NFL Free Agency: Five moves I hated

Shortly after the opening of what will go down as the craziest NFL free agency period of all time, I discussed the five moves that received my rubber stamp of approval.

But there can’t be night without day, love without pain, and incredible optimistic off-season events without the less inspiring.

And so, five moves I hate.

1. Cowboys and Bears reaffirm that talent overcomes personality
Since the Ray Rice elevator incident last year I applauded the forward nature to which the NFL acted towards their athletes in regards to any kind of abuse – spousal, child or otherwise.

The Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald, and Adrian Peterson suspensions came swiftly, without compromise and ended up being one of the few bright PR spots for a league amid constant turmoil.

The same cannot be said for two certain teams in the past week.

The Cowboys – who were in desperate need of a pass rusher even before Demarcus Ware left – signed disgraced former Carolina stud defensive end Greg Hardy to a one year, $11.3 million deal.

Hardy is coming off a year break due to a domestic abuse case that involved a bed covered in firearms, accusations of assault, concerned neighbours, and a somewhat suspicious resolution in which the plaintiff did not appear at the court date.

The Bears signed the slightly lower profile ex-49er Ray McDonald who was suspended in December shortly after his second domestic abuse charge in five months. McDonald will be pairing up with former 49er defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who sees the defensive tackle as a key contributor while instituting a new 3-4 scheme to Chicago.

This is the Bears and Cowboys saying that given a certain talent level or importance to scheme, players should be forgiven for transgressions. For an issue as serious as domestic violence this lacks intestinal fortitude.

This was a chance for the NFL franchises to say that no matter the talent level, actions as reprehensible as this will no longer be tolerated – a test these two teams failed miserably.

2. Jaguars sign Julius Thomas to five-year, $46 million deal
It’s hard to have reservations over a player who has 12 touchdowns in his past two seasons, is a match-up nightmare and if he wanted to could probably jump into the stratosphere to block field goals.

However – and that’s a big however – Julius Thomas had Peyton Manning the past two seasons.

His stat-line prior to Manning, you ask? One reception for five yards… In 2011.

In addition to this purely coincidental flurry of touchdowns – which I say with not one shred of sincerity – Thomas in his time in Denver had Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Emmanuel Sanders as his teammates. This resulted in Thomas seeing very little double coverage, especially in red-zone situations.

Gus Bradley has Jacksonville looking different of late, however years of cellar dwelling have led me to require proof before enthusiasm.

This deal reminds me too much of the overpaid Marcedes Lewis deal of a few years ago, after he too burst on the scene with double-digit touchdowns.

Lewis and Thomas are vastly different players. Lewis is primarily a blocking tight end and Thomas is as about as much of a blocker as I am… call it a draw.

Being freakishly athletic with soft hands make a tight-end formidable in any situation, but will Thomas be worth $9 million a year with surrounding talent of Blake Bortles and a myriad of unremarkable second and third year pros? Highly unlikely.

3. The Vikings/Adrian Peterson holding pattern
It’s not too often that I’m able to make the transition from the cult comedy Zoolander into NFL contractual negotiations so bear with me.

In the emotional climax of the film, Derek Zoolander’s (Ben Stiller) hated rival Hansel (Owen Wilson) finally reveals, “you know I felt that there was this guy that was hurting me… and it hurt.”

This is what we are seeing unfold right now.

We are in the process of seeing a superhuman, genetic freak, all-time athlete in Adrian Peterson admitting that yes, his feelings are hurt.

After being put on the Commissioners exempt list following accusations of child abuse, the relationship between Peterson and what he perceived to be an unsupported Vikings front office was frayed.

As we speak, three things are evident: the Vikings want AP, AP doesn’t want the Vikings, and AP has absolutely no leverage in this situation.

Setting aside the origins of the issue, this situation is reminiscent to that of Carson Palmer in Cincinnati, where he ‘retired’ instead of playing. The only difference is that Al Davis isn’t around anymore to make an outlandish trade offer.

4. Jets give Darrelle Revis five years and $70 million
It’s difficult to fault a team for signing the best player at their position in free agency, especially one who can have such an individual impact like Darrelle Revis.

The signing announcement itself played out in the most stereotypical Jets fashion: selling false hope.

Jets owner Woody Johnson was the first to strongly target Revis in free agency to get him back in ‘Gang Green’ because he’s a Jet, he embodies the city of New York, he’s the spiritual leader, and so on and so forth.

If this is true, and Revis is indeed the embodiment of the New York Jets, then the makeup of a Jet is someone who holds out of training camp, doesn’t take a pay cut, constantly teases free agency, and helps your arch-rivals win a Superbowl. No wonder they are the little brother in the Big Apple.

On the field, the signing is good for the Jets. It helps them establish a formidable defence in the initial Todd Bowles years while they develop a quarterback and an offensive identity. One minor issue is that in the AFC East, apart from burgeoning superstar Sammy Watkins in Buffalo, there aren’t really any number one receivers for Revis to take to ‘The Island’, but it is a good problem to have.

It isn’t the on-field signing I have an issue with, but rather the utter desperation that permeated from the organisation in order to get him back, and their selling to the fans the glory of yesteryear – being two trips to the AFC championship, which didn’t end up so great if you remember.

5. 49ers sign Torrey Smith to five-year, $40 million deal
Torrey Smith is solely a deep threat receiver. When he drops deep passes he offers very little else. And Smith does in fact drop a lot of deep passes.

Can you see the logistical trend evolving here?

Smith also played with Joe Flacco, one of the best deep-ball quarterbacks in the league, but will now go to an unrefined and regressing Colin Kaepernick.

Nothing of what you just read is tantamount to a successful year in San Francisco.

Final Thoughts

• I travelled to Panama City, Florida for the cultural pilgrimage known as “Spring Break” the past week. You will never see anything more American than fighter jets flying over a beach of drunken college students followed by a “U-S-A!” chant.
• Nothing destroys relationships on a college football team more than a 64-team knockout tournament in FIFA. That being said, I took Melbourne City to the final and we fought gallantly before losing to FC Porto.
• The comparisons between Chip Kelly and Cleveland-era Bill Belichick are uncanny.
• Andy Reid is always the best-dressed coach at the annual owners and coaches meeting. He looks like a stereotypical American tourist, and I’m just fine with that.
• Nebraska’s Randy Gregory failed a combine drug test for marijuana. Apparently a leaf is worth losing millions. The stupidity baffles.