On some ESPN NFL show (dont remember name) yesterday, they went around the table and asked the "experts" who the big winners in free agency were. Here were the answers (from memory): 1. Mortensen- The New York Jets, They picked up Faneca to anchor their line and they picked up Pace who could be great. (He stressed how badly Parcells wanted him and I guess he was impressed with that). 2. Jaws- Philadelphia. The best player available in free agency was Asante Samuel and the Eagles got him. 3. Mel Kiper- THe Cleveland Browns. He then just recited all of their offseason activity. Few things I noticed- 1. Trey Wingo kept making jokes about how much money we were throwing around. I wouldnt consider him a friend of the New York Jets. 2. Mortensen and Jaws were pretty fair and reasonable. 3. Mel Kiper didnt impress me as a big time football expert. He rolled his eyes when Mortensen was praising the Jets for their big off-season. I bet Kiper has a strong anti-NY bias. Also, I dont agree with his glowing praise for Cleveland. They locked up an injury prone receiver in Stallworth to a 7 year contract and locked up a mediocre and declining running back in Jamal Lewis to a 2 year contract. In addition, they dont have any picks in the first 3 rounds. I dont get all the praise that Cleveland is receiving.
I just lost a little respect for Jaws...over paying for an overrated system corner...AYFKM? This doesn't look good for Kellen.
Cleveland got the arguably one of the highest paid waterboys in history when they signed Stallworth. This his third team in as many years. He was a cancer in NO, had a few DECENT games early in Philly, and I dont remember anything spectacular from his stint in NE. GREAT SIGNING, CLEVELAND!
Yeah - Stallworth is a bust but then again everyone Mel "The Expert" states as a great player is a crap shoot anyway. Always will be. And as far as Wingo goes - Does he realize there is a salary cap???? The Jets may not have good teams but they manage their money right. I like Jaws on NFL Live and that's it. He is too pro-offense when he commentates the games and he will always be pro-Eagles.
Comparing what we needed to what we acquired, the Jets are winners hands down. There isn't any comparison and no other team is even close, IMO.
Kiper is only one thin mustache away from gay porn shoots. And will someone give that prep 'Wingo' a wedgie already?
Whoa, Man, let's see how we finish the draft. There are a lot more pages left on Tannenbaum's plan...
This is Stallworth 4th Team in four years...NO, Philly, NE and Cleveland. He's weak. Like someone said they have no draft picks AND they gave up their best CB (Bodden). I think their moves were overrated although it was a win for them to sign Anderson to a 3yr deal.
Yeah, I'm just referring to Free Agency. The draft will be a whole other story. But I just love the way Tanny addressed our most serious needs with some serious personnel. Now he has the luxury of going out and picking BAPs instead of having to worry solely about need positions. This offseason, so far (fingers crossed), is probably one of the best offseason manuevers I can ever recall.
Cleveland is going to be a damn good team if Derek Anderson keeps it up. Phil Savage is a hell of a GM. The Browns are on the rise.
I wonder how many passes Stallworth would have caught last season if he hadn't had Moss and Welker on the field with him. And I wonder why anybody in their right mind would bother asking Mel Kiper's opinion on anything.
Now you guys are being homers...the Browns did an excellent job this offseason IMO, and have some serious QB trade-bait waiting in the wings.
Actually Stallworth is a pretty good WR. I was hoping the Jets targeted him because he could be both a very good slot receiver and a very good deep threat. He's become a very good WR after the catch and his game is pretty well rounded now. Seems like people here forgot about the Corey Williams trade/signing the Browns made. Out of everyone to hit the open market, I thought he was the best potential 3-4 DE in FA.
I've never heard anything about Stallworth's attitude problems since his Saints days, but agreed on the durability issues. Still, he's a very dangerous weapon and like with most of the contracts this offseason it seems like alot of the bashing is done with very little clue as to what the actual contract looks like.
I hate when people say that teams "win or lose" in the offseason, or "win or lose" in the draft. Yes, teams might the players that they target. But there is only 1 season. They don't hand out trophies for best offseason signings or the best draft. I am very happy with the offseason, but we haven't won anything until I see 9 wins in the column and a trip back to the playoffs.
So Samuel was the best player available in Free Agency? I thought it was Randy Moss who spurned the Eagles and their $$$ to resign with the Cheatriots...