Biggest trades of the decade
1. Randy Moss to the Patriots from the Raiders for a fourth-round pick; April 29, 2007
On draft weekend, the team-minded Patriots shocked the NFL by dealing for Moss, whose talent as a game-changing receiver had supposedly atrophied during his two mostly desultory seasons in Oakland. But Moss, as it turns out, was merely disinterested in losing, and his reemergence in New England coincided with the team's history-making Super Bowl season. Moss caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and had a single-season NFL record 23 touchdowns. All in all, not bad production in exchange for a fourth-round pick that Oakland used to select little-known University of Cincinnati cornerback John Bowie.
On draft weekend, the team-minded Patriots shocked the NFL by dealing for Moss, whose talent as a game-changing receiver had supposedly atrophied during his two mostly desultory seasons in Oakland. But Moss, as it turns out, was merely disinterested in losing, and his reemergence in New England coincided with the team's history-making Super Bowl season. Moss caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and had a single-season NFL record 23 touchdowns. All in all, not bad production in exchange for a fourth-round pick that Oakland used to select little-known University of Cincinnati cornerback John Bowie.
5. Wes Welker to the Patriots from the Dolphins for second- and seventh-round picks; March 5, 2007
We'll grant you that Welker being shipped to New England didn't generate the front-page headlines that the Moss trade would later inspire, but those bookend deals in the offseason of 2007 now look like the steals of the decade, parts I and II. With Miami, the undrafted Welker had bedeviled New England twice a season in AFC East battles, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick was an open admirer of his quick and elusive play-making style in the short passing game. Since sending two draft picks to Miami for Welker, New England's passing game has been the envy of the rest of the NFL, and his production has been unparalleled. As he did in 2007, Welker leads the NFL in receptions this season, with 95 in just 10 games, and his 318 catches in the past three years are the most in the league.
Best free-agent signings
We'll grant you that Welker being shipped to New England didn't generate the front-page headlines that the Moss trade would later inspire, but those bookend deals in the offseason of 2007 now look like the steals of the decade, parts I and II. With Miami, the undrafted Welker had bedeviled New England twice a season in AFC East battles, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick was an open admirer of his quick and elusive play-making style in the short passing game. Since sending two draft picks to Miami for Welker, New England's passing game has been the envy of the rest of the NFL, and his production has been unparalleled. As he did in 2007, Welker leads the NFL in receptions this season, with 95 in just 10 games, and his 318 catches in the past three years are the most in the league.
Best free-agent signings
. Drew Brees, Saints; March 14, 2006
Squeezed out in San Diego by the drafting of Philip Rivers in 2004, Brees hit the free-agent market in early 2006 and was being seriously pursued by just two teams: the Saints and Dolphins. Miami's doctors had some qualms about the state of Brees' surgically repaired throwing shoulder, and Dolphins coach Nick Saban listened to them and hesitated just long enough to convince Brees that New Orleans was his only serious suitor. Since becoming a Saint, Brees hasn't missed a start in the past four years, and has thrown 117 touchdowns passes, with more than 17,000 yards passing.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...12/04/nfl.trades.free.agents.draft/index.html
Squeezed out in San Diego by the drafting of Philip Rivers in 2004, Brees hit the free-agent market in early 2006 and was being seriously pursued by just two teams: the Saints and Dolphins. Miami's doctors had some qualms about the state of Brees' surgically repaired throwing shoulder, and Dolphins coach Nick Saban listened to them and hesitated just long enough to convince Brees that New Orleans was his only serious suitor. Since becoming a Saint, Brees hasn't missed a start in the past four years, and has thrown 117 touchdowns passes, with more than 17,000 yards passing.
Biggest draft steals
1. Tom Brady, Patriots, 6th round, 2000
The names that always get you, no matter how many times you hear them, are Giovanni Carmazzi, Tee Martin and Spergon Wynn. All of those long-forgotten quarterbacks were drafted ahead of Brady, who went 199th overall. Brady is the draft steal by which all draft steals are measured, this decade and maybe of any decade. His résumé: three Super Bowl championships, two Super Bowl MVPs, four Pro Bowl berths, one league MVP trophy and the acknowledged status as one of the game's two best active quarterbacks this decade.
1. Tom Brady, Patriots, 6th round, 2000
The names that always get you, no matter how many times you hear them, are Giovanni Carmazzi, Tee Martin and Spergon Wynn. All of those long-forgotten quarterbacks were drafted ahead of Brady, who went 199th overall. Brady is the draft steal by which all draft steals are measured, this decade and maybe of any decade. His résumé: three Super Bowl championships, two Super Bowl MVPs, four Pro Bowl berths, one league MVP trophy and the acknowledged status as one of the game's two best active quarterbacks this decade.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...12/04/nfl.trades.free.agents.draft/index.html
