Eagles epicentre of free-agent frenzy
Maybe everyone should have known from the way the Super Bowl ended that the beginning of the NFL’s business season would be wild. Chip Kelly made one stunning move after another. The normally free-spending Cowboys let DeMarco Murray, the league’s top offensive player, walk — to Kelly and division rival Philadelphia. Three players retired in their primes. The Colts loaded up on veterans, a clear message they believe 2015 is their year to make super things happen. Some observations:
PLAYING ALL HIS CHIPS
Giving Kelly the keys to the kingdom in Philly after he won his power struggle with GM Howie Roseman led to the kind of bartering rarely seen in the NFL. Kelly fully believes in the offensive system he brought from Oregon and has gone 20-12 in his two regular seasons with the Eagles. His vision of the players he wants is undeterred by cost — QB Sam Bradford brings a $16.58-million cap hit; RB Murray will get $42 million over five years. Not only is Kelly changing the face of his franchise by moving around so many pieces, he might be altering the way teams look at making trades. As the salary cap continues to rise through the remaining six years of the labour agreement and all 32 clubs have more spending power, bold steps (leaps really) could become less frightening throughout the NFL.
ALL-IN IN INDY
The Colts have a budding superstar quarterback in Andrew Luck. They have a strong coaching staff led by Chuck Pagano and have systematically rebuilt the roster since Peyton Manning left. After making the playoffs the last three years and advancing one step further each time, they believe a Super Bowl trip is their 2015 destiny. So GM Ryan Grigson has surrounded Luck and some of his younger regulars with a slew of veterans. Luck gets a hall of fame calibre receiver in Andre Johnson, and a workhouse runner in Frank Gore. Both bring solid leadership to the clubhouse. They also brought in safe- ty Mike Adams, linebacker Trent Cole, defensive end Kendall Langford and guard Todd Herremans. Super Bowl or bust? Could be for Indy.
OUT OF HERE
Perennial Pro Bowl LB Patrick Willis left millions on the table in departing the 49ers after quality eight pro seasons. Steelers free agent LB Jason Worilds likely would have commanded a very nice contract somewhere. And Jake Locker’s upside at age 26 was enchanting in a quarterback-driven sport. Each of them felt they either weren’t healthy enough or passionate enough to keep going.
NON-SPENDING COWBOYS?
Maybe the most puzzling approach to free agency came out of Dallas. Owner Jerry Jones has never met a talented, high-priced free agent he wasn’t enamoured of. Yet, in great part due to the clear-headed persuasiveness of his son, team COO Stephen Jones, the Cowboys have been quiet. They kept all-pro WR Dez Bryant, their top priority, but that deal and previous contracts put them in salary cap purgatory. Stephen Jones seems determined to get the Cowboys out of it.