Let's Go (Free Agent) Shopping! posted by Amari Harris

Shopping for free agents in the NFL is not much different from shopping for groceries at the grocery store.  You must make your grocery list based on what you need, while keeping an eye out for great deals.  You want to avoid overpaying for something that you either don’t need or won’t be satisfied with.  You need to keep you eye out for dropping prices.  It is also essential that you stay away from flawed products that have disappointed in the past.  These are all keys to being a smart shopper in the NFL free agent market. 

So who in the league is getting the best bargains, and who is pulling a “Dan Snyder” and just buying  the shiniest new toy?  Well, that is a much more difficult question in the 2010 off-season than it has been in the past.  Even Dan Snyder has reeled it in a bit, and hired some expert shoppers in Bruce Allen and Mike Shannahan.  Despite speculation that an uncapped season would bring on a spending frenzy the likes we have never seen, NFL ball clubs are actually being more cautious with their financial decisions. 

The uncapped year has seen several teams cut high priced veterans to accelerate the guaranteed portions of their contracts to this year, so they are not as limited in their ability to sign players the following year.  Teams are also putting their guys on “lay away” by putting restricted free agent (RFA) tenders on any of their players whose contracts are up and have less than 6 accrued years in the NFL.  These tenders mean that teams have ultimate leverage because if another team wants to sign that player then they would have to give up a draft pick, and the tendering team doesn't feel the pressure to sign that player to a long term contract.  So you can essentially have that player play for half a season or a even a full season before you decide to pony up the rest of the money for your RFA (hence, lay away).  Either way, it seems that most NFL teams are saying and doing all the right things to improve their teams at this juncture.  Still, there have been some good moves and some bad moves, and now that the first week of free agency is coming to a close it is time to evaluate what the GMs and owners are doing.

Odrick Isn't Seymour posted by Mike Dussault

The three months in between the end of the season and the draft always seem to drag out until you've done so much  research and seen so many mock drafts you tend to get attached to certain guys and lose sight of who the best player for your draft slot really is.

Lately most of Patriots Nation seems to be trending toward Penn State's Jared Odrick as good fit for the Patriots at the 22nd overall slot, especially with the departure of Jarvis Green to Denver. Odrick seems to have the size and intangibles to make a good 5-techinque, a position that Jarvis Green was ill fit for when he was thrust into it following the trade of Richard Seymour.

DE is a position of need and Odrick is by all accounts a great kid who loves football and competes on every down. Sounds like a perfect fit right? As recently as yesterday he was my number one target. However last night my opinion began to sway a bit.

I re-watched this year's Senior Bowl focusing solely on Odrick and I came away thinking he was just okay. Now yes, he was playing in a 4-3 defense in this game,  and his responsibilities were different than they would be playing in the Patriots 3-4, but to me Odrick didn't look like a first rounder.

Both Brandon Graham, and Dan Williams both looked like better players to me. Impact players who were constantly making plays. Odrick was blockable. Not to say he stood out in a bad way, but if you're thinking he's the next Richard Seymour you're going to be disappointed.

It's easy to look at Seymour's dimensions, see Odrick as a close fit, and pencil him into the starting lineup. But I think that far exceeds reality. In fact now I am starting to lean back towards Brandon Graham, Jerry Hughes and Dan Williams over Odrick, if only because it seems to me they bring more of what the Patriots lack most: playmakers.

Can't Keep Them All posted by Randolph Charlotin

While the current tally for New England during free agency doesn’t include DE Julius Peppers or WR Anquan Boldin, I’d say the Pats are having a decent off-season. The only free agent they signed, LB Marques Murrell, isn’t a marquee free agent. But the Patriots had success keeping their free agents.

Of the 15 free agents, six I absolutely wanted back: LB Tully Banta-Cain, CB Leigh Bodden, RB Kevin Faulk, K Stephen Gostkowski, OG Logan Mankins, and NT Vince Wilfork. Of those six, three re-signed. And OG Stephen Neal re-signed as well, which is a bonus.

Most recently Bodden unexpectedly came back. He was wooed by Houston but ultimately returned for four years, $22.5 million. So Bodden got the payday he was searching for and remains on a playoff-caliber team, something that wasn’t guaranteed with the rising Texans.

