McTucket
03-06-2006, 08:12 PM
Attractive Free Agents Will Be Available Despite Chaos
Ten Players Stand Out Even Before Owners, Players Sort Out Labor Deal
By IRA MILLER
These are 10 of the most attractive free agents who will be available -- that is, whenever the league and the NFL Players Association either agree on an extension, or agree that there's no point in further pursuing an extension, and allow the free agent period to begin. At the moment, that's scheduled for Thursday.
1. Drew Brees, San Diego quarterback
It's almost unheard of for an in-his-prime quarterback, coming off two successive top-notch seasons, to be on the free agent list. But because Brees required shoulder surgery after the season and the Chargers have Philip Rivers waiting in the wings, they opted not to use the franchise tag on Brees again.
The injury is not considered career-threatening, and Brees is expected to be ready for the start of the 2006 season. The only question, at least in the minds of some, is what the last two years really foretell about Brees' future. Perhaps once is a fluke, but two years in a row is pretty solid evidence. Miami should be a player here.
2. Adam Vinatieri, New England kicker
A kicker as one of the most-sought free agents? He certainly should be. Vinatieri, whose end-of-game field goals won two Super Bowls, is money in the clutch, he is used to kicking in all kinds of horrid weather in New England, and he's just 33, which is only middle age for a kicker. It was surprising that the Patriots chose not to franchise him for a second season.
There are several teams that could use a kicker of Vinatieri's skills and the one that comes to mind first is Dallas, which employed three kickers in 2005, one of them twice, and lost three games by three points or fewer while ranking 30th in the league in field goal percentage.
3. Trevor Pryce, Denver defensive end
Pryce's sack total fell off, to four, last season, but some of that could have been just a hangover from 2004, when he missed all but two games due to injury. He'll be 31 in August, so he should have some mileage left. He's a versatile, high-energy player. Pryce would be a good addition for at least two of Denver's defensively-challenged AFC West rivals, Kansas City and Oakland.
4. Josh McCown, Arizona quarterback
This is an intriguing player who looked good at times with a bad Cardinals team but fell victim to Dennis Green's constant quarterback shuffling. He's a risk, granted, but he's young and should just be coming into his prime. A quarterback-needy team should give McCown a shot and take a long look at him. New Orleans, moving away from Aaron Brooks, is one that comes to mind.
5. Julian Peterson, San Francisco linebacker
Peterson suffered an Achilles injury in 2004 and still seemed to be showing some of the effects when he returned in 2005. His play fell off and he was never the dominant playmaker last year that he had been earlier in his career. Of course, some of that could be due to the abject lack of talent around him, too. Peterson would be an ideal fit with one of the increasing number of teams that now play a 3-4 defense.
6. Rocky Bernard, Seattle defensive tackle
Bernard picked a good year to have a breakout season in 2005, his fourth year in the NFL. His eight and a half sacks were second most among interior linemen in the NFL. He's solid against the run, he has no injury history and he'll be just 27 when the 2006 season begins. There are up to a dozen teams that he could help but Cincinnati, which desperately needs to upgrade its interior defense, should be hot after him.
7. Edgerrin James, Indianapolis running back
It's always risky to sign a relatively high-use running back late in his career, and James is that. But he ran for 1,506 yards in 2005, and he'll be just 28 in the fall, so he ought to have a couple of good years left. Shaun Alexander's new deal in Seattle will help James because it takes another stud back off the market. James would seem to be an ideal fit in Arizona, which is moving into a new stadium and has plenty of receivers to share the offensive load with him.
8. Antwaan Randle El, Pittsburgh wide receiver
The history of wide receivers in free agency is not particularly encouraging; in the years since free agency began, many teams have tried and failed to make someone else's No. 2 guy into their No. 1, all the way back to Tampa Bay's fascination with Alvin Harper of Dallas. But Randle El might be an exception to that trend of failure because his versatility adds a dimension. Pittsburgh will try hard to keep him, but he seems like he'd be particularly attractive to a team that has an established No. 1 but could use another receiver. Carolina, Green Bay and Chicago seem to be possibilities.
9. Sam Madison, Miami cornerback
A four-time Pro Bowl corner, Madison, who made just two interceptions during the last two years is clearly on the downside of his career. But, of course, that's the reason he's available; if he were still in his prime, the Dolphins would have been eager to keep him. At the right price, you'd have to think he's the kind of player that New England has been bringing in for years. He can still play a role.
10. Jon Runyan, Philadelphia offensive tackle
He's a 10-year veteran and will turn 33 during the season, so Runyan obviously is not a long-term solution for anyone. But he's also the best tackle on the market, and we saw what that meant last year when San Francisco overpaid to sign Jason Jennings away from Buffalo. Runyan could be a building block for a team that's desperate for linemen.
