Broncos & Chiefs stock up, Chargers & Raiders stay pat
Chiefs buff up backfield with addition of Thomas Jones, Broncos buff up D-line at onset of free agency
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The free-agent storyline in the AFC-West has been decidedly two-sided in the early stages.
The Denver Broncos & Kansas City Chiefs have gone out and gotten solid role players at key positions of weakness. Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers have hemorrhaged Free Agents at an alarming pace & the Oakland Raiders have ranged from passive to confused.
The Broncos have strengthened their defensive line with the additions of Justin Bannan, Jarvis Green & burly Nose Tackle Jamal Williams (a former Pro-Bowler with the Chargers.) Free Agent DB Nathan Jones also signed with the Broncos.
Denver made several deals to keep a few McDaniels favorites from the ’08-’09 campaign. RB JJ Arrington, OL Russ Hochstein, WR Brandon Lloyd & K Matt Prater will all be back next season. The Broncos also placed a high 1st & 3rd Round tender on Restricted Free Agent Elvis Dumervil, indicating that they have no intention of parting with the powerful young Defensive End.
The Chiefs made a sizeable splash when they signed stout veteran running back Thomas Jones, who ran roughshod over the AFC with the New York Jets last season. Kansas City also grabbed Cincinnati Free Agent DT Shaun Smith.
Like Denver, the Chiefs made a commitment to last year’s offense by re-signing RB Jackie Battle, as well as WR’s Terrance Cooper & Chris Chambers.
San Diego has taken the opposite approach, cutting loose old ties (Jamal Williams, Ladanian Tomlinson & Antonio Cromartie) and taking on only former Washington Redskins RB Marcus Mason off waivers. The Chargers had hoped to win Jamal back at a lower rate after cutting him, but Williams opted to shop around, setting in with the rival Broncos days later.
Oakland has decided to continue wallowing in its self-made mire by remaining almost completely inactive through these first tumultuous days of free agency. The only change to the Oakland roster has been the loss of tough, slashing RB Justin Fargas. My opinion is that Fargas was the best back on the Raiders’ roster, and by letting him go they will lose any semblance of a rushing attack they had left. Darren McFadden is an average NFL back, and Michael Bush, though quick & versatile, doesn’t have the breakaway speed necessary to be a big-play change of pace back.
Fargas may end up across the bay in San Francisco, a brilliant match for his skills. Justin is the perfect back to shoulder some of starter Frank Gore’s hefty load, and both sides will work to make a deal happen.
The Raiders and Chargers may get more active as time passes, but the majority of the top Free Agents are locked up with new teams. That leaves Oakland and San Diego to dabble in a Restricted Free Agent market laden with high draft pick price tags. Not an admirable position, but we all know how meddling Raiders Owner Al Davis & dimwitted Chargers GM AJ Smith are experts at keeping a good team down. (Or in Davis’ case, driving a good team slowly, methodically & completely into the ground.) In fact, San Diego’s official website took the time to play the part of AJ’s apologist.
Any team that makes a hot run at that playoffs and gives it up the way the Donkeys did is the passive and confused team. Count your rings and overall wins vs NFL and come back and talk.
So do you want to talk about the teams now, or relive the “glory” of the early 80s? Overall wins and rings is the statistic used by the fan of a team that faded from relevance years ago. So big frickin’ deal, you won a ring how long ago? 1983? 84? I don’t even remember. So let’s just put that aside.
The Broncos didn’t fade because they’re passive and confused. They faded because their offense became predictable under the weight of adjusting to a new system. No one is claiming the Broncos are Super Bowl favorites, we know they’re not perfect. But we also live in the present — and the present is that the Broncos are steadily making improvements while the Raiders flounder at the bottom of the tank. Again.
The Bronco’s have gotten solid role players? All they have picked is old dudes no one else wanted, they now have the oldest D in the NFL. I hope they have plenty of handicapped parking at the stadium.
I don’t care how old they are… as long as Phyllis Rivers and JaMarcus Russel get their asses pounded into the mud (which they will), I’m a happy man.
SDR, your Raiders will never have a winning season again so long as Al Davis lives. Sleep well.
JL, it worked for the Patriots, and the Broncos have a lot of speedy young DB’s to complement their veterans. Watch as they dominate the AFC’s so-so offenses in 2010.
The Chargers will still pass for tons of TD’s but their run game has completely disappeared. They’re a one-dimensional offense and have done less than nothing to improve their rushing game.
I get so sick and tired of the media and then the rest of you ignorant pile oners. If the Raiders go out and sign a bunch of big names like a few years ago they get bashed, they kind of ride out the flurry they get bashed. Yes we Raider fans know we haven’t been that good the last few years but it has only been that, the last few years. It wasn’t but but 2002 we were considered the best team then stupid Callahan couldn’t coach the big game. Al Davis is not the reason we stink right now it is called the NFL. Every team has its time and then from all low draft picks, those teams struggle then rebuild from the high draft picks. Show me 10 teams that win superbowl after superbowl for 20 teams. Maybe the Steelers and that is rare. The Raiders will be back and I hope it is in Al Davis’s life so he can tell you all to go to HELL! GO RAIDERS!
I hope you come back to read this Bob, because it’s for your own good…
Listen to this recipe for a series of bad seasons:
Constant changes in the coaching staff, high draft picks on offensive players that are college standouts but aren’t smart enough to play in the NFL, throw cash at skill position players that don’t fit your scheme, and NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, never stop believing that the same formula that won Superbowls in the 70’s & early 80’s will continue winning Superbowls 30 years later.
Al Davis is a cancer upon the Oakland organization. He passed his prime in 1983, and has gotten lucky to have a handful of decent squads since. But you just keep believing in Skeletor as the once and future savior of your favorite football team and let me know how it works out for ya.
I just wish you Haters would come up with an original thought once in a while. Its so old reading you hacks. Al Davis is the Raiders and we will return to greatness and I am sure even then you guys will find something to hate on!
As a Broncos fan, I hope Al Davis stays alive and in control for a long long time – it’s the best indication that the Raiders will continue to occupy their place in the basement of the AFC West.