Now, of course, there is no way the Pats could keep everybody. The first departure is DE Jarvis Green to Denver for four years and $20 million.

I wish Green the best of luck, unless he’s playing against the Pats, of course. But I maintain that the Pats could do better than Green.

Jarvis had a great eight years with the Pats, but for the last two years, Green hasn’t been the same player. In years past, he was the pass rush specialist on the D-line, substituting on passing downs.

He was tremendous in 2006 and 2007, as he totaled 14 sacks. But since then Green’s production dropped to three sacks in the last two years.

Green’s role changed in ’09 as he became a starter once DE Richard Seymour was traded. And Jarvis was good enough at holding the point of attack and playing the run. But he was unable to get to the quarterback, and for that he lost value. The Pats could had used more sacks, but Green only had one in 13 games played.

Pro Football Focus' Rankings of the 2009 Patriots Defense posted by Mike Dussault

I came upon a website today that breaks down every play of the NFL season and awards grades to each player accordingly: www.profootballfocus.com. What you get is an expansive database, with hard numerical data ranking player performance. While fans never get to break down the game film or know exactly how the coaches are grading out the players, this is a good resource with some really interesting stuff. I won't challenge their method or their football credentials, rather I looked at each player on the 2009 Patriots defense and found their season rankings. Here's the list from best to worst:

1. Tully Banta Cain: 21.8
2. Vince Wilfork: 9.6
3. Leigh Bodden: 6.8
4. Brandon Meriweather: 5.0
5. Ty Warren: 3.9
6. Rob Ninkovich: 3.4
7. Patrick Chung: 1.8
8. Shawn Springs: 1.7
9. Junior Seau: .8
10. James Sanders: -1.4
11. Myron Pryor: -1.7
12. Terrence Wheatley: -1.9
13. Derrick Burgess: -2.2
14. Gary Guyton: -2.2
15. Mike Wright: -3.8
16. Jerod Mayo: -3.5
17. Ron Brace: -4.2
18. Brandon McGowan: -4.4
19. Darius Butler: -5.1
20. Adalius Thomas: -8.5
21. Jonathan Wilhite: -9.6
22. Jarvis Green: -14.1

So what can we take from this? As a Patriots fan much of how the rankings played out rang true to me. The following ideas were reinforced by the data:

• Jarvis Green was out of position as a starting 5-technique in the 3-4 base desfense.
• Jonathan Wilhite was consistently attacked and exploited.
• Adalius Thomas was ineffective, even when used as a pass rusher as he was against Indy.

ReBuilding The New England Patriots Defense posted by Mike Dussault

Many Patriots fans seem to still be under the delusion that their defense is a mere pass rusher away from returning to an elite, Super Bowl-caliber squad. The reality is that the Patriots defense began a full on rebuild in 2009, making the AFC East title they won even more impressive considering it was done with such a young and inconsistent defense.

The core leadership of the early Super Bowl defenses, like Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, and Rodney Harrison was born of playoff disappointment early in their careers, just as this season's playoff loss will be a building block for young leaders like Jerod Mayo and Brandon Meriweather.

So what are the biggest holes to fill? I believe that the number one need for this team right now is a right defensive end to replace Richard Seymour. For all the talk about the Pats lack of pressure on the passer, it was the run defense that was most lacking in the playoff loss. Stopping the run must be first and foremost for any defense and the Patriots lacked a starting quality 5-techinique in 2009.

Jarvis Green is better suited as an inside pass rusher. Mike Wright is a solid player, but far from an impact defender. Defensive Ends in the 3-4 defense must be mountains of men, who can tie up multiple blockers while holding their ground. These players are hard to find, as evidenced by the fact that both Seymour and Ty Warren were 1st round picks.

That is why I'm taking a long hard look at Jared Odrick at the 22nd spot in the draft. Odrick has the size, but we're still unsure if he has the strength necessary as a 5-technique.

