Trading Places: NFL Edition
By Ryan Frisco
If you're like me, the months of February through August are kind of blah. Yeah, I guess it's fun to celebrate my wedding anniversary, the birthdays of myself, wife and son as well as Father's Day. But, there's just something missing. Do you know what I'm talking about? Football! As soon as the final whistle blows in the Super Bowl, I'm already counting the days until opening kickoff the Wednesday after Labor Day. It's just that good. Any taste of football, like last month's free agency session, is just the tease I need to get me through the dreary days of Spring and Summer.
So let's talk about free agency 2013. Maybe I haven't followed the opening of free agency too much in the past, but it seemed to me like there were a lot of big moves this offseason, more than usual. I'm going to highlight a few of the moves I think will have a big impact come the regular season. Please, follow along, and let me hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
Mike Wallace: There were definitely bigger stories and more drama involved with other moves, but I think the dealing of Mike Wallace from Pittsburgh to Miami will have the highest degree of impact. For the Steelers, I think it's a huge loss. There are very few guys who can match the speed and quickness of Wallace, and I thoroughly believe he has potential to be one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. He will be extremely hard to replace. Most of their receivers are slot receivers, without the ability to burn someone downfield, except for maybe Emmanuel Sanders. But, Wallace doesn't fit very well into the Steelers system. They have no time for high drama, big ego players like Mike. So, he gets the boot.
For the Dolphins, this is huge. They haven't been relevant since the Dan Marino days, and if we're honest, not since the undefeated season of 1972. Having Wallace adds talent to a team that lacks in that department. The big question: Is Ryan Tannehill capable of getting the ball to Mike Wallace? If he can't, we're looking at a repeat of Larry Fitzgerald circa 2012. If he can, watch out New England! They might finally have some competition in the AFC North.
Wes Welker/Danny Amendola: This is the drama I was referring to earlier. Wes Welker, who has been the Robin to the Tom Brady Batman in Foxboro for so long, was just pushed to the curb like that Ryan Leaf autobiography you've been 'meaning' to get to. After being a huge part of the Patriots dynasty of recent years, Welker felt disrespected and took a so so deal (2 years/$12 Million) with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. The Patriots, who apparently wouldn't offer him any more money, signed Danny Amendola to a 5 year/$31 Million deal. What?
I kind of understand what New England is doing here. Kind of. They're picking up a younger Wes Welker and keeping him in town for a while longer than Welker will last. It's smart. The only thing I disagree with is Amendola's health. He is a really great receiver. He rocks the slot as good as Welker does. He also gets hurt, all the time. He's done good with a below average Sam Bradford throwing to him. He can be great with certain Hall of Famer Tom Brady throwing to him...if he's on the field.
Denver picking up Welker just doesn't seem fair to anyone. They have Welker running the slot, with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker split wide. Oh, and Peyton Manning throwing to them. The Denver Broncos are easily the heavy preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl. Case closed.
Anquan Boldin: Has anybody heard of this guy? Has he ever done anything in his career? Oh I dunno, maybe just caught 21 passes in the 2013 postseason, making Joe Flacco look like Joe Namath on his way to being a huge part of a Super Bowl victory. Boldin has been nothing but stellar and consistent his entire career with Arizona and Baltimore. The Ravens wouldn't pay him barely any money to come back next year, so Boldin jumped ship to a team that appreciates WHO he is and WHAT he's done. Ironically, that team is the same team Baltimore beat in the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers. Hmmm...
The Philadelphia Eagles: I don't know if it's just because I live in Philadelphia, but it seems like a ton of the offseason drama centered around the Eagles quest for a new coach. They somehow reeled in Chip Kelly, and now it's the waiting game. Can his system succeed in the NFL? Will he sure up a defense that has been abysmal against every kind of offense? Does he know what he's doing? Fans were shocked when Chip announced that Michael Vick would be returning in 2013. This is the biggest offseason of change Philadelphia has gone through since 1999. Let's look at their free agent signings.
Look at this list: Kenny Phillips, Carey Williams, Patrick Chung and Connor Barwin. These guys are all key pieces on defense. Two safeties, a corner back and a linebacker. They signed more, but these are the big guys. What do you notice about these guys? They all come from WINNING teams. Giants, Ravens, Patriots and Texans. These players know how to win. They know how to lead. These are two things the Eagles are missing right now. Will this team mesh under the heading of Chip Kelly? The whole (football) world is watching.
Reggie Bush: This guys has had so much drama following him everywhere he goes. He wins the Heisman. He's taken #2 overall in the draft by the Saints. He's okay, but isn't a starting running back. He wins the Super Bowl in 2009. His Heisman is taken away in 2010. He breaks his leg in 2010. He is traded to the Dolphins in 2011. He kind of starts, but also shares time here. Reggie Bush has never been the outright starting running back on a team. Is he able to? No one really knows. Does he have mad skills? Totally! Even last year, he had some awesome juke moves and sweet touchdowns weaving through defenders. He is now a member of the Detroit Lions, taking over for Jahvid Best, who will no longer play football due to concussions. Once again Reggie will not be the outright starter (Mikell Leshoure will do the brunt work) but I don't think he cares. He is back with a contending team after two awful years in Miami. This is good for both Reggie and the Lions. NFC Central teams should be very afraid.
