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The first weekend of NFL free-agency 2007 -- which has already been labeled as Overpay Weekend for the absurdity of some of the deals -- is complete, and here are some early observations and thoughts.
It's a great time to be a free agent.
With players like Buffalo Bills corner Nate Clements becoming the highest-paid defensive player in football courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers' $80 million deal, and guards getting contracts that once would have seemed outrageous for left tackles, the money was flying around.
"Man, those guys hit it at the right time," said New England Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour, during a break from obligations during ESPN The Weekend in Lake Buena Vista. "It must be nice. Timing is important."
When a fullback (Ovie Mughelli) gets a deal that averages $3 million a year from the Atlanta Falcons, you know things are out of whack. Agent Todd France should take a bow for that one.
When guards Kris Dielman (San Diego), Derrick Dockery (Bills) and Eric Steinbach (Browns) get paid like Steve Hutchinson did last season by the Vikings, it's another indication. None of those three has been to a Pro Bowl, while Hutchinson is considered one of the best guards -- maybe the best -- in football. One more thing: Since when do guards get paid like that?
When players who were benched the past two years get big-money deals, it's another sign it's out of whack. The 49ers paid safety Michael Lewis, who was benched by the Eagles last season, $10 million in guarantees, while the Commanders paid corner Fred Smoot, who was sat down by the Vikings in 2005, a deal that averages $5 million.
Spend, spend, spend.
What a weekend.
Tampa Bay has no idea what it's doing at quarterback, and clearly coach Jon Gruden must feel win-now pressure.
How else can we explain the moves of Saturday morning when they announced they've signed 37-year-old Jeff Garcia to a five-year contract that will pay him $5 million in 2007? Oh, they also traded for Jake Plummer.
Is there an odder deal than Snake to the Bucs? (Getty Images)
Plummer threatened to retire after the Broncos worked out a deal for him with the Bucs on Friday, but that didn't stop the two teams from pulling off a deal Saturday -- to spite Plummer. If he decides to play -- which he says isn't happening -- the Bucs are stuck with both those contracts, although they could still trade Plummer to the Texans, where he is rumored to want to play.
Did somebody in Tampa forget Chris Simms is still on the roster and that he got a new deal after the season? And what about second-year player Bruce Gradkowski? The move to get veteran quarterbacks is a panic one by the Bucs.
"Hopefully, this stable of quarterbacks can lead us through the season," general manager Bruce Allen said.
The Bucs should have just let Simms handle the starting role and spent their money elsewhere. Last time I looked, the left tackle spot still isn't in great shape, there is no real go-to receiver and the defense is getting old. And on and on it goes. I know quarterbacks can cure ills. But 37-year-old quarterbacks?
Why didn't they just bring Doug Williams out of retirement?
Some teams got it right by signing rising players.
I'm a big believer that if you're going to pay money to any free agents, at least pay guys in their mid-20s, players on the rise -- just not guards.
Two teams that made smart moves were the Detroit Lions, who signed Tampa Bay defensive end Dewayne White, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, who signed Ravens right tackle Tony Pashos.
Both of those players played their best in 2006 and have plenty of good football left. Pashos is 26 and White 27, both in the perfect free-agent target range.
Signing rising players is much wiser than spending on 37-year-old quarterbacks or 31-year-old linebackers like the Commanders did with London Fletcher-Baker.
Getting old as a running back is not a good thing.
The Patriots released Corey Dillon (32) when he asked for it, the Ravens let go of Jamal Lewis (27, but seven seasons on his body) and the Titans released Travis Henry (28).
One back, Ahman Green (30), agreed to a four-year, $23 million deal with the Texans on Sunday.
But the lack of deals for older backs is why Fred Taylor re-signing with the Jaguars makes sense for him and the team. At 31, Taylor didn't want to hit the open market, and the Jaguars gave him a deal that will pay him $5 million this season -- including a $4.2 million roster bonus. Taylor's deal includes roster bonuses in each of the next three seasons, which means he is playing on a year-to-year basis.
Hey, at least he has a deal, which most of his older running brethren do not.
Moral of the story: If you're a veteran back, don't expect big-dollar deals. The NFL will beat up your body and then let you walk. Good luck finding someone who will pay you then, unless you're a desperate team like the Cardinals were last year when they way overpaid for Edgerrin James.
