# The 2009 NFL free agency thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 11, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384 "2009-02-11T16:39:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/141 "2009-03-05T20:25:51Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I believe they did that instead of the trade because of the cap ramifications. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. No, you’re probably correct. That was just my poor attempt at humor and trying to lessen my rage that our new coach is publicly driving my team straight to mediocrity. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/142 "2009-03-05T20:27:21Z")
> [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](#): > > No, you’re probably correct. That was just my poor attempt at humor and trying to lessen my rage that our new coach is publicly driving my team straight to mediocrity. Well, he’s not driving far, then, is he? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/143 "2009-03-05T20:30:18Z")
Get your championship shirt: [http://140081.spreadshirt.com/us/US/Shop/Article/Index/article/Offseason-Champs-4226003](http://140081.spreadshirt.com/us/US/Shop/Article/Index/article/Offseason-Champs-4226003) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/144 "2009-03-05T20:36:09Z")
I chuckled. Earnest Graham used to wear T-shirts to Buccaneers minicamps that said, “Preseason MVP”. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/145 "2009-03-05T20:48:52Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, he’s not driving far, then, is he? 😃 See, now, much as I’d love to initiate a snappy comeback, bolstering my team while humorously decimating yours, the past three seasons have just taken all the fight outta this dog. When you’re right, you’re right, I suppose. But… your FACE is stupid! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/146 "2009-03-05T20:50:39Z")
> [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](#): > > See, now, much as I’d love to initiate a snappy comeback, bolstering my team while humorously decimating yours, the past three seasons have just taken all the fight outta this dog. When you’re right, you’re right, I suppose. > > But… your FACE is stupid! > > 😃 Dude. I don’t want to hear about not having the life to defend your football team. We just now, this year, fired Matt Millen. We didn’t even shoot him or impale him or enslave him either. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/147 "2009-03-05T20:58:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What? Their offense isn’t going to catch up with the Packers’ anytime soon. Defense, maybe. I was referring to the teams as a whole and I’m entirely serious. Both the Bears and Packers are going in the wrong direction in a hurry and both have huge holes. The Bears have a running back running behind a aging and unproven line and a QB with a pretty low ceiling and no WRs. The defense was awful last year and it’s not getting improved from anything I see. If you drink the Marinelli Kool-aid and our front 4 return to dominance then that would solve a lot of ills, but that’s a big if. The Packers have a good QB and couple good receivers, though Driver is getting long in the tooth, but that’ about it. Their line is crumbling in a hurry and is getting little help, and their running game is showing the effects, not that there’s much punch with those guys. The Packers few good players on defense have been pilfered and they were bad last season anyways. The Lions are adding good role players all over the field and they have a ton of picks. > [@](#): > > Anyway, they’ve _got_ a running back. Don’t make me start this again! :mad: Hehe. > [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > The backfield has Maurice Morris added to Kevin Smith. I’m happy with that. MoMo gets very good yardage per carry behind supbar lines. I think thats a decent tandem but neither has proven anything yet. I’m not sure if they will draft anyone at the position, but if they find a RB either on the current roster or in the draft and a QB they could be pretty formidable. The Lions have a pretty low bar to clear in the NFC Norris. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/148 "2009-03-05T20:59:42Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Dude. I don’t want to hear about not having the life to defend your football team. > > We just now, this year, fired Matt Millen. We didn’t even shoot him or impale him or enslave him either. I got nothin’. My hat to you, good sir. Heh, now I feel like some poor middle-class shmoe complaining about how hard he’s got it getting poverty-served by a starving Ethiopian. Nothing to do now but slink shamefully back to my modest suburban house and pop a tv dinner in the microwave… ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/149 "2009-03-05T21:07:37Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > We just now, this year, fired Matt Millen. We didn’t even shoot him or impale him or enslave him either. Just be warned, if you enslave him that necessarily implies that he’d be doing actual work for the team. