So The Superbowl is Over (Unofficial 2007 NFL Draft/Free Agency Thread)

[miami_fan]

I know the Bears were burned when they extended Dick Jauron's contract. This is getting ridiculous now.

[albionmoonlight]

The league has to love the fact that one of the two "First Black Coaches to Reach the Super Bowl" is going to end up as the worst paid coach in the league and possibly allowed to reach coaching free agency.

Way to turn a positive PR story on its head in less than a month.

[RedKingGold]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

The league has to love the fact that one of the two "First Black Coaches to Reach the Super Bowl" is going to end up as the worst paid coach in the league and possibly allowed to reach coaching free agency.

Way to turn a positive PR story on its head in less than a month.

Well, I think Lovie still has one more year to go on his contract which might be one of the reasons for the stalemate.

However, when your coach (black, white, red, whatever color) takes your team to a Super Bowl, he deserves $5 million a year.

[albionmoonlight]

Charles Grant is unhappy with the Franchise Tag

http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index...960.xml&coll=1

This makes him just like every player to ever receive the franchise tag.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Charles Grant is unhappy with the Franchise Tag

http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index...960.xml&coll=1

This makes him just like every player to ever receive the franchise tag.

Agreed. Cory Redding wasn't happy either.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Charles Grant is unhappy with the Franchise Tag

http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index...960.xml&coll=1

This makes him just like every player to ever receive the franchise tag.

A one year 8.4 million dollar contract is not chump change. What's he expecting, 20 million to sign? He should take out some insurance to cover a career ending injury and roll with it. There's little chance of him getting tagged again, but if he does it will be for like 10 million. 20 million guaranteed over 2 years is not chump change....most of those big contracts end up with the player not seeing the last 3 years anyways.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

Ravens LB Adalius Thomas was not franchised yet. Interesting.

If Thomas hits free agency, I'd have to think he'll be landing the biggest FA contract this year.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

No surprise here, but the Raiders just cut Aaron Brooks to avoid a 5 million roster bonus.

[RedKingGold]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

If Thomas hits free agency, I'd have to think he'll be landing the biggest FA contract this year.

And I'd bet it'd be with the 49er's.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by RedKingGold

And I'd bet it'd be with the 49er's.

Agreed. Word is he wants a $15 million bonus.

[miami_fan]

Thomas is going to be a free agent.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Yep, Ravens confirmed it. Let the bidding begin. I believe he will sign fast and for huge dough, setting the playing field for the free agency period.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Seahawks franchise K Josh Brown. That guy was money last season.

[finkenst]

Originally Posted by stevew

A one year 8.4 million dollar contract is not chump change. What's he expecting, 20 million to sign? He should take out some insurance to cover a career ending injury and roll with it. There's little chance of him getting tagged again, but if he does it will be for like 10 million. 20 million guaranteed over 2 years is not chump change....most of those big contracts end up with the player not seeing the last 3 years anyways.

is it guaranteed 8.4m? Can't be cut? or you get 8.4m if you sign the offer?

i guess this is a difference between us people who will only earn $4-5m over our professional lifetimes and those who earn more than that in half a year...

[Logan]

Originally Posted by finkenst

is it guaranteed 8.4m? Can't be cut? or you get 8.4m if you sign the offer?

i guess this is a difference between us people who will only earn $4-5m over our professional lifetimes and those who earn more than that in half a year...

I think franchise offers are guaranteed. This would prevent a team from designating a player, keeping him away from FA...meanwhile, everyone else gets signed, cap room is filled, and you cut the guy leaving him with nothing and nowhere to go.

Edit: I could also be 110% wrong.

[miami_fan]

Who is more likely to play in the NFL next year? Aaron Brooks or Pacman Jones

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Logan

I think franchise offers are guaranteed. This would prevent a team from designating a player, keeping him away from FA...meanwhile, everyone else gets signed, cap room is filled, and you cut the guy leaving him with nothing and nowhere to go.

Edit: I could also be 110% wrong.

As soon as the tender is signed/accepted, it becomes guaranteed. Usually, though, the players don't sign it right away, and opt to wait until the last minute to report. And in that meantime, the team can opt to remove the designation. Corey Simon got his pulled at the last possible minute a few years back by the Eagles.

[molson]

Corey Dillon is going to ask for his release from the Patriots, and he's planning on retiring. He was quite the steal for the Pats, but definitly looked slow in the playoffs.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by stevew

As soon as the tender is signed/accepted, it becomes guaranteed. Usually, though, the players don't sign it right away, and opt to wait until the last minute to report. And in that meantime, the team can opt to remove the designation. Corey Simon got his pulled at the last possible minute a few years back by the Eagles.

