New Kids Top Class Expansion Jacksonville, Carolina Display Guile; Seahawks Don’t Make Grade

Training camp is finally here and the final grades are in. So without further adieu, our winners and losers - and everyone else in between - in the 1995 off-season roster shuffle in the National Football League.

Carolina Panthers (A): General manager Bill Polian had to feel like a kid in a candy store. Between the expansion draft, the regular draft, trades and free agency, he amassed enough talent to compete for a playoff spot within three years. Polian landed quality players Frank Reich, Kerry Collins and Jack Trudeau to throw the ball, Barry Foster to run the ball, Randy Baldwin to return the ball and Lamar Lathon and Sam Mills to tackle the ballcarriers. Whew.

Jacksonville Jaguars (A): How’s this for a healthy sign for an expansion franchise: a quarterback controversy in Year 1? Credit general manager-coach Tom Coughlin for creating the healthy competition by signing Steve Beurlein, trading for Mark Brunell and drafting Rob Johnson. Coughlin also did a splendid job attracting solid free-agent defensive players such as Kelvin Pritchett and Jeff Lageman.

Miami Dolphins (A): Coach Don Shula upgraded the offense with Eric Green, Randal Hill and Gary Clark, and also beefed up the defense with the trade for end Trace Armstrong. Hey, Deion Sanders, are you interested?

New York Giants (B): They lost seven key free agents last year, but one this time - running back/kick returner David Meggett. Herschel Walker is a capable replacement for Meggett, and the trade for safety Vencie Glenn solidifies the secondary.

Dallas Cowboys (B): The loss of center Mark Stepnoski and receiver Alvin Harper will hurt, but owner Jerry Jones did well in resigning receiver Michael Irvin, tight end Jay Novacek and defensive end Tony Tolbert, not to mention persuading Charles Haley to postpone retirement plans.

Buffalo Bills (B): After two years, the free-agent bleeding has finally stopped. The Bills not only brought in solid free-agent defenders Bryce Paup and Jim Jeffcoat, but also re-signed key veteran safety Henry Jones and retained Cornelius Bennett by using the franchise designation.

Washington Redskins (B): There’s a major upgrade on defense here with safeties Stanley Richard and James Washington, as well as linebackers Rod Stephens and Marvcus Patton.

Cleveland Browns (B): A big-time coup in getting free-agent receiver Andre Rison, the kind of player who can elevate those around him - as long as he is on his best behavior. Another key signing was Lorenzo White, who gives Cleveland a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield with Leroy Hoard. The off-season drawback: failing to lure Phil Simms out of the broadcast booth as a backup quarterback for Vinny Testaverde.

Indianapolis Colts (B): Prediction: By trading for Buccaneers quarterback Craig Erickson, director of football operations Bill Tobin will soon be vindicated for passing on Trent Dilfer in last year’s draft. With Erickson on board, star running back Marshall Faulk no longer has to do it by himself.

Chicago Bears (B): The addition of safety Marty Carter and receiver Michael Timpson, coupled with the success in re-signing key players such as quarterback Steve Walsh, defensive tackle Chris Zorich and linebacker Joe Cain, will help the Bears win the NFC Central.

Philadelphia Eagles (B): Ricky Watters brings an instant jolt to the backfield. New coach Ray Rhodes did a quietly effective job with other unheralded yet effective players such as guard Raleigh McKenzie, linebacker Kurt Gouveia and defensive tackle Rhett Hall.

New Orleans Saints (B): The loss of linebackers Sam Mills and Darion Conner hurts, but signing transition cornerback Eric Allen is huge.

Detroit Lions (B): Prying away Henry Thomas from the Vikings will help an erratic defense, and underrated tackle Zefross Moss will help an inconsistent line. The Lions also did a nice job re-signing key veterans such as linebacker Mike Johnson and guard Dave Lutz.

Oakland Raiders (B): Pat Swilling will revive his career and juice up the pass rush for the Oakland-bound Raiders. Kerry Cash is an underrated tight end. Fullback Derrick Fenner also helps on offense.

