CLATYON- WINNERS AND LOSERS OF FREE AGENCY

[Bretsky]

It's laughable that this stuff is even being written just one week into free agency, but here it is

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3274514

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm quite happy not to be on the winner's list.

I'd venture to guess that most on the winner's list in previous years didn't see dramatic improvement.

[Bretsky]

It's interesting to see the Jets sign Damon Woody; four first round draft picks on the list

I doubt Green Bay will ever be on either list just a week into it

[HarveyWallbangers]

It's interesting to see the Jets sign Damon Woody; four first round draft picks on the list

I doubt Green Bay will ever be on either list just a week into it

I'm guessing that they might make a list this year--if they sign a couple of guys.

The got a 2nd round pick for Williams and they won't lose any other meaningful players. If they sign a couple of players, somebody will jump on their bandwagon. I think some of the national writers are starting to become aware that overspending on average players hasn't worked out that well.

[PackerBlues]

Thompson has to be on the "winners list" already. He has been busier this off season than he was at this time last year. What will it take to make people happy? Thompson has not only gotten the team an extra 2'nd round pick for the draft, but has also signed OL Joe Toledo.

[BallHawk]

I think the media now realizes that TT doesn't need to sign FAs to win.

[Freak Out]

Winners and losers? Take a look in the mirror Clayton. Ok...he does have a job to do but these schmucks are all the same. Mort and his #4 story about Moss is the same BS. We'll see who the winners and losers are next January.

Speaking of Moss....now that he is officially back with the Pats does Favre retire on Tuesday? Better put in a call to Mort.

[gbpackfan]

Aren't the Vikings on the "Winners" list every year? And then the games are no longer played on paper, and they're losers again. Clayton is a dweeb.

[Deputy Nutz]

This is stupid. Teams have an agenda, and usually weak teams make a splash in free agency, and usually remain weak.

The Cleveland Browns have mortgaged their future with the trades for Williams and Rodgers, if those two don't play up to expectations the have really put a serious dent in their future with losing all of their first day picks.

[Brohm]

Anyone have the "winner's list" from last year?

[Lurker64]

Anyone have the "winner's list" from last year?

Here you go

Pretty comical in retrospect.

Winners include: the 1-15 Miami Dolphins, the 5-11 San Francisco 49ers, and the 7-9 Denver Broncos. The Patriots and Bucs did in fact improve.

Losers include: Superbowl Champion New York Giants, the NFC Runner Up Green Bay Packers, and the Houston Texans who just had the best season in the history of their franchise (they were 8-8 while playing in a division where each of the other 3 teams made the playoffs.) The Raiders and Ravens did legitimately get worse.

[sepporepi]

He got 2 out of 5 right both times . For a sports writer it is a pretty good rate

[Iron Mike]

I'm just happy to see Chicago in the "Losers" section. :P

[Fritz]

Lurker, thanks for posting last year's "winners and losers" column.

Har har har. John Clayton knows about as much as I do about football, yet he gets paid lots of money to make up shit.

And yes, the Queens are usually everybody's favorite off-season most-improved, and after their new and questionable signings, they will be again.

Free agency is a way to buy some (temporary) good press for teams. Damien Woody is not going to push the Jets into the playoffs. Tommy Kelly is not going to put the Raiders over the top.

[pittstang5]

I was watching NFL Total Access last night and Adam Shefter and Rod Woodson did a similiar segment of winners and losers. Adam stated that he thought the Packers were losers, because they had a chance to sign Moss and didn't, stating that bringing in Moss would ensure Favre coming back. I disagree and think to label the packers as losers because they didn't pick up Moss is asinine.