posted February 27, 2009 at 11:45 EST in NFL Articles
NFL's Off Season Mistakes - The Release of Brooks, Lewis and Harrison
by Tim Furious
It might not be so strange that Marvin Harrison is looking for a job. What’s stranger to me is that the game’s two best linebackers are looking for jobs this summer.
What kind of NFL is this where Derrick Brooks and Ray Lewis are getting the boot by their respective franchises?
Marvin Harrison, Derrick Brooks and Ray Lewis are just three of the big names to hit the free-agency market. Also among them are Kurt Warner, who led the Cardinals to Superbowl XLVII, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Albert Haynesworth. The NFL is experiencing a huge hit in the credit crunch, but where are these NFL icons headed, if anywhere?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were infamous for their mishandling of the Jon Lynch situation, when Lynch helped the franchise win their first Superbowl. Have they let Brooks go a season too soon as well? It’s very likely. Brooks is still a linebacker with the physical talents to affect the game, and has proven to superb in the Cover-2 with extensive range and a nose for the ball. Why the Bucs would let their defensive leader walk in the wake of a youth movement is a striking blow.
Marvin Harrison is another big name to hit the NFL free-agent market. Harrison had one of his worst statistically seasons as he battled injury and the only guy who couldn’t out run – Father Time. Harrison notched just 60 catches and 636 yards with only 5 touchdowns. In fact, this was his worst statistical season when playing a minimum of 15 games.
Harrison, however, isn’t the only NFL veteran trying to win a losing battle against time. Ray Lewis, who led the NFL’s most feared defense with 117 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 3 interceptions, put up massive numbers in a contract year. Are those numbers of a contract hungry veteran in the wake of the twilight of his career? Or can Ray Lewis put up those kind of numbers again?
The difference between Lewis, Brooks and any receiver on the open market is leadership. Both players have led their respective defenses to Superbowl victories. Lewis was the MVP of Superbowl XXXV, while Brooks led one of the best NFL defenses in history to a victory over the Oakland Raiders in Superbowl XXXVII. Will teams break the bank for either of these teams? And if so – just who will?
In all honesty, the departure of Brooks from the Bucs shows two very visible signs. First, it’s that new coach Raheem Morris is instilling a new culture in Tampa Bay, which has been adorned with the Tampa-2 defense for so many seasons. Maybe a complete revolution is necessary as new personnel infiltrate the franchise. But was Morris simply too scared of Brooks’ leadership while he did so? The move by the Bucs won’t go over well, especially when a vindictive Brooks signs elsewhere to prove what he’s got left.
And the scary part for Tampa is that Brooks is likely headed to one of their competitors. New Orleans and Atlanta both need to solidify their linebacker spots and are two teams that could put the veteran backer in a position to win another NFC Championship. Are you willing to bet on the Tampa Bay Bucs without their defensive leader? I’m sure as hell not.
The story for Ray Ray might be a little simpler. While Brooks still has a lot left in the tank, and is terrific in pass coverage, the Ray Lewis era might simply bet at an end. His efforts were huge this year and his numbers show it. He was the leading tackler on the scariest defense in the NFL this past betting season.
But he isn’t the Ray Lewis of old. He missed coverage, missed tackles and put the Ravens in trouble too many times by not being able to shed blocks. As the credit crunch puts the vices on teams’ wallets, especially with no salary cap in 2010, Ray Lewis’s list of teams will be short. The real question is whether or not a team will bank on him or not. Beyond that, will Lewis sign with a non-contender just to play the game he loves?
The fact remains that either player will be able to inspire their new team, wherever they go. If the Ravens are smart, they will keep Ray Lewis on board. I just can’t see him playing anywhere else. But whichever team signs Derrick Brooks will get a 13 year veteran, with a chip on his shoulder. The Bucs just better pray they don’t face his new team in the 2009 NFL betting season…
