The NFL free agency signing period opened yesterday with three of the biggest names on the list quickly signing with new teams. With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire at the end of the 2011 season and with 2010 expected to be played uncapped, it was the Bears, Giants and Dolphins showing no fear wading into the free agency waters and making a splash.
Peppers Highlights First Day Of Free Agent Signings
The Bears struck first with the biggest name on the market in Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers. With Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith and the executive team on the hot seat, the conservative Bears opened their wallets to save their own hides. Despite being on the north side of 30, Peppers was showered with a six-year deal worth up to $91.5 million, with $42 million guaranteed. Taking advantage of the uncapped season, the Bears loaded $20 million into the first season of the contract. The Bears were very busy yesterday, also signing Vikings RB Chester Taylor and San Diego TE Brandon Manumaleuna.
It’s do or die in the Windy City.
A similar atmosphere loomed in the Meadowlands yesterday, with the New York Giants scrambling to fill holes in a defense that went from being the best in the NFL to the worst in the NFL in the middle of one season. With gaping holes at linebacker and safety, the Giants will likely address these areas of need in both the free agency signing period and at the draft. With a treasure trove of linebackers in the draft, the Giants passed on Arizona LB Karlos Dansby and signed his teammate, S Antrel Rolle, fresh off his first Pro Bowl since converting from cornerback.
Rolle was released by the Cardinals last week in a salary dump move. Rolle was due a $3 million roster bonus as well as an $8 million salary for the final season of his contract. The Giants were quick to swoop in and pick up the top safety on the market and make him the highest paid safety in NFL history. The deal is a five-year contract worth $37 million, of which $15 million is guaranteed.
After losing out on Rolle, the Miami Dolphins targeted Dansby to fill the hole left by the departure of the talented malcontent LB Joey Porter. Dansby is the first change made under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to fix a defense that melted under pressure and caused the Dolphins to miss out on back-to-back playoff appearances. Dansby was awarded a five year deal worth $43 million, with $22 million guaranteed.
The first day of free agency was marked by defense, defense, defense. Outside of the Baltimore Raven’s trade for Anquan Boldin, very little news occurred on that side of the ball. Expect to see momentum pick up on offensive signings in the next few days.
With a looming lockout and potential uncapped season lying in front of the NFL and its players, the 2010 NFL free agency signing period will be one of the most unique in years. Teams will be unsure of who to go after and what type of contract they should offer. Players will be concerned with what looms in their future if a resolution between the players and league cannot be reached.
Owens Back On The Market
But one for thing is for sure, Jerry Jones is loving the jambalaya stew he’s cooked up with his greedy thirst to purchase his next Lombardi Trophy.
Here are some of the interesting highlights during this signing period:
Jason Campbell, QB Washington Redskins
The Redskins have a new coach and another new offensive system. Mike Shanahan knows how to develop a quarterback, so Jason Campbell could finally be in good hands. As a restricted free agent, it is likely that the Skins will tender him because there are no better options in the open market. Campbell has improved significantly over the last two years, although it has been overshadowed by poor coaching and personnel decisions. Expect the Skins to re-sign Campbell to a short-term agreement and draft Sam Bradford in the upcoming draft.
Chester Taylor, RB Minnesota Vikings
Here’s a guy your heart bleeds for. He was the Vikings’ big free agent signing in 2006, ran for a solid 1,216 yards and proved his worth. They go and draft Adrian Peterson and the rest is history. Taylor is probably the best running back in the NFL not starting or splitting duties at the RB position. At age 30, he likely has little left in the tank, but you really want to pull for this guy to get a nice contract which he deservedly earned. Hopefully he’ll get a chance for a few more carries in his next stop.
Terrell Owens, WR Buffalo Bills
Surprise, Surprise. T.O. is a free agent again. After one very underperforming season, the Buffalo Bills said adieu to everyone’s favorite malcontent. But don’t cry for T.O., there is a sucker born every minute and it appears that its John Harbaugh’s time to assume the position of village idiot. Expect T.O. to land in Baltimore very quickly.
