AROUND THE NFL: FREE AGENCY WRAP UP

By Matt Greene

With the Free Agency signing period on the decline, it is now time to look back on what transgressed over the past couple of weeks and digest all of the information and speculation flying all over the place.

Since so much happened around the league this week, (and because there’s nothing else to talk about), I am going to really divert from my usual “Around the NFL” and provide a recap of how the rosters of all 32 teams have changed since the start of free agency. By the way, I have saved this list to my word processor and will be updating it as new information becomes available.

Arizona Cardinals
Signed: TE Jerame Tuman, DE Travis LaBoy, P Dirk Johnson, DE Karlos Dansby (franchise)

Lost: DE/LB Calvin Pace, LB Darryl Blackstock, WR Bryant Johnson, DE Rodney Bailey, OG Keydrick Vincent

Atlanta Falcons
Signed: DT Rashad Moore, DT Kindal Moorehead, S Erik Coleman, TE Ben Hartsock, Hutchins

Lost: LB Demorrio Williams, QB Joey Harrington (cut), TE Alge Crumpler (cut), QB Byron Leftwich (cut).

Baltimore Ravens
Signed: LB Brendon Ayanbadejo, DE Terrell Suggs (franchise)

Lost: RB Mike Anderson (cut), C Mike Flynn (cut).

Buffalo Bills
Signed: DT Spencer Johnson, LB Kawika Mitchell, DT Marcus Stroud (traded for 2008 draft picks)

Lost: WR Peerless Price (cut), DT Larry Triplett (cut), TE Michael Gaines, WR Sam Aiken

Carolina Panthers
Signed: LB Landon Johnson, DE Tyler Brayton, OG Keydrick Vincent, CB Ricardo Colclough, WR Mushin Muhammed, OT Jordan Gross (franchise)

Lost: WR Keary Colbert, DT Kindal Moorehead, DT Kris Jenkins (traded for 2008 3rd and 5th round picks), RB Deshaun Foster (cut), QB David Carr (cut) LB Dan Morgan (cut)

Chicago Bears
Signed: WR Brandon Lloyd, WR Marty Booker

Lost: LB Brendon Ayabandajedo, WR Bernard Berrian, TE John Gilmore, WR Mushin Muhammed (cut)

Cincinnati Bengals
Signed: DE Antwan Odom, OG Stacy Andrews (franchise)

Lost: DE Justin Smith, S Madieu Williams, LB Landon Johnson

Cleveland Browns
Signed: WR Donte Stallworth, C Rex Hadnot, DL Corey Williams (trade), DL Shaun Rogers (trade), RB Jamal Lewis (re-signed), QB Derek Andersen (re-signed)

Lost: DL Orpheus Roye (cut), CB Ricardo Colclough, DE Simon Fraser

Dallas Cowboys
Signed: LB Zach Thomas, OT Flozelle Adams (re-signed), S Ken Hamlin (franchise)

Lost: RB Julius Jones, CB Jacques Reeves

Denver Broncos
Signed: WR Keary Colbert, LB Boss Bailey, DB Marlan McCree, DB Marquand Manual, DE Ebenezer Ekuban (re-signed), DE John Engelberger (re-signed)

Lost: WR Javon Walker (cut), LB Ian Gold (cut), OT Dough Nienhuis (cut)

Detroit Lions
Signed: CB Brian Kelly, TE Michael Gaines, DT Chuck Darby, CB Leigh Bodden (trade from CLE), OG Corey Hulser, RB Tatum Bell (re-signed), OT George Foster (re-signed)

Lost: DL Shaun Rogers (traded to CLE), OL Damien Woody, LB Boss Bailey, CB Fernando Bryant (cut), LB Teddy Lehman,

Green Bay Packers
Signed: ———–

Lost: QB Brett Favre (retirement)

Houston Texans
Signed: LB Kevin Bentley, CB Jacques Reeves, S Will Demps (re-signed), TE Mark Bruener (re-signed), WR Andre Davis (re-signed)

Lost: TE Jeb Putzier (cut), C Mike Flanagan (cut), CB Von Hutchins,

Indianapolis Colts
Signed: TE Dallas Clark (re-signed)

Lost: DT Anthony McFarland (cut), LB Rob Morris (cut), OG Jake Scott

Jacksonville Jaguars
Signed: WR Jerry Porter, QB Cleo Lemon, WR Troy Williamson (trade), CB Drayton Florence, OT Ryan Gibbons, OG Maurice Williams (re-signed), OT Pete McMahon (re-signed)

