Football Articles
Once viewed as an athletic and mobile left tackle with Top 10 potential from Rutgers, Anthony Davis has started to see his stock slip down boards in recent weeks.
Part of it has to do with the Combine, part of it his most recent pro day, and part of it his entire set of game film that honestly, I wasn’t overly impressed with.
Why He Was High On Boards:
Davis was a Top 10 pick on many boards (not ours) for most of the year, competing with Bryan Bulaga as the 2nd best offensive tackle in this draft class. Most scouts felt that with his 320+ size, his surprisingly long arms and wide base for a bigger offensive tackle, and his mobility could make him into a Flozell Adams-like left tackle in the pros after a few years of coaching.
He was rather consistent on a game-by-game basis, and rarely was there a game where he didn’t flash a scent of dominance that made scouts intrigued. Based on his game performance, scouts felt that he’d be a great Combine workout guy and would show that not only could he dominate on the field, but could hold his own with any tackle in the class in athletic drills.
Why He’s Falling On Boards:
To start, he first started falling on boards thanks to the NFL Combine. I, along with most NFL scouts, were expecting one of the better workouts and timed event numbers among the offensive lineman in Davis. But when he posted some average bench press numbers and running times, along with very average pass protection drills, red flags started to be raised.
Now, however, scouts have actual beef with Davis. At his Pro Day on March 10th, after meeting with NFL personnel the night before, bailed altogether on working out at his pro day, claiming he has a hamstring injury. Well, scouts will either be mad that he lied and didn’t tell them about the injury, or that he just didn’t want to work out and wasted all of their time. He didn’t even weigh in, which didn’t take a hamstring injury to limit him from
My Scouting Report:
Maybe you’ve already gleaned the fact that I’m not a huge fan of Davis by my constant references to “scouts like” and “scouts think” in this article. I’ve watched about 5 full games of Rutgers this year, (I am fully responsible for the Big East at Optimum Scouting, and still scout the whole country) and I never felt Davis was an NFL left tackle for sure.
He feet aren’t quick enough for speed guys and he’ll need tight end and running back help in the 3-4 defense nearly every play. He’s been a right tackle on my board for the entire season, and I feel he’s more of a Vernon Carey of Miami than a Flozell Adams or a Andre Smith. He’s never had a Top 15 grade on NFLHouse.com’s board.
Possible Destinations:
Now, after saying that he’s unlikely to be a left tackle, I wouldn’t let a power run offensive tackle of Davis’s talent slip out of the 1st round. Plenty of power running teams will be looking for his services. If he’s a left tackle, then you got a steal. If he’s a right tackle, he’ll likely be a very good one for many years.
Watch for him to go to one of these Six Teams:
17 to San Francisco
18 to Pittsburgh
19 to Atlanta
26 to Arizona
27 to Dallas
28 to San Diego
Jason LaCanfora writes that TB Larry Johnson is at Redskins Park today and the Redskins very much want to sign him to a contract. I was hoping Johnson was a ploy to get TB Willie Parker to sign a contract [and that could still be the case] because I think Johnson has proven repeatedly that he's a bad guy who can't be trusted to behave himself or think of his team before he does something stupid off the field. Parker and Johnson seem roughly equal to me in on-field talent right now so I'd rather have the guy, Parker, who didn't constantly embarrass his team.
The Redskins definitely need another solid running back to spell [compete with?] Clinton Portis, who missed more than half of last season with a concussion injury and has a lot of wear and tear on his wheels. I would just rather it be Parker. Johnson has scheduled a Monday meeting with the Oakland Raiders so if he leaves Redskins Park without a contract [as many players do these days] then he might be gone for good. Raiders owner Al Davis has never been put off by a rap sheet.
Hall of Fame football player and actor Merlin Olsen, a giant man who friends say had an even larger heart, died Thursday after a long battle with cancer, football and university officials said.He was 69.
