2010 NFL (Off) Off-Season

Am I the only one who thinks that the current NFL off-season has been rather drab and uneventful? Granted, this is the league that has mastered the art of hyping up even the most mundane events – ex. a Kansas City Chief game. Regardless, I’m always the guy who races over to my computer at the stroke of midnight on the first Friday in March to keep up with the start of the free-agency period. A period that is usually laden with upper echelon players deciding to sign with the usual cast of characters to satisfy their fixed pre-requisites of money, a winning environment/tradition, money, a warm climate, money, a great nightlife and money. Said criteria works well for teams like the Redskins, Cowboys, Giants, Jets, Patriots, Dolphins etc. but leaves ostensible wastelands such as Buffalo, Cincinnati and Oakland reaching out to malcontents like Terrell Owens and Antonio Bryant as last ditch efforts to try and sell false hope to their respective diminishing fan bases.

This year’s pick of the free-agency litter has been less than desirable. Save for legitimate stars like Julius Peppers, Anquan Boldin and Karlos Dansby fleeing to supposed greener pastures, the talent available fields a list of under-achieving, yet newly over-paid, wannabe ballers. Antrel Rolle is a talented safety with impressive measurables but was he really deserving of being the highest paid safety in NFL history? The argument can be made that this will be an “uncapped year” which will yield salaries of astronomical levels (before the league inevitably goes on strike next season), but it just doesn’t seem right. Heck, I’m a life-long Florida State fan and it pains me to say that I can’t substantiate the colossal pay increase of a former ‘Nole. Similarly, Aaron Kampman, the now ex- Packer, has had some success in his career, but was a major flop as an OLB in Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense last year. I just don’t see it being that easy to revert back to being a highly productive 4-3 DE and consequently warranting a $26 million contract ($11 million of which is guaranteed).

Any other “high profile” signings you may ask? Enter the likes of Justin Bannan, David Carr, Scott Fujita and Cornell Green – who have all been recently signed to fairly significant contracts. Yikes! Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the sexiness of the free-agency period. Who does that leave us with? How about the likes of Alge Crumpler, Greg Ellis, Rex Grossman, and Terrell Owens? Boy oh boy, April 23rd – the date of the 2010 NFL Draft – can’t come soon enough. Oh…wait. I think that means we’ll be over-fed incessant draft analysis by the likes of Mel Kiper Jr. – who actually has better hair than Whotheman.com’s Humble Floor General, Megatron – great! Damn you, NFL!

Ok, my little rant is done now. Until next time, friends.

Blog – 1 year, 11 months ago by mattzilla to Football. 487 views, 2 comments.