NFL Free Agency

[Scott M]

Things are going to start getting crazy with the March 5 free agency start looming. Here is a list of players scheduled to become UFAs on March 5:

2010 free agents

Seasons Club Player Pos 2009 starts Current agent

10 Arizona Becht, Anthony TE 10 Rosenhaus, Drew

9 Arizona Beisel, Monty ILB 0 Price, Charles A.

12 Arizona Berry, Bert OLB 5 Flanagan, Anthony Emerson

7 Arizona Bridges, Jeremy G 4 Cook, James A.

10 Arizona Brown, Ralph CB 1 Capra, Patrick

6 Arizona Dansby, Karlos ILB 16 France, Todd E.

9 Arizona Gandy, Mike T 12 Dogra, R.K. Ben

10 Arizona Kreider, Dan FB 3 Bauer, Frank

7 Arizona Morey, Sean WR 0 Clohisy, Michael B.

11 Arizona Okeafor, Chike OLB 13 Simms, Andrew E.

10 Arizona Rackers, Neil K 0 Roche, Robert S.

13 Arizona Robinson, Bryan NT 15 Bartelstein, Mark

6 Arizona St. Pierre, Brian QB 0 Smith, Rick E.

6 Arizona Ware, Matt SS 1 Unknown

11 Atlanta Booker, Marty WR 1 Brothers, Raymond

7 Atlanta Gilbert, Tony MLB 0 France, Todd E.

6 Atlanta Haynes, Verron RB 2 Bolar, Robert Terry

7 Atlanta Redman, Chris QB 2 Branion, Joby

11 Atlanta Schneck, Mike LS 0 Sheehy, Paul R.

10 Atlanta Stecker, Aaron RB 0 Slavin, Ronald Benson

8 Atlanta Williams, Brian CB 5 Feagan, Jordan

10 Atlanta Zelenka, Joe LS 0 Sharbaugh, Vern G.

8 Baltimore Bannan, Justin DT 2 Mills, Thomas H.

6 Baltimore Edwards, Dwan DE 9 Bauer, Frank

7 Baltimore Ivy, Corey CB 0 Rosenhaus, Drew

13 Baltimore Mason, Derrick WR 16 Smith, Lamont

7 Baltimore Smith, L.J. TE 0 Mackler, Brian

7 Baltimore Tyree, David WR 0 Clouser, Mark

7 Baltimore Walker, Frank CB 1 Murtha, Frank J.

7 Baltimore Washington, Kelley WR 2 Speck, Chad

8 Buffalo Denney, Ryan DE 0 Lock, Ethan

11 Buffalo Draft, Chris OLB 3 Strickland, Vernon M.

7 Buffalo Johnson, Todd SS 0 Schaffer, Peter J.

8 Buffalo McKinney, Seth C 1 Cindrich, Ralph E.

14 Buffalo Owens, Terrell WR 16 Rosenhaus, Drew

8 Buffalo Reed, Josh WR 4 Dogra, R.K. Ben

7 Buffalo Scott, Bryan SS 9 Johnson, Edward G.

8 Buffalo Simmons, Kendall G 3 Metz, Eric

6 Buffalo Stamer, Josh OLB 0 Lattinville, Robert H.

7 Carolina Brayton, Tyler DE 15 Mills, Thomas H.

9 Carolina Feeley, A.J. QB 0 Dunn, David L.

8 Carolina McCown, Josh QB 0 McCartney, Michael S.

14 Carolina Muhammad, Muhsin WR 13 Segal, Joel G.

8 Carolina Peppers, Julius DE 14 Carey, Carl Edward

14 Carolina Thomas, Hollis DT 13 Bauer, Michael R.

9 Carolina Vincent, Keydrick G 16 Branion, Joby

8 Carolina Wesley, Dante CB 0 Hicks, Russel V.

6 Chicago McClover, Darrell OLB 0 Rosenhaus, Drew

9 Chicago Ogunleye, Adewale DE 14 Rosenhaus, Drew

8 Chicago Peterson, Adrian RB 0 Kremer, Kendall

7 Chicago Tinoisamoa, Pisa OLB 2 Sullivan, Michael F.

