Change Is Good (Or Not)

Either way, the NFL off-season has given most fans plenty of hope for their teams

Tell It Like It Is
You never know what you'll get when high-profile vets join your team. So we asked ex-'mates of three big-name movers for the inside dish. And they obliged

Leonard Davis
Ex-Cardinals Ol, Signed By The Cowboys On March 4
"Leonard is so big and, at times, the game is so easy for him. He can do whatever he wants whenever he wants—when he sets his mind to it. He comes to work every day on time, and he takes care of his body. He's like Shaq—he's bigger than everybody; he can bully everybody. If somebody gets him on one play, then the next play he'll pretty much maul them. If you watch film, you won't see him get beat back-to-back. His weakness is he's too relaxed at times. Things come easily, and he'll take it easy sometimes." -CARDS RB EDGERRIN JAMES ; played with Davis in 2006

Randy Moss
Ex-Vikings And Raiders Wr, Traded From Oakland To New England On April 29
"Randy is so smooth and so explosive, and his power is so deceptive that it catches people off guard. By the time you process what he's doing, you're dead. A defense can't bring an eighth man down into the box to defend the run because it always has to have someone back to double Randy. He changes the complexity of an offense, but he also changes the complexity of a defense. And that's just demoralizing. As for the other stuff, well, yeah, he was a little mouthy and a little loud, and maybe he played his rap music too loud. But that's it. He can be annoying, but he's not a disruption. He's not a TO type who's constantly attacking teammates and tearing a locker room apart. Besides, Randy understands that this is it. His legacy will be decided in New England. He was embarrassed by what he wasn't able to do in Oakland. But it's tough when you get two to three weeks into the season and know there isn't enough there as far as coaching, schemes and talent. That would make anyone play down to a lower level. The opposite will be true in New England." -EX-VIKINGS RB ROBERT SMITH ; played with Moss from 1998 to 2000

Matt Schaub
Ex-Falcons Qb, Traded To The Texans On March 21
"Schauby was one of our best players, even though he rarely played. People forget that at Virginia he won ACC Player of the Year the season Philip Rivers finished third. He's tall, but he moves better in the pocket than people think. He's quick to get rid of the ball. He's a vocal leader. If you're going to be that, you have to be one of the team's hardest workers. Otherwise it goes nowhere. He earned the right to speak up, even as a backup." -SEAHAWKS DE PATRICK KERNEY ; played with Schaub in Atlanta from 2004 to 2006

Big Spenders
By John Clayton
The three NFL franchises that have padded their 2007 salaries the most through free agency and trades …
1. Patriots
Total Added $40.506m
Biggest Deal LB Adalius Thomas, five years, $35m, $20m guaranteed
2. Broncos
Total Added $32.58m
Biggest Deal TE Daniel Graham, five years, $30m, $15m guaranteed
3. Browns
Total Added $30.411m
Biggest Deal G Eric Steinbach, seven years, $49.5, $17m guaranteed
cheap dates

… And The Three Teams That Have Ponied Up The Least
1. Chargers
Total Added $0
Biggest Deal none
2. Packers
Total Added $1.24m
Biggest Deal CB Frank Walker, one year, $1.24m, $150k guaranteed
3. Colts
Total Added $1.485m
Biggest Deal QB Jon Navarre, two years, $1.44m, $50k guaranteed

Missing Pieces
By KC Joyner

Somehow, after months of free agency and seven draft rounds, these five teams still have holes to fill.

BILLS Peerless Price and his 5.7 yards gained for every catchable pass thrown his way aren't good enough to take the pressure off Lee Evans. Yet the Bills took an RB, LB and QB in the first three rounds of the draft.

CHIEFS LT Jordan Black gave up 15 sacks in 2006. The Chiefs' fix was 30-year-old Damion McIntosh, a Dolphins castoff, and sub-300-pounder Herbert Taylor, a sixth-round choice out of TCU.

PACKERS Bubba Franks gained just 4.7 yards for every catchable pass thrown to him, worst in the NFL among starting TEs. Plus, he had no TDs. The Pack's response? Take Rutgers TE Clark Harris in the seventh round.

RAVENS Samari Rolle will be 31 when the season starts, and his 10.1 yards allowed per pass attempt indicates he'll need to take a seat soon. But the Ravens signed undrafted free agent corners rather than drafting one or picking up a veteran.

TITANS Pacman Jones was the Titans' only legit corner last year. Ex-Colt Nick Harper is a solid replacement, but on the other side is Reynaldo Hill and his 9.7 yards allowed per pass attempt.

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