ShareThisOne week of NFL free agency is in the books, and two of the biggest shoes still haven't yet dropped.
Brandon Marshall is still a Denver Bronco, and Terrell Owens is still a free agent.
But beyond that, a great deal of change has occurred, for better or worse. No, championships aren't won and lost in March, but the moves made now will have a lot to do with how things play out this fall.
Here's how drastically the NFL landscape has changed in seven days:
-- NICE KNOWING YOU
Just more than a year ago, the Cardinals were within a hair of winning Super Bowl XLIII. Today they seem about as far away from a title as ever.
First, quarterback Kurt Warner retired, leaving Arizona in the hands of unproven Matt Leinart. Then the floodgates opened.
Linebacker Karlos Dansby just cashed a fat free-agent check from the Dolphins. Pro Bowl safety Antrel Rolle was released and signed by the Giants. And hard-nosed receiver Anquan Boldin was traded to the Ravens.
Dansby was the heart and soul of a defense that was uneven at best, and Boldin's departure could affect receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who figures to draw more attention from defenses.
The Cardinals' long odds of getting back to a Super Bowl just got longer.
-- SWINGING FOR THE FENCES
Something has prompted the Lions to pull out all the stops to get back on a winning track -- perhaps the embarrassment of a 2-30 mark the past two seasons.
There are many cautionary tales about the dangers of splurging in free agency, but no one can accuse the Lions of not trying to turn around a shipwreck of a franchise.
You have to love the aggressiveness shown by coach Jim Schwartz, who was in Nashville knocking on the door of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch just after midnight March 5, when free agency began. The former Titan accepted a $26 million contract.
Also acquired by Detroit was Nate Burleson, the first receiver taken off the market. The Lions also traded for Cleveland defensive tackle Corey Williams, who was miscast as an end in the Browns' 3-4 system but should be a legitimate factor in the Lions' 4-3.
Having the second overall pick in the draft will give the Lions yet another building block.
-- BEEN A LONG TIME COMING
Can you even remember the first time you heard of the wish of Anquan Boldin to be traded by the Cardinals? You probably can't recall that far back.
Fair or not, the perception that the receiver had long been unhappy in Arizona was hard to dispute, though he often tried to pretend all was well. His persistent push for a second new contract left the organization sour, and he was finally dealt to Baltimore last week.
In the end, things worked out pretty well for Boldin. He gets that new contract, signing a four-year, $28 million deal that includes $10 million in guarantees. He also becomes a No. 1 receiver, something he never would have been in Arizona.
But this is also a pivotal move for the Ravens, whose offense has lacked the explosiveness and playmaking ability Boldin provides. This lone acquisition should make young quarterback Joe Flacco much more effective and give Baltimore (fifth in rushing but 18th in passing last year) more offensive balance.
-- FROZEN ASSETS
New Redskins general manager Bruce Allen is tightening the belt in Washington in a manner unfamiliar to longtime fans. Isn't owner Daniel Snyder the guy who has never seen a contract demand he wouldn't meet? Whether it's Allen's call or Snyder's, the Redskins haven't been a major player during the past week, unless you consider defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu and offensive lineman Artis Hicks major signings. This is more notable considering there is no salary cap next season, meaning there's nothing to keep deep-pocketed guys such as Snyder in check.
The Cowboys haven't made so much as a peep, either, despite having big-spending owner Jerry Jones at the controls. Then again, the man did just spend $1 billion on a stadium.
-- SPENDING SPREE
Last season the Bears took a huge gamble in trading valuable draft picks and quarterback Kyle Orton for quarterback Jay Cutler. All that got them was a 7-9 season.
So, naturally, rather than pull back this offseason, the Bears have doubled down. On the first day of free agency, they broke the bank for Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers, signing him to an eye-popping contract that could potentially surpass $90 million. A reported $42 million of it is guaranteed.
What this means is that this deal must absolutely work. The Bears need to win the NFC North in 2010 and win some more if they are going to be seen as getting a return on that kind of insane investment. The Bears also brought Vikings running back Chester Taylor aboard, hoping to stimulate a moribund rushing offense (29th in the NFL).
The jobs of coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo are riding on both wagers paying off.
(Contact Stephen F. Holder at sholder(at)sptimes.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)
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