kernowboy
02-29-2008, 02:55 AM
By tsn.ca
"Every year when free agency starts, it seems Daniel Snyder has the Washington Redskins' plane fuelled and ready to swoop into a rival's city and return with a prized free agent. Except most of those prizes turned out to be duds. That's one reason the Redskins ended last season US$20 million over the salary cap and have spent the last few weeks cutting duds and restructuring the contracts of players they want to keep. When free agency 2008 starts at 12:01 am et on Friday, few teams are inclined to splurge, having learned there rarely are players available that can turn a franchise into an instant winner.
More savvy teams have known for a decade the best way to succeed is to draft well and re-sign your own players. Indianapolis, for example, let a bunch of defensive starters go last year, yet got much better there. One was cornerback Jason David (http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/player_bio.asp?player_id=7188), who fit Indy's "Tampa Two" but was beaten regularly after getting a four-year, $15.6-million contract from New Orleans.
Another example are the New York Giants, who a year ago signed one free agent of note, mid-level linebacker Kawika Mitchell (http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/player_bio.asp?player_id=3726) and only for a year.
However, all eight Giants draft picks made the team and six contributed significantly to the team's surprising run to a Super Bowl victory"
Err .... I think it says it all
The Chargers signed no-one and got to the Championship game.
The Giants won it all.
Trying to get quick fixes in Free Agency are more likely to take you in the opposite direction, especially if paying ludicrous salaries for mediocre players.
"Every year when free agency starts, it seems Daniel Snyder has the Washington Redskins' plane fuelled and ready to swoop into a rival's city and return with a prized free agent. Except most of those prizes turned out to be duds. That's one reason the Redskins ended last season US$20 million over the salary cap and have spent the last few weeks cutting duds and restructuring the contracts of players they want to keep. When free agency 2008 starts at 12:01 am et on Friday, few teams are inclined to splurge, having learned there rarely are players available that can turn a franchise into an instant winner.
More savvy teams have known for a decade the best way to succeed is to draft well and re-sign your own players. Indianapolis, for example, let a bunch of defensive starters go last year, yet got much better there. One was cornerback Jason David (http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/player_bio.asp?player_id=7188), who fit Indy's "Tampa Two" but was beaten regularly after getting a four-year, $15.6-million contract from New Orleans.
Another example are the New York Giants, who a year ago signed one free agent of note, mid-level linebacker Kawika Mitchell (http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/player_bio.asp?player_id=3726) and only for a year.
However, all eight Giants draft picks made the team and six contributed significantly to the team's surprising run to a Super Bowl victory"
Err .... I think it says it all
The Chargers signed no-one and got to the Championship game.
The Giants won it all.
Trying to get quick fixes in Free Agency are more likely to take you in the opposite direction, especially if paying ludicrous salaries for mediocre players.