For all the hype and the hope and the hysteria, free agency doesn't deliver on the sizzle. It's a fact. It just doesn't change teams, and while the NFL greets the annual off-season with a usual frenzy of activity, the player movement generally doesn't add up to Super Bowl victories.

Some of the teams that have won recent Super Bowls - including Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and New England - sparingly use free agency. Most of the good teams in the NFL, the Eagles included, have relied on the draft and the post-draft period to build their teams for long-standing success.

"Free agency, to me, has never been a good way to build a football team," ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. said. "You can augment your team effectively, but you can't build a team that way. If you de-emphasize the draft, that's a formula for disaster."

There are quality players who change teams, and some who had success last year included Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Vikings running back Chester Taylor, Vikings offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson and Seattle linebacker Julian Peterson. But the team that won the Super Bowl allowed its star running back, Edgerrin James, to sign with Arizona in free agency and then replaced him with two lesser-known backs, one rookie Joseph Addai.

Locked In: WR Reggie Brown is one of many young players the Eagles have locked in to long-term deals

Instead of earmarking money to spend in free agency, teams are spending their cap money locking up their own players. The Eagles are a prime example, as they have locked up youngsters like Shawn Andrews, Jamaal Jackson, Todd Herremans, Trent Cole, Reggie Brown and Mike Patterson to long-term deals in the last 12 months.

While there is more money flowing under the salary-cap limit of about $109 million, only a few teams are expected to go crazy in this free-agency period.

"Teams that think they can find a hidden gem who will become a Pro Bowler for five or six years are fooling themselves," said ESPN analyst and former Pro Bowl guard Mark Schlereth. "General managers realize this and are locking up their core players.

"It's become a buyers-beware market. If a potentially outstanding player is allowed to go as a free agent, it's usually a warning sign that the player is flawed. It might be their work ethic, their injury history, their attitude, their grasp of the defense."

How has Andy Reid treated free agency? Here is a look at the signings and the impact those players have made.

1999

PLAYERS

WR Charles Johnson, WR Torrance Small, QB Doug Pederson, P Sean Landeta, DT Mark Wheeler, TE Jamie Asher, S Tim Hauck, RB Eric Bieniemy, G Lonnie Palelei

It was a foundation year for Reid, and he actually got good mileage out of this group. Both Johnson and Small were the starting wide receivers while the Eagles learned how to win, and they provided good leadership in the locker room. Pederson didn't play very well as the starting quarterback, but he accepted his role well and taught the offense to the rest of the team. Landeta had an outstanding tenure in Philadelphia. Wheeler and Asher never amounted to much at all. Hauck was a good role player. Bienemy gave the running game some spark. Palelei was able to fill a need while some young linemen developed.

2000

PLAYERS

T Jon Runyan, DT Paul Grasmanis, LB Dan Brandenburg, RB Stanley Pritchett, LB Carlos Emmons, TE/LS Mike Bartrum, RB/KR Brian Mitchell

Runyan is the best free agent the Eagles have ever signed. He has been a Pro Bowl right tackle and a consistent, durable player. Grasmanis gave the Eagles some gritty, gutty seasons. Who the heck was Dan Brandenburg? Pritchett played a season with the Eagles. Carlos Emmons gave the Eagles four good seasons before moving on to the Giants in free agency. Mike Bartrum made the Pro Bowl as a long snapper and was a very good signing. Brian Mitchell was strong in the kick return game for two seasons. This was one of the best teams of free agents signed by Reid and the Eagles.

2001

PLAYERS

WR James Thrash, DE N.D. Kalu, CB Monty Montgomery

While he had many critics, Thrash was a good player for the Eagles and has extended his career with the Redskins. While not a starting-caliber receiver, Thrash worked hard and was part of a lot of victories. Kalu returned to the Eagles in free agency and played pretty well during an injury-marred time here. Montgomery never developed into the nickel cornerback the Eagles thought he would become.

2002

PLAYERS

SS Blaine Bishop, LB Shawn Barber, RB Dorsey Levens, LB Levon Kirkland, WR Antonio Freeman

Bishop was at the end of the line and helped mentor Michael Lewis, but Bishop just couldn't run well enough to be effective at strong safety. Barber was a good addition for one year. Levens also signed for one year and played well, as did Freeman. Kirkland was what the Eagles thought he would be: a load against the run and a liability in the passing game. Only Bishop signed for more than one year from this class.

2003

PLAYERS

FB Jon Ritchie, LB Nate Wayne, DE Marco Coleman

Ritchie was outstanding in 2003 and then had his career shortened by a knee injury in 2004. Wayne was too inconsistent to be counted upon for the long term and Coleman was an emergency signing who flashed here and there.

2004

PLAYERS

DE Jevon Kearse, LB Dhani Jones

It was an excellent off-season and it all happened so quickly. On the first day of free agency the Eagles signed Kearse and then traded for wide receiver Terrell Owens. Those two, along with Jones, started as the team marched to the Super Bowl. Kearse has not been a Pro Bowl player, but he was healthy and an end for whom offensive lines had to account for two-plus seasons before his knee injury last year. Jones has been a starter at SAM, but he has not made as many big plays as needed. He is still on the team but should be challenged for playing time this year.

2005

PLAYERS

QB Mike McMahon, WR Darnerien McCants

This two-man group delivered very little. McMahon didn't produce in the chaos of 2005. Surrounded by inexperience, McMahon played jittery football and the offense struggled. McCants did not make his mark in his up-and-down season.

2006

PLAYERS

LB Shawn Barber, DE Darren Howard, TE Matt Schobel, QB Jeff Garcia, WR Jabar Gaffney, DT Ed Jasper

Barber, back again on a one-year contract, played well when he was on the field, but was hurt too much. Howard started well and then faded in the second half of the season. Schobel struggled early and came on late as a backup to L.J. Smith. Garcia was terrific in the second half of the season leading the Eagles into the playoffs. Jasper did not make the team and then retired.