2009 NFL Offseason Thread

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3939777

There better not be anything more than a 4th involved.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

2nd and a 5th I heard. What the f*** is wrong with these people?? You don't trade 2nd round picks for tight ends period, let alone after you just cut one quarter of your starting players and you're in rebuilding mode.

 

 

Sweet jesus.

[CrespoBlows]

I don't understand this move, either.

 

Winslow is only 25, but he's had a lot of surgery done, and I'm not sure he can last beyond age 30. They still need a RB, QB, WR, OLB, and some defensive line work.

 

Maybe they're shooting for 2010.

[Paradisecity]

2nd and a 5th I heard. What the f*** is wrong with these people?? You don't trade 2nd round picks for tight ends period

 

 

Well, as much as I personally agree with you, trading for and drafting tight ends high is exactly what Patriots management has done repeatedly over the past handful of years, and they seem to know what they are doing....

[Cocos Disciples]

Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs, hasn't been released who they're getting back.

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1155133

[CrespoBlows]

Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs, hasn't been released who they're getting back.

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1155133

 

Probably a 7th.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Well' date=' as much as I personally agree with you, trading for and drafting tight ends high is exactly what Patriots management has done repeatedly over the past handful of years, and they seem to know what they are doing....[/quote']

Because they're usually set at all other offensive positions, and they have a QB who knows how to get the ball to these guys.

 

The Bucs need a QB, a couple of running backs, a couple of receivers, and another tackle. The only positions they didn't have needs for are the interior line, fullback, and tight ends. Yet they go and waste a crucial draft pick to strengthen a fairly unimportant position that didn't need strengthening in the first place.

[See Red]

Washington Redskins. Big contracts, big expectations, mediocre results.

 

I'm having a hard time finding a link, but word is that Dawkins joined Correll Buckhalter and signed with the Broncos. Good signing, he's lost a step or two but he's still a very good safety in this league and brings leadership to the table. One of my favorite players, too. Glad to have Weapon X in Denver!

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/02/27/signings/index.html?eref=T1

 

 

If Ravens center-guard Jason Brown ends up signing with the Rams, and a deal is reportedly imminent according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, it's because Brown really didn't have any other big-money option.

 

I was told by an NFL source Friday that Brown doesn't really want to sign with the Rams -- he loves playing on the East Coast -- but they're offering him a contract worth $7 million a year, which is millions more annually than anyone else is willing to spend. Baltimore and Oakland both made Brown offers, but they were significantly lower than the Rams.

 

The Ravens didn't feel like Brown was worth getting to the pay level of guards such as Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson and Leonard Davis, who have all cashed in during free agency in recent years. I don't know exactly what Brown was offered by Baltimore, but suffice to say the Ravens took note of the four-year, $10 million contract that Jacksonville center Brad Meester agreed to Friday.

 

 

lol @ the Raiders. They give a small stimulus package to Asomugha, yet they won't pony up the cash to sign Brown, a player they really need? Fail.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Washington Redskins. Big contracts, big expectations, mediocre results.

 

I'm having a hard time finding a link, but word is that Dawkins joined Correll Buckhalter and signed with the Broncos. Good signing, he's lost a step or two but he's still a very good safety in this league and brings leadership to the table. One of my favorite players, too. Glad to have Weapon X in Denver!

Could one of the great Philadelphia Eagles of all-time be on the verge of jumping ship? Brian Dawkins, the Pro Bowl safety of the Eagles who has played more games with the team than any other player in franchise history, will be visiting the Denver Broncos Saturday, and I hear he is unhappy with the offer on the table from his longtime team.

 

In other words, this might not just be a trip to try to force the Eagles into upping their offer. It could be a trip to get a better contract, and if he does, don't be surprised if Dawkins, 35, accepts the offer from the Broncos or another team he may visit in the next few days.

 

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/02/27/signings/index.html?eref=T1

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

And per SI (its in that same link), Fred Taylor and the Patriots are getting close to a deal. CB Dominique Foxworth to the Ravens.

[mtbykr]

Dawkins to the Broncos per ESPN.....done deal

[mtbykr]

Collins re-ups with the Titans:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3940451

 

 

Gaffney to Broncos:

 

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/27/broncos-add-wr-gaffney-s-hill/

 

 

Vilma to the Saints:

 

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/27/saints-reach-agreement-with-vilma/

[mtbykr]

Apparently Scott wants to go back to Baltimore:

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/02/27/signings/index.html

 

 

The runaway linebacker

 

For my money, this Bart Scott saga is turning into the melodrama of the day. According to a Ravens official I just talked to, Scott's agent, Harold Lewis, indeed re-contacted Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome about Scott right before Newsome was heading off to attend the Domonique Foxworth news conference at Ravens headquarters.

The word is that Scott feels that Jets general manager Mike Tannebaum has "reneged'' on some part of the contract that Scott thought he had already agreed to, and now Scott is re-thinking his decision. It could be the guaranteed dollars in the first two years of the deal, or some other less important detail; my source doesn't know for sure. The bottom line is that Scott feels some promises that were made have not come to fruition in the fine print of the final contract.

