Catching up on Free agency

So Free agency has kicked off and already things are starting to move and shake. I'm just gonna look at the moves that I know of/caught my eye. -- Julius Peppers. Yeah, had to start here didn't we. Formerly of the Panthers, now a Chicago Bear, along with RB Chester Taylor and TE Brandon Manumaleuna. I have to say, the Bears desperately needed a guy of Peppers caliber to come and bolster their pass rush, but I'm looking at the apparent contract details and just gasping. a six year deal with at least $42 million guaranteed? With incentives it could stretch to as much as $91 million. The deal will pay Peppers $20 million in just the first year. That's a hell of a spend. You'd better hope that a) Peppers works hard and b) he gives you great production right from day one, because that is the kind of contract that can hamstring a franchise. I actually like the Taylor deal more, because they badly need some support for Matt Forte. Now if they can just sort out their O-line and get Cutler to stop throwing games away.... -- Josh Cribbs, though not a free agent, has finally got a contract he's happy with, and good on him. It's hard to think of someone who has worked as hard as he has and has given as much back to his team in the last few seasons as Cribbs. Long live the Special teams specialist. -- Vince Wilfork has been secured again by the Patriots. And with their Defense the way it is, that's a badly needed signing. -- Karlos Dansby has landed in Miami, both figuratively and literally. In a 5 year deal estimated at $43 million dollars with maybe $22 million guaranteed, Dansby brings some quality to a Miami D that badly needed it. Is he worth quite that much? I'm not convinced, but we'll see. They've also managed to get Chad Pennington back. -- Antrel Rolle will be swapping red for blue this season as he trades his Cardinals jersey for a Giants one. The deal is reportedly worth $37-38 million dollars, with $15 million guaranteed. Probably one of the better swoops I've heard of in this free agency, especially with the Giants secondary the way it is. For overall value, this one will take some beating. -- Beaten. Ok so it's not a free agent move, but still, Anquan Boldin has been traded to the Ravens, along with a 5th round pick in this years draft in exchange for the Ravens 3rd and 4th picks. This deal basically satisfies everyone. The Card's already have three good receivers (Fitzgerald, Breaston, Doucet,) and have made some room for future cap considerations. They also get two picks that are pretty valuable, allowing you to take a pretty good player but without the huge expense associated with it. Boldin gets his new contract that he wanted. And finally, the Ravens get someone who can actually catch the ball and do something with it. Smiles all round. -- CB Dunta Robinson has ended up in Atlanta. This a move many expected the Falcons to make and hopefully it will give their secondary the kick up the butt it needs. Robinson plays with good physicality, but questions over his pass defense (and bearing in mind he's a Cornerback) could come back to haunt the Falcons this year. -- DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and WR Nate Burleson have both hooked in by Detroit. With the distinct possibility that the Lions might grab either Ndamukung Suh or Gerald McCoy with their second overall pick in this draft, that's a great steal for the Lions to get Bosch. With big pressure up the middle, that gives him more opportunities to sneak off the edge and be a difference maker. And while Burleson may not be up to the standard of Calvin Johnson, he does make a pretty good number two. Surprised that anyone would take Burleson though when Antonio Bryant is still on the market. Overall though, good moves by the Lions. -- Gary Brackett, LB for the Colts has signed with... the Colts. Brackett is the brains of this D (in a sense) and his retention is worth the money for Indy. -- Restricted free agent Leonard Weaver has agreed a new deal with the Eagles. His threat in both the running and passing game is much under rated. Now if only we could convince Andy Reid that running the ball isn't a sin.... -- Though nowhere near a done deal, the Seahawks are interested in WR Brandon Marshal. Marshal is a restricted free agent carrying a 1st round tender. If the Seahawks want him, they will have to up a first round pick for the deal. And to be honest, with their receiving corps, that's not a bad deal. Hopefully either tomorrow or Sunday, in addition to keeping up with all the latest buzz in free agency, I want to delve into a topic that's always interested me; Just why is it so hard to repeat a Superbowl win?