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/150 "2009-03-05T21:34:29Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Rams will not let Holt go. That would leave them with Avery, Burton, Stanley and three no names as their only WR under contract and no viable replacements in sight. Unless they can get a big trade for him, they would be insane to even consider it. If they cut to save cap money it will be Pace, him they can at least replace in the draft. > > 'course, now they could bring in T.O. Couldn’t make things worse! 🙂 You can have Chad Johnson for your first rounder… ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/151 "2009-03-05T21:37:48Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > Stacy Andrews signed with the Eagles recently. **FoieGrasIsEvil** , know anything about him from his time in Cincinnati? He grades out well from what I read, but I don’t know if he is worth the six year deal the Eagles gave him. Can he lock down the RT spot? > > So far the Eagles have lost Brian Dawkins, a perennial Pro Bowler and bigtime playmaker in center field, lost Correll Buckhalter who was a surprisingly competent backup to Westbrook, and traded away former Pro Bowler Lito Sheppard for a couple of picks. Their two longtime, former Pro Bowl tackles are both possibly on the move. Donovan McNabb asked to see some sort of plan to make this team better within the next two years, and this is it? I have a bad feeling this team is still reeling from the poor moves in the free agent market of the past few years and are too scared of making any high profile acquisitions. > > Then again, Shawn Springs is rumored to be meeting with the Eagles. Joy. > > With two first round picks, the Eagles are going to have to do something interesting to stay competitive. They have holes (potentially) at both tackle spots, linebacker, running back, wide receiver (hey, I heard T.O. just became available…), and safety. And they still have to decide on something with McNabb, too. Interesting off-season for Philly! Andrews is tough to gauge. He was a project guy that kinda got forced into the lineup when Willie Anderson starting missing time due to injuries, and Andrews is coming off a big injury (knee) himself. We stupidly franchise tagged him last year, I suppose because there wasn’t anyone else going into FA that was worth the tag. Andrews did OK last season. He’s kind of a big body/skinny leg combo. He’s decent in pass protection but I think lacks push in run blocking. Who knows how he’ll play in Philly, though? He’ll be playing alongside his crazy brother, so that should be interesting at least. You don’t see that very often. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/152 "2009-03-05T22:07:38Z")
> [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](#): > > I got nothin’. My hat to you, good sir. > > Heh, now I feel like some poor middle-class shmoe complaining about how hard he’s got it getting poverty-served by a starving Ethiopian. Nothing to do now but slink shamefully back to my modest suburban house and pop a tv dinner in the microwave… Good. I don’t even have a hat. I shall take it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/153 "2009-03-06T14:31:45Z")
Rudi Johson in the Det. Free Press,said the Lions are years away from being respectable. He says the problems are from owner all the way down to bad attitudes of the players. He is running straight for the exit without blocking. Some teams make quick turnarounds but he does not see it here. Just makes me feel like getting season tickets again. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/154 "2009-03-06T14:42:54Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > You can have Chad Johnson for your first rounder… I’d take him in a heartbeat. Well, if that shoulder thing is sorted out. Is it? > [@gonzomax](#): > > Rudi Johson in the Det. Free Press,said the Lions are years away from being respectable. He says the problems are from owner all the way down to bad attitudes of the players. He is running straight for the exit without blocking. Some teams make quick turnarounds but he does not see it here. Just makes me feel like getting season tickets again. Eh… it’s Rudi Johnson. He’s played for Detroit and Cincinnati. What does he know about “respectable” teams? I’m not quite as high on the Lions as **Omni** , but… well, it can hardly get worse, can it? ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/155 "2009-03-06T15:40:22Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Huh? The Vikes have one of the best running games in the league and spent a fortune on Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson, two of the highest paid guys at their positions. Granted Birk was a hell of a player and the other side of the line is average, they do have more talent on their line than 80%of the teams in the league. You can’t pay everyone and Center tends to be one of the least critical positions so long as you get a guy who can make the line calls. McKinnie is…well, I’m not a McKinnie fan. Sure, the guy’s huge, but he’s also slow. For the running game, that’s not such a huge deal - give either Peterson or Taylor the tiniest hole and they’ll be through it, regardless