This is correct. Fully guaranteed once it is signed. But they only sign if they intend to report, otherwise the player is in contract breach and subject to fines if they don't report. Walter Jones made a cool 14-15 million in two years and never even had to endure a training camp. Two years in a row he showed up late preseason and signed the tender, happy and ready to go. Of course, he showed up in very good shape.

And some guys are happy to sign, like Charles Woodson did with Oakland. They franchised him hoping to trade him, and he signed right away for a whopper franchise salary number. This put Oakland in a pickle because they weren't really budgeting him for that. He ended up playing the season for them anyways. So, while most don't like the tag, some players are actually ok with it. Also, as we have seen with Nate Clements and Shaun Alexander, they were ok with the tag too as long as the team agreed not to franchise them a second time.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Who is more likely to play in the NFL next year? Aaron Brooks or Pacman Jones

My money is on Aaron Brooks.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

My money is on Aaron Brooks.

ditto

[stevew]

Browns win toss, will pick third
Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
02.23.2007

INDIANAPOLIS -- There was good news for the Browns Friday morning as they won the coin toss with Tampa Bay and will pick third overallin April's NFL Draft.

The teams gathered at 7:45 a.m. to toss the coin. Tampa Bay's representative called heads, and the coin came up tails.

The toss was necessary because both teams finished with identical 4-12 records and identical opponents' winning percentages.

The Browns also won a combine coin flip tiebreaker in 2002 with Atlanta for the 16th overall pick.

Stay tuned to ClevelandBrowns.com throughout the day for more from the combine.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by stevew

Browns win toss, will pick third
Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
02.23.2007

INDIANAPOLIS -- There was good news for the Browns Friday morning as they won the coin toss with Tampa Bay and will pick third overallin April's NFL Draft.

The teams gathered at 7:45 a.m. to toss the coin. Tampa Bay's representative called heads, and the coin came up tails.

The toss was necessary because both teams finished with identical 4-12 records and identical opponents' winning percentages.

The Browns also won a combine coin flip tiebreaker in 2002 with Atlanta for the 16th overall pick.

Stay tuned to ClevelandBrowns.com throughout the day for more from the combine.

Of course, they also lost their former #6 overall pick to microfracture surgery:

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs....30325/1013/SPT

It really is like the team is cursed or something.

They can't get two pieces of good news in a row.

[stevew]

He's a fucking soldja, microfracture ain't shit when you got tennessee gunning for your legs.

Kellen Winslow at 90% is still the best TE in the league.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

They can't get two pieces of good news in a row.

Incremental sentence posting led us to this, ladies and genetlemen.

[stevew]

PacMan hired Ray Lewis's lawyers. He should be clear sailing from here on out.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by stevew

PacMan hired Ray Lewis's lawyers. He should be clear sailing from here on out.

I wonder if that firm specializes in defending posse-related crimes. It would be a boutique practice for certain.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I wonder if that firm specializes in defending posse-related crimes. It would be a boutique practice for certain.

I wasn't joking actually.

from aolsportsblog thing...

Pacman Jones has apparently decided that it's time to lawyer up. Although he does not face any charges from a triple shooting that occurred Monday morning at a Las Vegas strip club, he has decided there is no better law firm to have on your side than the firm of Garland, Samuel & Loeb, P.C. of Atlanta.

Never heard of them? Actually you probably have. They're the firm that defended Ray Lewis after he was charged with murder after two men were killed in a fight involving members of Lewis' entourage. Lewis' murder charges were eventually pled down to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing justice that carried no jail time. Now the same firm will be representing Jones if he has to face any more questions from the Las Vegas police.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by stevew

I wasn't joking actually.

I didn't think you were (though I was). I read the same thing on profootballtalk.com.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Adam Schefter is reporting that Dwight Freeney has asked for a $30 MILLION signing bonus from the Colts. And an average of $9 million per year for the contract. Obviously, that's a starting position, but good god, that's $3 million less than Peyton's signing bonus just 2 years ago!

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

Adam Schefter is reporting that Dwight Freeney has asked for a $30 MILLION signing bonus from the Colts. And an average of $9 million per year for the contract. Obviously, that's a starting position, but good god, that's $3 million less than Peyton's signing bonus just 2 years ago!

Wow.

