New and Improved Free Agency Discussion and News Mega-Thread

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

I imagine Brad Smith would primarily be brought in as a kick return replacement for Danieal Manning, which is perfectly fine with me.

Dear Bears,

Please get him out of New York ASAP.

Sincerely,

Patriots

[Giantsfan1080]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

The Giants aren't releasing Osi.

Yeah if anything we would trade him. He's signed cheap and his production is unmatched at that price.

[bigbluedefense]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

Yeah if anything we would trade him. He's signed cheap and his production is unmatched at that price.

I'm pretty confident we'll retain him for at least this coming year, but if we did move on, it would absolutely be through a trade.

You don't release a player like Osi. We should easily net a 2nd round pick for him if we traded him.

[gpngc]

“The Giants have said that they are not going to cut him, John Mara, the Giants owner has said that,” Schefter said when going over potential big names to be cut on SportsCenter this morning. “However there have been rumblings around the league that Osi Umenyiora would be on the bubble. I think he’d like to be released to be able to shop his services to another team.”

“Remember, he criticized the Giants organization in testimony that he gave to the courts and was one of the name plaintiffs in the Brady vs NFL case,” Schefter continued. “Again, not saying he winds up getting cut but there are people around the league who think he could get cut.”

Mara reportedly told Umenyiora during a break at a recent negotiation session that the defensive end needs to settle his differences with general manager Jerry Reese.

The suggestion made by the best insider in the business may prove to be incorrect, but it's still noteworthy because of Schefter's pedigree.

[vikes_28]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

The Vikings are a great example of why you don't build through FA (besides the obvious Redskins). They are going to have to scrap that team from the bottom up, and are still currently 5 mil over the cap.

We can thank Brad Childress for that.

[GatorsBullsFan]

Jags look like favorites for Eric Weddle

[_YL_]

As long as Oakland is able to resign Zach Miller then ill be happy. Losing ASO is a given but we still have tons of talent on that defense.

I don't expect Oakland to do a lot in FA besides keep some key players like Miller,Reece, M.Bush being a RFA is huge one less person we have to worry about resigning. I think eventually Oakland will sign Kamerion Wimbley to a long term contract and help out against the cap.

One position Oakland will go after in FA will be offense line. Someone like Jared Gaither,Jammal Brown or a OG like Justin Blalock

[gpngc]

Two nuggets from Peter King:

1) Jaguars will be active in FA. They like Weddle, as GBF points out above, and could also be in play for a big-time WR. Sidney Rice or James Jones makes sense as a young veteran to develop with Blaine Gabbert. Or one could think that JDR wants to save his job by winning this year, which would make TO or Moss a possibility. Either way, I don't think Cecil Shorts, Kasim Osgood, Jason Hill, Tiquan Underwood or Jarrett Dilliard will be starting opposite Mike Thomas in 2011.

2) Nnamdi Asomugha wants to play for the Jets and it IS feasible that they could re-sign Holmes AND lock up Nnamdi (which would create the first 4-5 defense in NFL history obviously). However, they'd then have almost a quarter of their cap space tied up in one position, would have to cut two or three vets, and would be relying heavily on Jeremy Kirley as their 3rd WR.

[HeavyLeggedWaistBender]

I saw NFLN talking FAs and had a small segment on Mankins like he's on the market...though they said he could feasibly be franchised yet again.

Anybody know for sure if Mankins is a FA now?

[T-RICH49]

I've heard if Le'Ron mcClain hits FA the Chiefs would be very interested in signing him

[Ness]

Originally Posted by gpngc

Two nuggets from Peter King:

1) Jaguars will be active in FA. They like Weddle, as GBF points out above, and could also be in play for a big-time WR. Sidney Rice or James Jones makes sense as a young veteran to develop with Blaine Gabbert. Or one could think that JDR wants to save his job by winning this year, which would make TO or Moss a possibility. Either way, I don't think Cecil Shorts, Kasim Osgood, Jason Hill, Tiquan Underwood or Jarrett Dilliard will be starting opposite Mike Thomas in 2011.

And I'm guessing sims-Walker won't be back right?

[bearsfan_51]

What vets could the Jets cut to pull that off? Seems like a huge feat.

[HeavyLeggedWaistBender]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

What vets could the Jets cut to pull that off? Seems like a huge feat.

Just the way Rex likes 'em.

Word play!

[V.I.P]

Tweet from Adam Schefter...

And so it begins...filed to ESPN: The Ravens have told RB Willis McGahee they will be releasing him.

I wouldnt mind bringing him in to team with LeGarette Blount

[gpngc]

Originally Posted by Ness

And I'm guessing sims-Walker won't be back right?

That's been the assumption since he struggled last season. They've soured on him. But you never know - he could come cheap.

[bam bam]

Kelly Gregg cut too

[AntoinCD]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

What vets could the Jets cut to pull that off? Seems like a huge feat.

They would probably need to lose Cromartie, Edwards, Brad Smith, Shaun Ellis and renegotiate a few contracts like David Harris and possibly Sanchez. It may also take a below market deal for Holmes which may not happen either. I'd be pretty surprised if the Jets could pull this one off.

[bearsfan_51]

But..they're already over the cap.

[nepg]

Originally Posted by T-RICH49

I've heard if Le'Ron mcClain hits FA the Chiefs would be very interested in signing him

Sounds like it's pretty much going to happen. Which is another wrinkle to the Willis McGahee situation in Baltimore...

[Ness]

Looks like Alex Smith is deciding to come back for sure. Whatever.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by AntoinCD

They would probably need to lose Cromartie, Edwards, Brad Smith, Shaun Ellis and renegotiate a few contracts like David Harris and possibly Sanchez. It may also take a below market deal for Holmes which may not happen either. I'd be pretty surprised if the Jets could pull this one off.

Are the Jets going to have any good players left?

[Nalej]

Anyone know any specifics on how the salary cap this year will be somewhat modified to help with the transition.

[AntoinCD]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

But..they're already over the cap.

Originally Posted by Peter King

8. I think if Asomugha had his way, he'd sign with the Jets. The coach, the team, the city, the causes ... it all appeals to him. There's just this little matter of the Jets being $1.3-million over the cap before they start whittling away at it to get in line with the league's $120.4-million, fairly hard cap. (You can go over the cap in one year by $3 million for one player.)

As Rich Cimini astutely pointed out the other day on his Jets blog, they could restructure Mark Sanchez and Darrelle Revis (due to count a total of $27.8 million against the cap this year), and they could take linebacker David Harris' franchise number of $10.4 million this year and lower it by converting it into the first year of a long-term contract. Remember, Santonio Holmes is a priority to sign, so assume that would take about $7 million this year. The Jets would probably have to cut two or three vets and not re-sign Antonio Cromartie to have any chance of getting into Asomugha's financial league -- even if it means Asomugha would take significantly less to go to New Jersey than, say, to Dallas or Houston.

If they restructure contracts, and I forgot about Revis, they could potentially get far enough under. They'll have to lose some guys they dont want to.

[Jvig43]

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

But..they're already over the cap.

Which is another reason why I don't know how the **** anyone could think that situation was plausible.

[jrdrylie]

Anyone have specifics on the rookie wage scale? Is it just a cap on how much teams can spend on their rookies? Or is it a slotting system similar to what they have in the NBA? That will have an impact on how much cap space teams have.