Makeover grades

[fordfixer]

By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Aug. 4, 2011
[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15393413/makeover-grades-boldness-doesnt-guarantee-success"]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/1539 ... ee-success[/url]

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens big move was keeping tackle Marshall Yanda. Losing him would have been a big hit. They also kept corner Chris Carr. But they lost Heap to Arizona when he was released for cap reasons. Nose tackle Kelly Gregg went to Kansas City, safety Dawan Landry went to Jacksonville and guard Chris Chester went to Washington. Adding Vonta Leach with a big-money deal for a fullback was a strange move, especially for a team that plans to throw it more. Grade: C


Cincinnati Bengals: Most would drop their grade down for not trading Carson Palmer. I commend them. Let him sit. They suffered a big hit by letting corner Johnathan Joseph leave to Houston. They replaced him with Nate Clements, but that's a step down in talent. They also added Manny Lawson to play linebacker, but he has been a 3-4 rush guy and must now play 4-3 outside linebacker. Linebacker Thomas Howard is expected to start after coming over from Oakland. Running back Cedric Benson was re-signed and should start. He's a grinder, not much else. Grade: C-


Cleveland Browns: It's clear that Mike Holmgren is patient in turning this team around. He didn't spend much at all in free agency. They added guard John Greco, corner Usama Young and running back Brandon Jackson. None was a starter for his team last year. They let corner Eric Wright go to Detroit, but didn't lose much else. They did sign corner Dimitri Patterson, who started nine games for the Eagles last season. It's hard to grade them because of the inactivity, but it has to be a low grade for what they did. Why not try and add a pass rusher? Grade: D



Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers rarely lose guys they want to keep and they don't go out and sign other teams' free agents. The Steelers wanted to keep corner Ike Taylor and right tackle Willie Colon, which they did. They did let Max Starks go for cap reasons, so that will sting if he isn't brought back for less money. The Steelers do it the right way: develop your own. They didn't lose any key players either. That's the Steelers way. Grade: C

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: Makeover grades

They did let Max Starks go for cap reasons

They let Starks go for fat reasons, not cap reasons.

[Discipline of Steel]

Re: Makeover grades

So how does that rank a C? We did just what we wanted to do...maybe because we didnt sign Nnamdi?

[papillon]

Re: Makeover grades

If another team would have done the following they would have received an 'A' and people would be talking about them going to the Super Bowl.

Lamarr Woodley - 6 years 61 million
Ike Taylor - 4 years 22.5 million
Willie Colon - Whatever his numbers are

Since the Steelers signed their own guys no one ranks it like the teams that go and sign OTP (other team's players). It's cool, the Steelers will be there in January contending for another title.

Pappy

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Makeover grades

If another team would have done the following they would have received an 'A' and people would be talking about them going to the Super Bowl.

Lamarr Woodley - 6 years 61 million
Ike Taylor - 4 years 22.5 million
Willie Colon - Whatever his numbers are

Pappy

Ike's new contract terms are 4 years for $28 million.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Makeover grades

If another team would have done the following they would have received an 'A' and people would be talking about them going to the Super Bowl.

Lamarr Woodley - 6 years 61 million
Ike Taylor - 4 years 22.5 million
Willie Colon - Whatever his numbers are

Since the Steelers signed their own guys no one ranks it like the teams that go and sign OTP (other team's players). It's cool, the Steelers will be there in January contending for another title.

Pappy

If we are able to extend Timmons' and Polamalu's deals, then we had the best offseason in the NFL. Screw the Eagles.