Known as much for his brain as his brawn, the 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive tackle also graduated summa cum laude and Phi Kappa Phi from Utah State University in 1962 and earned a master's degree in economics in the off-season during his 15-year professional career.
"Merlin Olsen was a coach's player. Punctual, steady, gifted, a quiet leader, a player you could always count on," says his biography on the National Football League Hall of Fame Web site. "He was a standout as a rookie and thereafter stood out in every game he played for the Rams in a 15-year career. Every game. Fifteen years."
There may be no better evidence of Olsen's strength than his feat of playing in 208 professional games, the last 198 in a row. At Utah State University from 1959-1961, Olsen earned All-American honors during his junior and senior years. As a senior, he won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the nation's outstanding interior defensive lineman.
After being drafted by the Rams with a No. 1 pick in 1962, Olsen was voted into the Pro Bowl as a rookie, the first of his 14 Pro Bowl appearances. He also made two All-Decade teams and was a six-time All-Pro. Olsen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982, his first year of eligibility. He accomplished all those feats while playing for a sometimes less-than-stellar Los Angeles Rams team before its move to St. Louis in 1995.
"It was Olsen's hard luck to perform for many mediocre teams in Los Angeles -- he never won a Super Bowl -- but he had as much to do as any other individual with glamorizing defensive football in the NFL," his NFL biography says.
For many years, Olsen was a member of the Rams' renowned "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line that included Deacon Jones, Roosevelt Grier and Lamar Lundy. After his professional playing career ended in 1976, Olsen turned to acting, appearing in movies and more than 100 TV episodes. He also worked as a television sports commentator.
On TV, he may best be remembered for portraying the gentle Jonathan Garvey opposite Michael Landon on "Little House on the Prairie" from 1977 to 1981 and the lead role in "Father Murphy" from 1981 to 1983. In addition, Olsen did voice-overs in commercials for the floral delivery company FTD as well as commercials for syndicated airings of "The X-Files" TV program.
He was remembered Thursday for his character and how he excelled in so many endeavors.
"I can't think of anyone who has graduated from Utah State University who has accomplished more in a broader array of fields than Merlin Olsen," said Utah State University President Stan Albrecht. "His distinctive and powerful voice will be remembered for the breadth of its influence and by the impact it has had in so many different facets of our lives."
The university also said Olsen will be recalled "as a tireless philanthropist, giving enormous amounts of time, talent and financial resources to numerous causes across the country."
As a broadcaster, Olsen was partnered for years at NBC Sports with Dick Enberg, who recently described him as "the complete man." In a letter to Olsen, the University of Utah revealed Thursday, Enberg lauded Olsen's commitment to their weekly NFL telecasts.
Enberg wrote of his partner's "uncommon willingness to prepare."
"I'd often feel that I had given an 'A' effort in our broadcasts, only to recognize you earned the 'A-plus,' " Enberg wrote. Enberg said he also was struck by Olsen's inner self -- "a man of goodness, eager to consciously do the right thing for yourself, while helping others."
Carroll Rosenbloom, owner of the Rams during Olsen's playing days, also spoke to Olsen's unblemished character. SI Vault: Read about Merlin Olsen's start in show business after 15 seasons with the Rams
"The thing about him that I find remarkable is never once have I ever heard him say a negative word about anybody, in any circumstance," Rosenbloom said. "I just remember having a lot of admiration and respect for him, because he was a unique guy on the team, just the kind of person he is -- gentle and wonderful, and treated everybody so well."
Rosenbloom's son Chip, majority owner of the St. Louis Rams, said Olsen will never be forgotten in team history. The Rams last honored him at a December 20 game in St. Louis.
"In Rams history, there are maybe 10 guys who are iconic, and he's one of them," Rosenbloom said. "There's nobody who is more important."
Olsen's alma mater likewise honored him in December, announcing at a basketball game half-time ceremony the naming of Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium, a statue on the facility's southeast plaza and a scholarship endowment. [truebluea2]
Does your team need a Quarterback?
