Two Weeks of NFL Free Agency

The day after my earlier (like two weeks ago) NFL Free Agency post where I noted the bizarrely high volume of DTs that had been traded, yet another DT was traded.  Marcus Stroud was sent by Jacksonville to Buffalo in exchange for draft picks undisclosed.  Stroud is coming off the IR list following an ankle injury, in turn following a mid-season steroid suspension.

There’s not much point in recapping all the transactions when other places do that better.  What’s interesting to me is guys who have gotten cut and resigned and particularly guys being “returned” to their old teams after going somewhere else.  Let’s see what’s out there:

Jevon Kearse DE - The man once known as “the Freak” because of scary athletic ability at his size was released by Philadelphia and is back to Tennessee, where the younger version of him was a star.

Justin McCareins WR - Released by New York Jets and also back to Tennessee, joining former Southern Cal Wonderboy and indirect Maurice Clarret victim Mike Williams and a bunch of guys in the Titans WR corps.

Ty Law CB - Released by Kansas City.  Has had a great career but he’s aging.

Gus Frerotte QB - Released by St. Louis. The great headbanging journeyman QB is still in the league.  Fifteen seasons and somebody will probably call.

Isaac Bruce WR - Released by St. Louis, signed by San Francisco.  The man who replaced Henry Ellard, and I believe the last Los Angeles Ram still in the NFL,  plays out his string by the Bay, alongside former Notre Dame QB turned not bad WR Arnaz Battle and the disappointing Darrell Jackson.

DeShaun Foster RB - Released by Carolina, signed by San Francisco.  The first guy on this list that I hated in college, because I thought he had no pro game and was hyped to be an NFL star.  Why Carolina waited so long with hoping that he or DeAngelo Williams would be their answer at RB I don’t know.  Just because he’s 230 lbs. and can run a 40 yard straight line in 4.4 seconds shouldn’t mean he gets several years of chances at RB.  Bum gets to compete with former Penn State QB turned RB Michael Robinson to back up Frank Gore.  I think it’s neat the 49ers are collecting QB conversion projects.  They should try to get Ronald Curry and Matt Jones for their WR corps.

David Carr QB - Released by Carolina, signed in New York Giants.  Carr’s injury problems last year led to the amusing spectacle of 44 year old Vinny Testaverde coming off his couch to QB the Panthers.  His signing probably costs a job to two of my favorite back up QBs: former University of Kentucky fat boy Jared (6′4″, 280-290 lbs.) Lorenzen or the 21st Century’s Mike Tomczak, Anthony Wright.

Lorenzo Neal FB - Released by San Diego.  I consider this guy, with apologies to the much younger Dan Kreider, the great blocking FB of this generation.  Ancient though, theoretically might have been blocking for Dalton Hilliard in New Orleans.

Kelly Holcomb QB - Released by Minnesota.  The Mike Tomczak of the early 21st Century, before Anthony Wright took the title, will likely find work again.

Anthony Thomas RB - Released by Buffalo.  The ‘A-Train’ was a big star at Michigan, only so-so as a pro, and has reached the dread age of 30 for NFL RBs.  Unless he becomes a third-down guy, this is probably the end for his NFL career.  Given his previous fame though, is the kind of guy who ends up with the Raiders.

Mike Anderson RB - Released by Baltimore. The high school marching band guy who learned to play football while in the Marine Corps and ultimately got a scholarship to the University of Utah.  It was a great story nine years ago and he got his turn (two actually) in the Bronco’s instant 1K yard season machine, but this is also probably the end of his NFL career.

Javon Walker WR - Released by Denver, signed in Oakland.  I remember when this guy was going to be the next Brett Favre #1 WR in Green Bay.   Then the injuries came.  The Raiders overpaid to get him, but that’s what they’re down to now.

Alge Crumpler TE - Released by Atlanta, signed in Tennessee.  Bizarrely receiver productive for a short TE.  Has experience bailing out a gun-armed, running QB who is a sloppy passer.

Byron Leftwich QB - Released by Atlanta.  ESPN’s Bill Simmons speculated on one of his podcasts that one of the reasons Drew Bledsoe is out of the NFL when older QBs are still finding work, is because Bledsoe has the mobility of a statue.  I wonder if this might drive Leftwich out of the league as well?  Even when healthy he was a bad runner.  Though I wish the best for H.D. Woodson High School’s own.

Joey Harrington QB - Released by Atlanta, re-signed with Atlanta.  The guy who made me start thinking of Jeff Tedford as Steve Spurrier West.  To think University of Oregon/Nike got this guy a billboard in Times Square to hype his Heisman run!  Now he’s competing with Chris Redman and whomever the Falcons draft pick is this year.

