Jets Given GM Tannenbaum. Head Coach Mangini Guaranteed Extensions through 2009

Owner Woody Johnson came out and said that both of them would keep their jobs through to the end of 2009 season no matter how next season pans out. In a very farsighted move, he says that it takes more than one season to build... but I suppose the magic number is two. 

This organization is doomed. Other than the fact that they play in the same division as the Buffalo Bills, who I think could surprise next year, and the always challenging New England Patriots, and the possibility that two years from now the Dolphins could be a challenge (maybe...)... Let's take a look at their free agent signings:

Kris Jenkins (28, DT)

Alan Faneca (31, LG)

Calvin Pace (27, OLB)

Jesse Chatman (28, RB)

Tony Richardson (36, RB)

Damien Woody (30, RT)

Bubba Franks (30, TE)

To this list we add the 3 or 4 competent starters that they might unearth in this draft and the next one. I'm not saying more players won't emerge, but they'll take longer than two seasons. 

This, plus their current roster, is not a winning team. I firmly believe that Faneca fixes the left side of their line for the next two seasons, but that Damien Woody is going to be a huge bust at RT. So they won't really have an elite O-line. Calvin Pace is probably a bust. Jesse Chatman will be excellent when paired with Thomas Jones, Tony Richardson is way too old, Bubba Franks is a backup, and Kris Jenkins is a big question mark as to how he will perform at nose tackle in a 3-4. 

So let's look at the situation position by position

QB - They're in lots of trouble here, and there is no chance of them getting anything more than a caretaker QB over the next two seasons

HB - Pretty stacked, actually

FB - It's possible that Richardson could keep it together over the next two seasons, but to me he seems like the kind of player that just suddenly drops off the map due to age.

O - line - Has questions on the right side, could maybe be addressed through the draft. 

WR - They guaranteed Coles' last two years to keep him happy, but could really use a solid #2 recievers, Cotchery will be okay though

TE - Chris Baker is serviceable, Bubba Franks is good depth

D-line - Shaun Ellis is a good end, although they need to address the spot opposite him. It's a big question as to whether Kris Jenkins will be able to perform at nose tackle, which will determine the whole success of their scheme. 

MLB - Probably doing okay here, especially with David Harris

OLB - Need some impact pass rushers and play makers, Calvin Pace will not be that man

FS - Kerry Rhodes is a solid, and underpaid, player

SS - There has been little talk about how they will address the departure of the solid, if unspectacular, Erik Coleman

CB - Darelle Revis will be the #1 corner, but Andre Dyson might need an upgrade

Overall, this is, at best, a wild-card team. They really aren't elite or going to be elite anytime soon, and there is very real risk that by the time they address those previous needs their older Free Agents (such as Alan Faneca and Kris Jenkins) will no longer be effective. 

Don't get your hopes up Jets. It's going to be some long years at the Meadowlands. 

Free Agency: Just When You Thought It Was Safe...

We have more signings. Let me bring you up to speed. 

Marcus Trufant, CB for the Seattle Seahawks, signed a 6 year deal which replaces the franchise tag that the organization put on him. They also got Olindo Mare. He's nowhere near as good as Josh Brown, but he'll be okay until they can find a replacement. I think this means Morten Anderson will be a Bronco next year. 

QB Quinn Grey signs a one year deal with the Texans. He was good in Jacksonville as a backup, but that's because with a running game like that, anyone can be good. I think they should stick with Rosenfels. 

WR Reche Caldwell signed with the Rams. He gets close to the minimum salary, so I don't know why the Redskins didn't retain him. Depth at WR is a big issue for them. 

Vikings sign CB Benny Sapp and LB Heath Farwell. Both are backups.

The Texans released C Steve McKinney. I guess this means the guy they traded for from the Broncos, Meyers, is starting? This is weird. McKinney wasn't earning major dollars and was a great backup/marginal starter at C or G. 

Lions sign LB Gilbert Gardner. He's an  underrated LB who could actually earn a starting job in training camp. Watch out for him.

Eagles signed TE Kris Wilson. He does more than TE though, he can also play FB and H-back. He has good hands, so it makes him very versatile. I think this means we will see VERY little of Dan Klecko next year. 

Cardinals signed LB Clark Haggans. He's a solid starter, and will do a lot for their defense. This could viewed as an excellent acquisition, just watch. 

Texans picked up S Nick Ferguson. He's a decent starter, and their secondary needs help. Good hire.

Panthers sign G Milford Brown. There is no way this guy is starting next season, but he did with the Rams last season so he'll be a very capable backup. Of course... the Rams sucked. 

Browns resigned G Steve McKinney. He'll compete for a starting job at G next season. He can also be a backup C behind Hank Fraley. 

Titans sign CB/Kick Returner Chris Carr. He was excellent returning kicks for the Raiders last season (25.5 average) and could be the player the Titans are looking for at the position, ever since they lost Pacman Jones. 

Raiders sign DE Kalimba Edwards. It's a decent move, since you don't have to be amazing to get numbers when you're playing across from Derrick Burgess. So long as Tommy Kelly gets some pressure too, they'll come up with a few sacks. Edwards has a chance to really revive his career here. Here's hoping he doesn't waste it. 

Interview With Marvin Lewis on NFL Network

Man, Lewis just climbed about 50 points in my books.

As you all know, Chad Johnson wants out of Cincinnati. I just saw a great interview with Marvin Lewis however, in which he said that Johnson signed a long contract and will play out that contract. He continued that if Chad wants to win a playoff game then he should take the team on his back and bring them to the playoffs. This is kind of reminiscent of 2005 when Johnson released a list of the DBs who successfully covered him during games, called "Who Covered 85 in '05." Lewis responded by releasing a list that was entitled: "Did 85 Do Everything He Could To Lead His Team to Victory?" Points included:

1. Did he study extra tape?

2. Zero mental errors in practice?

3. Did he make a teammate better?

4. Did he see all signs and hots?

5. Did he run after the catch?

6. Did he finish blocks?

I think that Lewis makes an excellent point here. A star player like Chad clearly has the potential and skill to transform his team if he so chose. He faces a difficult situation in regards to the competence of the defense, but if he took an active leadership role with the team he could not only inspire them to play better, but convince players to sign with the Bengals (such as when Warren Sapp brought Keyshawn Johnson to the Bucs in 2000 so that their offense could be good enough to win a Super Bowl). 

Either way, I think the Bengals should listen if a blockbuster offer is given (2 First Round Picks, such as when Dallas traded to get Joey Galloway from Seattle), but Lewis is absolutely right in not caving in to Johnson's demands. He is under contract, and if he wants to play he needs to play for Cincinnati. As Lewis said, you are a play away from losing any player on your team and if Chad plays, so much the better, but if he doesn't they'll be fine without him. 

Ice cold, but brutally necessary. 

Coffin Corner Tuesdays

Here we are... POWER RANKINGS

1. Chargers (0) Nothing will make me move on this. Patriots still have too many questions in their secondary.

2. Patriots (0) I'm inching closer and closer to putting them below the Colts, but nobody's seen Marvin Harrison alive for months. It's a helluva thigh bruise. Anyways, they need some help with CBs. Ellis Hobbs, and Jason Webster/Fernando Bryant? Give me a break. 