And on the 4th Day of Free Agency the Jets & Dolphins Apparently Passed the Patriots.... posted by Mike Dussault

Free Agency just started on Friday, and the Jets and Dolphins have both made significant moves while the Patriots have stuck to signing their own guys, and it's become a popular article around the interwebs whether these moves have dethroned New England as the AFC East favorites.

First of all, Miami and New York should be doing whatever they can do to pass the Patriots this year. No one realized it heading into last year but 2009 was the year Bill Belichick had to begin rebuilding his defense. He realized it at the end of training camp and unloaded Richard Seymour to Oakland. But the Patriots are well suited for the rebuild that is ahead of them.

Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork will be the centerpieces of the new defense. And will 4 picks in the first two rounds of this years draft, as well as 2 1st-rounders in next years, the Patriots are in position to add a lot of quality players in the next two seasons. Meaning if you're going to beat the Patriots you better do it now before all this talent is added and begins to gel.

That being said, while Miami and New York both added potential playmakers to their respective defenses, their offenses (the things that would exploit a young/inexperienced Patriot defense) remain fairly unthreatening. Not to say they aren't respectable but the loss of Thomas Jones for the Jets shouldn't be minimized, nor should Miami's continued lack of a dangerous passing game.

So let's all take a deep breath, there are still alot of Free Agents out there, mid-level veterans like those that the first Patriots dynasty were built on. We're clearly a long ways away from how the rosters will look on opening day, and there are still plenty of additions and subtractions for every team.

Quick Update posted by Randolph Charlotin

As soon as I turned off my laptop and turned on my tv, I learned the Patriots reached an agreement with OG Stephen Neal. While not an elite player at his position, he's been solid for the Pats for years at right guard. Now New England has to get Logan Mankins signed.

Meanwhile, in search for receiver help, Buffalo's Josh Reed is scheduled to visit Monday. He's an ideal slot receiver, but nothing more. He failed as a starter with the Bills and joining an organization like the Patriots won't provide him with more opportunities to do anything more than be a third option. But given a choice, I'd rather Reed over David Patten, whom the Patriots recently signed. No offense to what Patten did for the Pats in the past, but he's aging. I'd rather someone with more left in his career.

And CB Leigh Bodden apparently is drawing a lot of attention from Houston. After losing Dunta Robinson, they need to replace their top corner. Bodden might not be as good as Robinson, but Leigh can handle the responsibility that comes with being the left corner.

Cleveland Browns: Free Agency Begins... posted by Edward Stefanyak

So, free agency began last Thursday, and we signed no one.

Defensively, what are our needs? Many believe that we need a safety, a cornerback, and a linebacker who could put some pressure on the QB. So, what was or is out there?

As far as CBs, there aren't many A-listers. Maybe, that's why some teams, like the Jets, traded for one. However, there are some quality unrestricted FAs like Dunta Robinson, but he signed with the Falcons. Another FA is Leigh Bodden, but does he really want to come back to the Browns? The other FAs are either restricted, aging vets, or inconsistent players, such as Dre Bly, Nick Harper, and Ken Lucas. But, don't we have enough of those types of players?

As far as safeties, Antrel Rolle signed with the Giants. So, what's left? Would you take a flyer on Ryan Clark of the Steelers, an aging Darren Sharper, or an inconsistent Roy Williams, who last played for the Bengals? Ryan Clark seems to be an interesting find, especially if we steal him away from one of our division rivals. But once again, many of these FAs are restricted, aging, or inconsistent.

Lastly, Julius Peppers signed with the Bears. This one hurts because the Browns could have used this guy. This might be his last contract, but he's a proven player. The Browns did entertain Scott Fujita, LB from the Saints. I've seen video footage of this guy, and he can put pressure on the QB. Unfortunately, I haven't seen enough video on him, so I don't know he's the answer to our prayers. Other LBs available, who are not restricted, include the following: June Cato, Jason Taylor, Larry Foote, and Bertrand Berry. Some of these guys are listed as DE/LBs.

Bears open their wallets to sign marquee free agents posted by Joe Anello

As I tweeted during the opening hour of NFL free agency: "I'm not sure who's in the Bears front office right now, but I like him." A day and a half later, I stand by that statement. My Chicago Bears ended up going "hog wild" in free agency after all, signing defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna on Friday.

