05-26-2009, 09:31 PM
10-Pack: Teams that made the best offseason moves
Sporting News - RSS Feed
Posted: May 26, 2009
Approximately four months before the NFL's regular season kicks off, Mike Florio analyzes some of the key decisions, big trades and smart moves 10 teams made in the offseason.
1. Cincinnati Bengals sign Coles
Everyone presumed Cincinnati's passing game had taken a dramatic hit when receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh left via free agency for Seattle.
Enter Laveranues Coles.
The veteran wideout from Florida State had walked away from $6 million in guaranteed salary from the Jets for his first shot at unrestricted free agency. At first, it looked like Coles had gambled and lost.
Younger than Houshmandzadeh by three months, Coles has had a much better career than T.J., even though Coles has never had a quarterback of Carson Palmer's caliber throwing passes to him. (A 38-going-on-39 Brett Favre was the closest Coles came to a guy like Palmer in his prime.)
One of the big concerns regarding Houshmandzadeh is that he'll be another Alvin Harper or Peerless Price -- a solid No. 2 who isn't capable of being the top dog.
Coles already has shown he can be the first option in a passing game, and the Bengals will be better off for his skill and experience when the 2009 season starts......
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vie...p?t=553141
Sporting News - RSS Feed
Posted: May 26, 2009
Approximately four months before the NFL's regular season kicks off, Mike Florio analyzes some of the key decisions, big trades and smart moves 10 teams made in the offseason.
1. Cincinnati Bengals sign Coles
Everyone presumed Cincinnati's passing game had taken a dramatic hit when receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh left via free agency for Seattle.
Enter Laveranues Coles.
The veteran wideout from Florida State had walked away from $6 million in guaranteed salary from the Jets for his first shot at unrestricted free agency. At first, it looked like Coles had gambled and lost.
Younger than Houshmandzadeh by three months, Coles has had a much better career than T.J., even though Coles has never had a quarterback of Carson Palmer's caliber throwing passes to him. (A 38-going-on-39 Brett Favre was the closest Coles came to a guy like Palmer in his prime.)
One of the big concerns regarding Houshmandzadeh is that he'll be another Alvin Harper or Peerless Price -- a solid No. 2 who isn't capable of being the top dog.
Coles already has shown he can be the first option in a passing game, and the Bengals will be better off for his skill and experience when the 2009 season starts......
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vie...p?t=553141