RustShack
10-14-2009, 12:16 PM
10-Pack: Trades that should be made before deadline
Mike Florio (http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/2009-10-14/10-pack-trades-should-be-made-before-deadline)
The NFL trade deadline comes in less than a week, next Tuesday, Oct. 20. Usually, a low-level deal involving a marginal player goes down in the hours preceding 4 p.m. ET on the day the window closes.
This year, the possibility exists that additional activity will occur, for various reasons.
First, several bad teams may already realize a playoff appearance isn't in the cards, prompting a salary dump as to players who won't be back in 2010.
Second, plenty of desperate coaches and general managers will be willing to give up future draft picks in order to win now, since failure to win now means they could be gone before those draft picks are ever used.
Third, many regard next year's draft as having a lot of good players.
So let's look at deals that should be done — or at least explored — between now and Oct. 20.
1. Bills should try to trade T.O.
With the Bills struggling at 1-4, and Terrell Owens having a horrendous year statistically, it makes sense for Buffalo to be thinking about moving him.
But it doesn't make sense for anyone to trade for him.
That shouldn't keep the Bills from trying.
The problem is, by trying to stir up a trade market, the Bills would risk alienating Owens, who has been trying his best to be a good solider while the season slowly disintegrates.
2. Rams should trade Steven Jackson.
Steven Jackson, at 26 years old and in his sixth NFL season, is in the throes of pro football middle age. Given his hard-nosed running style, he's only got a few more years left before the L.T.-style decline begins.
Rams should get what they can for Steven Jackson.
Rams should get what they can for Steven Jackson.
With the Rams more than a few years away from contending, Jackson will be used up before they're ready to make a move up the standings.
So why not get what they can now for Jackson?
Though most contenders have guys who can move the chains, the Packers could really use him. With Fred Taylor possibly out for the year in New England, Jackson would look good in silver and blue, too.
3. Chargers should trade Shawne "roidman" Merriman.
There's an exception to the player pipeline that sends established talent from patsy to contender. In some cases, a team that hopes to make the playoffs can try to get better by trading a big-name player for players that can provide immediate help.
That exception applies in San Diego, where linebacker Shawne "roidman" Merriman is in the final year of his contract, and where the Chargers, by all accounts and appearances, have no desire to keep him for the long term.
The problem will be finding a team that thinks Merriman still has some gas in the tank, and that has extra players at a position where the Chargers have a specific need.
Their most glaring weakness for San Diego is at nose tackle, given the season-ending injury Jamal Williams suffered in Week 1. But any team that has a good one is using him, and if they give him up, even the presence of Merriman won't help them become contenders.
The Browns probably would say no, but the call would be well worth its cost.
4. Titans should trade Jevon Kearse.
Veteran defensive end Jevon Kearse was a healthy scratch on Sunday night for the Titans. Upset by the news, he left the stadium.
Though coach Jeff Fisher won't fine him, Fisher should put him on the block and send him to the highest bidder.
It'd be very interesting to see what Kearse could do as a situational pass rusher across from Elvis Dumervil in Denver. He'd also be a compelling addition to the rotation in Cincinnati.
5. Browns should trade Brady Quinn.
I've been making the case for a couple of weeks that Cleveland should trade quarterbacks Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson.
Neither player will be the best he can be if he is forced to peer over his shoulder.
Now that Anderson seems to have won the job for the balance of the year, it's time for the Browns to see what they can get for the first-round pick in the 2007 draft.
And it's too bad the Jets already have a quarterback. Otherwise, former New York coach Eric Mangini could send Quinn to the Jets for a fifth-round pick and a bag of day-old bagels.
6. Packers should trade for a tackle.
Throughout history, great defensive lines have had great nicknames. The Purple People Eaters. The Steel Curtain. Doomsday.
The Packers offensive line has merited its own nickname.
Baby Swiss.
In four games, Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 20 times. When not being sacked, he's being knocked down. When not being knocked down, he's chased like Mike Vick's former mailman. (You know, because of all the dogs on the property.)
Part of the problem is injuries. Regardless, "Baby Swiss" could use some help.
The Jaguars signed Tra Thomas in the offseason, before taking Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton on the first day of the draft. Thomas is part of the rotation in Jacksonville; in Green Bay, he'd instantly start on the right side or the left. So the Packers should call the Jags, and the Packers should be willing to give up much as a fourth-round pick for him.
If the Packers are feeling especially frisky in this regard, they should call the Browns and find out whether the fire-sale mentality that sent Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay and Braylon Edwards to the Jets extends to left tackle and Wisconsin native Joe Thomas.
7. Cardinals should pay or trade Darnell Dockett and Anquan Boldin.
The defending NFC champs have two guys who want new deals or new teams. Receiver Anquan Boldin seems to be resigned to the fact that the Cardinals will sign him to a new deal when they're good and ready.
But defensive tackle Darnell Dockett is close to becoming a problem. He's talking more and more about his discontent, and sooner or later he's likely to become disruptive.
