NFL FA Roundup

[BettorsChat]

Moss, Culpepper talk about reuniting via free agency

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3273447

Moss welcome back to being nothing again.

[molta02]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3273447

Moss welcome back to being nothing again.

actually, he's close to resigning with the pats.

unreal that everyone is up in arms over this stupid culpepper report.

[BettorsChat]

actually, he's close to resigning with the pats.

unreal that everyone is up in arms over this stupid culpepper report.

If he's smart he will resign with them as he won't do shit with culpepper.

[wayne1218]

Source: Moss, Pats closing in on three-year deal

Source: Moss, Pats closing in on three-year, $27 million deal
ESPN.com news services



The New England Patriots and Randy Moss are finalizing terms on a three-year, $27 million deal, a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.


The two sides are currently in the process of reviewing contract details, the source told ESPN.

On Friday, Moss started to listen to offers from other teams. On Saturday, he explored possibilities with other franchises and even discussed the possibility of reuniting with his former Vikings teammate, Daunte Culpepper, on another team.

After taking a pay cut when he was traded by Oakland to New England in April 2007, Moss had an outstanding season. He set the NFL record with 23 touchdown catches in a season and totaled 98 receptions for 1,493 yards.

He repeatedly has praised quarterback Tom Brady, who has said he wants Moss back.

[wayne1218]

Woody gives Jets four former first-round draft picks on O-line

By Michael Smith
ESPN.com


Having already solidified the left side of their offensive line with the addition of former Steelers standout guard Alan Faneca, the New York Jets have now bolstered their right side, agreeing to terms with former Patriots and Lions lineman Damien Woody to play right tackle, according to sources.


The Jets have spared no expense in improving their offensive line in the first week of free agency. Faneca signed a five-year, $40 million deal that included more than $21 million in guarantees, making him the league's highest paid offensive lineman. Now the Jets have given Woody $25.5 million over 5 years with $11 million guaranteed.

Faneca and Woody, along with left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold, give the Jets four former first round picks along their offensive line.

Woody spent the first five years of his career as a center/guard with the Patriots, so joining the Jets means a reunion with head coach Eric Mangini.

In 2004, Woody signed a six-year, $31 million deal with the Lions, then the largest ever for an interior lineman. Toward the end of a disappointing four-year stint in Detroit, Woody moved out to right tackle and was impressive enough in five starts to earn an even more lucrative contract from the Jets.

[wayne1218]

Bears send Griese to Bucs for draft pick

By John Clayton
ESPN.com


The Chicago Bears, who re-signed Rex Grossman and gave Kyle Orton a contract extension, traded backup Brian Griese to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an undisclosed draft choice.

Griese left the Buccaneers two seasons ago when he signed a five-year contract with Chicago. The 32-year-old Griese started six games in two seasons with the Bears, compared to 16 starts in two seasons with the Bucs.

The Denver Broncos selected Griese in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. He was with Denver for five seasons and also played one season for the Dolphins.

[wayne1218]

Falcons part ways with Dunn after signing Turner

Veteran running back Dunn released by Falcons
ESPN.com news services


ATLANTA -- Warrick Dunn was released by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, one day after the club signed free agent running back Michael Turner.


Rushing To Greatness
With his 10,181 rushing yards during an 11-year career, former Falcons and Buccaneers star Warrick Dunn stands fourth among active running backs.

Player Yards
1. Edgerrin James 11,607
2. Fred Taylor 10,715
3. LaDainian Tomlinson 10,650
4. Warrick Dunn 10,181
5. Shaun Alexander 9,429

Last season, Dunn became the 22nd back in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards. But his days in Atlanta were numbered after the Falcons doled out a six-year contract to Turner.

The contract is worth $34.5 million with approximately $15 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN.com's Michael Smith.

The 33-year-old Dunn had three straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Falcons, helping the team lead the NFL in rushing from 2004-06. He ran for a career-high 1,416 yards in 2005, earning his third Pro Bowl appearance.

But the 11-year veteran found little room to run after the Falcons fired coach Jim Mora and brought in Bobby Petrino. Dunn rushed for just 720 yards and averaged 3.2 yards per carry during a dismal 4-12 season, which was marred by Michael Vick's dogfighting case and Petrino's sudden resignation 13 games into his debut season.

With a new coach and general manager, the Falcons decided to go for a younger running back, signing Turner to team with 24-year-old Jerious Norwood.

"The legacy he leaves in Atlanta will be long-remembered and appreciated by his fellow players, fans and the community," Atlanta owner Arthur Blank said. "In my mind, Warrick will always be part of the Falcons family."

Dunn spent six seasons with the Falcons, finishing as the third-leading rusher in franchise history with 5,979 yards. He was nearly as well known for his charitable work, most notably the "Home For The Holidays" program that helped single parents become first-time homeowners by making the down payment on new furnished homes.

In 2004, Dunn received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

Dunn's final season with the Falcons was largely forgettable. Vick's legal troubles robbed the team of one of its best running threats, and the offensive line struggled to adapt to Petrino's blocking scheme.

But Dunn did join an exclusive club in Week 12, reaching 10,000 yards in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts. For his career, he has 2,484 carries for 10,179 yards and 47 touchdowns, along with 463 receptions for 4,009 yards and 15 TDs.

