It's been an very unordinary off-season this year in the NFL. Usually after the Super Bowl winner is crowned champion GM's line up for the off season to sign the hottest free-agents to revamp their rosters, and give their teams the best chance at hoisting the Super Bowl trophy the following season. This year has been quite the opposite with the labor disharmony that has affected the NFL this off-season. Usually by this time of the year all the top notch free-agents have found a home with rookie draft picks the next item on the agenda. With no CBA agreement many eventual free-agents are left to wonder where they'll call home in the 2011 season.
The top free-agent on the market, Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning will almost certainly sign the richest contract to stay with the team that drafted him in '98. Manning will probably sign a contract that will surpass Brady's 4/yr $18 million extension signed during the 2010 season.
Nnamdi Asomugha will head the Defensive Back free-agents, after the Raider Cornerback voided his contract after last season. Nnamdi fits the profile of a shutdown corner who rarely sees the football thrown to his side of the field. Antonio Cromartie probably fits the next tier of DB's whose phone will be ringing once the free-agency period starts. The New York Jets signed Darrelle Revis to a 4/yr $46 million contract last year, so doubling up on two mega contracts in back to back seasons on the same position will make it difficult for the Jets to resign Cromartie. Ike Taylor of the Pittsburg Steelers is also a free-agent and he will probably battle Cromartie for the number two spot as the next most sought after Cornerback. A couple other notable Defensive Backs who will draw some attention when the free-agency period begins include CB Brent Grimes of the Atlanta Falcons, and Safety Dawan Landry of the Baltimore Ravens. Grimes is a 27 years old defensive back who totaled 5 interceptions last year with the Falcons. Grimes is developing into one of the better defensive backs in the NFL, and he already has one Pro Bowl apperance during his career. Dawan Landry will get a lot of attraction at the Safety position. Landry plays opposite of Ed Reed, and the 6'0, 220 lbs Safety recorded 111 tackles last year, so his size really attracts teams looking for a big intimidating hitter. Champ Bailey, the 12 year veteran for the Broncos, once considered the top DB in the league will draw some attention by teams looking for a strong Corner in a pass friendly football league.
Linebackers will also be top heavy with this years available crop of free-agents. The center pieces at the position will include LaMar Woodley of the Pittsburg Steelers, and Tamba Hali of the Kansas City Chiefs. Tamba Hali had more sacks, registering 14.5 sacks for the young, upstart Kansas City Chiefs defense, compared with LaMar Woodley's 10 sacks for the Pittsburg Steeler defensive. Kansas City Chiefs will almost undoubtedly exhaust all efforts to resign their young star LB who spends much of his time rushing the quarterback. Woodley on the other hand fits the Steelers 3-4 defenseive scheme perfectly with his dual ability to rush quaterbacks with his size, and strength to go along with his ability to cover running backs, and tight-ends coming out the backfield. Other notables at the Linebacker position are Chad Greenway of the Minnesota Vikings, and Stephen Tulloch of the Tennesse Titans. Greenway, and Tulloch are your more prototypical middle linebackers who usually lead a team in tackles.
The Wide Receiver position is met with a lot of free-agents that will be competing for openings during the signing period. Santonio Holmes, and Braylon Edwards of the Jets both will be eligible free-agents before the 2011 season kicks off. Sidney Rice will also lead the pack for Wide Receivers after coming back from hip surgey last season. Rice showed flashes of his 2009 Pro Bowl form during the second half of the 2010 season, which was one of the loan bright spots for a dissapointing season for the Minnesota Vikings. The best of the rest for the Wide Receivers will include Vincent Jackson, whose size and speeds will make him a sought after commodity by teams needing a threat who can stretch the field to put pressure on opposing defenses. Terrell Owens will also receive offers after catching 9 touchdown passes to lead the Cincinnati Bengals. Steve Smith of the New York Giants, Randy Moss, and Malcom Floyd are other wideouts who definitely will get some play at the position.
The Running Back position will not have an Adrian Peterson, or Chris Johnson hitting the market when free-agency starts, but there will be a few quality Running Backs who will be available for teams. The two most sought after will probably be DeAngelo Williams of the Carolina Pathers, and Cedric Benson of the Cincinnati Bengals. Williams has been the victim of injuries during his career so receiving a long-term deal might be somewhat of a risk for teams. Benson on the other hand has revamped his career after a couple of tough seasons earlier in his career. Ahmad Bradshaw of the New York Giants will test the market, and the speedy back will draw some attention in a league where two backs are needed to handle the pounding that backs face during the 16 game season. Michael Bush of the Raiders will almost certainly get calls after having a couple of productive games for the Oakland Raiders. The 245 lbs back has the similar build of Michael Turner, and after just turning 27 years old his future looks pretty bright after sustaining a serious leg injury his last year in college. Joseph Addai of the Colts, Pierre Thomas of the Saints, and Ronnie Brown of the Dolphins will also get a look from teams looking for serviceable backs on the market.
The free-agents at Defensive End are led by Cullen Jenkins of the Packers, Ray Edwards of the Vikings, and a young rusher Jason Babin of the Titans who had 12.5 sacks last year. Cullen Jenkins is coming off a injury plagued year where he spent most of the year on injury reserve. The Defensive End who might get the most activity in free-agency might be Mathias Kiwanuka of the New York Giants. The 6'5' 265 rushing end has the tools to blossom into a potential Pro Bowl pass rusher. Injuries has plagued the Defensive End during his career, and with the NFL being a pass first league, rushers like Kiwanuka remain premimum commodities by teams.
Although the season has been shorted this off-season that doesn't mystify the fact that when a deal is signed, free-agents will turn to the first item of priority for the league. The negotiating, bargaining, and signing of players will take place faster than anything the league has ever seen before. General Managers will have to be on their toes more than ever to pull the trigger on deals that may benefit their teams, and at the same time stay away from risk that may set their teams back. Hopefully the crap shoot, and race will start shortly so players, owners, and fans can begin to see their 53 man rosters filling out.
No comments:
Post a Comment