The NFL is back

The NFL is back in a big way with training camp in full swing and most of the big-time free agents signed on with their respective teams.  While you can't win a championship in July, you can certainly lose one.  Here are a few teams that have made or missed on some deals early on.

New England
As usual the New England Patriots are taking on reclamation projects, in the past it was Corey Dillon and Randy Moss and the 2011 version will be Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth.  As the Patriots always do, they were able to acquire their pieces with limited risk giving up only two 6th round picks for Haynesworth and a 5th round pick for Ochocinco.  Whether it works will remain to be seen but, nobody will be surprised if their latest acquisitions have stellar seasons this fall.

New York Jets

Going into his third season Rex Ryan is still looking for a Super Bowl victory that he has guaranteed the last two season and in each season he has fell short on the road in the AFC Championship Game.  The Jets helped their young quarterback Mark Sanchez by signing big-play threat Santonio Holmes to a 5 year/$50 million contract but they lost out on the big fish in free agency, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha when he signed Friday afternoon with the Philadelphia Eagles.  It seemed like foregone conclusion that the Jets would get Nnamdi and form a terrifying cornerback tandem with Darrelle Revis but now the Jets are scrambling a bit and they absolutely HAVE to re-sign Antonio Cromartie or they will have a hard time with pass heavy New England and Indianapolis.

Carolina Panthers
While some said that drafting quarterback Cam Newton number one overall in April's draft was a mistake the Panthers are certainly giving Newton a lot of help. Newton may not play right away, allowing second year quarterback Jimmy Clausen to make an impression on new coach Ron Rivera but I have to believe it won't be long before Owner Jerry Richardson will want to see his franchise player on the field. The Panters have given their fans some hope for the future by  re-signing Charles Johnson (DE) and Jon Beason (LB) as well as adding tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen.  Carolina is very young and likely won't threaten anyone in the NFC South but they certainly will be exciting to watch and may solidify the NFC South as the best division in football.

As we approach the first set of pre-season games it will be interesting to see how the chips fall and how the new acquisition's affect their new teams.