NFL Trade Rumors: 20 Shockers To Watch for in 2011 Offseason
NFL trade rumors can take on a life of their own, even well before the 2010 playoffs are over.
With free agency and the draft not all that far down the road, there are changes on the horizon for several teams, even those that had great seasons in 2010.
And while we the greatest shockers would be something ridiculous like the New England Patriots trading Tom Brady for Tim Tebow or Jim Harbaugh declaring that he would be the starting quarterback for the 2011 San Francisco 49ers, we'll try to keep it to relatively possible "shockers."
No. 20: Terrell Owens Lands in St. Louis
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There have been reports that the Owens "would love" to play for the St. Louis Rams and their (likely) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback.
The 37-year-old wide receiver is a free agent after signing with the Cincinnati Bengals late in the 2010 offseason. And Owens put up fine numbers in his 15th year in the NFL.
Despite missing the final two weeks of the regular season, he caught 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns. But he ruffled some feathers at the end of the team's 11-game losing streak when he laid the blame across the board. And all reports have him not returning.
The Rams, who struggled to provide receiving depth for Bradford, especially after the season-ending injury to Mark Clayton are definitely in the market for a wide out.
Still, bringing a controversial potential "locker room cancer" to a team with a young head coach and mostly youth on the roster is a gamble.
No. 19: Alex Smith Returns to San Francisco
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The Jim Harbaugh era could very well begin with a quarterback being drafted in the first round.
But they will still need veteran leadership at some point, even if that quarterback is expected to start in Week 1.
And although David Carr remains signed for next season and Alex Smith and Troy Smith aren't expected to be back, they 49ers might want to consider retaining Alex Smith.
Smith is intelligent and has athleticism. If Harbaugh is as much of a quarterback guru as people say, he should be able to design an offense that takes advantage of those two qualities.
And, since Smith has a lot of rehabbing to do to his career, he could come on the cheap.
No. 18: Bill Parcells Returns to the NFL
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It won't be as a head coach, but Parcells has to be looking for a return to the game.
Was it a coincidence that things fell apart in Miami right after he left the Dolphins?
And the 49ers already brought Parcells in for "advice."
Parcells isn't terribly young, but he has been around the game for so long that it's hard to think he'll walk away: Every other time he has walked away from his "last job" (Patriots, Jets, Cowboys, Dolphins) he's come back.
Like the Browns did with Mike Holmgren, team's would love to bring in a successful head coach and not have to pay him head coach money.
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No. 17: The Madden Curse Will Finally End
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Isn't it about time!?
Everyone knows about the curse that befell Marshall Faulk, Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper and the rest.
And since the cover of Madden NFL 11 featured Drew Brees, who threw a career high 22 interceptions, twice as many as last season and were upset in the opening round of the playoffs, the curse is alive and well.
Any number of players could be on next year's cover, but since Tom Brady is probably a safe bet, he's as likely as anyone to break the cycle.
No. 16: The Browns Keep Jake Delhomme
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After a very good rookie season, Colt McCoy appears to be the future in Cleveland.
That's led to the speculation that last year's free agent acquisition Jake Delhomme (owed $5.4 million next season) will be cut.
But since the Browns are hoping to hire Mike McCoy as their offensive coordinator that could change. McCoy was Delhomme's quarterbacks coach for six seasons in Carolina.
That potential reunion could lead to a contract restructure.
No. 15: The Bills Commit To Ryan Fitzpatrick
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The Bills have been looking for the heir apparent to Jim Kelly's legacy for more than a decade now. They tried to fill the gapping hole at quarterback with Rob Johnson, Drew Bledsoe, J.P. Losman and Trent Edwards.
And when the team had the worst record in the NFL, there was hope that they would draft Andrew Luck. But in the second half of the season, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who seemed to be a place holder, turned out a pretty good year.
In only 13 starts, he completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. Considering the Bills other holes, especially on defense, and the free agent status of Paul Posluszny, spending more money on another quarterback (free agent or first round draft choice) is a mistake.
No. 14: Matt Hasselbeck Leaves Seattle
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Considering the fantastic game he had in the miracle win over the Saints last week, you'd figure the Seahawks would have no choice but re-sign Matt Hasselbeck after the season ends.
But they did sign Charlie Whitehurst to a two-year, $8 million deal last spring. And Whitehurst showed promise in the NFC West clinching victory over the Rams.
Seattle will try and retain Hasselbeck, but the man who took the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl in franchise history will want to be compensated better.
No. 13: Detroit Pursues Another Quarterback
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The Lions are paying their 2009 first overall draft choice Matthew Stafford a ton of money. And he has played very well in the scant appearances he's made.
There's no reason why he cannot recover from a third arm injury in two seasons and become the franchise quarterback everyone expects him to be.
But that cannot be a certainty.
Whether it's via free agency or the draft, the Lions have to consider a backup plan that's a bit more reliable than Drew Stanton or Shaun Hill.
No. 12: Donovan McNabb Joins the Cardinals
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Donovan McNabb has said all the right things, but how can he really want to stay in Washington after the year he suffered through in 2010?
There are several teams in the market for a new quarterback: Tennessee, Miami, San Francisco, Minnesota, maybe even Seattle.
But the Cardinals have the most pressing need. And if Ken Wisenhunt could resurrect Kurt Warner's career, he could do the same for McNabb.
No. 11: Wholesale Change in Indianapolis
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No, they aren't going to let Peyton Manning leave via free agency. That would never happen. And they aren't going to suddenly turn into a wild cat offense or use a two back, two-tight end set.
