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Thread: Turf Toe (Paying for the "Free" agents)

      
   
   
  1. #1
    Admin-Site Content Crunked's Avatar
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    Turf Toe (Paying for the "Free" agents)


    If you have to pay for it, what's so free about it?
    Opening salvo's:
    Get off your duff gus, we have everyone to talk about, and no one really cares. Have you seen the big media outlets lately? This NFL thing has become so big that talk must continue year round. Great for the fan right? Not really, what are we getting fed? Who is the Free Agent winner? Really who cares and how dare they pretend to know, do you know how many big name additions bomb each year? Yeah sometimes these guys are available because of cap constraints, but most of the time they are available because the team they are on no longer wants them.....in other words there is a reason they are out there and "it ain't a good one either".


    They said it....
    Bill Polian always chuckles when media try to determine the free agent winners and losers less than a month into the offseason. The idea, he insists, isn't to be the "winner'' in March or April.

    Breaking fabrication:
    The Vikes acquire Moss and Culpepper in two seperate trades releasing the following statement to the press, "We think this combo might work, just a gut feeling"

    Outlawed phrases of the week:
    We think (insert players name) Well help us get to the next level
    We think (insert players name) will be a positive locker room influence
    We think (insert players name) will be a contributor right away

    Heart of the Matter:
    Tell me the last free agent acquisition that led a team to a Super Bowl victory? Tough question huh? Ok, name a Free agent who completely reversed the fortunes of their respective new offense or defense? Still too tough huh? Ok, name the last free agent to make the Pro Bowl the year after joining their new squad? Still pretty tough but probably doable. Does the team with the most pro bowlers always get to and win the Super Bowl? San Diego I am looking at you. The Colts of 05 had more Pro Bowlers than this years Super Bowl Champs.....so in the end that doesn't really matter either, you do have to have a balanced team and although I am not denying that one Free agent can contribute to the improvement of a team, the fact is it takes the whole squad to actually uplift the organization. SO who really wins in the off season? Well if you base it on dollars and cents does an eighty million dollar defensive back guarantee you anything other than off season headlines? Well I can tell you the unwanted side effect it does create. The loyal guy that has been busting his hump for your squad looks over at the newby and his locker and thinks, how can they pay a guy that hasn't sacrificed one thing for this squad ten times what they are paying a guy like me who has been here humping it out? Oh yeah, it happens don't think it doesnt. That does not help build team, in fact it tears it down, makes you wonder why anyone would sign a free agent to a ridiculous contract doesn't it?

    Crunked Says:
    The volume of quality mock drafts are down on the net, GOOD! its all guess work at best anyway.....

    The best-the worst-the ugliest of the week

    Best
    The fact that we are one week closer to shutting up the so-called draft experts who barely know where their parking spot is in the studio parking lot.
    Worst
    The Bears blatant disregard for Lance Briggs and his feelings, he wants his eighty million NOW...he can't feed his family on a silly little eight mil a year...lol
    Ugliest
    The NFL's pompus attitude on using the phrase "Super Bowl"...want to see the video highlights of the game on the NFL Network on line, its easy simply click on "The AFC vs NFC game"~
    Last edited by Crunked; 03-21-2007 at 12:10 PM.
    .

    “I love being a Colt”~Vontae Davis

  2. #2
    Hungover jjflr's Avatar
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    Tell me the last free agent acquisition that led a team to a Super Bowl victory? Tough question huh? Ok, name a Free agent who completely reversed the fortunes of their respective new offense or defense? Still too tough huh? Ok, name the last free agent to make the Pro Bowl the year after joining their new squad? Still pretty tough but probably doable. Does the team with the most pro bowlers always get to and win the Super Bowl? San Diego I am looking at you. The Colts of 05 had more Pro Bowlers than this years Super Bowl Champs
    Good job as usual crunked............and I'm with you on the impact of 'one' player in a team sport, EXCEPT for the QB position..............personally I think 'coaching' is way more important in this league than acquiring 1 or 2 free agents............however, the QB position is a little bit different..........

    I'm sure there are a lot of Ravens fans who would make a case that Steve McNair changed the fortunes of the Ravens offense this season and made them a lot more productive (and I would agree with them)............

    I've heard a lot of Saints fans that swear Drew Brees is the lone reason the Saints offense became so explosive (I don't necessarily agree with this one)..............

    when the Raiders got to the SB a few years ago and Rich Gannon was MVP, a lot of Raiders fans said he was the reason for the offense's success (I can't agree or disagree with that one)..............

    when Joe Montana went to Kansas City, it was the only time in the last 30+ years that the team has had ANY success in the playoffs, going to an AFC championship game with him under center.................

    I can't really think of a RB, WR, O-lineman, or defensive player that has been given credit for single-handedly turning around their team but I could list several QB's that seemed to change their team's fortunes rather dramatically................

  3. #3
    MVP GBneedsDCnOC's Avatar
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    i can see that crunked misplaced his "spell check" button....very well written other then that though as always


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    Rick YoHoChecko's Avatar
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    I also agree that the big spending, impact player derby is far overrated. I would like, however, to cite the 2001 Patriots in showing the importance of using free agency to fill several minor roles on the team and fill out a roster and depth around young developing talent or around aging talent.

    No one free agent made that season happen, but the sum of the 19 new parts certainly did. That's an extreme example, of course, but I do think that picking up underrated role players through free agency is a very valuable addition to many contending teams. (Vinatieri?)
    I would wear an Eagles jersey for DeSean Jackson.


  5. #5
    Admin-Site Content Crunked's Avatar
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    Every one of you have valid points, and correctly asserted examples, Turf Toe is a commentary column and in Andy Rooney-esque fashion tends to over generalize the topic in which it analyzes and really is soley intended to spark and provoke thought and discussion on angles to stories people don't often consider, which is precisely what this is doing, look at all the exceptions to Free Agency doesn't work you have come up with
    .

    “I love being a Colt”~Vontae Davis

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