NFL: Hitting the market

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Originally posted by ALinChainz
Giants | Bell Fails Physical - from www.KFFL.com
Sun, 6 Mar 2005 09:24:47 -0800

Jason Whitlock, of the Kansas City Star, reports free agent LB Kendrell Bell (groin) failed his physical during a recent visit with the New York Giants. Bell had been hampered by a nagging groin injury for most of last season.

That's really surprising....

I really thought he was 100% going into the playoffs....

Damn, he might actually be back in the 'Burgh...

[ALinChainz]

Lions | Kennedy Agrees - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 15:07:23 -0800

John Clayton, of ESPN.com, reports the Detroit Lions have reached an agreement with unrestricted free agent S Kenoy Kennedy (Broncos) on a five-year contract. Financial terms were undisclosed.


Giants | Miller Contract Details - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 15:04:06 -0800

Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports the New York Giants have signed unrestricted free agent QB Jim Miller (Patriots) to a one-year, $765,000 deal, with a signing bonus of $25,000. He will count just $475,000 against this year's salary cap.


Patriots | Pass Officially Re-signed - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 15:01:01 -0800

The New England Patriots have announced the team has officially re-signed FB Patrick Pass. Official terms of the contract were undisclosed.


Patriots | Mangurian Named TEs Coach - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 15:00:48 -0800

The New England Patriots have announced the naming of Pete Mangurian as the team's tight ends coach.


Giants | Miller Signed - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 14:54:31 -0800

Jay Glazer, of FoxSports.com, reports the New York Giants have signed unrestricted free agent QB Jim Miller (Patriots) to a one-year deal to serve as the top backup to QB Eli Manning. Financial details were undisclosed.


Lions | Pollard Signs Three-Year Deal - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 13:43:45 -0800

ESPNews reports the Detroit Lions have signed free agent TE Marcus Pollard (Colts) to a three-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Bears | Miller Contract Update - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 13:42:19 -0800

ESPNews reports the contract signed by Chicago Bears OT Fred Miller is a five-year deal worth $22.5 million. ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports the deal includes a signing bonus of $6 million and base salaries of $1 million (2005), $1 million (2006), $3 million (2007), $4 million (2008) and $4 million (2009). There is a $2 million roster bonus that is due next March and roster bonuses of $500,000 for each of the final three years.


Ravens | Rolle Contract Update - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 13:41:16 -0800

Updating previous reports, ESPNews reports the contract signed by Baltimore Ravens CB Samari Rolle is a six-year deal worth $30.5 million including an $11 million signing bonus.


Patriots | Edwards Visits - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 7 Mar 2005 13:23:49 -0800

Mike Reiss, of the MetroWest Daily News, reports free agent S Antuan Edwards (Dolphins) is scheduled to visit with the New England Patriots Monday, March 7, according to a source.

[ALinChainz]

Monday Free Agency Overview

Scout.com - Scout.com

March 15, 2005 at 3:00am ET


As we begin the third week of free agency, lets take a look at what developments took place over the weekend and through Monday.

In the NFC East, things slowed down to a crawl over the past four days. The Giants signed free agent defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy who will replace the recently released Norman Hand.

The Eagles were able to sign free agent quarterback Mike McMahon who will compete for the main backup job against veteran signal caller Koy Detmer. The club did lose a key player, though, over the weekend. Gone is starting defensive end Derrick Burgess to Oakland. Losing Burgess could hurt if veteran end N.D. Kalu hasn't regained his form before suffering a serious knee injury last year or former first-round pick Jerome McDougle doesn't pick up his play in a big way.


The NFC North was the busiest division over the weekend.

The Detroit Lions lost backup quarterback Mike McMahon, as noted above, but replaced him quickly be agreeing to a one-year deal with Jeff Garcia. He's a good fit for their offensive system and will be ready to play if called upon.

The Green Bay Packers continued their salary cap purge by releasing veteran free safety Darren Sharper because they didn't want to pay his roster bonus and they have yet to sign any free agents from other teams.

The Minnesota Vikings jumped on Sharper after he was released and signed him to a multi-year deal. Sharper should prove to be a big upgrade over Brian Russell who remains a restricted free agent. You have to like their secondary now with the addition of Sharper and cornerback Fred Smoot. Look for them to address their needs at linebacker later in free agency and in next month's NFL Draft.

Turning our attention to the NFC South, that division saw some minor moves take place.

The Atlanta Falcons were able to re-sign veteran cornerback Kevin Mathis and fullback Fred McCrary. Both were key players in the club's success late in the season. They followed that up by signing free agent guard Matt Lehr who will likely compete for a starting job.

The New Orleans Saints re-signed veteran cornerback Jason Craft who will compete for the nickel role.

In the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals finally stayed out of the free agency fray over the weekend and the rest of the division was quiet as well.

