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Bodies in motion . . . the best and worst moves of the offseason
By Phil Barber - SportingNews

An analytical look at offseason transactions.

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BEST

1. Cardinals sign Edgerrin James. Teams get scared off by running backs with 2,000-plus carries. But James won't be 28 until August, and he didn't do anything over the past two seasons -- 3,054 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns -- to make anyone think he's slowing down.

2. Dolphins acquire Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington. Culpepper is recovering from a knee injury and has been acting curiously. Harrington was a bust in Detroit. Still, for the price of a second-round draft pick and a low conditional pick, Miami got two quarterbacks who were chosen in the top 11 picks in the draft, and they likely will benefit from changes in scenery.

3. Chiefs hire Herm Edwards. No offense to Al Saunders, who was in the running for the job, but Edwards is the perfect choice to replace Dick Vermeil. Edwards will make the defense faster and more aggressive.

4. LaVar Arrington pays up. For once, a player valued success over money. It cost Arrington $4.4 million to buy out the remainder of his contract with the Redskins, with whom he had worn out his welcome. Now, as a member of the Giants, he'll be fired up to face his old team twice a year.

5. 49ers add Trent Dilfer. Second-year quarterback Alex Smith is sure to suffer more growing pains this season. He'll benefit from the veteran presence of Dilfer, who came in a trade for the much younger Ken Dorsey.

WORST

1. Chargers let Drew Brees walk. San Diego said goodbye to one of the league's most productive quarterbacks in 2004-05 and is handing the ball to neophyte Philip Rivers. Are we missing something?

2. Seahawks put transition tag on Steve Hutchinson. Seattle thought it could match any offer that came up for the Pro Bowl guard and work on a long-term deal behind the scenes. But the Vikings stole Hutchinson with a cleverly worded offer the Seahawks couldn't equal.

3. Packers overpay Charles Woodson. He remains a physical cornerback and a fearless competitor, but Woodson hasn't played a 16-game season since 2001 and coaches in Oakland questioned his commitment. Green Bay's payday -- reportedly $10.5 million in the first year, at least $18 million over three -- was far too much.

4. Titans freeze out Steve McNair. There's an outside chance McNair will remain in Tennessee. Still, the damage has been done. By banishing a quarterback who has sacrificed so much for his team, the Titans run the risk of alienating other players.

5. Saints dismantle O-line. They got Brees. Now can they block for him? New Orleans must replace three of its five starting linemen after trading left tackle Wayne Gandy, cutting left guard Kendyl Jacox and letting center LeCharles Bentley leave as a free agent.

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