The NFL Offseason/Pre-Draft Thread

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I knew VitaMex would enjoy that pic.

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The Cardinals are apparently going to be seriously looking at QB's Kurt Warner, Jeff Garcia and the recently released Brad Johnson to help out their young QB corps. So says Denny Green.

 

Ugh...Green couldn't get shit done with a *really* good team like the 90's Vikings and now he's downgraded to the Cardinals. I pity Arizona fans more times than any other. To be fair, he did get a couple good years out of guys like Warren Moon, Rich Gannon and Brad Johnson before they all left the Vikes so maybe someone like Kurt Warner is who they should look at. Garcia can't throw deep and Johnson is washed up. Warner showed he still has some QB ability after his stint with the Giants ended. More upside with him.

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The Giants are about to sign Kendrell Bell from the Steelers, should be announced tomorrow.

[Precious Roy 0]

Let the reocrd show that Coakley got cut from the Cowboys so that he couldn't recieve a roster bonus. I read that they wanted to resign him, but I would have went somewhere else too. Fuck that shit. I'm really starting to dislike the NFL's salary system. It may have been dramatic, but I can see where Warren Sapp was coming from now.

Yeah, I'm really sick of guys getting cut because teams don't feel like paying them the big year they have coming. You signed them to the fucking deal in the first place! Too many loopholes for the owners to get out of shit, and any player who takes a backloaded contract should know better

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They still end up getting the money from somewhere else unless they can't play anymore so its not a huge deal. Anyways, more from Rotoworld.com

 

ESPN's John Clayton reports LaMont Jordan will sign a five-year deal with the Oakland Raiders.

The deal, which will completed by Thursday at the earliest, would pay Jordan more than $4 million a year: starter money. The Jets offered Jordan $3 million a year, a huge offer considering he'd be a backup, but apparently not enough

 

Baltimore's contract for Derrick Mason for five years, $20 million, with a $7 million signing bonus.

Mason turned down a higher offer from the Patriots because his wife wanted to live in the Baltimore area.

 

Browns signed guard Joe Andruzzi to a four-year, $9 million contract.

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Did the Raiders get hosed here or is Jordan a worthy starter?

[LaParkaMarka 0]

From the Pats? Someone turned down big money from the freaking Patriots? His wife must have a lot of pull, I'm not sure if there's a lot of players in the league who wouldn't want to play for the Pats, especially if they get 5+ million a year.

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From the Pats? Someone turned down big money from the freaking Patriots? His wife must have a lot of pull, I'm not sure if there's a lot of players in the league who wouldn't want to play for the Pats, especially if they get 5+ million a year.

 

Why the hell were the Pats even trying to SIGN him???

They cut Troy Brown to attempt to blow money on a guy they DON'T need?!!?!

 

ARRRRRGGHHHH!!!!

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Did the Raiders get hosed here or is Jordan a worthy starter?

Jordan is definitely worth a look as far as starting goes, he has been pulling in some nice numbers for the Jets despite not being the primary back. Though I feel he's being overpaid.

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From the Pats? Someone turned down big money from the freaking Patriots? His wife must have a lot of pull, I'm not sure if there's a lot of players in the league who wouldn't want to play for the Pats, especially if they get 5+ million a year.

 

Why the hell were the Pats even trying to SIGN him???

They cut Troy Brown to attempt to blow money on a guy they DON'T need?!!?!

 

ARRRRRGGHHHH!!!!

I seriously wouldn't be surprised if he comes back with a lower contract. He's gone on record saying that he didn't like pulling double duty with offense and defense, and if he stays on the offense, he'll be a 3rd receiver behind Branch and Givens, so in that scenario, he's not worth the $5 million against the cap that the Pats would have had to pay.

 

The rumors around here is that they are freeing a lot of cap space to not only get their RFA's taken care of, but also give Tom Brady a contract extension, which the Boston Globe said was "close". That would also free up a little more cap as well.

 

The Pats are trying to get younger, and just don't hang on to players that they don't feel fit into their system for long. It might be unfair but hey, they have 3 Super Bowl titles.

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The Ravens still need to go out and get Mike Williams in the draft though.

 

But Derrick Mason finally gives them a decent WR for Boller to throw to, and Im glad they didnt go after Burress. I would miss calling him Plexiglass.

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Giants sign Antonio Pearce, the Kendrell Bell deal apparently fell through, ESPN works its magic again

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3433974

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Cowboys signed DT Jason Ferguson to a five-year, $21.5 million contract, including a $9 million signing bonus

 

Vikings signed former Bills DT Pat Williams to a three-year, $13 million with $6 million in bonus money

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Browns signed guard Joe Andruzzi to a four-year, $9 million contract.

That's great to hear. He's alittle older than I would've liked, but a solid veteren is fine by me.

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and it appears the Patriots have traded a third round pick to Arizona for CB Duane Starks. At the same time both teams are supposedly also swapping 5th round picks in this deal.

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Know watch Starks have a pro-bowl season, and pick off 2 passes in the Super Bowl.

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TJ Houshmandzadeh resigns with the Bengals

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor..._len&id=2003501

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Now watch Starks have a pro-bowl season, and pick off 2 passes in the Super Bowl.

Right now the Pats are no lock to even make the playoffs. Tedy Bruschi being able to play again is still up in the air and they still need to get younger in the whole LBer core. Also they just lost one of their leaders on the O-Line. As far as I can see it the Pats still need to shore up quite a few areas.