The Cardinals should take care of the situation as to both players — pay them or trade them. Pay one and trade the other. Either way, the status quo is only going to cause problems, especially if only one gets paid or traded.
8. Chiefs should trade Larry Johnson.
For the same reasons that the Rams should trade Jackson, the Chiefs should move Larry Johnson.
The former Penn State star who was stuck behind Priest Holmes for a couple of years remains a rare bright spot for a team that has a dark cloud hanging over the entire franchise. So why not get the best deal, add some draft picks to the hopper, and move on?
The problem will be finding a team willing to take on Johnson's contract. But, again, under-the-gun coaches and front-office types can justify whatever it takes to improve the chances of getting to the postseason and fend off a firing fueled by the presence of multiple free-agent coaches who have won Super Bowls.
9. Raiders should trade Nnamdi Asomugha.
Speaking of bright spots on teams engulfed by storm clouds, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is virtually invisible in Oakland.
Arguably the best cover corner in the game (and before you make the case for Darrelle Revis of the Jets, go back and watch him chasing Ted Ginn of the Dolphins into the end zone on Monday night), Asomugha should have a chance to display his skills for a contending team.
Even if he plays for another decade in Oakland, it's hard to imagine ever seeing Asomugha display his skills on a platform greater than D-level Sunday afternoon games.
10. Bucs should trade Josh Johnson.
The Browns are stuck with a bad situation at quarterback because in 2007, Derek Anderson got the nod under circumstances that suggested a short-term stay, until rookie Brady Quinn was ready.
So since Anderson didn't have to worry about losing a job that everyone (including Anderson) assumed he'd eventually yield to Quinn, Anderson played loose and with confidence -- and, as a result, he thrived.
Last year, with the first-round pick folding his arms and tapping his foot, Anderson was more likely to look over his shoulder. And he did. And he wasn't as good.
Now, it's a complete back-and-forth mess.
The Bucs are walking into that same potential trap with Josh Johnson and Josh Freeman. The latter was a 2009 first-round pick, and the presumed quarterback of the future. The former is the short-timer, who is playing well without the stress of possibly being benched, since everyone (including Johnson) believes that day is coming once Freeman is ready.
But even if he's not the starter in 2010, Johnson is showing enough to make him a viable Plan B if Freeman struggles next year. And Freeman will be more likely to overthink and/or hesitate if he realizes that bad performances could give Johnson another shot.
As a result, with plenty of positive buzz being generated regarding Johnson, the Bucs should move him now, and they should trust the guy in whom they entrusted first-round status.
Mike Florio (http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/2009-10-14/10-pack-trades-should-be-made-before-deadline)
The NFL trade deadline comes in less than a week, next Tuesday, Oct. 20. Usually, a low-level deal involving a marginal player goes down in the hours preceding 4 p.m. ET on the day the window closes.
This year, the possibility exists that additional activity will occur, for various reasons.
First, several bad teams may already realize a playoff appearance isn't in the cards, prompting a salary dump as to players who won't be back in 2010.
Second, plenty of desperate coaches and general managers will be willing to give up future draft picks in order to win now, since failure to win now means they could be gone before those draft picks are ever used.
Third, many regard next year's draft as having a lot of good players.
So let's look at deals that should be done — or at least explored — between now and Oct. 20.
1. Bills should try to trade T.O.
With the Bills struggling at 1-4, and Terrell Owens having a horrendous year statistically, it makes sense for Buffalo to be thinking about moving him.
But it doesn't make sense for anyone to trade for him.
That shouldn't keep the Bills from trying.
The problem is, by trying to stir up a trade market, the Bills would risk alienating Owens, who has been trying his best to be a good solider while the season slowly disintegrates.
2. Rams should trade Steven Jackson.
Steven Jackson, at 26 years old and in his sixth NFL season, is in the throes of pro football middle age. Given his hard-nosed running style, he's only got a few more years left before the L.T.-style decline begins.
Rams should get what they can for Steven Jackson.
Rams should get what they can for Steven Jackson.
With the Rams more than a few years away from contending, Jackson will be used up before they're ready to make a move up the standings.
So why not get what they can now for Jackson?
Though most contenders have guys who can move the chains, the Packers could really use him. With Fred Taylor possibly out for the year in New England, Jackson would look good in silver and blue, too.
3. Chargers should trade Shawne "roidman" Merriman.
There's an exception to the player pipeline that sends established talent from patsy to contender. In some cases, a team that hopes to make the playoffs can try to get better by trading a big-name player for players that can provide immediate help.
That exception applies in San Diego, where linebacker Shawne "roidman" Merriman is in the final year of his contract, and where the Chargers, by all accounts and appearances, have no desire to keep him for the long term.
The problem will be finding a team that thinks Merriman still has some gas in the tank, and that has extra players at a position where the Chargers have a specific need.
Their most glaring weakness for San Diego is at nose tackle, given the season-ending injury Jamal Williams suffered in Week 1. But any team that has a good one is using him, and if they give him up, even the presence of Merriman won't help them become contenders.
