Steelers Gab: Sunday Steel for March 15, 2015

 

Thoughts on Free Agency Week One – Christina Rivers

If you think March Madness is all about the NCAA basketball tournament, then you don’t know professional football.  Last Tuesday, the free agent signing period opened up and the sports media world went nuts trying to cover every rumor, supposition and deal made by 32 teams across the National Football League.  Although a lot of talk has circulated about which teams have been the biggest success stories, the ‘winner, winner, chicken dinner’ of the week is the league itself.  You remember ‘Deflategate’?  I am guessing you got so distracted by all the roster rearrangements that you didn’t even think about how the league mishandled the Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy or Ray Rice incidents either.  In fact, I would be shocked if one mention of anything that may tarnish Roger Goodell or the league was even brought up.

One thing that has always bothered me about free agency is the fact that it is almost like going to a horse auction.  Please, I am not saying football players are horses.  This is a metaphor.  The potential owners, trainers (coaches) and managers of the available stock go into the market looking for show ponies and workhorses.  The teeth of the stock are evaluated (see statistics, performance reports, injuries, etc.) and the trading begins.  A lot of times the show ponies end up costing the owners a lot of money that they could have invested in a workhorse, but we know most workhorses aren’t as flashy as that nice thoroughbred that has been shined up like a new penny.  At times, the figures that come out and the almost callous way free agency is handled can be a bit disturbing.  Previous draft horses, workhorses and even some show ponies are put out to pasture – many before their prime and some just an “early retirement”.

Chip Kelly looks like he’s ready to buy out the entire market, making bids on every potential ‘winner’ he can find to put on the field.  If I didn’t know better, I would think Kelly was running the numbers in a fantasy football league with zero cap to worry about.  Move Byron Maxwell here, get a couple of running backs even though talking heads across the league insist the position is devalued.  Let quite a few guys take a drink at the well.  The man has gone nuts the past week.

If the NFL were the auctioneers, they just sold us hook, line and sinker.  No one is talking about the league’s dirty laundry or what they’ve got in the bank.  Everyone is focused on the center of the ring – where all the action is happening in a bidding frenzy.  Do I hear $2 million?  $2 million going once, twice, sold!

Now that I’ve exhausted my horse racing metaphor, I think I’ll start working on the one about Piranha’s.

Meme of the Week

Steelers News This Week – The Links You May Have Missed

• Ben Roethlisberger gets 5-year extension
• DeAngelo Williams joins Steelers for 2015
• Brice McCain goes to the Miami Dolphins

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