Jason Cole's list of 20 best free agent signings

[Fencer]

Brees tops all-time best free agents list - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

1. Drew Brees
4. Mike Vrabel :rocker:
10. Curtis Martin
12. Rodney Harrison

 

[37Harrison]

Brees tops all-time best free agents list - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

1. Drew Brees
4. Mike Vrabel :rocker:
10. Curtis Martin
12. Rodney Harrison

I really have a problem with Rodney @ 12. I think he should be in the top 5.

 

[bresna]

I wonder where Wes Welker would have fallen if we didn't eventually "trade" for him. His story was essentially that same as Curtis Martin with the difference being that the Patriots had to let Martin go. I still consider Welker a free agent signing, not a trade in the true sense of the word.

 

[JSn]

Betcha Woodhead makes that list in a few years.

 

[Pats Fanatic]

This is a good list for the last 20 years but the best of all time would have to be Johnny Unitas. He was a free agent when he signed with the Colts.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

This is a good list for the last 20 years but the best of all time would have to be Johnny Unitas. He was a free agent when he signed with the Colts.

Dolphins fans must cringe when they look a that list. Brees' choices came down to Miami and N'awlins and the Fins chose Dante Culpepper....Brees won 42 games in N.O. ( playoffs included) and Culpepper won 1 game in Miami....

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I really have a problem with Rodney @ 12. I think he should be in the top 5.

Absolutely. He should certainly be ahead of all the guys who should have had a greater impact personal performance not withstanding... How significant can a signing be if you don't win it all or win consistently in part because of it...

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

I wonder where Wes Welker would have fallen if we didn't eventually "trade" for him. His story was essentially that same as Curtis Martin with the difference being that the Patriots had to let Martin go. I still consider Welker a free agent signing, not a trade in the true sense of the word.

The Pats had to let Martin go because Grier/Carroll where too busy tying up Bledsoe's pals Max Lane and Todd Rucci to long term contracts and when they finally got around to Martin they lowballed him.

 

[captain insano]

Brees tops all-time best free agents list - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

1. Drew Brees
4. Mike Vrabel :rocker:
10. Curtis Martin
12. Rodney Harrison

boy did miami f up not signing brees that year. instead they get donte colpepper lmao. what a move.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agreed on Rodney. He was a huge part of the 03 and 04 team's defensive excellence. We've seen that w/o Rodney in his prime, the team doesn't go to the SB. With him, they do.

Need to add Charles Haley. IMO. He leaves SF and goes to DAL and wins 3 SB in 4 years.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Need to add Charles Haley. IMO. He leaves SF and goes to DAL and wins 3 SB in 4 years.

IIRC he was traded to Dallas, not a free agent.

 

[RobertWeathers]

IIRC he was traded to Dallas, not a free agent.

You are 100% correct. My bad.

Confused him with Ken Norton who did leave DAL for SF.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

You are 100% correct. My bad.

Confused him with Ken Norton who did leave DAL for SF.

Poor Norton. Neither he, nor his dad ( who broke Ali's jaw and defeated him) ever got the respect they deserved.....

 

[makoute]

I think Rodney should be higher than Vrabel.

 

[TealSox]

Agreed...

1. Drew Brees

2. Reggie White - With anyone less than Brett Favre at QB, White would had been #1.

3. Deion Sanders

4. Rich Gannon - Was the driving force of the Raiders winning seasons... a Super Bowl appearance, 4 Pro Bowls and MVP.

5. Mike Vrabel - Was never the league MVP, but was a key member of three Super Bowl winning teams.

.... Too early to put Vick on the top 20 list. Seriously? He made it to the first round of the playoffs and was shown the door.

.... Rodney Harrison should had stole more votes from Vrabel, despite only being with the team for two Super Bowls victories.

.... Darren Sharper needs to drop off the list. One season with the Saints and he makes the list?!?!