After spending the last few months watching players and owners bluff at the media in an attempt to make the other side and the fans fear that the 2011 NFL season was actually in danger, the lockout came to end last week. Just when it was getting exciting… too bad… The end of the lockout marked the beginning of an unprecedented frenzy of trades and free agent signings.
It would be impossible for me to discuss all the moves that went down without writing an epic novel (and trust me, I considered that), but three teams who were already Super Bowl contenders added some huge names including one that’s really hard to spell, and another that’s been changed for novelty purposes. The moves made by the Eagles, Patriots, and Jets could potentially get them over the hump, and if nothing else it will make them a lot more fun to follow.
Eagles get Asomugha
The Eagles landed the biggest free agent who no one’s seen play and whose name none of us can pronounce, shutdown cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. This was a major surprise, as just moments before the signing various reports indicated that it was almost certain Asomugha would end up on the Cowboys or Jets. But you know what they say, when you assume, you make an Asomugha out of you and me… something like that…
The signing came just one day after the Eagles traded backup quarterback Kevin Kolb to the Cardinals, landing another pro-bowl cornerback, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. It’s safe to say it will be tough to pass against Philly’s D this year.
The scaring thing is, the Eagles would have been a Super Bowl contender even if the didn’t make any major additions. With the fastest, most dynamic offensive roster in the NFL gaining a little more experience together, and a defense that has improved ten-fold, fans and analysts are starting to call them “the Dream Team”. I know, it’s a very original and creative nickname. Almost as clever as applying “the big three” to every NBA team that has three star players.
But with Michael Vick running the team, who’s style of play gets him injured on a yearly basis, and DeSean Jackson starting to get carried away with his attention craving, diva attitude, will the pieces fall apart in Philly this year? No roster in the NFL has more talent than the Eagles, but do they have the maturity and discipline to stay focused on a Super Bowl run? Only time will tell.
Coming into this season, the Eagles and Packers have to be considered the top two teams in the NFC, and I’d be somewhat surprised if one of those teams isn’t in the Super Bowl. Then again, the NFL surprises me quite a bit.
Patriots get risky
Despite his old school, all business nature, Bill Belichick proved he’s willing to give talented veterans a second chance to redeem their damaged reputations when he embraced New England’s trade for Randy Moss in ‘07. The Patriots took this to the next level last week, trading for attention-craving, self-promoting, cheerleader-proposing, river-dancing, name-changing wide receiver, Chad Ochocinco.
The Patriots also acquired the extremely overpaid, underachieving defensive tackle, Albert Haynesworth. On the surface it’s easy to mark these moves off as desperate, but you can never underestimate what a second chance on a well-disciplined successful team can do for talented vets trying to prove they can be winners. And no matter what issues can be seen in their roster, Belichick and Tom Brady always keep the Patriots in the hunt.
While I’ve always thought Chad Ochocinco was a little overrated and his antics can go way too far, he’s without a doubt very talented, entertaining and hilarious. He’s also a hard worker who’s always in great shape. Despite the risk he brings to the clubhouse and sometimes the field, he never gets in trouble for anything in his personal life, staying away from drugs, alcohol and partying. He has shown us that his image can be more important to him than his teams success, but I think he’s ready to put a little bit of the Ochocinco sideshow on hold to prove that he can be a team player and a winner.
Ochocinco can’t be blamed for all of his problems in Cincinnati. He spent his entire career playing for the Bengals, so he’s ever been on a well-disciplined team with a history of winning. I expect Ocho and Brady to get clicking early and often. They'll both put up big numbers, and the Pats will once again be Super Bowl contenders.
I don’t expect Haynesworth to have as big of an impact as Ochocinco, nor do I expect him to resurrect the skills he displayed in Tennessee, but if he can just be a solid contributor and disrupt opposing running games, he’ll be worth the risk. He doesn’t need to be the best in league, he doesn’t even need to be a pro-bowler. He simply needs to be a football player. He was never able to do that in D.C., but just like Ochocinco, he’s a talented veteran with a chance to repair his image. He has a great team around him and the best coach in the business. He knows if he can’t do it here, he’s history.
Jets think Plax is worth a shot
Last week, the Jets decided to let go of wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who was just nailed with his second DWI in less than two years and topped it off with his alleged involvement in a bar fight in Birmingham, MI last Monday that ended with his cousins stabbing bouncers with pocket knives and forks. I guess they decided to go with the more stable Plaxico Burress, who just got out of the can for carrying an unlicensed gun in his sweatpants in a New York City nightclub that he accidentally fired, shooting himself in the right thigh.
The Jets took a page from the Eagles book by taking a risk on a former pro-bowler straight out of prison that was once one of the elite talents at his position. Much like Michael Vick, no one really knows what Burress is going to bring to the table, but these situations are always better when the player is on a great team with good chemistry and a respected coach (broken record, I know). Plus, Burress won’t have a lot of pressure on him since the Jets have several offensive weapons and Santanio Holmes has clearly established himself as Mark Sanchez’ favorite target.
Still, it’s best for Jets head coach, Rex Ryan, to establish a few ground rules for Plax:
1. Stay out of nightclubs in New York. Like many football players, they have landed him in a lot of trouble.
2. No sweatpants outside of practice. I’m no fashion critic, but I don’t understand why any rich celebrity in his early 30’s would wear sweatpants to a nightclub in the first place. I guess when you’re a pro athlete with money you don’t have to abide by standard dress codes to get into clubs and score chicks as long as you don’t shoot yourself. Which brings me to rule #3:
3. Don’t shoot yourself. In fact, no shooting at all. Actually, lets just keep the guns out of Plax’s hands and sweatpants all together.
The Results
Regardless how well these new additions perform, the Patriots, Jets and Eagles should all be among the best teams in the NFL in 2011. But their contributions could be the difference between getting ousted in the first round of the playoffs and hoisting the Lombardi trophy in February. Either way, we know we’re getting football this year. If only the NBA can get their act together in the next three months I’ll be a happy sports addict.