Could LeBron James "Deal" Happen in the NFL?
by Bruce Raffel on Jul 11, 2010 10:42 AM EDT
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46 comments
I was thinking about this as it went down this past week and before I could even write it up, Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post wrote an interesting piece on it the other day, titled "Could LeBron Power Play Happen in NFL?" Brandt writes a regular column for the NFP, aptly called "The Busine$$ of Football." The story was about the slim possibilities that what recently happened in the NBA with the Miami Heat signing the top three free agents to put together a team poised to be the favorite to win it all next season.
Imagine if that happened in the NFL? While Brant's piece had a different scenerio, I was thinking what three free agents the Baltimore Ravens would love to have on their team this season that in reality signed elsewhere.
While basketball has only five players on the court at one time, football has eleven and twenty-two overall. Three guys will make a much bigger difference in an NBA game than it will in an NFL one. However, signing the top three free agents on the market would still set that town ablaze with talk of getting to and even expecting to win the big game. This past off season, the top free agents in the NFL that ended up switching teams consisted of this group of players (my opinion): DE Julius Peppers, DE Aaron Kampman, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, CB Lito Sheppard, and LB Karlos Dansby.
Notice that there aren't any offensive players on this list? The Ravens got the best WR out there, although via trade. Fans in Miami (Brandon Marshall) and Cincinnati (Antonio Bryant) might argue otherwise. I didn't look at the QB or RB positions and didn't see any top-tiered guys on the offensive line or at tight end to consider them worthy of being in my "threesome" (although that doesn't sound good).
As good as the Ravens defense has been over the years and as challenged as the offense has been, the biggest needs were thought to be on the defensive side of the ball. Knowing who we've already drafted (and traded for) might be a bit unfair, but let's see the top three that I would like to have added as of today:
DE Julius Peppers
LB Karlos Dansby
CB Lito Sheppard
Sheppard may be a bit of a reach to some of you, but knowing our uncertainty at the CB position along with Sheppard's success with the Philadelphia Eagles, I put him on my list. I could have easily added another DE (Vanden Bosch, Kampman), but then how would that affect the current guys on the Ravens defensive line?
Peppers would immediately boost our pass rush and take the double-teams away from Suggs and Ngata, automatically improving our defensive backs abilities to cover the wideouts for less time. Dansby would pair with Ray Lewis right away and ultimately assume that leadership position once Ray retires. Sheppard would give us the insurance and flexibility at cornerback, depending on the health of our injured defensive backs aloing with how their performance will be once they return.
Take a look over at NFL.com for the entire list of who the free agents were this off season and where they signed, with the understanding that I did not pick players that re-signed with their own team. Post your comments and let the debate begin.
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t.o. isn't it obvious?
"[The] dictionary is the only place that success comes before work." - Vince Lombardi
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Jul 11, 2010 10:55 AM EDT reply actions
I agree that if anyone has ever received the most coverage ever about what team he will sign with like LeBron did, it would be TO. Brett Favre is catching up though.
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
No it couldn't
NFL is a team sport, and my HS coach has approached a similar topic many times. he said," It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you don’t work as a team you will always lose." In the NBA, it’s more of an individual star impact where if you get a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, you are guaranteed to win some games, because the NBA isn’t as strategical of game as the NFL. I just don’t see there being a player in the NFL that can make an amazing impact on their own, where in the NBA they can.
"All those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony." -Eminem
by Baltimore Warrior on Jul 11, 2010 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
You HS badminton coach sounds like quite the philosopher.
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
I think you’re turning into raven with your non-relevant comments
"All those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony." -Eminem
by Baltimore Warrior on Jul 11, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
But Individual players
Make a much greater impact in the NBA than they do in the NFL.
"All those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony." -Eminem
by Baltimore Warrior on Jul 11, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Unless you’re Peyton Manning. But he’s definitely the exception.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
Not exactly
He’s had a good OL for all of his career which allowed him to become good.
"All those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony." -Eminem
by Baltimore Warrior on Jul 11, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Not really. Many of the Colts fans I have talked to have said multiple times that their O-Line has been average at best since Peyton has been here.
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
what about...
Jerry Rice? his success was credited entirely to his skill set and determination. And definitely argues your point of, “I just don’t see there being a player in the NFL that can make an amazing impact on their own.”
by reed'sravens on Jul 11, 2010 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Joe Montana and Steve Young
if you had a HOF QB throwing to you, you would be good too. For every good player, there’s a counterpart player that he needs to make him good.
"All those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony." -Eminem
by Baltimore Warrior on Jul 11, 2010 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
That is not fair to say. How come if you have a HOF WR catching for you, you would be good too?
