Free Agency - The NFL Silly Season

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES


In 2011, after an enforced lock out due to labour difficulties between the NFL team owners and the players unions, the period known as free agency came AFTER the NFL draft.  Free Agency is a period comparable to the opening of the transfer window opening in the Premiership, with the major difference being that these players can speak to ANY team they want, mostly without asking the permission of their previous team.

The Philadelphia Eagles (my team) were amongst the most aggressive teams in the 2011 Free Agency period, bringing in the coveted Nmandi Asomugha at Corner back from Oakland, Superbowl winning defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins from Green Bay, Tennessee Titans pass rusher Jason Babin, New York Giants receiver Steve Smith Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown and Titans QB Vince Young.  It was the latter of these players who dubbed the Eagles as "The Dream Team."  Thanks for that, douche bag.

The Eagles never got going in 2011, eventually finishing 8-8 mainly thanks to a four game winning run at the end of the season.  Asomugha struggled in a new scheme, Jenkins and Babin excelled with their new team, Young was a bit part player who showed flashes but was ultimately a flop, while Brown and Smith could well be two of the most unpopular players ever to pull on an Eagles jersey.  Smith won the love and affection of all Eagles fans for taking a knee two yards short of a first down when he thought he was going to be tackled by an Arizona defender.

So when the starting gun was fired on the 2012 Free Agency, many people were waiting to see what the Eagles would do.  And they didn't have to wait long...as they agreed contract extensions with OG Todd Herremans and DE Trent Cole.  OK, securing two of the most promising talents on both lines.  But what next? A new long term deal for dynamic play maker DeSean Jackson, after a troubled 2011.  OK, so any splashes? Yes! Oh no, rumours of a new contract for star running back LeSean McCoy.  Did the Eagles know what time of year it was?

As it was, these moves were lauded by many within the NFL.  The Eagles were not as bad in 2011 as there results would indicate, and the money counters in charge were taking steps to ensure that the team maintained its core base of players.  Some teams were out paying absolute stupid money, with ordinary players receiving huge deals based on the smallest body of work imaginable.

Then, in the middle of the night, the Eagles finally entered the fray, completing a trade for the Houston Texans ILB DeMeco Ryans, for a 4th round draft pick and an exchange of 3rd rounders.  This is one of the most exciting moves the Eagles have made for years.  A legitimate stud at the position that had troubled the Eagles since 2005.  This trade now allows the Eagles to address positions at the draft in areas of strength, rather than need.  Will it be the catalyst in the Eagles finally claiming a Championship come February? Time will have to tell.

AFTER THE LONG WAIT


So Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest run getter in International Cricket History, finally reached his 100th international century.  Since falling for 111 (my sister ALWAYS said that number was bad luck) against South Africa on March 12th 2011, Tendulkar then went 34 innings across all formats and over a year before reaching 114...against Bangladesh.  In those 34 innings had been a World Cup Final, four tests in a series to defend the number one Test ranking against England, and four tests on his return to a place where he had played some of his finest innings, Australia.  And after all these EVENTS, he reaches the milestone against the minnows...and loses the match.

In the same Indian side is a young man whose last four trips to the crease have yielded 490 runs, at an average of 163.3, with three of the innings ending in hundreds.  Virat Kolhi at the moment is a man who looks ready to take the mantle for India in limited overs cricket, time must also tell for him if he is to build on the 116 he managed in the fourth test against Australia and become the replacement for Sachin in Test cricket.