Lost: DT Marcus Stroud (traded), OG Chris Naeole (cut), S Sammy Knight, WR Ernest Wilford

Kansas City Chiefs
Signed: LB Demorrio Williams, K Nick Novak, RB Boomer Grigsby, WR Devard Darling

Lost: CB Ty Law (cut), LB Kendrall Bell (cut), DE Jimmy Wilkerson

Miami Dolphins
Signed: OG Justin Smiley, WR Ernest Wilford, DT Randy Starks, TE Sean Ryan, QB Josh McCown, DT Jason Ferguson (trade), LB Charlie Anderson, LB Reggie Torbor, S Keith Davis, S Yeremiah Bell (re-signed), CB Michael Lehan (re-signed)

Lost: QB Cleo Lemon, C Rex Hadnot, RB Jesse Chatman, LB Zach Thomas (cut), DT Keith Traylor (cut), QB Trent Green (cut), WR Marty Booker (cut)

Minnesota Vikings
Signed: RB Thomas Tapeh, S Madieu Williams, WR Bernard Berrian, RB Maurice Hicks

Lost: WR Troy Williamson (traded), RB Mewelde Moore, DL Spencer Johnson, DB Tank Williams, FB Tony Richardson

New England Patriots
Signed: DB Tank Williams, WR Randy Moss (re-signed), CB Jason Webster, CB Lewis Sanders, WR Jabar Gaffney (re-signed), WR Sam Aiken, LB Teddi Bruschi (re-signed) WR Kelly Washington (re-signed)

Lost: CB Asante Samuel, WR Donte Stallworth, CB Randall Gay, LB Roosevelt Colvin (cut), TE Kyle Brady (cut), DT Rashad Moore

New Orleans Saints
Signed: LB Jonathan Vilma (trade), CB Randall Gay, DE Bobby McCray, LB Dan Morgan, WR David Patten (re-signed), RB Aaron Stecker (re-signed), TE Eric Johnson (re-signed), LB Mark Simoneaeu (re-signed)

Lost: LB Brian Simmons (cut), C Jeff Faine, LB Matt McCoy, K Olindo Mare (cut)

New York Giants
Signed: DB Sammy Knight, K Lawrence Tynes (re-signed), P Jeff Feagles (re-signed)

Lost: LB Kawika Mitchell, LB Reggie Torbor, DB Gibril Wilson,

New York Jets
Signed: OG Alan Faneca, DT Kris Jenkins (trade), DE/LB Calvin Pace, OG Damien Woody, CB Andre Woolfork, FB Tony Richardson, RB Jesse Chatman, FB Stacey Tutt (re-signed), DT Sione Pouha (re-signed)

Lost: LB Jonathan Vilma (traded), TE Sean Ryan, S Erik Coleman, CB Andre Dyson (cut), WR Justin McCareins (cut), OG Adrien Clarke (cut), OT Anthony Clement (cut)

Oakland Raiders
Signed: OT Kwame Harris, WR Javon Walker, S Gibril Wilson, CB Nnamde Asomugha (franchise), RB Justin Fargas (re-signed), DT Tommy Kelly (re-signed)

Lost: DE Tyler Brayton, DT Warren Sapp (retirement), WR Jerry Porter, QB Josh McCown, OT Barry Sims (cut), DE/LB Chris Clemons

Philadelphia Eagles
Signed: CB Asante Samuel, DE/LB Chris Clemons, TE L.J. Smith (franchise)

Lost: DE Jevon Kearse (cut), LB Takeo Spikes (cut), RB Thomas Tapeh

Pittsburgh Steelers
Signed: RB Mewelde Moore, OT Max Starks (transition), DE Travis Kirschke (re-signed), QB Ben Roethlisberger (re-signed), LB Andre Frazier (re-signed)

Lost: OG Alan Faneca, CB Allen Rossum (cut)

San Diego Chargers
Signed: QB Billy Volek (re-signed)

Lost: CB Drayton Florence, RB Michael Turner, OG Shane Olivea (cut), FB Lorenzo Neal (cut)

San Francisco 49ers
Signed: DB Allen Rossum, DE Justin Smith, RB DeShaun Foster, DT Isaac Sopoaga (re-signed), WR Isaac Bruce, LB Dontarrious Thomas