There were twenty-eight free agent quarterbacks and so far only four have signed on with a team. David Carr signed with the 49ers, A.J. Feeley signed with the Panthers, Chad Pennington resigned to back-up in Miami, and Jim Sorgi signed with the Giants after being released by the Colts to back up yet another Manning.......
A reminder about what the designations are and how they work:
UFA (Unrestricted free agent) - Player in uncapped year with six or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired.
RFA (Restricted free agent) - Player in uncapped year with at least three accrued seasons whose contract has expired.
EFA (Exclusive restricted FA) - Player whose contract expires at a time when he has fewer than three accrued seasons.
Franchise - Free agent who has been designated as a franchise player.
Transition - Free agent who has been designated as a transition player.
Released - Vested veteran whose contract has been terminated and can sign with any club.
Here's who is left.....
Over the past few weeks we've been trying to bring to our readers the reality of what an uncapped 2010 season would mean to the game of football. If you haven't been following along, the following articles should get you up to snuff. 
- NFL Labor Issues Made Simple
- NFL Trades expected to increase in frequency
- NFL Labor isues to receive political attention
- NFL Franchise Players Announced
- NFL Free Agency / Uncapped Season Begins Today - What they are "saying"
- For NCAA player profiles and complete coverage of this Year's NFL Draft, visit our Prospects Home Page with new profiles being added each week. - Keith A. Baker
Keith is a sports agent in Stamford, Connecticut. His goal is to offer a unique insight to the world of sports. Comments in his columns are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect the views and opinions of his firm or his clients.
Some of you might remember a couple years ago when Dan Orlovsky ran out of his own end zone when dropping back to pass against the Vikings. Well, he has a pretty good sense of humor about it and signed this photo with the quote, "I'm just an idiot."
Orlovsky gains a point in my book, but unfortunately he's still at negative one.
[via @shanebacon]
The Giants have signed Antrel Rolle.
Getting Rolle is an Upgrade. GIANT UPGRADE.
Is Rolle a great Safety? No. Was he worth the $8M/yr he is asking for? No again. That the Giants opened the wallet and gave him $37M for 5 years is a jackpot for Rolle. If they frontload the salary in this uncapped year it does not matter. But he certainly addresses the Free Safety need immediately and turns a weakness into a strength. If Phillips ever gets healthy and is ready for 2010, combined with Rolle the Giants look far more viable. Rolle, Phillips, Webster and Thomas would be a very strong secondary. Wonder and I both think that Thomas is headed for a breakout year.
The signing of Dansby to the Dolphins is a loss. Repeating what was said yesterday, Dansby was one of the best in this year's class of FA's. The only concern was getting him and then easing the throttle on the need for more (high pick) LBers in the draft. Wonder is very upset the Gmen did not go hard after Dansby. "Dansby and Boley play outside. You make Sintim play MLB. Sintim is big enough and strong enough to play inside. And together with the range of the veterans, the Giants LBers would have gotten much better."
Back to Rolle. Wonder concurs that this is a very good development: "This is a very good signing. It tells me Phillips is a bigger question mark than before. Rolle is not a big hitter. Good ball skills. Good presence on the field. Good in coverage. He can blitz too."
The Giants stepped up very big. The amount of money it took to sign him was stunning. After what Mara said about the lack of return on investment from (high priced) free agents, this is a little surprising. Was that a smokescreen? All we can say is that if this player delivers on 75% of the salary he was paid he will be able to help the Giants in a big way. If he plays to the amount that he was signed, then it was an unbelievable signing. Player Inflation or not, he broke the bank. I just hope his character is strong enough that he handles this prosperity and continues to work and get dirty.
Bradon Marshall's pending visit to Seattle has already turned into quite the polarizing topic, and it's only gettng more attention by the minute.
Though both sides of the argument make sense (on-field performance vs. off-field character issues), we need to look at the risk investment the Seahawks are possibly making by adding Marshall.