3. Colts (0) Nothing happens in Indianapolis. 

4. Cowboys (0) Still worried about Jerry Jones not using his plethora of picks to get players at CB, WR, S, and OL, all aging positions, and instead trading the draft for McFadden... but whatever. I also hope they realize that if this whole 'interest in trading for Pacman Jones' is not just a story manufactured by Jones' agent, they wouldn't have to give Tennessee more than a 6th rounder and a nice bottle of wine.

5. Giants (0)Well, they got Danny Clark? 

6. Seahawks (0) Good stuff with resigning Lofa Tatupu to an extension. This entire team is made up of underrated players. The Cardinals are toast next season. 

7. Browns (0) They have Shaun Rogers on their team now. How can I move that? (Bad Joke.)

8. Jaguars (0) All's quiet in the AFC South. 

9. Eagles (0) They got Samuel, but I would put them down a few pegs if they traded Lito Sheppard. With Brown in the slot, they have the potential to make a fearsome secondary... don't get rid of Lito. 

10. Saints (0) The loss of Steve Gleason was tough, but they will survive. 

11. Bills (0) Still have a decent shot at a wildcard spot, especially if they can beat up on the Jets and Dolphins.

12. Vikings (0) Still looking like a possible NFC North winner next season. 

13. Steelers(+1) I know it doesn't seem like much, but getting Justin Hartwig was huge. Fixing the O-line on this team is basically the one thing holding them back. Other than maybe a true shutdown corner and assurances that Willie Parker will be okay to play. 

14. Packers (-1) I think they won't make the playoffs next season. Too much of a young team with a young QB. Give it two years. 

15. Broncos (0) They lost Jason Elam. That will be terrible for them, but all the teams around them have questions too, so I have trouble dropping them too far.

16. Titans (0) Get Haynesworth that contract. This is looking like it might get messy.

17. Buccaneers (0) They got Eugene Wilson and so are not penalized for the loss of Brian Kelly. I'm still really not sold on this team next year though.

18. Bears (0) They're hibernating here. (Sorry.)

19. Redskins (0) I am very, very tempted to put them above the Bears, but that's assuming that Jim Zorn is a good head coach. And I don't know that yet.

20. Panthers (+3) Huge move for the Panthers here. The WR group they've made, with Steve Smith, DJ Hackett, Muhsin Muhammad, and Dwayne Jarrett is a thing of beauty. So long as Jake Delhomme comes back, this will be a decent season in Charlotte. 

21. Ravens (-1) They continue their slide because Free Agency was a chance for them to get younger, and they didn't do that. Now they have the draft. Get it done.

22. Rams (0) Well, their WR group has a lot to prove to me, but they could be an outside contender next season.

23. Texans (-2) I still don't know if Schaub can stay healthy for a season, and that's important. Good hire with Chris Brown though. 

24. Raiders (+2) If the Raiders were a house, I'd tell you that the foundation is so shaky that it could crash down in the next two years... and that you should not buy this house. Since they are a team, I will tell you that they will win more games next season than they did this one... and that's why they move up. 

25. Jets (0) So they have an O-line, and maybe a D-line. They have something that resembles a secondary, a running game that will probably be around for at least another season, and a linebacker group that might do well or might disappear, depending on the day (because they have no experience). I still need to know what it is that this O-line is protecting. Please. Somebody get them a QB. Culpepper, anyone? 

26. Cardinals (+1) They finally restructured Larry Fitzgerald's contract in time to sign some rookies. Let's be honest, they weren't going to make any marquee free agent hires. Nobody wants to come to Arizona. 

27. Bengals (-3) This is probably too harsh a drop, but man does it look like Marvin Lewis' team is about to implode. TJ Houshmanzadeh (Spelled on the first try, NICE!)  is almost out of contract, and if he wanted to stay he'd be asking for an extension. Chad Johnson just wants out, and said so to the three people watching the NFL Network during the offseason. The defense seems like it will probably still be a shambles, but maybe Odell Thurman will come back and be amazing (the loss of him to criminal charges and David Pollack to neck injury are really what has messed up this franchise). And meanwhile Carson Palmer is signed until 2014. Good luck buddy. 

28. Falcons (+3) Since 2003, the team to finish last in the NFC South the previous year has, the very next season, finished first. (2003 Panthers, 2004 Falcons, 2005 Bucs, 2006 Saints, 2007 Bucs). Will this happen to the Falcons? No. But they're trying. And they play in the weakest division out of all these bottom feeder teams. 

29. Dolphins (+3) I'm going to give Parcells some credit, because it looks like the team next year might be semi-competent. It won't be good, and will inspire the most "Who the heck is that guy?" moments, but it will be decent. And maybe Parcells will show Joey Porter how to play football again. Everyone remember Joey's guarantee from last season? "The Dolphins will win a game." It's tough to see a trash talker play for a losing team. Of course, if the Steelers hadn't lost a loudmouth, they never would have discovered that James Harrison, an abusive criminal, could also play really well at linebacker. Miracles happen every day. 

30. 49ers (0) How did the Falcons and Dolphins move above them you ask? Well mostly because Justin Smith will be next to useless in the 3-4 scheme, the 49ers and Falcons didn't cut Darrell Jackson for a WR signed to a ONE YEAR CONTRACT, and none of you have a QB... so what's the difference? Haha. Burn. 

31. Chiefs (-3) There are three good things about the Chiefs organization: 1) Tony Gonzalez 2) Jared Allen's fairly calm behavior in regards to his contract situation 3) Herm Edwards yelling on HBO's Hard Knocks that "I did a terrible job preparing this team! I did a terrible job!" Seriously, Chiefs are ruined until Carl Peterson is out of office. 

32. Lions (-3) Yes, this is truly where they belong. They sign Chuck Darby, which is a good move, and then cut Kenoy Kennedy. They sign Brian Kelly, and then get rid of Fernando Bryant. It's like they never want to have more than 5 competent players on the team, so they just cut people instead of having them compete for starting jobs. Maybe a team that's trying to win should stop awarding things on the basis of privilege and past accomplishments. 

Free Agents

Hey guys, sorry that updates have been so infrequent of late. School is busy, and there isn't huge amounts of NFL news. This is finally it for free agency though, I think...

Bengals sign TE Ben Utecht from the Colts. This is an upgrade at a position of need for them, and gives their offense more flexibility when just working with just two WRs on the field. 

The Falcons stole K Jason Elam from the Broncos. This was really stupid on the Broncos part. Elam was a great guy, and they won (by my count) 3 games last season on last second field goals... including a spectacular one on the season opener in Buffalo. Without him? 4-12. That would have been rough. Huge coup for the Falcons, because nothing helps a challenged offense more than a reliable long range kicker. The Broncos will have to hope they can find this years Mason Crosby in the draft (who should have gone to the Pro Bowl over Nick Folk). The street talent at K is pretty limited right now. Your best bet is probably Morten Anderson, who continues his quest to be the NFLs first 50 year old player. I think he's two seasons short. Anyways, he's reliable, going 24 for 27 last year, but can't hit them past 40 yards out. 

Browns sign former Houston LB Shantee Orr. Well, he's fast. So that's good for special teams. That's about it. 

49ers sign CB Donald Strickland. He's a backup. 

Another big signing, Packers get S Atari Bigby for one year. They hope to sign him long term. You may remember him for his spectacular performance against the Seahawks in the playoffs, as he absolutely demolished Bobby Engram and Marcus Pollard on several occasions. He was less of a factor against the Giants, but still got, as I remember, at least one good hit on Amani Toomer. His coverage is still a little raw, but if he's playing well he gets receivers scared to extend to catch the ball... worried that it will leave them open for a big hit. 

