Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
We’re only ten days into the 2008 free agency signing period so I hesitate to hand out awards, but I’m on a “Best of…” assignment and there are several teams (namely Minnesota, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Buffalo) who have already strongly upgraded their rosters. The N.Y. Jets, however, have been the best of the bunch.
The Jets seemed determined to get things moving in the right direction by going on a shopping spree. They’ve already spent over $120 million with the additions of OL Alan Faneca (Steelers); FB Tony Richardson (Vikings); DT Kris Jenkins …read more

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Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
Former San Diego Chargers RB Michael Turner doesn’t have to play the backup role anymore. Michael signed a six-year, $34.5 million contract (with $15 million guaranteed) to be the number one running back for the Atlanta Falcons today. This will be a perfect fit for new ATL head coach Mike Smith’s hard-nosed, run-first offense. Michael will team with speedster Jerious Norwood in the Falcons’ backfield to instantly give the Falcons some much-needed playmaking ability. Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said:
“We are pleased to be able to add a very talented running back and …read more

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Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
The Minnesota Vikings have been very active early in this free agency signing period, adding three projected starters in the first two days.

The Vikings found a replacement for free agent All-Pro FB Tony Richardson by signing Thomas Tapeh from Philadelphia. Thomas is a native of Minnesota and was a running back for the Golden Gophers in college at the University of Minnesota. I think T2 is a great pickup, but I feel it’s a mistake to let Tony Richardson go. He was a big reason the Vikes had the best running game …read more

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Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
The Buffalo Bills fulfilled more of their defensive needs today by acquiring former Jacksonville Jaguars DT and three-time Pro Bowler Marcus Stroud in exchange for their 3rd and 5th round Draft picks this year.
While I like what Marcus brings to the Bills as a potential double-team magnet, I’m not sure sacrificing two Draft picks was such a good idea when you consider his age, physical condition and recent suspension. Marcus will be 30 years old when the 2008 season starts and he’s coming off a troubled 2007 that he finished on …read more

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Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The Buffalo Bills added a Super Bowl XLII champion to their roster today. Former N.Y. Giants LB Kawika Mitchell signed a five-year, $17.5 million deal ($3.5 guaranteed) with the Bills today. This is a great move for Buffalo. Kawika really came into his own as a linebacker in the Giants aggressive, attacking scheme this past season. He started all 16 games and had 87 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception, which he ironically returned for a touchdown against the Bills in the second to last game of the ‘07 season. He’ll most …read more

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Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The Jacksonville Jaguars added free agent wide receiver Jerry Porter from Oakland (six years, $30 million) and traded their 6th round Draft pick (this year) for former Minnesota Vikings wideout Troy Williamson today in an attempt to boost their passing game. Half of the equation will work.
While I like the addition of Jerry Porter — he’ll quickly become the Jags’ number one receiving option — I really don’t like what Troy Williamson brings to the team. He proved to be a first-round (7th overall selection in 2005) bust after three years in …read more

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Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Cleveland Browns QB Derek Anderson wasn’t a free agent for long. After turning down a three-year, $20 million deal from the Browns before the free agency signing period began this morning, Derek agreed to a multi-year deal with the team today. Why he waited a couple of hours beyond the deadline is beyond me. Apparently, there was some interest from another team(s) in order for him to turn the deal down in the first place, but he did a quick about-face and stayed with the Browns. Cleveland has Brady Quinn waiting in …read more

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Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The Oakland Raiders are out of their minds. On this eve of free agency, the Raiders signed defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to an NFL-record seven-year, $50.5 million contract. A little over $18 million is guaranteed.
Some of you may be wondering who Tommy Kelly is. He’ll be entering his 5th season with the Raiders out of Mississippi State (he was originally signed as an undrafted free agent), but he hasn’t exactly lit up the league. Tommy’s a decent run-stopper with some pass rushing ability, but he’s far from an elite DT. He …read more

Every year at the NFL Scouting Combine, I look forward to receiving a folder of information from the National Football League Players Association. One of the items inside that folder is the listing of projected free agents. I enjoy thumbing through it to see who will be available on the open market and then matching team needs with who should be available. With the start of free agency just two days away, the action is heating up. Teams are releasing players they deem dispensable and resigning those they don’t want to get away.
What causes a team to release a player …read more