NFL Free Agency Frenzy – Winners and Losers (Part 1)

By Joe Pietaro
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Updated: August 1, 2011

For football-starved fans everywhere, the end of the NFL lockout was enough good news in itself to make up for lost time. But the explosion of transactions from free agency and trades made it Christmas morning in July.

All 32 teams got into the mix and there have certainly been some that have risen to the challenge. Although playoff games are not won in the heat of mid-summer, the moves made now do play a part in saying who gets there.

MuscleSport Mag takes a look at some of the teams that did their homework and others that have acted as if the strike is still going on.

WINNERS

*PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Trading Kevin Kolb to Arizona for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a number two pick is a move that will pay off for years to come, especially when the Eagles picked up Vince Young as a back-up. Pairing him in a secondary that now includes the top free agent on the market in fellow CB Nnamdi Asomugha and also bringing in lineman Cullen Jenkins solidifies an already proven defense for Andy Reid’s bunch.

*NEW YORK JETS

If they were able to land Asomugha, the Jets would have been the top winners. But they did quite alright for themselves by bringing back Antonio Cromartie as a Plan B. GM Mike Tannenbaum shored up his receiving corps by re-signing Santonio Holmes and getting Plaxico Burress as a cheaper replacement for Brayon Edwards. Brad Smith (Bills) was a nice player that could perform many tasks, but he is replaceable.

*NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The two big – and low cost – moves that the Pats made can either be looked at as ingenious or blow up in their face. Chad Ochocinco should have something left in the tank after a down year in Cincy and can excel in Bill Belechick’s system. On the other side of the ball, Albert Haynesworth can salvage his career or confirm that he is a bust after all.

Photo by William J. Hauser