The Redskins make logical sense as a suitor for Albert Haynesworth, but where is the salary cap space coming from?
(And yes, I'm blogging some non-fantasy free agency material at NBC, which is confusing in the short run. We'll simplify eventually, but limited for now.)
If the Ravens are actually close to a deal with Bart Scott, what does that mean for Ray Lewis’ future? (If Scott gets to the open market, I bet he winds up with the Jets.)
What Herm Edwards/Carl Peterson has wrought: overpaid veteran Chiefs Patrick Surtain, Donnie Edwards, and Damon Huard are released.
What Herm Edwards has wrought, part II: The Nuge is leaving! (Herm and Terry Bradway, in perhaps their signature move, believed they were only a kicker away from a title in 2005 and took Mike Nugent in the second round of the draft. Three mediocre seasons followed by an injury-filled 2008 followed.
(Incidentally, the same article points out that the Jets have $27 million in cap room, not $37 million. They still have plenty.)
Shaun Rogers may be unhappy with Eric Mangini (already?), but he’s not going anywhere. The Browns aren’t going to take a cap hit to get rid of their best player. Look for Mangini to do some mend-fencing.
The distance between the Cardinals and Anquan Boldin is, “wide as a glacier, and just as cold."
Fred Taylor is continuing his tour of the AFC East. Taylor appears comfortable with being a role player moving forward, which should keep his career going at least another year. I still don't see him as a great fit on Buffalo or New England, but stranger things have happened.
The Dolphins could be the top suitor for Ravens C/G Jason Brown, who might be the best offensive lineman available at any position.
February 24, 2009
I posted my free agency primer on quarterbacks today, which came on the heels on Messrs. Silva and Wesseling breaking down linebackers and receivers. The quick conclusion to make after examining the quarterback position: there are no easy solutions available on the market, and there are fewer teams than you think that are desperate for a quarterback.
Byron Leftwich is my favorite player available, and he’ll need a perfect situation to succeed. That’s why he looked good off the bench for the Steelers and not so good for the Vick-less Falcons the year before. With the Vikings going for Sage Rosenfels, the biggest wild cards in free agency are the Bears and Chiefs. Both should be looking for someone to compete to start with their incumbent quarterback.
Other teams, like the Jets and Lions, should be looking for that kind of player, but they could be willing to wait the market out. Not a bad decision.
This is a fluid market, with Matt Cassel, Derek Anderson, and possibly Matt Leinart and Vince Young becoming available near the draft. If you can’t acquire one of those quarterbacks, I suspect there will be serviceable backup-types like Rex Grossman, J.P. Losman, Patrick Ramsey, and Kyle Boller just sitting out there, hoping to get a job. There will be a lot of former first-round picks looking for work this off-season, and not all of them will find it.
February 23, 2009
The Vikings have noticed how uninspiring the current free agent class of quarterbacks is. That's why they are reportedly close to completing a deal for Sage Rosenfels of the Texans, possibly for a fourth-round pick. Rosenfels is well known for his meltdown against the Colts last year, but he's a big upgrade over Tarvaris Jackson, Gus Frerotte, and free agent possibility Jeff Garcia.
Rosenfels is a rich man's Frerotte. He can make the bone-headed mistake, but he moves an offense. Over the last two years, he's thrown 414 passes, close to a full season. He's thrown for 3,115 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 22 picks over that span. That comes out to a 7.5 yards-per-attempt average, which is excellent.
With an awesome offensive line and running game, Rosenfels could put up decent numbers right away with the Vikings. The transition from Houston should be easy because the Texans ran a similar West Coast offense. The receivers, though, are far worse and the Vikings are a run-first offense. Rosenfels be a mediocre middle of the pack QB2 fantasy option.
Minnesota almost traded for Rosenfels last off-season, but the Texans wanted a second-round pick. Now they seem more willing to deal him because they are confident in Matt Schaub. One year later, the Vikings are more desperate than ever to upgrade their quarterback position. I know Vikings fans may not be thrilled, but Rosenfels would be a big upgrade.
My attention the last few days has been on the NFL Scouting Combine, but I’m not a college football guy. I need a few more days of studying to pretend I know what I’m talking about with these kids, and Mr. Silva has the event covered well in the news. Let’s see what’s gone on this weekend with the guys who are already pro.
The more we hear, the more it sounds like Torry Holt will just get out-right released by the Rams. They could delay the decision until mid-March, but it could be tough for the Rams to get any trade compensation for him. Teams may as well wait for the Rams to kill his contract first.
Jim Mora has had enough of the Michael Vick Experience, thank you very much.
Why is releasing Edgerrin James such a hard decision for the Cardinals? They can replace him in the draft at a fraction of the price, and then some.
Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Free Agency pruning" »
Michael Crabtree's decision to delay surgery on his foot until after he runs his forty at his Pro Day in a month is confusing. As Mike Lombardi writes, "As long as he can run and rehab his injury before camp, most teams will overlook the injury and realize that when camp starts, he’ll be ready. There are no games today or tomorrow, so why overreact to the injury?"
Crabtree may be overreacting. Training for another month to run a forty time that will seemingly be at less than 100% doesn't seem worth it. He can still be ready well before training camp, but why delay the surgery at all?
Talent evaluators from Mike Mayock to head coaches agreed that Crabtree's injury wouldn't hurt his NFL stock much, if at all. He's a potential top-five pick that shouldn't slip out of the top eight, just like before. If he gets enough feedback to that effect from the NFL, perhaps his representatives will decide to just get the surgery out of the way now and get ready for pro life.