 

The Ravens, for their part, are monitoring the situation and asking to be kept updated, but Newsome has not taken Lewis' bait and raised Baltimore's offer, which is firm at five years at $37.5 million, with $24 million in the first three years of the deal.

 

But here's the craziest part of this story: This has happened with Scott before, where he got a case of cold feet right before being faced with leaving Baltimore. In 2006, Scott, then a reserve linebacker for the Ravens, was making a free agent visit to Cleveland, where the general manager was then Phil Savage, the former Ravens personnel man. The Browns thought they had a deal done with Scott, but at the last minute he asked to use the bathroom and called Newsome from a men's room stall. He told Newsome he wanted to remain a Raven and asked for his best offer, and accepted it on the spot.

 

"You've heard of the runaway bride?'' the Ravens source said. "Bart's the runaway linebacker. He's done this before.''

 

So there you have it, up to the minute. Scott may be a Jet by the time you read this, or he may be speed-dialing Newsome back and returning to Baltimore. Maybe from the men's room of the Jets new team complex.

You can't make this stuff up.

 

-- Don Banks (4:20 p.m. ET)

 

Scott having change of heart?

 

Crazy stuff can happen on the first day of free agency. As we wrote earlier, Ravens linebacker Bart Scott has been on the verge of signing with the Jets most of the day, having agreed to terms. But agreed to terms is not signed, and sometimes that can make for a big difference.

 

According to a New York Daily News item this afternoon, Scott is making the Jets sweat out the contract agreement, having called Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome to give his old team a chance to match the Jets deal. Scott has been offered about $40 million over five years from New York, while the Ravens are said to have topped out at $37.5 million over five, but with $24 million in the first three years (for an average of $8 million over that span). The bizarre thing is that Scott, per the Daily News, is believed to be doing his last-minute negotiating with the Ravens from within the Jets facility, which if true, is kind of gutsy of him.

 

I just got off the phone with a Ravens official who had just come back from the Domonique Foxworth introductory news conference and wasn't buying the late Scott flip-flop story.

 

"I honestly don't think there's any truth to that,'' he said. "If it happened, it happened while the press conference was going on.''

 

-- D. Banks (3:08 p.m. ET)

[See Red]

Dawkins to Denver might be a bit premature, as someone close to him said it's not a done deal yet. I'm really hoping it gets done. As I mentioned earlier, he's been one of my favorite players for a few years now.

[CrespoBlows]

Bart Scott got the Jets to pony up $8 million more.

 

He's a Jet.

[TheKilo]

Jay Glazer was on Fox Sports Radio saying Dawkins to Denver is premature.

[See Red]

Jay Glazer was on Fox Sports Radio saying Dawkins to Denver is premature.

 

Yeah, that's what I'm hearing. Who initially broke the story? I hope it wasn't Chris Mortensen... that guy's constantly wrong.

[mtbykr]

Yeah' date=' that's what I'm hearing. Who initially broke the story? I hope it wasn't Chris Mortensen... that guy's constantly wrong.[/quote']

 

I was flipping channels and sportscenter had 'breaking news' (didn't say which one of their guys reported it) that Dawkins to Denver was a done 2 year deal.

 

 

 

Schefter is a solid source and he's saying it's not done:

 

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/27/buckhalter-arrington-to-denver-dawkins-not-done/

 

Contrary to published reports, free agent safety Brian Dawkins does not currently have a deal with the Broncos. However, he is en route to Denver. The Broncos do have agreements with running backs Correll Buckhalter and J.J. Arrington, according to the players’ agents.

[See Red]

When it comes to the NFL, Adam Schefter's the man I trust most. Chris Mortenson's the man I trust least.

 

It seems like Schefter is never wrong, so I'll take his word for it that the deal's not done. Man, I really hope this one gets done -- been a while since a Bronco's free agent signing has gotten me this excited!

 

However... "en route to Denver" as in probably going to sign with Denver or as in he's flying out to Denver to talk to the Broncos?

[riverside sluggers]

Interesting to see how the Pats will look like this coming season. Theyve lost number of coaches, their GM, Vrabel, dont really know who will be starting at QB the first game. Lonie Paxton and Jabar Gaffney are following McDaniels to Denver. I do like the Fred Taylor move though

 

EDIT:

Free agent CB Leigh Bodden left Foxboro without a deal.

His agent said the visit went "really well, however," and the sides will continue to talk over the weekend. Considering Bodden's history with Romeo Crennel's defense, he would be a great fit for the Pats.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

According to Schefter, the Pats are discussing a Matt Cassel trade with the Bucs. We would be giving a 1st and next year's 2nd to New England.

 

 

IMO, that's way too steep a price. No link BTW, just saw this on a Bucs forum I post at.