Warrick Dunn RB - Released by Atlanta, comes back to Tampa Bay.  Dunn has had an amazing, possibly Hall of Fame quality career, but he’s fading.  Asked for and was granted his release after the Falcons brought in this year’s hot free agent RB Michael “The Burner” Turner from the Chargers.  The Bucs backfield has a bunch of guys coming off injury and Dunn does his best work in a platoon, so he could stick, despite his fading.  Perhaps this is the Bucs’ opportunity to jettison the NFL’s former (though he’s been on good behavior in Tampa) Dean of Domestic Violence, Michael Pittman.

Rod Coleman DT - Released by Atlanta.  Used to be a very good pass rushing DT.  I think he started as a LB; he wore ‘57′ with the Raiders.

Terrence Holt S - Released by Arizona.  Torry Holt’s not as famous brother is on the market.

Trent Green QB - Released by Miami, goes home to St. Louis.  He should hang it up.  Sure, it’s safer as a back up QB, but if the Ram OL implodes again and Marc Bulger gets knocked out it’s going to be dangerous out there for him.  You don’t really want to sign up for concussion number three.  I’m a bit stunned that Todd Collins re-signed with Washington and didn’t get this job to follow Al Saunders.

Samkon Gaddo RB - Released by Miami.  An occasionally decent RB, I like this guy because he’s a nurse.  Well, that’s what his degree (from Liberty University, home of a I-AA program that turns out a surprising number of NFL players) is in, I doubt he’s taken any of the certification and licensing.

Marty Booker WR - Released by Miami, returns to Chicago.  These days he’s the Ordinary Average WR.  Opposite Chris Chambers, he was part of an unusually symmetrical group of stocky starting WRs in Miami, where both guys were 5′11″ and 215 lbs.

Brandon Lloyd WR - Released by Washington, signed by Chicago.  One of the most hated recent Redskins, along with QB Mark Brunell, S Adam Archuleta and PK John Hall.  I hope the Bears have better ideas at WR than him, Booker, Mark Bradley, former Arena Leaguer Rashied Davis and 2005 Belitnikoff Award winner Mike Haas.

Mark Brunell  QB - Released by Washington, signed by New Orleans.  Who are the Saints kidding?  Do they think his arm is back to serviceable after he had last year off?  He certainly can’t run anymore.  Maybe they just want a nice guy (Brunell is hated in Washington for his play or lack thereof, not his personality) in the locker room?

Trent Dilfer QB - Released by San Francisco.  This guy would probably be a better back up then Brunell.  Dilfer is the Ordinary Average QB.  He’s had a respectable, long career, including a Super Bowl win, but with the passing ability he showed in college, I expected more than a strangleball QB.  Jeff Tedford’s first famous disciple.  We shall see if Aaron Rodgers breaks the trend.

Bubba Franks TE - Released by Green Bay.  Former first round pick.  I hated this guy from a fantasy football perspective.  Despite playing for the Packers, I failed to notice he had 54 catches and 7 TDs in 2002, following 9TDs in 2001.  His yardage totals aren’t great and he’s coming off injury.

Kevin Jones RB - Released by Detroit.  Former Virginia Tech star has been an injury-riddled disappointment as a pro.  Should get a look somewhere else.

Kyle Brady TE - Released by New England.  Another guy I hated in college.  Part of the nasty good 1994 Penn State team, he got hyped into the first round due to being a member of that team.  Being a knee-jerk contrarian, I began rooting against him.  Sure he was a good blocker, but he was a very run of the mill receiver and TEs don’t become first round picks just to block.  I forgot he pulled in 64-729-3TD for Jacksonville in 2000, but he’s otherwise a 30 catch a year guy.  I concede that he’s had a good NFL (13 season) career, but I stand by saying that he brought nothing special to the TE position.

Mushin Muhammad WR - Released by Chicago, goes back to Carolina.  Took some incredible years as a possession receiver with the Panthers into a couple of so-so years with the Bears.  Having not-Rex Grossman and not-Brian Greise as QBs might help, unless Jake Delhomme is still a mess.

Lewis Sanders CB - Released by Atlanta.  Former Terrapin, Washington needs CB help, bring him in cheap.

Takeo Spikes LB - Released by Philadelphia.  Used to be a wicked good LB with insane athletic ability, but is now old and coming off an torn rotator cuff.

Derek Smith LB - Released by San Francisco, signed by San Diego.  Starting Redskins MLB back during the early Norv Turner years, wound up with the 49ers and started there for a really long time.  Gets to rejoin good ‘ole Norv in San Diego.

Zach Thomas LB - Released by Miami, signed by Dallas.  I really thought he was going to New England, but he is originally from Texas, so this makes sense.  Unlike Foster and Brady, this guy I rooted for to make it in the NFL since he was short (5′ 10″) and slow (IIRC he clocked a 4.9 at the combine) but had made some unearthly number (like 144 his senior year) of tackles in college.  He’s had an excellent, probable Hall of Fame career as a MLB and is coming off injured reserve.  Sadly, expect him to be just fine for the Cowboys next season, though that concussion is quite a concern.