Negative NFL Offseason Transactions that Could Hurt Teams

NFL fans that are gearing up for the start of the 2009 NFL season should know that, in the new-age NFL, franchises that make the right free agent transactions during the league's annual offseason free agent signing period, can be lifted from the status of pretender to legitimate contender in the blink of an eye.

However, for those teams that don't make the correct free agent transactions, either by failing to address a key need - or by bringing in the wrong players - they can reverse their good fortunes just as quickly as a blossoming team can improve.

With that said, let's take a look at the worst NFL free agent transactions this offseason.

Philadelphia Eagles

While the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off two solid free agent signings by adding veteran cornerback Ellis Hobbs and Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters, the Birds also make the list for teams that made some of the worst offseason free agent decisions as well.

Fist and foremost, the Eagles' failure to land - or even go after - disgruntled Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin - was a huge mistake that can not be understated in my estimation. Boldin would have given the Eagles the first top-flight receiver that Donovan McNabb has had since Terrell Owens took his idiotic act out of the City of Brotherly Love following a brief but tumultuous tenure with the Birds a few seasons ago. No disrespect to feet-footed soon-to-be second-year receiver DeSean Jackson, who I think is going to be a star one day, but Boldin could have been an immediate difference-maker for the Eagles and one that could have helped to push the Super Bowl contenders over the top.

The Eagles also make this list for parting ways with too many of their former players that could have still been key contributors to the team's success this coming season, most notably, veteran safety Brian Dawkins, a player that can still get the job done and 'lay the hammer' almost as well as any safety in the game today.

Philadelphia also let running back Correll Buckhalter, wide receiver Greg Lewis, tight end L.J. Smith, tackle Tra Thomas and cornerback Lito Sheppard, but the biggest and most perplexing loss was that of Dawkins.

TampaBay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers foolishly parted ways with at least two veterans that could still help this team in a big way in quarterback Jeff Garcia and running back Warrick Dunn. Tampa Bay also parted ways with a slew of other veterans including wide receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, tight end, Alex Smith, longtime Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks and defensive end Kevin Carter.

Now, the only reason I won't rip the Buccaneers and their front office personnel too much is the fact that this franchise is clearly headed in a new direction under first-time NFL head coach Raheem Morris and is basically building from the ground up with a plethora of young players.

Expect Tampa Bay to take a step back In 2009 from the 9-7 record they posted in 2008 as the begin a rebuilding process that will almost assuredly leave them on the outside looking in come playoff time in the powerful NFC.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo foolishly added divisive, head case wideout Terrell Owens after the Dallas Cowboys washed their hands of the problem-causing Owens following another tumultuous season in Dallas. Now, were the Bills a legitimate Super Bowl contender that just need a playmaking wide receiver that could have helped them to make a Super Bowl appearance in either the first or second year, I would not have put Buffalo on this list, but the fact of the matter is that Buffalo is no closer to reaching the Super Bowl out of the AFC than they were before they signed the mercurial wide receiver.

However, the Bills are not a title contender and the addition of Owens may do nothing but cause future problems for young quarterback Trent Edwards once Owens begins his almost-certain finger pointing, usually in the direction of the team's starting quarterback. Maybe it's me, but I say this free agent signing has been the strangest one of all this offseason.

Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears

I put both, the Dolphins and Bears on this list for their respective failures to go after Arizona Cardinals disgruntled wide receiver Anquan Boldin despite each team's painstakingly apparent needs at the position. The Cardinals wanted two second-round draft picks for the Pro Bowl receiver and I think those demands were very reasonable from Arizona. Miami and Chicago both decided to draft two receivers before the fifth round; clearly taking their chances that their selections will turn out to be key contributors in the near futures rather than take their chances on a high-priced veteran that could help them win right away. Chicago could have given new quarterback Jay Cutler a legitimate No. 1 receiver to work with this season, but now the Bears and Fins will both begin the 2009 season with the same question marks at the wide receiver position.