NFL: Top 5 Worst Off Season Moves

The NFL off-season is filled with countless trades and free agent pickups, with some being good and some bad.
This year was no different as teams shelled out big bucks to make lots of trades, and gain free agents.
From big tickets, to free agents, to under the radar signings, the off-season had it all.
Today, I’ll take a look at the worst moves of the off season.

5. Redskins Resign DeAngelo Hall to Six Years, $54million Contract

The Redskins signed Hall to a monster contract that includes $24 million of guaranteed money, during the season.
This is his second monster contract in the past two off seasons. He signed a seven years, $72 million contract with Oakland last year, but was cut after only eight games.
If Al Davis cut him after only eight games, you have to know something is wrong.

After signing Hall the Redskins then cut veteran corner Shaun Springs because they couldn’t afford both of them.
While Springs may be older than Hall, he is still the better cover corner of the two. Instead of making the better football decision the Redskins went with the flash and flare of Hall.
The Redskins are Hall’s third team and in five seasons. He was run out of both Atlanta and Oakland, and we could soon be adding Washington to that list.

4. Raiders select Darius Heyward-Bey with 7th overall pick

When the Raiders selected Darius Heyward-Bey with the 7th pick in the draft Radio City Music Hall erupted in "boos".
Right after that, the draft experts started to pile on Al Davis and the entire Raider organization. Heyward-Bey was the consensus number four wide receiver in the draft behind Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, and Percy Harvin.

The Raiders selected Heyward-Bey for one reason only- his speed. He ran the fastest forty time at the combine for receivers, running a 4.30 flat.
Unfortunately, running forty yards in a straight line without pads doesn’t make you a good football player. He never had over 800 yards in a season at college or caught more than fifty one passes.
He has potential, but needs time to develop and he won’t get that in Oakland with all the pressure on him now to produce and prove his worth.
How they passed on Michael Crabtree, the only two time winner of the Biletnikoff award, is mind boggling.
The Raiders dropped the ball with the pick and they will continue their losing ways with picks like these.

3. Browns Trade Kellen Winslow to Buccaneers

A new regime in now in charge in Cleveland and they did not like the attitude of Kellen Winslow Jr., who wanted to re-do his contract or wanted out. They didn’t want to upgrade his contract so they shipped him to Tampa Bay.

They did get a second round pick in return but this trade was a step back for the Browns. Winslow was arguably their best offensive weapon and trading him won’t solve any problems.
The Browns have replaced him with Robert Royal who is nothing more than a blocking specialist. Look for the Browns offense to be one of the worst in the NFL next year without Winslow.
It will be tough for either Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson next year when their throwing to a couple of rookies and the league leader in drops, Braylon Edwards.
They have kept Braylon Edwards for now and while he struggled with drops last year, he is their only weapon on offense. There are still a few lingering rumors about dealing him.

2. Redskins Sign Albert Haynesworth to Seven Years, $100 Million Contract

Albert Haynesworth was the biggest name on the free agent market and thus got the biggest deal. They gave him the largest contract ever for a defender and the most guaranteed money in the history of the NFL.
The contract is mainly back loaded and the Redskins will most likely release him of restructure his deal after four seasons.

There is no doubt that Haynesworth is an extremely talented player. The problem is that he doesn’t always play up to his talent level.
He was extremely productive the last two seasons but those two seasons happened to be contract years. I would be hesitant to give a player that much money knowing he might pack it in once he receives his fat pay check.
Haynesworth also had had some temper problems in the past. He kicked one of his teammates in the chest during practice and also stomped on Andre Gurode’s face after his helmet came off which resulted in a five game suspension.
Haynesworth has only played sixteen games once in his career and that was his rookie season. The Redskins have had problems in the past with big money free agents and it looks like this move may follow in line.

1. Broncos Fire Mike Shanahan and Hire Josh McDaniels

Following a late season collapse that resulted in the Broncos missing the playoffs, Broncos' owner Pat Bowlan decided to fire coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan was one of the longest tenured coaches in the league where coaches have short lives.
Shanahan has been coaching toe Broncos since 1995 and he won two Super Bowls with them. Shanahan was famous for turning no name running backs into 1,000 yard rushers. Shanahan was loved by the players and the fans and surely will be missed in Denver.

The Broncos decided to hire Josh McDaniels, a thirty three year old, offensive coordinator from the New England Patriots.
Right away McDaniels was marred in controversy after trying to trade franchise quarterback Jay Cutler for his quarterback in New England Matt Cassel. That infuriated Cutler which lead to his trade to Chicago and now Kyle Orton is their starting quarterback.
The Broncos have also had many questionable free agent signings including signing three running backs then drafting one in the first round. McDaniels reminds me of another young coach who thinks his shit doesn’t stink in Lane Kiffin. Kiffin got off to a rough start in Oakland and was run out in the middle of last season and has hasn’t been making friends at Tennessee.
Also while Belichick is a phenomenal coach, coaches from his staff that went on to be head coaches have been less than stellar. Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis, and Eric Mangini have been underwhelming as head coaches in college and the pros.
While it’s still early, Josh McDaniels looks like he is the next name to be added to that list.