Bobbie Williams, OL Cincinnati Bengals
This is the last guy Carson Palmer wants to see leave, but he might as well pack the bags for the guy who protects his hide. The Bengals proved this past season that if Palmer is healthy they are a team to be reckoned with. But given Williams’ perceived value in the open market, it is unlikely that Cincy will be able to afford to bring him back.
Julius Peppers, DL Carolina Panthers
It is very unlikely that the Panthers will franchise Peppers for another season and pay him an exhorbitant one-year salary. And the rest of the league knows it. Already, Peppers is the top name in the free agency rumors mills. It is already swirling that the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles are interested. As good as Peppers has been, he is moving to the wrong side of thirty and it is unlikely that he can live up to the contract he will likely sign. His raw talent will make teams look past his inconsistency on the field and he’ll get one last big contract because a DL that can sack a QB is priceless.
Karlos Dansby, LB Arizona Cardinals
I realize Dansby has definitely started to slide back, but he is still under 30 and is the most high-profile LB at the position. And it doesn’t hurt that almost every other LB that is a free agent is restricted. Dansby’s unrestricted status will make him extremely appealing to teams not interested in having to give up a draft pick for simply signing him. It is unlikely Dansby will be back in Arizona as they re-tool their defense. Expect to see Dansby come East and land either with the New York Giants or Philadelphia Eagles.
Dunta Robinson, DB Houston Texans
Here’s one sure bet, Dunta Robinson wishes he could go back and reconsider his decision to sidestep training camp in a contract dispute like he did last season. Playing in a contract year, Robinson put up the worst stats of his career and became a liability on defense for the Texans. There no chance at all the Texans will franchise him, so he is jumping out of a plane without a parachute. Expect Robinson to languish on the free agency wire and be begging for a job.
Darren Sharper, DB New Orleans Saints
After being dumped by the Minnesota Vikings due to a poor 2008 season, the Saints took a chance on an aging safety with hopes that he had one more season left in him. What a signing! Not only did he have a season left in him, he single-handedly led the Saints defense to a Super Bowl championship, setting a record for interception yards in a season along the way. Unfortunately, the Saints have a lot a players to re-sign and Sharper will likely be the odd man out. Expect to see Sharper playing elsewhere in 2010.
Shayne Graham, K Cincinnati Bengals
Typically one of the most trustworthy kickers in the league, Graham hit rock bottom in his contract year. Early in the season, they cut his long-time long snapper Brad St. Louis after Graham went into a funk. Things improved and then came the playoffs. With his team in comeback mode, Graham missed a 28-yard field goal that took the wind out of the sails of his team and sent the fans heading to the gates. Kickers rarely survive after missing such a critical easy chip shot, so don’t expect Graham to be back in Cincy next year.
The Indianapolis Colts will be taking on the Baltimore Ravens tonight and try to win their first playoff game since 2006 when they defeated the Chicago Bears to win the Super Bowl in 2006. MVP Peyton Manning will face the Ravens tough and opportunistic defense. If the Colts do not come up big tonight, the MVP award will be little to Manning…
Manning had a great year and will lead his offense against a stout Ravens defense. I think he will manage the game and stay away from the early turnovers that gave the Ravens all the momentum lat week. Manning will manage and play far smarter than Brady did last week. On Manning’s mind is his last two playoff loses to San Diego. These loses will serve as incentive and keep Manning focused on nothing short of a victory tonight. He will not let the Colts lose tonight. This game will be very personal to him.
Peyton Manning needs a win tonight to avenge his last two playoff loses.
