View Full Version : Free Agents who have made all the difference...
Taco John
03-30-2006, 10:37 AM
I'm curious if people remember any free agents (let alone high priced free agents) that arguably made all the difference between a team winning the Superbowl and staying home in the last few years...
The only one I remember is Rodney Harrison, who clearly helped that team with his leadership.
Any others that people can point to?
ro_50
03-30-2006, 10:41 AM
Shannon Sharpe for the Ravens in 2000.
azbroncfan
03-30-2006, 10:49 AM
Wasn't a FA but trade for faulk by the rams.
Arkie
03-30-2006, 10:57 AM
Reggie White helped the Packers rise to the level of the Cowboys & 49ers and ultimately win the Super Bowl.
watermock
03-30-2006, 11:01 AM
Dexter Manley
wolf754life
03-30-2006, 11:03 AM
charles haley
neil smith helped us, alfred williams, bill romanowski, darrien gordon, mark schlereth, gary zimmerman, they were all big during the superbowl run, those guys all helped us bigtime
Bob's your Information Minister
03-30-2006, 11:04 AM
Deion Sanders.
Tredici
03-30-2006, 11:11 AM
I'm not sure about that "making all the difference" qualifier.
A lot of free agents re-sign with their existing team. So I guess we are looking at the ones who took big money to move on.
Did Terrell Owens make a difference in Philly? Yes. They also signed Jevon Kearse, did he make a difference?
I doubt Cincy is begrudging the contract they gave to Takeo Spikes.
Atlanta is probably happy with the production they get from Warrick Dunn.
But with few exceptions most of the guys grabbing big dollars aren't making a huge difference for the new club. Betrand Berry had a couple great seasons for Arizona but it didn't really get them anywhere.
That's why I think you see the smarter teams taking a pass at the initial signing frenzy. The dividends just haven't been there.
yavoon
03-30-2006, 11:14 AM
I'm not sure about that "making all the difference" qualifier.
A lot of free agents re-sign with their existing team. So I guess we are looking at the ones who took big money to move on.
Did Terrell Owens make a difference in Philly? Yes. They also signed Jevon Kearse, did he make a difference?
I doubt Cincy is begrudging the contract they gave to Takeo Spikes.
Atlanta is probably happy with the production they get from Warrick Dunn.
But with few exceptions most of the guys grabbing big dollars aren't making a huge difference for the new club. Betrand Berry had a couple great seasons for Arizona but it didn't really get them anywhere.
That's why I think you see the smarter teams taking a pass at the initial signing frenzy. The dividends just haven't been there.
yah i dont agree w/ that logic at all. u dont pass on berry because u dont think ur gna win the superbowl, thats just silly. u sign good players to get a better team. berry has paid great dividends.
Taco John
03-30-2006, 11:16 AM
I'm not sure about that "making all the difference" qualifier.
A lot of free agents re-sign with their existing team. So I guess we are looking at the ones who took big money to move on.
Did Terrell Owens make a difference in Philly? Yes. They also signed Jevon Kearse, did he make a difference?
I doubt Cincy is begrudging the contract they gave to Takeo Spikes.
Atlanta is probably happy with the production they get from Warrick Dunn.
But with few exceptions most of the guys grabbing big dollars aren't making a huge difference for the new club. Betrand Berry had a couple great seasons for Arizona but it didn't really get them anywhere.
That's why I think you see the smarter teams taking a pass at the initial signing frenzy. The dividends just haven't been there.
I agree.
yavoon
03-30-2006, 11:21 AM
I agree.
it also should be noted that fewer teams are "passing" on the initial free agency period than u think.
the broncos paid initial free agency dollars to atleast gerrard warren and probably lepsis/nalen as well. afterall warren's contract is 6/36 and john henderson just signed for 6/34 I believe.
the good teams only appear to be less involved in free agency because they are often caughtup signing their own players. afterall, they're the teams w/ the talent.
