Yahoo Sports: Worst free-agent signings since '93: Redskins, Raiders dominate list

[Jericho]

Sorry if this has been posted, but I searched and couldn't find it. In this article posted yesterday, Jason Cole with Yahoo Sports ranked the 20 "worst" free agent contracts of the past 20 years. Of the 20, more than 1/3, including 4 of the top 10, were players signed by the Redskins.

1. DT Albert Haynesworth
5. CB Deion Sanders
6. DE Bruce Smith
10. DB Adam Archuleta
12. LB Jeremiah Trotter
17. QB Jeff George
18. DT Dana Stubblefield

I knew Vinny had a couple ugly signings on his ledger, but I didn't realize it was this many. I'd be curious to get the take of folks around here who know a lot more than I do as to whether 1) any of those contracts shouldn't be listed, and 2) whether any more recent deals from Shanny / Allen are worse and may end up knocking some of these names off the list.

You can't blame Vinny for Stubblefield. And Sanders, Smith and George were all signed the same year - 2000. So at least it's only 3 bad signings in the last dozen years. And most people aren't really hating on Trotter, who was okay before he got injured. And hell, Archuleta spent one year and then was traded for a draft pick (although I always wonder how much the Redskins actually paid him of his contract). Hell, this list is looking better already. If only one could forget Fat Al

[hawgboy]

I don't think they counted trades.

Ahh... good point.

[Riggo-toni]

Stubblefield was way worse than ANY Vinny signing not named Haynesworth. Bruce Smith got a reasonable bonus and had good years in 2000 and 2002. Was he a good signing? No, but not nearly bad enough to be so high on ths list. Biggest drawback was El Dano let him hang around a year too long to break the record. Warren Sapp to Oakland was worse, but just didn't get the publicity. People love to ignore that we had an excellent defense in 2000. Coleman and Bailey had career years, Carrier was excellent until he got suspended. Deion was the biggest disappointment. It was the offense and the kicking game that sunk us that year, NOT the big name defensive signings.
Archuleta was the sole putrid move Gregg Williams made. Most of the other FA signings were excellent values, except for Barrow, who got hurt (but had no injury history).

[No_Pressure]

Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, and Jermiah Trotter didn't under-perform.

Sanders had some good punt returns, 4 interceptions and a forced fumble.

Bruce Smith had 29 sacks in 4 seasons. It was a decline from his production in Buffalo, but he played the position well for us. 9 sacks at age 39 was enough for 2nd on the team that year behind Arrington.

Trotter's stat line:

91 tackles, 0 sacks, 1 INT

113 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT

---------------------

Sure, we likely overpaid for these players but it isn't like they were the worst signings ever. Bruce Smith filled a void. Deion was unnecessary but he didn't underperform. Trotter is a deal I'd do again, only I'd not let him walk. He was 25 or 26 when we signed him, and he wasn't a bad player.

Most of those others? Sure, we overpaid a player and they showed up and did nothing, or worse- they showed up and were a detriment.

[hawgboy]

We traded for him. Not that it makes it any better lol

Lol, thanks to the both of yous for keeping me honest!

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

I'm not here to talk about the past *Mark McGwire voice*

[cphil006]

Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, and Jermiah Trotter didn't under-perform.

Sanders had some good punt returns, 4 interceptions and a forced fumble.

Bruce Smith had 29 sacks in 4 seasons. It was a decline from his production in Buffalo, but he played the position well for us. 9 sacks at age 39 was enough for 2nd on the team that year behind Arrington.

Trotter's stat line:

91 tackles, 0 sacks, 1 INT

113 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT

---------------------

Sure, we likely overpaid for these players but it isn't like they were the worst signings ever. Bruce Smith filled a void. Deion was unnecessary but he didn't underperform. Trotter is a deal I'd do again, only I'd not let him walk. He was 25 or 26 when we signed him, and he wasn't a bad player.

Most of those others? Sure, we overpaid a player and they showed up and did nothing, or worse- they showed up and were a detriment.

I guess this is a reason stats can be overrated...

--Bruce Smith took himself out of every play because he played it like a QB-rush and over pursued... too many times getting taken out of the play or taking himself out of the play by doing so... it was sad really, he may have had two average season here, nothing close to earning the huge payday he received...

--Trotter lacked the stops we were looking for... the defense was on the field a lot that year which led to a high number of tackles... were the tackles inside 4 yards? mostly no... he played barely like an average MLB at the salary of an elite...

[cphil006]

Arch..I recall the whole "Bruise Brothers" thing.

That might be worse than the mess that Haynesworth was.

Archuletta had a huge contract and lost his starting job... much more of a bust than Smith... although Smith played like a 50-year old at times...

[MWCREDSKINS]

Archuletta higher if you ask me. Factorin too that we gave up a Pro Bowl player for him in Ryan Clark, he's just as bad as Haynesworth. I might get reamed for this but Bruce Smith shouldn't be that high. Certainly not a great signing but there's been worse, Stubblefield much worse signing than Smith

[drowland]

How was trotter a bad signing? Overpaid, sure but no way one of the worst. Injuries did him in here.

Trotter was a poor fit in Marvin Lewis defense. MLB in Lewis' defense was more read and react, play sideline-to-sideline which Trotter didn't excel at. He was best playing downhill and attacking the LOS, which is how Jim Johnson used him in Philly.

[OxonHillSkinsfan]

No Nhamdi?

[Ned Flanders]

Jeff George over Brad Johnson still kills me to this day. I was driving on the GW watching some Crew team just daydreaming when I heard it for the first time. I can remember everything I was watching when I heard the news like it was yesterday. There's still fire in my eyes, and smoke coming out of my ears when I reminisce, driving the same route to this day.......

[wsniper1]

Barrow was hurt b4 he got here, that makes it bad
Brandon Lloyd anyone?

[wysknz1]

All I remember is the link for AA's wife got me addicted to porn.

[Hitman21ST]

Ha I forgot about Archuleta already. Damn, that was a bad one....

Yeah, Arch Deluxe he was not.