9 Cincinnati Graham, Shayne K 0 Dunn, David L.

7 Cincinnati Johnson, Jeremi FB 8 Schaffer, Peter J.

6 Cincinnati Johnson, Larry RB 7 Schaffer, Peter J.

6 Cincinnati Johnson, Tank DT 13 Unknown

11 Cincinnati Kelly, Reggie TE 0 Sexton, James E.

10 Cincinnati Williams, Bobbie G 16 Agnone, Anthony J.

8 Cincinnati Williams, Roy SS 4 Woy, Jordan

7 Cleveland Furrey, Mike WR 4 Unknown

6 Cleveland Gaines, Michael TE 7 Agnone, Anthony J.

6 Cleveland Hadnot, Rex G 6 Rickert, John W.

8 Cleveland Poteat, Hank CB 2 Levy, Brian M.

13 Cleveland Tucker, Ryan G 0 Coletta, Joseph M.

6 Cleveland Yates, Billy G 0 Bass, George A.

7 Dallas Holland, Montrae G 0 Feinsod, Jonathan

13 Denver Berger, Mitch P 0 Dunn, David L.

7 Denver Fox, Vernon SS 0 Self

8 Denver Gorin, Brandon T 1 Linta, Joseph Michael

8 Denver Greisen, Nick OLB 0 Leshnock, Brad

9 Denver Hamilton, Ben G 8 Schaffer, Peter J.

9 Denver Hochstein, Russ G 10 Linta, Joseph Michael

12 Denver Holliday, Vonnie DE 3 Fabrikant, Cary Mark

15 Denver Law, Ty CB 2 Poston, Kevin D.

7 Denver Lloyd, Brandon WR 1 Humenik, Mark

7 Detroit Ciurciu, Vinny OLB 0 Schaffer, Peter J.

6 Detroit Cook, Damion G 0 Unknown

11 Detroit Culpepper, Daunte QB 5 Self

7 Detroit Fitzsimmons, Casey TE 1 Hoven, J. Daniel

8 Detroit Foote, Larry MLB 14 Levy, Brian M.

7 Detroit Heller, Will TE 9 Williams, Philip C.

9 Detroit Henry, Anthony CB 6 Colton, Jerrold D.

9 Detroit James, William CB 14 Slavin, Ronald Benson

11 Detroit Jansen, Jon T 2 Smith, Rick E.

8 Detroit Manuel, Marquand SS 6 Slavin, Ronald Benson

7 Detroit Ramsey, Patrick QB 0 Sexton, James E.

10 Green Bay Clifton, Chad T 12 Sexton, James E.

12 Green Bay Green, Ahman RB 0 Branion, Joby

8 Green Bay Kampman, Aaron OLB 9 Hurst, Jonathan R

9 Green Bay Pickett, Ryan NT 9 McGuire, Kennard

10 Green Bay Tauscher, Mark T 8 Cornrich, Neil

7 Houston Brown, Chris RB 4 Morgan, Ryan W.

8 Houston Campbell, Khary OLB 0 Flanagan, Joseph M.

10 Houston Ferguson, Nick SS 1 Reale, John P.

7 Houston Grossman, Rex QB 0 Rosenhaus, Drew

7 Houston Pittman, Bryan LS 0 Gold, Kevin

8 Houston Pitts, Chester G 2 Kessler, Andrew

10 Houston Reyes, Tutan G 0 Kremer, Kendall

6 Houston Robinson, Dunta CB 16 Chayut, Jason T.

8 Houston Russell, Brian FS 1 Frankel, Mitchell

12 Houston Salaam, Ephraim T 0 Branion, Joby

7 Houston Thompson, Chaun OLB 0 Mackler, Brian

15 Houston Turk, Matt P 0 Canter, David E.

7 Houston Walter, Kevin WR 14 Dunn, David L.

16 Houston Zgonina, Jeff NT 2 Self

7 Indianapolis Brackett, Gary MLB 14 Mackler, Brian

20 Indianapolis Stover, Matt K 0 Steiner, Jim

9 Jacksonville Forney, Kynan G 0 Kiernan, Sean E.

9 Jacksonville Hayward, Reggie DE 1 Smith, Fletcher N.

6 Jacksonville Wilford, Ernest WR 7 Rosenhaus, Drew

