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NFL.com's worst free agent signings: Decker makes the list because Jets.

Jetsfan80

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Jetsfan80

Jetsfan80

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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000334118/article/worst-freeagent-signings-so-far

 

 

Worst free-agent signings so far
  •  
  • By Around The League Staff
  • Published: March 15, 2014 at 06:58 p.m

 

 

We went over the best signings in free agency. Now let's take a look at the worst.

 

This is a list where it's easier to be right. The majority of free-agent deals don't wind up working because too many average starters get paid like superstars. We think the contracts below were the biggest mistakes.

 

Titans' cap blindsided by Oher signing

 

Baffling. We have to trust that Tennessee's coaching staff sees something to like about Oher's game film, but paying him $20 million over four years with $9.5 million in guarantees is jaw-dropping. Especially after this once-promising offensive tackle struggled mightily last season. Oher rated as the worst run blocker in the league, per Pro Football Focus, and his middle-of-the-road pass protection didn't make up for that. To be fair, he wasn't alone on Baltimore's crash-and-burn line, and we expect the change of scenery to help. If it doesn't, the Titans have overpaid something fierce.

 

-- Marc Sessler

 

 

Browner to Patriots

 

A lot of free-agent moves by the Patriots get applauded just because they are the Patriots. But Bill Belichick's free-agent record over the last five seasons has been nothing short of ghastly, and the team's move for Browner shapes up as another misfire. Cornerbacks leaving Seattle are going to get overpaid just like wide receivers were once overpaid leaving New England in the 2000s. Seattle knew Browner best and didn't want him for a reason.

 

-- Gregg Rosenthal

 

 

Jets a poor fit for Eric Decker

 

Poor Eric Decker. Yes, he got paid. He's on this list not because of the contract, which is actually somewhat reasonable, but rather because of the fit for the receiver. Decker is closer to a No. 2 receiver than a No. 1. In New York, he's currently 1A, 1B and 7F. He goes from being the third option, to having the likes of Darrelle Revis and Brent Grimes shadowing him on Sundays. Decker traded in his Bentley, Peyton Manning, for an Oldsmobile Toronado, Geno Smith. As we discussed on Friday's "Around The League Podcast" wide receiver went from a pass-happy offense to one that wants to grind the ball. Surely, his reality show will get better ratings in New York now, but his football life just got a whole lot tougher.

 

-- Kevin Patra

 

 

Dallas' handling of DeMarcus Ware

 

 

 

It's not a signing, but it is a debacle. I first brought this up on the podcast: It has to pain Dallas fans to seeDeMarcus Ware bolt for the Broncosas the direct result of a Dallas front office that can't get out of its own way. While successful NFL teams find ways to create salary cap money and sign talent, the Cowboys have lost a futureHall of Famer because the team's cap situation is eternally in disaster mode. In an offseason when Jerry Jones was hard-pressed to improve one of the league's worst defenses, he's parted ways with a rare difference-maker in Ware -- who is now set up well for a monster season in Denver.

 

-- Marc Sessler

 

Karlos Dansby to Cleveland

 

Inside linebackers, like running back, is a position you shouldn't have to overpay for, especially when you are signing a 32-year-old. Dansby was cut by Miami after the 2012 season and had to accept a $2.25 million deal in 2013. Now the Browns are going to pay Dansby $10 million in 2014 and $14 million over two seasons. You get worse in free agency by getting older and paying sub-Pro Bowlplayers like superstars. The talent around Dansby in Arizona was a big factor in his huge campaign.

 

Paying Donte Whitner huge money to replace safety T.J. Ward was also curious. He's made strides in pass coverage, but there's a reason the 49ers didn't try that hard to keep him.

 

-- Gregg Rosenthal

 

 

Any Raiders signing

 

 

 

To quote Buffalo Springfield: "Something's happening here. What it is, ain't exactly clear." Fighting to save his job, general manager Reggie McKenzie drastically overpaid for a pair of average tackles only to have his owner put the kibosh on Rodger Saffold's $42.5 million contract just as the player's parents were arriving in town to witness the signing. McKenzie then began reconstructing his decrepit defense by signing an aging, injury-prone Justin Tuck to a contract theGiants had no interest in matching. McKenzie's free agency approach is adesperate, flailing heave -- not a model for sustained success.

 

-- Chris Wesseling

 

 

Chris Williams to Buffalo

 

Williams started 16 games for the Rams last season, but nobody was confusing him with Logan Mankins. Williams was average -- at best -- grading out at 74th among 81 qualifying guards last season, according to Pro Football Focus. That didn't stop the Bills from handing Williams a four-year, $13.5 million deal that included $5.5 million guaranteed. Huh? The picture says a thousand words.

 

-- Dan Hanzus

 

The "Around The League Podcast" breaks down all the free-agency moves and hands out a fleet ofhigh-octane sandwiches.

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stoicsentry

stoicsentry

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I don't understand their reasoning one bit. That signing was a steal at the price. We were told he would get #1 money and he didn't get anything near that. It might be bad for him personally as his production should dive but that doesn't mean it was a bad move for the jets. We got the top rated wr in free agency and he gets no guaranteed money after the 1st year.

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Jetsfan80

Jetsfan80

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I don't understand their reasoning one bit. That signing was a steal at the price. We were told he would get #1 money and he didn't get anything near that. It might be bad for him personally as his production should dive but that doesn't mean it was a bad move for the jets. We got the top rated wr in free agency and he gets no guaranteed money after the 1st year.

 

They're bashing it because it was bad for Decker.  Yet every other signing on the list, they're bashing the teams that signed the players involved.  Clearly just another attempt by NFL writers to go out of their way to make fun of us.

