What an amazing free agency and trade period this year for the NFL. There were so many big names that have moved this off season so far, more than I could ever remember. This totally changed the landscape of how and who teams are going to do in the draft. The biggest name was without a doubt future Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning.
Manning was let go by the Colts after 14 seasons when he missed the entire season following setbacks from neck surgery and the Colts finished 2-14. The Colts will probably draft Andrew Luck 1st overall in this year's draft and will rebuild. Once Manning was on the market, he was probably the biggest free agent in NFL history. There were questions and concerns as he was 36 and coming off several neck procedures over the last few years. Either teams knew he was medically cleared or just wanted to take a chance at one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history, but teams were coming out of the wood works to make a play at him. The closest teams were the Jets, Miami, Arizona, Washington, Seattle, Tennessee, San Francisco, and Denver. Manning ultimately chose to sign a 5-year deal with the Denver Broncos over a Super Bowl bound San Francisco and Tennessee, where Manning played college ball and was reportedly offered a "lifetime contract" by Titans' owner Bud Adams.
San Francisco appeared to have been the best choice because they were an overtime loss away from going to the Super Bowl with perhaps the best defense in the league, a weak division, and a red-hot first year head coach in Jim Harbaugh. It would appear however that Manning and Harbaugh would clash as Harbaugh seems to be a control freak and Manning I'm sure wants to run the offense like he has in Indy. Even though the NFC West is weak, the NFC as a whole is very strong as there quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Jay Cutler, and even Peyton's younger brother Eli. I'm sure Peyton did not want to play his brother unless its every four years in the AFC and/or Super Bowl. So that left Denver, who won the weak AFC West with an 8-8 record and a QB who seemingly can't throw. Denver has a very good coach in John Fox, a great offensive line, a very good young defense, and a very underrated set of wide receivers along with a good running game. I think Fox would let Manning run the offense while he focuses on the defense. With Manning, the Broncos should without a doubt win the division as there is a talented but underachieving San Diego Chargers team with Norv Turner back, a troubled Oakland team, and a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs team. The road to the Super Bowl is a lot easier in the AFC as he would only have to go through the Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens who don't have an elite QB, and an aging Pittsburgh Steelers team. The question is, will there ever be a free agent as big as Peyton Manning ever again? Can you possibly imagine Tom Brady or younger guys like Aaron Rodgers or even Eli Manning ever available in free agency? Unless the Saints don't resolve their contract issues with Drew Brees, he would not be available.
Manning's signing made Tim Tebow expendable as he was traded to the New York Jets shortly after Manning signed. The Broncos traded their QB who led them to the postseason last year and even beat the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. But Tebow had one of the worst QB Ratings in the league and completed less than 50% of his passes. Tebow and his hype goes to the Big Apple and has to contend with vicious Jet fans, a big mouth head coach in Rex Ryan, and starting QB Mark Sanchez. Tebow chose the Jets over Jacksonville, which is closer to home and would be a huge draw for a struggling franchise, because he knows he can start down the road. Despite giving Sanchez a $20 million signing bonus, Sanchez is on the lookout and has never got the love by the fans and even the team despite taking them to the AFC Championship Game in his first two years. Wait till he throws an interception and the fans will be calling for Tebow. What a mess and I love it.
This next signing hits very close to home and is the one I'm most excited about. Perhaps the best free agent not named Peyton Manning, Houston Texans' defensive end Mario Williams, shocked the league by signing with the Buffalo Bills for nearly $100 million and $50 million guaranteed, which is the most by a defensive player in league history. Williams was the #1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and had a very stellar six-year career so far in the NFL with 53 career sacks. Williams' signing was not only big because it fills a tremendous void for the Bills as they needed a pass rushing defensive end, but it also turns one of the worst franchises in the league's perception around the league around as it now appears that players want to play for Buffalo. Not only did he sign with Buffalo, he chose them first, spent several days there and never left to even talk to another team as he and the Bills wanted each other. This is such a huge impactful signing for the Bills faithful and still has me buzzing. This is the biggest signing for the Bills since they signed Jim Kelly from the USFL, even though he had his draft rights. But Kelly coming to town was a big deal and it led the Bills to their greatest time in franchise history. The biggest free agent name that went to a small city that I can think of was when Reggie White signed with Green Bay back in 1993 when no one wanted to go there and look, they are one of the league's best teams over the last two decades. I'm hoping Williams' impact on the Bills is just the same. Also, the Bills added Mark Anderson to the line and his 10 sacks from New England a year ago to make the Bills from one of the worst defensive lines in the league to one of the best.
