-When the NFL lifted it's lockout at the start of the week, they said teams couldn't start signing free agents until Friday, but they could start negotiating with them on Wednesday. Well, Wednesday afternoon about 3 dozen signings were announced in 20 minutes. It was clear to anyone paying attention that these guys had been talking long before Wednesday. They had to be - these are the same people who took an extra three days to re-read a contract they agreed to just make sure nothing strange was added at the last minute. All of a sudden we're expected to believe they could agree to multi-year, multi-million dollar deals in an hour? It was obvious tampering. But, here's what is great - no one cared. I always have to laugh when things like this happen in sports: someone breaks the rules, but since literally everyone is doing it as well, no one can complain. It's as though, due to the lockout condensing free agency into a week versus a couple of months, every team just agree to look the other way this year. So much for the integrity of the game.
-The Patriots made two huge moves this week, and we'll take the trade for receiver Chad Ochocinco first. I'm not a big fan of Chad, because I think his production has faded over the years while his yapping has gotten worse. I've always liked the guys who talked less and produced more a lot better. That being said, I think he'll fit in alright with the team because they will try to squash some of his media antics and if he doesn't want to play along they will cut him. They are the one who have won three Super Bowls and Chad hasn't even won a playoff game. He needs them more than they need him. Plus, for all the talking he does off the field no one has ever accused Ochocinco of being a bad teammate. He may get annoying, but at least he puts the work in. As long as he doesn't lose the locker room I think the move will work out fine.
-I'm a lot less enthusiastic about the other trade the Patriots made, getting defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth from Washington. First off, one of the podcasts I listen to every day is based out of Washington, so I'm very plugged into the D.C. sports scene and let's just say Albert wore out his welcome down there very quickly. Between allegedly groping a waitress (his defense, by the way, was that it couldn't have happened because the waitress was black and he "only likes white girls"), being involved in several motor accidents and then showing up out of shape and with a poor attitude, it was not a good signing by the Redskins. This is on top of a long history of getting into trouble both on and off the football field while in Tennessee. The worst part was that I knew it was going to happen. Albert has only had one good year in the NFL - his contract year. I'm always wary of signing guys who only have big seasons when they are trying to get paid.
-Now, if you wanted to defend Haynesworth, you could point out that when he was in Tennessee they played a certain defensive scheme (4-3) and he made it clear when he became a free agent he didn't want to play in another system. When he signed in Washington the Redskins promised they were going to play that system... before switching to a 3-4, which puts a lot more pressure on the person playing defensive tackle. Haynesworth said he never would have signed in Washington if he knew the switch was coming and he felt lied to. To some degree his displeasure is understandable. Then again, he was getting paid $100 million, so most people (including me) kind of feel he should have just sucked it up and dealt with change. Oh and by the way, that system Albert hates so much also happens to be the defensive scheme the Patriots play. Unless the Patriots plan on switching to a 4-3 (unlikely), I doubt Albert's attitude will improve. You know what the worst part is? For the last two years I had been crowing about how right I was that Haynesworth was a bad player and a bad person and that any team dumb enough to sign him got what they deserved. Now my team has him. Karma really is a bitch.
-My favorite (non-Patriot) NFL move so far? The Jets re-signing Santonio Holmes. Now, I know this isn't good for the Patriots since they are in the same division, but I respect smart moves when I see them. With a still-developing quarterback it was very important the Jets keep some offensive weapons around Mark Sanchez. They couldn't afford keep all of them, but they made sure they kept the best one instead of blowing their money on another defensive player. They aleady have a great defense, adding another marquee player to it would be like putting frosting on a Twinkie. Focusing on keeping some of their own guys was the smart thing to do.
-My least-favorite (Non-Patriot) move? The Seahawks signing wide receiver Sidney Rice. Signing a good young wide-out sounds like a really smart idea. And it would have been, had Seattle decided to keep Matt Hasselbeck. But they didn't - letting him leave via free agency and signing Tarvaris Jackson to take his place. No position in sports is more dependent on another one quite like wide receivers to quarterbacks. A good QB can make a bad receiver look great, but a good receiver can't do nearly as much to help a bad QB. If Jackson was any good he would have cashed in on any of the numerous opportunities the Vikings had given him over the years. Instead Minnesota thought a wash-up Bret Favre and Donovan McNabb were better options - that tells you all you need to know. Following the Rice signing with bringing in Jackson is a little like buying a Ferrari and then putting on retreaded tires.
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