Colts Resign DE Josh Thomas, Pack Signs LB Chillar

He filled in for Dwight Freeney, who missed games last season, so it's a good hire. More slow news days guys. I'm sorry. 

Also, the Packers got a nice LB in Brandon Chillar. I can't think of where he might start in their scheme... he might compete with Poppinga for the starting spot.. but otherwise he's a special teams guys and has great potential to develop into a starter over the next 2 to 3 seasons. 

Texans P Matt Turk gets Two Year Deal

Well, they'll probably pick somebody up this year or next, but Turk had one of his best seasons punting last year so it's fine that they're keeping him. It's a pretty slow news day. 

NFL Lockout in 2011?

Another excellent article by the Washington Post about a possible labor dispute. 

Steelers Sign C Justin Hartwig

Good stuff here. Sean Mahan was a disaster, and can be moved back to guard. Combine this signing with one or two draft picks at G/C and the Steelers will have an O-line again. 

Close Your Eyes, Guess How Much DeAngelo Hall is getting from the Raiders over the next Seven Years

It's $70 Million dollars. Nice. 

Where is this money coming from?

Kevin Carter Resigns With Bucs

After being cut so that the Bucs wouldn't have to pay him a roster bonus, Kevin Carter is back with the Bucs, mostly because he's 34 and doesn't want to move his family again. He'll compete with Greg White and Marques Douglas for the starting spot, but don't be surprised if he finishes his career as a backup. Douglas will probably need a rotational partner anyways, so it will work out fine. 

Big Day for Backups

Vikings sign LB Dallas Sartz, WR Robert Ferguson, and DT Ellis Wyms. Ferguson will see some playing time, and Wyms is probably their third DT, but Sartz, if he doesn't get cut, will be a special teams player. 

Texans Trade 6th Round for C Myers

The title says it all. It's probably a decent move since Myers is only 2 years pro and has some upside. They couldn't do much better with their pick anyways. It's a weak year for interior O-line guys. I should mention Myers comes from the Broncos. 

Various Updates: Free Agency Related

Broncos fired their GM. Right before the draft? I don't think they're going to the playoffs. 

Giants resigned Derrick Ward, who is a pretty decent backup/third down guy/change of pace for Brandon Jacobs. 

Eugene Wilson, starting S for the Pats, is signing as a CB with the Bucs, probably to work with Ronde Barber and replace Brian Kelly. This probably means that Meriweather is getting the chance to start for New England next season. Wilson is 27, and so will be a nice player while the Bucs try to get younger on defense. The unfortunate part about Tampa Bay is that it seems to me like they think they're a playoff team, but really do have too many old guys/stopgap solutions at key positions. Ronde Barber, Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, Jeff Garcia, Joey Galloway... all these guys are really key players playing at very high levels considering their ages... but to my knowledge they have no real up and comers at these positions. These players' age means that at any given time, any of them could break down and stop producing. This leaves any kind of playoff run they make always in severe jeopardy. 

Texans signed Browns LB Chaun Thompson. He started last season, but was pretty unspectacular, and he probably will be the same for the Texans. Not much here. 

LB Derrick Pope signed with the Vikings. He has some ball skills, and had 64 Tackles and 2 INTs with the Dolphins last season in 16 games, so look for him to maybe break the starting lineup in a year or so... but he'll be a core special teams player. 

The Dolphins signed Cowboys CB Nathan Jones and K Dave Rayner. Don't understand the Rayner signing, since Feely is decent, but whatever. Jones is a 4th string guy. 

The Lions, in another ridiculous move, cut starting S Kenoy Kennedy. He had 91 tackles, 2 FFs, and 2 INTs last season. On the Lions defense? That's the equivalent of a superstar. He's more of a coverage safety than hard hitter, but he could be a nice stopgap guy for a team that needs safety help. 

Raiders signed DT William Joseph as part of their DT rotation, probably 3rd string or so. Might have an interesting competition with Terdell Sands. 

So Bryant Johnson signs a 1 Year contract with the 49ers, so they cut WR Darrell Jackson. This is ridiculous. Johnson clearly has no intention on staying on that sinking ship, he just knows that he can break the starting lineup there, show that he's a quality number 2, MAYBE a number 1 guy, and get a big contract from a decent team. Instead of maybe trying to surround Alex Smith with guys who know where to be and what to do (so as to avoid INTs), like Darrell Jackson and Isaac Bruce, the 49ers turn to offense over to Bryant Johnson, who will not be there for very long, Isaac Bruce who for all his veteran experience is slowing down, and Ashley Lelie, whose only redeeming quality is that he can run very fast while dropping a ball. This, and the untried rookie Jason Hill. Yes, it's difficult to see how they could have possibly fit Darrell Jackson in there. Somebody should just shoot the bay area teams and put them out of their misery. And do you think it's a coincidence that MIA (the Dolphin's abbreviation) stands for Missing In Action? The 49ers also cut Trent Dilfer. That was a good move. 

The Falcons are agreeing to trade CB DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders for a second round draft pick. The only problem with this is that Hall is going to want a huge contract, which Oakland (after giving Kelly and Walker huge contracts) is kind of unable to provide. So the deal might fall through. Him combined with Asomugha would be pretty good though. 

The Jets signed TE Bubba Franks. He'll compete with Chris Baker for the starting job, but probably end up as a backup. 

Panthers signed WR DJ Hackett. He's missed 17 games in three seasons, but at least it gives them a huge number of options at WR. Other than Steve Smith, they'll have Muhsin Muhammad, Dwayne Jarrett (who after a DUI and a terrible rookie season, might be on the way out), and Hackett. The only thing they lost? Keary Colbert. Good stuff. 

Eagles signed former Colts DT Dan Klecko to play FB. They never use one anyways, so it doesn't matter. Just a big body to run forward a yard when they need one. 

Thought I'd Link You to a Few Good Stories

Nice one here which puts its finger exactly on what I think is troubling the Broncos. Couldn't quite figure it out, but I think Kiszla's right.

Another good one here about Julius Jones. 

Free Agent Update... Please be the last one...

I was happy to be covering free agency several weeks ago, but the monotony of the signings is slowly wearing on me. Nonetheless, we're doing this.

WHOOO!

Falcons resigned Joey Harrington after cutting him because he refused to renegotiate his contract. He then realized he's not such a good player and should take his chances with the Falcons and resigned. He might start next season, might be a backup, either way the Falcons need QBs competing in training camp. 

Dolphins signed S Keith Davis. He's a core special teams player, and they need help on special teams. 

Chiefs sign WR Devard Darling. This is not the player they need to play opposite Dwayne Bowe. 

Lions signed DT Chuck Darby. This is actually a surprisingly good hire. He's a good run stopper and can also get a little push on the QB, but he's 32 and probably doesn't have too long left in the league. I was kind of surprised he stayed on the FA market for so long though, since good DTs are hard to come by. What also surprises me is that Rod Coleman is still around somewhere. I know there's health concerns, but you'd think someone would take a risk on him. 

Panthers cut C Justin Hartwig. They want to start Ryan Kalil there next season, and Hartwig didn't want to change to guard. Someone here could pick up a center of starting calibre, but maybe not a superb player. 