[flere-imsaho]

If he had as many sacks and Manning had TDs, then maybe.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

Adam Schefter is reporting that Dwight Freeney has asked for a $30 MILLION signing bonus from the Colts. And an average of $9 million per year for the contract. Obviously, that's a starting position, but good god, that's $3 million less than Peyton's signing bonus just 2 years ago!

Good lord.

[Kodos]

He's good, but he's not worth anywhere near that kind of money.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Bills reportedly shopping RB Willis McGahee (in the last year of rookie contract) for trade. Giants show interest. Looks like the Bills anticipate future problems with McGahee and looking to get something for him now.

Corey Dillon reportedly requested his release from Patriots when FA starts. Patriots likely to grant his request. Dillon is said not to want to be a backup and mulling retirement if can't start anywhere. No surprise here. Despite his 13 TDs last season, he looked out of shape and a little disinterested.

[Ksyrup]

I wasn't sure whether to put this in the "are you smarter than a 5th grader?" thread or here, but I guess it belongs here. Keep in mind that this is from an FSU blog, which is why it's a more entertaining read than the subject otherwise deserves, but the general news is still relevant to the draft:


Chris Leak- dumber than a shovel?


For those of you unfamiliar with the yearly cattle call known as the NFL Draft combine, allow me to impart some knowledge before telling you just how dumb former Gator quarterback Chris Leak might actually be.

The Wonderlic test is a short exam used to assess a person's problem-solving abilities and general fitness for any number of jobs. Since the 1970s it has been featured prominently at the combine as a quick and easy way to gauge the intelligence of players. It isn't an IQ test or the SAT, and only takes 12 minutes to complete but also can give an indication as to the intellectual horsepower of the 20-something year old young man your football team is going to invest millions of dollars in. Consequently the Wonderlic does carry some weight with some organizations in the NFL. If you would like to convert your Wonderlic score to an IQ estimate, there is a rough equation for this: IQ = 2W + 60, where W is your Wonderlic score. Seems simple enough right? For perspective, the average high school student scores a 27 on the Wonderlic, while most NFL QB prospects rack up a 24.

Now that you're an expert on the intricacies of intelligence testing among the verbose and gifted young men at the NFL Draft combine, let's turn to the subject at hand: one Chris Leak, quarterback, University of Florida. You may remember him as the hero of the Gators' run to the national championship, when he wasn't dodging hate mail from Bull Gators about not being good enough to hold Tim Tebow's garter belt. Chris' time in blue and orange is over for now (ruling out any possible stays in the correctional systems) and like so many young Gators he's trying to escape the sucking vortex of Gainesville as rapidly as possible. In order to do so he's working out for NFL teams in preparation for the NFL Draft. Good for him. There is only one problem with Chris' pro football ambition: he might be too dumb to distinguish a football from his former offensive coordinator, Dan Mullen's head. (which is large and oddly shaped, apropos of nothing) It seems that Leak had a rough time when he tangled with the feared Wonderlic test at the combine over the weekend. He may, in fact, have been talked out of completing the test by his pencil. Whatever the case, when the carnage was done, Chris left plenty to be desired in the testing department.

He scored an 8. Substantiated here. And here. 8. Most Gators have more pairs of jean shorts than that, and at least as many John Deere hats.

That's right, his uniform number is higher than his Wonderlic score. Congratulations son, you are just barely smart enough to be legally eligible for capital punishment. According to our rough formula, you have an IQ of 76. Now, I know this doesn't mean that Chris won't be a successful NFL quarterback, (his lack of pocket presence, nightmares about pass rushers, bed-wetting and diminutive size should hurt him more than being unable to answer simple test questions) but I'm concerned.
Does this mean that UF is not the bastion of higher education we've been led to believe it is? Could it be that Gator athletes such as Joakim Noah and Marcus Thomas are in fact the true intelligentsia around Gainesville?

They had such high hopes for you Chris, but perhaps Brock Berlin and Doug Johnson will save a seat for you in the Pantheon of Forgettable Gator Quarterbacks. Or, maybe one day you'll just wander into a greyhound track and see if they'll let you race alongside some intellectual peers. Whatever the case, I miss you already Chris. Tebow's vacant gaze has nothing on your smiley face that seems to say "I can't figure out how they get the peanut butter into the jar."

[cthomer5000]

dumb question, did Leak leave school early? Did he have another season of eligibilit? If not, these last 4 years absolutely flew by.

[Ksyrup]

No, he was a senior.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Steelers sign DE Aaron Smith to a 4 year extension. He was entering the final year of his deal.

No word on any salary or bonus numbers yet.

