked up on the cheap, and will be looking to produce results right away in a contract season.
My beef comes with the fact that the Colts haven’t addressed two areas of concern. For sentimental reasons I’m upset that Antoine Bethea wasn’t retained, but the fact is that the 49ers priced him out of the Colts spending range. What makes me worried is the fact that the Colts haven’t signed decent cover for Bethea, with Sergio Brown and Delano Howell the two current options. The Colts could go one of two ways: they could sign Chris Clemons from Miami, or they could get someone in the second or third round of the draft.
The Colts need to pick up the pieces after Antoine Bethea decided to leave Wednesday
The second problem with the Colts is their offensive line, particularly their center. After releasing Samson Satele earlier in the week, the Colts picked up veteran Phil Costa on a cheap two year deal. If Costa turns out to be their day one starter, than we have a problem. The situation could be resolved if the Colts decide to splash the cash on Alex Mack, who some consider to be the best in the business.
Despite their issues, the Colts are in great position to succeed in 2014. They have the weakest schedule in the NFL, and have improved on last years team that managed to get to the Divisional round in the playoffs. Stay tuned.
As for the NFC, the big fish remain. The Bears, Lions and Packers look to be better next season, which will make for some entertaining stuff in the NFC North. The Saints and Eagles have both made some noise, especially with Jairus Byrd heading for the Big Easy.
All things withstanding, San Francisco and Seattle will be the two giants duking it out next season. San Fran will be better next season, and Seattle will be worse. As I stated after the Super Bowl loss, the Seahawks lost some key figures in free agency. Golden Tate, Red Bryant, Chris Clemons and Breno Giacomini are all gone, and although the core remains, Seattle won’t have as deep or roster next season. San Francisco has added Antoine Bethea and Jonathan Martin, along with retaining most of their starters from last years team. Health will be crucial in determining whether or not one of these two heads to Glendale for the Super Bowl next season.
Losing Golden Tate is a big blow to the Seahawks
Free agency doesn’t always live up to the hype, but this season’s period has been particularly entertaining. It’s way, way to early to be making predictions, but here they are. Here’s how they would finish based on today.
AFC:
1. Denver
2. Indianapolis
3. New England
4. Cincinnati
5. Pittsburgh (Wild Card)
6. Kansas City (Wild Card)
NFC:
1. San Francisco
2. New Orleans
3. Philadelphia
4. Green Bay
5. Seattle (Wild Card)
6. Chicago (Wild Card)
There you have it. It’s going to be a fun season.