Fitzgerald finally restructured his contract. It saves the Cardinals 8 million in cap space. Although he by no means had to do this, it shows that he's a great team player who really cares about his team. Which is hard when you play for the Bidwells. 

Giants signed QB David Carr to a one year deal as a backup. He's better than Jared Lorenzen and probably Anthony Wright, but David Carr really is awful. Remember, he was benched last season because he was a bad BACKUP. That's pretty crazy. Anyways, just like Harrington, there will always be teams willing to take chances on high picks.. but this a a really bad call. 

Saints signed QB Todd Brunell to back up Drew Brees. They also have Tyler Palko, who is one year out of Pitt, who is pretty decent. Palko and Brunell will probably compete for the backup job in the preseason. I'm rooting for Palko, he looked pretty good in the preseason. Also, on one of Robert Meachem's first plays of the preseason he had to ask Palko for his route. It's to Palko's credit that he could answer right away, and why I think Meachem sucks. 

Lions signed Tatum Bell, and released Kevin Jones. I'm guessing Jones refused to restructure his contract, but he's very injury prone. The Lions also cut Kalimba Edwards. I'd say that wasn't that bad, but I have no idea who they're going to put in. I don't even kind of understand their plan for rebuilding, mainly because there's no corps of players to rebuild around. 

Danny Clark was signed to the New York Giants, possibly as a starter to replace Kawika Mitchell or Reggie Torbor. He's only 30 and probably has a few productive seasons left. He won't wow anybody, but he'll be alright.

Texans signed HB Chris Brown. Not a bad move here, Ahman Green clearly needs help as he can't carry the load by himself anymore and Brown has some potential. Good stuff. 

Ravens sign CB Frank Walker and LB Nick Greisen. These are mostly for depth, but Walker is only 26 and the Ravens need younger CBs. 

49ers signed WR Bryant Johnson. I'm pretty sure he'll be starting with the 49ers and he'll probably put up some decent numbers next season. They also released QB Trent Dilfer because, let's be honest, he's no good.

The Bucs signed MLB Teddy Lehman (injury prone, not very good), DE Marques Douglas (Decent pass rusher, will probably start), DE Jimmy Wilkerson (backup), and LB Leon Joe (great special teams player). 

Out at the One: Steve Gleason

Gleason is probably not a name you'll immediately recognize, and without this photo you might not even know that he plays for the New Orleans Saints. A career special teams player, he finished with only 71 tackles to show for a seven year career, and not a single NFL touchdown. Several days ago, at the age of 31, he retired. The reason I am dedicating an 'Out at the One' feature to him is not for individual accomplishments, but rather because he represents the best of the sport of football. 

Gleason represented football at its most dangerous. Special Teams plays consist of punt and kick return and coverage units. Often with 60 to 80 yards separating the two teams at the beginning of play. In a game where the typical play is three to four yards, these are immense distances. The amount of speed and momentum and athlete, even an overlooked one such as Gleason, can generate over such a distance is incredible. Even more incredible are the forces unleashed on another human body, with little more than several plastic pads in between them, when they collide. As we tragically witnessed this football season with Kevin Everett, a single wrong tackle or hit can leave a player without the use of the his legs or other parts of his body. Although this is true for all of football, the speeds demanded by Special Teams make them especially dangerous. In this danger, however, lies a paradox. Players who can run at another person are a dime a dozen, and typically the lowest paid people in the NFL. Yet it is they who have the most to lose. An instant can transform a career, and while accidents such as that which ended Joe Theismann's career are tragic, they are even worse for players who earn fractions of what the stars earn. Players like Steve Gleason. 

In this way, Gleason represented football at its most noble. I have heard the game simplified as eleven men trying to push a ball 4 yards against another eleven men, and at its most basic level, this is what football is. Nonetheless, this demands a tight economy of effort. Each player must put everything he has on the line to nullify the efforts of his competitors, often not even touching the ball at all. Such teamwork demands sacrifice and risk, and it is Gleason and players like him who truly represent this. 

Gleason represented football at its most dedicated and loving. It is an athletic competition, and Gleason, at 5'11 and 212 lbs., had few athletic advantages against his giant opponents. Nonetheless, in a league filled with players who earn millions because they have the potential to be stars, and in a league with players who we watch actively squander that potential, Gleason made the most of what little he had. There are elite players who have the luxury of long-term contract security, and earn enough that if they were to retire tomorrow they would never have to worry about money again. This was not Gleason. Football is often cruel, and effort given does not always equal the reward one gets. For constant effort on what few opportunities he had on the football field, Gleason consistently risked everything for what is comparatively a meagre reward. He plays the game not for the attention, as players like him get precious little, or the money, as they earn even less of that, but for his sheer love of his team, the fans, and the sport itself. 

Gleason also represented football at its most spectacular. The picture above shows just one of four blocked punts he caused during his seven year career. This one in particular occurred in the Louisiana Superdome in its first game after Hurricane Katrina. This blocked punt sparked such a roar from the crowd that it is still remembered as one of the greatest events in recent sport history. Such opportunities for achievement are rare for a player who rarely gets on the field, and the glory was shared by his unit. There is no Pro Bowl nomination for these kind of plays, and it is rare that a player like Gleason is openly credited for them, however the moment shared by all those who watched this play is a memory that will not easily be forgotten. 

Gleason was football, at the least the best of it. Players like Steve Gleason are what makes Sunday games worth watching, even if you don't notice them. His departure is noted, but probably not missed, and there will be few clamors for his return. He got what he wanted from the game, and enjoyed a fuller career than most players consigned to his role. Nonetheless, next Sunday afternoon you spend watching a game, make sure to try to pay attention to the little guy. He might just do something amazing. 

Coffin Corner Tuesdays

Well, the second wave of Free Agency has come and gone. Look for signings to slow down until the draft. With that in mind... welcome back to another edition of Coffin Corner Tuesdays. 

1. Chargers (0) Still number one. 

2. Patriots (+1) Resigned Moss. Are going to keep together a solid offense and hopefully         hold things together with a somewhat patchwork defense. 

3. Colts (-1) Are looking more and more like a one and out team, but they'll go to the        playoffs and that means anything can happen.

4. Cowboys (0) They still have a lot to prove to me, since they really haven't played good football since December, but you can't put them too low. They'll take a hit if Jerry Jones trades away the draft for McFadden.

5. Giants (0) They're the defending Super Bowl champions, but I'm still not sold on them.    They have a tough division next season.

6. Seahawks (+1) Moved up because of the running game and O-line improvements,         and because the Browns have one of the hardest schedules in football       next season. They play in a very easy division. 

7. Browns (-1) Despite huge improvements to their defense, they have a tough schedule                                          and tough division. Also Derek Anderson might not get more accurate.                          We'll see. 

8. Jaguars (0) Not much here. 

9. Eagles (+1) I like this team next season more and more. Nice hire with Asante      Samuel. 

10. Saints (+1) Good trade for Vilma, mostly moved up because of the Packers falling. 

11. Bills (+1) I like the idea of Marcus Stroud playing for them next year. They're looking   like a contender. 

12. Vikings (+1) The loss of Brett Favre makes the possibility of them winning the   division next year very, very real.

13. Packers (-5) Replace a good QB with Aaron Rodgers, no matter his potential, and    this is what you get. 

14. Steelers (0) No movement here, but a lineman might be nice. 

15. Broncos (0) They're fixing the linebackers when it's the D-line that needs help. Good   call. 

16. Titans (0) Good hire on the O-line with Jake Scott. 

17. Buccaneers (+1) They're fixing their running game, they still need to patch up their     secondary, but good stuff. Antonio Bryant is a bit of a risk, but     they need a WR. 

