It's tampering time! One of the new wrinkles of the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011 was the storm before the storm...
It's tampering time!
One of the new wrinkles of the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011 was the storm before the storm where NFL free agency is concerned.
You see, before the madness kicks off in earnest on Tuesday, there's a "legal tampering" period, beginning at noon Eastern on Saturday.
Essentially, teams can do everything except sign on the dotted line.
In other words, the stuff they used to do, only now it's legal.
The tampering period, as one would expect, leads to all sorts of rumors and speculation from the media and fans alike, as people try to connect the proverbial dots as to where this year's top free agents might land.
So, as former Pro Bowlers such as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen get set to move on to the next stages of their NFL careers, be sure to check back here throughout the weekend for the latest free-agency scuttlebutt.
- The four-year, $39 million contract signed by Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields on Saturday must have been music to the ears of free agent corner Alterraun Verner.In fact, Verner is so confident in a robust market for his services that he doesn't plan to schedule any team visits and says he'll "likely sign shortly after market opens on Tuesday," according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.Of course, that may mean a new deal is all but already done. After all, Jim Wyatt of The Nashville Tennessean reports the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets have all reached out to the 25-year-old.
- From the moment the Cleveland Browns chose not to apply the franchise tag to safety T.J. Ward, pundits across the land posited that could portend the cap-flush Browns making a run at free agent safety Jairus Byrd of the Buffalo Bills.However, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the first day of the "legal tampering" period came and went without the Browns making any effort to contact Byrd's camp.Read into that what you will.
- The Minnesota Vikings have been busy on Sunday.In addition to inking defensive end Everson Griffen to a five-year, $42.5 million extension Sunday, the team also signed linebacker Jasper Brinkley to a one-year deal, according to Mike Garafalo of Fox Sports.The 28-year-old, who played for the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, had 99 tackles as a 15-game starter at middle linebacker for the Vikings in 2012.
- It looks like Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson may be breaking with tradition and actually spending some money in free agency this year.The Packers are reportedly sniffing around a pair of free agent defensive ends.According to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, the Packers (and every other team in the NFL, apparently) have expressed interest in Arthur Jones of the Baltimore Ravens, while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports the Packers have also sent out feelers to LaMarr Houston of the Oakland Raiders.
- Offensive tackles such as Branden Albert of the Kansas City Chiefs and Eugene Monroe of the Baltimore Ravens may be hogging all the headlines in free agency, but there are other options available to teams looking for help up front.One of those players, Anthony Collins of the Cincinnati Bengals, has drawn interest from the Washington Redskins, according to Mike Jones of The Washington Post.The 28-year-old Collins, who started 14 games at left tackle for the Bengals a year ago, graded out as the 24th-best offensive tackle in the NFL in 2013 at Pro Football Focus.That was four spots higher than Albert.
- Well, so much for all that talk of Michael Johnson to the Minnesota Vikings.According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Vikings have signed defensive end Everson Griffen to a "huge" five-year contract extension.With the 26-year-old Griffen (who had 27 tackles and 5.5 sacks last year) and Brian Robison now both signed to large deals, it looks like the Vikings are out of the bidding for high-end DE.That also means that if there were any lingering doubts about Jared Allen's departure, they can be put to rest. He's a goner.
- Sad news for the NFL.As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk reports, Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford Sr. has passed away at the age of 88.“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of Mr. Ford and extend our deepest sympathies to Mrs. Ford and to the entire Ford family,” Lions President Tom Lewand said in a statement. “No owner loved his team more than Mr. Ford loved the Lions. Those of us who had the opportunity to work for Mr. Ford knew of his unyielding passion for his family, the Lions and the city of Detroit.”Ford purchased the Lions in 1963. The youngest son of Edsel Ford, and the last surviving grandchild of Henry Ford, Ford was also the largest single shareholder in the Ford Motor Co..
- Last year, the New England Patriots chose to let Tom Brady's favorite target in the passing game walk in free agency. The results were fine for Wes Welker, who played in the Super Bowl with Denver, but the New England passing attack suffered badly as a result.If Mike Giardi of Comcast SportsNet Northeast is to be believed, the team isn't going to make the same mistake this year with Julian Edelman.Giardi tweeted "According to team source, there's strong push in (building) to keep Edelman. Coaches love his work ethic & production as dual threat."The 27-year-old had 105 catches for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns in 2013.
- It's no secret the Houston Texans need a quarterback, and for weeks speculation as raged as to which of this year's top passer prospects the Texans might draft first overall.However, while speaking with Adam Lefkoe, Bleacher Report NFL National Lead Writer Matt Miller passed along word the Texans may have a "Plan B" in mind: drafting South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney first overall while trading for New England Patriots backup Ryan Mallett.However, Houston Chronicle beat writer John McClain doesn't see it happening,tweeting "I told you last week Texans wouldn't be signing Matt Cassel. And they won't be trading for Ryan Mallett, either."
