NFL free agency feeds every fan’s hope to see his team improve from pretender to contender. Bring in that one must-have guy your team needs to put them over the top, because you know, every team is only one or two guys short of the Super Bowl. This year, that hope was delayed for months, then compressed into a few short weeks of manic action by the NFL Lockout.
Lets look at how some prominent free agents changed the fortunes of their team in the first two games this season. (To keep this short and easy, we only scan players who changed teams rather than the Mike Vicks of the league who re-signed with current teams. If they stayed with their team, they are not the new element who might make a difference.)
QB Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks to Tennessee Titans
For one week, Titans fans must be delighted by the performance of 13-year veteran Hasselbeck after Tennessee toppled Baltimore 26-13 Sunday. Hasselbeck made the Ravens pay for ignoring him to stop RB Chris Johnson by completing 71.4 percent of his passes for 358 yards and one TD for a passer rating of 95.1. Hasselbeck’s growing affinity for receivers Kenny Britt and Nate Washington shows promise for the Titans passing game. Early verdict: Should be better than the men he replaced, for one season anyway.
ILB Nick Barnett, Green Bay Packers to Buffalo Bills
What a bargain. The Bills went linebacker shopping after losing Paul Posluszny to the Jaguars. So far, Barnett has emerged as perhaps the most valuable member of the upstart Bills, and played a huge role in turning the momentum their way against the Raiders. The scouting report on buffalobills.com labeled Barnett the team’s “best cover linebacker” whose skills against New England’s tight ends are a key to beating the Patriots. Early verdict: Key upgrade. Textbook example of a good free agent signing.
WR Plaxico Burress, Free Agent to New York Jets
After his two-year absence, Burress scored a touchdown on four catches in week one against Dallas, but was shut out the following week against Jacksonville. It says something about you when the Jaguars double-cover you and free up free up Dustin Keller and Santonio Holmes for QB Mark Sanchez to target. Either way seems to work. Early verdict: Burress provides a modest lift for the Jets only because the talent level was already high.
QB Kerry Collins, Semi-retirement to Indianapolis Colts
it is cruel to kick a team when they are down, but one wonders where Matt Hasselbeck would be if Bill Polian moved sooner to backfill Peyton Manning. The Colts held out hope for Manning’s return until the last moment and that left little time for Collins to prepare to sync with the offense. It shows every time Collins tries to drive the #18 car. So far, Collins has completed 50.7 percent of his passes, 5.6 YPA, two TDs, one INT, and three fumbles, for a passer rating 71.4 for the 0-2 Colts. Is Curtis Painter that bad? Early verdict: Nobody replaces Manning. This is bad, but the breakdown here is in the Colts’ front office.
QB Tavaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings to Seattle Seahawks
Jackson signed with the Seahawks to run OC Darrell Bevell’s offensive scheme in tandem with WR Sidney Rice. Jackson is lightly regarded, but he worked with Bevell and Rice in Minnesota. Can you say “system quarterback?” It hurts that Rice missed the first two games due to a shoulder injury. Jackson has been so-so for the 0-2 Seahawks completing 62.1 percent of his passes for two TDs and one INT for an 80.1 QB rating. Jackson is mobile, but poor line play has led to 10 sacks. His performance should improve when Rice returns. Early verdict: Jackson is not likely to change the fortunes of this team.
DE Cullen Jenkins, Green Bay Packers to Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles signed Jenkins to shore up their interior defense, and help make a deep playoff run. His stat line is encouraging, six total tackles, three sacks, but the Eagles rank 30th in run defense. With that many new players, the defense needs time to jell. Early verdict: The Eagles signed so many impact players that Jenkins is just a cog in the machine.
CB Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders to Philadelphia Eagles
Asomugha had an impact (one INT, one pass defended), but couldn’t prevent Philadelphia’s 35-31 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. That’s because where ever Asomugha was, the ball wasn’t. For the most part, Atlanta followed the wise practice of throwing away the ace cornerback. The dearth of statistics or scores by receivers Asomugha covers is good for the Eagles, but tough on writers. Unfortunately for the Eagles and their 28th-ranked passing defense, Asomugha can’t be everywhere, as Tony Gonzalez had a monster day against their unheralded linebackers and safeties. Early verdict: As long as huge chunks of the field are off limits for opposing offenses, Asomugha adds value to the Eagles.
