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  • Free Agency starts tonight!

    Tonight at midnight or tomorrow at midnight? I can't remember.

    I'm starting to twitch.
    www.disciplerocks.com

  • #2
    answered my own question

    For this year's free agents, timing couldn't be better
    Updated 3/1/2007 7:43 AM ET

    Adalius Thomas could get a big pay day.

    Free agency preview: Weak crop producing buyer-beware market

    By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY
    Timing is everything.
    That axiom rings especially true as the NFL's free agency market is set to open at 12:01 a.m. Friday with about 350 players due to become unrestricted free agents. With the market flooded with more money than ever, the road to the bank will be lined in green.

    "That's Thursday night on the West Coast," says San Francisco-based agent Steve Baker. "I expect my cellphone will be buzzing at 9 o'clock."

    FREE AGENTS IN DEMAND: Players looking to cash in

    Baker represents Jeff Garcia, the backup Philadelphia Eagles quarterback who will benefit from the good timing of sparking a playoff drive with a phenomenal second half of the season after filling in for injured Donovan McNabb.

    In a free agent crop that is considered marginal and is even weaker for quarterbacks, Garcia, 37, is suddenly in demand again.

    "December was an amazing experience," Baker said after mentioning the chance to start in the right system, the city and compensation as factors to consider.

    Garcia threw seven touchdown passes with two interceptions during the four game-winning streak the Eagles used to rally to the NFC East title.

    The timing works in different ways for others.

    After the Buffalo Bills kept cornerback Nate Clements off the market last year by designating him a franchise player, he negotiated a one-year deal with a clause that the tag couldn't be used on him again.

    Good move. Clements is a top free agent corner.

    Hints have already been dropped suggesting that Clements can have dinner with the owner or be whisked away on a private jet when the market opens. At least 10 teams are expected to open the market with at least $20 million in salary-cap room.

    "Who knew it would be this big?" agent Todd France says. "It's almost like being recruited again."

    It's a far cry from last year, when the opening of the market was delayed twice as the NFL and players union negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement. Although a new CBA led to a $102 million cap for 2006, it was tougher for some teams to plan for free agency and much money was spent to retain players.

    This year's market has a $109 million cap that is more than 27% higher than it was two years ago — before the NFL struck a new TV deal and extended its collective bargaining agreement with players.

    Thanks to cap decisions made last year, when a new CBA was an uncertainty, more marquee players are under contract and more teams have ample cap room. "You try to keep from being gun-shy," says general manager Phil Savage of the Cleveland Browns, who are about $30 million under the cap. "You want to go ahead and get out there. We've got the cap room to do it."

    "Last year was an entirely different environment," says Drew Rosenhaus, who represents more NFL players than any agent with roughly 100 clients. "Last year, we didn't know when the market was going to open."

    Rosenhaus hopes the timing works for offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, released last week by the New York Giants after an injury-plagued season. Petitgout passed a physical Wednesday for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and joins a thin tackle market.

    "He may not be a first-night deal because teams will want to see how he is physically," Rosenhaus said. "But he will become very hot in this market."

    Baltimore Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas has seen his stock soar for months. The Ravens considered using the franchise player tag that would have guaranteed more than $7.2 million in 2007 to keep him. Thomas earned $1.46 million in 2006.

    "The way we approach it, we come to a threshold of what we think the player's value is in Baltimore," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says. "When it goes beyond that, we don't mind them going out the door. We feel like we can go out and find some more."

    Newsome is a realist.

    "From the time I retired as a player, in every instance I've told every player, 'If you get a chance to make a lot, you should go out and make a lot,' " he said. " 'Your shelf life is so small.' "
    www.disciplerocks.com

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    • #3

      "The way we approach it, we come to a threshold of what we think the player's value is in Baltimore," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says. "When it goes beyond that, we don't mind them going out the door. We feel like we can go out and find some more."
      I guess it's not just Heckert who "sucks" at PR eh?
      "You will dress only in attire specially sanctioned by P.E. special services… You are no longer part of the system. You are above the system, over it, beyond it. We're "them." We're "they." We are the Men in Green."

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      • #4
        Yeah, that shocked me too. The Eagles/Patriots mentality is sweeping the league!
        www.disciplerocks.com

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        • #5
          I'm not getting excited for free agency at all this year compared to past year's. Don't want the big letdown, and I expect us foolishly to do nothing in free agency. I am not saying that we have to break the bank, but if we don't fill 1 or 2 needs in free agency, there is no way we can fill those needs in simply the draft..too many needs to fill. (not in any order)

          1. Cornerback with size
          2. Safety to replace M. Lewis
          3. Outside linebacker to replace D. Jones
          4. Inside linebacker to be Trotter's replacement
          5. Defensive end that can actually play the run and get some pressure.
          6. Defensive tackle with size
          7. WR to replace Stallworth who can stretch the field.
          8. QB of the future

          My fear is doing nothing to the front 7 and having our run defense be horrible again next year.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by mcnabbmcnow
            My fear is doing nothing to the front 7 and having our run defense be horrible again next year.
            I think most of us share that fear. I'm hoping that BP is onto something and the Eagles will go after Mitchell from KC. Trot has nothing left.
            www.disciplerocks.com

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            • #7
              Originally posted by mcnabbmcnow
              I'm not getting excited for free agency at all this year compared to past year's. Don't want the big letdown, and I expect us foolishly to do nothing in free agency. I am not saying that we have to break the bank, but if we don't fill 1 or 2 needs in free agency, there is no way we can fill those needs in simply the draft..too many needs to fill. (not in any order)

              1. Cornerback with size
              2. Safety to replace M. Lewis
              3. Outside linebacker to replace D. Jones
              4. Inside linebacker to be Trotter's replacement
              5. Defensive end that can actually play the run and get some pressure.
              6. Defensive tackle with size
              7. WR to replace Stallworth who can stretch the field.
              8. QB of the future

              My fear is doing nothing to the front 7 and having our run defense be horrible again next year.
              1. Resigning Will James answers this priority.
              2. This will be addressed in the draft IMO (if need be Mikell/Considine can hold down the fort for another year.)
              3. I think Dhani stays next year and I'm okay with that if they can get a better MLB. GoCong will be ready to start in 2008.
              4. Trotter should be cut immediately, IMO he was much worse than Dhani. They need to either find his immediate replacement or a new starter at WILL so Gaither can move to MIKE.
              5. They have 4 guys on the roster(assuming Thomas resigns) who can play, so if they add someone here it will someone cheap or a late round pick mainly just as a camp body.
              6. Agree, but I've wanted this for years. I dunno maybe Rayburn gets cut and they pick up someone, but don't hold your breath.
              7. This will be addressed. Won't be a major acquisition (theres no one out there anyway), but they will pick someone up along the lines of a Kevin Curtis.
              8. AJ Feely?
              Whatcha Gonna Do Brother, When the Eagles run wild on you?

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              • #8
                I don't think Trotter's done, he looked fat and out of shape last year.

                Comment


                • #9
                  If Trot wants to play for us at all next season, even in a limited roll, he needs to weight down at least 25 pounds. He was overweight, and looked slow as molasses at times. I wouldn't even use a roster space on him if he can't drop a significant amount of weight.

                  That being said, Gaither was drafted to play in the middle. If they think he can do that, it gives us a little flexibility, because we can get a MIKE, or a WILL, and use Gaither where we need him. Although I do tend to want them to keep him at WILL for two reasons. One, he looked really good last year, and WILL has been an issue for years. And, two, it keeps McCoy on the bench where he belongs.

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