First of all, look at his stats. He's posted over 100 catches in each of the past three seasons, and that's from Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton alike. In each of those three seasons, he's tallied over 1,000 receiving yards, averaging roughly 12 yards per catch. If Denver loses him, they'll be sorely lacking a vital offensive weapon, but Marshall has already made it clear that he's tired of Denver and needs a change of scenery sooner rather than later.
But if he can play that well while disgruntled and unhappy, imagine what he can do if he's content with where he is.
Kevin Roberts at Bleacher Report makes a strong case for the Seahawks pursuing Marshall as well. Roberts:
From a risk standpoint, the Seahawks aren't throwing anymore on the line than any other team would and instead of drafting a young receiver with one of their first round picks, they'd be getting a 25-year-old stud receiver who has caught 100+ balls in each of the past three seasons.
The Seahawks are also said to be interested in landing a quarterback in the 2010 NFL Draft and acquiring an ultra-talented receiver like Marshall could go a long way in speeding up the development of whichever passer they select.
This move just makes too much sense by now to pass on. The fact that the Seahawks have two first-round draft picks is a luxury, and giving one of them back to Denver (poetically enough, the source in which they acquired the pick in the first place) is a worthy price to pay for a player like Marshall. The other pick, as Roberts says, can be used on a QB of the future, but I'd favor an offensive lineman first. Matt Hasselbeck can perform at a high level when he has pass protection better than cellophane. (On a side note, it's also good to see Schneider and Carroll going after a proven lineman like Ben Hamilton, also from the Broncos.)
Mike Sando also chimes in with some insight that may answer a few questions about how the deal would go down here.
For most football fans today, they are constantly checking for updates on their teams progress during the free agency period that started last night. For Pittsburgh Steelers fans, they may be getting a breaking news story that sounds all too familiar.
Today TMZ.com is reporting that Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being accused, again, of sexual assault. The alleged incident took place at Capital City, a club in Milledgeville, Georgia. The allegded victim has already been treated and released from the hospital and other witnesses are being interviewed. According to updates, Roethlisberger has been interviewed by police and no formal charges have been filed at this time. The Steelers obviously have no comment. This is the last thing the Steelers front office needs to deal with right now with trades and free agency at full steam.
Roethlisberger is still being sued by Andrea McNulty, the Nevada woman who claims that he sexually assaulted her in a Reno Hotel room in 2008. This is why I can’t believe this to be true and if so, I can’t believe someone would be boneheaded enough to be in a situation where someone would be able to claim such allegations. If untrue the damage is already done. Once someone is accused of something like this it is hard to shake the reputation, guilty or not. For instance look at the Duke Lacrosse team from 2006. The 3 players were accused of rape but after a year of litigation, the accusations were found to be false and the charges were dropped.If Roethlisberger is being falsely accused, then I really feel for him and hope that the truth comes out. If the accusations prove to be true, then I suggest he gets some help right away. He can follow the path to recovery that Steve Phillips and Tiger Woods are on. If you are a betting man or woman like myself, I would put the house on this being a false accusation from a money hungry stripper. Just a guess though.
UPDATE 1:45 PM: Apparently Roethlisberger was indeed at Capital City where he was said to have had only 1 beer and was very friendly with everyone. If the one beer statement is true then you will have a hard time convincing me that a sober super star quarterback went into the ladies restroom and assaulted a woman....
UPDATE 2:00 PM: The story is gaining legs, just picked up on SI.com
UPDATE 2:10 PM: Milledgeville Police say that no arrest is imminent for Roethlisberger and Monday would be the earliest he is interviewed. Also, OL Willie Colon was with him last night at Capital City but has not been accused of any wrong doing...SPORTSbyBROOKS
UPDATE 3:20 PM: Pro Football Talk recieved the following statement from Ben Roethlisberger's agent Ryan Tollner: "Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening," Tollner says. "We have spoken to law enforcement. Based on information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night. Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved."
