AFC EAST FA grades thus far?

[thecubanluv]

Probably too early to grade but a half-hazard guess.

Patriots - D. Resigned Moss which was big. But lost a few pieces (Starting CB, Starting S and top nickelback). Have not addressed aging LB's or gutted secondary. Patriots usually are not big on FA (last year was exception). They will probably make this up in the draft based on history.

Bills - C so far. Stroud is a nice player they acquired via trade. But he is not young and had a couple of injuries. Lets see how much value he still has left. If they acquire Johnson at WR will help some.

Dolphins - B+. No homeruns but acquired at least one proven starter (Smiley) and a few YOUNG solid guys who can start (Starks, Wilford and Torbor) with some upside. Traded for another stopgap starter in Fergunson who can help train our future NT's. Also signed some special team standouts (Anderson, Kircus). No overly large bonus given that can kill cap room such as a Joey Porter last year.

Jets - D. If they had a legitimate QB and a couple of playmaking WR's I might make this an A. But a team without a single above average player at any skill position (T. Jones is average and Coles can be if healthy) should not be spending so much on 2 aging players over 30 (Woody and Faneca). A declining 29 yo D-lineman with attitude and 2 major injuries in last 4 years (Jenkins). And a DE converted LB who has one season at slightly above average play and 3 with below average play (Pace). By the time the Jets develop a QB, Faneca and Woody will be in mid 30's and possible cap cuts. Jenkins is a wild card and you may be sursing the Pace signing the way Dolphins curse the Porter signing.

Good luck.

[BleedinGreenNC]

Originally Posted by thecubanluv

Probably too early to grade but a half-hazard guess.

Patriots - D. Resigned Moss which was big. But lost a few pieces (Starting CB, Starting S and top nickelback). Have not addressed aging LB's or gutted secondary. Patriots usually are not big on FA (last year was exception). They will probably make this up in the draft based on history.

Bills - C so far. Stroud is a nice player they acquired via trade. But he is not young and had a couple of injuries. Lets see how much value he still has left. If they acquire Johnson at WR will help some.

Dolphins - B+. No homeruns but acquired at least one proven starter (Smiley) and a few YOUNG solid guys who can start (Starks, Wilford and Torbor) with some upside. Traded for another stopgap starter in Fergunson who can help train our future NT's. Also signed some special team standouts (Anderson, Kircus). No overly large bonus given that can kill cap room such as a Joey Porter last year.

Jets - D. If they had a legitimate QB and a couple of playmaking WR's I might make this an A. But a team without a single above average player at any skill position (T. Jones is average and Coles can be if healthy) should not be spending so much on 2 aging players over 30 (Woody and Faneca). A declining 29 yo D-lineman with attitude and 2 major injuries in last 4 years (Jenkins). And a DE converted LB who has one season at slightly above average play and 3 with below average play (Pace). By the time the Jets develop a QB, Faneca and Woody will be in mid 30's and possible cap cuts. Jenkins is a wild card and you may be sursing the Pace signing the way Dolphins curse the Porter signing.

Good luck.

[nyjunc]

Originally Posted by thecubanluv

Probably too early to grade but a half-hazard guess.

Patriots - D. Resigned Moss which was big. But lost a few pieces (Starting CB, Starting S and top nickelback). Have not addressed aging LB's or gutted secondary. Patriots usually are not big on FA (last year was exception). They will probably make this up in the draft based on history.

Bills - C so far. Stroud is a nice player they acquired via trade. But he is not young and had a couple of injuries. Lets see how much value he still has left. If they acquire Johnson at WR will help some.

Dolphins - B+. No homeruns but acquired at least one proven starter (Smiley) and a few YOUNG solid guys who can start (Starks, Wilford and Torbor) with some upside. Traded for another stopgap starter in Fergunson who can help train our future NT's. Also signed some special team standouts (Anderson, Kircus). No overly large bonus given that can kill cap room such as a Joey Porter last year.

Jets - D. If they had a legitimate QB and a couple of playmaking WR's I might make this an A. But a team without a single above average player at any skill position (T. Jones is average and Coles can be if healthy) should not be spending so much on 2 aging players over 30 (Woody and Faneca). A declining 29 yo D-lineman with attitude and 2 major injuries in last 4 years (Jenkins). And a DE converted LB who has one season at slightly above average play and 3 with below average play (Pace). By the time the Jets develop a QB, Faneca and Woody will be in mid 30's and possible cap cuts. Jenkins is a wild card and you may be sursing the Pace signing the way Dolphins curse the Porter signing.

Good luck.

[feelthepain]

Originally Posted by DaBills4life

That makes no sense at all.

If you want to talk about Strouds injury then fine, but dont say he isnt a great player. The Bills doctors are some of the best in the world and they checked him out. He had time to heal.