10 Kansas City Brown, Mike SS 16 Lock, Ethan

9 Kansas City Chambers, Chris WR 14 Dogra, R.K. Ben

6 Kansas City Copper, Terrance WR 2 Del Duca, Ronald M.

6 Kansas City Ryan, Sean TE 8 Feinsod, Jonathan

7 Kansas City Smith, Wade C 9 Parker, Brian D.

13 Kansas City Vrabel, Mike OLB 14 Cornrich, Neil

7 Kansas City Wade, Bobby WR 6 Stanley, W. Jerome

13 Miami Ferguson, Jason NT 9 Sexton, James E.

6 Miami Jones, Nathan CB 5 Scott, Everette L.

10 Miami Pennington, Chad QB 3 Condon, Thomas J.

13 Miami Taylor, Jason OLB 15 Wichard, Gary

8 Minnesota Hicks, Artis T 3 Rickert, John W.

6 Minnesota Kennedy, Jimmy NT 1 Condon, Thomas J.

7 Minnesota Lewis, Greg WR 1 Sarnoff, Kenneth R.

6 Minnesota Sapp, Benny CB 7 Shavers, Alonzo L.

8 Minnesota Taylor, Chester RB 0 Sarnoff, Kenneth R.

7 New England Banta-Cain, Tully OLB 10 Unknown

7 New England Bodden, Leigh CB 14 Unknown

9 New England Burgess, Derrick OLB 6 Sexton, James E.

11 New England Faulk, Kevin RB 7 Brothers, Raymond

8 New England Green, Jarvis DE 12 Elias, Albert G.

9 New England Hanson, Chris P 0 Rosenhaus, Drew

8 New England Neal, Steve G 12 Hurst, Jonathan R

19 New England Seau, Junior ILB 0 Demoff, Marvin

6 New England Watson, Benjamin TE 7 Rosenhaus, Drew

6 New England Wilfork, Vince NT 13 McGuire, Kennard

17 New Orleans Brunell, Mark QB 1 Tollner, Bruce A.

11 New Orleans Campbell, Dan TE 0 Roth, Leonard S.

10 New Orleans Clancy, Kendrick NT 0 Del Duca, Ronald M.

8 New Orleans Dinkins, Darnell TE 3 Benedict, Andrew Read

8 New Orleans Fujita, Scott OLB 10 Yee, Donald H.

15 New Orleans Kyle, Jason LS 0 Bauer, Frank

6 New Orleans Leckey, Nick C 0 Harris, Ken

10 New Orleans Miller, Billy TE 0 Poston, Kevin D.

11 New Orleans Prioleau, Pierson SS 1 Mackler, Brian

13 New Orleans Sharper, Darren FS 14 Segal, Joel G.

9 New Orleans Spicer, Paul DE 0 Self

8 N.Y. Giants Carr, David QB 0 Sullivan, Michael F.

10 N.Y. Giants Clark, Danny OLB 12 Branion, Joby

22 N.Y. Giants Feagles, Jeff P 0 Self

10 N.Y. Giants Robbins, Fred DT 12 Mackler, Brian

9 N.Y. Jets Dearth, James LS 0 Mackler, Brian

9 N.Y. Jets Douglas, Marques DT 12 Feinsod, Jonathan

9 N.Y. Jets Feely, Jay K 0 Schwartzman, Glenn A.

6 N.Y. Jets Fowler, Ryan ILB 0 Herman, Alan

6 N.Y. Jets Hartsock, Ben TE 7 McCartney, Michael S.

14 N.Y. Jets Izzo, Larry ILB 0 Rosenhaus, Drew

15 N.Y. Jets Richardson, Tony FB 10 Dye, Patrick F.

10 Oakland Green, Cornell T 12 Williams, Philip C.

7 Oakland Joseph, William NT 0 Rosenhaus, Drew

9 Oakland Seymour, Richard DE 16 Parker, Eugene E.

12 Oakland Wade, John C 0 Cook, James A.

8 Oakland Walker, Langston T 2 Dubin, Stephen L.

7 Oakland Williams, Sam OLB 2 Hoffman, Michael R.

