Free Agents always overhyped... Let's look at 2010

by Mark Olson on Jul 31, 2011 11:23 AM EDT

Here are some notable free agent signings that were built up to give teams the extra push and then flopped:

Brandon Marshall: Had an okay year, but nothing like what he had in Denver. 1,000yda and 3TDs. The Dolphins when 7-9 and ended up 3rd in their division.

Albert Haynesworth: Didn't end up playing for the team because of attitude and conditioning issues. Even when he played he wasn't effective. Redskins ended 6-10 at the bottom of their division. Haynesworth was a much larger part of their failures than their successes.

LaDainian Tomlinson: Touted as the comeback story of the century LT was expected to come back to his form from 2 years earlier of 1,100 yards and 11TDs. Instead he was so-so with 914yds and 6TD (half as many TDs than the year before with the Chargers. ) The Jets ended up in the playoffs as a wild card finishing a distant 3rd in their division. They end up in the AFC championship seemingly despite LT who disappeared once again in the playoffs. Much of their success was due to their lesser discussed signing Braylon Edwards who led the team in receiving (over highly touted Santonion Holmes.)

Torry Holt: Widely regarded as possible revitalized option for New England, lots of analysts were saying this was a perfect match and that Tom Brady would bring him back to his old form (i.e. Ochocinco). Holt didn't make the roster...

Antonio Bryant: Seen as a way for Cincy to finally replace Housh and make another run, Bryant was an exciting pick up for the Bengals and touted to pair with Ochocinco to give them 2-1,000yd receivers. Bryant was a massive failure and the team eventually signed TO to have a real player to make up for Bryant's ludicrous contract. Bryant ended up being cut and didn't play a down in 2010. Bengals ended up going 4-12 and ended up last in the division.

Jason Taylor: Was seen to be the savior of the Jets pass rush. The Jets expected him to come in and be a probowl DE. Ended up with a ho-hum 5 sacks and 36 tackles almost identical to his opposite Shaun Ellis.. A drop from his 46 tackles and 7 sacks in 2009.

This is just to name a few. I'm not even diving into names like Julius Peppers who went from 10.5 sacks in '09 to 8 in '10 (and also had 2 less FF and no FR, but did see an increase in tackles) Other names like Ted Ginn Jr., Dunta Robinson, and Leigh Bodden underwhelmed as well.

If teams are willing to let these players go in Free Agency, there is generally a reason and if it's the cap, they still must not have wanted them that bad because they could have cut another player in place of them. Don't buy into the free agency hype. Build through the draft and get some decently priced free agents to fill holes along the way.

Peyton Manning is not 38, he's 35. He's still got gas in the tank, evident by his record setting season last year. Let's get healthy, get a good head on our shoulders, and move forward. Everyone starts out 0-0 September 8th.

List of 2010's top 50 Free Agents

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Free agency in 2011 is VASTLY different than it has been during this remarkable period after the lockout. Players that normally do not become free agents did so, and it flooded the market with several very capable and talented players.

Please, stop drinking the Kool Aid, and making blanket statements about how ‘over-rated’ free agency is. You’re not analyzing. You’re advocating, and in this case your doing so against free agency for reasons that just aren’t true. If you want to say that BUILDING SOLELY through FA is bad, then you have a point.

Since no one on this site is asking for that, it offers nothing to inject that into this discussion.

Oh, and just FYI: Jason Taylor and LaDanian Tomlinson beat the Colts in the playoffs last year. Tomlinson, in particular, had a strong game, as did Santonio Holmes (another player the Jets got, via trade). Antonio Cromartie? He ran the kickoff back that killed us. He was another FA.

To strengthen your argument, which isn’t that strong to begin with, it’s probably best to avoid mentioning the Jets all together.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.

by Brad Wells on Jul 31, 2011 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

Jason Taylor beat the Colts?

His one tackle (not even a sack) must have been game changing… LT had a good day, but then disappeared for the remainder of the playoffs and probably had a lot to do with their loss to the Steelers.

I remember you specifically saying that the Colts loss was due to coaching and not talent. If you were talking about changing coaches then the Jets game would be a good argument. The players weren’t outplayed in that game, they were out coached.

This free agency period isn’t all that different. It seems that way because it is so condensed, but I think there is slightly higher value. We get easily excited about players that a team decided weren’t worth re-signing.

I think you are the one drinking the Kool Aid. You refuse to remember that the Colts were regarded as the top team in the NFL at the start of last year and even when now almost all of the players have returned (with some new playmakers mind you) the Colts are all of a sudden not even a championship team?

Who has added more than they have lost? At the beginning of last year would you have said Ochocinco would be better for the Pats than Moss? Trust your front office and wait for things to play out. They have a lot of experience doing these things and must think there aren’t players out there who are better than what we have that are worth the cap space.

The Colts make the playoffs every year. Trust what works. Fix what doesn’t. The loss to the Jets last year was a coaching issue, not a player issue. That game was lost because of a blown coverage by a CB/FS. I haven’t heard you talking about getting better at those positions.

Yes the Colts run D is awful, but we don’t know what they have planned for Nevis or the UFAs they have picked up. Maybe Moala is really going to come out of his shell this year. You can’t just blast a team thinking you’re smarter than their front office when you’re only a blog writer…

"It's about the journey--mine and yours--and the lives we can touch, the legacy we can leave, and the world we can change for the better."
— Tony Dungy

by Mark Olson on Jul 31, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

What records did Peyton set last year?

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Jul 31, 2011 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

Most passes completed in a season 450

He also had his personal best for highest single season yardage total (4,700yds, I think 4th on the all time list). His touchdown mark (33 which tied 2009) was as high as it’s been since the record setting 49 of 2004.

"It's about the journey--mine and yours--and the lives we can touch, the legacy we can leave, and the world we can change for the better."
— Tony Dungy

by Mark Olson on Jul 31, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Geez!

This sight is freaking hostile! Indy Cornrows website is for kids compared to the arguments on here lmao.

by MRClements01 on Jul 31, 2011 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

WAY Oversimplified Analysis

Torry Holt didnt make the roster because he wasnt that good, he didn’t make the roster because he had to go on the IR the first day of training camp…. seriously dude?

LaDanian Tomlinson had an epic year, especially for being in a two back system. When one of your two guys (especially when LT was a 3rd down back) gains 900 yards and 6 TD’s? Thats amazing…. if you think he didnt do well last year, you seriously need to go back and watch Jets games. He ran better than anyone in the Colts organization for sure.

Jason Taylor the savior of the Jet’s pass rush? Really? hahahahaha The Jets signed him for veteran leadership and versatility/depth at his position…. he wasnt even meant to be an every down player, much less the savior of pass rush attach haha

Ted Ginn did fine for someone meant to be a slot receiver and kick returner…. hard to rack up receiving stats when your team has no consistent QB and is a run first team…..

by ZoSo0789 on Jul 31, 2011 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

I wouldn't say Tomlinson had an epic year,

They were using him as the feature back early in the season (wrong move, I thought). He put up average RB numbers.

There’s more wrong with the initial post, but everyone’s pretty much covered it.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Jul 31, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

"Epic" may be wrong adjective

but for a running back his age coming off so many injuries and playing in the AFC East like that? I’d call that a more than solid year. He was GREAT in short yardage situations

by ZoSo0789 on Jul 31, 2011 3:26 PM EDT reply actions