While the Pittsburgh Steelers have remained mostly quiet as the lockout ended and training camps began, the NFL team on the other side of the state has been very loud.

John Madden “Boom!” loud. Deion Sanders loud.

The biggest news out of Latrobe has been the release of Max Starks and Flozell Adams, Ben Roethlisberger wearing the No. 78 at practice in tribute to Starks and a few players re-doing their contracts so the team can get under the salary cap.

Meanwhile in Bethlehem, the Eagles have signed just about everyone but the three wise men.

This free-agent frenzy has netted the Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, defensive end Jason Babin, quarterback Vince Young and running back Ronnie Brown.

The Eagles wanted Plaxico Burress, too, but didn’t land him.

And no, there’s no (well, maybe little) chance that Brett Favre and Randy Moss will un-retire to play in Philadelphia, too.

On paper, this looks like a dream team, something you can build in your Madden franchise, not in real life.

But pro sports — the NFL in particular — don’t work like a video game.

Buying a bunch of talent doesn’t always lead to victories.

The Eagles should know this. There’s a team in their own division who has been trying this formula and failing for more than a decade.

Let’s take a ride in the way-back machine to 2000 when ’Skins owner Daniel Snyder opened up his checkbook and spent big for free agents Jeff George, Deion Sanders and Bruce Smith.

Snyder shelled out $18 million over four years for George, even though Brad Johnson was still there.

Then again, every team Johnson played for was trying to replace him at some point.

Snyder also handed over $56 million over eight years to Sanders, who was so far removed from “Prime Time” he was either a Saturday morning cartoon or a 3 a.m. infomercial.

The Redskins went 8-8 that season despite being hyped as a Super Bowl contender.

Other teams have taken a dive into the deep end of the free-agency pool only to drown.

Under Jon Gruden, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went crazy in free agency. One Buccaneer Place became a halfway house for aging free agents on their way to retirementland.

The Raiders whiffed on several free agents this decade (Randy Moss, Javon Walker, Warren Sapp).

And, of course, the Redskins are a perennial free-agent loser (Albert Haynesworth, Adam Archuleta and, well, just about everyone else).

Free agency is not a fix all. Teams are starting to recognize that. The Steelers have known this for decades. Other teams are following suit.

Don’t be surprised if all the Eagles’ hype turns into losses this season.

There are no quick fixes.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.