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Since free agency started, I maintain that one, and just one team bought a title via free agency. The Packers came close with picking up Reggie White, but no one compares to 1994 San Francisco 49ers. The facts:
The 1994 49ers added at least seven free agents. Now, there was some great talent on that roster from 1993, in particular Steve Young and Jerry Rice (Wesley Walls departed before '94). Stubblefied and Young were second year/rooks, respectively. Otherwise the team was somewhat pedestrian with aging or recently departed pro bowl talent all over the roster. Guys like Taylor, Merton Hanks, and Brent Jones come to mind. Was Ricky Watters a special talent? I think not.
In 1994, The key purchase was Deion Sanders. He changed the complexion of the defense and special teams. According to Cliff Cristl's 'a few great talented players make the difference' theory (which I agree with), Sanders was a huge addition. He was subsequently added to Dallas in 1995 and helped them over the Superbowl hump (to the Packers' chagrin). In 1994 They also bought and added solid starters Ken Norton from the Cowboys and also Gary Plummer (LB) , Richard Dent and Charles Mann (DEs - both just about out of gas), and even dragged Tim Harris away from his restaurant to play a few downs. Of course they had already pilfered Charles Haley from Dallas in 92 (he returned to Dallas in '95) LBs Mitchell and Rickey Jackson (from N.O.) were also added in '94. Bart Oates and Chris Dalman were brought in for the O-line.
That's a lot of players brought in specifically to beat the Cowboys and pretty much to win one more time with aging great talent. I think that without the additions, with just Young and Rice as their special talented players, the 49ers would have never made the Superbowl. In my opinion, they bought the '94 title.
I consulted http://www.sf49ers.com/history/ to jog my memory
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The reson I post this is that I think it's impossible to do the same now, because it's unheard of to move a guy like a Deion Sanders anymore. No team wants to give up a guy with that kind of talent when they can francise 'em. There were some guys available for the Packers to sign in the off-season, but there's just no way a guy like Steve Hutchinson is goingo come in and cange the fate of a team.
The 1994 49ers added at least seven free agents. Now, there was some great talent on that roster from 1993, in particular Steve Young and Jerry Rice (Wesley Walls departed before '94). Stubblefied and Young were second year/rooks, respectively. Otherwise the team was somewhat pedestrian with aging or recently departed pro bowl talent all over the roster. Guys like Taylor, Merton Hanks, and Brent Jones come to mind. Was Ricky Watters a special talent? I think not.
In 1994, The key purchase was Deion Sanders. He changed the complexion of the defense and special teams. According to Cliff Cristl's 'a few great talented players make the difference' theory (which I agree with), Sanders was a huge addition. He was subsequently added to Dallas in 1995 and helped them over the Superbowl hump (to the Packers' chagrin). In 1994 They also bought and added solid starters Ken Norton from the Cowboys and also Gary Plummer (LB) , Richard Dent and Charles Mann (DEs - both just about out of gas), and even dragged Tim Harris away from his restaurant to play a few downs. Of course they had already pilfered Charles Haley from Dallas in 92 (he returned to Dallas in '95) LBs Mitchell and Rickey Jackson (from N.O.) were also added in '94. Bart Oates and Chris Dalman were brought in for the O-line.
That's a lot of players brought in specifically to beat the Cowboys and pretty much to win one more time with aging great talent. I think that without the additions, with just Young and Rice as their special talented players, the 49ers would have never made the Superbowl. In my opinion, they bought the '94 title.
I consulted http://www.sf49ers.com/history/ to jog my memory
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The reson I post this is that I think it's impossible to do the same now, because it's unheard of to move a guy like a Deion Sanders anymore. No team wants to give up a guy with that kind of talent when they can francise 'em. There were some guys available for the Packers to sign in the off-season, but there's just no way a guy like Steve Hutchinson is goingo come in and cange the fate of a team.
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