Stroud has bad ankles, just because he checked out this week doesn't mean he won't have more issue due to his ankles. As for the Bills doctors....is there anything in Buffalo that isn't the best in the world? Stroud played on a very..... No! Great defense in Jacksonville, he will now go to a pathetic one in Buffalo. I think he will play OK, but he will have little help.

[BuffaloSoldier2]

Originally Posted by feelthepain

Stroud has bad ankles, just because he checked out this week doesn't mean he won't have more issue due to his ankles. As for the Bills doctors....is there anything in Buffalo that isn't the best in the world? Stroud played on a very..... No! Great defense in Jacksonville, he will now go to a pathetic one in Buffalo. I think he will play OK, but he will have little help.

Hmm, Buffalo doctors what have they done lately? Oh well there was this time this year where Richard Zednik of the Panters took a skate to his neck and the doctors in Buffalo are praised for saying his life.

Oh and there was this other time this year where a guy name Kevin Everett was nearly killed on the field. But thanks to Buffalo doctors and a new revolutionary treatment, they not only saved his life but his ability to walk.

Of course, you're the same guy who every year says who bad the Bills are gonna be and look silly after they sweep the Fins again. You're a hater, plain and simple. Like you wouldn't be doing backflips to get Stroud (for a 3rd and 5th picks when the Bills have another one in both rounds). Yeah, Starks is so much better than Stroud. I'm much rather have him.

And the Bills "pathetic" defense finsihed 18th in the NFL in the only stat that matters points against, right behind the Super Bowl champs.

As for the FA grades (way too early):

Bills - B bordering on A if Stroud can be half the player was. But Mitchell & him were acquire very cheaply.

Fins - C decent moves, nothing special

Jets - B+, good moves though overpaid and created a hole by trading Vilma

Pats - B, the champs until proven otherwise

[Brassmonki14120]

If the we're talking FA pickups I gotta give the:

Jets A-/B+. Yeah they're spending money but it's being spent on some real talent. They are getting their money's worth.

Bills a solid B. They've signed quality "NEED" players at a good price.

Phins C/C-. They have been picking up average to below average players that may not be an upgrade from what they had last season, Smiley may be the only above average player signed but he's coming off a season ending injury to his shoulder ("Torn Labrum: a return to weight lifting is unpredictable. You may need one full year before performing activities such as the bench press and you may never recover enough to lift heavy weights.") Not good for a guy who has to battle 300 pound Gladiators for a job.

Pats C-. They lost allot but they resigned Moss and that's enough to turn the D/D- into a C-.

[nyjunc]

Originally Posted by BuffaloSoldier2

Jets - B+, good moves though overpaid and created a hole by trading Vilma

What hole did we create? the man who stepped in for Vilma was ALOT better than him in this scheme. I hate seeign Vilma go but he's not the same player in a 3-4. David harris was an absolute beats last year and if he played a few more games he would have been Defensive Rookie of the Year.

[feelthepain]

Originally Posted by BuffaloSoldier2

Hmm, Buffalo doctors what have they done lately? Oh well there was this time this year where Richard Zednik of the Panters took a skate to his neck and the doctors in Buffalo are praised for saying his life.

Oh and there was this other time this year where a guy name Kevin Everett was nearly killed on the field. But thanks to Buffalo doctors and a new revolutionary treatment, they not only saved his life but his ability to walk.

Of course, you're the same guy who every year says who bad the Bills are gonna be and look silly after they sweep the Fins again. You're a hater, plain and simple. Like you wouldn't be doing backflips to get Stroud (for a 3rd and 5th picks when the Bills have another one in both rounds). Yeah, Starks is so much better than Stroud. I'm much rather have him.

And the Bills "pathetic" defense finsihed 18th in the NFL in the only stat that matters points against, right behind the Super Bowl champs.

As for the FA grades (way too early):

Bills - B bordering on A if Stroud can be half the player was. But Mitchell & him were acquire very cheaply.

Fins - C decent moves, nothing special

Jets - B+, good moves though overpaid and created a hole by trading Vilma

Pats - B, the champs until proven otherwise

So because Zednik got stitched up, Everett's injury wasn't as bad as first diagnosed Buffalo Doctors are somehow superb? OK, whatever.

Hater? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!!!!

I love how your team signs two or three FA's and they get a B, Miami signs 9 FA's and we get a C. It's par for the course for Bill fans. As for being happy to trade a 3 and 5 for Stroud, why would I be? You act as if the Bills signed the best DT in the league, pfft, not even close. If the Pats had signed him, I would be a little more concerned, but the Bills? Who cares, they will finish another year 2 games below 500. so gives a crap who they sign? BTW, did it ever occur to you that maybe the Jags didn't care if Stroud returned? His numbers are avg.

