2012 NFL Free Agents: Overrated Players Who Won't Live Up to Hype

Free agents in the NFL can't relax after they get a fat new deal since their contracts aren't guaranteed. This leads to a lot of players being exposed as frauds, either because they weren't that good to begin with or because they decided not to play hard after signing the deal. 

Teams have to do their homework before investing a lot of money in these players, because they are trying to convince their fans that they are going all-in to win. 

There are several factors that go into giving a free agent big money, but it is ultimately on the player to make sure he performs. 

Here are the players that won't live up to their free-agent hype when they get a new contract. 

Matt Flynn, QB

Of all the quarterbacks on the market this offseason, Flynn is probably going to get the biggest contract. He had one great game against Detroit this season and one good game against New England in 2010. Other than those two games, he has done nothing in four years as a backup. 

Teams are so desperate to find a quarterback who can play that they will bite on anyone that completes one pass. That is how Scott Mitchell got a big contract from Detroit in 1994. 

Flynn strikes me as this year's Kevin Kolb—an overhyped quarterback with a few nice moments who is about to get a reality check after signing a big new contract. 

He will not go to another team that has the receivers the Packers do, which is going to expose him as the fraud he is. 

Reggie Wayne, WR

While it is a miracle that Wayne was able to have the success in 2011 that he did without Peyton Manning throwing him the ball, he is no longer a No. 1 receiver.

He is 33 years old and no longer has the speed he did when he was in his prime. There are teams scrambling to find playmaking wide receivers, but you can't sign Wayne and expect him to catch 80 or more passes with double-digit touchdowns anymore. 

An ideal situation for him would be to find a team that has an established No. 1 receiver and nothing else. He will make a terrific complement to an elite receiver for the next two seasons before he hits his decline. 

The only problem is, his pride might not allow him to accept that role. He still thinks he can be a star, and will want to prove it to the rest of the world. 

Marshawn Lynch, RB

You should always beware the player who has a career year when he is about to hit free agency. Lynch had a slow start to 2011, but from the start of October until the end of the regular season, he was one of the most dominant running backs in the league. 

He had 1,204 yards, 13 total touchdowns—12 rushing, one receiving—and was the best offensive weapon the Seahawks had. 

However, it was the first time he ran over 1,000 yards since 2008. He already has five years of wear and tear on his legs, which should deter some teams from overspending to sign him. 

Who is to say that once Lynch gets a long-term contract he won't revert back to being the player he was in 2009 and 2010? In those seasons, he had 1,187 yards and eight touchdowns. Running back is a fickle position, and Lynch has been fickle throughout his career. 

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