NFL Trading Block

Two days into the official start of the NFL season, teams are frantically signing and trading players. Free agency won't open until Friday, July 29 at 5 p.m. EST, but many teams have already gotten major pieces via trades.

Big Names On Move

McNabb moves on after a tumultuous year in D.C.

Donovan McNabb to Minnesota Vikings -
The Vikings had to do it. Facing the reality of a rookie quarterback starting, Minnesota had to make a move on McNabb. It's a good fit for both teams. Washington desperately wanted him gone, and Minnesota's situation allowed to gamble on a clearly fading McNabb career. While this is a wise move for the Vikings, it doesn't ensure anything but a couple more wins. Minnesota will have a hard time making the playoffs regardless of QB.


Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco to New England Patriots - 
Bill Belichick is known as the guy who can take any player with talent, regardless of personal baggage, and put them to good use. He's proved it with Corey Dillon and Randy Moss. Now he's made a move to sure up the D-line and get a reliable receiver for Tom Brady by bringing in Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco, two guys that have been a pain in the asses of their previous coaches. The difference between Belichick and most of the league, why he can take on "problem" players and immediately get production, is communication. It's the oldest thing in the book. He knows how to deal with all players. That's why he's so good year-in and year-out. He schemes very well and he knows how to deal with an NFL locker room. Haynesworth and Ochocinco will help New England greatly this year.


Kevin Kolb to Arizona Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and 2nd rd. pick -
Arizona desperate for a QB + Eagles with one to spare = Andy Reid worked over Arizona into sending a very good CB over for a guy he wasn't even going to use. And a 2nd-round pick on top of it. Kolb's career consists of 19 games in four years. He's thrown 11 TDs and 14 INTs. He was concussed in the first game last year. There's doubt there. However, Kolb has potential. Arizona gave him the shot he wanted. Now he must really deliver a midst pressure he's never seen before.

Tarvaris Jackson and Sidney Rice to Seattle Seahawks - 
Digging through Minnesota's castaways probably isn't the best choice for a young team with a new coach. But Pete Carroll and Seattle are going to try it. Jackson proved too many times in Minnesota that he can't be a starting QB in this league for an entire season. Rice proved nothing more than he could catch passes from a vintage Brett Favre. Rice caught 19 passes in six games last year. He was plagued by injuries, due to rushing back from a training camp surgery. As Rice should already know, there's a big difference between Favre throwing the ball and TJack. Rice went to highest bidder.

Reggie Bush to Miami Dolphins -
The writing hit the wall draft night when New Orleans drafted RB Mark Ingram. Bush sent an ill-advised tweet about how it's "been nice knowing" the Saints organization. He knew his time was up. The injuries and inconsistent play, coupled with an upcoming contract situation, suggested it was time to move on. Miami picking him up makes sense and should help both involved. Bush will have opportunities to carry the ball outside the tackles and add to Tony Sparano's rushing game, which needs to get back to where it was in 2008.

(Photo: Yardback.com, David Johnson)

Here we go again

As the NFL seems to be heading to getting its lockout resolved (currently on Day 109), the NBA just began its own lockout, again.

The NBA announced it locked out its players at midnight Friday, and the gap between the two sides seems wide enough to cause ample concern about the length of next season, if there's a season at all.

While I never really worried about the NFL missing games because of the lockout due to the mass appeal of the league, and the revenue its generating, the NBA's lockout does concern me. We know David Stern will shut down part of the season in order to get a better deal for its teams and owners, which the league claims lost over $300 million last year, and 22 of the 30 teams were in the red. We saw him do it in 1998, which resulted in a shortened, 50-game schedule for the 1999 season.

Both lockouts don't interest me. There's too much legality I a) don't understand and b) am not interested in following that close. 

The reason this NBA lockout scares me is because I don't know how far Stern is going to go to get a better collective bargaining agreement. Yahoo's lead NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski writes it could cost the entire season. If an entire season is lost, all-time great players, like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James miss out on 82 games to add to each's career. Those two especially will be on many all-time lists. They will be short-changed in their career accomplishments due to the lockout. And, of course, the fans, who made the NBA a very popular attraction over the past few years.

The NFL needs to wrap up its lockout and get back to work so there isn't two of these things hanging over the fans' heads. After the NFL gets going, and gets back to being the No. 1 sports attraction in the country, the NBA needs to figure this thing out. I don't want to see a longer lockout than in 1999. That's as far as I'll go. 

If the entire season is seriously threatened, start contracting teams. They can't lose money if they're not there. Drastic, but it might be necessary.