Top Available Free Agents for 2009 NFL Training Camps

In studying this list there was one trend that I tended to see.  Despite an increasing salary cap—2009 salary cap set for $127 million per team, which is $10.3 million higher than last year’s figure of $116.7 Million—and league CBA mandated cap relief for signing older players (Seven to Nine Year Veteran—$720,000 but only counts around $445, 000 on the salary cap), the National Football League outside of specialists (kickers, punters, and long snappers) continues to become a young players’ league. 

Lately at cut time, NFL teams would rather keep a younger “developing” player around while telling a veteran (over 6 years in the league), “We don’t need you anymore.” 

NFL head coaches in trying to fill, a too small in my opinion, 53-player roster seem to believe they can “coach-up” a younger player while they learn on special-teams rather then keeping an older guy who will only be able to contribute on about 20 or less snaps a game. 

In looking at the rosters of the two Super Bowl XLII teams, the average ages on each squad was right around 27 years old with the Steelers having only five players over age 33 including their punter (Mitch Berger, 36) and conversely the Cardinals having even less with only four players over that mark.

Future Hall of Famer and former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp recently said of NFL veteran’s dilemma, “It’s not the same for the veterans anymore. The NFL doesn’t need us. In this NFL, the old vets don’t factor in”. 

You hate to see a once quality veteran player trying to hang-on for one more season, but some of the older players on this list still can be a valuable resource to a team.  Nothing can replace the knowledge and leadership that some of these older players bring especially when most NFL lockerrooms are now filled with former college underclassmen. 

Older players are “reliable” and are usually students of the game, just ask the Arizona Cardinals how glad they were when they had veteran quarterback Kurt Warner on their roster when 2006 first rounder Matt Leinhart imploded. 

Warner, age 37, produced a season for the ages throwing for numbers 401-598, 4583 yards, and 30 TDs while leading the NFC West Champion Cardinal to their first Super Bowl.

LB Derrick Brooks, formerly of Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hard to believe after 11 Pro Bowls, being named All-Pro six times, winning one Super Bowl (XXXVII ) and being named Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, that the former Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker cannot find a job. 

Brooks has said “I committed myself to playing one more year”, so all he needs now is an opportunity to return for his 15th season.  Of course at age 36, Brooks is not the same tacking terror that led Tony Dungy’s vaunted defense but his leadership and savvy are immeasurable. 

The former Florida State star is completely healed from a hamstring injury that dogged him in 2008 and I believe in the right system, he can reproduce his ’07 numbers of 84 tackles and 3 forced fumbles in 16 starts. 

Maybe a team running the Tampa 2 defense (Colts or Bears) or a 3-4 team looking for a solid leader (Patriots) will give him a call before he makes his way to Canton.

WR Marvin Harrison, formerly of Indianapolis Colts

Another Canton bound player, who I believe can still get it done in the NFL.  It is surprising to me that other veteran receivers Torry Holt (Jags) and Joey Galloway (Patriots) found homes before Harrison. 

The issue of an alleged gun discharge in Philly went away and Harrison even at age 36 is one of the best route runners in the NFL. Despite battling through injuries and not looking like his old Pro Bowl self at times in 2008, the former 8-time Pro Bowl player 60 catches for 636 yards (10.6 ypc) and 5 TDs. 

Though no longer a No. 1 receiver, Harrison could help move the chains on 3rd downs and help teach younger players. I think he has at least two more years left in him to build on his impressive career numbers (1102 receptions for 14580 yards, 13.2 ypc and 128 TDs). 

Look for one of the myriad of teams looking for a receiver (Vikings, Bears, Titans, Jets, Steelers and Ravens) to bring Peyton’s former main man in for a look.

RB Edgerrin James, formerly of Arizona Cardinals 

This maybe a tough sell as the NFL is definitely “Not For Long” for running backs over thirty years old, even if they are the 11th All-time rusher in NFL History (12,121 yards).