Houston Oilers (B): After a horrendous off-season in ‘94, the Oilers made strides this time by signing Stepnoski, kick returner Mel Gray and quarterback Chris Chandler, who will keep the position warm for top draft choice Steve McNair.

New York Jets (B): Credit new coach Rich Kotite with making the right decision to clean house and bring in serviceable players such as defensive tackle Erik Howard, safeties Gary Jones and Todd Scott, and return man Dexter Carter. But don’t be deceived by Kotite’s off-field aggressiveness. It will be another two years before the Jets get into the playoffs.

Atlanta Falcons (C): They need big-time help on defense, but didn’t get enough with Ken Tippins and Brad Edwards. The acquisition of slot man/returner Eric Metcalf from Cleveland was big.

Minnesota Vikings (C): Coach Dennis Green retools in the secondary with safeties Harlon Barnett and Charles Mincy, but will be hurt by the free-agent defection of Thomas. Re-signing receiver Jake Reed was a good move.

New England Patriots (C): Coach Bill Parcells was shrewd in prying away Meggett from the Giants, but he did little else to improve his offensive backfield. Defense remains a question mark for a team some believe is ready to contend for a Super Bowl.

Denver Broncos (C): Give coach Mike Shanahan credit for collecting as many free agents as he could. My only problem with the whole thing: too many members of the over-the-hill gang, including defensive tackle Michael Dean Perry, cornerback Lionel Washington and guard Mark Schlereth.

San Francisco 49ers (C): In ‘94, owner Carmen Policy did one of the great jobs in pro sports history attracting a slew of free-agent talent. But after losing Watters and several capable backups, the Niners were hardly overwhelming this time around.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (C): I’m just not sold on Dilfer as the Bucs quarterback of the future, meaning the trade of Erickson is a huge risk. Alvin Harper’s arrival will help, but the Bucs needed more help on defense.

San Diego Chargers (C): San Diego fooled everyone last year by bringing in a bunch of no-name free agents and getting to the Super Bowl. Some of that talent will carry over this year, but the Chargers still have problems in the secondary.

St. Louis Rams (C): They overpaid for guard Dwayne White, but helped themselves with cornerback Anthony Parker and wideout Alexander Wright. Still, it’s a long way to the playoffs for the beleaguered Rams.

Seattle Seahawks (D): Considering the fresh start promised by new coach Dennis Erickson, too many Seahawks veterans flew the coop to other teams, including linebackers Rufus Porter and Rod Stephens, center Ray Donaldson and cornerback Patrick Hunter.

Kansas City Chiefs (D): They must go on without quarterback Joe Montana, but it’s the defense that’s the problem now. Signing Jets castoff defensive backs Ronnie Lott, Brian Washington and James Hasty isn’t the answer.

Pittsburgh Steelers (D): Two years ago, the Steelers had the best tight end combination in the NFL with Eric Green and Adrian Cooper. Now, they have neither. Barry Foster is gone, too, leaving the running game to second-year man Bam Morris and newly signed Erric Pegram. The loss of guard Duval Love also hurts.

Arizona Cardinals (D): A new and improved offense? Puh-lease. Coach Buddy Ryan’s new quarterback is 36-year-old Dave Krieg, who’s better suited as a backup at this stage of his career. After whiffing on stud receiver Rison, Buddy traded for Rob Moore, who is still waiting for a breakout season.

Green Bay Packers (F): A year ago, Green Bay was the dark-horse choice to make a Super Bowl run in the event San Francisco and Dallas sputtered. But the Pack is licking its salary-cap wounds, with Paup the biggest name to leave this year. Replacing the 94 receptions and 18 touchdowns of Sterling Sharpe will be nearly impossible. Even the trades to shore up wide receiver and tight end backfired, with former Dolphins Mark Ingram and Keith Jackson now embroiled in contract disputes. Sorry, guys. It will be a playoff-free year in Titletown.

Cincinnati Bengals (F): Welcome to Cincinnati, where the big free-agent splash this year was signing journeymen running backs Eric Bieniemy and James Joseph, and overpaying to keep restricted free-agent receiver Carl Pickens.