NFL Trade Deadline Brings Rare Drama
by David Syvertsen
The trade deadline has come and gone while dropping off one big trade and several others that could not make it to the finish line.
Rarely does the NFL trade deadline bring about the drama that was displayed this week. Rumors are always floating but very few have legs after Week 6 every year. However a huge trade consisting of a Pro-Bowl caliber wide receiver and a near deal that involved arguably the greatest tight end of all time created a much more hectic deadline than usual. Let’s take a look into the deal that went down and the deals that were almost.
Roy Williams (DET) and a 7th rd pick to the Cowboys for 1st, 3rd, and 6th round picks
It should not be a surprise to anyone that half of the Detroit Lions’ top-notch receiving duo was being shopped across the league. Just two years removed from a 82-catch, 1,310-yard season, Williams was shipped to the Dallas Cowboys for three draft picks including the Cowboys’ 2009 first rounder. Decision maker Jerry Jones has been putting the pedal to the metal the past couple of seasons as he sees this squad as a legit Super Bowl contender. While he is not exactly mortgaging the future (Williams was immediately signed to a five-year contract), the Cowboys are clearly in a win-now mode and are willing to shell out big money and lose draft picks en route to the quest of possessing the Lombardi Trophy. The Lions were in significant talks with Jacksonville Jaguars but like the San Francisco 49ers, they did not offer a first-round pick in any package. There was less interest around the league than Detroit was anticipating, but it is possible a team flying under the radar was the source of competition Jones had deal with in the bidding process. Williams struggles when it comes to reading coverages and running the right routes, thus him picking up a new offense with zero chemistry with his new teammates right off the bat is unlikely. This should be a great move for the future, but the immediate impact for Dallas is highly questionable.
John McCargo (BUF) to the Colts for a 4th round pick
This deal was signed, sealed, and delivered pending a physical. Colts nation was raving about the new presence they were about to have in the struggling interior of the defensive line in Indianapolis. However McCargo failed his physical which is most likely a result of the same foot he broke three times since his senior season at NC State in 2005. While he was a bit of a disappointment in Buffalo through his first two-plus seasons, there is still a tremendous amount of physical upside for McCargo. He could have really benefitted from playing next to Dwight Freeney in a scheme that would allow him to shoot the gaps.
Michael Bush (OAK) to the Chargers for a 4th or 5th round pick
While Bush is another young player who has failed to exceed or even live up to expectations, he was still sought after by a few teams across the league seeking a power back. The Chargers had a deal set in place but at the last second, Oakland backed out and demanded what is believed to be a 3rd round selection. This was not a good decision for the Raiders because their backfield is set for at least the next three-to-four years and they need all of the draft picks they can get.
Tony Gonzalez (KC) to the Packers, Giants, Bills or Eagles
Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson dropped the ball here. The fact he thought he would get the same market value during the middle of the season as the Giants received for Jeremy Shockey in July is something that has left everyone puzzled. Yes, Gonzalez is still playing at a high level but he is a 32-year-old who has slowed down each of the past three years. One of the above-mentioned teams offered Peterson a top-100 pick while the remaining three maxed their offer at a fourth rounder. Peterson balked at the last second and let his own personal greed and pride take over and demanded at least a second rounder and according to some sources, a first rounder. As Kansas City tries to restore the glory with a strong draft in April, they will be without a top-100 pick they could have easily had and will still be paying big money to Gonzalez.
Other potential trades that were discusses across the league
-The St. Louis Rams were throwing around the idea of placing wide receiver Torry Holt on the block. Whether they were in any serious talks or not is unknown, but there was interest in Holt throughout the offseason by the Eagles and Ravens, two teams that could use him right now.
-The Bengals did not offer wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh to anyone. The rumors that 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz was lobbying for the sure-handed, smart receiver may have been true, but the trade was never a realistic possibility.
-Along with McCargo, Colts general manager Bill Polian was making several calls in search for a running back. Some of the targets for their zone-based running scheme? DeShawn Wynn (Packers), Aaron Stecker (Saints), and Patrick Cobbs (Doplhins).