The league has blown only one thing this year, making regional archrivals distant cousins. In the new scheduling format beginning in 2002, the league could have had the big cross-conference rivals -- Giants and Jets, Redskins and Ravens, Niners and Raiders -- play each other annually. But now they'll play but once every four years, a bad oversight and network-killer.

But overall, there's more of an air of consensus-building in the league than anytime in recent memory. In the past any team would have had to be dragged kicking and screaming from one conference to the other. Lawyers would have rattled sabers. Payments would have been demanded. The Seahawks, though, looked at the move logically. They have a longtime NFC coach, Mike Holmgren, and knew they were the most easily moved team. They nobly stepped into the NFC West, a move that will take about three weeks for fans to adjust to.

Finally, on realignment overall: I can't think of a single disadvantaged team, except Houston in the short-term. Powerhouses Tennessee and Indianapolis will fill a quarter of the Texans' schedule and smoke them for the first few years. But look at the new rivalries created: Arizona-St. Louis in the NFC West, with Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill taking on a renewed villain's role; Houston-Tennessee, with the old Oilers and their successors; and the best Sun Belt division there could be with Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans and Tampa Bay forming a long-term regional partnership.

Free agent news

On the free-agent front, the Jets and Dolphins are in the lead for former Tampa Bay defensive end Chidi Ahanotu, the best unsigned veteran out there. Ahanotu is a perfect 4-3 pass-rusher, and now it's just a matter of settling on the price with one of the AFC East rivals. Look for the Jets, with former Bucs aide Herman Edwards as their new head coach, winning Ahanotu. It will help his bargaining position that New York is very down right now on two veteran defensive ends, Dorian Boose and Eric Ogbogu.

Double the pleasure

When Mark Hatley, the former de facto general manager of the Bears, moved to Green Bay for a job with lesser authority, he doubled his salary. He made an estimated $375,000 with Chicago, and now he'll make in the mid 700s with the Packers. Rumor has it that the cost of living in northeast Wisconsin is also slightly lower than in Chicago.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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