Lost: OG Justin Smiley, OT Kwame Harris, RB Maurice Hicks

Seattle Seahawks
Signed: RB Julius Jones, RB T.J. Duckett, TE Jeb Putzier, CB Marcus Trufant (franchise), OG Mike Wahle
Lost: LB Kevin Bentley, K Josh Brown

St. Louis Rams
Signed: QB Trent Green, TE Anthony “stonehands” Becht, OG Jacob Bell, K Josh Brown
Lost: K Jeff Wilkins (retired), WR Isaac Bruce (cut), DE James Hall (cut), QB Gus Frerotte (cut)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Signed: WR Antonio Bryant, RB Warrick Dunn, TE Ben Troupe, LB Teddy Lehman, DE Jimmy Wilkerson, C Jeff Faine, QB Brian Griese (trade), LB Matt McCoy
Lost: TE Anthony Becht

Tennessee Titans
Signed: OG Jake Scott, DE Jevon Kearse, TE Alge Crumpler, DT Albert Haynesworth (franchise), WR Justin Gage (re-signed)
Lost: WR David Givens (cut), TE Ben Troupe, OG Jacob Bell, DE Antwan Odom, DE Travis LaBoy, DT Randy Starks

Washington Redskins
Signed: RB Rock Cartwright (re-signed), QB Tod Collins (re-signed), C Ethan “Letter to Madden” Albright
Lost: WR Brandon Lloyd (cut)

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ANALYSIS

Most Active: Miami Dolphins – Bill Parcells is back in town and he’s letting everyone know it. Although not to many big-name free agents have signed, the team has made many cuts and signed many middle-of-the-road type guys to fill in while they build through the draft.

I’d rather watch paint dry then watch this team sign FA’s: Green Bay Packers – Only one big story coming out of the cheeseheadville so far this offseason, the retirement of Brett Favre. Other then that, things are pretty darn boring down in Wisconsin now.

Biggest Spenders: New York Jets – The Jets have done a good job of filling holes this offseason, the only question left is, was what they got worth the money they spent? After making Faneca the highest paid OG in the league and highest paid player in Jets history, approximately two hours later, they paid Calvin Pace, who had a career year last year recording 6.5 sacks, even more, making him the new richest Jet and also the richest LB in NFL history. Another questionable decision came when the team signed OT Damien Woody to a surprisingly large contract to take over Right Tackle duties. However, Woody has only started 6 games in his entire career at RT and his weight has also been a problem in the past. Once again, I understand the Jets had holes to fill this offseason, but these players would have to way outdo their expectations if they were to earn their money’s worth.

Barrel Scrapers: Denver Broncos – Of the 6 players that the Broncos have given new contracts this offseason, all of them are chiefly role players-not big name, big money difference makers.

Tightest Wallet: Washington Redskins – Of the three players they’ve given new contracts to, none of them cost much more then the veteran minimum, and only one of them, Ethan Albright was not on the team last season.

Stuck in the Basement: Kansas City Chiefs – They finished the season 3-13 last season, and instead of looking to improve on that by getting new players, coach Edwards has stated that the team is going to go through a “youth movement”. I don’t think anyone thought that age was the Chiefs biggest problem, but hey, who are we to question a coach with a career record of 51-61?

BIGGEST WINNER: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Easily the biggest winner so far in Free Agency. They signed a good #2 receiver, a good running back in Dunn to split carries with Cadillac, and some role players on defense. Meanwhile the only player they lost was Stonehands Becht, and losing him may be a win in and of itself.

BIGGEST LOSER: Tennessee Titans – The Titans lost A LOT of players this Free Agency, and unless they really draft well, its going to hurt them bad next season and maybe even for years down the road. Although they were able to sign Alge Crumpler and Kearse, these are both stopgaps, and if replacements are not found quick, they will be big holes that were strengths for the Titans not so long ago. In the end, losing Ben Troupe, Antwan Odom, Jacob Bell, Randy Starks, and David Givens all in one offseason, is going to make for some tough holes to fill in the upcoming draft.

BEST OFFSEASON (SO FAR): Jacksonville Jaguars – Although they did lose Stroud, and some depth and WR and DB, Jacksonville easily gained more then they lost this offseason. Being able to get a 3rd and 5th rounder for Stroud, only giving up a 6th for Troy Williamson, signing Florence and Jerry Porter, and re-signing the versatile OL Maurice Williams, puts the Jaguars in a good place all-around. Considering they were a play or two away from the AFCCG last season, Jags fans have to be pretty pumped right now.

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