FREE AGENCY VS DRAFTING... Tired Subject I know.

by KC FAN IN CA on Jun 19, 2008 12:08 PM CDT

I had a view on this debate that no one has really opened my eyes to. Has anyone ever signed a major free agent and then won the superbowl following that off season?

I was trying to do research on any correlation between Super Bowl winners and MAJOR Free agent signings. I figure a good starting point would be the new CBA started in 1993. I guess the reason is not to justify the Allen trade but put it in perspective. From my memory no huge name star has ever been signed to lead a team to glory. Granted some diamonds have been stolen from the rough and placed on pedestal’s. Steve Young from the Yucs (which is what they were at the time); even though he was a first rounder in 84. Favre from the Falcons, (No need for Vick if they had kept him). Home grown talent obviously tops the list. The triplets in Dallas (can’t say much more). The donkeys with smelway (even though he took nearly 15 years to garner the true promised land) and TD (I think Bowe should do the KC salute next time he scores in or against the donkeys). The only free agent acquisition that I can think of (and really love to this day and so do some of you) is Chucky to the Buc’s. I don’t believe he was the reason the bucs got there everyone knows Dungy built that team, even though some might say he couldn’t get them over the top. Playing the team that you coached and being able to call out plays before they took place was great… actually priceless because it was the Raiders. I’m not saying that doesn’t count but it was not a player that was pivotal. The likely hood of those circumstances ever happening are nearly impossible (definitely definitely definitely unlikely like figuring out whose on first). There have been a lot of people who have spent money in hopes of getting that one player and fallen short. Example New England with Moss… The Raiders spend every offseason but that’s because Al has Alzheimer’s.

I guess I pose the question can anyone think of a team to have MAJOR offseason acquisition and follow up with a Super Bowl win?

P.S. Lawrence Tynes and Kawika Mitchell do not count.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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This is an interesting question

because usually big name FAs are signed to complete an already really good team and put them over the top.

The only one I can think of now is Corey Dillon who was a premier running back and signed with NE to win it all.

by dkugler838 on Jun 19, 2008 2:12 PM CDT 0 recs

Interesting

also because 1 guy usually doesn’t get a team to the Super Bowl unless that team was already pretty close, so it is hard to argue that they wouldn’t have won the Super Bowl without that one new guy.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 19, 2008 2:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

Not a Super Bowl

But Steve McNair nearly got the Ravens there a few years ago.

by primetime 07 on Jun 19, 2008 3:20 PM CDT 0 recs

Not sure but...

I thought Reggie White might have signed (traded to) the Packers the year they won it. I could be wrong, but that came to mind.

If everyone worked as hard as me, I would be out of a job.

-Steve Nash

by Red Shadow on Jun 19, 2008 4:04 PM CDT 0 recs

it was the first year of

free agency I think and Reggie signed a then record contract for a defensive player worth and astounding 17 mill in guarantees over 4 years! Ha – but they did win that next year i think.

by dkugler838 on Jun 19, 2008 7:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

1st year of free agency

was 1993, same year White signed. The Packers won it in the 1996-1997 season.

by primetime 07 on Jun 20, 2008 1:00 AM CDT up 0 recs

The Free Agency Enigma

Most people agree that free agency used “right” is as a missing piece to an already solid team, and yet, as KC Fan in CA rightly stated, most Super Bowl contending teams are not heavy players in free agency, or at least, big name free agency.

Think about the Patriots, Colts, Steelers and Chargers some of the best teams in the NFL today. NONE of these teams is active in free agency. Sure they have star players on their teams they got as free agents, but they were NOT big name players when they arrived. Guys like Mike Vrabel were basically nobodies before they joined their current team and then developed into a star. Or you have guy like Junior Seau who was a big time star, but whose career was basically over before going to a team that could use a player of his age and experience effectively.

The point of it is, if you become a contender year in and year out, it is because you have built your team through the draft from the ground up and by the time you’re ready to contend, you find you don’t need every free agent that comes along and in fact, have prospects that are younger and have more potential for a fraction of the price of a free agent.

Unless you are a flash-in-the-pan team trying to put it all together before the window on a few players closes, the contending teams do not pay big bucks to free agents that did not grow up on their team.

With every passing day I see how much the Chiefs squandered their opportunities the last 15 years instead of doing what we’re doing now, build the team the right way that can make us a contender for a decade.

by ChiefDJ on Jun 19, 2008 5:11 PM CDT 0 recs

hmmm

I think you build a foundation through the draft and then pick and choose the best quality free agents that fit the system to fill in holes or get better at weak posistions.

by akc on Jun 19, 2008 5:45 PM CDT 0 recs