NFL Betting: Teams With The Best Offseasons
by Trevor Whenham - 05/15/2009
The NFL has no real offseason. The regular season leads to the playoffs. That's followed by coaching changes, then free agency, then the draft. After that there's a bit more player movement as teams fill out their rosters, mini-camps start, then it's training camp, preseason, and we're back to where we started again. Every year it gets easier and easier to follow every little detail of the offseason. Therefore it's easier to assess which teams have had a good offseason, and which ones haven't done enough to improve their squads. Here are, in no particular order, the five teams that have had the best offseasons up to this point:
Buffalo Bills - Last year the Bills got off to a huge start, and then limped home to another pathetic finish. That wasn't the first time they have done that, either. For years this team has had some nice pieces and some potential, but they have lacked the swagger that winning teams have. It's like they have had a franchise-wide self-esteem issue. Well, they sure did something about that this offseason. Terrell Owens has a boatload of issues, but he certainly brings swagger. By signing with the Bills he also instantly made the team relevant. The media paid attention to the team like they rarely had before - they mattered. That will have an impact on this team that goes far beyond the stats that Owens will bring to the field. It's a bold gamble that the team took, but one that could pay off handsomely. Owens will have a big impact on the field, too - he'll free up room for Lee Evans and Josh Reed to shine, and give Trent Edwards another big target. That's not the only move they made, though. They gave their offensive line a much-needed overhaul, improved the secondary, and finally got a pass rush thanks to rookie Aaron Maybin.
Seattle - The Seahawks had made the NFC West their personal domain for years, but they faltered badly last year. They looked like an old and lethargic squad last season, and they needed a serious kick-start in the offseason. For the most part, they got it. Landing T.J. Houshmandzadeh gives them their first top-level receiver in a long while, and gives their offense an element of danger that it really lacked last year. The defensive line got pushed around last year, so this year they will be much bigger and stronger. The offensive line and the secondary were upgraded. Most significantly, the team was able to add the player most ready to contribute right away in the draft - linebacker Aaron Curry. He joins a linebacker corps that was already pretty good, and ensures that the Seahawks should be tough when they don't have the ball. If I had to pick one team that has improved the most, it would probably be Seattle. The only thing they haven't done is found their QB of the future, but I think that that's actually a positive - patience is better than reaching.
New York Jets - The team was most improved through subtraction - getting rid of Brett Favre instantly improved their locker room, and getting rid of Eric Mangini and replacing him with Rex Ryan dramatically upgrades the coaching. It doesn't stop there, though. The defense got an overhaul, adding as many as six new starters headlined by Bart Scott and Lito Sheppard. A team can set a tone for the entire season by the way they approach the draft, and the Jets showed that they are serious about doing what it takes to win. They boldly pursued the quarterback they wanted in mark Sanchez and the running back they wanted in Shonn Greene. Both picks have the chance to be big-time players, and both make this team better. The Jets had a lot of work to do to wash away the taste of their collapse last year. I think they have done it.
Chicago - Even if you don't like Jay Cutler or believe in him you have to admit that the Bears finally have something that they have lacked for years, even decades - a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback. The Bears paid handsomely for Cutler, but they really had to in order to give their offense a chance and to appease their frustrated fans. I'd be even more excited about the Bears if they had added to their receiving corps, but so far they haven't. They've done the next best thing, though, by significantly upgrading their offensive line to protect their big investment.
Kansas City - The Chiefs did almost nothing last year that was worth celebrating, so they needed a major overhaul. They did the best thing they could have to start that process by acquiring a credible general manager. Scott Pioli is as good as it gets, and he instantly elevates this team. His first move was another major cornerstone - he added a franchise quarterback, and he did it at a very affordable cost. Next he added some veteran experience to add stability and leadership to a team that really needed some - Zach Thomas, Mike Vrabel and Bobby Engram. By trading Tony Gonzalez instead of giving into his demands he set a tone and let everyone know that he was in charge. I don't necessarily love the pick of Tyson Jackson third overall, but Pioli does get credit for making a bold move to again make a statement. The Chiefs have gotten pretty good at being pretty bad lately, but this offseason is the first big step towards changing that.