In the last two years he's only played in 18 games with a grand total of 5.5 sacks and 43 tkls. Oh but he's going to Buffalo, so he will now produce what 17.5 sacks and 78 takls in 08? Yeah he's a stud!! BTW,the title of this thread was "AFC EAST FA grades thus far" you can't include Stroud as a FA acquisition because he was a trade! So how can you give your team a "B" based on the FA's your team signed? Maybe you need to re-think your grade.

[Brassmonki14120]

Originally Posted by feelthepain

So because Zednik got stitched up, Everett's injury wasn't as bad as first diagnosed Buffalo Doctors are somehow superb? OK, whatever.

Hater? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!!!!

I love how your team signs two or three FA's and they get a B, Miami signs 9 FA's and we get a C. It's par for the course for Bill fans. As for being happy to trade a 3 and 5 for Stroud, why would I be? You act as if the Bills signed the best DT in the league, pfft, not even close. If the Pats had signed him, I would be a little more concerned, but the Bills? Who cares, they will finish another year 2 games below 500. so gives a crap who they sign? BTW, did it ever occur to you that maybe the Jags didn't care if Stroud returned? His numbers are avg.

In the last two years he's only played in 18 games with a grand total of 5.5 sacks and 43 tkls. Oh but he's going to Buffalo, so he will now produce what 17.5 sacks and 78 takls in 08? Yeah he's a stud!! BTW,the title of this thread was "AFC EAST FA grades thus far" you can't include Stroud as a FA acquisition because he was a trade! So how can you give your team a "B" based on the FA's your team signed? Maybe you need to re-think your grade.

First of all KE injury wasn't misdiagnosed, Quick thinking and the Bills medical staff having guts to use a controversial treatment are the reasons for KE's recovery.

Stroud played in 11 games in '06 and 9 games in '07, you seem to have added and subtracted 11 and 9 to come up with 18. I've checked with my 11 year old and his buddy (11 also) and they agree with me that 11 and 9 in fact equals 20.

Last season Stroud in fact played 1 more game than Smiley.

Now why Miami might get a C with their 8 FA pickups (Fergie was a trade and since the topic, as you pointed out, is about Free Agency Fergie doesn't count)


Bell SS, ok resign. looked good in '06 but only played in one game in '07. Grade B.

Anderson OLB, Back up player, in his 4 year career he has only started in 5 out of 60 games. He averages 1.48 Tackles and .05 Sacks per game. He has an average of 1 PDef per year.
Grade D.

Torbor OLB, He's started 18 of 62 career games, Averages 2.34 Tackles and .08 Sacks a game. Averages 1 PDef a year.
Grade D.

Starks NT, Rotation player who's seen less playing time over the last 2 seasons. Last year had only 16 Tackles and 0 Sacks.
Grade C.

Ryan TE, Good Blocking TE but has no Offensive skill whatsoever. 4 years, 9 catches for 90 yards and 0 TD's.
Grade D.

McCown QB, 6 years and only 6,500 yards passing. Destined to ride out the rest of his career as a back up but shuold be able to compete with Beck for the starting job in Miami.
Grade C-/D.

Wilford WR, Big guy Solid #2 Reciever for the Phins. Good pick up.
Grade B+.

Smiley G, Fast Lineman who has a quick burts off the line and great lateral speed. Tough, played through a seperated shoulder in '06 but went down with an anterior tear of his right labrum (shoulder). Expected to be OK by camp.
Grade... Tough one. Would have been a B+/A- but using your formula of games missed, problematic shoulders and going to a crummy line I would have to drop his grade to a B-.

Miami did pick up allot of guys but not much talent. C-/C is a fair grade.

On a side note, after Fergie got hurt last year (1st game) he was contemplating retirement. Not the best aquisition.

[Justasportsfan]

Originally Posted by thecubanluv

Probably too early to grade but a half-hazard guess.

Patriots - D. Resigned Moss which was big. But lost a few pieces (Starting CB, Starting S and top nickelback). Have not addressed aging LB's or gutted secondary. Patriots usually are not big on FA (last year was exception). They will probably make this up in the draft based on history.

Bills - C so far. Stroud is a nice player they acquired via trade. But he is not young and had a couple of injuries. Lets see how much value he still has left. If they acquire Johnson at WR will help some.

Dolphins - B+. No homeruns but acquired at least one proven starter (Smiley) and a few YOUNG solid guys who can start (Starks, Wilford and Torbor) with some upside. Traded for another stopgap starter in Fergunson who can help train our future NT's. Also signed some special team standouts (Anderson, Kircus). No overly large bonus given that can kill cap room such as a Joey Porter last year.

