PromisedLand
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Are BB/SP losing their touch in free agency? Read on, and then let us know what you think...
Mike Reiss did a great list of our top 10 and bottom 10 free agent signings of the BB era. As I looked them over I couldn't help but be struck by the fact that all of the 10 best pickups occured before the 2003 season or earlier. In fact, all but 2 occured before the 2001 season which led to our first Super Bowl. The list of worst signings, by contrast, has a lot more recent signings.
Here's my breakdown:
Top 10 list, with year of signing
10. David Patten - 2001
9. Otis Smith - 2000
8. Bobby Hamilton - 2000
7. Larry Izzo - 2001
6. Joe Andruzzi - 2000
5. Roman Phifer - 2001
4. Antowain Smith - 2001
3. Rosevelt Colvin - 2003
2. Rodney Harrison - 2003
1. Mike Vrabel - 2001
Summary: 3 in 2000, 5 in 2001, 2 in 2003.
Average year of signing = (2000*3 + 2001*5 + 2003*2)/10 = 2001.1.
It is also worth noting that only two of the ten (Colvin and Harrison) were higher priced, sought after players. If you take them out of the equation you have 8 of the top 10 free agent signings in the BB era which all occured in 2000 or 2001.
Bottom 10 list, with year of signing
10. Eric Warfield - 2006
9. Antonio Langham - 2000
8. Panos/Stai/Tylski - 2001/2/3 IIRC (Reiss didn't say)
7. David Terrell - 2005
6. Steve Martin - 2002
5. Chad Brown - 2005
4. Fred McCrary - 2003
3. Rodney Bailey - 2004
2. Monty Beisel - 2005
1. Donald Hayes - 2002
Summary: (counting Panos/Stai/Tylski as one signing in the median year of 2002) 1 in 2000, 3 in 2002, 1 in 2003, 1 in 2004, 3 in 2005, and 1 in 2006.
Average year of signing = (2000*1 + 2002*3 + 2003*1 + 2004*1 + 2005*3 + 2006*1)/10 = 2003.4.
Comparing the above, the numbers definitely show that the top ten signings occurred early in BB/SP's reign, whereas the bottom ten have been almost uniformly distributed over their tenure.
So what does this mean? The success rate is definitely way down, but for what reason?
Some possibilities:
BB/SP have lost their touch.
There are too many teams now trying to emulate the Patriots success, and so competing for the same kind of player.
The pool of former BB players (Phifer/Hamilton/O-T-I-S has gone dry).
Discuss amongst yourselves...
Mike Reiss did a great list of our top 10 and bottom 10 free agent signings of the BB era. As I looked them over I couldn't help but be struck by the fact that all of the 10 best pickups occured before the 2003 season or earlier. In fact, all but 2 occured before the 2001 season which led to our first Super Bowl. The list of worst signings, by contrast, has a lot more recent signings.
Here's my breakdown:
Top 10 list, with year of signing
10. David Patten - 2001
9. Otis Smith - 2000
8. Bobby Hamilton - 2000
7. Larry Izzo - 2001
6. Joe Andruzzi - 2000
5. Roman Phifer - 2001
4. Antowain Smith - 2001
3. Rosevelt Colvin - 2003
2. Rodney Harrison - 2003
1. Mike Vrabel - 2001
Summary: 3 in 2000, 5 in 2001, 2 in 2003.
Average year of signing = (2000*3 + 2001*5 + 2003*2)/10 = 2001.1.
It is also worth noting that only two of the ten (Colvin and Harrison) were higher priced, sought after players. If you take them out of the equation you have 8 of the top 10 free agent signings in the BB era which all occured in 2000 or 2001.
Bottom 10 list, with year of signing
10. Eric Warfield - 2006
9. Antonio Langham - 2000
8. Panos/Stai/Tylski - 2001/2/3 IIRC (Reiss didn't say)
7. David Terrell - 2005
6. Steve Martin - 2002
5. Chad Brown - 2005
4. Fred McCrary - 2003
3. Rodney Bailey - 2004
2. Monty Beisel - 2005
1. Donald Hayes - 2002
Summary: (counting Panos/Stai/Tylski as one signing in the median year of 2002) 1 in 2000, 3 in 2002, 1 in 2003, 1 in 2004, 3 in 2005, and 1 in 2006.
Average year of signing = (2000*1 + 2002*3 + 2003*1 + 2004*1 + 2005*3 + 2006*1)/10 = 2003.4.
Comparing the above, the numbers definitely show that the top ten signings occurred early in BB/SP's reign, whereas the bottom ten have been almost uniformly distributed over their tenure.
So what does this mean? The success rate is definitely way down, but for what reason?
Some possibilities:
BB/SP have lost their touch.
There are too many teams now trying to emulate the Patriots success, and so competing for the same kind of player.
The pool of former BB players (Phifer/Hamilton/O-T-I-S has gone dry).
Discuss amongst yourselves...
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