LINK
It's a great time to be a free agent.
With players like Buffalo Bills corner Nate Clements becoming the highest-paid defensive player in football courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers' $80 million deal, and guards getting contracts that once would have seemed outrageous for left tackles, the money was flying around.
"Man, those guys hit it at the right time," said New England Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour, during a break from obligations during ESPN The Weekend in Lake Buena Vista. "It must be nice. Timing is important."
When a fullback (Ovie Mughelli) gets a deal that averages $3 million a year from the Atlanta Falcons, you know things are out of whack. Agent Todd France should take a bow for that one.
When guards Kris Dielman (San Diego), Derrick Dockery (Bills) and Eric Steinbach (Browns) get paid like Steve Hutchinson did last season by the Vikings, it's another indication. None of those three has been to a Pro Bowl, while Hutchinson is considered one of the best guards -- maybe the best -- in football. One more thing: Since when do guards get paid like that?
When players who were benched the past two years get big-money deals, it's another sign it's out of whack. The 49ers paid safety Michael Lewis, who was benched by the Eagles last season, $10 million in guarantees, while the Commanders paid corner Fred Smoot, who was sat down by the Vikings in 2005, a deal that averages $5 million.
Spend, spend, spend.
What a weekend.
Tampa Bay has no idea what it's doing at quarterback, and clearly coach Jon Gruden must feel win-now pressure.
How else can we explain the moves of Saturday morning when they announced they've signed 37-year-old Jeff Garcia to a five-year contract that will pay him $5 million in 2007? Oh, they also traded for Jake Plummer.
Is there an odder deal than Snake to the Bucs? (Getty Images)
Plummer threatened to retire after the Broncos worked out a deal for him with the Bucs on Friday, but that didn't stop the two teams from pulling off a deal Saturday -- to spite Plummer. If he decides to play -- which he says isn't happening -- the Bucs are stuck with both those contracts, although they could still trade Plummer to the Texans, where he is rumored to want to play.
Did somebody in Tampa forget Chris Simms is still on the roster and that he got a new deal after the season? And what about second-year player Bruce Gradkowski? The move to get veteran quarterbacks is a panic one by the Bucs.
"Hopefully, this stable of quarterbacks can lead us through the season," general manager Bruce Allen said.
The Bucs should have just let Simms handle the starting role and spent their money elsewhere. Last time I looked, the left tackle spot still isn't in great shape, there is no real go-to receiver and the defense is getting old. And on and on it goes. I know quarterbacks can cure ills. But 37-year-old quarterbacks?
Why didn't they just bring Doug Williams out of retirement?
Some teams got it right by signing rising players.
I'm a big believer that if you're going to pay money to any free agents, at least pay guys in their mid-20s, players on the rise -- just not guards.
Two teams that made smart moves were the Detroit Lions, who signed Tampa Bay defensive end Dewayne White, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, who signed Ravens right tackle Tony Pashos.
Both of those players played their best in 2006 and have plenty of good football left. Pashos is 26 and White 27, both in the perfect free-agent target range.
Signing rising players is much wiser than spending on 37-year-old quarterbacks or 31-year-old linebackers like the Commanders did with London Fletcher-Baker.
Getting old as a running back is not a good thing.
The Patriots released Corey Dillon (32) when he asked for it, the Ravens let go of Jamal Lewis (27, but seven seasons on his body) and the Titans released Travis Henry (28).
One back, Ahman Green (30), agreed to a four-year, $23 million deal with the Texans on Sunday.
But the lack of deals for older backs is why Fred Taylor re-signing with the Jaguars makes sense for him and the team. At 31, Taylor didn't want to hit the open market, and the Jaguars gave him a deal that will pay him $5 million this season -- including a $4.2 million roster bonus. Taylor's deal includes roster bonuses in each of the next three seasons, which means he is playing on a year-to-year basis.
Hey, at least he has a deal, which most of his older running brethren do not.
Moral of the story: If you're a veteran back, don't expect big-dollar deals. The NFL will beat up your body and then let you walk. Good luck finding someone who will pay you then, unless you're a desperate team like the Cardinals were last year when they way overpaid for Edgerrin James.
LINK
