Usually NFL free agency isn’t as exciting as NBA free agency, or MLB free agency, but this year, NFL’s free agency season has given me, and many other football fans, something to watch for and talk about until the beginning of the season.

This year’s free agency has been a revolution unlike the previous years in terms of old stars coming back from retirement, star players being traded and franchise players being cut from their beloved teams.

Moss’s resurrection from retirement

One of these major changes was the San Francisco 49ers’ acquisition of former all-pro wide receiver Randy Moss. Moss went into retirement last season, but only for a year. This was a smart move for the Niners since they don’t really have any receiving threat other than tight end Vernon Davis. On top of this, the Niners also picked up wide receiver Mario Manningham from the New York Giants. Manningham made a crucial catch near the end of the game that helped to seal the Giants’ Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.

Manning to Mile High

Of course, the biggest move of this free agency season was the Denver Broncos’ signing of four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning.

Last year, Manning had to undergo his third neck surgery in less than two years, one that sidelined him for the entire season. Manning’s importance was shown when the Colts went 2-14.           

As a result, the Colts will be selecting first in the 2012 NFL draft and likely take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

I am not sure how the Colts will fare with Luck at the helm, but they are going to need some support from the supporting cast; tight end Dallas Clark, defensive end Robert Mathis, and star wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who was signed back by the Colts this year.         

Many teams went after Peyton Manning, but in the end the hunt was narrowed down to three teams: the Niners, the Broncos and the Tennessee Titans.

After meeting and talking with the coaches and owners, Manning finally reached a decision to sign with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos had made the playoffs with arguably the most talked-about person in the NFL season, Tim Tebow, but they were not sure if Tebow was the quarterback for the future.

This was a great move for the Broncos, even though I would have liked for Manning to go to the 49ers. In order to succeed, an NFL team needs a quarterback who can comfortably pass the ball. Tebow may be an exciting player while running the football, but he has a problem throwing the ball.

Tebow time in NYC

The signing of Manning has led to a domino effect for the Broncos in that they decided to get rid of Tebow. Not long after Manning was signed, Tebow was traded from the Broncos to the New York Jets.

While many people question this trade to the Jets and don’t think it was a smart decision, I, for one, think otherwise. Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez has been going on a downward spiral in the last couple of years. The acquisition of Tebow for the Jets will give Mark Sanchez a reality check: he needs to step up his level of playing in order to keep his job.

While Tebow may not be an NFL-ready quarterback, he is an extremely versatile player. With a normal quarterback, defenses of opposing teams are used to the pass, but when Tebow comes on the field, defenses need to shift themselves in order to be prepared for the run or a short pass.

The list of major moves goes on and on, and because of this year’s free agency, the excitement to get the 2012 season started is greater. Manning to Denver, Moss to the Bay and Tebow to the Big Apple; it certainly has been an unexpected offseason.

While many people question this trade to the Jets and don’t think it was a smart decision, I, for one, think otherwise. Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez has been going on a downward spiral in the last couple of years. The acquisition of Tebow for the Jets will give Mark Sanchez a reality check: he needs to step up his level of playing in order to keep his job.

While Tebow may not be an NFL-ready quarterback, he is an extremely versatile player. With a normal quarterback, defenses of opposing teams are used to the pass, but when Tebow comes on the field, defenses need to shift themselves in order to be prepared for the run or a short pass.

The list of major moves goes on and on, and because of this year’s free agency, the excitement to get the 2012 season started is greater. Manning to Denver, Moss to the Bay and Tebow to the Big Apple; it certainly has been an unexpected offseason.