Big Moves
For the Steelers-centric observer, Sunday's biggest free agent move saw Antwaan Randle El signing a six-year deal worth $31 million (including $10 million in bonuses) to join the Washington Racists. Excuse me: Redskins.
Frequenters of this site know that I have been holding my breath, hoping against hope that ARE would find his way back to Pittsburgh. But the Racists are a desparate team, one willing to overpay for good (not great) talent at a position of need. (Reportedly, the offer from the Bears that ARE rejected was for $18 million over six years, with $8 million in bonuses.) Still, I'm sad to see him go: he is a quality guy and a good teammate. El's quick signing makes it all the more likely that Quincy Morgan will re-sign with the Steelers and compete with Cedric Wilson for the #2 spot.
Of course, the biggest news of the day was actually Edgerrin James signing with the Cardinals. In this space yesterday, I speculated that the Cards' aggressiveness toward James might be a ploy to wake up JJ Arrington, who underachieved mightily last year. I guess it wasn't. James changes the whole makeup of that team--provided, of course, that the line can block for him. Last year, teams were able to sit back and wait for mistakes in the passing game, because the run game offered no threat at all. Maybe Arizona really is serious about being a decent team.
Other signings of note: the Browns continued to streak, signing big, fat Ted Washington to anchor the defensive line. The Rams continued the defensive upgrade by signing LB Will Witherspoon. The Ravens signed Mike Anderson, late of the Broncos, presumably to replace Jamal Lewis (who, incidentally, has been linked in reports to the Broncos). Signing a back whose success has come in Denver is risky business: remember Olandis Gary? Me neither. Don't be surprised if the Ravens also draft a back, perhaps USC's LenDale White, to hedge against the likely decline in Anderson's productivity.
Frequenters of this site know that I have been holding my breath, hoping against hope that ARE would find his way back to Pittsburgh. But the Racists are a desparate team, one willing to overpay for good (not great) talent at a position of need. (Reportedly, the offer from the Bears that ARE rejected was for $18 million over six years, with $8 million in bonuses.) Still, I'm sad to see him go: he is a quality guy and a good teammate. El's quick signing makes it all the more likely that Quincy Morgan will re-sign with the Steelers and compete with Cedric Wilson for the #2 spot.
Of course, the biggest news of the day was actually Edgerrin James signing with the Cardinals. In this space yesterday, I speculated that the Cards' aggressiveness toward James might be a ploy to wake up JJ Arrington, who underachieved mightily last year. I guess it wasn't. James changes the whole makeup of that team--provided, of course, that the line can block for him. Last year, teams were able to sit back and wait for mistakes in the passing game, because the run game offered no threat at all. Maybe Arizona really is serious about being a decent team.
Other signings of note: the Browns continued to streak, signing big, fat Ted Washington to anchor the defensive line. The Rams continued the defensive upgrade by signing LB Will Witherspoon. The Ravens signed Mike Anderson, late of the Broncos, presumably to replace Jamal Lewis (who, incidentally, has been linked in reports to the Broncos). Signing a back whose success has come in Denver is risky business: remember Olandis Gary? Me neither. Don't be surprised if the Ravens also draft a back, perhaps USC's LenDale White, to hedge against the likely decline in Anderson's productivity.
posted by Shane at 2:35 PM
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