Free agency

Honolulu Blue · 03-24-2004, 08:59 AM

I'm curious about what the people here think about the importance of free agency. I'll chime in in a day or two with my opinions; I don't want to influence the voting too much.

IMetTrentGreen · 03-24-2004, 08:59 AM

um . . . very.

sachmo71 · 03-24-2004, 09:02 AM

I think it's made for a more enjoyable NFL. I enjoy parity.
I think it's killing hockey. Maybe not free agency in and of itself, but it's a problem.
I don't know enough about basketball, but it seems like the price continues to rise.
I don't like it in baseball, because there is no effective limit.

So, to sum up, I think free agency is great, as long as there are controls on the spending of any one team.

cthomer5000 · 03-24-2004, 09:06 AM

It's important, but way less important than drafting well.

IMetTrentGreen · 03-24-2004, 09:07 AM

its equally important as drafting well, at least, except for the nba

JAG · 03-24-2004, 09:09 AM

Extremely important. The only two ways to put talent on your team is through free agency and the draft. If you draft well, you need less in free agency and can spend more there, but no one hits on all their draft picks, so teams will need to bring in free agents to address holes and depth. Occasionally there are difference makers in free agency that are worthwhile to sign (Troy Vincent, Hugh Douglas, Priest Holmes, LeRoy Glover are the immediate ones who come to mind), but they are few and far between and rarely live up to their contracts. The best free agents are the ones who are borderline starters/reserves for reasonable prices who allow you to improve a position on your team and bolster depth without taking up valuable cap space for the premium players already on your team obtained through the draft.

JAG · 03-24-2004, 09:10 AM

dola

My comments are meant in regards to the NFL.

rkmsuf · 03-24-2004, 09:11 AM

Drafting is A number 1 in the NFL. You just have to find players that can play on the cheap so to speak to have any shot at a deep roster. Free agency is important as a hole filler but I'm not a big fan of what I think is over spending on guys right now.

Free agency is important but more imporatant is picking your spots in free agency...

fantastic flying froggies · 03-24-2004, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

dola

My comments are meant in regards to the NFL.

This whole thread is meant to be in regards to the NFL...

cthomer5000 · 03-24-2004, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

dola

My comments are meant in regards to the NFL.

and Hugh Douglas was an impact F.A. in your opinion? He was acquried from the Jets (to the Eagles) by trade. His signing with Jacksonville was widely considered among the worst F.A. signings of the last off-season.

rkmsuf · 03-24-2004, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

and Hugh Douglas was an impact F.A. in your opinion? He was acquried from the Jets (to the Eagles) by trade. His signing with Jacksonville was widely considered among the worst F.A. signings of the last off-season.

Man, that was a bad one...

AgPete · 03-24-2004, 09:19 AM

Somewhat important.

For every La'Roi Glover, there's a Hugh Douglas.

Very few players are let go in the prime of their career. Most have injury, age or other issues that led to their release. The draft is still the most important way to build a team. Thanks goodness the Redskins haven't figured this out yet so my Cowboys will have it easier in the NFC East.

Darkiller · 03-24-2004, 09:33 AM

Free Agency is important, but the draft is certainly twice as more.
For every big name guy you pay for in F.A (and you pay him big bucks), you can get 3-4 cheaper/younger players through the draft.

JAG · 03-24-2004, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

and Hugh Douglas was an impact F.A. in your opinion? He was acquried from the Jets (to the Eagles) by trade. His signing with Jacksonville was widely considered among the worst F.A. signings of the last off-season.

Sorry, I went by memory on that one. I thought the Eagles got him through free agency. I certainly didn't mean to imply he was an impact player for Jacksonville.

FFF: I know, but others prior to myself were bringing up other sports.

In short, teams get their best impact players through the draft because the best players are not normally made available, but free agency is vital to bring in role players, spot starters, injury insurance, holes not filled through drafting well, etc.

cthomer5000 · 03-24-2004, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

In short, teams get their best impact players through the draft because the best players are not normally made available, but free agency is vital to bring in role players, spot starters, injury insurance, holes not filled through drafting well, etc.

I agree with that nearly 100%. The truly elite players are generally available only through the draft. Starters can certainly be found through free agency, but it's fairly rare to find a true superstar switch teams. If anything you're more likely to see late breakout players (Priest Holmes, Jake Delhomme, etc.).