Jets - D. If they had a legitimate QB and a couple of playmaking WR's I might make this an A. But a team without a single above average player at any skill position (T. Jones is average and Coles can be if healthy) should not be spending so much on 2 aging players over 30 (Woody and Faneca). A declining 29 yo D-lineman with attitude and 2 major injuries in last 4 years (Jenkins). And a DE converted LB who has one season at slightly above average play and 3 with below average play (Pace). By the time the Jets develop a QB, Faneca and Woody will be in mid 30's and possible cap cuts. Jenkins is a wild card and you may be sursing the Pace signing the way Dolphins curse the Porter signing.

Good luck.

Actually there are other posts here but NJfinfan covered it .

[Mike13]

And now we come to main problem of these comparisons, too much bias by the fans.

[John from Hemet]

Originally Posted by DaBills4life

That makes no sense at all.

If you want to talk about Strouds injury then fine, but dont say he isnt a great player. The Bills doctors are some of the best in the world and they checked him out. He had time to heal.

Not to mention the fact that Stroud is a former 3 time pro bowler and not old

The thing is....grading free agency is a hard thing to do....the jets and miami had NOWHERE to go but up so they signed a lot of players you could give them a good grade for recognising that and spending the money

The bills had a better record despite have something like 12 players on injured reserve and key guys to....there were a lot of special teamers starting and guys stocking shelves picked up to even field a team. Then you could make a case for them identifying particular needs and picking up key pieces for those needs for a good grade.

The bills defense will be better this year there is no doubt about that.....the question is will not picking up offensive FA players hurt them......

[TomBradyWoot]

Originally Posted by thecubanluv

Probably too early to grade but a half-hazard guess.

Patriots - D. Resigned Moss which was big. But lost a few pieces (Starting CB, Starting S and top nickelback). Have not addressed aging LB's or gutted secondary. Patriots usually are not big on FA (last year was exception). They will probably make this up in the draft based on history.

Bills - C so far. Stroud is a nice player they acquired via trade. But he is not young and had a couple of injuries. Lets see how much value he still has left. If they acquire Johnson at WR will help some.

Dolphins - B+. No homeruns but acquired at least one proven starter (Smiley) and a few YOUNG solid guys who can start (Starks, Wilford and Torbor) with some upside. Traded for another stopgap starter in Fergunson who can help train our future NT's. Also signed some special team standouts (Anderson, Kircus). No overly large bonus given that can kill cap room such as a Joey Porter last year.

Jets - D. If they had a legitimate QB and a couple of playmaking WR's I might make this an A. But a team without a single above average player at any skill position (T. Jones is average and Coles can be if healthy) should not be spending so much on 2 aging players over 30 (Woody and Faneca). A declining 29 yo D-lineman with attitude and 2 major injuries in last 4 years (Jenkins). And a DE converted LB who has one season at slightly above average play and 3 with below average play (Pace). By the time the Jets develop a QB, Faneca and Woody will be in mid 30's and possible cap cuts. Jenkins is a wild card and you may be sursing the Pace signing the way Dolphins curse the Porter signing.

Good luck.

I'm not here to defend that we didn't go ahead and pick up a huge free agent (then again, outside of Adalius Thomas, when have we ever?) and we should be given an A by everybody but, Eugene Wilson wasn't even the starting safety. He was the 4th safety by the end of the year, James Sanders started and Meriweather the 4th CB/3rd Safety that Wilson was for a few games. Randall Gay was okay as a nickleback, he's a solid tackler and keeps plays in front of him but isn't someone who's going be able to cover a good slot receiver. IMO he would've been a good fit for a Tampa 2 type scheme but, in NO he should be okay too. Asante Samuel is a tough loss. We all knew it was coming but, tough loss nonetheless. Stallworth didn't do a whole lot, sure he had some nice plays but he still had less than 50 catches and by the end Gaffney had overtaken him as the #3. Plus they invested a high 2nd round pick in Chad Jackson two years ago and want to see him step up as that #4/becoming #3 this year and didn't feel the need to exercise Stallworth's $8Million option bonus. Colvin was good but always seemed to be injured, he missed the end of two seasons due to being on IR. And re-signing Randy Moss is one of the biggest moves in Free Agency. If he had gone anywhere else it would've been huge for that team.

We lost some depth, but outside of Samuel nobody really all that important. Depth can be restocked in the draft, as it always is here in New England. The cornerback issue is what it is, a problem. I'd give us a B-. But that's just me.

[Jets81]

Originally Posted by DaBills4life

Jets - B- . Why a B-? Because you lost a good player in Vilma. I dont want to hear he didnt fit the 3-4 because we dont know how anyone fits right now. He is a good player. Faneca and Jenkins are studs. Woody is overweight. Maybe he can be your overweight reclamation project like we did with Walker last year, but he has to stya on the field for that to happen. Pace is an up and coming player, just doesnt strike fear into me.

You wouldn't be a little worried if you saw this running at you?