NFL 2011/12 Season Review Part 1 - The Off-Season

So as the NFL season draws to a close, it's time to reflect on a season that almost wasn't. It appeared to be a genuine concern that the 2011/12 season would be lost, but thankfully for all NFL fans, negotiations were finally concluded so no games were lost. 

Nnamdi Asomugha playing for the Raiders

This great season all started with what proved to be an entertaining off-season. Could there be one signing that could outdo all the rest? If so, surely the Eagles signing of Nnamdi Asomugha on a 5 year, $60 million contract would be it. But then again the Jets had their own star signing in Plaxico Burress. Yes he may have spent the previous 22 months in prison, and at 34 he may be past his best, but a former superbowl winner with 55 touchdowns and almost 8,000 yards can never be over looked and so the case proved to be for the Jets. Only time would tell whether that gamble would pay off. 


The Patriots also boasted an impressive off-season acquisition in 2 time pro bowler Albert Haynesworth. Yes Haynesworth was a complete pain in the backside for the Redskins, leaving him no future at the franchise, but the 6 ft 6 defensive tackle hardly cost the Pats a penny. A 2013 fifth-round draft pick was the cost to the Patriots. What could go wrong?


Reggie Bush was traded to the Dolphins after the Saints drafted Mark Ingram, which effectively pushed Bush out the door. The Saints may have got safety Jonathon Amaya and an undisclosed draft pick out of the deal, but Bush was given the chance of a new lease of live in Miami. The Dolphins could have found the deal of the year if they could get Bush to play.

Sidney Rice catching a touchdown
pass against the Eagles 

Sidney Rice agreed a 5 year $41 million deal with the Seahawks to improve their wide receiver line up. Donovan McNabb was freed from his Washington nightmare, Matt Hasselbeck signed with the Tennessee Titan, Roy Williams went to Chicago, and Steve Breaston signed with the Kansas City Chiefs to relieve the pressure on running back Jamaal Charles. 


But there were still a few more big acquisitions that caught the eye. In fact it was one of the more underrated signings that had the potential to be one of the best. Vontae Leach signed for the Ravens from the Chargers on an three year contract worth $11 million. The former Texans fullback was one of the reasons behind Arian Foster's great 2010/11 campaign and now he had the chance to do the same for an equally talented running back in Ray Rice. His bulldozer like approach would surely add a new dimension to the Ravens running game.

Rodgers-Cromartie intercepting
 a pass vs  Falcons

But enough is enough. Surely there was only one team who ruled the off-season, surely the Eagles had been the most active and yet the most shrewd at the same time. As mentioned earlier, the Philadelphia franchise had secured the signing of Nnamdi Asomugha but more was to come. Kevin Kolb may have found a new home in Arizona, which was a blow to the Eagles as he was undoubtedly the best back up quarter back in the league. Michael Vick's resurgent 2010/11 season had left Kolb no option but to find a new home. So there was little surprise when Kolb was traded. However it wasn't all bad news for the Philly team. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie arrived on a two year contract. The 25 year old Floridian corner back had proved a hit in Arizona, securing 13 interceptions in 3 years and taking 4 of them to the house. A much needed boost to an ordinary secondary. 


But through this deal a new issue had arisen with Kolb's departure and Rodgers-Cromarties arrival. Who would play as back up to Michael Vick. The answer, Vince Young. As it seems with a lot of the big off-season signings, Young is another who fell out with his former employees. After years of a love and hate relationship, the Tennessee Titans finally got rid of Young. There is no doubting that Vince Young is a talented quarterback, the question has been whether he has the metal capacity to hack it at the top level. Maybe with the pressure off as a back up quarterback, Young may have found a role suited to him.


To round off the big signings for the off-season the Eagles also managed to recruit Jason Babin, a former Eagles player, to a 5 year $28 million contract. Babin may have only left the Eagles for one season, but his performances for the Titans made the Eagles sit up and notice what they had let go. With the Eagles needing to improve their pass rush defence, Babin seemed to fit the bill. He was by no means a poor player before he left Philadelphia, but with 12.5 sacks in his season at the Titans the Eagles were convinced to snap him up. 


So who was the best signing, and which team benefited most from the off-season acquisitions? Well according to Vince Young, it was the Eagles as he publicly declared that they were now the 'dream team'. And yes I think that the Eagles had the best off-season and I would say that Nnamdi Asomugha was the coup of the signings, but all would be revealed as the season unfolded. One thing was for sure, this of-season added an extra intrigue to the new season.