It was a complete departure from the norm for a Bears front office that is very particular about spending money on players it doesn't know. Anyone who says the Bears are cheap hasn't been paying attention. They shell out the money, but only for players they already have under contract. This year it was different. With no first or second round draft picks, Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith had to swing for the fences in free agency or they'd be on the chopping block for sure after the 2010 season. After a fantastic Friday, it's time to examine the moves the Bears made and how they improve the team going forward.

From left, Taylor, Peppers, Manumaleuna 

Julius Peppers: 6 years $91.5 million, $42 million guaranteed

As the best defensive end on the market, Peppers comes in and gives Chicago's defensive line instant pass rush, something they have lacked in recent years. What will really be evident is how his presence will affect the rest of the defensive line. No longer will the oft-injured Tommie Harris face constant double teams. If Peppers doesn't instantly command a double team, then he'll be on top of the opposing quarterback without question. Freeing up the likes of Harris, Alex Brown and Mark Anderson will be the trickle-down effect of Peppers' dominance off the edge. 

Home Takes Priority posted by Randolph Charlotin

Most fans dream of the free agents the Patriots can sign when open season starts. Usually those dreams don’t include the team’s free agents.

On an active opening day to free agency, the Patriots decided to take care of their own instead of shopping for new arrivals. They first re-signed OLB Tully Banta-Cain and later reached an agreement with NT Vince Wilfork.

The truth is, New England doesn't have to make a splash in free agency this year. They had to keep key players from leaving the Gillette Stadium pool.

Of New England’s 14 free agents, half of them I hope re-sign with the team. By retaining Banta-Cain and Wilfork, that leaves five I hope go nowhere: CB Leigh Bodden, RB Kevin Faulk, K Stephen Gostkowski, G Logan Mankins, and G Stephen Neal. As for everyone else (DE/LB Derrick Burgess, DE Jarvis Green, P Chris Hanson, LB Pierre Woods, RB Chris Taylor, and TE Ben Waston; LB Junior Seau retired) , the Pats can do better, although I would make an exception for Green.

Getting back to the headliners, by season’s end, I was doubtful the Pats would bring back TBC and Wilfork. I was convinced Vince wanted top dollar and NE wouldn’t meet that price. And Tully, on the strength of a 10-sack season, would sign a lucrative deal with another team.

But I have to give Banta-Cain credit. After the season, his only desire for a return was to be paid starter’s money. New England resigned him for three years at an average of just over $4 million per year. That seems like a bargain considering how much other pass rushers will get this off-season. For perspective, Detroit signed Tennessee DE Kyle Vanden Bosch for four years, $26 million (better than $6 mil per) after a three sack season.

Patriots agree to terms with Wilfork, top free-agent priority of the off-season (The Canadian Pr

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork has agreed to a long-term contract that will keep him with the New England Patriots. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Browns sign tight end Ben Watson to multi-year deal; spent six seasons with NE (The Canadian Pre

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Browns filled a gaping offensive hole, signing free agent tight end Benjamin Watson to a multi-year contract. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Agent: Tauscher, Packers agree to deal (AP)

Veteran Green Bay Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher has agreed to terms on a multiyear contract that will bring him back to the team, his agent said Sunday. Agent Neil Cornrich said the deal will allow Tauscher, who went to the University of Wisconsin, to play his entire football career in his home state. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Raiders get LB Wimbley from Browns (AP)

The Oakland Raiders bolstered their pass rush Sunday by acquiring former first-round pick Kamerion Wimbley from the Cleveland Browns for an undisclosed draft pick. Oakland senior executive John Herrera confirmed the deal, saying Oakland gave up a pick it had acquired in a previous deal. The Raiders had acquired a third-round pick from New England last summer in a deal for Derrick Burgess. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Tomlinson signs 2-year deal with Jets (AP)

LaDainian Tomlinson is bolting for the Big Apple. Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon, said Sunday that the New York Jets signed the former Chargers running back to a two-year contract. The Jets confirmed that they have agreed to a deal, adding the aging star to the NFL's top-ranked rushing offense last season. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports