2012 NFL Free Agents: Drew Brees and Big Names Who Won't Move

You know what sucks all the fun out of free agency, especially in the NFL? Players and teams that are loyal to each other.

I know, it's a terrible thing, am I right? No?

I guess stability for franchise stars can be (and often is) a good thing. Just ask these three guys, all of whom are bound for big paydays with their current clubs.

Drew Brees

Riddle me this, riddle me that, what would it take for Drew Brees to ditch Who Dat?

In short, an earth-shattering deal and/or another team moving to New Orleans. Brees is as tightly bound to the community in the Big Easy as just about any NFL player is to any city, supporting a number of local charities and earning distinction as Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 2010 for his work in helping the city to rebuild and recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

On the field, he's been nothing short of a rousing success, teaming up with head coach Sean Payton to become arguably the most important free-agent acquisition in league history while leading the Saints to four playoff appearances in six seasons, including the franchise's first championship in 2010.

There will be no shortage of teams willing to break the bank for Brees (i.e. the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins), but in the end, expect the most prolific single-season passer in NFL history to choose the Bayou over beaucoup bucks.

Ray Rice

Ray Rice has yet to truly reap the benefits of his two Pro Bowl and All-Pro appearances, since he's still working under his rookie contract.

That all figures to change this spring, when Rice hits the open market. You can bet there will be more than a few GMs and owners with their checkbooks on the table, waiting for an offensive weapon of Rice's running and receiving ability to name his price.

Whether Rice will be willing to listen is another story entirely. Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome figures to be on the phone with Rice's people as soon as free agency starts, looking to lock down the one player around whom his team's offense gravitates.

That is, unless anyone thinks Joe Flacco can do much anything on his own. If you think the Ravens have trouble moving the ball consistently now, just wait until they're without a running back who can consistently run for 1,000 yards and catch for another 500 yards or so.

Newsome isn't likely to pursue such a desolate future. Neither should anyone anticipate Rice ditching Baltimore so long as Ray Lewis, his mentor and closest friend on the team, is still in town. 

Mario Williams

Don't be fooled by Mario Williams' torn pectoral muscle. Despite the season-ending injury, Williams figures to be among the most coveted free agents on the defensive side of the ball.

That's to be expected for a two-time Pro Bowler who can play linebacker or rush end and who racked up five sacks in five games before going down with the aforementioned malady.

Even so, the market for Williams' services figures to be at least slightly depressed on account of his needed recovery. The Texans defense didn't miss Williams all that much, not with the way rookies J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed stepped up in his absence.

But don't expect their emergence to necessarily deter GM Rick Smith from keeping Williams on board. If anything, Williams' return, combined with Houston's new-found depth in the pass rush, will render Wade Phillips' defense that much more dominant and keep the Texans on the path to a Super Bowl berth.

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