Does FA Matter?

[Stewie]

Look at the last few super bowl winners, and the FA's they signed the previous year. This information comes from the KFFL.com draft tracker.

These guys seem to fit the definition of "mediocre".

Yet these teams won the super bowl. Pittsburgh and NE supposedly were teams devoid of superstars.

So, does signing big names in FA really matter?


2007, Indy
Jose Cortez
Cato June
Rob Morris
Adam Vinatieri

2006, Pittsburgh
Charlie Batch
Verron Haynes
Chad X. Scott
Sean Morey
Quincy Morgan
Sam Simmons
Cedrick Wilson
Walter Young
Marco Battaglia
Jeff Reed
Barrett Brooks
Brett Keisel
Larry Foote
Willie Williams
Tyrone Carter

2005, New England
Jim Miller
Rabih Abdullah
Kevin Faulk
Patrick Pass
David Givens
J.J. Stokes
Jed Weaver
Josh Miller
Bob Hallen
Russ Hochstein
Billy Yates
Tom Ashworth
Talifaia Atoe
Rodney Bailey
Dana Stubblefield
Keith Traylor
Don Davis
Jeff Burris
Hank Poteat

[patmoran2006]

Re: Does FA Matter?

all three of those teams were strong teams the season before they won the Super Bowl...

It depends on how much talent you have on the team, and where you are in regards to having the money to spend on FA's.

The draft is the best long-term option for any team that wants to be successful, but when you have the money and the need, FA is the quickest way to get better.

[YardRat]

Re: Does FA Matter?

Of course it matters. Like anything, how successful you are with it is how skilled you are at working it.

[Elminster]

Re: Does FA Matter?

all three of those teams were strong teams the season before they won the Super Bowl...

It depends on how much talent you have on the team, and where you are in regards to having the money to spend on FA's.

The draft is the best long-term option for any team that wants to be successful, but when you have the money and the need, FA is the quickest way to get better.

Wait....what? I'm not following you. Sorry. First we're heading in the wrong direction, and now we're a few FAs away? Keeping in mind that the bulk of this year's FA class is....mediocre. Where are these team-changing superstars coming from? Where did nearly all of the the rosters of those SB teams come from? The draft. Seems FA is more for depth and the occasional diamond in the rough for team-building...

[Ickybaluky]

Re: Does FA Matter?

I think FA can make a difference, but only if the team drafts well. It is another way to acquire players.

Look at New Orleans last year. They were able to acquire Drew Brees in FA, and that helped everything else fall in place.

Of course, it doesn't matter if you don't draft well. If you look at all the teams that have any sort of sustained success, they have done a good job in the draft.

[patmoran2006]

Re: Does FA Matter?

Wait....what? I'm not following you. Sorry. First we're heading in the wrong direction, and now we're a few FAs away? Keeping in mind that the bulk of this year's FA class is....mediocre. Where are these team-changing superstars coming from? Where did nearly all of the the rosters of those SB teams come from? The draft. Seems FA is more for depth and the occasional diamond in the rough for team-building...

I never said the draft wasn't critical, and I DO believe that we are a few FA's away from being at miminum a division contender.


By a few FA's, IM not talking Chris Keslay.