... Steelers, backs and Bell lose
LOSERS
Steelers ... in the short run: A club that failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013 appears further weakened and will be hard pressed to overtake the Ravens and Browns in this division, much less battle the Patriots for AFC supremacy. Roethlisberger’s window should be open for a few more years, but no Lombardi Trophy will be passing through it after this season.
Le’Veon Bell: Was $35 million in guaranteed cheddar nice relative to his rather dispensable position? OK, sure. Did he get a better deal than the fiveyear, $70 million pact the Steelers offered last year, per reports? Almost certainly not. Did he “extend” his career by taking a year off? Dubious assumption, especially given he’ll surely absorb far more punishment with the Jets than he would have in a timeshare with Pittsburgh’s bruising James Conner. Not buying the spin no matter what Team Bell tries to sell. When you gamble, oftentimes you’re going to lose. Sorry, Le’Veon ... maybe you should’ve spent 2018 turning yourself into a strong safety or inside linebacker.
Running backs: We’re a long way from the days when Adrian Peterson commanded offers in the $100 million range. Bell was hardly the only one to serve as a reminder to “Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be tailbacks.” They’re hardly destitute, but it was shocking to see how little Mark Ingram (3 years, $15 million), Latavius Murray (4 years, $14.4 million), Tevin Coleman (2 years, $8.5 million), Carlos Hyde (1 year, $2.8 million) and others settled for. Dangerous as he still is, even Peterson only got a touch more than $5 million for another two years in Washington. Aside from Bell and maybe Ingram, one might literally be better off — financially and, certainly, physically — being a kicker or a punter.
Giants: Dear Mr. Gettleman, even if I wholeheartedly agree with the divorce from Collins, I fear you will never live down the decision to export Beckham. Never. Ever.
Deshaun Watson: Houston’s quarterback was bludgeoned for 62 sacks in 2018, more than any passer had been subjected to since 2006. Admittedly, Watson could help himself by getting rid of the ball when there’s no play to make. But surely it wouldn’t have been too much to ask (or pay) for Matt Paradis or Rodger Saffold or Daryl Williams, right?
Anthony Barr: Let’s hope the Vikings linebacker has peace of mind after reneging on the Jets to take less money to stay in Minnesota and remain in a system that will probably never truly showcase his ability.
Bengals: They’re feverishly rebuilding the 2018 team — RT Bobby Hart, LB Preston Brown and TEs C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Eifert — for reasons clear only to Cincinnati’s front office.
Ravens defense: New GM Eric DeCosta has worked in Baltimore for two decades, but this is the first free agency class with his name fully attached to it. He plainly didn’t overpay for Ingram, though didn’t rookie Gus Edwards look more than comfortable as the lead back last season? But DeCosta’s decision to dismantle the league’s topranked defense was the true head scratcher. Parting with veterans like OLB Terrell Suggs and S Eric Weddle or opting not to pay players entering their primes — Mosley and Za’Darius Smith — all seem like perfectly reasonable choices on a caseby-case basis. But the collective loss appears staggering even with Thomas coming aboard. This secondary is elite, but the front seven appears slightly suspect entering draft season.
Ryan Tannehill: His new Dolphins bosses clearly don’t think much of the quarterback yet also hadn’t been willing to grant Tannehill’s freedom even while unsuccessfully trying to lure Teddy Bridgewater home to Miami. Tannehill was traded to the Titans last week to back up Marcus Mariota. The Dolphins had agreed to terms with Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Colts fans: Don’t misinterpret this as a dig at Indianapolis GM Chris Ballard, who’s resurrected this franchise into a Super Bowl contender despite effectively lacking a head coach and quarterback 13 months ago. However, after entering free agency with a salary cap war chest exceeding $100 million, the fan base can be forgiven for hoping for more than the retention of CB Pierre Desir and the addition of WR Devin Funchess.