"Warrick has performed at an extremely high level for a very long time," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "Making moves like this one are never easy. It's tough. But we have to do what we feel is in the best long-term interest of the Falcons."

Dunn spent his first five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, twice rushing for 1,000 yards and earning two trips to the Pro Bowl. He was drafted 12th overall out of Florida State in 1997.

[wayne1218]

Roethlisberger gets more than $36 million in guarantees in new deal

By Michael Smith
ESPN.com

Steelers Reward Big Ben with a Big DealThe Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have agreed to a new eight-year, $102 million contract.

The contract, which includes more than $36 million in guarantees and is easily the largest in team history, places Roethlisberger among the game's highest-paid players. In comparison, Peyton Manning received a $34.5 million signing bonus in his big deal and Michael Vick received $37 million in guarantees from the Falcons in his mega deal.

Roethlisberger now joins Manning, Brett Favre, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb, the suspended Vick and the retired Drew Bledsoe in the $100 million quarterback club.

[wayne1218]

Tight end Crumpler, Titans agree to 2-year deal

By John Clayton
ESPN.com

A late push by the Tennessee Titans was able to give Vince Young a big target, tight end Alge Crumpler, to help him be more efficient at quarterback.

Crumpler agreed to a two-year deal, which the Titans officially announced on Monday. According to the Nashville Tennessean, the deal will be worth $5 million and includes a $1 million signing bonus.


"The thing that stands out when you look at Alge as a player is his production and reliability," Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said in a statement Monday. "He is a complete tight end: a dynamic receiver for the Falcons offense, who also contributed as a blocker to a run offense that ranked first in the league in three of the last four years."

Crumpler was released by the Falcons on Feb. 15.

In the last two days, Crumpler was talking to the Titans and the Seattle Seahawks, but he liked two things about the Titans. He thought Young mirrored some of the positive things he saw from Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. For Vick, Crumpler was a big target who could get open when Vick scrambled, and the tight end could offer the same target for Young.


Secondly, his wife liked what she saw of Nashville and how it would be a nice fit for their family.

Originally, Crumpler was thinking about signing with an NFC South team and having a chance to play the Falcons twice a year. Some of those teams weren't as aggressive in making him offers because they had concerns about his knees, though. The Titans didn't have such concerns and locked him up to a two-year contract Sunday evening.

[wayne1218]

Roundup: Giants replace Wilson with safety Knight

ESPN.com news services


Three days after losing Gibril Wilson to the Oakland Raiders, the Giants found a veteran replacement at safety in Sammy Knight.

Knight is becoming the on-call replacement when a team needs a safety. He's with his fourth team in five years, but the big thing about his Giants deal is that he gets some long-term security. The 32-year-old safety agreed to a three-year, $5.15 million contract that includes $1.25 million to sign.

During his first six seasons with the Saints, Knight was known for his ability to make interceptions and force or recover fumbles. He played two seasons with the Dolphins and two seasons with the Chiefs.

Last year, the Jaguars needed a safety, and he signed with Jacksonville. Knight led the Jacksonville Jaguars with 93 tackles last season. He also had four interceptions and a forced fumble.

Knight added 20 tackles in the postseason, including 13 in the wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He has 42 interceptions during his 11-year NFL career.

[wayne1218]

Associated Press

The San Francisco 49ers signed running back DeShaun Foster, quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan and linebacker Dontarrious Thomas.

Foster spent his first five seasons with the Carolina Panthers, rushing for 3,336 yards and 10 touchdowns in 63 games. The former second-round pick from UCLA will be a backup to Frank Gore in San Francisco, and provides depth for coach Mike Nolan.

[molta02]

pats sign moss. cannot believe what a big deal everyone made about moss/culpepper thing.

are people really that F'n stupid to think he'd leave brady and the pats to reunite with DUANTE FUCKING CULPEPPER???????

the pats hating media can be pretty silly sometimes.

[wayne1218]

Report: Moss was almost an Eagle

ESPN


The Boston Herald is reporting that Randy Moss came within a hair of signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. Quoting a source, the newspaper's Web site said that Moss and the Eagles negotiated throughout the weekend and that Philadelphia thought it had him locked down at one point.

Can you imagine how Patriots fans would've reacted had the Eagles landed cornerback Asante Samuel and Moss in free agency? It appears that the Giants' Super Bowl title has lit a fire underneath the Eagles.

The NFC East would've been unbelievable with T.O., Moss and Plaxico Burress. Donovan McNabb would've had his first viable target since T.O. left town in 2005.

[BettorsChat]

By Michael Smith
ESPN.com

Steelers Reward Big Ben with a Big DealThe Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have agreed to a new eight-year, $102 million contract.

The contract, which includes more than $36 million in guarantees and is easily the largest in team history, places Roethlisberger among the game's highest-paid players. In comparison, Peyton Manning received a $34.5 million signing bonus in his big deal and Michael Vick received $37 million in guarantees from the Falcons in his mega deal.

Roethlisberger now joins Manning, Brett Favre, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb, the suspended Vick and the retired Drew Bledsoe in the $100 million quarterback club.

If Roesthlisberger makes this much how much was Brady's last contract?