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Officially, we're in the thick of the free-agent season. Unofficially, the shopping is just about over.
With Cincinnati's signing of Antwan Odom Monday night there's not much left. Bryant Johnson is out there. So are Eugene Wilson, Dan Morgan and Boss Bailey. But that's about it, folks
Most of the talent is gone, sold to the highest bidder over the weekend.
So what happened? That's why we're here.
Teams that did well
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| Asante Samuel: Just what Philly needed? (AP) |
Atlanta Falcons: Picking up running back Michael Turner solves one crisis. Now the Falcons can use the third draft pick to solve another by taking quarterback Matt Ryan. Here's what I like about the Turner signing: He's 26, and as the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson, he has little wear. But he was also productive when called upon, averaging 5.5 yards a carry. He has speed. He has power. And he fills a big, big need. I also like the addition of Erik Coleman, an underrated safety with the New York Jets. He can't help but make the Falcons defense better.
New Orleans Saints: OK, so acquiring linebacker Jonathan Vilma is a risk. The guy has a bad knee, and he's going to a team that plays on turf. Not a great combination. Nevertheless, if Vilma works out, the Saints have themselves a steal. A fourth-rounder for someone with first-round ability? I'll take that. The Saints overpaid Randall Gay, but they found themselves a better cornerback than Jason David, who they signed a year ago. Gay will help solidify a pass defense that was shredded too many times a year ago -- with David often the source of the trouble. Defensive end Bobby McCray was invisible in 2007, but he had 10 sacks the year before, and the Saints are betting he's there again. Maybe. If so, they just circled the bases.
Teams that did not
San Francisco 49ers: I just don't get the 49ers. Their free-agent moves continue to baffle me, and that goes back to when they overpaid for tackle Jonas Jennings. Now they shell out $20 million in guarantees to Justin Smith, who is productive, durable and a 4-3 defensive end. One problem: The 49ers play a 3-4. "They'll use him like they did Charles Haley," one GM told me. Fine, except this isn't Charles Haley. And these are not the 1989 49ers. If they're looking for Smith to boost their 21st ranking in sacks, they may be disappointed. He had two last year. I'm not sure why they brought in Isaac Bruce, either, unless it's to mentor young receivers. When you're in the 49ers' position, you don't spend money on old players near or at the ends of their careers; you spend it on the future.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Cleo Lemon signs basically the same contract Washington awards Todd Collins. Collins took his team to the playoffs; Lemon won one game. Strange. The Troy Williamson deal is OK because it cost the Jags nothing, but the guy can't catch. Ask anyone who watched the Vikings. And Jerry Porter? Maybe four years ago I would've been interested. But Jacksonville pays $10 million in guaranteed money for a middle-of-the-road receiver. OK, so Drayton Florence makes sense when you play in a division with Indianapolis, but some of these other moves -- coupled with the losses of McCray and Marcus Stroud -- make we wonder where the Jags are going.
New York Giants: They lost three starters from their Super Bowl team, including two of their linebackers, but there's a lesson here, people: The Giants did nothing a year ago aside from signing Kawika Mitchell to a one-year, $1 million contract, and look where it got them. They have Mathias Kiwanuka back as an outside linebacker, and he was coming around before he broke his left leg. Gerris Wilkerson is back, too, plus they always have the draft. Remember, GM Jerry Reese aced the exam a year ago. If he produces similar results next month, no one will care about the Giants' losses.