Check back for updates.
You have one of our readers, Matt, to thank both for this post and for the title. He wanted a primer on free agency, so I'm obliging him. After all, there isn't a lot else to talk about.
First, let's start with something easy:
Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA)
An unrestricted free agent is a player whose contract has expired and has accumulated at least 6 years of service time. Normally, that is four years of service time, but the rules have changed thanks to the infamous uncapped year. The Colts have two of these players: Gary Brackett and Matt Stover. The Colts are forbidden from signing UFAs from other teams thanks to the "Final Four" rule. In other words, this category is not of much concern to the Colts. However, if a team has a player they want to keep who is a UFA, there are options.
Tagging
A team has the option of "tagging" a potential UFA with one of two tags. The Franchise Tag and the Transition Tag guarantee that a team cannot lose the UFA. The team agrees to pay the player a hefty sum for one year of service. If the player signs the offer, the team has a limited time to work out a new deal with the player which is more advantageous for both sides. During that time, the player is not under contract and does not have to participate in team activities. The Colts "franchised" Dwight Freeney recently, but worked out a new deal with him before the deadline.
The team can chose to allow the player to negotiate with other teams during this time if they choose. If the player can work out a better deal with a different club, a trade can be arranged. The Colts chose NOT to franchise Gary Brackett. Why? They would have had to agree to pay him in excess of $9 million next year. He's simply not worth nearly that much money. Come tomorrow, Gary Brackett's contract will be up, and he'll be free to sign with any team he wishes. If he does, two things will happen for the Colts: first, they'll gain the right to sign a UFA under the "Final Four" rules. Secondly, they'll likely get a compensatory pick in 2011.
Compensatory Picks
Compensatory picks are given out by the league each year. They are 'extra' picks that do not come from another team. The NFL has a secret formula that awards extra picks to teams based on how many free agents they lose and how many they sign. They are awarded the year AFTER the players leave. The Colts would receive any compensatory picks this year based on who left in 2009. These picks cannot be traded. If Gary Brackett signs a major deal with another team, and the Colts don't sign anyone comparable, the Colts can expect a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick to be awarded by the NFL in 2011. Again, that will be an EXTRA pick not given by another team.
Restricted Rights Free Agents (RFAs)
There is a second kind of free agent. Players whose contracts have expired but have been in the league less than 6 years are RFAs. This means that the team they belong to can decide how to handle contract negotiations with the player. Please note: TAGGING DOES NOT APPLY TO RFAs. The team has two options:
Tender
If a team wants to keep a player, it can 'tender' them a contract. The tender guarantees the player a certain salary level and grants the team the "right of first refusal". The restricted free agent can sign with any team he likes, but with two conditions. The original team has the right to match any offer from another club. If the Colts in this case decide NOT to match the offer, the new team has to surrender a draft pick for the player. TENDERING DOES NOT APPLY TO UFAs
Here is the list for what 'level' a player can be tendered at:
2010 RFA Tender Values: Players with five accrued seasons
Compensation to original team RFA Tender Value Right of first refusal $1,226,000 ROFR & pick in round player was drafted $1,226,000 or 110 percent prior salary ROFR & second-round choice $1,809,000 or 110 percent prior salary ROFR & first-round choice $2,621,000 or 110 percent prior salary ROFR & first-, third-round choices $3,268,000 or 110 percent prior salary
The Colts have tendered Bethea at first round choice level. Anyone who wants Bethea has to pay him a tidy sum of money (so much that the Colts won't just match it) AND surrender their 2010 first round pick in order to get him. These picks are NOT compensatory picks. They are essentially a 'trade' for the right to sign the player. A hefty tender (first or second round pick) makes it extremely unlikely that anyone else will take Bethea or Bullitt. However, if a team is so in love with either that they offer them a nice deal, the Colts will gladly let them walk and take the great draft picks in return. The Colts have until Friday to 'tender' all their RFAs. The link above has a full list of all the Indianapolis RFAs.