There are a ton of other moves that happened this free agency session. Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs with their fresh coach Andy Reid. Percy Harvin went from the Vikings to the Seahawks. The Falcons dropped Michael Turner and John Abraham, but picked up Steven Jackson and Osi Umenyora, while keeping Tony Gonzalez. Brian Urlacher is no longer a Chicago Bear, and Greg Jennings is now a Viking.
Such a high profile free agency season, and it's not even over! What are your thoughts, and did I miss any big moves?
So let's talk about free agency 2013. Maybe I haven't followed the opening of free agency too much in the past, but it seemed to me like there were a lot of big moves this offseason, more than usual. I'm going to highlight a few of the moves I think will have a big impact come the regular season. Please, follow along, and let me hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
 |
| Photo Cred www.atlantablackstar.com |
Mike Wallace: There were definitely bigger stories and more drama involved with other moves, but I think the dealing of Mike Wallace from Pittsburgh to Miami will have the highest degree of impact. For the Steelers, I think it's a huge loss. There are very few guys who can match the speed and quickness of Wallace, and I thoroughly believe he has potential to be one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. He will be extremely hard to replace. Most of their receivers are slot receivers, without the ability to burn someone downfield, except for maybe Emmanuel Sanders. But, Wallace doesn't fit very well into the Steelers system. They have no time for high drama, big ego players like Mike. So, he gets the boot.
For the Dolphins, this is huge. They haven't been relevant since the Dan Marino days, and if we're honest, not since the undefeated season of 1972. Having Wallace adds talent to a team that lacks in that department. The big question: Is Ryan Tannehill capable of getting the ball to Mike Wallace? If he can't, we're looking at a repeat of Larry Fitzgerald circa 2012. If he can, watch out New England! They might finally have some competition in the AFC North.
 |
| Photo Cred www.masslive.com |
Wes Welker/Danny Amendola: This is the drama I was referring to earlier. Wes Welker, who has been the Robin to the Tom Brady Batman in Foxboro for so long, was just pushed to the curb like that Ryan Leaf autobiography you've been 'meaning' to get to. After being a huge part of the Patriots dynasty of recent years, Welker felt disrespected and took a so so deal (2 years/$12 Million) with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. The Patriots, who apparently wouldn't offer him any more money, signed Danny Amendola to a 5 year/$31 Million deal. What?
I kind of understand what New England is doing here. Kind of. They're picking up a younger Wes Welker and keeping him in town for a while longer than Welker will last. It's smart. The only thing I disagree with is Amendola's health. He is a really great receiver. He rocks the slot as good as Welker does. He also gets hurt, all the time. He's done good with a below average Sam Bradford throwing to him. He can be great with certain Hall of Famer Tom Brady throwing to him...if he's on the field.
Denver picking up Welker just doesn't seem fair to anyone. They have Welker running the slot, with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker split wide. Oh, and Peyton Manning throwing to them. The Denver Broncos are easily the heavy preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl. Case closed.
 |
| Photo Cred www.palmbeachpost.com |
Anquan Boldin: Has anybody heard of this guy? Has he ever done anything in his career? Oh I dunno, maybe just caught 21 passes in the 2013 postseason, making Joe Flacco look like Joe Namath on his way to being a huge part of a Super Bowl victory. Boldin has been nothing but stellar and consistent his entire career with Arizona and Baltimore. The Ravens wouldn't pay him barely any money to come back next year, so Boldin jumped ship to a team that appreciates WHO he is and WHAT he's done. Ironically, that team is the same team Baltimore beat in the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers. Hmmm...
The Philadelphia Eagles: I don't know if it's just because I live in Philadelphia, but it seems like a ton of the offseason drama centered around the Eagles quest for a new coach. They somehow reeled in Chip Kelly, and now it's the waiting game. Can his system succeed in the NFL? Will he sure up a defense that has been abysmal against every kind of offense? Does he know what he's doing? Fans were shocked when Chip announced that Michael Vick would be returning in 2013. This is the biggest offseason of change Philadelphia has gone through since 1999. Let's look at their free agent signings.
 |
| Photo Cred www.usatoday.com |
Look at this list: Kenny Phillips, Carey Williams, Patrick Chung and Connor Barwin. These guys are all key pieces on defense. Two safeties, a corner back and a linebacker. They signed more, but these are the big guys. What do you notice about these guys? They all come from WINNING teams. Giants, Ravens, Patriots and Texans. These players know how to win. They know how to lead. These are two things the Eagles are missing right now. Will this team mesh under the heading of Chip Kelly? The whole (football) world is watching.
 |
| Photo Cred www.ciskie.blogspot.com |
There are a ton of other moves that happened this free agency session. Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs with their fresh coach Andy Reid. Percy Harvin went from the Vikings to the Seahawks. The Falcons dropped Michael Turner and John Abraham, but picked up Steven Jackson and Osi Umenyora, while keeping Tony Gonzalez. Brian Urlacher is no longer a Chicago Bear, and Greg Jennings is now a Viking.
Such a high profile free agency season, and it's not even over! What are your thoughts, and did I miss any big moves?
I would challenge your assessment on how big of a loss Mike Wallace will be for the Steelers. Yes, they lose that speed and big play ability, but Emmanuel Sanders, as you mentioned, should be able to partially fill those shoes. Antonio Brown has always been a more complete receiver who dwelt under the shadow of Mike Wallace. Steelers, specifically, the Rooneys have never put up with crap from their players and it's no surprise to see Wallace go. I think overall, it will hurt the Steelers more than it will help, but that hurt should not be as big as you are suggesting, at least I hope not! Other than that, great article!
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