6 Philadelphia Babin, Jason DE 0 Rosa, Richard M.

6 Philadelphia Jones, Sean SS 9 Mackler, Brian

11 Philadelphia Trotter, Jeremiah MLB 7 Woy, Jordan

7 Philadelphia White, Tracy OLB 0 Fisher, Jay M.

12 Pittsburgh Batch, Charlie QB 0 Kremer, Kendall

8 Pittsburgh Boiman, Rocky OLB 0 Herman, Alan

10 Pittsburgh Carter, Tyrone SS 12 Bechta, Jack D.

8 Pittsburgh Clark, Ryan FS 15 Turner, Joel E.

7 Pittsburgh Eason, Nick DE 5 Wyatt, David S.

14 Pittsburgh Galloway, Joey WR 2 Trell, Shawn A.

9 Pittsburgh Hampton, Casey NT 16 Overstreet, Brian E.

13 Pittsburgh Kirschke, Travis DE 7 Bauer, Frank

6 Pittsburgh Parker, Willie RB 3 Hendrickson, Douglas J.

8 Pittsburgh Reed, Jeff K 0 Henderson, Donal A.

12 Pittsburgh Townsend, Deshea CB 2 Schaffer, Peter J.

9 San Diego Boone, Alfonso DE 4 Domann, Craig E.

9 San Diego Manumaleuna, Brandon FB 4 Sheehy, Paul R.

9 San Diego Norman, Dennis C 0 Blank, Bradley K.

7 San Diego Osgood, Kassim WR 1 Rosenhaus, Drew

14 San Diego Runyan, Jon T 0 Dogra, R.K. Ben

7 San Diego Scott, Ian DT 7 Metz, Eric

6 San Diego Wilson, Kris TE 0 Smith, Lamont

7 Seattle Burleson, Nate WR 12 Sarnoff, Kenneth R.

7 Seattle Griffith, Justin FB 11 McCartney, Michael S.

10 Seattle Houser, Kevin LS 0 Sharbaugh, Vern G.

7 Seattle Lewis, D.D. OLB 0 Uberstine, Gary A.

9 Seattle Lucas, Ken CB 6 Cook, James A.

13 Seattle Mare, Olindo K 0 Rosenhaus, Drew

10 Seattle McIntosh, Damion T 2 Tessler, Brett J.

14 Seattle Milloy, Lawyer FS 1 France, Todd E.

7 Seattle Redding, Cory DE 3 McGuire, Kennard

14 Seattle Robinson, Jeff LS 0 Bauer, Frank

7 San Francisco Battle, Arnaz WR 0 Leshnock, Brad

11 San Francisco Bly, Dre’ CB 6 McGuire, Kennard

7 San Francisco Franklin, Aubrayo NT 16 France, Todd E.

14 San Francisco Harris, Walt CB 0 Capra, Patrick

7 San Francisco Pashos, Tony T 1 Smith, Rick E.

10 San Francisco Roman, Mark FS 1 Elias, Albert G.

11 San Francisco Sims, Barry T 7 Vierra, Kenneth F.

10 San Francisco Ulbrich, Jeff ILB 0 Flanagan, Joseph M.

7 San Francisco Wilhelm, Matt ILB 1 Feldman, Steven C.

7 St. Louis Boller, Kyle QB 4 Dunn, David L.

10 St. Louis Hall, James DE 14 Condon, Thomas J.

7 St. Louis Hart, Clinton SS 3 Self

8 St. Louis Lenon, Paris MLB 10 Persch, Jonathan M.

12 St. Louis Little, Leonard DE 13 Speck, Chad

8 St. Louis Massey, Chris LS 0 DiPiero, Joseph Timothy

8 St. Louis McMichael, Randy TE 16 Rosenhaus, Drew

6 Tampa Bay Allen, Will FS 2 Baratz, Blake Aaron

7 Tampa Bay Bryant, Antonio WR 11 Smith, Lamont

7 Tampa Bay Crowell, Angelo OLB 0 France, Todd E.

8 Tampa Bay Phillips, Jermaine FS 2 Dye, Patrick F.

7 Tampa Bay Wilkerson, Jimmy DE 15 Lewis, Harold C.

7 Tennessee Amato, Ken LS 0 Huebner, Robert E.

10 Tennessee Bulluck, Keith OLB 14 Wichard, Gary

