The Biggest Disappointments so Far This NFL Offseason

Every NFL offseason has winners and losers.

While most offseasons moves cannot be truly evaluated until some point during the ensuing season, fans and analysts are quick to judge events in real time.

This offseason has been no different, as teams and individuals have been both celebrated and chastised for the decisions they have made.

Some of these groups and individuals have raised excitement, some have drawn extreme criticism.

There are some that are so downright baffling that you cannot help but shake your head.

Today, we will take a look at some of the biggest disappointments of the 2013 offseason to date.

QB Geno Smith

Hoping to strengthen the quarterback position, the New York Jets decided to spend a second-round draft pick on former West Virginia signal-caller Geno Smith back in April.

It seems that the Jets hope that Smith can either provide an upgrade over incumbent starter Mark Sanchez or push Sanchez enough in camp to raise his level of play to an acceptable standard.

While the impending training camp battle has yet to take place, Smith had done little this offseason to inspire confidence that he can handle the pressure should he win the starting job.

Shortly after being drafted, Smith fired his agents, blaming them for his slide into the second round (most analysts predicted that Smith would be the first quarterback off the board, somewhere in Round 1).

While Smith certainly isn't the first pro athlete to blame someone else for an undesired outcome, the move comes across as an immature act by an individual not ready to face the reality of business in the NFL.

Next up was Smith's highly-publicized deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation agency, which seems to indicate that the quarterback is ready for the celebrity side of pro football, but does nothing for his preparation on the field.

Then there was Smith's refusal to participate in Sanchez's Jets West camp, a move that Ernie Palladino of CBS New York calls "a direct slap to the face of the incumbent from a kid who has yet to take a pro snap."

The Jets are no strangers to celebrity quarterbacks, but if Smith is going to help this team turn things around from last year's 6-10 debacle, he would do better to keep his head down, put in some hard work and make his statements on the field.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos did nearly everything right in 2012, falling just a few plays short of reaching the Super Bowl.

Denver's 2013 offseason has not been quite as spectacular.

The offseason hasn't been a complete disaster, especially in terms of roster movement. However, a troubling trend of DUI arrests has prompted much head-shaking and finger-wagging in the direction of the Broncos front office.

So far this offseason, two front office employees—director of pro personnel Tom Heckert and director of player personnel Matt Russell—have been arrested for suspicion of drunken driving, as has offensive lineman Quentin Saulsberry.

According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, Russell has been handed an indefinite suspension for his July 6 arrest, while Heckert has been suspended for one month for a June 11 arrest. Both suspensions are without pay.

Klis has also reported that Saulsberry was arrested on May 19 and charged with a lane usage violation and DUI.

While the news of player arrests has become a common occurrence during the NFL offseason, it is rare for the people expected to help keep the players in line to be the ones getting arrested.

When your personnel and your players are getting into trouble for the same offense, it seems that your organization has a very real problem.

WR Justin Blackmon

Late in his 2012 rookie season, Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon emerged as a legitimate downfield threat and the Jaguars biggest offensive weapon.

Blackmon led all rookies in receptions (64) and receiving yardage (865) last season and figured to be a central part of Jacksonville's offense heading into 2013.

Of course, that was before Blackmon went and got himself suspended.

Blackmon has a bit of a history of off-field trouble, having been arrested for DUI in college and less than two months after being drafted.

Blackmon's latest incident, a violation of the league's substance abuse policy, has landed him a four-game suspension.

This is especially troubling for the Jaguars, who are about to embark on the least-anticipated quarterback competition of the year.

Third-year player Blaine Gabbert is expected to battle journeyman Chad Henne for the starting job.

Whichever quarterback emerges as the starter could begin the season on a relatively short leash and will need all the help they can get early in the season.

Unfortunately, that early help won't be coming from Blackmon.

New England Patriots

This time of year, we are usually talking about how fantastically the New England Patriots have manipulated the offseason.

This year, however, is a different story.

Not only did the Patriots allow a large portion of their vaunted offense—including Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd and running back Danny Woodhead—to walk during the offseason, but the team did little to restock the cupboard.

That is, unless you count the high-dollar acquisition of former St. Louis Ram Danny Amendola as reloading the arsenal (which most don't).

Considering that Amendola's career total of 1,726 yards and seven touchdowns—only 372 yards and a lone touchdown more than what Welker produced during the 2012 season—it is easy to see why there is some cause for concern.

New England is also facing some very serious questions at the tight end position, which may or may not be part of the reason the team brought in former Broncos and Jets quarterback/personal punt protector Tim Tebow (which may or not be a joke).

It is more than a little strange to see the Patriots virtually stand still during the offseason, while division rival teams like the Miami Dolphins have taken significant steps to upgrade their team.

While the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick are well known for releasing key players before they pass their prime, it is still a little odd to see them allow a weapon such a Welker head to a conference rival like the Broncos.

It is also more than a little disappointing.

WR Josh Gordon

If you happened to be paying attention (and we won't blame you if you weren't), the Cleveland Browns did not have a second-round selection in April's draft.

That pick was used to select former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon in last year's supplemental draft, a move that surprised more than a few people around the league.

Gordon entered the supplemental draft after being dismissed from the Baylor program in 2011
(and subsequently transferring to Utah and sitting out for a year) for violation of the team's rules, which apparently included multiple failed drug tests.

Gordon vowed to reward the Browns for taking a risk on him, telling Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer, "The Cleveland Browns stuck their neck out and risked taking me and put their faith and belief in me, and I won't let them down."

His word rang true on the field, where the rookie piled up 50 receptions for 805 yards and five touchdowns, despite spending more than a year away from the game before his NFL debut.

Off the field, however, is another story.

Gordon was recently handed a two-game suspension for violation of the league's substance abuse policy, which means that second-year quarterback Brandon Weeden will have to begin the season without his top target.

Gordon certainly did let down the Browns by getting himself suspended and has disappointed a team that took a huge gamble by selecting him in the first place.