18. Bears (-1) I'm not feeling their offensive line, and no big name RB additions. Tough     season for them coming up.

19. Redskins (+1) I've gotten over the rage I felt when Snyder fired the coaching staff        and this team is growing on me. It does have a good looking roster.

20. Ravens (-1) I'm not so sure on the Ravens at this point. Too many questions on an   aging defense. 

21. Texans (0) Standing pat. 

22. Rams (+2) Good hire on the O-line with Jacob Bell. 

23. Panthers (0) Not that many proven starters left on their defense, but I think they'll      do okay.

24. Bengals (-2) I'LL FINISH THIS LATER

25. Jets (+2)

26. Raiders

27. Cardinals (-2)

28. Chiefs

29. Lions (0) The Brian Kelly signing stops their fall. He's old though, and was kind of protected by Ronde Barber. 

30. 49ers

31. Falcons (+1)

32. Dolphins (-1)

More Free Agents... Then Power Rankings

Broncos signed Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel... both safeties. I understand that they need someone to replace Lynch, but I think they should have gone through the draft. Manuel got beaten out for his starting spot in Green Bay last year by Atari Bigby. Lynch is pretty much a situational player now, since he's a huge liability in coverage, so I think he'll split time with McCree. The only problem is that McCree is 30 and so doesn't have too many years left either. A rookie would have been better, while Lynch was still around to teach him. 

Tennessee finally started to fix the hits they've taken during free agency by signing Jake Scott, former G for the Colts. They really needed to replace Jacob Bell with someone young, and with all their positions that need help they were running out of draft picks. Good hire. 

Seahawks hire RB Julius Jones. This gives them a pretty good group of RBs with Maurice Morris, T.J. Duckett, and Shaun Alexander if they decide to keep him at this point. All of these guys do good things in different situations and Seattle has had a lot of experience with using multiple RBs since Alexander's decline over the last two seasons. 

Lions resigned T George Foster and RB Tatum Bell. Foster is another previously promising lineman who has basically imploded in Detroit, much to Kitna's detriment, but the Bell hiring is pretty decent. He's a good player who could do a lot for the running game if Coach PoundTheRock actually pounds the rock. Marinelli has to be the most delusional man in all of football. It's like he thinks he's still in Tampa. 

Rams signed QB Trent Green as backup QB. Other than the fact that they're doing the same thing the Panthers did, sitting on an aging QB (Marc Bulger) without trying to get a replacement developing behind him... I really think Trent Green should just retire. He has his money and his memories, but if he keeps on going he might lose the second one. The guy is one bad hit away from real damage, and he has a family to think about. Trent Green, if you're out there.. hang it up. 

Finally, the Bucs signed RB Warrick Dunn. I think this shows that Carnell Williams isn't coming back, at least not anytime soon. Dunn will clearly split time with Earnest Graham and Michael Pittman while the Bucs look for a long term solution. 

Another Massive Free Agent List

Buckle Up. Here we go. 

New England resigns Jabar Gaffney. This is perfect. Basically all of their WRs from the previous season are returning and their offense is going to be mostly together for another Super Bowl run. Good stuff. Patriots also resigned backup safety Tank Williams. He'll probably compete with Brandon Meriweather to replace Eugene Wilson. 

Lions sign S Kalvin Pearson, HB Aveion Cason, and G Corey Hulsey. Hulsey is actually a backup with some upside, and you might be seeing Cason as a change of pace back next season. Good stuff. 

Buccanneers signed LB Matt McCoy. Decent special teamer, marginal backup. 

Ravens signed FB Brendan Ayanbedejo. He has led the NFL in special teams tackles the last two years, but at 31 he's getting older, especially at a position that requires large amounts of speed. 

Denver signed LB Boss Bailey. This looks like a huge remaking of their LB group, which really wasn't the problem last year, it was the d-line. Anyways, this will probably result in him and DJ Williams playing the outside spots, while Niko Koutouvides will take the middle. 

The Eagles cut LB Takeo Spikes. He had an 85 tackles season last year, with 1 sack. Don't know who'll pick him up here, but as long as you have a nice backup then it's probably worth the risk. 

QUICK! Name a Bengals starter on defense. Take into account the fact that they've lost Madieu Williams, Justin Smith, and now.. Landon Johnson. He signed with the Panthers. Pretty good move to solidify their LB group now that they lost Dan Morgan. Also, word is that Morgan will probably sign with the Saints. Panthers also released CB Patrick Dendy, who will be replaced by Richard Colclough, and signed RB LeBrandon Toefield, who will probably be a third RB. 

Titans Sign DE Jevon Kearse

So Kearse returns to his rookie team after having a fairly forgettable few seasons in Philadelphia. It's difficult to say how good he'll be. In his first two seasons with the Eagles he had 15 sacks, but the next two only had 7. Admittedly, in 2006 he only played in two games, but compared with his 47.5 sacks with the Titans in his first five seasons it's peanuts. The big problem with this is that he hasn't been healthy since 2002. I'd bet on him giving production at least tying that of Antwan Odom or Travis LaBoy, which is probably not that great but no loss at least, but there's the potential of him coming back healthy with a huge season. We'll see. 

Goodell Getting Tougher on Cheating

It would have to be passed by the owners, but Roger Goodell is proposing lowering the standard of proof for punishing teams for cheating. He had a very questionable decision by destroying the Patriots' tapes, and I think he's trying to make up for that. A commissionership that has so far been characterized by cracking down on poor behavior on the part of the players should certainly extend its watchful eye to the rest of the NFL. As the Arlen Specter inquiry has shown, if the NFL, as a monopoly, doesn't do a good job of presenting a quality and legitimate product, Congress won't hesitate to get involved. 

Seahawks Get T.J. Duckett

Shaun Alexander isn't an every down back anymore, but Maurice Morris isn't the answer. The solution? Create a tandem/triplette. Nice signing. He was part of the Falcons' DVD (Dunn, Vick, Duckett) rushing group that did very well for them in the early 21rst century (hahaha, nice.) Despite fewer carries over the last several years, his average yards per carry have stayed around 4 so he's clearly still skilled. Look for Mike Holmgren to figure out a way to mix him in with Alexander and Maurice Morris. 

Seattle also signed TE Jeb Putzier. He's going to be a special teams/blocking TE. If he starts, you're all in trouble. 

Raiders Big Spenders Again

The Raiders locked up both WR Javon Walker and RT Kwame Harris for $55 million over five years and $14 million over three years respectively. The Harris signing was good. They didn't commit a huge amount of money because he's not a sure thing, but it's likely they can find a spot for him somewhere along the line... if not at T then maybe at G. 

It's the Walker signing I have problem with. The guy has had 3 knee surgeries since 2002 and only two 1000 yard receiving seasons. Not to mention he's had huge emotional problems since watching Darrent Williams die. His talent has never matched up to his potential, and I don't think he'll be blossoming at 30 years old. Not good Raiders. Not good. 

Wow. I just read that until the Walker signing the Raiders only had one WR with more than 6 career catches (cause Jerry Porter left). Hilarious. 

Oh snap. They also cut LT Barry Sims. He's huge, he's funny, he's called a 'false start machine' and I'll miss him. Somebody please sign him. Even though he's really not that great. 

