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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Early returns favorable on D-Hall trade
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s very early, but the Falcons’ trade of cornerback DeAngelo Hall to the Oakland Raiders is looking pretty good.
Hall would have been a free agent after this season and was demanding bushels of cash. He did make two Pro Bowls and played at a high level.
However, the Falcons balked at dumping cash on him and sent him packing for a second-round pick in 2008 and a fifth rounder in 2009. They used the second-round pick to help them move up to take left tackle Sam Baker and still have the fifth rounder.
If you stayed up Monday for the NFL doubleheader, you saw Hall getting worked out by Denver rookie Eddie Royal, from Hall’s beloved Virginia Tech.
Hey, maybe Royal is the next Steve Smith. But nonetheless Hall looked uninspired and played like a fat cat after getting his seven-year $67 million deal, with $24.5 million of it guaranteed.
There was some concern after the trade that the Falcons made a major mistake because there were no proven cornerbacks on the roster. Losing free agent signee Von Hutchins on the first day of training camp didn’t help.
Chris Houston and Brent Grimes, while getting beat on some plays against some very good Detroit receivers, played with a lot of spunk in the Falcons’ opener.
Rookie Chevis Jackson was also mixing it up in the nickel package and now they have to get the recently acquired Domonique Foxworth acclimated.
The position that looked like a major hole in the roster now seems manageable if Houston and Grimes keep playing with the same fire and desire.
Do you know where’s the “real” D. Hall? Was Eddie Royal his kryptonite? Did you pick up Royal in your fantasy league? Are you comfortable with Houston and Grimes yet or do you need to see more?
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