Non Tender
If the team does not want to pay the player the salary level listed above, they can chose not to tender a contract. At that point, the player becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent. Marlin Jackson and Tim Jennings have not been tendered by the Colts. The Colts can still resign the players, but they have no right of first refusal. A team will non-tender a RFA if they believe that they are worth less than the tender amount and are likely to not be resigned. The Colts do get 'compensatory' credit for players lost in this way.
Released
Raheem Brock has asked for his release. He's due to make a lot of money next year, so the question is why? Simply put, he knows the Colts will release him eventually because he isn't worth the money he's slated to make. He wants to be released early on so that he can have a good chance to score a new deal with another team. If the team waits to release him until later in the process, his options for a new team will be limited.
With the 2009 season in the books, and the Free Agency market set to open up on Friday, this year's selections of free agents are going to make the 2010 season an interesting one to say the least.
The elimination of the
Collective Bargaining Agreement and no actual salary cap on teams will show which teams are trying to win right now and which are trying to build for the future. There are gonna be some guys who will come in and make an immediate impact, and then of course you'll have the guys who get signed and disappear into the roster.
Here's an idea of who you can expect to see make a big impact, and who will just keep the seat warm.
Game Changers:
Julius Peppers, Carolina - No question, he's gonna make an impact wherever he ends up. This guy can rush the passer, stop the run, pretty much can encompass an entire side of your defensive line. Whoever ends up with him will get more production out of their defensive line the day they sign the papers. Watch for him to be the first signing of the Free Agency period, I wouldn't be surprised to see the deal done in the first couple hours of Friday.
Darren Sharper, New Orleans - Hearing the Saints announce they're going to let this guy test the Free Agency waters amazed me. This was arguably the best free agent acquisition of the 2009 offseason and was the heart and soul of a takeaway-happy defense. Finishing the season with 9 takeaways and 71 tackles, this guy will probably be the top DB to be chased after in free agency. If New Orleans is smart (and hopefully not complacent with just 1 Lombardi Trophy), they will lock this guy up in contract as soon as possible. If they don't, there will be a fanbase sleeping better at night knowing they just got one of the best safeties in the game today.
Brandon Marshall, Denver - Brandon was only tendered at the first round level, meaning he might play somewhere else next year, especially if someone is willing to give him the contract he's been looking for. Marshall's play is easily worth a 1st round pick, so it will just be depending on the team that is willing to give it up, plus sign him to the money he'd like. I believe some teams will be deterred from trying to go after him due to the higher tender, but receiver starved teams (I.E. - Baltimore) would be more than willing to pay the price for someone who can stretch the field the way Brandon Marshall does.
Aaron Kampman, Green Bay - With Green Bay handing out their tenders today and Kampman's name not on that list, I believe he'll no longer be supporting Green and Yellow next season. I believe he can be an impact player if he goes back to being a defensive end. His experiment as an OLB didn't exactly showcase his better talents, so look to see him go back to a team running a 4-3 alignment and get him back to his comfort zone.
Dunta Robinson, Houston - The Texans are going to miss this guy if he walks. A very active pass defender and good closing speed to the play, Dunta will help whichever team offers him the contract he's been looking for since 2008. Upset with the Texans that they placed the franchise tag on him, I would expect it would take a little more for Houston to keep him than what they're willing to offer. I feel he'll be suiting up somewhere else come 2010, hopefully with the contract he's been playing for.
Gary Brackett, Indiannapolis - Indy has already announced they are going to let him walk this year. Brackett, 29, will be looking for a long term deal to hopefully finish the majority of his career out with. A fast and intelligent MLB who's averaged 112 combined tackles for the past 5 years consecutively, Brackett will be looked for by teams wearing thin in the LB department and wanting a defensive leader in the locker room.