9 Tennessee Crumpler, Alge TE 14 Williams, James D.

9 Tennessee Harper, Nicholas CB 11 Greengross, Ian

7 Tennessee Hood, Roderick CB 4 Segal, Joel G.

9 Tennessee Kaesviharn, Kevin FS 0 Tollner, Bruce A.

11 Tennessee Kearse, Jevon DE 4 Rosenhaus, Drew

16 Tennessee Mawae, Kevin C 16 Bartelstein, Mark

7 Tennessee Nickey, Donnie SS 1 Chilcoat, Jeffrey R.

9 Tennessee Vanden Bosch, Kyle DE 16 Agnone, Anthony J.

15 Washington Albright, Ethan LS 0 Conaty, Billy

14 Washington Daniels, Phillip DE 15 Unknown

8 Washington Jones, Levi T 8 Zuckerman, Kenneth I.

9 Washington Rabach, Casey C 16 Agnone, Anthony J.

11 Washington Smith, Hunter P 0 Mills, Thomas H.

6 Washington Williams, Mike T 8 Branion, Joby

13 Washington Wynn, Renaldo DE 0 Schaffer, Peter J.

10 Washington Yoder, Todd TE 1 Irwin, Tim E.

[Scott M]

Some other "required reading" about the 2010 uncapped year

Free-agency restrictions will apply in an uncapped year

By Steve Wyche,Senior Writer, NFL.com

Will the Saints be players in free agency? How much will it hurt the Bears not to have a draft pick until the third round with a limited free-agent pool? Will LaDainian Tomlinson be the top running back in free agency?

With a labor stalemate between the NFL and NFLPA likely triggering an uncapped 2010 season, I'd like to address how some of the rule changes that will come into play could directly affect your team. So let's take a look at some of the issues that could make this a vastly different offseason than we're used to.

Could there be a salary cap and normal free agency in 2010?

Yes, if NFL owners and the NFLPA reach an accord before March 5. That seems highly unlikely, though, as both sides admit there is a wide gulf to be bridged. The odds are that the sides will be more aggressive to complete a new collective bargaining agreement before the 2011 season, when the current CBA expires. If a deal isn't reached, a work stoppage is possible, but Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the sides are trying to avoid things getting that far.

What is the big deal about unrestricted free agents vs. restricted free agents?

Typically, a player, such as Broncos outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil or Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson could test the open market once his contract expires after four seasons. But with no salary cap, they can't be unrestricted free agents until after six seasons. So, if no deal is struck by March 5 and we go to an uncapped year, they will be restricted free agents, meaning their teams can place tenders on them to allow themselves the right to match any offer and receive draft-pick compensation should they not match.