Free Agent Summary

Another huge update. Here we go:

Patriots resign Moss. This was huge, because with the loss of Stallworth, they needed to keep another WR to play opposite Wes Welker. 

NY Giants signed S Sammy Knight to a three year contract. He had a superb season in Jacksonville in 2007 with 93 tackles and 4 INTs and clearly has at least one season left in the tank while the Giants find a replacement. 

Bengals signed DE Antwan Odom from the Titans. Don't look for him to be a superstar though. A player whose first three seasons in the league totals 4.5 sacks, then in the last year of his contract he gets 8? I don't think his talent just exploded, and I think that the Titans know that. He's just a guy who works hard in contract years, and then is going to sit around until the next one comes again. Way to go Bengals. 

49ers sign Lions backup QB J.T. O'Sullivan. I think this indicates that the 49ers don't intend on drafting a QB. If Brian Brohm falls to them in the first round (they have Indy's pick, at 27th overall) they might grab him, but that's no sure thing. I'd count on the QB training camp battle being between Smith, Hill, and O'Sullivan. I watched O'Sullivan play for the Lions a bit last year and for NFL Europa when it still existed, and I think he has some upside. He might be the dark horse candidate or, more likely, a surprise backup. A team like this looks good on paper, but that's because people assume that on paper all of the guys they've hired are going to preform and the O-line won't suck. Count on a mediocre QB sabotaging the entire effort all over again

The Steelers picked up former Vikings HB Mewelde Moore. They already have a capable backup Najeh Davenport, but what they're doing here is getting an insurance policy in case Willie Parker, after the broken leg he suffered against the Rams last season, doesn't return at full strength, or at all. Moore is a speedster and a decent pass catcher out of the back field, making him a 3rd down running back, and so they're setting up a two back system to put in place in case Parker isn't the same RB when he comes back.

Broncos sign MLB Niko Koutouvides and WR Keary Colbert. Koutouvides is a great hire. He's not high profile, but he was amazing on special teams for the Seahawks for his career there. He was drafted as a potential starter by the, but the performance of Lofa Tatupu made him irrelevant. He won't be battling DJ Williams for the MLB spot, but he performs well enough he might allow the Broncos to move Williams back to the outside. Colbert is a terrible signing. He's not a very good player and will be at best a 4th or 5th guy. 

Chiefs signed LB Demorrio Williams and FB Oliver Hoyte. Williams is actually joining a fairly accomplished LB group who was probably not the weakness of the Chiefs this year. They even got good production out of previous underachiever Napoleon Harris. Although it's a bit of a waste of money, since he'll either be a backup or move a starter, but there you go. GM Carl Peterson is a moron. Spend the money on Jared Allen, who actually wants to sign with your sinking ship. Hoyte was a decent FB was Dallas, he just barely lost out to Lousaka Polite for the starting spot in training camp. He'll do well in Kansas City. 

Panthers sign G Keydrick Vincent. That probably fixes the spot that Mike Wahle left. He was pretty decent in Baltimore, but Ogden covers for a lot of people, but less so in Arizona... but Arizona has a terrible O-line... so we'll see how he does. They also re-signed LB Donte Curry. He's a backup. Don't look for him on Sundays. 

Dolphins resigned S Yeremiah Bell. He will probably start even though he missed 15 games last season. He's not that great, but very few Dolphins are. 

Jaguars released G Chris Naeole. He was unhappy with his contract, but I think there might be more going on here. He's old and could be injured. Nonetheless, the potential to pick up a great guard, especially for a running team, means he'll get a job, and probably deserves one. The Jaguars also resigned former first round pick DT Jimmy Kennedy. He was cut by the Bears. Not a good sign since they need any DT they can get. 

New York Jets sign OLB Calvin Pace to one of highest contracts for an LB in the league. This was a ridiculous move. Somebody was going to do it, but wow. That's stupid. He was completely irrelevant until last season (which was the last year of his contract, big coincidence), when he got 99 tackles and some sacks in one year, he gets paid like a consistent performer. Way to go Jets, you got scammed. The Jets also signed RT Damien Woody, which is a nice upgrade at RT over Anthony Clement. Still have questions about what this line is protecting, but they'll do well at it. 

The Cardinals sign DE/OLB Travis LaBoy. He had 6 sacks last season as a situational pass rusher and will try to move to full time starter at OLB in the Cardinals' 3-4. 

Rams sign Tennessee's starting LG, Jacob Bell. He was young and had a lot of upside, big loss for Tennessee. He'll do a lot for the Rams' line, who are trying to get younger and deeper after injuries ruined their season last year. 

Falcons Acquire RB Michael Turner, Cut Warrick Dunn

In what is a great move to shore up their backfield, the Falcons hired the best free agent HB available, Michael Turner. I always thought that the Falcons should try to get more out of Jerious Norwood because of his 5.5 average yards per carry, but teaming him with Warrick Dunn, who does mostly the same thing, wasn't the answer. Mike Smith is clearly trying to create the same kind of dynamic HB tandem he had in Jacksonville and he's gotten off to a great start. This will go a long way to giving their new QB some breathing room. 

Steelers Resign Ben Roethlisberger

With two years left on his contract, the Steelers recently extended that to 8, for the princely sum of 102 million dollars. This makes him the highest paid player in the history of the franchise. The way he played last season removes any doubts about his ability. The Steelers were, in my opinion, quietly one of the worst teams in terms of O-line in the NFL. Nobody noticed because their QB is so good at avoiding the rush. That is the kind of talent you need to lock up. 

Brett Favre Retires

It's the end of an era in Green Bay, if not the NFL. The Ironman himself, a team player in an era of free agency, a man who cared more about W - L than TD - INTs. A gunslinger (yes, I'll say it), in an era of system quarterbacks and playbooks thicker than treatises. I won't lie. A year ago, when watching Green Bay limp to a 4-12 finish and knowing that Favre hadn't been really spectacular since his 2003 Oakland Raiders game, I questioned why he wouldn't just retire. Green Bay had him under contract until 2011 and couldn't release him without a violent revolution in Wisconsin, but I thought maybe it was time for him to step aside for Aaron Rodgers. Maybe it was time to hang it up, he had his Super Bowl ring and every player can't go out a winner.

I was wrong. 

Favre rallied in 2007. He extended his streak to 275 regular and post-season starts. More importantly, he brought the playoffs back to Lambeau. After Vince Lombardi left, the Packers made the playoffs three times in twenty-four years. The only NFL team that was still community owned, the NFL's little brother, was just that. A junior team in a big boys league. Favre brought winning back to Green Bay. He brought statistically solid seasons, big wins, the playoffs, the Super Bowl. 

Favre's career ended one game away from his third Super Bowl appearance. It ended on a cold day in Lambeau. His last throw of his NFL career was an interception on a play he was doing his damnedest to keep alive. His last NFL Sunday ended with a move that was a little too risky, a little too brash. 

In his first season, filling in for injured starter Dan Majikowski, Mike Holmgren, then his first year head coach, came up to him and said something to the effect of: You are me are stuck at the hip, we will rise to the top or we're going to fall into the dumpster, but we're going to do it together. Holmgren did his best to teach a QB whose first NFL completion was a throw to himself, followed by a tackle for a loss, how to play in the NFL. After weeks of film work on how to read defenses, mid-way through the first quarter of a game, Brett turns to his backup Ty Detmer and asks: Hey, Mike's been talking about this all week, what's a nickel? Ty explained to him that it was an extra defensive back put in instead of a linebacker on passing downs. Brett says: Oh, that's it? Well that doesn't matter. 

