| Each week through the NFL draft, I'll offer my take on the personnel moves that have taken place and look ahead to those that might happen in the future. Here's my breakdown of what has happened so far this week:
Five quick thoughts
|
IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
|
|  | | Sam Adams would replace Gilbert Brown as the Pack's run stopper. |
The Packers would love to add Sam Adams to their defensive line. Ask Cortez Kennedy, and he would obviously want the Seahawks to re-sign his defensive linemate. Losing Adams would create a problem for Kennedy, who would now draw double teams on every play.
Signing Adams would be a great coup for the Packers, who need players who can go after the quarterback and control the line of scrimmage. He can make tackles against the run and apply a good push up the middle.
Consider what happened to Chad Bratzke: He played lights out with the New York Giants, drew a free-agent contract with the Colts, moved on and played great football last year. It could be the same for Adams this season. If teams can't double-team him, we could be looking at a similar situation.
Seattle doesn't want to lose a player like him, and the Packers need him in a division with teams that can score quickly. The knock on Adams has been that his motor doesn't run all the time. But it's hard to find players who will play everyday. That's often the difference between a $1 million player and a $3 million player. Money and change can be an amazing motivator. Maybe Adams can mature, play every play and realize how important he is to a football team.
|
1. Bye George! Vikes still interested. I'm surprised Jeff George's situation in Minnesota has gotten to this point. I know Vikings coach Denny Green is calling the shots and is much smarter than I am. But from what everybody has said, George was a model citizen last year. He played well and still has the best arm in the game. The reason the Vikings didn't go further in the playoffs last season had nothing to do with their offense and everything to do with their defense. There may be something we don't know about George's predicament, perhaps concerning dollars and cents. George now may be thinking he is just an afterthought for the Vikings. Although they may wish to sign him for one year, he must be unsure that the Vikings really want him. And if he signs a one-year deal, the Vikings are in the same situation next offseason. The whole situation with George and the Vikings quarterbacks is the most baffling story of the offseason.
2. Smith next on Saints' shopping list? Neil Smith is the consummate pro and would be great for the Saints. At some point, all players would like to play in their hometown. He may not give them an every-down player, but he can still go get the quarterback. Players like Reggie White and Bruce Smith have been able to rush the quarterback late in their careers. Even without Smith, the Saints are in my top three for teams making offseason moves. Ricky Williams may not like the way things are going in New Orleans, but I do. New GM Randy Mueller and new coach Jim Haslett have made some wise decisions. Smith would be a great addition because he's been on Super Bowl teams in Denver and on an ultra-talented team in Kansas City that came close.
3. Cowboys gamble on Underwood: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, like Al Davis or Jimmy Johnson, is willing to take some chances on players. The Vikings personnel people who originally drafted Dimitrius Underwood -- the troubled, young defensive end -- aren't stupid. Denny Green saw something in Underwood he liked as a football player. Green wouldn't have wasted a first-round draft pick on Underwood if he thought there would be off-the-field problems. It didn't work out for Underwood in Minnesota and Miami. Underwood was injured his senior year at Michigan State and didn't play. So we are all left to wonder how good he can be. Last season, the Cowboys got Alonzo Spellman when he was at his all-time low, and he played pretty well. I don't know if Underwood can be a player, but you can't totally give up on a player drafted in the first round the year before. What does Dallas have to lose?
4. Is The Bus' run over in Pittsburgh? Richard Huntley is a similar kind of back to Jerome Bettis, although very few backs are like The Bus in terms of size and strength. Huntley came in and made a lot of plays when he had a chance to carry the ball for the Steelers. Bettis isn't old, but he's getting older. It's sad to say, but if Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott and Marcus Allen can be shipped or find their days numbered in certain places, so can Jerome Bettis. I still think Bettis can play and, if healthy, can produce 1,400 yards. But if Huntley continues to emerge and prove he can carry the load, that could make Bettis expendable. However, the Steeler players still know how valuable a healthy Bus can be. At times, change is good. Maybe the Steelers could go a cheaper and younger direction with Huntley. He is faster, has more moves and could be more dangerous in the open field. But any team would love to have Bettis if it knew he could play 13 games because he can still hammer teams and be a football player.