 

LBers

CB (deal isn't official and I would still like to see them draft one early)

LG

Possibly a big O-Tackle

ST Punt and Kick coverage players

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Just heard that the Jets are now desperate for a WR, and the guy they MIGHT overpay for is Plaxico Burress who's rumored to either Minnesota, NYG, or NYJ. Anyone know the cap situation with Minny after signing Pat Williams?

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I believe before the deal Minn was going to be about $18-30mill under the cap.

[Guest El Satanico]

Why do the Jets have such a desire to sign a top-5 fa WR? There has to be second tier guys that would be just fine considering they already have two legit starters.

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the Pats don't really sign big name FAs so all I'm hoping for is Ed Hartwell.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Did the Raiders get hosed here or is Jordan a worthy starter?

Lamont Jordan is essentially Tyrone Wheatley Part II.

 

Oh by the way, I wouldn't knock on Green. The man before getting unfairly booted was the second longest tenured head coach in the NFL (behind Bill Cowher) and never had a losing record in his career until he was fired midway through the 2001 season where Minnesota ended up 5-10- only a year removed from his second appearance in the NFC Chapionship game in three years. I think any Viking fan would agree with me on that Green is infinitely a much much better coach than Tice could ever hope to be. That franchise is just cursed, as evidenced by the Arizona game in `03.

[Precious Roy 0]

and it appears the Patriots have traded a third round pick to Arizona for CB Duane Starks. At the same time both teams are supposedly also swapping 5th round picks in this deal.

[tominator89 0]

I really hope the Eagles don't let Trotter leave again.

[NoCalMike 0]

Apparently Antonio Pierce is giving the Skins till tomorrow to match the contract the Giants are offering. I doubt the Redskins will, considering they resigned Lemar Marshall(who filled in great for Arrington) Clifton Smith(Greg Williams thinks he is gonna be a star) and still have Michael Barrow on the roster.

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I believe before the deal Minn was going to be about $18-30mill under the cap.

They where at 36 million, the most under in league history. So they can easily afford Burress, or any other free agent.

[MikeJordan23 0]

Did the Raiders get hosed here or is Jordan a worthy starter?

Hopefully. I'm a Raider fan that lives in New York, so I saw a nice amount of Jordan. He has alot of talent, but he was the second string, so his durability is questionable. But this is a great pick up for us.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Vikings gain while Packers may lose

Bill Huber - Scout.com

March 3, 2005 at 9:32am ET

 

The off-season intrigue continued Wednesday as the chances of the Green Bay Packers losing both Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera grew while the Minnesota Vikings took a huge step toward countering the Packers' vaunted running game.

 

On the day Minnesota officially traded Randy Moss to Oakland, the Vikings gave defensive tackle Pat Williams a three-year, $13 million contract. The 315-pound Williams was one of the better run defenders in the game during a standout eight-year run with the Buffalo Bills. Williams will team with Vikings Pro Bowler Kevin Williams to give Minnesota one of the best defensive-tackle combos in the league.

 

Mix in the addition of Napoleon Harris, the linebacker obtained in the Moss deal, and Minnesota's run defense is due to improve from porous to stout.

 

Those additions are vital when going against the Packers and their bread-and-butter off-tackle running game. That running game is in the process of going from stellar to highly questionable, however, after the first day of free agency.

 

Pro Bowl guard Marco Rivera , an unrestricted free agent, is in "serious negotiations" with the Dallas Cowboys, according to a scout.com story posted on packerreport.com. The Cowboys have salary-cap space and a win-now mentality fostered by owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells . Parcells also loves to run the ball, and there are few better run blockers in the game than Rivera. Adding Rivera would be a huge upgrade for the league's 20th-ranked rushing attack.

 

Dallas wants to get a deal done as soon as possible, and with the Packers a mere $1 million under the cap, Rivera could be gone unless the Packers take drastic actions such as releasing safety Darren Sharper or renegotiating several contracts.

 

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Rivera is seeking a contract in the neighborhood of the five-year, $14.26 million deal signed by Adam Timmerman with the Rams last off-season.

 

There was no answer at the office of Rivera's agent, Jimmy Sexton, on Thursday morning.

 

Wahle, who was released in a salary-cap purge Tuesday, is being courted hot and heavy. That's no surprise since Wahle in some eyes is the best free agent available, regardless of position. Carolina could be his destination, according to scout.com. The Panthers reportedly have offered a $13 million signing bonus to Wahle, which is far too rich for the cap-strapped Packers.

 

Like the Cowboys, the Panthers would prefer to run the football but got away from that last season due to injuries at running back and ineffective play up front. Carolina's run offense ranked 28th in the league at a mere 98.9 yards per game.

 

Wahle agent Neil Cornrich did not immediately return a call for this story.

 

Meanwhile, restricted free agent defensive end Aaron Kampman is being courted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and unrestricted safety Bhawoh Jue is in negotiations with the San Diego Chargers, according to scout.com and other outlets.

 

So... with the possibility of two starting offensive linemen leaving, one on the line coming back from season-ending surgery a year ago, and Brett Favre's status still up in the air (not sure how happy he'll be to lose two of his best linemen he's ever had as he draws nearer to his retirement..), the only decent run stopper on the defensive line besides an aging Grady Jackson, and STILL not knowing what could happen with Darren Sharper and a god-awful secondary, this looks mighty bleak. No wonder Sherman was falling asleep at the Combine yesterday. I'd be losing sleep over how the hell they could overcome all that next season, too.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

So who else thinks the Colts should trade Edge to Miami? They can get a Patrick Surtain type of player back from the Dolphins, plus a pick; maybe a third round pick? The Colts can grab another RB in the 1st or 2nd round, can fix up their defense a little, and they can ditch Edge's contract.