When Favre was still a backup, his job was to relay plays from the sideline to the QB, and his job was to invent the signals. Most teams use obscure hand gestures, that kind of thing. For Texas-42, Favre came up with an imaginary lasso. 

Favre, other than probably LeRoy Butler, is the player most associated with the Lambeau Leap. The native of Mississippi came up from Atlanta and made the 'frozen tundra' of Lambeau Field, traditions and all, his home. 

This was a player who thrived on wins, and if not wins, then spectacular attempts. It was either going to be a TD or an INT with Brett, he didn't do 3 yard dink and dunk. He was either going to make it or break it, and Favre gave his last shot at it during that last NFC Championship game. What mattered was not that he lost, but that he was home, and football was too.  His last interception didn't matter either, because what mattered was that he might lose it all, but not before laying all his chips on the table first. Seconds before that play, the future was fluid. Favre was on one last drive, one last shot at the Super Bowl. In the time that it takes you to read this sentence, the possibilities gradually narrowed to one. Corey Webster got the ball, and the Giants won minutes later. Win or lose, you have to admire the man who gambles like that, betting himself against 11 other men. And, win or lose, you have to admire Brett Favre. 

Last of the Big Free Agent Signings

Tennesee Titans pick up Alge Crumpler and the Falcons nab RB Michael Turner. 

TE wasn't a huge position of need for the Titans because of Bo Scaife, but they also really needed to give Vince Young some receiving targets, and Crumpler is an upgrade. I've heard that knee injuries have limited his performance recently though, so I'm not sure if he'll actually make a huge impact next season.

The Turner signing is a little surprising for me because I figured that the Falcons would stick with Warrick Dunn, but I suppose the possibility of creating a young RB tandem with Jerious Norwood was too much to pass up. They complement each other nicely and will take a lot of pressure of their future QB. 

CB Gay Signs 4 Year Contract with Saints

In a pretty good move, the Saints picked up 25 year old CB Randall Gay from the Patriots. He had 3 interceptions last season as their nickel corner and figures the compete for the starting CB spot opposite Mike McKenzie with Jason David and Usama Young. 

Yahoo Sports Report False

Yahoo sports had reported that Jason Taylor would be either cut or traded by the Dolphins. Parcells went on record saying that was false. If he does turn around and do it though, he will lose the team instantly. You don't do that to a player like Jason Taylor. 

Free Agency Waves and Early Coffin Corner Tuesdays

What you guys should know about Free Agency is that it comes in waves. The first wave, with all the break the bank signings, just happened. The next wave will happen to fill in backups and that kind of thing between now the Draft, and the third wave will be to fill in final roster holes before the pre-season after the Draft is over. With that in mind, I'm doing Coffin Corner Tuesdays a little early this week. 

1. Chargers (0) They're still my favorite to win it all next season. 

2. Colts (0) Still sitting pretty at #2

3. Patriots (0)  The Patriots are hemorrhaging players, but looking at each of the teams below them, one by one, I don't see any of these guys beating them with any regularity, even with a reduced personnel. 

4. Cowboys (+1) I like how they're keeping Flozell Adams so that the O-line stays together and I like their chances for the playoffs next year, but those two games against the Eagles will be tough.

5. Giants (-1) Kawika Mitchell was no big loss, but I think Gibril Wilson did more for NY's CBs than people think. 

6. Browns (+3) I honestly cannot believe the potential of their D-line next year. Corey Williams could be an excellent DE in their 3-4 and Shaun Rogers is the perfect nose tackle. Combine this with Kamerion Wimbley blitzing from the outside, and you might have a very talented defense (just get better CBs). Obviously, locking up QB Anderson was good too. 

7. Seahawks (-1) Losing K Josh Brown is more key than anybody realizes right now, plus the Browns just got a whole lot better. 

8. Jaguars (0) Are doing really well, unfortunately I can't move them up because of uncertainty at the QB position. As good as David Garrard is, he's not so much a playmaker as a caretaker. Only 18 TD passes is a little low. I think Jerry Porter will help him a lot, but I still have questions. They sure have fixed their secondary though. 

9. Packers (-2) Have stood pat and I'm afraid I have to punish them for it. The team played in a weak division last year and clearly wasn't good enough to win when it really mattered at their own home field, so it's not like there aren't holes to fill. Also, not hearing about whether Favre is returning or not yet is concerning. 

10. Eagles (0) Philly is doing very well. They're picking up marquee guys like Asante Samuel, but I think some of their best hires have been some little contracts. They're picking up lots of situational guys, passing down safeties, pass rushing LBs, etc. that I think will really help them with their depth next season.

11. Saints (+1) Hopefully the Vilma trade fixes a defense so that it doesn't have to let the offense down anymore. CB is still an issue. 

12. Bills (+1) Very good trade by getting Stroud. He's a lot less of a risk than Jenkins or Rogers and has lots of proven production. That and the Mitchell signing indicate this team is very serious about getting to the playoffs next year. Look for them to help their offense in the draft.

13. Vikings (+2) Good hire with Berrian and, I hate to say it, Madieu Williams. I'm reluctant to put them this high up because of questions at QB, but the Steelers need to be demoted for losing Faneca. That is inexcusable. 

14. Steelers (-1) All of last season the biggest problem with the Steelers was their O-line. Against not so good teams they would be fine, but throw them up against a decent pass rush (Jacksonville comes to mind) and suddenly every play looks like a QB bootleg since Big Ben has nowhere to throw from. Then they have their best lineman leave town? That is going to cost them. 

15. Broncos (-4) Don't worry Bronco fans, you won't be this low for long. Something is clearly happening in Denver since they're clearing cap space like there's no tomorrow. First Walker and Gold, then restructuring Lynch's contract and almost losing him... as well as Henry's. The Broncos are about to make some big play that will cost them big. 

16. Titans (0) I still have my misgivings about the Titans' WR group, but this team traditionally fixes problems through the draft, so we'll just have to wait and see. 

17. Bears (+1) The Bears were quiet winners during free agency. The average age of their excellent defense is now just 27, plenty young to fix the offense and make several more playoff runs. Lance Briggs coming back was a surprise, but it allows them to focus on the very important positions for them next year, RB, QB, O-line and WR. Basically everything on offense except TE. 

18. Buccaneers (-1) I'm not a huge fan of the Jeff Faine signing. I don't think he's worth the money. The Bucs still have a massively ancient QB, a fairly pedestrian group of WRs, and a very old pair of CBs. Some changes need to be made. 

19. Ravens (0) I don't like the release of Flynn, but Ozzie Newsome knows what he's doing. 

20. Redskins (o) They've been very quiet so far, and so their status remains. 

21. Texans (0) Another quiet team. They are very close to slipping underneath the Bengals because Carson Palmer is such a sure thing every year, but as long as DeMeco Ryans has that defense, I'll put them a spot above. 

22. Bengals (0) Probably higher than they deserve to be, but you should never underestimate the effect of having an elite QB. 

23. Panthers (+1) Are clearly going about free agency with some objectives in mind. I like most of the moves so far. 

24. Rams (+1) Great hire with K Josh Brown. I'm not so keen on the Bruce release, but I think it means they're planning on drafting a WR in the 2nd or 3rd round. 