- I mentioned on Saturday that Baltimore Ravens defensive end Arthur Jones was expected to receive significant interest in free agency.Sure enough, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun reports "Jones has already drawn interest from the Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and other NFL teams, according to league sources."Wilson also reported that Jones all but said his goodbyes to fans in Baltimore."It's crazy to think this maybe my very last happy purple Friday wishes," Jones wrote Friday on Twitter. "Hopefully not. But as we all know business is business."
- Dallas Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer played all of one game in 2013, but that hasn't hurt interest in the 30-year-old.Spencer, who had 11 sacks as an outside linebacker in 2012 before missing all of last year with a knee injury, has "nearly 7 teams interested in him,"according to ESPN Dallas' Calvin Watkins."Nearly 7?" I believe the word you were looking for is "six."
- It's time to get the Sunday updates rolling.T.J. Ward of the Cleveland Browns and Jairus Byrd of the Buffalo Bills may be the crown jewels of this year's free agent class at safety, but it appears there may be even more interest in a player with a lower sticker price.According to Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer, the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles are both showing considerable interest in free agent safety Mike Mitchell.The 26-year-old Mitchell, who had 66 tackles and four interceptions for the Carolina Panthers in 2013, has also drawn interest from the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons according to Rotoworld.
- One of the contributing factors in the Atlanta Falcons free-fall last year was an offensive line that ranked 24th in the NFL in 2013 in run blocking.The Falcons are apparently intent on improving in that regard. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports the Falcons "have an extremely high degree of interest" in free agent guard Jon Asamoah.The 25-year-old Asamoah, who ranked 20th among guards in the NFL at Pro Football Focus in 2013, is in heavy demand, with Wilson writing "The New York Jets are among several NFL teams also interested in Asamoah, who's expected to be in heavy demand as a healthy young blocker in his prime."
- As we mentioned earlier, the Tennessee Titans are reportedly gauging the trade value of running back Chris Johnson.According to what Bleacher Report NFL National Lead Writer Mike Freeman told Adam Lefkoe, not only is there no trade market, but a "lazy" Johnson may have a hard time finding takers in free agency even if he's released.
- Baltimore Ravens defensive end Arthur Jones quietly had a very solid season in 2013, topping 50 tackles, chipping in four sacks and grading 12th among 3-4 ends at Pro Football Focus.That performance didn't go unnoticed by NFL teams.According to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, the New York Giants have expressed interest in the 27-year-old, joining the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots (per Rotoworld) as potential suitors for the 27-year-old.
- As I mentioned just a little while ago, the Cleveland Browns are expected to be very active in free agency this year.Bleacher Report's Adam Lefkoe and NFL Analyst Chris Simms examined the latest buzz surrounding the Browns in free agency, including a very interesting target at wide receiver in New England's Julian Edelman.
- More cap casualties.According to Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic, the Cardinals have released Daryn Colledge, who started all 16 games at left guard for the Redbirds in 2013.The 32-year-old Colledge, who ranked 39th among guards last year at Pro Football Focus, was owed $4.6 million in base salaries over the next two seasons.
- Let the Jairus Byrd talk commence!It's actually a bit surprising it took this long. It may be that Byrd's reported contract demands may have cooled interest in a player widely considered one of this year's top free agents.Whatever the case, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that among the teams that inquired about the Pro Bowler Saturday was the St. Louis Rams, a move Rapoport called "unexpected and interesting."With only about $10.5 million in cap space according to Spotrac, the Rams would have to get creative to find the coin for Byrd, but free safety is a position of need in the Gateway City this offseason.
- On paper, it would appear that there's no team who should be more active in free agency this year than the Cleveland Browns, with tons of cap space and holes all over the offense.The biggest of course, is at quarterback, and while the Browns are fully expected to address the position early in the 2014 NFL draft Tom Reed of The Northeast Ohio Media Group suggests the Browns could also look to sign a veteran "bridge" option.Chicago's Josh McCown is mentioned as a possible candidate, along with Houston's Matt Schaub and Washington's Rex Grossman.As an aside, as a Browns fan if they sign Rex Grossman I have absolutely no doubt he will be the Week 1 starter, because the universe apparently isn't nearly finished torturing us yet.
- From the wishful thinking files.Jim Wyatt of The Nashville Tennessean tweeted Saturday he "suspect(s) theTitans are gauging trade interest for RB Chris Johnson."Granted, the 28-year-old has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his six NFL seasons, and Johnson is one of a handful of tailbacks to eclipse 2,000 yards on the ground in a season.However, Johnson averaged fewer than four yards a carry in 2013, he still has three years left on his $55 million contract and rumors have been rampant for weeks that the Titans plan to release him.Oh yeah, that should help drum up trade value.
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