The NFL is doing its best NBA-at-the-trading-line impersonation
A record 8% of the NBA was traded at the February trading deadline, and the NFL appears to have been inspired by the frenzy.
Today, huge All-Pro, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl Champion players–Frank Gore, Jimmy Graham, and Andre Johnson among them–switched teams, and we’re less than an hour into the official Free Agency period, which began at 4pm. Here’s a quick recap–which we’ll more than likely be updating by the end of business today as Darrelle Revis draws closer to a decision–of what went down in the past few hours.
UPDATE: Darrelle Revis returns to New York Jets
We expected to have a Darrelle Revis decision to report before NFL talks winded down today, and the shutdown corner has made his choice. After brief stints with Tampa Bay and New England, Revis will be returning to the team he was with when he earned his reputation as an elite cornerback: The New York Jets.
Pending legal, @Revis24 has agreed to terms with the New York Jets #RevisIsland #nyjets
— Schwartz & Feinsod (@schwartzfeinsod) March 11, 2015
This is a big week for the Jets, who also inked All-Pro receiver Brandon Marshall and coveted former Cleveland Browns cornerback Buster Skrine. Revis is expected to rake in $40 million GUARANTEED from New York, which will make him the highest paid CB in NFL history.
Frank Gore balks at Eagles deal, signs with Colts
When Frank Gore turned down his opportunity to re-sign with the San Francisco 49ers, his next destination was believed to be the Philadelphia Eagles. It seemed like a perfect conclusion to a rough past few days for the Eagles, who just lost Jeremy Maclin to the Kansas City Chiefs, and their own star running back, LeSean McCoy, to the Buffalo Bills. Well, Gore too is AFC bound, and will join Andrew Luck and a prolific Colts offense this fall.
Sam Bradford and Nick Foles trade places
Sam Bradford was a highly touted NFL prospect after a successful career at Oklahoma, and when the Rams selected him with the #1 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, it appeared St. Louis had found their franchise quarterback for the next decade. Serious injuries–Bradford’s torn his ACL twice in the past two seasons–have contributed to the former Sooner falling out of favor in Missouri. Well, Nick Foles, who became second fiddle to a rejuvenated Mark Sanchez in Philadelphia last season, has been traded to St. Louis for Bradford, giving both teams new life at the quarterback position.
Andre Johnson joins division rival Colts
Andre Johnson is still one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and after 12 seasons as a Houston Texan, in which he caught over 1,000 passes for nearly 14,000 yards, he’s chosen to join the division rival Indianapolis Colts, who will be dressing an impressive set of offensive weapons this season, considering Andrew Luck and the newly acquired Frank Gore.
Jimmy Graham heads West
After setting an NFL record for most catches for the first 5 years of a career, Jimmy Graham has abandoned Drew Brees and the pass happy New Orleans Saints for a team built to contend for an NFL title consistently over the next 5 years: The Seattle Seahawks. Graham will join a potent Seahawks offense, anchored by Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch, and help shore up a receiving core very much in need of a go-to guy in the red zone.
The Lions replace Ndamukong Suh
Earlier this morning, superstar defensive lineman Ndaumukong Suh officially signed a monstrous deal with the Miami Dolphins–a deal that guarantees a whopping $60 million–and the Detroit Lions didn’t waste any time finding their new front-four anchor. Halodi Ngata, a Top 5 talent at the position, has been traded from the Ravens to the Lions.