of where it is. But for passing, he sucks (in my opinion). He’s consistently beat by the linebackers he’s defending against, and when he’s not, he’s either backed up into the QB himself or he’s got some other Viking helping him. If its just a wall of guy you’re looking to plug in there, McKinnie’s your guy. But for actual performance? I’m not sold. Hutch is completely solid - that’s absolutely true. He’s amazing. For passing, though, we really need to beef up that line. I’m sort of convinced that some of the greatness your “great” quarterbacks are known for should be attributed to their front line. Look at how much time Brady or Manning (sometimes) or McNabb or Romo has - they’ve got all day. You give an average quarterback that kind of time and he’ll look great too. One of the problems the Vikings QBs have is that they don’t get that kind of protection. No doubt that our running game is to be feared. Now imagine what kind of team we’d be if we had a passing game to go with it. One piece of building that passing game is protecting the quarterback, and we’ve just weakened our pass protection instead of strengthening it. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/156 "2009-03-06T16:00:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m not quite as high on the Lions as **Omni** , but… well, it can hardly get worse, can it? Back things up a tad. I’m not high on the Lions at all. They’ve made what appear to be some very practical and effective signings and have probably boosted themselves out of the “laughingstock zone”. If they surpass embarrassing then they’ve accomplished something. You should take my comments not as lavish praise on the Lions but as mean-spirited disregard for the efforts and futures of the Bears and Packers thus far. > [@Snickers](#): > > McKinnie is…well, I’m not a McKinnie fan. Sure, the guy’s huge, but he’s also slow. For the running game, that’s not such a huge deal - give either Peterson or Taylor the tiniest hole and they’ll be through it, regardless of where it is. But for passing, he sucks (in my opinion). He’s consistently beat by the linebackers he’s defending against, and when he’s not, he’s either backed up into the QB himself or he’s got some other Viking helping him. If its just a wall of guy you’re looking to plug in there, McKinnie’s your guy. But for actual performance? I’m not sold. > > Hutch is completely solid - that’s absolutely true. He’s amazing. > > For passing, though, we really need to beef up that line. I’m sort of convinced that some of the greatness your “great” quarterbacks are known for should be attributed to their front line. Look at how much time Brady or Manning (sometimes) or McNabb or Romo has - they’ve got all day. You give an average quarterback that kind of time and he’ll look great too. One of the problems the Vikings QBs have is that they don’t get that kind of protection. > > No doubt that our running game is to be feared. Now imagine what kind of team we’d be if we had a passing game to go with it. One piece of building that passing game is protecting the quarterback, and we’ve just weakened our pass protection instead of strengthening it. See, I think you are mistaking O-Line issues for QB issues. The Vikes QB situation has been a joke and your QBs are so bad at getting passes of on schedule that the Line has no chance of containing the pass rush consistently for the duration expected. Peyton and Brady aren’t sitting back there all day, it just looks that way because they _always_ get the ball out on rhythm. Tavaris’ scrambling and happy feet make blocking for him impossible. He scrambled into half of his sacks when he imagined pressure that wasn’t nearly as close as he thought it was. Frerotte, while better at locating the pocket, had lead feet and took forever to get into his drop and had a bad habit of double clutching his throws. His poor footwork and indecisive reads are why he never lasted as a starting QB. McKinnie’s size and ability to hold his ground is just what you want, it’s the QB and OC’s job to design and execute an offense that capitalizes on that. As a Bears fan I can say that I’d take McKinnie off your hands in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/157 "2009-03-06T16:45:51Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Andrews did OK last season. He’s kind of a big body/skinny leg combo. He’s decent in pass protection but I think lacks push in run blocking. Perfect for Andy Reid then! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/158 "2009-03-06T17:00:53Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > You can have Chad Johnson for your first rounder… It would definitely beat anyone out there in FA right now. I am having trouble finding WRs I would want signed to replace Dante Hall and Dane Looker let alone trying to fill Holt’s cleats. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/159 "2009-03-06T18:28:35Z")
T.O. is available… ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/160 "2009-03-06T20:36:46Z")
Man, **RNATB** , that just ain’t right … you couldn’t even have said Marvin Harrison? 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384.md?page=9)