Mile High Shack
03-30-2006, 11:28 AM
Bill Romonowski
Ed Macaffrey
just off the top of my head
Crowpointer
03-30-2006, 11:30 AM
My brothers favorite player who was key in three Super Bowl wins Mike Vrabel
Garcia Bronco
03-30-2006, 11:42 AM
Borderline...Darrien Gordon KR/CB\
Definately Romo Cop
Dr. Broncenstein
03-30-2006, 11:46 AM
Neil Smith
Alfred Williams
Howard Griffith
Mile High Shack
03-30-2006, 11:47 AM
Neil Smith
Alfred Williams
Howard Griffith
LOL
I think TJ is going to get killed in this argument
Garcia Bronco
03-30-2006, 11:51 AM
Kurt Warner 00
Shannon Sharpe 01
Referee's 02
Gruden 03
Harrison 04
Maybe Dillion 05 - naa
Nobody in 06 - maybe referee's again
Gcver2ver3
03-30-2006, 11:56 AM
simeon rice
DBroncos4life
03-30-2006, 12:00 PM
Jerry Rice and Rod Woodson come to mind for the Faiders.
DBroncos4life
03-30-2006, 12:01 PM
Oh that Gannon guy kind of helped out too.
Jens1893
03-30-2006, 12:01 PM
Jerry Rice and Rod Woodson come to mind for the Faiders.
rich gannon
Odysseus
03-30-2006, 12:03 PM
Bill Romonowski
Ed Macaffrey
just off the top of my head
More to the point...playoffs count as somewhere right?
Champ Bailey (Redskins)
John Lynch (Tampa Bay)
Keith Burns (former Bronco from Tampa Bay)
Ian Gold (former Bronco from Tampa Bay)
Stephen Alexander (Detroit)
Ron Dayne (Giants)
Jake Plummer (Cardinals)
Free Agent market isn't any sure fire ticket to anywhere. For ever win we have a big fat doughnut. I think free agents are good because they are experienced but they have to fit our system, our people. our coachs, and our team. It's not like popping an engine into a Ford Mustang which any Chiefs fan can tell you is stupid easy to do.
Kaylore
03-30-2006, 12:05 PM
It's important to pick up good players in free agency, BUT Super Bowl teams have always built their teams primarily through the draft.
Mile High Shack
03-30-2006, 12:07 PM
It's important to pick up good players in free agency, BUT Super Bowl teams have always built their teams primarily through the draft.
granted
but for a team like we have
we have a good group of core players that could be enhanced by a few good free agents
Arkansas Bronco
03-30-2006, 12:11 PM
But with few exceptions most of the guys grabbing big dollars aren't making a huge difference for the new club. Betrand Berry had a couple great seasons for Arizona but it didn't really get them anywhere.
I sure miss B. Berry.
Odysseus
03-30-2006, 12:12 PM
granted
but for a team like we have
we have a good group of core players that could be enhanced by a few good free agents
The Browncos were supposed to do that. Wait. That's right. NOBODY believed those guys were going to matter. :wiggle:
(I would pat myself on the back but I can't reach around my incredibly huge head. King of off season 2005. King me!)
Kaylore
03-30-2006, 12:15 PM
granted
but for a team like we have
we have a good group of core players that could be enhanced by a few good free agents
Exactly. Sure when we won we had Romo, Easy Ed, Neil Smith, Zimmerman, Schlereth and Griffith. They definitely helped.
But Elway, Sharpe, Rod Smith, TD, Nalen, Lepsis, Dan Neil, Atwater, and Elam were all drafted and/or developed "in house". The upper first list has some great players, but the latter were the real heart and soul of our team.
Mile High Shack
03-30-2006, 12:16 PM
Exactly. Sure when we won we had Romo, Easy Ed, Neil Smith, Zimmerman, Schlereth and Griffith. They definitely helped.
But Elway, Sharpe, Rod Smith, TD, Nalen, Lepsis, Dan Neil, Atwater, and Elam were all drafted and/or developed "in house". The upper first list has some great players, but the latter were the real heart and soul of our team.
chicken or the egg I suppose
we couldn't of won it 2 x's in a row w/o either list of players
DBroncos4life
03-30-2006, 12:19 PM
Exactly. Sure when we won we had Romo, Easy Ed, Neil Smith, Zimmerman, Schlereth and Griffith. They definitely helped.
But Elway, Sharpe, Rod Smith, TD, Nalen, Lepsis, Dan Neil, Atwater, and Elam were all drafted and/or developed "in house". The upper first list has some great players, but the latter were the real heart and soul of our team.
