Free Agency Recap

Another big day, with more big moves. Here we go. 

Panthers sign WR Muhammad. That was fairly expected. They also cut David Carr. He was awful as a backup and I think his career was ruined by the beating he took in Houston. From now on he'll always be running scared if he's under centre, and that's trouble. 

Lions signed FS Dwight Smith to two year deal. I went over how he's a character risk, but the guy is a very talented safety otherwise. He is, as of right now, the most talented player in the Detroit secondary hands down. 

Colts cut two players: DT Anthony 'Booger' McFarland and LB Rob Morris. Now, unfortunately, these players were cut after they both failed physicals. Morris' career is probably over as he was a former Round 1 choice that never really worked out and is apparently hurt. McFarland, however, is a bit harder to predict. He has a torn patellar tendon, and those are sometimes career ending, nonetheless he has some really amazing skills, mostly suited to a 4-3. Any team in dire need of help at DT should probably sign him to a fairly incentive-laden contract, and reap the benefits if he gets healthy. Mind you, I'll bet there's a team out there who just gives him a big contract anyways because they want to win, but that won't be such a prudent move. 

Titans released WR David Givens. He's only played 6 games in two years and I'd bet that his injuries are severe enough that his career might be over. They did, however, resign young WR Justin Gage, who has a chance at being the #1 WR next season. 

Bills cut LB Coy Wire, HB Anthony Thomas, G Aaron Merz, and CB Jeremetrius Butler. The Thomas move is an interesting one, since the Bills have one of the largest cap spaces in the league, but it was probably done since they have both Marshawn Lynch and an excellent backup in Fred Jackson. Thomas could be picked up as a pretty decent backup by any team. Wire was a converted safety, and clearly it didn't work out, but if any team needs a backup safety, he could be an option. Butler was a marginal player and would be lucky to find work as a 5th CB. The Merz cut is a weird one. He was injured all of last season, but he was a 2nd round pick just two seasons ago. Any team looking to develop a G might pick him up, or it could be that the injury is too severe. 

The Vikings cut QB Kelly Holcomb. The guy is by now the definition of 'veteran journeyman' and although his skills probably don't impress that much anymore, any team looking for a better back-up might consider him. I wouldn't bet on it though, and I'd be surprised if he's on a roster come September. 

The Browns released 35 year old LE Orpheus Roye. The guy is old, and although he had 95 tackles two seasons ago, his productivity is on the decline and I think he will probably retire. 

The Saints released K Olindo Mare because he failed a physical. He is an 11 year pro and although he was known as a clutch kicker with a big leg just two seasons ago with the Dolphins, I'd bet his career is over as well. This clears the way for Martin Grammatica to be the unquestioned starter come training camp. 

The Buccaneers released veteran DEs Kevin Carter and Greg Spires. They are 34 and 33 respectively, but have been rendered fairly useless with the emergence of Gaines Adams. They'll still need a starter opposite Adams though, and this will probably be filled either through the draft or by promoting Patrick Chukwurah, who was previously a situational pass rusher at the position, to full time starter. He is 28. Spires and Carter have been proven starters before, and may pick up jobs as veteran backups before training camp. 

The Ravens cut RB Mike Anderson. He had two non-consecutive 1000 yard seasons with the Denver Broncos before being picked up by the Ravens, but he failed to rush for more than 250 yards in his first season with them, and was at the bottom of the depth chart for his second. He's another product of the Broncos' running system in my opinion, much like Reuben Droughns. 

Finally, the Chiefs continue their rebuilding with the release of CB Ty Law, LB Kendrell Bell, DT James Reed and TE Jason Dunn. Out of all of them, Law is the most interesting. He is 34, but is a 5 time Pro Bowl player and won 3 Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. He and Darren Sharper are the only two active players in the league with over 50 interceptions, Law has 52. Only a year ago Ty Law had a brilliant performance with the Chiefs against the Colts in their only playoff game, intercepting two passes from Peyton Manning. I remember one throw where, on an option route by Marvin Harrison, Harrison went deep but Manning thought he was going to do a curls route, and by the time the ball got to where Manning thought Harrison was going to be, the only person standing there was Ty Law. It looked like he was psychic. Law is actually the player who has intercepted Manning the most times with 10 (most of them in the post-season). His performance in Kansas City last year was sub-par, especially his tackling, but I think that if put on a winning team, he could be counted on as a #2 CB. If this is the end for him, you can all expect an out-at-the-one column to follow. Kendrell Bell is probably done. He had three of four good years with Pittsburgh, one 100 tackle season, but then only managed two 40 tackle seasons until being demoted from the starting squad this season with the Chiefs. A team may take a chance on him, but at a very low salary. Dunn is still a good backup TE,  espeically at run blocking, and should find a new team. Reed was a career backup and probably won't find a new job.