A team can place a variety of tenders on its players, with the highest being compensation of first- and third-round picks, a first-round pick and descending draft selections. Because of this, the unrestricted free-agent pool could be reduced by more than 200 players, many of whom are in their primes and could be difference-makers, like Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Most of the top unrestricted free agents are closer to 30.

Is it ruinous to a player to be a restricted free agent?

The lack of competition for a player's services could diminish his earning potential. However, it's not necessarily gloom and doom.

For example, let's say the Colts put a tender for first-round compensation on restricted free-agent safety Antoine Bethea. A team with that specific need, like the Giants, who might plan to use their first-round pick on a safety, could opt for a proven, young veteran like Bethea and offer him a financial package the Colts don't want to match. The Giants would surrender the first-round pick and have to pay Bethea a decent salary, which could be comparable to what they might have paid a first-rounder.

Something like this would be an exception, but being a restricted free agent doesn't mean a complete dead end to player movement.

Will Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers be in play for the Saints or Vikings?

That is a major long shot. In a new rule that will try to keep the rich from getting richer, the teams that finished in the top four (New Orleans, Indianapolis, Minnesota, and the Jets) can't sign a free agent until one of their free agents signs with another team. They can only sign one free agent per player lost. Making things even more difficult, the Saints, Colts, Vikings and Jets couldn't sign a free agent to a first-year salary greater than that of the free agent they lost signs with his new team.

Peppers could command a salary that starts well into the double-digits of millions of dollars. If none of the top four teams' lost free agents signs for similar loot, then they're out of the process.

Couldn't one of those top four teams cut a player to create that void to sign somebody else?

No. A cut player will not be considered an unrestricted free agent. This rule applies to all teams who finished in the top eight (enter San Diego, Dallas, Arizona and Baltimore). Only a player with an expiring contract counts as an unrestricted free agent for those top eight teams.

So if the Chargers were to release Tomlinson, they couldn't re-sign a free agent in his spot?

No, because San Diego is a top eight team. Tomlinson would not qualify as an unrestricted free agent for the Chargers. He would be free to sign with any team, though. Whether he draws as much attention as free-agent running backs Chester Taylor (Minnesota), Larry Johnson (Cincinnati) or Willie Parker (Pittsburgh) remains to be seen. It is not a deep group as of now.

Are the additional four teams that round out the top eight as hamstrung as the top four?

They have a little more wiggle room. They can't sign an unrestricted free agent until one of their lost free agents signs with another team. However, they can pay one unrestricted free agent a first-year salary of $5.5 million or more in the first year of his contract. They also can pay any another unrestricted free agent $3.7 million or less in Year One of the deal. There are caps as to how large the annual raises can be.

Do any of those restrictions apply to the remaining 24 teams?

No. Those teams can spend however much on free agents as they'd like. It's simply a matter of how much payroll an owner wants. This is huge for a team like Chicago, which doesn't have a first- or second-round draft pick because of trades for Jay Cutler and the late Gaines Adams, respectively.

The only way the Bears can augment their roster outside of their remaining draft picks is by being a player in free agency (most of their trade tools have been dealt already). The Bears could make a play for Seahawks unrestricted free agent wide receiver Nate Burleson or former Jaguars wideout Torry Holt and go after an offensive lineman like the Packers' Chad Clifton.

Since there is no cap, can teams cut players without some of the previous adverse consequences?

Yes. Let's say the Jets feel that 2008 draft pick Vernon Gholston, the No. 6 overall pick, isn't living up to his high draft status and want to clear him out to bring in someone else. They can let him go without suffering a "cap hit" because there is no cap. When there was a cap, any signing bonus money was pro-rated over the team of the contract and if a player was released, the remaining amount would accelerate and eat up space under the cap. Not anymore, though. When a team cuts a player, it doesn't have to pay him any more base salary unless it was guaranteed.

One agent referred to this as a "sewer" scenario, because any bad contracts could be discarded. Once a labor agreement is reached in the future, a lot of teams can have clean books and move forward with better financial structure.