Karlos Dansby, Arizona - Another speedy LB who can give you a pass rushing threat, Dansby will be looking for a payday as well. Although this year is a very deep defensive draft, proven NFL Talent will always pay over a gamble in the draft. His price will not come cheap to any team wanting him, but given his performance over the past few years, teams will be willing to give him it. Look for him to be moved early, I wouldn't expect to see him on the Free Agency market past saturday latest, more than likely signed by Friday
Antrel Rolle, Arizona - Will anyone be playing in Arizona next year? Rolle's gameplay was a good part of the Arizona defense that helped make them playoff contenders the past couple years, including that Superbowl run in '08. He has come out and said he's looking for a contract in the range of 8 million per year, which will be a steep price for him. Considering the lack of true effective safety play in the NFL as of recent though, he'll probably get what he's asking for.
They won't change the game, but help move it:.
Thomas Jones, New York Jets - He's coming off an impressive 1,400 yard season and hasn't accrued less than 1,000 rushing yards in a season since 2004. Although he's 31 which can scare potential suitors for him, he's been consistently performing for the past 5 years, averaging 4.1 yds/carry through 2 different teams. He won't be the lone feature back to whoever signs him, but matching him with another decent back will help keep his production numbers good in the later years of his career.
Leigh Bodden, New England - a good corner in a very thin pass defensive core. I would almost expect New England to try and retain his services, moreso because they need to expand at that part of the defense, not let people walk. As of now, nothing stating they're offering a tender to him, so I guess New England is going to let him walk in hopes of landing a couple gems in the draft. Bill B seems to always have a couple aces up his sleeve, we'll see if this turns out to be a good move when next season starts.
Darren Sproles, San Diego - Another good complimentary back, Sproles was the more productive of the 2 feature backs in a not-so-effective San Diego run game. Sproles has youth on his side, plus can benefit in multiple facets, not just the run game. He seems more dangerous on screen plays and in special teams so any suitors to him will not be looking at him solely for the run performance. He won't move immediately, but has too many upsides to not end up getting picked up.
Leon Washington, New York Jets - He's a versatile back like Sproles who plays in multiple faccets of the game. He can spark any return game and give you multiple options for running direct snap plays, screen plays, or even just a speedier back. His leg break last year was vicious, and teams will want to see him in action before offering up a 2nd rounder to the Jets for him. I don't necessarily think he'll sign back with the Jets since they weren't willing to give him top tender, plus the emergence of Shonn Greene.
Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay - At 28, Bryant still has some quality playing years left in him. Given the right QB, he can be a very productive receiver who will lay out for a catch. There's no doubt he'll get picked up, its just going to depend on where. He does have some issues with wanting to show up on every snap, so he needs to be coached effectively. He's only had 2 1,000 yard seasons, but then again, he's not exactly had a QB during these times that can really stretch the ball. Best option he had was Jeff Garcia, and that was for a year. Give him a QB with a decent arm, and I can see him being a very productive player. I wouldn't be surprised to hear Baltimore in the mix for this guy. they can get good production outta him and Flacco has the arm that Bryant would love to have taking the snap.
Chester Taylor, Minnesota - The other half of the 2 headed monster that has made Minnesota a running nightmare the past few years will not be coming back. His best year was prior to the arrival of Adrian Peterson, but this was also before he reached his 30's. He can be another back who can contribute if you already have the beginnings of a running game, but I don't believe teams will be signing him to be their primary threat in the backfield. Maybe a 2 -3 year deal at most, but he won't be a blockbuster move.
Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh - When watching Clark in 2008 when Pittsburgh brought home the Lombardi Trophy for a record 6th time, I thought his gameplay was very good and that he was a deep impact safety. When Polamalu went down from injury last year though, you saw Ryan Clark have to take over as the primary safety in that defense. There were times last season that he looked a little over his head, and the pass defense definitely was not the same when Troy was out of the games. Pittsburgh didn't offer a tender to him, basically stating his time in SteelerTown is done. he can fill a void at safety, but any team looking at him will be looking for him to be a role player with others, not necessarily the top safety in the defense.