5. Browns beef up O-line with Oben. Roman Oben is a great signing for Cleveland. He may not be a household name, but NFL personnel people know Oben can play. I think the Browns are making strides. They need playmakers and players who can protect their young franchise quarterback, Tim Couch. Coach Chris Palmer is trying to take care of both needs. In the draft, the Browns have a chance to go get a player like Peter Warrick, LaVar Arrington or Courtney Brown with the No. 1 pick. That still would give them a playmaker, even though two of them are on defense. I don't expect the Browns to win nine games next season, but Oben is a huge addition. He can protect the passer and push people around.
Offseason winner
The Seahawks managed to keep quarterback Jon Kitna at home, signing him to a one-year contract. They win and he wins because he gets to be with Mike Holmgren and play in his offense for another year. It's important for any team to keep its starting quarterback in house. The Seahawks didn't trade for another quarterback, and Steve Young hasn't come to Seattle -- yet. But over the first half of last season, Kitna was performing like a Pro Bowl quarterback. Although he tailed off a bit at the end, he still threw for more than 3,000 yards in his first full year as a starter.
|
Offseason loser
I don't mean the 49ers are the loser in a bad way, but the death of longtime offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick is a huge loss for the 49er family and the NFL. McKittrick worked with some good offensive linemen over the years, but he took some middle-of-the-road players and made them Pro Bowlers. That's the highest compliment you can pay him as a coach. He was a man of integrity. I held him in high regard for a long time. His son played high school football in San Diego when I was in high school. He is the loss of the week and probably the loss of the year for the league.
|
| SEAN'S 10 MOST WANTED |
1. Jeff George
Quarterback
Unrestricted FA
Age: 32
'99 team: Vikings |
 |
I don't understand why Minnesota won't re-sign George. It blows my mind. He is a strong-armed quarterback who didn't cause any problems for the Vikings last season.
|
2. Ruben Brown
Guard
Unrestricted FA
Age: 28
'99 team: Bills |
 |
It's difficult to keep a Pro Bowl guard from being No. 1 on this list. I always like a lineman who can dominate the line of scrimmage, which Brown has proven that he can do. |
3. Corey Dillon
Running back
Restricted FA
Age: 24
'99 team: Bengals |
 |
Dillon is a big-time, Pro Bowl-caliber back who has been playing for a horrible franchise. Although the price to sign him is high, he has rushed for at least 1,100 yards in each of his first three seasons. |
4. Dexter Coakley
Linebacker
Restricted FA
Age: 27
'99 team: Cowboys |
 |
The NFL game is based so much on speed. Coakley is a Pro Bowl linebacker who can flat-out run; I love his ability. He had 76 tackles and four interceptions for Dallas last season. |
5. Bobby Engram
Wide receiver
Unrestricted FA
Age: 27
'99 team: Bears |
 |
Engram is highly underrated. It's important for teams today to have three good receivers. He is a game-breaker who will be a good fit for somebody. |
6. Sam Adams
Defensive tackle
Unrestricted FA
Age: 26
'99 team: Seattle |
 |
The 300-pounder is the best defensive tackle available. When motivated, Adams can go get the quarterback. However, he has been inconsistent during his first six seasons. |
7. Albert Connell
Wide receiver
Restricted FA
Age: 25
'99 team: Redskins |
 |
Connell is starting to come into his own as an NFL receiver. I think the Redskins would be crazy not to keep him. Other clubs will have to surrender a first-round pick to sign him. |
8. Jason Taylor
Defensive end
Restricted FA
Age: 25
'99 team: Dolphins |
 |
Although he is undersized, Taylor is a quick defensive end who underachieved last year. He's a questionable choice for my top 10. He could be a hidden gem or a bust. Other clubs will have to surrender a first-round pick to sign him. |
9. Frank Winters
Center
Unrestricted FA
Age: 36
'99 team: Packers |
 |
Every good team needs to be strong up the middle. Winters is a great center who has been on a championship team in Green Bay. And he's been a mainstay in the NFL trenches for 13 seasons. |
10. Phillippi Sparks
Cornerback
Unrestricted FA
Age: 30
'99 team: Giants |
 |
Plenty of teams need good cornerbacks who can cover on an island. Sparks is versatile, having had to play different positions because of Jason Sehorn's injuries. |
| Note: Franchise players Simeon Rice, Robert Porcher, Tony Brackens, Stephen Davis and transition player Todd Lyght did not make my top 10 because I do not expect them to leave their current teams. |
| |
ALSO SEE
War Room: Divisional Overviews
2000 Free Agent Signings
NFC Free Agents
AFC Free Agents
|
