poidog22 Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 Don't know if this has been posted yet, but it's an interesting take on league-wide FA moves so far....and this guy seems to be giving the 'Skins some love. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2003/04/16/SP195732.DTL Redskins on top of offseason maneuverings Ira Miller The Atlanta Falcons got the receiver they needed. The Kansas City Chiefs improved their defense. The New England Patriots got, arguably, the best player available on the free-agent market. But no team was more active in the first half of the NFL's offseason than the Washington Redskins, and it's quite a different approach they are taking from the recent past. In the past couple years, the Redskins had two kinds of targets in free agency. They either signed fading stars to satisfy owner Dan Snyder's craving for headlines, or they signed former Florida Gators to make coach Steve Spurrier feel at home. Washington may be figuring it out. Although the Redskins still have a major quarterback issue -- can Spurrier develop Patrick Ramsey, a rookie last year? -- they have upgraded their roster otherwise, in large part by raiding the New York Jets for four front-line players: speedy wide receiver Laveranues Coles, kick returner Chad Morton, kicker John Hall and guard Randy Thomas. The Redskins overpaid for some players, but these signings still are different than the past-the-prime stars like Bruce Smith and Deion Sanders they collected in the past few years. These former Jets are younger players in their prime; none of the three position players is older than 27, and Hall, the kicker, is 29. "We think we got some young guys on the way up, not older guys who have done their thing and you gave them a ton of money," Spurrier said. "Dan admitted that was a mistake." And there is not a single former Florida Gator on the roster. With the draft coming up next week, here's a quick look at how other teams have improved, stagnated or regressed since the end of last season. Teams are listed in order of best to worst based on how they have handled the offseason: NFC WEST: No one has excelled in this division, but at least the Rams solved their offensive-line problems with tackle Kyle Turley and center Dave Wohlabaugh, although they will miss valued third wideout Ricky Proehl. Seattle is pinning an awful lot of its hopes on the addition of defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes. The 49ers are just watching. Arizona has done a decent job of bringing in players, but the Cards have to find a replacement for Jake Plummer, and they don't have one for David Boston, either. NFC EAST: The Giants solved a long-standing special-teams problem by acquiring kicker Mike Hollis, returner Brian Mitchell, punter Jeff Feagles and long snapper Ryan Kuehl. Washington has done some good things (unfortunately for the Jets), but the Redskins will miss running back Stephen Davis. Dallas, under Bill Parcells, basically is remaking the roster. Philadelphia is taking heat after losing linebacker Shawn Barber, defensive end Hugh Douglas and linebacker Barry Gardner, which will cut heavily into the defense and the team's depth. At some point the Eagles will feel the effect, and that point could occur this season. NFC SOUTH: Everyone here has done something good. Atlanta needed a speedy receiver, and got one, Peerless Price, for a $10 million signing bonus. Price, Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn will help the Falcons counter the speed of the Tampa Bay defense. The Bucs have upgraded at linebacker, where they already were excellent, replacing Al Singleton with Dwayne Rudd. Tackle Wayne Gandy isn't as good as Turley, whom he replaces in the lineup, but New Orleans has two first-round draft picks, and also picked up two other good veterans, tight end Ernie Conwell and safety Tebucky Jones. If Carolina's defense is as good as it was a year ago, the signing of running back Davis will help because he can provide some ball-control offense. If the defense slips, however, Davis won't matter much. NFC NORTH: Green Bay found itself in a bind on the defensive line, and lost end Vonnie Holliday. But the Packers hung on to the guy they really had to, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, who has 25 1/2 sacks the past two seasons. Minnesota is at least making an effort to improve on defense, but has a long way to go. Not as far as Detroit, of course. Chicago is the team worth watching because the Bears weren't as good as their record (13-3) two years ago or as bad as their record (4-12) in their injury-plagued 2002 season. They'll miss linebacker Roosevelt Colvin, who signed with New England. The big question is whether they can revive new quarterback Kordell Stewart. AFC WEST: Kansas City, which ranked last in the league in defense last year, signed linebacker Barber from the Eagles, defensive end Holliday from the Packers and cornerback Dexter McCleon from the Rams. But there is a question whether Priest Holmes will be healthy for the start of the season. The Raiders did a nice job massaging the salary cap again without taking any significant hits. They lost fullback Jon Ritchie, but his replacement, Cecil Martin, is a more versatile player. In Denver, the question is whether Plummer finally will thrive with better players around him and better quarterback coaching. Mike Shanahan, who whiffed after betting the future on Brian Griese, has to work some magic here. San Diego's defense will have a new look without either Junior Seau or Rodney Harrison, but Boston will give Drew Brees a target the offense lacked last year. AFC EAST: New England signed Colvin, arguably the best player on the free- agent market, and few coaches know how to use linebackers like the Patriots' Bill Belichick. Colvin is only 25 years old, he made 10 1/2 sacks each of the past two years for Chicago, and he also plays well against the run. Linebacker Takeo Spikes was a critical acquisition for Buffalo, remaking its defense. But the Bills have to replace the 94 catches and 1,252 yards they got from Price. Miami is counting on Seau to become a locker room leader if they can complete a deal for him, and the Dolphins also are the top contender to sign Griese, when Denver releases him after June 1. The Jets have to find a way to replace Coles, who had a lot to do with quarterback Chad Pennington's success last year. AFC SOUTH: Jacksonville has been aggressively adding to its defense for new coach Jack Del Rio. End Douglas and linebackers Mike Peterson and Keith Mitchell all can help. The rest of this division has been fairly stagnant. AFC NORTH: Under new coach Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati is at least showing signs of life. Tackle John Thornton and edge rusher Kevin Hardy will help the Bengals' defense. With Stewart gone, the Pittsburgh quarterback job is clearly in the hands of Tommy Maddox, and the Steelers might begin looking toward the future in the draft. Baltimore still isn't sure who its quarterback will be in the fall, not a good situation to be in in April. Cleveland has lost more players than it has signed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 Honestly, what does a writer who is all the way across the country know that others don't? I don't know. Seems like fluff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchogs Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 seems like fluff because it is fluff. still fun to read though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabidFan Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 Sounds like anything we all could come up with.....nothing but common sense conclusions on whats happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 look, a lot of writers think they have such great insights because a GM or coach will sit with them or talk to them on the phone for 15 minutes about moves made by theirs and other teams. a lot of times what the writers get is just spin. you think anyone is actually going to tell some of these guys their true draft strategy two months in advance for all to know? the truth is most sportswriters sit in the press box at the stadium and watch the players just like we do in our own seats below. they read the same draft previews and watch the same things at training camp. occasionally, you get a writer or sports personality that is an ex-executive who may provide better insights because of his own experience or his connections around the NFL. but for the most part these guys are making the 'educated guess' on moves teams are making just like we are prior to the draft Think anyone REALLY knows if Charles Rogers or Andre Johnson will be better than Coles or Peerless Price? :laugh: Yeah, check back in two years and a boatload of sports journalists will tell you they knew all along :laugh: :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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