Kevin Walter, Houston - A good dependable receiver with some years left under his belt, he'll be picked up to help give some teams diversity in their passing game. He played opposite one of the best receivers in the game today, Andre Johnson. He's averaged almost 800 yards over the past 3 seasons, showing he can be a dependable #2 receiver. He is another supporting cast player, not someone you'd structure your entire offense around. If you have a primary #1 who gets too much attention by opposing teams' DBs, this would be the guy to help shed that safety over the top.
Chad Pennington, Miami - One of the NFL's more accurate and "safe" QB's, Pennington is a good role model for up and coming QB's who need to learn the best mechanics to avoid turnovers. While Pennington doesn't have the arm to make any team a deep threat passing team, he make an offense alot more productive and alot less error prone, while helping to groom those behind him on the best mechanics on ball control, accuracy, and ball protection. He's not going to put a franchise over the top and make them a lock for the title, but he can make a run-first team alot more confident in their throwing game if they aren't having their best game on the ground. Every team will be leary though, that shoulder has seen better years...
Just Killin Time Before the Clock Runs Out:
Ladainian Tomlinson, San Diego - I was torn on where to place him, because like alot of LT fans, you don't want to say its over. Unfortunately, the facts are, he's not the LT of 2006, or even 2007. Arguably the most electric runner for the past decade, Tomlinson can't fight father time. With him turning 31 before the start of next season, teams will be interested in him. But at what cost? His price will be high, even at the veteran minimum. The question will remain, is his limited production role going to be worth the premium that teams will have to pay for him? He won't be a feature back, and is comfortable with that. He has records upon records to speak for his decorated and future Hall of Fame career. He would love to add a ring to this list, but it won't be on his legs that they would get it.
Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia - This guy was the hardest working man for the Eagles that they might have ever seen. The Eagles got everything they can out of him, and he was the center point of Philadelphia's offense for years. Having an estimated 53% of the plays touch his hands, its going to be hard for Philly fans to get used to not seeing #36 in the backfield. Like L.T., you can't fight age. In addition, the concussion problems are a scary situation for any team to want to deal with. To make matters worse, the NFL is cracking down very heavily on anyone who has concussion-like symptoms. He would get veteran minimum pay, but his days on the field are numbered.
Terrell Owens, Buffalo - Voted the best player of the 2000's, Terrell Owens is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. His little stint with Buffalo really didn't help his cause because of very poor production, but that could be said about the entire Buffalo offense. I'm sure someone will take a chance on him, just because his name brings fans in the door. He only has a few years left, and maybe in the right scheme, he could produce another 1,000 yard/8 TD season. Known for being a controversial player, it seems like he's finally settled down in his final years of play. If he was to ever have a reason to lose it, Buffalo would have been a prime situation. He held his composure and handled things the best way he could, and that might have given him another season to play somewhere else.
Kevin Mawae, Tennessee - He's been a rock in the center of the Tennessee offensive line for the past decade, and was the only remaining member of the '99 Titans team that reached the Superbowl. His gameplay has dropped some, but not really too much. He could provide a year or two boost for a team lacking real quality in the offensive line. Most teams will want to fill this position with someone dependable who will be there for years since continuity at the O-Line is so heavily underrated. His work with the NFL Players' Association is paramount, and when he finally bows out of the game, I know many players will hope he'll continue to fight for the players like he has in the past.
Derek Mason, Baltimore - This guy has the heart of a true fighter. He's been riddled with injuries and won't quit. He has played every single game since 2003. A true iron-man, alot like Brett Favre in that "I refuse to give up" sense. An admirable trait and speaks volumes of his character, but it will only take you so far. He's been dancing the line with retirement for a couple years now. I believe he'll be back in Baltimore for one last season, hoping that he can help get the pieces in place for Baltimore to win another Superbowl.
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