The Browns probably would say no, but the call would be well worth its cost.
4. Titans should trade Jevon Kearse.
Veteran defensive end Jevon Kearse was a healthy scratch on Sunday night for the Titans. Upset by the news, he left the stadium.
Though coach Jeff Fisher won't fine him, Fisher should put him on the block and send him to the highest bidder.
It'd be very interesting to see what Kearse could do as a situational pass rusher across from Elvis Dumervil in Denver. He'd also be a compelling addition to the rotation in Cincinnati.
5. Browns should trade Brady Quinn.
I've been making the case for a couple of weeks that Cleveland should trade quarterbacks Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson.
Neither player will be the best he can be if he is forced to peer over his shoulder.
Now that Anderson seems to have won the job for the balance of the year, it's time for the Browns to see what they can get for the first-round pick in the 2007 draft.
And it's too bad the Jets already have a quarterback. Otherwise, former New York coach Eric Mangini could send Quinn to the Jets for a fifth-round pick and a bag of day-old bagels.
6. Packers should trade for a tackle.
Throughout history, great defensive lines have had great nicknames. The Purple People Eaters. The Steel Curtain. Doomsday.
The Packers offensive line has merited its own nickname.
Baby Swiss.
In four games, Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 20 times. When not being sacked, he's being knocked down. When not being knocked down, he's chased like Mike Vick's former mailman. (You know, because of all the dogs on the property.)
Part of the problem is injuries. Regardless, "Baby Swiss" could use some help.
The Jaguars signed Tra Thomas in the offseason, before taking Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton on the first day of the draft. Thomas is part of the rotation in Jacksonville; in Green Bay, he'd instantly start on the right side or the left. So the Packers should call the Jags, and the Packers should be willing to give up much as a fourth-round pick for him.
If the Packers are feeling especially frisky in this regard, they should call the Browns and find out whether the fire-sale mentality that sent Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay and Braylon Edwards to the Jets extends to left tackle and Wisconsin native Joe Thomas.
7. Cardinals should pay or trade Darnell Dockett and Anquan Boldin.
The defending NFC champs have two guys who want new deals or new teams. Receiver Anquan Boldin seems to be resigned to the fact that the Cardinals will sign him to a new deal when they're good and ready.
But defensive tackle Darnell Dockett is close to becoming a problem. He's talking more and more about his discontent, and sooner or later he's likely to become disruptive.
The Cardinals should take care of the situation as to both players — pay them or trade them. Pay one and trade the other. Either way, the status quo is only going to cause problems, especially if only one gets paid or traded.
8. Chiefs should trade Larry Johnson.
For the same reasons that the Rams should trade Jackson, the Chiefs should move Larry Johnson.
The former Penn State star who was stuck behind Priest Holmes for a couple of years remains a rare bright spot for a team that has a dark cloud hanging over the entire franchise. So why not get the best deal, add some draft picks to the hopper, and move on?
The problem will be finding a team willing to take on Johnson's contract. But, again, under-the-gun coaches and front-office types can justify whatever it takes to improve the chances of getting to the postseason and fend off a firing fueled by the presence of multiple free-agent coaches who have won Super Bowls.
9. Raiders should trade Nnamdi Asomugha.
Speaking of bright spots on teams engulfed by storm clouds, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is virtually invisible in Oakland.
Arguably the best cover corner in the game (and before you make the case for Darrelle Revis of the Jets, go back and watch him chasing Ted Ginn of the Dolphins into the end zone on Monday night), Asomugha should have a chance to display his skills for a contending team.
Even if he plays for another decade in Oakland, it's hard to imagine ever seeing Asomugha display his skills on a platform greater than D-level Sunday afternoon games.
10. Bucs should trade Josh Johnson.
The Browns are stuck with a bad situation at quarterback because in 2007, Derek Anderson got the nod under circumstances that suggested a short-term stay, until rookie Brady Quinn was ready.
So since Anderson didn't have to worry about losing a job that everyone (including Anderson) assumed he'd eventually yield to Quinn, Anderson played loose and with confidence -- and, as a result, he thrived.
Last year, with the first-round pick folding his arms and tapping his foot, Anderson was more likely to look over his shoulder. And he did. And he wasn't as good.
Now, it's a complete back-and-forth mess.
The Bucs are walking into that same potential trap with Josh Johnson and Josh Freeman. The latter was a 2009 first-round pick, and the presumed quarterback of the future. The former is the short-timer, who is playing well without the stress of possibly being benched, since everyone (including Johnson) believes that day is coming once Freeman is ready.
But even if he's not the starter in 2010, Johnson is showing enough to make him a viable Plan B if Freeman struggles next year. And Freeman will be more likely to overthink and/or hesitate if he realizes that bad performances could give Johnson another shot.
As a result, with plenty of positive buzz being generated regarding Johnson, the Bucs should move him now, and they should trust the guy in whom they entrusted first-round status.