If you have a headache from the frenetic activity that ensued around the NFL in the week since the lockout ended, you’re not alone.
NFL general managers, coaches and players have been involved in a mad game of musical chairs. All of this has had NFL fans rapt with suspense.
The following is a look at the teams around the league who have been most aggressive and successful and those who have been too passive and taken steps back since the lockout ended.
We break things down into three categories: The winners, who have captivated their fans, passing grades for the teams that made solid moves to improve, and the losers, who haven’t done much at all to help themselves.
Here’s a look:
WINNERS
EAGLES
Key moves: Signed CB Nnamdi Asomugha, QB Vince Young,
DL Jason Babin, DL Cullen Jenkins,
TE Donald Lee. Traded QB Kevin Kolb to the Cardinals for CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick in 2012.
Analysis: The stealth signing of Asomugha, perhaps the move coveted of the free agents, was brilliant and could shift the balance of power in the NFC East. The defense also will be bolstered by the Babin signing and the trade for Rogers-Cromartie. Only issue is dealing with unhappy wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
PATRIOTS
Key moves: Acquired DT Albert Haynesworth from Redskins for fifth-round pick and WR Chad Ochocinco from Bengals for two future late-round draft picks.
Analysis: Both the Haynesworth and Ochocinco moves for such a low price could turn out to be steals. Haynesworth, who knows this is his last rodeo, likely will play hard for Bill Belichick. Ochocinco, too, should be corralled in by the “Patriot Way.”
REDSKINS
Key moves: Traded DT Albert Haynesworth and QB Donovan McNabb away. Signed former Giants DT Barry Cofield, former Ravens CB Josh Wilson and former Cowboys DE Stephen Bowen. Re-signed WR Santana Moss.
Analysis: Good moves to unload Haynesworth and McNabb to create salary cap room and remove locker-room distractions. Defense strengthened by additions of Cofield, Wilson and Bowen.
PANTHERS
Key moves: Re-signed DL Charles Johnson, RB DeAngelo Williams and LB Jon Beason. Traded for TE Greg Olsen.
Analysis: Keeping your own is more valuable than signing outside talent and this is the key to the Panthers’ moves. The additions are big improvements.
PASSING GRADES
CARDINALS
Key moves: Traded a second-round draft pick and CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie to the Eagles for QB Kevin Kolb. Signed G Daryn Colledge and C Lyle Sendlein.
Analysis: It remains to be seen whether Kolb becomes the solid starter so many people believe he will. But QB has been a massive problem since Kurt Warner left, so they had to make a move.
BILLS
Key moves: Signed ex-Jets WR/KR Brad Smith, CB Drayton Florence, lost free-agent LB Paul Posluszny to Jaguars.
Analysis: Losing Posluszny, a leader on and off the field, hurts, but the additions of Florence and Smith upgrade weak areas.
GIANTS
Key moves: Released C Shaun O’Hara and G Rich Seubert. Re-signed DL Mathias Kiwahuka. Signed C David Baas. Extended the contract of coach Tom Coughlin for one year. Lost DT Barry Cofield to Redskins.
Analysis: Impending issues with RB Ahmad Bradshaw and WR Steve Smith loom. Extending Coughlin was a smart move to keep him from being a lame duck this year.
JETS
Key moves: Re-signed WR Santonio Holmes, S Eric Smith, OT Wayne Hunter and K Nick Folk. Lost out on chase for CB Nnamdi Asomugha. Lost WR Brad Smith to Bills and CB Drew Coleman to Jaguars.
Analysis: The Holmes re-signing was priority No. 1. But there are still a lot of their own free agents unsigned as they try to bolster the WR and S positions.
VIKINGS
Key moves: Traded for QB Donovan McNabb. Lost DE Ray Edwards to the Falcons and WR Sidney Rice to the Seahawks. Re-signed K Ryan Longwell.
Analysis: Bringing in McNabb gives rookie Christian Ponder a mentor and McNabb might find new life in a new setting. Losing Rice, however, hurts the offense, leaving it without an impact playmaker.
TEXANS
Key moves: Signed S Danieal Manning and CB Johnathan Joseph. Re-signed WR Jacoby Jones and backup QB Matt Leinart.
Analysis: Texans were in the Nnamdi Asomugha hunt and lost out, but the Joseph signing is a good one.
DOLPHINS
Key moves: Traded for Saints RB Reggie Bush. Signed ex-Panthers QB Matt Moore. Released ILB Channing Crowder and signed ex-Chargers LB Kevin Burnett.
Analysis: The Bush trade makes Miami’s offense more dynamic as long as he can stay on the field healthy. Losing out on Kyle Orton and settling for Moore leaves their QB situation less than desirable, which is the norm in Miami.
SEAHAWKS
Key moves: Signed WR Sidney Rice. Lost QB Matt Hasselbeck to Titans. Signed QB Tarvaris Jackson and G Robert Gallery.
Analysis: Jackson is hardly an exciting addition, not even as good as Hasselbeck. The Rice signing, though, was a dynamic addition.
COWBOYS
Key moves: Re-signed DE Marcus Spears and OT Doug Free. Lost DE Stephen Bowen to Redskins.
ANALYSIS: Top priority was to keep Free.
LOSERS
COLTS
Key moves: Lost LB Clint Session to Jaguars. Re-signed S Melvin Bullitt and K Adam Vinatieri.
Analysis: Too quiet for a team that needs to improve — particularly on defense, where it lost Sessions.
RAIDERS
Key moves: Lost CB Nnamdi Asomugha to the Eagles in free agency. Re-signed long snapper Jon Condo. Signed DE Jarvis Moss.
Analysis: A bad team hasn’t gotten any better.
BENGALS
Key moves: Placed QB Carson Palmer on reserve/did not report list. Signed former Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski. Traded WR Chad Ochocinco to Patriots.
Analysis: The Palmer situation is a mess where no one wins, and it leaves their QB picture a muddled mess. The Ocho loss hurts, too.
49ERS
Key moves: Released CB Nate Clements and K Joe Nedney. Signed K David Akers and DE Ray McDonald. Re-signed QB Alex Smith. Lost LB Takeo Spikes in free agency.
Analysis: Bringing back Smith for another year is hardly exciting. Never seemed to try very hard to re-sign Spikes, which is a tough hole to fill on defense.
PACKERS
Key moves: Released OT Mark Tauscher, LB Nick Barnett and LB Brandon Chillar. Lost G Daryn Colledge to the Cardinals. Re-signed K Mason Crosby.
Analysis: The Super Bowl champs have stayed pat, not making any big moves.