Mr. Flopnuts
03-18-2005, 02:55 PM
http://www.bgnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/17/423993bbc6d5b?in_archive=1
Doesn't really make sense, but hey it's in print!!! ;)
Good job Ravens, bad job Patriots
By Matt Riddle
SPORTS REPORTER
March 17, 2005
The NFL has seen one of its most exciting and action packed off-season in recent years.
One of the most dominating players in the NFL was traded, while the three-time Super Bowl Champion Patriots are being dismantled.
There are definite winners and losers so far in the early season of free agency.
The big winners thus far have been the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals.
And on the opposite side of the spectrum are the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.
The Cleveland Browns, since 1999 haven't made an impact in free agency.
This off-season, the hiring of general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel has brought some respect to the Browns in the NFL player market.
The Browns have let go of basically every Butch Davis player -- Robert Griffith, Courtney Brown, Anthony Henry, Jeff Garcia and Kelly Holcomb are gone. They've restocked their team with six new players.
Stud cornerback Gary Baxter from Baltimore was signed to take in the secondary. This is an immediate upgrade from Anthony Henry.
The biggest need for the Browns was on the offensive line and they upgraded there with two physical guards -- Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman. They upgraded the special teams with punter Kyle Richardson. Plus the defense has added two key role players for their new 3-4 scheme, defensive tackle Jason Fisk and linebacker Matt Stewart.
Off-season grade: B
The Baltimore Ravens have made the best moves so far this off-season. They lost Baxter in the secondary but revamped it with shutdown corner Samari Rolle. Rolle and McAllister are going to be the best duo in the defense backfield in the NFL. The Ravens also ended their receiver needs with wide receiver Derek Mason.
Mason and Kyle Boller should click immediately. The Ravens bulked up their offensive line with Keydrick Vincent and Cooper Carlisle.
Off-season grade: A.
The Kansas Chiefs have had a dominant offense for the past few years. The only thing holding them back is their defense. The Chiefs have immediately helped out their defense with two signings. Safety Sammy Knight will help out on pass defense and linebacker Kendrell Bell will help out the run defense.
The Chiefs are also rumored to be close to signing Ty Law.
Off-season grade: B
The Miami Dolphins have signed solid players this off-season. The Dolphins signed two defensive ends to help the line, Vonnie Holliday and Kevin Carter. The Dolphins also added quarterback Gus Frerotte to compete with A.J Feely. They added a starting tackle Stockar McDougle and linebacker Donnie Spragan.
Off-season grade: B-
Oakland made the biggest move with trading for Randy Moss. The 6-4 Moss can change the way a game is played. Defenses plan around him and they still can't control him.
Oakland has established a dynamic duo with Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. They also added running back LaMont Jordan and defensive end Derrick Burgess. The Raiders have been quietly building a team that will contend for a playoff spot next season. The only problem is there is too much ego on the team with Moss and Warren Sapp.
Off-season grade: A+
The Cincinnati Bengals haven't added a bunch of new players but they re-signed two of their key free agents. They signed running back Rudi Johnson, who set Bengals records last year. They resigned T.J Houshmanzadeh, who emerged last season as a top receiver in the AFC.
They also added Bryan Robinson to help out the defensive line.
Off-season grade: B
The losers of the off-season are the Colts, Steelers, Patriots and Titans based on all of the key players they lost and haven't added.
The Colts lost tight end Marcus Pollard but that's not the big deal. They haven't added anyone new to the team or the struggling defense.
The Steelers are probably going to lose Plaxico Burress and already lost Keydrick Vincent, plus Kendrell Bell.
The Patriots lost Ty Law, Joe Andruzzi, David Patten, Roman Pfifer and Troy Brown.
New England also lost their two position coaches, Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel.
The Titans went through a lot of cap problems and lost their three best players in Derek Mason, Kevin Carter and Samari Rolle.
When the free agency market starts to cool off in a few weeks, the NFL Draft will be the new topic. Here is a mock draft for the first five picks so far.
The draft is April 23-24 and look for quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, running backs Ronnie Brown and Cedric Benson and defensive super stud Derrick Johnson to fill the top five.