February 21, 2009
No one questions Alabama tackle Andre Smith’s talent; he has enough raw ability to go first overall in the 2009 draft. His lack of maturity, however, has guaranteed that won’t happen.
Smith’s strange odyssey began when he was kicked off Alabama’s team before the Sugar Bowl, but reached its apex at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. This was a job interview Smith showed up woefully unprepared for.
Smith admitted to anyone that would listen Friday that he wouldn't work out because he was out of shape – he just started preparing for the NFL Draft. Bad answer. Reports also indicate that he didn’t leave a great impression in team interviews. On Saturday morning, Smith was AWOL. It’s difficult for a 350-pound future millionaire to disappear, but the NFL Network was scrambling Saturday morning to locate him. Teams at the Combine had no clue.
Smith was found in Atlanta. He apparently left the Combine without telling anyone, including his agent. Their story is that Smith wasn't going to work out, so he left to begin working out faster with a new trainer. They just forgot to tell anyone. Now there’s a well-coached answer!
Talent rules in the NFL, so Smith seems unlikely to fall out of the top-15 no matter how immature he is. But with Virginia LT Eugene Monroe and Baylor LT Jason Smith performing well this week, Smith seems destined to be the third tackle chose in April, at best.
Michael Crabtree will undergo surgery for a "slight stress fracture" on his foot, knocking him out of the rest of the pre-NFL Draft process. T.O. and Jonathan Stewart have undergone similar surgeries and rebounded quite well, so it shouldn't be a long-term concern. But will it hurt Crabtree's draft stock?
Everyone around football says the Combine and Pro Days are overrated, and that gametape is by far the most important piece of the evaluation process. Crabtree's lack of an off-season after a flawless college career is a great test for that. Three years ago, current Steelers tight end Heath Miller experienced a slide because a sports hernia surgery knocked him workouts.
NFL Network Draft God draft analyst Mike Mayock still sees Crabtree as a top-five pick despite the surgery and coming in at 6'1 3/8, two inches shorter than his listed college height. That's good enough for me. Crabtree is either a great football player or he isn't. All indications are that he is a truly great player and I trust the evidence that came on Saturdays most.
We'll see if NFL GMs truly feel the same way.
February 20, 2009
The Saints like Lance Moore, but they don't view him as irreplaceable. That's the only conclusion to draw after the team placed the second-round tender on the restricted free agent Friday.
The Saints are taking a calculated gamble that no team will give up a second-round pick and big money to sign Moore away. But the Dolphins made a similar decision with a very similar player in Wes Welker two years ago, and they lost him. One got the sense the Dolphins were just happy to get a second-round pick (and seventh) for Welker, but the Saints shouldn't feel the same.
Moore is a Drew Brees favorite, a chain-mover who is reliable in an unpredictable receiver group. Brees probably isn't thrilled that the Saints have gambled with Moore's future, and keeper league owners shouldn't be happy either. Moore's fantasy value would probably take a hit anywhere outside the Big Easy.
Marshawn Lynch was charged with three misdemeanors after getting arrested last week. They are all gun-related, and he won’t be charged with marijuana possession. (Officers originally looked at Lynch's car because they smelled marijuana.) Unlike Plaxico Burress, Lynch has already got some “good” news in his difficulties. This may be because of different gun laws in California or because his firearm didn't go off. A NFL suspension seems inevitable, but this seemingly will make jail much easier to avoid and possible limit the suspension. Long way to go still of course.
Great reminder from Mike Lombardi: "From this day forward, never — and I strongly mean never — believe that a player and a team cannot make up. Never believe that there is finality in anything as long as great money is involved."
Lombardi is using Shane Lechler as an example, but the same holds true for all the stories you read about Anquan Boldin, Julius Peppers, and other disgruntled stars over the next few months. Most of it is noise except for money-related issues.
The uncapped 2010 league year could make it harder for the Chargers to keep LaDainian Tomlinson. Anyone reading the article linked would also conclude that a long-term deal with Darren Sproles sounds unlikely.
Jim Caldwell is sending verbal warm and fuzzies to Marvin Harrison, but he’s not making any final decisions. It would be shocking if Harrison is on the 2009 roster. (I'm essentially in the 27th round of a dynasty draft now where we start 10 IDPs. Harrison is still on the board. Harry Douglas and Devery Henderson were the last two wideouts taken.)
The Chiefs offense will change under Todd Haley, but the return of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has to be good news for Tyler Thigpen’s chances for continued relevance.
The Saints are "dying for a power back." That can’t be good news for Pierre Thomas.
February 19, 2009
Every day, I read a new article that the Bengals have made re-signing Cedric Benson their top priority in free agency. And every day, I feel even worse for poor Chris Wesseling, dynasty blogger extraordinaire, and haunted Bengals fan.
I have no idea why Cedric Benson is a top priority, Shayne Graham is a franchise player, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh is going to leave without getting anything in return. Benson should be careful not to overplay his hand, because I don't think he would elicit much interest on the open market. If Benson stays, they still should treat running back as a big need in the draft.
Housh's expected departure was the cause of my most recent pick in my dynasty league draft: Andre Caldwell. I have no idea if Caldwell is up for the task, but he's in the best position to replace Houshmandzadeh's role in Cincy because of his style of play.
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