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
What I'm saying is that if neither of them had eachother
They probably wouldn’t have been as good.
"All those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony." -Eminem
by Baltimore Warrior on Jul 12, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Barry Sanders
Is about the only (recent) exception to that rule -let us face it, the Lions were horrible before, during and after Barry’s reign.
Pretty much every great to HoF NFL’er had exceptional if not equal counter parts. In the case of Rice and Montana, they also always had a pretty solid running game to support them. Even Marino had Clayton and Duper.
Manning (Peyton, that is) always had a pretty solid running game supporting him (until recently), plus a pretty good receiving corp over the years, and he did not win it all until his defense came around. But I agree that over the years Manning has not had the best O-line in front of him. Only his great decision making, extremely accurate throws, uncanny ability to look off defenders and quick release have prevented him even more punishment.
I watched the replay game against the Jets last night and when Peyton was in, the O-Line was good. The backs and TE’s even picked up some nice blocks. I agree there run blocking should be a lot better, but they have no problems with pass blocking. Like others have said before me though, Peyton’s pocket presence also makes them look better than they are.
Absolutely
Last year, and the year they won the SB, their O-line was pretty good, if not at least serviceable. But if you look back at the first half of Peyton’s career, yikes!
You hit the nail on the head: his pocket presence has always been key.
But you have to admit that the Colts O-Line looks good in passing situations because Peyton gets the ball out so damn fast. I wouldn’t give them too much praise, but I will say that they are good enough.
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
Alright
Barry Sanders IS the exception I can’t argue with that. But he had the same situation Lebron hadin Cleveland . He made them better but he had no help so he never won a championship.
"All those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony." -Eminem
by Baltimore Warrior on Jul 12, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
LeBron
Is not a winner, thats why he didn’t win in Cleveland. He had a great chance he just disappeared in big games. He also demanded the front office to make stupid moves (Larry Hughes, Jamison, Mo Williams) rather then rebuild with young talent like they should have. Hes not a closer, which is why he coped out and joined the Heat, so D-Wade can take the pressure of him.
So your now a Wiz fan, after rooting for the Cavs? Why not just root for the Heat since LeBaby was the sole reason you were a Cavs fan?
It could never happen...
in any sport other than basketball, because in no other sport does one player have as much of an impact. Lebron and scrubs is good for 50 wins. In no other sport is that true, so no player has that much power. Peyton is the best player in the game, so he would have alot of power on the open market, but he cannot play defense, so he would not have as much power as lebron.
And Lito Sheppard sucks at this point in his career. The Jets waived him for a reason instead of keeping him on his extension, and the ravens didnt even take a look…
by Rayisyourdaddy on Jul 13, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
No way it happens. The NFL is a not a league where there will ever be the hands down best player in the league. LeBron is without argument the most athletic, most dominant and best player in the NBA on a physical stand point. There will never be that in the NFL because football is such a simple sport from a physical stand point to be very, very good at. Basketball is a little tougher in a sense.
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
Right now, as much as I do not like the guy,
Kobe is a better and more dominant player than James, and takes over games at crunch time and above all, wins the trophy.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jul 11, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
Lebron IS the most dominant basketball player in the NBA, but Kobe is the best player in the NBA.
Dominance doesnt necessarily mean, “being the best.”
Shaq was dominant, but he couldnt make a shot outside 6 ft.
So could you really say he’s the best player in NBA history? I dont think so, but within his position, you could.
(Hence why Magic rightfully gets regarded by most as the best player in NBA history with his ability to play all positions, and play all extremely well)
Lebron is nasty inside, but the Celtics continuously made it clear that you need to be more than just a freak athlete— if you don’t have a polished jump shot, you will never be successful.
The “best” to me, means a player without weaknesses. MJ was that before. Kobe is it now. Kobe is a threat at all areas of the floor. you can’t make him a jump shooter, and you can’t make him just drive.
Not to mention his mental edge he has on Bron and all others, and his sheer competitiveness and work ethic— drawing similarities to MJ.
by reed'sravens on Jul 11, 2010 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Which is why I stated this
best player in the NBA on a physical stand point.
When it comes down to sheer athleticism and physicality, LeBron is hands down the best. But I agree, Kobe is the best all around player in the league.
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
Hasn't this happened once before?
Like the time the Patriots brought in Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donté Stallworth and the hottest (product of a great system) linebacker on the market in Adalius Thomas. These guys were added to a motivated team coming off of a AFC Chanpionship game appearance, a game they led by about 3 scores at the half. The team was already solid, led by one of the best quarterbacks in the game and coached by the “genius” (ha) Bill Belichick. Well 3 seasons later that big splash didn’t really pay off, I mean 16-0 is nice and all, but 18-1 was a failure in this case.
