Onward and Upward

The 2007 NFL season brought with it much surprise and intrigue. In order to avoid that in 2008, teams have been stock piling assets in the Free Agent market. It really is an anomaly how this, besides the antiquing business, is the only time someone will pay more for something used than new.   

Three Big Signings that Stood Out for Me:

Asante Samuel to the Eagles:

Adding the league’s most effective Corner will do wonders for a Jim Johnson defense that had a league-worst 19 takeaways last season. This is a guy that after having spent the past five seasons in New England knows what it means to be a team, and more importantly, a leader on a group like that. His tenacity as both a "cover-corner" contrasts nicely with his ability to get to the passer and pressure the play without being deep down the field. Then again, all that team mentality nonsense went right out the window when he learned that someone was willing to spend $57 million for 6 years of his services. Now that Asante’s got $20 million guaranteed, is the work ethic and heart of a champion still going to be there during his time in the Illadelph? As the old homage goes, that’s why they play the games…

Alan Faneca to the Jets:

A New York team that has gone from 10-6 in ’04 to 4-12 in ’05, then back to the top at 10-6 in ’06 then all the way to the cellar at 4-12 last season, has been the most mercurial team in all the NFL for the past 4 seasons. The one common thread though, seems to be the Offensive line’s inability to protect the Quarterback. Whether that person is Kellen Clemens or Chad Pennington, the man behind Center as not faired well since the departure of Kevin Mawae three years ago. Adding Faneca, a savvy veteran of one of the best O-Line’s in the game (the Steelers) will provide, above all else, toughness to a group that seems really scared of their opponents. A sense of unity and pride is needed on the Jets’ front five, and the addition of Faneca will do just that. As I was joking with Dougie Loveguy yesterday, judging by the recent course of history, we’re due for another 10-6 season, so all those Gang Green fans out there cross every body part that you can. And we’ll do our best to avoid any more of this.

Justin Smith to the 49ers:

The Niners were my sleeper pick last year to do damage in a very diluted NFC West. Of course though, the Seahawks ruined my dreams of that, as they seem to do every year I pick against them. Acquiring Smith does a multitude of things for San Francisco though. A durable guy on the front four for the Niners will do wonders for the pass rush game, and will relieve some of the pressure that their secondary has been under for some time now. Excluding his rookie campaign when he missed one game, Smith has played in and started in all 16 games for the entirety of his career with Cincy. A warrior like that will do wonders for a team that is comprised of young talent and in search of a leader. I’m not going to make the claim that Smith is the key factor that will put San Fran over the edge in a brutal division, but it most definitely will help there cause. And don’t be shocked if come September time you see me picking my boys from the Bay Area to make a run again.