There are some others that played a key role that aren't being talked about there like Ray Crockett and Flash Gordon, who where FA's.
Kaylore
03-30-2006, 12:27 PM
There are some others that played a key role that aren't being talked about there like Ray Crockett and Flash Gordon, who where FA's. I know. I didn't list everyone, mostly out of laziness. I knew someone was going to chime in with a post saying I left off their favorite player.
DBroncos4life
03-30-2006, 12:41 PM
I know. I didn't list everyone, mostly out of laziness. I knew someone was going to chime in with a post saying I left off their favorite player.
those are not my favorite guys, just people that I know had a pretty good sized impact for our team.
bendog
03-30-2006, 12:49 PM
But Easy Ed was a castoff, as was Alfred Williams. Den screwed up on Sharpe because he was able to play at a high level longer than shanny thought he could, and Philly ... talk about a ****ty franchise letting White walk. Romo? He was ok, during his time here, but I thought he was overrated as sams go.
cutthemdown
03-30-2006, 12:59 PM
charles haley
neil smith helped us, alfred williams, bill romanowski, darrien gordon, mark schlereth, gary zimmerman, they were all big during the superbowl run, those guys all helped us bigtime
Zimmerman wasn't a FA, he was aquired through a trade.
Taco John
03-30-2006, 01:02 PM
neil smith helped us, alfred williams, bill romanowski, darrien gordon, mark schlereth, gary zimmerman, they were all big during the superbowl run, those guys all helped us bigtime
None of those were high price free agents... For the most part they were bargain bin guys who were on the downsides of their careers.
Taco John
03-30-2006, 01:08 PM
LOL
I think TJ is going to get killed in this argument
What argument? I'm not making an argument. I'm asking a question.
The Browncos were supposed to do that. Wait. That's right. NOBODY believed those guys were going to matter. :wiggle:
(I would pat myself on the back but I can't reach around my incredibly huge head. King of off season 2005. King me!)
You wern't the only one ya know ;D
Garcia Bronco
03-30-2006, 01:13 PM
simeon rice
You could stick him on the 03 SB...was he aquired that year...I can't remember
Orange_Beard
03-30-2006, 01:17 PM
I know we have not won an SB.
But John Lynch was a huge add.
Garcia Bronco
03-30-2006, 01:17 PM
What argument? I'm not making an argument. I'm asking a question.
I took the questions as...what player was aquired and in that year the team went to the Super Bowl.
So you have to look at the Super Bowl Winners and gauge if the FA had a profound impact.
Deion Sanders would be at the top of that list....twice
Mile High Shack
03-30-2006, 01:20 PM
What argument? I'm not making an argument. I'm asking a question.
I assumed you were saying, that everyone freakin' out about our lack of activity is over-reacting (which is true for the most part)
but I was wondering if you were trying to say that getting FA's isn't that big of a deal
Taco John
03-30-2006, 01:29 PM
I assumed you were saying, that everyone freakin' out about our lack of activity is over-reacting (which is true for the most part)
but I was wondering if you were trying to say that getting FA's isn't that big of a deal
I think people are definitely overreacting... And I think there's probably a point here to be made about it. But I wasn't sure, and couldn't remember for sure, so I asked the question...
I think Tredici gave the most useful response though, and pretty much agree with what she had to say...
Great to see her posting again...
Mile High Shack
03-30-2006, 01:32 PM
I think people are definitely overreacting... And I think there's probably a point here to be made about it. But I wasn't sure, and couldn't remember for sure, so I asked the question...
I think Tredici gave the most useful response though, and pretty much agree with what she had to say...
Great to see her posting again...
I think most big named FA's won't get you to the superbowl
it's the "little fellers" like Eddie Mac, Bomo, Alfred, etc etc
those kind of players
Getting players like TO generally just help sell tickets
Deion Sanders and Charles Haley are the only big named guys I know that helped a team win a championship
cutthemdown
03-30-2006, 01:38 PM
None of those were high price free agents... For the most part they were bargain bin guys who were on the downsides of their careers.