The Ravens are coming off a impressive 33-14 over the Patriots in New England last week. The Ravens intercepted Tom Brady three times and never looked back. This is what they will need to do tonight to beat Manning and the Colts. If the Ravens can get out to a early lead, they will have a great chance of winning. Joe Flacco only attempted 10 passes, and the Ravens got the running game going with Ray Rice. Getting turnovers, eatablishing the running is a great recipe to win a playoff game. The Ravens are also Road Warriors as they have won six games this decade. They are still lead by Ray Lewis and are not itimidated by any means tonight.
With everything considered, I have to pick the Colts. The Colts clinched everything early and have had time to get healthy and think about a playoff run. The Colts have been here before, lets see if they have learned something.Manning will be hungry to avenge his last two playoff loses–both big disappointments. A third loss would be a even bigger disappointment. Colts taste victory tonight.
Jay Cutler to Devin Aromashodu. Doesn’t really have the same ring to it as Joe Montana to Jerry Rice, but they performed like it as the Chicago Bears took a heartbreaker from the Minnesota Vikings with a 36-30 OT victory. The Chicago victory ensured home field advantage for the New Orleans Saints and the Vikings are now fighting with their backs up against the wall to secure a first round bye.
Vikings Fumble Away First Round Bye
Coming into the game, Aromashodu had just 12 catches for 102 yards for the entire season and just 19 over the course of his 4 year career. Aromashodu lit up the Minnesota defense for big plays with 7 catches for 150 yards, including the game-winning 39 yard catch in overtime.
The game winning drive was setup by another critical fumble by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Chicago linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer punched the ball out from behind, leading to the turnover. Peterson’s fumble was his sixth of the season, which leads all NFL running backs.
The overtime loss squandered a solid comeback by the Vikings offense after being down 23-6 in the third quarter. The Viking offense was flat once again, unable to put points on the board and looking listless once again. They exploded once Chicago went into a prevent defense allowing Favre to dump balls in under the coverage.
Despite the offensive comeback, the Vikings looked awful on the field again. The offensive line didn’t block, they didn’t convert third downs, the defensive line didn’t get pressure on the QB, the defensive backfield missed assignments and the special teams were awful. Very little positive to walk away and build upon.
With the loss, the Philadelphia Eagles now control their destiny for a first round bye. With a victory over Dallas, the Eagles clinch the bye. This is bad news for the Vikings who are undefeated at home, but just 4-4 on road. And that road record was aided by victories over Cleveland, St. Louis and Detroit…the three worst teams in the NFL.
If the Eagles win on Sunday, Brett Favre’s chances get slimmer and slimmer in getting back to the big game. While none of the NFC teams appear to be playing impressively at the moment, the Vikings are sitting at the bottom of the barrel.
The Minnesota Viking find themselves still with a shot at the #1 seed in the NFC playoff picture. This possibility is due to the big upset of the New Orleans Saints yesterday to the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Big Easy. We will see how the Vikings respond to this opportunity tonight in Chicago as they take on their fierce division rival “The Bears”. Chicago would love nothing better than to spoil this opportunity and keep the Vikings from any shot at securing that #1 spot.
Brett Favre and the Vikings still in the hunt for NFC's #1 Seed.
The Saints loss their opportunity to clinch the #1 seed with their overtime loss yesterday. They jumped out to a 17-0 lead three possessions into the game but never scored again. They missed a field goal at the end of regulation. The Saints have lost two in a row and appear to be playing flat football which makes this opportunity even more of a possibility. The Saints can still clinch the seed with a victory next week in Carolina. That is no gimme as Carolina is coming off two impressive victories over the Vikings and the Giants. The Vikings have a real shot.
The Vikings must look better tonight in Chicago. Last week they were listless in their 26-7 defeat to the Carolina Panthers. Brett Favre has not played well in recent weeks and needs to get the Viking ship headed in the right direction. With this game being in Chicago and still having a chance for the #1 seed, this could be the motivation the Vikings need to get out of their funk. The Vikings will need a victory tonight and a win next week at home against a demoralized Giants team along with a loss by the Saints in Carolina. Motivation is everything in team sports, the Vikings have it in front of them, lets see how they use it.
