SPORTS BETTING

• NFC Offseason: Biggest Moves

  Posted on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT by GetChalk

  
  

  The biggest deal of the NFC offseason could still be yet to come. The Minnesota Vikings' awkward courtship of Brett Favre has dominated the headlines, with reports and sources contradicting each other on the status of the retired quarterback.

  There's no doubt adding Favre would shift the Vikings' odds in the NFC North, making them an even bigger favorite to win the division (currently at +155). But until that happens – and don't hold your breath – these offseason moves should impact how bookmakers and bettors treat the teams involved.

  Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears

  Switching Kyle Orton for Jay Cutler was like dumping Ugly Betty for Marisa Miller. Chicago has been plagued with poor quarterback play for far too long, and snatching up the disgruntled Bronco gave the Windy City a breath of fresh air. Cutler is among the best young arms in the NFL, passing for over 4,500 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2008, and has the Bears at +170 to win the NFC North.

  The big question in Chicago – who will be Cutler’s targets? The Bears lack a real No. 1 receiver, defaulting that role to project wideout Devin Hester. Cutler doesn't have the weapons on the wings like he did in Denver and could be staring down his tight ends a lot at the start of the season. He and running back Matt Forte should have a beautiful symbiotic relationship in the backfield.

  T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the Seattle Seahawks

  Seattle was another team with a longstanding hole in the depth chart. The Seahawks have lacked a go-to receiver, but finally found their man in former Bengal T.J. Houshmandzadeh. After playing second fiddle to Ochocino in Cincy, Houshmandzadeh has a chance to step into the NFL spotlight. Last season he caught 92 balls for just over 904 yards, but snagged just four touchdowns.

  That drop in numbers had a lot to do with the injury to Carson Palmer – but now Houshmandzadeh trades one injury-prone quarterback for another, as Matt Hasselbeck played just seven games last year due to a bad back. Everyone will be adjusting to a new system under new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, which could be one of the reasons why Seattle is at +275 to win the NFC West.

  Albert Haynesworth to the Washington Redskins

  Haynesworth was the biggest cog in the Tennessee Titans’ man-eating defense last year. The hulking defensive tackle is great at plugging up the rushing lanes and collected 8.5 sacks in 2008. With so many big-name quarterbacks in the NFC East, Haynesworth should have an impressive list of victims by the end of the year – if he can make it that far.

  Haynesworth finished last season at less than 100 percent and missed two games at the end of the year. He hasn't played a full 16-game season in his six-year career, due to either injuries or his vicious temper. Many skeptics think Haynesworth's career season in 2008 was due to it being his contract year and expect the flaky lineman to get complacent in Washington, which is set as a +550 underdog to win the division.

  Kellen Winslow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  The Cleveland Browns finally washed their hands of turbulent tight end Kellen Winslow, sending him to Tampa Bay this offseason. When healthy and happy, Winslow is one of the best options to have in the playbook – especially when working with a less-than-stellar quarterback. The Bucs have slow-motion pivot Byron Leftwich heading up what could be the NFL’s most underrated offensive attack.

  Winslow teams with wideouts Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton on the pass attack, while the running trio of Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward, and Earnest Graham pose a respectable threat on the ground. Winslow is a great third-down option for Tampa Bay and gives their +525 odds in the NFC South some hidden value.