When the NFL Lockout came to its close, we all knew this period of free agency would be unlike any other. Trades, cuts, and signings would be flying around like crazy, like little birds flying around your head when you're dazed. And while some seem to have struck gold like those crazy fanatics in Philly, I have to question some other teams who probably just found some fool's gold.
Let's start with the only relevant team in New York; the Jets. We all know they tried to build a super duo of corners with the Great Asomugha and Revis Island, but that's not where my issue lies. Turn your attention to their signing of Plaxico Burress, the former Giants receiver who is fresh out of jail. Don't get me wrong; Plax was a hell of a receiver back when the Giants won the Super Bowl and it would not shock me if he got back to his old form. But for a guy who has not caught NFL balls since before his imprisonment (not to mention his already present character issues), was he really worth 3 million dollars and losing Braylon Edwards?
Everybody likes to label Braylon's hands as questionable. So questionable that he dropped one pass last year. Combine that with 904 receiving yards, 17.1 yards per catch, and 7 touchdowns, and Edwards proved to be a pretty good deep threat. So who's to say the Jets did not give up the better receiver here? Edwards does not have rust, is younger than Burress, and already knows the offense. To say the least, I'll have a close eye on Plax's production.
Let's go across the country to the Coffee Capital and take a look at the newest field general in Seattle. The Seahawks parted ways with Matt Hasselbeck to welcome in Tarvaris Jackson, the former Minnesota Viking. This is not to try and say T-Jack did not deserve a chance somewhere, but did Seattle really need to rush the first day of free agency to sign him? I don't think there were many teams lining up for his services, especially since he really has not proven much in any given starting time. His career stats don't wow anybody: a 58.7 completion percentage, 24 TD's, and 22 INT's. If you ever watched him play in Minnesota, he never even looked very comfortable. Maybe he'll shine in the Pop Warner NFC West.
My last team here (for the sake of the length of this first post) that deserves criticism is the Cincinnati Bengals. Could they have had a more disastrous offseason? Carson Palmer doesn't get his trade, so he is now playing armchair quarterback; Jonathan Joseph bolted for Houston; Ochocinco joins Belicheck; Keith Rivers had wrist surgery; and Pacman Jones had neck surgery. Yeah they got back Cedric Benson and picked up Nate Clements, but when will the Bengals ever learn? Trading Palmer could've gotten this team some extra draft picks, which only increases their chances of grabbing young talent. Palmer dutifully served Cincy for years and deserved a ticket out for it, but instead, he's wasting away at home. A new era has begun for the Bengals, with Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, but it really looks bare at the start.
A few disagreements with this post. First of all, how are the Jets the only relevant team in New York? They're the only New York team to have won a super bowl in almost 50 years(they've won 3 and appeared in 4 over that span) and just last year went 10-6, tied for first place in the division and only didn't make the playoffs because of tiebreakers(and a meltdown against Philly). And the Jets didn't necessarily pick Plax over Braylon Edwards, it was more a monetary issue than anything. Edwards thinks he's a number one guy and should be paid as such while the Jets just don't wanna pay that.
ReplyDeleteReid, first off, thanks for the input. You're right, historically, the Giants are much more relevant. But it seems with all of the new blurbs from Jets players, coaches, and management, that all you hear is about the Jets. That comment was not a stab at the Giants as a team (even though the Jets are a better one right now.)
ReplyDeleteFair point about Edwards, but I still believe he produced well for the Jets. I think he may have not deserved number one money, but asking for more money would not have been a far reach. Plax has a lot to prove, and has the ability to do it.