Now to contradict myself the 2000 Ravens did bring in Shannon Sharpe, Sam Adams and Trent Dilfer prior to the season, but that’s a special case.
Scott Hines
by shines on Jul 11, 2010 12:54 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Dilfer is nowhere near
a top tier QB and was the 4th QB to get the ball that season, wasn’t he? Behind Banks, Case, Mitchell? Or was that the year before and then Dilfer took over for Banks in 2000? Too lazy to look it up. Someone? Anyone?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jul 11, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Banks started up to week 7 I believe then Dilfer took over.
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
Yea I didnt wanna mention just 2 guys, can I ask for a free pass Masta? And yea, we drafted Jamal, does that count?
Scott Hines
Tony Blanks got benched during...
The eight game against the central division rival, the Tennesee Titans, which Trent Dilfer took over in the game to finish as the starting QB for the rest of the season. Then the defense made history.
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper. -Benjamin Franklin
Hang on, I gotta pinch me off a Cleveland Steamer -Tenacious D
Then in 2001, a "setback" took over...
A new sheriff took over PSI Net stadium. Elvis (the sound of regurgitation) Setback, had entered the building.
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper. -Benjamin Franklin
Hang on, I gotta pinch me off a Cleveland Steamer -Tenacious D
Getting rid of Dilfer was a worse move than drafting Boller.
"However, the true greatness of the Ravens’ line lies in their malevolence, led by right end Haloti Ngata. Simply put, Ngata can’t be blocked by mere mortals. He is not a product of the human species. He is really a creation of a building contractor, made of cinderblocks and some type of flesh-like covering. Throw in Kelly Gregg at nose tackle and behemoth rookie Terrence Cody and you have something truly frightening."
Yeah, the captain of all positions...
Was the weakest link for so long, until we drafted Joe Cool.
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper. -Benjamin Franklin
That last signature was gross, Mac. -Johnny O.
I've said it before
But if Jamal doesn’t tear his ACL in camp then Grbac (and the team) most likely would have been more successful, and people would not second guess not resigning Dilfer. We also lost Leon Searcy that year as well. I do not believe Dilfer would have had any success with Jason Brookins and Terry Allen as his RB’s. Thats a pretty big drop off from Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes.
But, "Ten Years After" 2000...
The Front Office bitch slaps pay dirt. The 2010 Baltimore Ravens plants the keystone in Dallas. Thus, the Baltimore Ravens are on their way to become the Dynasty of the Decade.
Its o.k. to dream, right!? Sorry, that “purple swag” is getting to my head again.
But, I like it!
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper. -Benjamin Franklin
That last signature was gross, Mac. -Johnny O.
it has happend in the nfl
The pats did do something similar to MIA when they brought in Welker, Moss, Dillon, Thomas, and Stallwoth. Also the 49ers did it when they brought in Ricky Waters, Deion, Charles Haley and I think Merton Hanks and William Floyd came in too that year. I just don’t respect Lebron because of the way he handled his home town fans.
@shockeRKhan that purple swag is one hell ova drug. They hate it down here in Georgia. Wait till we play them so called dirty birds this year in ATL.
by Georgia Raven on Jul 12, 2010 2:03 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Thats going to be a fun game....
Especially when Joe and the Ravens prove how much farther along than Ryan and the Falcons. No disrespect to the “Dirty Birds”, but this year the Ravens are going to dismantle teams of their caliber or better. A lot of high flying action, yadig?
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper. -Benjamin Franklin
That last signature was gross, Mac. -Johnny O.
farther along they are than Ryan...
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper. -Benjamin Franklin
That last signature was gross, Mac. -Johnny O.
I think Lito would have had a more positive impact
and with his wisdom and pedegree, his strong character could have rubbed off on the young CB’s, like Ladarius, Cary, K.J, and Prince. A corner who’s been there and done what Derrelle Revis is doing now with the Jets. Past his prime, but, like Ray Ray and Mase, staying in shape and getting smarter and wiser. Lito can still do his job at a high level . My two cents.
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper. -Benjamin Franklin
That last signature was gross, Mac. -Johnny O.
For us a big 3 would have to be a WR, a CB,and a DE.
Like Peppers, VJax/B-Marshall (both restricted), and Dunta Robinson (who was a Fa and got a big deal with Atl.
by Rayisyourdaddy on Jul 13, 2010 11:08 AM EDT reply actions
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