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Sperm Edwards

Sperm Edwards

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"Inside linebackers, like running back, is a position you shouldn't have to overpay for, [...]"

 

Our last GM did that twice to 2 ILBers playing concurrently.  5-6 year deal at $8M per for Bart Scott. Then like a year later a $9M/year deal for Harris that paid him $31M(?) over the first 3 years, and an unbelievable $25M over a 2-year span in the middle.

 

:bag:

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CTM

CTM

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They're bashing it because it was bad for Decker. Yet every other signing on the list, they're bashing the teams that signed the players involved. Clearly just another attempt by NFL writers to go out of their way to make fun of us.

his stats are likely to tank and there was a report 2 weeks ago that we aren't going to pass more then 20 times a game. Our atarting QB is poo .. not a great place for a WR

the article is saying decker made a bad move, not really the jets

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Jetsfan80

Jetsfan80

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Mark Schlereth, who lives in Denver, killed Decker the other day on the radio. Basically said that he was the fourth option in Denver who will do alright as long as he's going up against another team's third corner.

 

So even though he's had success with 3 different QB's, he's supposed to go somewhere where he's the # 2 or 3 option?  What athlete would bash another athlete for wanting to be the # 1 guy?

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T0mShane

T0mShane

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So even though he's had success with 3 different QB's, he's supposed to go somewhere where he's the # 2 or 3 option? What athlete would bash another athlete for wanting to be the # 1 guy?

Schlereth is a Broncos homer, so take it for what it's worth. Personally, I think Decker will look a lot better if/when he's paired with Marqise Lee/Odell Beckham/Cooks, and a viable TE.

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Villain The Foe

Villain The Foe

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"Inside linebackers, like running back, is a position you shouldn't have to overpay for, [...]"

 

Our last GM did that twice to 2 ILBers playing concurrently.  5-6 year deal at $8M per for Bart Scott. Then like a year later a $9M/year deal for Harris that paid him $31M(?) over the first 3 years, and an unbelievable $25M over a 2-year span in the middle.

 

:bag:

 

Jon Idzik wouldnt have done that. 

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BroadwayJoe12

BroadwayJoe12

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Mark Schlereth, who lives in Denver, killed Decker the other day on the radio. Basically said that he was the fourth option in Denver who will do alright as long as he's going up against another team's third corner.

 

Which is one of the main reasons he probably wanted to come here, he wants to prove everyone wrong.  By all accounts, Decker seems to be quite the competitive guy and I'm sure being able to prove to the entire world that he's not just a product of Peyton or that he's not "athletic" enough is going to fuel him.  He mentioned it as much in a Q&A.  That and while everyone likes to bash the Jets and Woody, from all accounts it's a state of the art facility, the guys like showing up to work and it's not a bad area if you have the money they do.  Not a bad place to earn $7+ mill a year.

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Il Mostro

Il Mostro

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Schlereth is a Broncos homer, so take it for what it's worth. Personally, I think Decker will look a lot better if/when he's paired with Marqise Lee/Odell Beckham/Cooks, and a viable TE.

 

 

Agreed.  Decker is going to be just fine.  Nice to see you limbering your football acumen.  

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stoicsentry

stoicsentry

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Mark Schlereth, who lives in Denver, killed Decker the other day on the radio. Basically said that he was the fourth option in Denver who will do alright as long as he's going up against another team's third corner.

 

I heard him say that too. What the hell he means is beyond me. Nothing about his stats show him to be the "4th option" on the team:

 

Targeting: 2nd most targets, only narrowly behind D. Thomas

Receptions: 2nd most receptions, only narrowly behind D. Thomas

Yards: 2nd most yards receiving. No one was close behind him either--Decker has 1288, the 3rd most receiving yards was 788.]

Touchdowns: 3rd most receiving, but it was 14, 12, 11 and 10 for D. Thomas, J. Thomas, Decker and Welker.

 

How does that count as a "4th option"?

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itsJETStime

itsJETStime

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I heard him say that too. What the hell he means is beyond me. Nothing about his stats show him to be the "4th option" on the team:

Targeting: 2nd most targets, only narrowly behind D. Thomas

Receptions: 2nd most receptions, only narrowly behind D. Thomas

Yards: 2nd most yards receiving. No one was close behind him either--Decker has 1288, the 3rd most receiving yards was 788.]

Touchdowns: 3rd most receiving, but it was 14, 12, 11 and 10 for D. Thomas, J. Thomas, Decker and Welker.

How does that count as a "4th option"?

It doesn't ... People like talking out their ass... I believe he was Manning's favorite target his first year in Denver

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Lizard King

Lizard King

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Schlereth is a Broncos homer, so take it for what it's worth. Personally, I think Decker will look a lot better if/when he's paired with Marqise Lee/Odell Beckham/Cooks, and a viable TE.

There is tape with Schlereth calling Decker a true #1 sometime around the AFC CG. I believe someone on SNY is searching the archives for the lulz
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aec4

aec4

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Schlereth is a Broncos homer, so take it for what it's worth. Personally, I think Decker will look a lot better if/when he's paired with Marqise Lee/Odell Beckham/Cooks, and a viable TE.

Any WR would! What's being discounted here is D Thomas , J Thomas and Welker looked better because of Decker too! It's not a 1 way street. They all helped one another.

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Bleedin Green

Bleedin Green

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Any WR would! What's being discounted here is D Thomas , J Thomas and Welker looked better because of Decker too! It's not a 1 way street. They all helped one another.

 

Not to mention, you only need to go back a year when Welker wasn't there and not a damn person had ever even heard of Julius Thomas, yet somehow Decker still managed to have a very comparable stat-line.  It's all a bunch of nonsense.

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