25. Cardinals (-2) It seems unlikely that they'll be able to restructure Fitzgerald's contract, and why should he agree to that? He's earned his money, and they signed the deal. Just because you now regret it later doesn't mean you can go back on it. On the other hand, it completely ruins their team and will cripple them both for free agency and during rookie signings. 

26. Raiders (+1) Lots of people aren't so high on the Tommy Kelly signing, but I like it a lot. I think he will be very good for them. I also think they quietly picked up an impact player in Gibril Wilson. Combined with Nnamdi Asomugha, they're developing a potent pass defense. 

27. Jets (+2) It's a shame about losing Vilma, but he wasn't fitting anymore. I think Kris Jenkins was a good hire, and Faneca will be a monster. The only tough pill to swallow is that nobody know who he'll be protecting. 

28. Chiefs (-2) No contract yet for Jared Allen, just more cuts. Are we rebuilding or demolishing?

29. Lions (-1) They continue their free fall by failing to address major issues with their team. The Smith hiring was a start, but then trading away Rogers for more draft picks all too likely to be wasted wasn't such a hot move in my opinion. I also don't know how much production they'll get out of Leigh Bodden. He was a bit of a one-hit wonder in Cleveland and was part of a secondary that didn't exactly light it up. My fear is that he'll fit into Detroit almost too well (i.e. be awful in pass coverage just like the team). 

30. 49ers (+1) Well they sure opened their wallets, it seems like half the league signed here. I'll put them above the Dolphins and Falcons, and they may even make a play for the 49ers, but don't get your hopes up San Francisco. Alex Smith to Isaac Bruce? Not going to happen very often. 

31. Dolphins (+1) Hiring the most free agents is certainly a start. They failed to get any big names, but that might be for the best. While other teams went out for the monster hire, the Dolphins quietly filled some holes with some capable if unspectacular players. Good stuff. 

32. Falcons (-2) I understand that it is Mike Smith's policy to have a quiet free agency, but when your starting DT is Montavious Stanley..... 

Lance Briggs Resigns With Bears

This surprises me. I never figured that Briggs was possibly coming back. He deal is for 36 million over 6 years. It really shocks me that no other team offered him a contract he wanted. Nonetheless, it's excellent news for the Bears organization. 

The Saints also cut MLB Brian Simmons. He's an older players who will probably retire. He signed with the Saints after being released by Cincinnati last year, but never really managed to get any playing time because of Mark Simoneau. 

Broncos signed WR Keary Colbert. I think this is a pretty ridiculous move since the guy has no upside whatsoever. He's not fast, he's not big, and he doesn't have good hands. This mystifies me. 

The Bills have released DT Larry Tripplett. He's a solid run stuffer, but that's about it. He should pick up a job with a team somewhere as either a #2 DT in a 4-3 or a 3rd DT in a three tackle rotation. To bolster their depth at the position, the Bills signed DT Spencer Johnson. At 26, and with 3 sacks last season, I think he has some great potential. 

Perenially looking to address that #2 CB spot after the failure of Philip Buchanon, the Texans have turned to veteran CB Jacques Reeves. I thought he really lacked any upside at all when I saw him play against the Giants this playoff, but I guess they know what they're doing. 

Dolphins signed backup LB Charlie Anderson. 

Free Agent Updates

Saints resign WR Devery Henderson. Here's another receiver with deep speed who has trouble catching the ball. He can be, at times, a great big play guy, and at others a complete disappointment. He's young, and I'm hoping he can turn a corner. 

Carolina signs CB Ricardo Colclough. A long-time backup with the Steelers and then the Browns, Colclough adds depth and special teams ability. 

Eagles signed DE Chris Clemons. He had 8 sacks a situational pass rusher with the Raiders last season and I'm sure Jim Johnson can get something out of him. The Eagles are quietly building up a stockpile of DEs that could rival the Giants'. Watch for them to be a big contender next season. 

Falcons signed both FS Eric Coleman and CB Von Hutchins. Both of these are very good and very quiet moves. Finding someone to start opposite Lawyer Milloy has long been a problem for the Falcons and Coleman was a great starter for the Jets for three out of his four seasons there. Hutchins is also an underrated nickel corner in the league who quietly makes some big plays. He could probably be upgraded to play #2 CB in a pinch. 

WR Berrian Signs With Vikings

In an unfortunate move for the Bears, Berrian ended up signing with division rival the Minnesota Vikings. They really need him though, but so did the Bears. Both teams have basically no proven starters at WR, except Berrian, between them. The Vikings' entire depth chart at WR has 20 starts in total over the last 3 seasons, spread over about 5 different players. 

Browns Sign WR Stallworth

The New England Patriots' receiver group took another hit today when Donte Stallworth signed with the Cleveland Browns. He's always had amazing speed, but his hands are somewhat suspect and he drops balls. I'd look for them to play him in the slot and stretch the field, hoping to improve his pass-catching so he can eventually replace Joe Jurevicius. 

Bills Trade for DT Stroud

Probably a good move here, my only concern would be that Stroud has missed 12 games over the last two seasons and is 30 years old. Also, he's never been as productive as he was during the 2002 - 2004 stretch in which he had 6.0, 4.5, and 4.5 sacks respectively. Since then, he has only totaled 6.5 sacks. He posted his best numbers for tackles during that 2002 - 2004 stretch as well. He is, nonetheless, a huge upgrade for Buffalo at DT, which has been a problem for them basically since they lost La'Roi Glover. 

I should also mention that the Jaguars are probably grooming replacement DT Derek Landri. He had a spectacular rookie season after filling in for Stroud while he was injured, and I particularly remember a great sack of his against Ben Roethlisberger during their playoff game. I think he's going to be something special. 

Jaguars Sign CB Florence

A long-time starter in San Diego, Florence lost his starting job midway through last season to Antonio Cromartie, who was drafted to replace him. He quietly and skillfully played nickel corner for the rest of the season despite the demotion and so is clearly a player of character. The other thing I like about this signing is that Florence can still be a very effective #2 CB in this league and Rashean Mathis finally has someone to play across from. Florence will compete with Brian Williams in training camp for the starting job, and the loser will be the nickel corner. 

49ers Sign DE Justin Smith

So you can tell that the 49ers know a lot of people are going to get fired if they don't win this season. They signed Justin Smith to a 6 year, 45 million dollar deal. This is a really good hire for them since Smith has the strength, ability, and size to take on Guards when pass rushing, and that's going to be important for him in the 3-4. I think that at times his performance was hurt by the fact that he's not the fastest DE out there and has trouble getting from the edge of the line to the QB in a hurry. There might be something to be said for the fact that if the 49ers don't play well next season he may decide to take some snaps off since he's now signed long-term... but I think he'll have at least 2 or 3 dominant seasons in San Francisco. 

Dolphins Rehauling Roser

For obvious reasons. Over the last two days, in addition to the ones already reported, the Dolphins have hired the following Free Agents:

Ernest Wilford WR

Michael Lehan CB

Randy Starks DT

Sean Ryan TE

David Kircus WR

Already Reported:

Josh McCown QB

Justin Smiley RG

Reggie Torbor LB

Parcells isn't exactly sitting on his roster. He's also employing a very interesting strategy that the Bucs used to great effect last season, which is to pick up a lot of former first round picks (Randy Starks) and other players who used to be successful (Kircus) to upgrade the talent pool of his team.