Of interesting note though, is apparently the coaching staff feels Smith (6'5", 300 lbs) can play the under tackle position, if/when Mike Tomlin phases out the 3-4 set, and moves the Steelers into a 4-3.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Some reports say Smith got 5 years/25 million. Not sure about the bonus. Huge deal for him.

[stevew]

Smith takes another reasonable contract, which is nice to see. Now it's time to shitcan Porter and move onward.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Ok, this is more accurate information on the Smith contract:

Defensive end Aaron Smith, who was entering the last year of his contract, has signed a four-year extension with Pittsburgh.

The deal, which runs through the 2011 season, is for roughly $25 million and rewrites the final year the 31-year-old Smith's current contract, under which he was due a $1 million roster bonus and a salary of $3.5 million.

The new deal is worth about $12 million between now and next season, including a signing bonus.

[QuikSand]

So, a decent guess might be that Smith's new contract looks something like:

Bonus 6.0
2007 Salary 2.0
2008 Salary 2.0
2009 Salary 4.0
2010 Salary 4.0
2011 Salary 7.0

(to simplify a little and put this into FOF terms, ignoring things like reachable incentives, etc.)

[stevew]

I believe the signing bonus is for nearly 8 million. Essentially they "cap out" his whole entire contract for this year, and then add a 4 year/20 million deal with a 4 million bonus on top of it. I think I can live with it.

[stevew]

dola-

Now it's time to try to work out something with Faneca and Polamalu. Even if they end up paying Polamalu every dollar that Ed Reed got, I can deal with it. He's just that important to the defense. Now Faneca, I would hope will take similar money to Smith, but I don't think he's as much of a given to resign for cheap. A lot will depend on what other interior linemen get this offseason, basically he's like 8 months older than hutchinson, and Hutch got that huge deal last offseason.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by stevew

dola-

Now it's time to try to work out something with Faneca and Polamalu. Even if they end up paying Polamalu every dollar that Ed Reed got, I can deal with it. He's just that important to the defense. Now Faneca, I would hope will take similar money to Smith, but I don't think he's as much of a given to resign for cheap. A lot will depend on what other interior linemen get this offseason, basically he's like 8 months older than hutchinson, and Hutch got that huge deal last offseason.

There is a weekly chat on the Post Gazette website--normally with the editor (Jerry Micco) but this week "guest hosted" by good old Bob Smizik. He fielded my question about those 3 gettings re-signed.

I questioned like you, does Smith's signing preclude them from signing Faneca. He feels all 3 (including Troy) will be given extensions. Take that for what it is worth.

My feeling is that doesn follow the "Steeler Way", but he disagreed saying they will not overpay to keep the guys, but will go after these 3 because they are important to the team.

[JPhillips]

The Bengals are in a similar predicament with Steinbach and they have chosen to let him walk. He's younger than Faneca, but only has two Pro-Bowl alternates. Bengals.com is expecting a 5 to 6 mil per year contract for Steinbach with a large signing bonus. If Steinbach's worth that much, Faneca should really break the bank.

Which brings up the question, how much is an interior lineman worth? The best are getting nearly the same as the top tackles and I don't think they're worth as much.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

but he disagreed saying they will not overpay to keep the guys, but will go after these 3 because they are important to the team.

The problem is that any player who hits the open market will get overpaid this offseason. Lots of unexpected cap room and very few marquee free agents hitting the market means that a lot of second-tier guys will get paid like first tier guys.

And, when first tier guys like Polamalu and Faneca see that, they will likely adjust their extension demands accordingly.

Every team is going to have to deal with the increase in money, and eventually things will seem normal again once we are all used to dealing with the larger numbers. After all, player salaries only really matter as a percentage of the cap anyway.

But, I could see a team like the Steelers, which has always practiced fiscal caution, suffering some short term player defections while teams and agents try to learn the new math.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

The Bengals are in a similar predicament with Steinbach and they have chosen to let him walk. He's younger than Faneca, but only has two Pro-Bowl alternates. Bengals.com is expecting a 5 to 6 mil per year contract for Steinbach with a large signing bonus. If Steinbach's worth that much, Faneca should really break the bank.

I think the Bengals would be just as good off with Whitworth or Andrews, and then let the money be used next year with a better crop of defensive FA's. Or something like that. Steinbach is a very good guard, but it seems to me that it is a lot easier to find a good guard than a good tackle.

[MikeVic]

Jamal Lewis waived by the Ravens:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2783192

Where do you think he'll end up?