Sports

NFL Teams Look for Bargains, Avoid Busts in Free Agency

Published

11 years ago

March 6, 2015

This is an Oct. 18, 2009, file photo showing Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth on the bench during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, in Landover, Md. For every Peyton Manning scooped up at a relative bargain by Denver, theres an Albert Haynesworth waiting to go bust. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

TERESA M. WALKER, AP Pro Football Writer

NFL teams and their fans have been waiting for free agency since last season ended. Salary cap space has been counted and rechecked, ready for splurging on that star capable of turning franchises from losers to winners with the simple change of a jersey.

Millions upon millions of dollars will be spent.

Yes, the NFL’s real gambling season begins Tuesday, and it’s always buyer beware, no matter how smart the deal looks in March.

For every Peyton Manning scooped up at a relative bargain by Denver, there’s an Albert Haynesworth waiting to go bust. The result is dead money hanging around the books for years that not even the league’s rising salary cap can erase completely.

Here are a few of the NFL’s best and worst free agent deals:

BARGAINS

Peyton Manning, 2012: Denver won the Manning Watch that March, and he has repaid the Broncos with three straight playoff appearances. That includes a Super Bowl berth after Manning became the NFL’s first five-time MVP in the 2013 season. That five-year deal worth $96 million still seems like a bargain even if Denver has yet to win the Lombardi Trophy that Broncos boss John Elway so desperately wants.

Drew Brees, 2006: Worries about Brees’ torn labrum made some teams back away. That helped the Saints land the quarterback with a six-year, $60 million contract and an $8 million signing bonus. Brees repaid their faith immediately by leading them to the NFC championship game. He followed that with a Super Bowl win in 2010 and a bunch of NFL passing records. The Saints paid up again in July 2012 with a five-year, $100 million deal.

Darrelle Revis, 2014: The New England Patriots may have made the best free agent signing of 2014, landing the cornerback with a one-year deal for $12 million, with a team option for 2015 paying Revis $20 million. The Patriots won the Super Bowl with Revis playing all 16 games and picking off two passes.

Deion Sanders, 1995: Nobody used free agency better than Prime Time. The Defensive Player of the Year helped San Francisco win the 1995 Super Bowl, then cashed in with a seven-year, $35 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys the next year. Sanders helped them win the 1996 Super Bowl.

Reggie White, 1993: The Minister of Defense hit the free agent market, and the Green Bay Packers won the bidding war. White always said that God told him to go to Green Bay, and the Packers paid up with four years and $17 million. White delivered as he helped the Packers to two Super Bowls and one championship.

BUSTS

Albert Haynesworth, 2009: The Washington Redskins wanted the defensive tackle, and they paid up with a seven-year contract worth $100 million just hours after free agency opened. Haynesworth was guaranteed a then-record $41 million in that deal, luring him away from Tennessee. But he clashed almost instantly with coach Mike Shanahan over a conditioning test, and Haynesworth wound up playing only 20 games over two seasons with the Redskins before being traded away to New England in 2011. He lasted six games before being placed on waivers, with Tampa Bay picking him up for seven games. His career ended after that, and he’s now selling burgers in Tennessee.

Sanders, 2000: Yes, Prime Time shows up on both lists thanks to yet another big money deal from Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Before Snyder approved Haynesworth’s deal, he spent another chunk of money luring Sanders away from Washington’s NFC East rivals in Dallas with a seven-year, $56 million contract that included an $8 million signing bonus. Yet Sanders played only one season and intercepted four passes in a Washington uniform before retiring.

Carl Nicks, 2012: An All-Pro in 2011 and a two-time Pro Bowl guard, Nicks never missed a game in four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. That’s why Tampa Bay handed him a five-year, $47.5 million deal in March 2012. But he wound up starting only nine games with the Buccaneers because of an injured left toe, followed by a MRSA infection in his left foot.

Nnamdi Asomugha, 2011: The lockout created a frenzied free agency period in late July 2011, and the cornerback who flourished in Oakland capitalized by signing a five-year, $60 million deal with Philadelphia, $25 million guaranteed. But Asomugha played only two seasons with the Eagles with four interceptions.

Javon Walker, 2008: Oakland ignored the wide receiver’s poor season in 2007 in Denver and signed him to a six-year, $55 million deal with an $11 million signing bonus. That netted the Raiders only 15 catches and one TD, and Walker played only three games in 2009 without a single reception before being released in 2010.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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NFL Teams Look for Bargains, Avoid Busts in Free Agency

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

2 months ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

9 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

12 months ago

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Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.