Can teams dump salary and not spend much on other contracts?

Yes. If there is no salary cap, there is no salary floor. If a team desires, it doesn't have to spend anything in free agency and only add the new payroll of draft picks. If that were to happen, it would create a baseball scenario like the Yankees spending on the high end and the Marlins running a discount operation. It's unlikely, but it is possible.

[koonie]

It basically comes down to this. If the Vikings don't lose anybody we can't sign anybody. I think it's going to be a boring free agency period for the Vikings.

[croixflats]

Thanks for the posting. This year will be very interesting to see how the owners deal how much they are going to pay for a player with the labor contract up in the air. From what Ive read the owners are pushing an 18% cut in wages. Ironic isnt it, they want to push for this wage cut but they will probably go out and pay top dollar for a player they want, I wonder how that will sit at the bargaining table.

[zepman]

Jerry Jones and Dan Schneider are probably drooling right now at the prospect of entering into an uncapped year.

[klecker]

But if a player is cut by a team MN can sign them. Ie, L.T or westbrook as examples.

[Scott K]

Or we can make a trade. It just is unlikely that the Vikes will be able to do much in FA

[james_walleye]

Jerry Jones and Dan Schneider are probably drooling right now at the prospect of entering into an uncapped year.

Dallas is one of the final 8 teams which has restrictions going into FA. I don't think the rules will allow for him to go totally nuts.

[mrklean]

thats a big list for sure

[CJH]

Its a big list, but not a ton of quality. Most of the good players will be Franchised this year, since there are salary cap ramifications.

Also, add Brian Westbrook and possibly Darren Sproles to this FA list. Sproles would probably move to the RB front of line.

[mrklean]

i would love to see a cap on rookie contracts first, then go to the regular team cap

[CJH]

Couldn't agree more. A rookie who hasn't done squat should not be paid more than a proven veteran. I know the league wants this, but the union will fight it. (though you would think the vetreans would be in favor of it)

[Scott M]

+1. I'd be curious to see what the player's union reps have to say about that specific issue.

[CJH]

Not sure they are going to say much until a new contract is finalized!

[Jim Uran]

I would love to hear what the players think of that concept. It would be great, the draft is like a frickin cattle auction now.

[Scott K]

The draft is actually hurting the small market teams, they are paying huge dollars every year for the top draft picks, and cant afford to give them a contract after their rookie one or anyone else a contract, because they will have to take the top draft pick and pay him the next year. I bet Detroit is so happy that they didnt get the top pick, just so they dont have to pay him.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

With no picks in the first or second rounds of this year's draft, a head coach and a general manager who are on the hot seat and a fan base whose emotional needle is threatening to swing past anger and into disgust, you do as the Bears did -- and respond with the biggest free-agent splash in franchise history.

While other teams were showing restraint in the league's first uncapped offseason since 1993, the Bears stepped on the gas pedal and signed three of the top available players at their positions: Defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor and run-blocking tight end Brandon Manumaleuna.

That's not just a lot of potential bang, but also mega-guaranteed bucks (reportedly $40 million in the first three seasons).

Wow, can't wait for the season to begin!

Windy

[Scott K]

Wow, can't wait for the season to begin!

Windy

Too bad you have to suffer through another season of watching the White Sox loose first

[james_walleye]

Seems to me that the bears didnt upgrade much, or at all, with Taylor or Brandon at TE from what they already have? Peppers is nice. LOTS of holes left on that team.

[klecker]

Brandon is a blocking TE as were Olson is a receiving. Olson isnt that great of a blocker. Taylor will spell Forte, or vice versa. They have a very good one two bunch coming out of the back field now. Martz likes TE that block. Tight ends have never really been involed in the passing game, they are the last check down. He likes fast WR's that have alot of endurance and very good route runners. Chestert and Brandon were signed cause they fit the personal profile of those postions in Martz Offense. Look for Olson to get traded on or before the draft. For a late first round or eairly second round pick.