Free agency

[Honolulu Blue]

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]

um . . . very.

[sachmo71]

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]

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

[IMetTrentGreen]

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

[JAG]

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]

dola

My comments are meant in regards to the NFL.

[rkmsuf]

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]

dola

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

[cthomer5000]

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]

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]

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. :p

[Darkiller]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 ?