There were a good amount of wide receivers available as Vincent Jackson left San Diego to go to Tampa Bay and Jackson's spot in San Diego was taken by Robert Meacham, who left New Orleans. Perhaps the biggest wide receiver signing was the 49ers signing Randy Moss, who was out of the league last year. They also added Mario Manningham. Brandon Lloyd was very vocal about playing for the Patriots and Tom Brady and made good on his promise by signing with them. Lloyd reunites with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was Lloyd's head coach in Denver when Lloyd led the league in receiving yards two years ago and was his offensive coordinator last year in St. Louis. Lloyd should be close to or at his numbers two years ago playing with Brady, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez. The Saints re-signed Marques Coltson while the Colts re-signed Reggie Wayne. Pierre Garcon left the Colts to go to Washington. The Steelers signed speedy Mike Wallace to a first round tender on the restricted free agent, which means any team can sign him, but give up a first round pick to the Steelers for him. It appears he will remain in Pittsburgh as no one has given up a first round pick yet. Laurent Robinson and his 11 touchdown catches from a year ago move from Dallas to Jacksonville. Dwayne Bowe was another big time receiver to hit the market until he was franchised by Kansas City while the Bills locked up Stevie Johnson before he was set to hit the open market and were forced to use the franchise tag. Even though he was not going to hit the open market this season, the Lions made sure Calvin Johnson did not in the future by giving him a record $60 million guaranteed signing bonus.
Other notable free agent signings: corner back Brandon Carr from Kansas City to Dallas, guard Carl Nicks from New Orleans to Tampa Bay, corner back Cortland Finnegan from Tennessee to St. Louis to be reunited with his former head coach Jeff Fisher, offensive tackle Eric Winston from Houston to Kansas City, and the Saints added a couple of defensive players in lieu of possible suspensions in the wake of "bounty gate" in linebacker Curtis Lofton and defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley.
There were two more quarterback moves that did not involve Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow. Alex Smith, despite looking around after the 49erswere trying to lure Manning, went back to San Francisco to sign a 3-year deal. Smith guided the 49ers to a 13-3 record and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. Smith had a bounce back year after being considered a bust after being taken #1 overall by the 49ers in 2005. This past season Smith improved his game with the help of new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Despite going all the way to the NFC Championship Game, Harbaugh and the 49ers felt they needed to upgrade and no offense to Smith, they did so they went after Manning. After Manning turned them down, they went back to Smith, who was in Miami looking at a possible deal there. Smith's common sense got the better of him, despite getting hurt by the 49ers he chose to go back because it was the best option for him. They gave him more money than they would have so his trip to Miami got him more. They did not want to lose the guy who went 13-3 if they lost out on Manning. Settling in this case isn't so bad. The other major QB signing was Seattle signing Matt Flynn, who was the backup in Green Bay. Flynn, who was a 7th round pick out of LSU in 2008, started only two games in his NFL career, but both starts were very impressive. In 2010, he lost a close game to New England on the road and last year, he defeated a Detroit Lions team that still had something to play for in the last game of the season. In that game, Flynn threw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 45-41 win. There's no doubt Flynn has some talent, but I question if he's the real deal or is the system he plays in with really good wide receivers? I'm still leaning towards the latter until I get to witness more starts. Seattle needs a QB as Tarvaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst are not the answers. I just wonder if it's Flynn? They might have not been able to draft one and could not sign Manning. So they had to go to Plan B. Flynn reminds me of guys such as Kevin Kolb, Derek Anderson, and Rob Johnson who started a few games and impressed people because of a system and land full-time roles and fail. These guys are backups for a reason and I will never go after a system quarterback. Good luck Seattle, I hope it works.
This was one of the most amazing free agency periods I can ever remember. If this what the off season will be like, and we are far from done my friends, then I can't wait to see what the season and the Super Bowl holds for us!!
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