This week Stock and Doc break down some of the big moves in free agency.
1st Down Philadelphia have made the shrewdest move so far in taking Asante Samuel to Philadelphia.
DOCFICTION ! There’s better deals having gone down. For example, Matt Millen’s move to get Leigh Bodden and a 3rd rounder out of Cleveland for Shaun Rodgers is just one of them. But Samuel to the Eagles, as a fan of an NFC East team is a statement of intent. Whilst he might not be as good as the hype and they’ve certainly overpaid for him, Samuel makes big plays. Add him to the personnel in Philly’s secondary and they immediately have an upgrade. This is a signal of their intention to be a force again this coming season.
STOCKFICTION ! This is really a disturbing run of agreements between us but even if this is the usual cap friendly Eagles big money signing, it’s still not great value. Samuel was certainly the big name free agent but coming from a defensive scheme that has made players like Earthwind Moreland look half way passable as NFL players, I’d question how much it has inflated Samuel’s apparent quality. Considering their willingness to allow Lito Sheppard to pursue a trade it is clear this move was in the offing for some time, so it isn’t a deal that is without due thought and planning, but I wouldn’t call it the shrewdest move thus far.
2nd Down Derek Anderson signing to a new deal in Cleveland is good news for the Browns.
DOCFACT ! Now, I’m not sure what’s going on with some of their dealings, but its great news he is now staying on. Look at how that offence improved last year with him under centre. Add into the receivers he already has at his disposal, and the new Brown, Donte Stallworth and it looks as though the Browns offence (not sure about that defence!) is ready to have more of the same this year and another charge at making the playoffs. Anderson may be relatively new but he has shown his ability and it is great news for Cleveland he is staying. What this means for Brady Quinn, on the other hand, I’m not so sure.
STOCKFICTION ! Phil Savage has been doing an excellent job of building through the draft for the Browns and in the last week he has gone completely against it and I don’t think it bodes well for the Browns. As an aside the moves for Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers are extremely ill advised (particularly the Rogers move), but this new deal for Anderson is not helping their ability to build through the draft. Now certainly, they don’t know yet what they have with Brady Quinn, but Anderson’s decision making was still poor to average last year and was particularly exposed down the stretch (most notably against the Bengals). The Browns should have struck whilst the iron was hot, someone would’ve given them a 2nd round selection or even a 1st round selection this off-season and whilst this new deal is not going to be a problem to trade from a cap perspective, I severely doubt they will get as much for Anderson next year as they would this year.
3rd Down – Bernard Berrian’s move to Minnesota will finally give the Vikings the No.1 receiver they have needed since Randy Moss left.
DOCFICTION ! I’m not sold on him. Yeah he has speed and can make plays. Right now, he’s probably better than what Minnesota have. He’s certainly better than some of the guys they’ve had previously Troy Williamson I’m looking at you. But he’s not a top class receiver; he might well have been the best out there in free agency (excluding Mr Moss ironically) but I don’t think he’s going to improve the Vikings all that much. They still need more from Jackson at quarterback no matter who they have. Berrian will help down the field, but they need some of the other wide-outs they have to assist. If they get that, then they have a nice receiving corps. But, to me, Berrian is not a number 1 receiver.
STOCKFICTION ! Why with the agreement? Have you finally seen the light of day and you’re now reading my scriptures? You’re absolutely right about Berrian, he’s a deep threat and not a lot else. What this move does do is strengthens the Vikings and potentially cripples a division rival, so from that perspective it is a solid move, however he isn’t a number one receiver. His route running is lazy, he’s reluctant to go across the middle and his hands aren’t sure and consistent enough for him to be your go to guy. His numbers will probably increase in the dome, he’s a nice foil to Sidney Rice and a good deep threat for the strong armed Tarvaris Jackson to air the ball out, but he most certainly is not a number 1 receiver.
4th Down – The Miami Dolphins have made a mistake in signing Josh McCown to be their starting quarterback.
DOC FICTION ! Who do they expect to get? You could get Peyton Manning to come in and they would still be a really poor team. They needed someone to execute a game plan. A running game plan at that. That is a fact. Even if they take a QB in the draft quite likely in my estimation, they need someone to steer this train wreck of a team for a year or two. For that, McCown fits the bill. He’s relatively smart but not necessarily a bona-fida NFL starter. He comes in as the Fish turn around and then when someone else is ready, he’ll move to being a back-up and move on. It’s Parcells smart football. Simple as.
STOCKFICTION ! More agreement? This is unheard of. McCown is a solid, unspectacular QB who can come in and be a game manager for what is likely to be a conservative, run-oriented Bill Parcells/Tony Sparano offence. He’s not going to go out there and bomb the ball around to all parts (mainly because he hasn’t got anyone to bomb the ball about to, but also because he isn’t that kind of QB), but he can be a conservative guy who won’t lose you games and will maximise by use of play action what a strong running game should bring forth for the Dolphins. He’s not going to be a game winner, but he also shouldn’t be a game loser either, and if he is, it’s because the Dolphins are falling behind by big points again. He’s a solid quarterback and is an upgrade on what the Dolphins have (John Beck), if you can upgrade your starting QB, it’s a smart move.
1st Down Philadelphia have made the shrewdest move so far in taking Asante Samuel to Philadelphia.
DOC FICTION ! There’s better deals having gone down. For example, Matt Millen’s move to get Leigh Bodden and a 3rd rounder out of Cleveland for Shaun Rodgers is just one of them. But Samuel to the Eagles, as a fan of an NFC East team is a statement of intent. Whilst he might not be as good as the hype and they’ve certainly overpaid for him, Samuel makes big plays. Add him to the personnel in Philly’s secondary and they immediately have an upgrade. This is a signal of their intention to be a force again this coming season. 
2nd Down Derek Anderson signing to a new deal in Cleveland is good news for the Browns.
DOC FACT ! Now, I’m not sure what’s going on with some of their dealings, but its great news he is now staying on. Look at how that offence improved last year with him under centre. Add into the receivers he already has at his disposal, and the new Brown, Donte Stallworth and it looks as though the Browns offence (not sure about that defence!) is ready to have more of the same this year and another charge at making the playoffs. Anderson may be relatively new but he has shown his ability and it is great news for Cleveland he is staying. What this means for Brady Quinn, on the other hand, I’m not so sure.
3rd Down – Bernard Berrian’s move to Minnesota will finally give the Vikings the No.1 receiver they have needed since Randy Moss left. 
DOC FICTION ! I’m not sold on him. Yeah he has speed and can make plays. Right now, he’s probably better than what Minnesota have. He’s certainly better than some of the guys they’ve had previously Troy Williamson I’m looking at you. But he’s not a top class receiver; he might well have been the best out there in free agency (excluding Mr Moss ironically) but I don’t think he’s going to improve the Vikings all that much. They still need more from Jackson at quarterback no matter who they have. Berrian will help down the field, but they need some of the other wide-outs they have to assist. If they get that, then they have a nice receiving corps. But, to me, Berrian is not a number 1 receiver.
4th Down – The Miami Dolphins have made a mistake in signing Josh McCown to be their starting quarterback.
DOC FICTION ! Who do they expect to get? You could get Peyton Manning to come in and they would still be a really poor team. They needed someone to execute a game plan. A running game plan at that. That is a fact. Even if they take a QB in the draft quite likely in my estimation, they need someone to steer this train wreck of a team for a year or two. For that, McCown fits the bill. He’s relatively smart but not necessarily a bona-fida NFL starter. He comes in as the Fish turn around and then when someone else is ready, he’ll move to being a back-up and move on. It’s Parcells smart football. Simple as.
