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Wow, it’s good to be thinking about football again.  Even though the next official game isn’t going to be played for many, many months, the first weekend of free agency is always interesting because teams begin to take a different shape and this weekend can set expectations that will last throughout the rest of the year.  Well, this past weekend did not disappoint in any way.  Teams who were expected to sign players didn’t, some interesting trades went down, and teams that weren’t predicted to do anything decided they wanted to sign a slew of players.  I’ve detailed a few of the more interesting transaction below and offered some of my personal thoughts as well.

• Matt Cassel/Mike Vrabel trade to the Chiefs – When I first heard this trade was completed I was very shocked.  I wondered what the Patriots were thinking trading two solid players to a team that was near the bottom of every category last season.  But then, as I was thinking about it later, I realized that the Patriots really did make out well.  If the second round draft pick the Patriots received from the Chiefs pans out, the impact of losing two players will be eased.  Also, they freed up a huge amount of salary gap space by sending them away.  The Chiefs didn’t make out too shabby either, nabbing a solid OLB and a quarterback that showed he could turn into an NFL star.  I think that this trade was fairly even considering the benefits that both teams will receive over the next few seasons.
• Bart Scott to the Jets – This was a very weird deal in general, but especially for me because I’m a Ravens fan.  Bart Scott has been a steady contributor to the Ravens defense over the past few seasons and was going to be a hot commodity when he hit the free agency market.  I think that Scott was very considerate throughout the day on Friday, mostly in part because he took the Jets’ initial offer back to the Ravens to see if they would counter.  You don’t see that too much from football players so it was good to see that Bart really was considering his options.  The Ravens did counter the offer made by the Jets but it ended up not proving to be enough.  The Jets definitely made a smart move in signing Bart Scott.  In fact, the Jets made a smart move in signing Rex Ryan as their head coach, who proved to be a big campaigner in bringing Scott into the withering Jets defense.  This acquisition should prove beneficial for the Jets for many seasons.
• Kellen Winslow to the Bucs – Once again, this was an interesting trade that no one really saw coming.  When I initially read the head line, I was quite shocked.  I didn’t think that the Browns would give up a staple player on their offense but apparently they decided it was the best move.  I have a feeling that this year is going to be a tough one for the Browns, mostly in part because of all the changes that have occurred so far in the off season.  If Winslow can put up solid numbers, both in receiving and blocking, he should prove to be a good fit for the Bucs.  If he has another year like he did in 2008, I think the Bucs may be regretting their acquisition.
• The Denver Broncos – The Broncos have really played the free agency frenzy, signing a slew of players in the past few days.  They haven’t signed the highest profile players, but they are making subtle changes that should affect them significantly in the upcoming season.  The acquisition of Brian Dawkins on will hopefully provide the Broncos with a leader.  The Broncos defense was a laughing matter for most of last season and Dawkins could prove to be the leader and influence that was needed.  Whether it affects them positively or negatively, that is a different story.  When teams make huge changes in the front office and on the field, it is hard to gauge how well everything will mesh in the times when it really matters.  I think that the free agency signings will have a fair impact on the Broncos this upcoming season.  I don’t think that the chemistry is going to be there (especially if they trade away Jay Cutler) that will allow them to ride into the playoffs.  But, stranger things have happened.

What are your thoughts on the first weekend of free agency?  What team do you think will benefit most from the free agency period?  Share your thoughts below!

Football, Home

The final game of the NFL postseason has been played and the final whistle has blown on another football season.  Football fans wait all year to watch “The Big Game.”  Big screen TVs fly off the shelves, even in a struggling economy.  Companies pay millions of dollars to advertise for ten, twenty, or thirty seconds at a time.  Fans of all teams choose sides and until the clock runs out, it’s anyone’s game.  Without a doubt, the Super Bowl is an event of epic proportion each year.  But did Super Bowl XLIII live up to the hype of other years?  Was America on the edge of their seat or asleep on the couch?

I believe that the condition of the Unite States, especially the economy, played a negative role in the acceptance and publicity of the Super Bowl this year.  Most people, especially die hard football fans, will not admit that this year was different than others but there were a few obvious signs pointing to a lack of momentum and interest in football’s biggest event.