WHAT!!!! no!!!!!!!!! broncos spent alot of money on those guys at start of FA. We were the original redskins. I don't know what we gave those guys but I am sure it wasn't cheap. Especially Neil smith, Micheal Dean Perry and Romo. Schlereth was a guy Alex Gibbs wanted but he had had so many injures many team were thinking he was done. Broncos took the chance on him and it paid off.
Garcia Bronco
03-30-2006, 01:48 PM
People are absolutely over-reacting if they think we haven't done anything this off-season. We signed more than a handful of existing team players. We moved up half the field in the first round. We have two top 22 picks. Last year we moved up and in FA got a great DT and a DE that made it through his first full season that was a former top 3 pick..and moved up in the first round. The year prior to that we trade on of the top RB's in football for Champ Bailey and moved up in the first round. I don't think people realize how spoiled we are..
Smiling Assassin27
03-30-2006, 01:57 PM
Brad Johnson
Odysseus
03-30-2006, 02:04 PM
People are absolutely over-reacting if they think we haven't done anything this off-season. We signed more than a handful of existing team players. We moved up half the field in the first round. We have two top 22 picks. Last year we moved up and in FA got a great DT and a DE that made it through his first full season that was a former top 3 pick..and moved up in the first round. The year prior to that we trade on of the top RB's in football for Champ Bailey and moved up in the first round. I don't think people realize how spoiled we are..\
Well said...
It's good to see Tredici back! :sunshine:
Mediator12
03-30-2006, 02:28 PM
I think most big named FA's won't get you to the superbowl
it's the "little fellers" like Eddie Mac, Bomo, Alfred, etc etc
those kind of players
Getting players like TO generally just help sell tickets
Deion Sanders and Charles Haley are the only big named guys I know that helped a team win a championship
And both Haley and Sanders were losses to the 49ers as well as additions to the Cowboys. Doubly good moves ;D
freak6
03-30-2006, 02:42 PM
Jim Burt...
PSYCHE!!!
I hate that dude, and his kid.
What difference did TO make to the Eagles? none in terms of what he did on the field, he actually hurt them overall with his BS.
Bubby Brister got us home field throughout on our 2nd run, can't be overlooked.
I think Desmond Howard made the difference when the Packers beat the Patriots.
Orange_Beard
03-30-2006, 03:01 PM
How about Rodney Harrison. Guy is/was a key piece of the Pats.
yavoon
03-30-2006, 04:16 PM
It's important to pick up good players in free agency, BUT Super Bowl teams have always built their teams primarily through the draft.
the bucs and ravens were built a lot LESS through the draft than the steelers. now if that still counts as "primarily through the draft" than whatever. but the degrees are far different.
May have not won the thing but where huge helps in getting there.
Jake Delome, Stephen Davis, Kerry Collins.
Trent Dilfer was a bargin bin gem for the Ravens
Cedrick Wilson was huge for the Steelers (AFC Championship game)
cutthemdown
03-30-2006, 06:59 PM
But Easy Ed was a castoff, as was Alfred Williams. Den screwed up on Sharpe because he was able to play at a high level longer than shanny thought he could, and Philly ... talk about a ****ty franchise letting White walk. Romo? He was ok, during his time here, but I thought he was overrated as sams go.
Reggie White was a memeber of the first class of players called plan b FA. When FA began that group of players couldnt be protected. Eagles couldn't stop him.
OrangeShadow
03-30-2006, 08:15 PM
Vrabel is a good example.
But IMO the most important part of free agency is bringing back your players. When you ask that question "free agents who have made all the difference" people tend to think free agents leaving their team to go somewhere else. Where most of the ones that help teams to that next step are ones who resign because teams build confidence when they play together for a while.
azbroncfan
03-30-2006, 08:26 PM
Rod Woodson a couple times Ravens and Fade, He is probably the best all-around CB and was a very good S once he was older.
azbroncfan
03-30-2006, 08:29 PM
Vrabel is a good example.
But IMO the most important part of free agency is bringing back your players. When you ask that question "free agents who have made all the difference" people tend to think free agents leaving their team to go somewhere else. Where most of the ones that help teams to that next step are ones who resign because teams build confidence when they play together for a while.
I forgot about him too as good as Denver is at picking a RB for their style Pitt is the same way with LB's.