Free Agency Weekend Recap: The Excitement Is Palpable...

What a weekend to be a sub-par talent free agent in the NFL! As I'm sure you all well know by now (providing you aren't living under a rock), a number of teams dipped their pens into the free agency ink this past weekend and ponied up a few bucks for such marginal big name players as Ricardo Colclough, Josh McCown and Alan Faneca...wait a minute...

Indeed a number of these guys helped make mediocrity an art form cashed in this past weekend and frankly the whole ordeal makes Cotter sick. Just a note from a personal perspective - free agency has ruined the concept of team. I'm still not sure how a player is supposed to have any loyalty when they know that if they make minimal plays for three to four years, the 49ers will offer them $12 million guaranteed? Seems like kind of a disconnect to me, but I guess the good news for the NFL is that my opinion is of no consequence.

Anyways, here's a round up of some of the more noteworthy moves, as told through the eyes of a madman the man who writes this piece of shit blog:

• The Jets bought themselves both the Offensive and also the Defensive Line prizes in Alan Faneca and former Panthers tackle Kris Jenkins (yes I know this was via trade, don't worry). Faneca ended up pocketing a record $40 million over 5 years, $21 million guaranteed. And Jenkins was not a free agent cost them their 3rd and 5th round picks in the upcoming draft.


• The Browns upgraded their #2 receiver position, picking up ex-Saint, Eagle and Patriot, Donte Stallworth. Also, not to be overlooked - they sent Leigh Bodden and a 3rd round draft pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for DT Shaun Rogers, and a 2nd round pick to Green Bay for DT Corey Williams. Oh, and rumor has it they're trying to "line up a visit with" Clark Haggans...Brady Quinn's clipboard is beginning to become more and more burdensome...


• The Eagles are now one pro bowl Corner richer, and one former pro bowl Defensive End poorer. Asante Samuel's deal - $57 million over 6 years. Jevon Kearse...oops, sorry man.


• The Atlanta Falcons nabbed the big prize - Chris Redman...but really - the Falcons signed much heralded and yet still unproven RB, Michael Turner. Turner's deal - 6 years, $34 million, $15 million guaranteed. [Insert Cash Register Sound Here]...


• The Vikings signed Bernard Berrian - filling the gaping void left by Troy Williamson. They also signed Madieu Williams and the inconsequential invaluable Thomas Tapeh. In other news, the Vikings Quarterback is still Tavaris Jackson.


• The Buffalo Bills had themselves a party this weekend, netting both ex-Jaguars DT Marcus Stroud and ex-Giants LB Kawika Mitchell. Bravo Mike Boni, now get me those floor tickets for the Draft (you won't know what that means, but it's not important. Just go with it...).


• The Saints signed other Patriots CB Randall Gay - making the cherrypicking of Patriots Defensive backs almost complete. Now if we could only figure out how to kill Rodney Harrison. The Saints also signed former Jaguars DE Bobby McCray, traded to get Jonathan Vilma from the Jets, re-signed Devery Henderson and lost free agent C Jeff Faine.

And really that's all I have the energy to talk about with respect to this year's Free Agency. Good for some of these teams, I guess. The only things I really saw that raised my eyebrows were the Browns upgrades. Mainly because they will have direct bearing on the Steelers 2008-2009 record. Let's just hope the fact that they still can't play Defense is a deal breaker.

Oh, and by the way, the really good news for us Steeler fans is - both Kimo Von Oelhoffen AND Kendrell Bell are still available. Awesome...

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Free Agency Central - Who's Leaving, Who's Staying [Fox Sports]
NFL Roundup: Biggest Moves from Sunday [USA Today]
2008 Free Agency, Trade Tracker [Buffalo News]