[BSN07]

The Patriots Defense is slow and Old. I have a ton of respect for what they have accomplished, but it's time to clean house and re-up.

 

The Taylor signing is nice insurance.

 

Gaffney will not be impossible to replace.

 

There clearing up space under the cap for sure. But Wilfork's deal is coming up shortly, so he will eat up most of that. Or he might be traded as well and replaced in the draft.

 

LB and S should be their top concerns come draft day, as it seems they are not likely to make and big splash on current FA players.

[BSN07]

I'm not sure who I see Cassell going too. KC, TB, Minn, SF are the teams I hear/read the most.

 

SF seems like an ideal fit to me. O'Sullivan and Smith are not the answer for their QB issues.

 

Minny just traded for Sage Rosenfels. Which is a horrible idea. Minny is not that far away from being a top contender in the NFC. But they screwed themselves last season with the T. Jackson debacle. Now they try and fix it with Rosenfels...

 

KC is a logical choice, but their 1st pick is really high, and I don't see the Pats wanting to give out that kind of coin to a rookie.

 

TB might be a good option, if they don't mind recieving part of their compensation next season.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

There clearing up space under the cap for sure. But Wilfork's deal is coming up shortly' date=' so he will eat up most of that. Or he might be traded as well and replaced in the draft.[/quote']

 

Do want in Tampa.

[riverside sluggers]

I'm not sure who I see Cassell going too. KC, TB, Minn, SF are the teams I hear/read the most.

 

SF seems like an ideal fit to me. O'Sullivan and Smith are not the answer for their QB issues.

 

Minny just traded for Sage Rosenfels. Which is a horrible idea. Minny is not that far away from being a top contender in the NFC. But they screwed themselves last season with the T. Jackson debacle. Now they try and fix it with Rosenfels...

 

KC is a logical choice, but their 1st pick is really high, and I don't see the Pats wanting to give out that kind of coin to a rookie.

 

TB might be a good option, if they don't mind recieving part of their compensation next season.

 

They can still trade for a lower pick on draft day

[TheKilo]

I'm not sure who I see Cassell going too. KC, TB, Minn, SF are the teams I hear/read the most.

 

SF seems like an ideal fit to me. O'Sullivan and Smith are not the answer for their QB issues.

 

Minny just traded for Sage Rosenfels. Which is a horrible idea. Minny is not that far away from being a top contender in the NFC. But they screwed themselves last season with the T. Jackson debacle. Now they try and fix it with Rosenfels...

 

KC is a logical choice, but their 1st pick is really high, and I don't see the Pats wanting to give out that kind of coin to a rookie.

 

TB might be a good option, if they don't mind recieving part of their compensation next season.

 

Shaun Hill had a really good 2nd half of the season for them.

[mtbykr]

The Patriots Defense is slow and Old. I have a ton of respect for what they have accomplished, but it's time to clean house and re-up.

 

The Taylor signing is nice insurance.

 

Gaffney will not be impossible to replace.

 

There clearing up space under the cap for sure. But Wilfork's deal is coming up shortly, so he will eat up most of that. Or he might be traded as well and replaced in the draft.

 

LB and S should be their top concerns come draft day, as it seems they are not likely to make and big splash on current FA players.

 

 

There are very few true 3-4 nose guards in the NFL that fit the BB system, and Wilfork is at the top of that list...so i highly doubt they will trade/replace him. I think they will get a deal done to keep him. They need to extend Seymore as well.

[mtbykr]

I'm not sure who I see Cassell going too. KC, TB, Minn, SF are the teams I hear/read the most.

 

SF seems like an ideal fit to me. O'Sullivan and Smith are not the answer for their QB issues.

 

SF seems pretty happy with Hill and are willing to give him a season to see where he can go. I doubt they would want to trade for Cassel at this point.

 

Minny just traded for Sage Rosenfels. Which is a horrible idea. Minny is not that far away from being a top contender in the NFC. But they screwed themselves last season with the T. Jackson debacle. Now they try and fix it with Rosenfels...

 

Terrible move, especially considering they said that they want to bring him in to compete with Jackson for the job....they are in the same boat they were last year, at a time when the pornstar needs to win to keep his job

 

KC is a logical choice, but their 1st pick is really high, and I don't see the Pats wanting to give out that kind of coin to a rookie.

 

The pats generally don't like high picks, but if they see someone they think can be a long term, high caliber fit for them...then stranger things have happened. (they had never drafted a LB high before last year and look how that turned out) Trading down on draft day is an option, but a risky one if they don't have someone they value highly to take in case it falls through.

 

TB might be a good option, if they don't mind recieving part of their compensation next season.

 

Tough to say, who knows what they are doing down there.....i was surprised with the Winslow move.

[jacksonianmarch]

LB Michael Boley to the Gmen. Good signing. For 2009, we likely move Kiwanuka back to OLB with Umenyiora and Tuck manning the DE spots. Having Boley as the other LB and Pierce in the middle would be nice.