Ten Players Stand Out Even Before Owners, Players Sort Out Labor Deal
By IRA MILLER
These are 10 of the most attractive free agents who will be available -- that is, whenever the league and the NFL Players Association either agree on an extension, or agree that there's no point in further pursuing an extension, and allow the free agent period to begin. At the moment, that's scheduled for Thursday.
1. Drew Brees, San Diego quarterback
It's almost unheard of for an in-his-prime quarterback, coming off two successive top-notch seasons, to be on the free agent list. But because Brees required shoulder surgery after the season and the Chargers have Philip Rivers waiting in the wings, they opted not to use the franchise tag on Brees again.
The injury is not considered career-threatening, and Brees is expected to be ready for the start of the 2006 season. The only question, at least in the minds of some, is what the last two years really foretell about Brees' future. Perhaps once is a fluke, but two years in a row is pretty solid evidence. Miami should be a player here.
2. Adam Vinatieri, New England kicker
A kicker as one of the most-sought free agents? He certainly should be. Vinatieri, whose end-of-game field goals won two Super Bowls, is money in the clutch, he is used to kicking in all kinds of horrid weather in New England, and he's just 33, which is only middle age for a kicker. It was surprising that the Patriots chose not to franchise him for a second season.
There are several teams that could use a kicker of Vinatieri's skills and the one that comes to mind first is Dallas, which employed three kickers in 2005, one of them twice, and lost three games by three points or fewer while ranking 30th in the league in field goal percentage.
3. Trevor Pryce, Denver defensive end
Pryce's sack total fell off, to four, last season, but some of that could have been just a hangover from 2004, when he missed all but two games due to injury. He'll be 31 in August, so he should have some mileage left. He's a versatile, high-energy player. Pryce would be a good addition for at least two of Denver's defensively-challenged AFC West rivals, Kansas City and Oakland.
4. Josh McCown, Arizona quarterback
This is an intriguing player who looked good at times with a bad Cardinals team but fell victim to Dennis Green's constant quarterback shuffling. He's a risk, granted, but he's young and should just be coming into his prime. A quarterback-needy team should give McCown a shot and take a long look at him. New Orleans, moving away from Aaron Brooks, is one that comes to mind.
5. Julian Peterson, San Francisco linebacker
Peterson suffered an Achilles injury in 2004 and still seemed to be showing some of the effects when he returned in 2005. His play fell off and he was never the dominant playmaker last year that he had been earlier in his career. Of course, some of that could be due to the abject lack of talent around him, too. Peterson would be an ideal fit with one of the increasing number of teams that now play a 3-4 defense.
6. Rocky Bernard, Seattle defensive tackle
Bernard picked a good year to have a breakout season in 2005, his fourth year in the NFL. His eight and a half sacks were second most among interior linemen in the NFL. He's solid against the run, he has no injury history and he'll be just 27 when the 2006 season begins. There are up to a dozen teams that he could help but Cincinnati, which desperately needs to upgrade its interior defense, should be hot after him.
7. Edgerrin James, Indianapolis running back
It's always risky to sign a relatively high-use running back late in his career, and James is that. But he ran for 1,506 yards in 2005, and he'll be just 28 in the fall, so he ought to have a couple of good years left. Shaun Alexander's new deal in Seattle will help James because it takes another stud back off the market. James would seem to be an ideal fit in Arizona, which is moving into a new stadium and has plenty of receivers to share the offensive load with him.
8. Antwaan Randle El, Pittsburgh wide receiver
The history of wide receivers in free agency is not particularly encouraging; in the years since free agency began, many teams have tried and failed to make someone else's No. 2 guy into their No. 1, all the way back to Tampa Bay's fascination with Alvin Harper of Dallas. But Randle El might be an exception to that trend of failure because his versatility adds a dimension. Pittsburgh will try hard to keep him, but he seems like he'd be particularly attractive to a team that has an established No. 1 but could use another receiver. Carolina, Green Bay and Chicago seem to be possibilities.
9. Sam Madison, Miami cornerback
A four-time Pro Bowl corner, Madison, who made just two interceptions during the last two years is clearly on the downside of his career. But, of course, that's the reason he's available; if he were still in his prime, the Dolphins would have been eager to keep him. At the right price, you'd have to think he's the kind of player that New England has been bringing in for years. He can still play a role.
10. Jon Runyan, Philadelphia offensive tackle
He's a 10-year veteran and will turn 33 during the season, so Runyan obviously is not a long-term solution for anyone. But he's also the best tackle on the market, and we saw what that meant last year when San Francisco overpaid to sign Jason Jennings away from Buffalo. Runyan could be a building block for a team that's desperate for linemen.