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 (Panthers, via trade); OL Damien Woody (Lions); LB Calvin Pace (Cards); and sleeper RB Jesse Chatman (Miami). Alan and Tony were All-Pros last season. In my opinion, both are the best at their positions. Calvin will be a monster in the Jets’ 3-4 scheme. And Jesse might produce better numbers than Michael Turner in Atlanta in ‘08. I compare the two because both were backups awaiting starting roles. His 124 rushing yards against the Bills and 10.4 ypc against the Pats (both in losses) last season were not flukes.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

N.Y. Jets Top List of Free Agency Winners

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 a player who has produced at a high level in this League when given the opportunity. We think he’s ready to take the next step and have a more prominent role in an offense and we are happy he decided that opportunity is going to be here in Atlanta.”

He’s ready, alright. Michael hasn’t been “the guy” since his senior season at Northern Illinois where in 2003, he left NIU ranked 13th on the NCAA’s all-time rushing list with 4,941 yards. His first four years in the NFL have mostly been spent behind all-world RB LaDainian Tomlinson. When he did get his opportunities, however, he made the most of them and showed the rest of the NFL what he could do if given the chance. And now the Atlanta Falcons are giving him that chance.

This is perfect timing for Michael. Clearly, Warrick Dunn is nearing the end of his great career. Warrick’s been in the league 12 years and really can’t be counted on as anything more than a third down back, if that. So, Michael Turner has a new home and should do very well if the Falcons can get him the necessary supporting cast. Ok, I guess that’s where it gets tricky.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Michael Turner Lands With Atlanta Falcons

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 in the NFL last season. Thomas will not only have to plow a path for Adrian Peterson (like he did for Brian Westbrook), he’ll have to occasionally catch the ball, something TR did quite well when asked to.
• Minnesota added 26-year-old former Cincinnati Bengals free safety Madieu Williams. Madieu is very solid at his position with good cover skills (he came into the NFL four years ago as a cornerback). He had 74 tackles, two picks and two sacks in 13 games last season.
• The Vikings wooed and won over former Chicago Bears WR Bernard Berrian who was considered by many the second best wideout in this free agency class behind Randy Moss. B2 had a breakout season in ‘07 with, by far, the best numbers of his four-year career — 71 catches for 951 yards. Minnesota desperately needs help at the receiver position. They finished dead last in receptions last season. Now with Bernard on one side and the exciting Sidney Rice on the other — plus speedy WR/KR Aundrae Allison — the Vikings have a young and talented group to help take the pressure off the ground game.

Minnesota has not yet addressed their need for a defensive end who can apply pressure on the quarterback. They wanted to bring former Bengals DE Justin Smith in for an interview but he negotiated with the 49ers and never left San Francisco. Titans DE Antwan Odom is a great candidate. Despite his injury history, I still like Jevon Kearse, who is also available. Jags DE Bobby McCray is also out there. Sure the Vikes have a herd of players that could fill this pass-rushing role. They’ve addressed the need in previous Drafts, but none have proven, for one reason or another, that they are capable of the role yet — namely Erasmus James, Ray Edwards and Kenechi Udeze (who is now battling leukemia). The verdict is still out on Jayme Mitchell and Brian Robison.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Minnesota Vikings Active in Free Agency, Bernard Berrian Fills Need at Wide Receiver

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 IR. He missed the final three games after re-injuring his surgically repaired right ankle, the same injury that hampered him at the end of the ‘06 season. He also served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He acknowledged taking supplements to help recover from the ankle operation. While it seemed like an honest mistake, the only real answer with supplements is to take the product in question to your team doctor for an official ok before using it.

If Marcus can stay healthy and out of trouble (yes, taking banned substances counts as being in trouble), he’ll be a force in the middle of the Bills’ D-line that should enable defensive ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay to flourish. If the Bills played their cards right, that’s exactly what will happen.

