PRO FOOTBALL FREE AGENCY.COMYear Round Coverage of Player Movement in the NFL
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 FA 2007 in Review: Chargers Locked, Broncos Re-Loaded
It was the best of the AFC, it was the worst of the AFC. It
was a knock-out performance by LeDainian Thomlinson and the knock-out
blow sustained by Trent Green. It was the emergence of Jay Cutler
and the continued miredom of Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders. It
was the majesty and bombast of grand opera and the sobering slap of
reality. It was typical AFC West, home of Rivalfest, the most
fiercely fought division in the NFL.
And not all of their stories have a happy ending. |
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The San Diego Chargers' storybook season ended with
rancor on and off the field. Thomlinson took umbrage at the
Patriots on-field celebration and Charger GM A.J. Smith dismissed HC
Marty Schottenheimer for failing to advance in the play-off, but only
after both co-ordinators had bolted the Bolts. Still, the Bolts'
window of opportunity is propped wide open, with 20 of 24 starters
(kickers included) through the 2009 season. Having drafted
wisely,they have the league's best player, a young, talented offensive
line, a rising star in QB Phillip Rivers, the best TE in Anthony Gates,
outstanding defenders, and a special teams unit studded with All-Pros.
Things look so good for the Chargers that OG Kris Dielman turned down
more money from the Seattle Seahawks to remain with the team.
This is, without question, A.J. Smith's team and that could be the problem. Nobody questions Norv Turner's offensive bona fides, but he finds himself in an eerily familiar situation. In previous stints in Oakland and Washington, Turner was the Head Coach, but did not have final authority. That belonged to Al Davis and Dan Snyder. In San Diego, it will belong to Smith. The Chargers opens the year against play-off tested Chicago and New England and an 0-2 start will not boost the confidence of players, fans, and-- most especially-- A.J. Smith. Denver's heart-breaking loss to the 49ers turned to genuine tragedy with the murder of Darrent Williams and the untimely death of Damien Nash. The Broncos will wear decals on their helmets in memory of both players this season. Teams often react to such adversity by using it as a rallying point and the emotional charge could carry the Broncos deep into the play-offs. Travis Henry (Titans) is the best pure runner Denver's had since Clinton Portis. He has between-the-tackles power and one-cut-and-go speed. Establishing the ground game will help take pressure off Cutler and keep the defense well rested. Beyond Jevon Walker, however, problems loom at wide receiver. Rod Smith's hip continues to keep him on the sidelines, Brandon Marshall seems incapable of going through a week of practice with getting injured, and David Kircus faces trial on assault charges. Brandon Stokely (Colts), if healthy, will run routes from the slot. The Broncos stole TE Daniel Graham, a good blocker and underrated receiver, from the Patriots. He may become Cutler's best outlet option. But it's the late-season failings of the defense that has kept the Bronco's our of the Super Bowl. By trading for Dre Bly, Denver has the premiere set of cornerbacks in the league and should allow DC Jim Bates new avenues to apply pressure on opposing QBs. Last year's defensive line-- mostly made up of discarded Browns. failed to generate that pressure. Denver dedicated their 2007 draft to correcting the problem. They also added DT Sam Adams (Bengals), who can still be effective, but not as an every down player. Neck injuries forced LB Al Lewis into retirement. Released by the Broncos, Wilson came close to signing with the Giants before failing his Physical. D.J. Williams moves into the middle, with Warrick Holdman playing the strong side. Holdman, along with D.D. Lewis (Seahawks), will also help out on special teams. Punter Todd Sauerbrun signed with the Broncos twice: once as an RFA, and again when an arbitration hearing allowed him to finally leave the Patriots. The book on the Dick Vermiel years in Kansas City is officially closed. Chapter Two of the Herm Edwards Era will find the Chiefs playing to win the game, but they may not win very many. They cleaned house with a sand blaster: Dante Hall, Kawika Mitchell, Ryan Sims, Sammy Knight, Lenny Walls, Jordan Black, Eric Hicks, Kendal Gammon, and James Reed are all gone. Like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chiefs are openly collecting draft picks to replace the players who won't be back in 2008. The offense will focus on RB Larry Johnson, an extremely talented back with an extremely poor attitude. Johnson has already threatened hold out/opt out without a contract to his liking. He is already rumored to be on the trading block. QB Trent Green, after weeks of haggling, was finally traded to Miami. The Chiefs chose to re-sign Damon Huard, who lived the back-up quarterback's dream season in 2006. Back in Realityland, Huard may back up Brody Croyle in 2007. Several seasons too late, the defense is improving. Newcomers Alfonso Boone (Bears), Donnie Edwards (Chargers), Napoleon Harris (Vikings), and Jon McGraw (Lions) will help continue the trend. Jared Allen signed his franchise tag offer and will spend 2007 re-habbing his image and showing off his considerable skills. He'll have two more games to do it, now that the league has reduced his four game suspension for substance abuse. The Silver and Black Comedy that is the Oakland Raiders have a new starting quarterback, but he may not start for long. Josh McCown (Lions) is big, strong armed quarterback who can make plays on the move. In other words, he is the perfect case study for rookie JaMarcus Russell. How much abuse McCown endures will depend on an offensive line that was misused and badly coached in 2006. The Raiders will switch to the now ubiquitous zone blocking scheme, the less savory aspects of which will appease Black Hole regulars. G Cooper Carlisle (Broncos) knows the system well and will help the other linemen to adapt. Jeremy Newberry (49ers) will back up Jake Grove for as long as his knees hold up and TE's Tony Stewart (Bengals) and Fred Wakefield (Cardinals) are veteran blockers who will be asked to stay in and protect McCown and, eventually, Russell. RB Dominic Rhodes (Colts) pissed away whatever good will his Super Bowl MVP may have brought him and earned a four game suspension in the process. FB Justin Griffith (Falcons) is an outstanding player whose role in the offense will expand as the season wears on. Oakland already had a kennel of coach's dog house regulars and added another when they acquired Mike Williams (Lions) in the Josh McCown trade. However, new HC Lane Kifflin's amnesty program might save a couple of their careers. Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry, and Doug Gabriel are all talented receivers and will benefit from a more varied (read: not just fly patterns) offensive system. |
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