Armchair Quarterback: Will free agents pan out?
The migration of top performers could have a major impact on the balance of power in the NFL this year, as a few teams supplemented their rosters with free agents going into this season.
Granted, the addition of experienced free agent personnel doesn’t always turn out the way coaches envision. However, in some cases, a change of scenery is just the ticket for a diamond in the rough to shine. Case in point, the importing of Priest Holmes to Kansas City a few years back. For years he was mediocre in Baltimore, but then he exploded on the scene with the Chiefs to become on of the league’s top backs.
The same is true in the case of Drew Bledsoe last year, who was replaced following his injury early in 2001 campaign in New England. Given the fact Tom Brady led them to a Super Bowl win, Bledsoe, once one of the top three NFL quarterbacks who had hit a roadblock recently, was expendable and was dealt to Buffalo.
However, as we know, Bledsoe’s career was resurrected last year as he put up big numbers. His performance is expected to be even better this year as he gets his second years with wideouts Eric Moulds and Josh Reed. The change of scenery did him good.
The same may be true this year for some traveling players. Case in point is running back Trung Candidate, who has landed in Washington. Backing up Marshall Faulk with the Rams, Candidate put up some unreal numbers in relief during Faulk’s various injury time.
Last year, hampered by an injury, Candidate was somewhat disappointing and thereby became expendable in St. Louis. However, his speedy style out of the backfield and his experience in a high-octane offense will fit right in with the Steve Spurrier experiment in Washington.
The same will be true of Washington’s cast-off as Stephen Davis has finally provided the Panthers with a decent back. Davis’ style is a world different from that of Candidate, but is Tailor-made for the Carolina offense. Let’s not forget Davis was one of the leading backs in the league just three years ago; however, the change in offensive philosophy in Washington, along with injuries, made him a relic of the past.
Along with backs, two free agent quarterbacks will sink or swim this year with Jake Plummer arriving in Denver and Kordell Stewart landing in Chicago. Basically Plummer is coming into a great situation with a class receiving corps and good running game. He has a ready-made playoff contender. The same is not true in Chicago where Kordell is coming into an unstable situation as the Bears are coming off a disappointing season. However, Stewart has had a couple of super years in his past, along with some forgettable ones. Perhaps his unpredictability and ability to turn nothing into something is exactly what the boring Bears are needing right now.
As for receivers, the movement of David Boston to the Chargers is by far the biggest free agent move. This guy is one of the league’s top five receivers and he’s coming into what could be an offensive dynamo.
The same is true, to a lesser degree for the other blue chippers like Peerless Price who will be hooking up with Michael Vick this year in Atlanta. This could be a huge tandem. Then there’s Laveranues Coles who went from New York to Washington. He will join with Rod Gardner in the Spurrier offense, and given his speed and Gardner’s size, they could be a tough tandem.
Lastly, we have Curtis Conway going to the Jets. A few years back he was dazzling with the Bears, and recently he’s had some okay years with the Chargers. He’s not exactly a Coles (who the Jets lost), but I’ve always been a fan of Conway. I believe he’s got another big run in him, and he’s joining a team which is a contender.