In addition to Marcus, the Bills added former Minnesota Vikings DT Spencer Johnson with a five-year deal. Spencer was not really a standout for the Vikes (he played behind Pat and Kevin Williams), but he did manage to play in every game last season, recording 24 tackles and three sacks. If nothing else, he learned the position from two of the best. The Bills will also rotate John McCargo (probably the starter opposite Marcus) and Kyle Williams.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bills Get Marcus Stroud in Trade With Jags, Free Agent Spencer Johnson Also Added

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 likely join Angelo Crowell and Paul Posluszny in the starting lineup for Buffalo. John DiGiorgio, who started much of last season at LB because of injuries, and Keith Ellison should also play key roles, but look for the Bills to add more depth.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Buffalo Bills Sign Linebacker Kawika Mitchell

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 Minnesota. The Vikings drafted him hoping his elite speed would make up for their loss of Randy Moss, but he simply couldn’t hang on to the football a lot of the time. Even after an offseason of specialized work (and from what I hear, a lot of it), Troy couldn’t pull it together with only 18 catches for 240 yards in ‘07. The straw that finally broke the camel’s back was in the Vikes’ final regular season game at Denver when Troy had slipped some 20 yards behind the Broncos defensive secondary and dropped a simple catch from QB Tarvaris Jackson that would’ve resulted in an easy touchdown. The Vikings lost the game and missed the playoffs. Jacksonville would’ve done better to avoid Troy and select a wide receiver with their 6th round pick.

Jerry Porter brings veteran leadership to the Jags and should have a number of years left in his career. He’s only 29-years-old despite having been in the league eight seasons already. Amidst revolving quarterbacks last season in Oakland, he managed a respectable 44 catches and six touchdowns. The Jags have suffered through several years of not really having a “go-to” wide receiver (not since the great Jimmy Smith). With Jerry Porter they get that plus enough speed to stretch the field.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Jacksonville Jaguars Add Wide Receivers, Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson Inked

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 the wings so either way, Cleveland was covered. Had Derek signed with another team, the Browns would have had a week to match that offer, but GM Phil Savage indicated the team likely would have let Derek go and receive first- and third-round picks in April’s Draft as compensation. As it stands, Cleveland has two quality QBs heading into the 2008 season. But who starts?

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Derek Anderson Re-Signs With Browns

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 only has 13 career sacks. Plus, he’s damaged goods coming off an ACL tear that limited him to seven games last season.

This is an insane deal. What it will do is raise the bar significantly for other (hopefully better) defensive tackles to get huge deals. Good for DTs, yes. But bad for the other 31 teams who are hating the Raiders right now and will have to match or beat this kind of money for a quality defensive tackle.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Raiders Sign Tommy Kelly to Richest Defensive Tackle Contract in NFL History

What causes a team to release a player that another team may covet? That’s easy. Roster bonuses and huge base salaries for 2007. And lack of production. Today was especially busy as press release announcements were rolling into my email inbox throughout the day. Some of the more noteworthy cuts included Jamal Lewis (Ravens); Brian Simmons (Bengals); Ross Verba (Lions); Eric Moulds, Seth Payne and Zach Wiegart (Texans); Brad Johnson (Vikings); Ernie Conwell (Saints); Derrick Blaylock and Bobby Hamilton (Jets); Dexter Coakley and Adam Timmerman (Rams); and Christian Fauria (Redskins).

Probably the most surprising of these names is Jamal Lewis. According to BaltimoreRavens.com, however, the team wants to resign him sometime in the off-season. That is if no other team gets to him first. By observing what the Colts did this past offseason in letting Edgerrin James go and basking in the success of rookie Joseph Addai, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Ravens cut ties with Lewis and found a suitable replacement in April’s Draft. The aforementioned Ravens Web site is already talking-up Louisville RB Michael Bush.

Certainly, more cuts are coming in the next 24 hours. Among those expected to be released is Indianapolis Colts WR Brandon Stokley. If that happens, he will be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market, especially because there aren’t many big names on the WR list.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Cuts Add to Free Agent Market