1.  Pre-Super Bowl Hype – The hype and energy that is normally associated with the two weeks leading up the Super Bowl really didn’t exist this year.  Instead, the Super Bowl hype was replaced with stories of the failing economy, the actions taken by newly elected President Obama, and the analysis of where America “goes from here.”  Unless you are an avid watcher of a sports show or channel, you probably didn’t encounter too much talk about the Super Bowl.  Simply put, there were more important things to discuss.

2.  Commercials – Frankly, the commercials during the Super Bowl this year were weak.  Even the eTrade baby commercials were a little on the dull side.  I also tie this to America’s unsure stage and unstable economy.  Think about it – Super Bowl commercials are the mother load.  Yes, companies are gaining a ton of exposure but are also paying an arm and a leg for a few seconds of air time.  When companies are shelling out the the big money solely for a spot during the commercial lineup, they may not have the resources to pay quality writers, brainstormers, and actors.  The company that may have made out the best was Miller.  Their commercial was only one second long and it is probably garnering the most attention because it was out of the ordinary.  During tough times, companies need to think outside of the box and most companies came up short during the Super Bowl this year.

3.  Glit and Glamour Post Game – Attempting not to pass any judgements because of the victors of Super Bowl XLIII but I didn’t think that the post game show was as flashy as it normally would be.  Yes, the same elements existed (confetti, merchandise, interviews, etc.) but for some reason, it just didn’t feel like it normally does during the presentation ceremony.  The NFL did cut over 100 jobs during the regular season in order to feel less of an impact from a spiraling economy so the toned down Super Bowl post-game may have been another contributing factor to cut costs.  For whatever reason, the post game and presentation ceremony wasn’t like it has been in the past.

I believe that the 2010 Super Bowl will be a critical event for the NFL.  The next “Big Game” could make or break how America and the rest of the world view football.  There will always be your devoted football fans who will watch the game no matter what but as far as neutral viewers are concerned, the NFL could be in trouble with losing viewers.  Super Bowl XLIII may not have been the greatest game with the best commercials but hopefully the NFL notices the problems and where they occurred to make next year even better.

Football, Home, Random Thoughts

Yes, I know that the 2008-2009 season still has one more game to be played but I figured I’d get a jump start on some general predictions for the 2009-2010 season.  If you’re looking for record or Super Bowl predictions, you aren’t going to find them here…at least not yet.  With the moves that have taken place thus far in the offseason, one could begin to draw some conclusions and impacts for the 2009-2010 season.  Here are a few nuggets of thought…

• Rex Ryan is going to lead the New York Jets to a winning season.  It’s tough to say if they’re going to make it to the playoffs, especially if Favre sticks around, but head coach Rex Ryan should be able to lead his team to a winning season in his first year as a head coach.  Look for the Jets defense to have an impact in the AFC East due to Ryan’s experience with leading the Ravens defense.
• The Dallas Cowboys are going to be worse than they were in 2008.  Even though the Cowboys could be poised to make some big moves in the offseason, such as re-signing DeMarcus Ware and making a big for LB Ray Lewis, I believe they are going to continue to decline in the standings.  They came close to making the playoffs this year but really buckled under the pressure in late November and December.  If a team leader doesn’t emerge, more disasters will be immenent.
• At least two 2008 losing teams will have a winning season…and make it into the playoffs.  It’s a longshot, but I can sense a turnaround for at least two 2008 losing teams.  Whether it is the Rams, Chiefs, Browns, or someone else, there is going to be a few new contenders in the league.  Look what 2008 produced with the Dolphins, Falcons, Ravens, and Cardinals.  This isn’t your Patriots/Colts league anymore – more and more teams are going to start to come around as the years move on.  Look for at least two to make the playoffs in 2009.
• The rules will change regarding the play clock and challenges.  Both of these topics become heated as the 2008 season wrapped up and there will only be more contention in the offseason which will lead to a few changes around the league.  It’s tough to say what exactly will change but both topics need rethinking and reworking due to controversial situations during the 2008 season.

Continue to check back for more predictions and updates as the offseason continues.  What are your thoughts and predictions for the 2009-2010 season?  Share them below in the comments!

Football, Home