IMetTrentGreen · 03-24-2004, 11:03 AM

again, they are equally important. you can win by the draft alone (steelers) and you can't win by free agency alone (redskins)

fantastic flying froggies · 03-24-2004, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMetTrentGreen

again, they are equally important. you can't win by the draft alone (steelers) and you can't win by free agency alone (redskins)

surely you meant this ?

View Poll Results: How important is signing free agents from other teams in today's NFL?
Very - it's impossible to build a successful team without doing so	12	33.33%
Somewhat - an important tool, but no more than the other ways of getting players	17	47.22%
Not very - icing on the cake, perhaps, but good teams primarily use other methods	6	16.67%
Meaningless - you mean the NFL has a free agents?	1	2.78%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

03-24-2004, 09:11 AM	#8
rkmsuf Head Coach Join Date: Dec 2001	Drafting is A number 1 in the NFL. You just have to find players that can play on the cheap so to speak to have any shot at a deep roster. Free agency is important as a hole filler but I'm not a big fan of what I think is over spending on guys right now. Free agency is important but more imporatant is picking your spots in free agency... __________________ "Don't you have homes?" -- Judge Smales Last edited by rkmsuf : 03-24-2004 at 09:12 AM.

03-24-2004, 09:19 AM	#12
AgPete College Prospect Join Date: Jan 2001	Somewhat important. For every La'Roi Glover, there's a Hugh Douglas. Very few players are let go in the prime of their career. Most have injury, age or other issues that led to their release. The draft is still the most important way to build a team. Thanks goodness the Redskins haven't figured this out yet so my Cowboys will have it easier in the NFC East. __________________ Click here for the FOF2004 World Football League Dynasty (WFL) - Football Goes Global! OOTP5 Psychology Experiment (Incomplete but fun read for MLB fans.) The FOFC All-Time NFL Team - Voted on by FOFC members.

03-24-2004, 09:33 AM	#13
Darkiller FOF2 Guy Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Paris, France	Free Agency is important, but the draft is certainly twice as more. For every big name guy you pay for in F.A (and you pay him big bucks), you can get 3-4 cheaper/younger players through the draft. __________________ FOF2 lives on / Continue to support the best game ever ! - Owner of the San Francisco 49ers in FOF2 - Charter member of the IHOF and owner of the Paris Musketeers franchise (FOF2004) - Chairman of the IHOF Hall of Fame - Athletic Director of the Brigham Young Cougars in TCY FOF Legend: Hall of Fame QB Brock Sheriff #5, one of the most popular player in Front Office Football history.

03-24-2004, 08:59 AM	#2
IMetTrentGreen College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Austin, Texas	um . . . very.

03-24-2004, 09:02 AM	#3
sachmo71 The boy who cried Trout Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: TX	I think it's made for a more enjoyable NFL. I enjoy parity. I think it's killing hockey. Maybe not free agency in and of itself, but it's a problem. I don't know enough about basketball, but it seems like the price continues to rise. I don't like it in baseball, because there is no effective limit. So, to sum up, I think free agency is great, as long as there are controls on the spending of any one team.

03-24-2004, 09:07 AM	#5
IMetTrentGreen College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Austin, Texas	its equally important as drafting well, at least, except for the nba

03-24-2004, 09:09 AM	#6
JAG Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: St. Paul, MN	Extremely important. The only two ways to put talent on your team is through free agency and the draft. If you draft well, you need less in free agency and can spend more there, but no one hits on all their draft picks, so teams will need to bring in free agents to address holes and depth. Occasionally there are difference makers in free agency that are worthwhile to sign (Troy Vincent, Hugh Douglas, Priest Holmes, LeRoy Glover are the immediate ones who come to mind), but they are few and far between and rarely live up to their contracts. The best free agents are the ones who are borderline starters/reserves for reasonable prices who allow you to improve a position on your team and bolster depth without taking up valuable cap space for the premium players already on your team obtained through the draft.

03-24-2004, 09:10 AM	#7
JAG Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: St. Paul, MN	dola My comments are meant in regards to the NFL.

03-24-2004, 11:03 AM	#16
IMetTrentGreen College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Austin, Texas	again, they are equally important. you can win by the draft alone (steelers) and you can't win by free agency alone (redskins)

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