Only the Seattle Seahawks made a few moves. They re-signed veteran offensive lineman Floyd Womack and free agent linebacker Kevin Bentley. The versatile Womack has a good chance to earn a starting job for the first time in his career. Bentley will compete for playing time, likely as a backup.

Turning our attention to the AFC, the Eastern division saw plenty of minor moves being made.

The Miami Dolphins re-signed backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels who will likely man the third spot on the depth chart since the club also reached a contract agreement with free agent Gus Frerotte. Frerotte will get a chance to challenge the incumbent starter A.J. Feeley. The also released veteran fullback Rob Konrad.

The Buffalo Bills released veteran safety Pierson Prioleau who was destined to be a backup this season and they also re-signed backup tight end Ryan Neufeld.

The New England Patriots signed returner/wide receiver Tim Dwight. The oft-injured player will mostly be used on special teams while seeing a few plays here and there as a receiver.

The New York Jets signed free agents linebacker Barry Gardner and quarterback Jay Fiedler. Gardner will serve as depth and will play on special teams. Fiedler will back up starting quarterback Chad Pennington. Fiedler's a nice signing when you consider his strong winning percentage as a starter.

Looking at the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns, as expected, released defensive end Courtney Brown rather than pay him a sizeable roster bonus. The club would like to re-sign him at a reasonable price. The club also signed free agent defensive tackle Jason Fisk, who is a decent run stopper.

The Baltimore Ravens signed former Pittsburgh Steelers guard Keydrick Vincent who looks to be penciled in for a starting job over Bennie Anderson who is an unrestricted free agent.

The Cincinnati Bengals made an important signing with the addition of veteran end/tackle Bryan Robinson who will take over a starting job vacated by Tony Williams who won't be re-signed.

Turning our attention to the AFC South, only one team made any moves over the weekend.

The Houston Texans released veterans inside linebacker Jay Foreman and safety Eric Brown. Foreman should be able to find a job once his surgically repaired ankle is totally healed. Foreman wasn't needed once the club signed free agent linebacker Morlon Greenwood.

Finally, the AFC West saw lots of moves take place.

The San Diego Chargers released veteran quarterback Doug Flutie rather than place him third on the depth chart.

The Chiefs added veteran safety Sammy Knight who is still one of the better players at his position. He'll add some badly needed play making ability to their underachieving secondary.

Finally, the Oakland Raiders added free agent defensive end Derrick Burgess. This move will enable the club to use Burgess at his more natural left end position and to move Tyler Brayton to outside linebacker.

[ALinChainz]

Vikings: Taylor signs for No. 3 role

by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Tuesday, March 15, 2005

News
The Vikings have taken their first step toward addressing the gaping hole at wide receiver that was created by the Randy Moss trade. The team announced the signing of free agent Travis Taylor on Tuesday, according to the Star Tribune. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Taylor, who spent the last five years with the Ravens, missed six games last year due to an assortment of injuries. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2000 draft finished the season with 34 receptions for 421 yards and no touchdowns.

Views
Taylor won't make anyone forget Moss, nor do Vikings' officials expect him to. In fact, he won't even enter training camp as a starting receiver. The current plan is to feature him as the No. 3 wideout behind starters Nate Burleson and Marcus Robinson. Of course, there is a better chance of the original Beatles reuniting for a tour than there is of Robinson surviving a full season without injuries, so we expect Taylor to start at some point. The five-year veteran more or less recruited the Vikings during the offseason due to his desire to play with quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

[BigBadBrian]

Packers Release Darren Sharper, Sparky Hamilton

The Green Bay Packers Thursday terminated the contract of safety Darren Sharper and waived tight end Sparky Hamilton. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, made the announcement.

Sharper, 29, started at free safety the last six seasons. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound veteran out of William & Mary, he ranks fifth on the Packers' all-time interceptions list with 36 and in 2004 became one of four players to lead the team in interceptions at least five seasons, joining Bobby Dillon (seven), Willie Wood (five) and LeRoy Butler (five).

In 2004, Sharper played in 15 regular-season games, with 13 starts, and registered 77 tackles (68 solo). He snared four interceptions among eight passes defensed, forced two fumbles and recovered another. He also started the team's Wild Card playoff game vs. Minnesota.

The Packers' second-round selection in the 1997 NFL Draft, Sharper sustained a sprained left posterior cruciate ligament vs. Dallas (Oct. 24) and missed the following week's game at Washington (Oct. 31). Limited to passing situations vs. Minnesota (Nov. 14) and at Houston (Nov. 21), he returned to the lineup vs. St. Louis (Nov. 29).

Hamilton, 23, originally signed with the club Jan. 19 as a reserve/future free agent.

[ALinChainz]

The Vikes quickly signed Sharper.

They also dealt for Sam Cowart from the Jets for a 7th round pick.

Vikes could be a better team overall next season, even without Moss.