Official Free Agency Thread

[ChisAto]

Just thought we should have a thread about free agency for those who are interested:

Antonio Bryant, WR: 49ers
Dexter Jackson, S: Bengals
Robert Royal, TE : Bills
Larry Tripplett, DT : Bills
Andre' Davis, WR: Bills
Gerard Warren, DE : Broncos
Mike Leach, TE : Broncos
Ron Dayne, HB : Broncos
LeCharles Bentley, C : Browns
Joe Jurevicius, WR : Browns
Kevin Shaffer, LT : Browns
Dave Zastudil, P: Browns
Ted Washington, NT: Browns
Kendrick Clancy, DT : Cardinals
Edgerrin James, RB:Cardinals
Milford Brown, G:Cardinals
Marlon McCree, SS: Chargers
Kyle Kosier, OL:Cowboys
Andre Goodman, CB: Dolphins
Sedrick Hodge, LB: Dolphins
L.J. Shelton, T: Dolphins
Darren Howard, DE: Eagles
Sam Madison, CB: Giants
R.W. McQuarters, CB: Giants
Brian Williams, CB : Jaguars
Corey Bradford, WR: Lions
Marquand Manuel, FS : Packers
Maake Kemoeatu, DT : Panthers
Justin Hartwig, C : Panthers
Damione Lewis, DT: Panthers
Corey Chavious, SS : Rams
La'Roi Glover, DT: Rams
Will Witherspoon, LB:Rams
Trevor Pryce : Ravens
Mike Anderson, HB : Ravens
Justin Bannan, DT: Ravens
Adam Archuleta, S:Redskins
Christian Fauria, TE: Redskins
Antwaan Randle El, WR: Redskins
Scott Fujita, LB: Saints
Jameel Cook, FB: Texans
Sage Rosenfels, QB: Texans
Anthony Weaver, DE: Texans
David Thornton, LB: Titans
Ben Leber, LB : Vikings
Ryan Longwell, K : Vikings
Chester Taylor, RB : Vikings

[sep]

Cards sign James sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2365467

[vy10]

Randle El to Washington

[sep]

vy10 said:

Randle El to Washington

Linky: sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2365504

[detroitbasketball]

If you're gonna post a signing, at least give us a link...

sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2365504

EDIT: Wow, sep....how do you get to all these threads so fast? Do you have that little of a life?

[Freak93]

All I havet o say is damn the Cleveland Browns. I must say I did not think Edge would end up in Arizona.

[sep]

Rams sign Witherspoon

The Rams' persistence paid off by not letting Panthers linebacker Will Witherspoon go to the airport and letting him fly to New Orleans for a visit.

Witherspoon agreed with the Rams on a six-year, $33 million contract that includes $15 million in guarantees. Witherspoon turned down an offer to stay with the Panthers for close to $11.5 million to sign.

The Saints were trying to be persuasive and get him signed, but Witherspoon stayed in St. Louis and got the deal with the Rams instead.

In the past few days, the Rams have added defensive tackle La'Roi Glover, Witherspoon and safety Corey Chavous to their defense.

sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2365548

[detroitbasketball]

Rams are big winners so far...their defense has gotten tons better.

[sep]

Hutchinson to the Vikes

Seattle Seahawks star Steve Hutchinson, designated as a transition free agent by the NFC champions, has signed an offer sheet with the Minnesota Vikings that will make him the highest paid guard in NFL history, ESPN.com has learned.

The offer sheet is for seven years, at $49 million, and includes $16 million in guarantees. Once the offer sheet is executed, Seattle will have seven days to match all its principle terms, or allow Hutchinson to move to the Vikings. If the Seahawks do not match it, they will receive no draft-pick compensation.

How rich is the Vikings' deal, negotiated by Tom Condon and Ken Kremer of IMG Football, for the five-year veteran guard? Consider this: Only three NFL offensive tackles, a position that is always paid much higher than guards, can match Hutchinson's average of $7 million. Larry Allen of Dallas, currently the league's highest-paid guard, averages $6.1 million on his Cowboys contract.

It is believed that, before the start of the free agency period, Seattle was offering Hutchinson an average of $5.8 million per year.

Seattle opted to use the less expensive transition designation on Hutchinson, rather than the franchise tag, and the difference is significant. In most case, the franchise marker is enough to scare off any suitors, because the level of compensation is a pair of first-round draft choices. The transition label carries no compensation and it is easier for veterans under that marker to attract other teams.

Under the current system, implemented in 1993, just three franchise players have ever switched teams in free agency. During the same period, 18 transition players have changed teams.

By signing Hutchinson to the offer sheet, the Vikings, who entered the free agency period with $30.9 million in available salary cap room, second-most in the league, are remaining aggressive as the club attempts to upgrade the roster under first-year coach Brad Childress. The Vikings broke from the chute quickly on Saturday, either signing or reaching agreements with five players.

Hutchinson, 28, would certainly provide the kind of toughness and mauler's mentality the Vikings have lacked on their offensive line, and would team with tackle Bryant McKinnie to give Minnesota one of the best leftside blocking tandems in the league.

A first-round choice in the 2001 draft, Hutchinson is a three-time Pro Bowl performer. The former University of Michigan star has appeared in 68 games, all of them starts, and has played all 16 games in all but the 2002 campaign. That year, a broken leg limited Hutchinson to four appearances.

sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2365600

[Just Blaze]

As a Cowboys fan, it is hurting me to see the 'Skins sign Randle El and Brandon Lloyd to join Santana Moss to create a potential deadly wideout corps that's making fans in D.C. screaming in excitement.

I wish my Cowboys did some moves like try to go after LeCharles Bently but oh well- we can always get Mr. Terell Owens

[Freak93]

I hope you guys can get Mr. Terrell Owens and he can tear up your organization as well.

[Cerrano39]

Hutchinson isn't official yet, Sep.

[cooljayhu]

do the Hawks have the right to match any offer to Hutchinson cause of his transistion status?

[Cerrano39]

The offer sheet is for seven years, at $49 million, and includes $16 million in guarantees. Once the offer sheet is executed, Seattle will have seven days to match all its principle terms, or allow Hutchinson to move to the Vikings. If the Seahawks do not match it, they will receive no draft-pick compensation.

[Mc5]

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels goes to Houston. Not really a big name QB, but I believe he has talent. I saw him play a little in Miami, and if Carr messes up, then we could see him start for the Texans.

[Cerrano39]

mc5 said:

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels goes to Houston. Not really a big name QB, but I believe he has talent. I saw him play a little in Miami, and if Carr messes up, then we could see him start for the Texans.

Come on, Sage is awful.

[Keeper]

Rosenfels is a joke. Nice to see that the Jags havn't improved at all thus far.

[Cerrano39]

keepereusc said:

Rosenfels is a joke. Nice to see that the Jags havn't improved at all thus far.

I liked the Brian Williams signing (although not sure what the money was). Sometimes the best way to improve is not to mess with things. The Jags have a really solid team building behind their defensive front 7 and Lord Byron. A couple more pieces and they will make even more noise.

[Jami]

I'm still laughing at the Vikings for signing a freaking kicker to a $10 million contract. As good as Longwell has been for the Packers, he's still a kicker. Kickers are virtually interchangeable, which is why it's so funny that the Vikings would give one a 5 year, $10 million contract.

As for Marquand Manuel, I haven't heard much about him. Apparently he was Seattle's starter last year and was hurt for the Super Bowl, but he can't be much worse than Mark Roman.

[sprew8]

james with the cards man, cards are getting good...