But if the Colts want to have a more successful playoff run in 2011, they are going to have to improve the running game and not be so reliant on Peyton Manning.
Yes, the loss of Dallas Clark and Austin Collie and the injuries to Joseph Addai and Donald Brown hurt the offense. But they were too one-dimensional.
They don't have to have someone as prolific as Edgerrin James was a decade ago. But they have to do better than 29th in the NFL in rushing.
Whether that's signing a top notch runner or revamping the offensive line, something has to be done.
No. 10: Vince Young Isn't Worth a Draft Pick
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Last month's announcement that the Titans were essentially choosing Jeff Fisher over Vince Young was not all that surprising. That move was likely much cheaper for owner Bud Adams.
And although it would be better for the team if they got something in return for Young, by announcing they would trade OR release him, prospective bidders might be willing to wait the Titans out.
With Young recovering from surgery and fresh off a hot a major conflict with a respected head coach, how many teams will want to part with a draft pick?
It's bad enough they'll have to pick up his salary.
No. 9: The Cowboys Pick Up Roy Williams Option
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It won't be the most popular move in Big D, but Jason Garrett might consider bringing back Roy Williams.
Dez Bryant did show tremendous ability last year and Miles Austin recently signed a large deal as well, but with the many changes on the horizon in Dallas, keeping Williams might help provide a measure of constancy.
Garrett will have enough on his hands as it is and Williams stats in 2010 suffered largely from the injury to Tony Romo. A healthy franchise quarterback would benefit both Williams and the team.
No. 8: Antonio Cromartie Re-Signs With The Jets
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Depending on the outcome of Sunday's game (and whether or not he can outplay his self-declared rival Tom Brady) Cromartie could become a big part of Jets lore.
Not only would an upset send the Jets to the AFC title game for a second straight year, but the thought of having Darrelle Revis and Cromartie together in the same backfield for a handful of seasons, is something that Rex Ryan has to be crave.
Blitzing is a lot easier with two All Pros at corner.
Now figuring out the economics of it? That will take some creativity.
No. 7: Albert Haynesworth Gets One More Chance
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Today, general manager Bruce Allen remarked that there is still a chance their $100 million man would return.
“We were hopeful that he was going to help the team win and remain hopeful that he can help the team win,” Allen said during a 30-minute interview with beat writers at Redskin Park. “Hopefully, if we can give it some time to breathe, maybe we can come back with a fresh outlook on it.”
The embarrassing year that Haynesworth had will leave him no choice but mend fences in Washington with the coaching staff and his teammates. Otherwise, why would any team sign or trade for him?
No. 6: Randy Moss Remains Unsigned By August
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Last year, Terrell Owens made it to nearly the end of July before signing with a team, in his case, the Cincinnati Bengals.
And as much of a headache as Owens has been in recent years, he had a much better season on the field in 2010 than his fellow troubled/talented wide receiver.
Moss was a plague last season. The Pats got infinitely better once they dumped him. He joined the Vikings and they lost three of their four games. He joined the Titans and they promptly lost seven of eight games.
There won't be a rush to ink him to a multi-million dollar deal.
No. 5: The Saints Cut Reggie Bush
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It's not fair to call him a bust. But as the second overall draft choice just five seasons ago, Bush has not produced nearly enough for the Saints.
He's never rushed for even 600 yards in a season, his receptions totals have declined every year since his rookie season, and he missed as many games last year as he played in.
Assuming he returns to full health, Bush is certainly a serviceable back. But not at $11.8 million.
And with Pierre Thomas a free agent, and Chris Ivory showing promise late last year, Bush might be expendable.
No. 4: Brett Favre Stays Retired
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We'll probably have to wait until sometime in September to know for certain, but 2011 does seem like the worst landscape for Favre to return in.
There are no Super Bowl aspirations, his image has been terribly damaged by the Jenn Sterger scandal and his body couldn't hold up at all last year.
And the only team that would consider bringing him back is probably the Vikings, and with new leadership in Leslie Frazier, that is much less likely than it was under Brad Childress.
No. 3: Kevin Kolb Stays Put
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The Eagles would like to be able to deal Kevin Kolb. There's little doubt that they will re-sign Michael Vick, who will definitely be the starter in 2011.
But Vick is going to be 31 in June and he suffered several nagging injuries during the 2010 season.
It's going to be a terrible burden on the salary cap, but they have to keep two quarterbacks, and Mike Kafka isn't as reliable going into next year as Kolb would be.
No. 2: Carolina Deals Away the First Pick
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New head coach Ron Rivera is smart enough to know that one player is not going to change the fortunes of a terrible football team.
Even if that player is a stud defensive lineman.
There are going to be teams out there that will get paranoid about "their guy" not being available (Cowboys maybe?) when they select and moving up to guarantee the right selection.
With no clear cut No. 1 out there at this point, the Panthers have to do whatever they can to move out of that spot and avoiding overpaying.
No. 1: Hallelujah! There Will Not Be a Lockout!
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Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but isn't it impossible to think next fall there won't be NFL football?
There is too much at stake, and the pressure and fear of a work stoppage will eventually catch up with the principles. Roger Goodell knows that he has started to build up a pretty impressive resume as the NFL's Czar and he can solidify it for life if he brokers a deal.
On the flip side, he can ruin all his good will with the media, fans, players and owners if there is no CBA reached by June at the latest.
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