Doesn't really make sense, but hey it's in print!!! ;)
Good job Ravens, bad job Patriots
By Matt Riddle
SPORTS REPORTER
March 17, 2005
The NFL has seen one of its most exciting and action packed off-season in recent years.
One of the most dominating players in the NFL was traded, while the three-time Super Bowl Champion Patriots are being dismantled.
There are definite winners and losers so far in the early season of free agency.
The big winners thus far have been the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals.
And on the opposite side of the spectrum are the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.
The Cleveland Browns, since 1999 haven't made an impact in free agency.
This off-season, the hiring of general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel has brought some respect to the Browns in the NFL player market.
The Browns have let go of basically every Butch Davis player -- Robert Griffith, Courtney Brown, Anthony Henry, Jeff Garcia and Kelly Holcomb are gone. They've restocked their team with six new players.
Stud cornerback Gary Baxter from Baltimore was signed to take in the secondary. This is an immediate upgrade from Anthony Henry.
The biggest need for the Browns was on the offensive line and they upgraded there with two physical guards -- Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman. They upgraded the special teams with punter Kyle Richardson. Plus the defense has added two key role players for their new 3-4 scheme, defensive tackle Jason Fisk and linebacker Matt Stewart.
Off-season grade: B
The Baltimore Ravens have made the best moves so far this off-season. They lost Baxter in the secondary but revamped it with shutdown corner Samari Rolle. Rolle and McAllister are going to be the best duo in the defense backfield in the NFL. The Ravens also ended their receiver needs with wide receiver Derek Mason.
Mason and Kyle Boller should click immediately. The Ravens bulked up their offensive line with Keydrick Vincent and Cooper Carlisle.
Off-season grade: A.
The Kansas Chiefs have had a dominant offense for the past few years. The only thing holding them back is their defense. The Chiefs have immediately helped out their defense with two signings. Safety Sammy Knight will help out on pass defense and linebacker Kendrell Bell will help out the run defense.
The Chiefs are also rumored to be close to signing Ty Law.
Off-season grade: B
The Miami Dolphins have signed solid players this off-season. The Dolphins signed two defensive ends to help the line, Vonnie Holliday and Kevin Carter. The Dolphins also added quarterback Gus Frerotte to compete with A.J Feely. They added a starting tackle Stockar McDougle and linebacker Donnie Spragan.
Off-season grade: B-
Oakland made the biggest move with trading for Randy Moss. The 6-4 Moss can change the way a game is played. Defenses plan around him and they still can't control him.
Oakland has established a dynamic duo with Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. They also added running back LaMont Jordan and defensive end Derrick Burgess. The Raiders have been quietly building a team that will contend for a playoff spot next season. The only problem is there is too much ego on the team with Moss and Warren Sapp.
Off-season grade: A+
The Cincinnati Bengals haven't added a bunch of new players but they re-signed two of their key free agents. They signed running back Rudi Johnson, who set Bengals records last year. They resigned T.J Houshmanzadeh, who emerged last season as a top receiver in the AFC.
They also added Bryan Robinson to help out the defensive line.
Off-season grade: B
The losers of the off-season are the Colts, Steelers, Patriots and Titans based on all of the key players they lost and haven't added.
The Colts lost tight end Marcus Pollard but that's not the big deal. They haven't added anyone new to the team or the struggling defense.
The Steelers are probably going to lose Plaxico Burress and already lost Keydrick Vincent, plus Kendrell Bell.
The Patriots lost Ty Law, Joe Andruzzi, David Patten, Roman Pfifer and Troy Brown.
New England also lost their two position coaches, Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel.
The Titans went through a lot of cap problems and lost their three best players in Derek Mason, Kevin Carter and Samari Rolle.
When the free agency market starts to cool off in a few weeks, the NFL Draft will be the new topic. Here is a mock draft for the first five picks so far.
The draft is April 23-24 and look for quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, running backs Ronnie Brown and Cedric Benson and defensive super stud Derrick Johnson to fill the top five.