NFL Rumors: Identifying the Biggest Rumor Linked to Every Team

The 2011 free agent class was one of most talent-filled classes in league history. This year's class isn't as deep, but it comes pretty close.

Teams had significantly less time than normal to negotiate contracts last offseason, creating one of the most action-packed free agency periods in recent memory.

A large chunk of talented players were forced to settle for one-year arrangements. Contract-year players who normally would've received multi-year deals played out their final seasons.

With all the talent available, there is of course a windfall of rumors that follow behind them. In this article, I will aim to pinpoint the biggest rumor linked to each team

2012 free agency opens on the afternoon of March 13th, so I hope this helps hold you all over until then.

Arizona Cardinals

The biggest rumor linked to the Arizona Cardinals is a name that will be read many times throughout this article. Are the Cardinals ready to end the Kevin Kolb experiment and hand the keys over to Peyton Manning?

The idea worked before when the team brought in Kurt Warner and surprisingly ended up in a Super Bowl. There's no reason to think that Manning couldn't replicate those results with maybe a better outcome in the big game.

Atlanta Falcons

Since signing with the Falcons in 2006, Abraham has been a sack master.

However, with Abraham's contract up at age 33 and him requesting $12 million-plus a year in his next deal, things don't appear destined to work out between the two sides.

Expect to see Abraham to in a new jersey next season.

Baltimore Ravens

Ravens' GM Ozzie Newsome has a couple major contract issues to deal with in the form of the team's two most important offensive players.

Joe Flacco, who is still on his rookie contract, is seeking a contract that would pay him like a top-five quarterback.

Running back Ray Rice isn't looking to be re-signed on the cheap either, as he is seeking a Adrian Peterson-like contract.

Fat chance getting those contracts boys, but those demands are sure to make things difficult on Newsome.

Buffalo Bills

Negotiations between the Bills and No. 1 wide receiver Stevie Johnson are reportedly heating up with the receiver not seeking as big a payday as originally expected.

Getting the receiver signed will allow the team to focus on its other roster holes heading into free agency.

Carolina Panthers

With linebacker Jon Beason set to return from injury, 26-year-old Dan Connor is sure to be allowed to explore his options after playing his way into bigger payday than the team can afford.

Connor will join a fairly loaded crop of ILB in free agency but has teams interested in his services.

Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler may finally have a big target to throw to next season at receiver instead of the team's current corps of small-fry speed guys.

Coach Lovie Smith suggested the team will target an option either through the draft or free agency.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cedric Benson will be getting his walking papers come March 13th, leaving Bernard Scott as the top option at running back. That doesn't sound like a promising option to even the most optimistic Bengals fan.

Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden made it evident that the team plans to address the position in either free agency or the upcoming draft.

Cleveland Browns

Although the Browns appear to be in the best position to make a deal with the St. Louis Rams for the second pick in the draft, it doesn't seem as though Cleveland is interested.

If this rumor is true prepare for another season with Colt McCoy, whom coach Pat Shurmur has been complimentary of, at the helm.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are looking to be major players in free agency this offseason and have their eyes set on the market's top two cornerbacks in Cortland Finnegan and Brandon Carr.

The team continued to struggle with pass defense in 2011 and are ready to handle the situation once and for all.

The Cowboys have also been linked to the previously mentioned Dan Connor.

Denver Broncos

Broncos VP of Football Operations John Elway continues to be noncommittal about Tim Tebow being the team's starting quarterback.

The team intends to bring in two more quarterbacks to compete with Tebow during the offseason.

Detroit Lions

There are not a lot of rumors coming out of Detroit. Most of them have the team being linked to former players of Jim Schwartz and this is no exception.

The Lions have been said to be interested in Titan's cornerback Cortland Finnegan, but ultimately his price tag may be too high for Detroit to afford.

Green Bay Packers

A couple of league sources have reported on ESPN radio that the Packers could receive a second-round draft pick for Matt Flynn if the team places its franchise tag on him.

Green Bay pulled off a similar move in 2008 when the team tagged and traded defensive tackle Corey Williams to the Browns.

Houston Texans

While some might expect Mario Williams to be the subject of the Texans' biggest rumor, instead it's the team's expected focus on wide receivers heading into the offseason.

After Andre Johnson missed more than half the season, and with him set to turn 31 before next season begins, the Texans have finally realized the team's lack of depth at receiver.

There are rumors that the team is looking to select a wideout with its first-round pick in April.

Indianapolis Colts

According to SI.com's Peter King, more than one GM at the Scouting Combine suggested that the Colts' offer of a five-year, $35 million deal to Pierre Garcon was turned down because he wants to see where Peyton Manning ends up playing.

If Garcon leaves along with Wayne, expected new starting QB Andrew Luck will suffer through a season with a dearth of talent on offense in 2012.

Jacksonville Jaguars

After the Jaguars were so aggressive in signing free agents last season many fans might expect that to be the norm every year.

The Jaguars signed linebackers Paul Posluszny and Clint Session, safety Dawan Landry, defensive end Matt Roth and nickel cornerback Drew Coleman. 

The team has many needs again this season, but GM Gene Smith has stated that last season's offseason signings were "atypical" of what people should expect in the future.

Kansas City Chiefs

New Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel wasn't too supportive of starting quarterback Matt Cassel this week saying, "Until we get another quarterback on the team, Cassel is the guy."

Ouch. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Crennel has also made comments pertaining to the team pursuing Peyton Manning and Chad Henne (which could bring on tampering charges), and even Jason Campbell has been linked to the team.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are reportedly looking to trade up to the second overall pick in the draft for Robert Griffin III, but there's another quarterback the team is said to be pursuing.

SI.com's Peter King reports Peyton Manning would like to be courted as part of a package deal with longtime teammate Reggie Wayne and names the Dolphins as one of the teams interested and capable of pulling off the feat.

Peyton throwing to a corps of Brandon Marshall and Wayne and being in the same division as Tom Brady? Sounds like an NFL storyline miracle.

Minnesota Vikings

With the draft expected to go Luck and RG3 one-two, the Vikings are left pondering whether to select the drafts best offensive tackle or fill another positional need.

The team drafted Bryant McKinnie seventh overall in 2002, and things didn't pan out as hoped. McKinnie wasn't a bust, but he was not worthy of such a high selection.

That selection could sway the team to draft the best player available rather than fill a need that isn't the team's top priority.

New England Patriots

The Patriots are expected to use their franchise tag on Wes Welker, costing the team $9.4 million if accepted.

However, there is the potential for Welker to holdout, and he has a major bargaining chip in his favor. Over the last five seasons, Welker has averaged 111 receptions and 1221 yards.

He is easily the most utilized receiver in the league and obviously Tom Brady's favorite target. If the Patriots were to let Welker walk, what would that do to the Pats offense?

I don't think anyone in the New England area is eager to find out.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are struggling to make any headway in negotiating with any of the team's top unrestricted free agents.

I have absolutely no doubt that Drew Brees will be re-signed in due time, but Carl Nicks, Robert Meachem and Marques Colston are also set to hit the market, and the team isn't close to getting a deal done with any of them.

There is expected to be a lot of interest if any of these guys hits free agency, so the Saints need to work fast or suffer the consequences. 

New York Giants

The savior of the Giants game-winning drive in Giants/Patriots II has declared himself 50/50 to return to the team in 2012.

Clark Judge of CBS Sports thinks the likelihood that Mario Manningham plays in New York next season is zilch.

It's apparently a curse to make game-saving catches in the Super Bowl if you play for the Giants.

New York Jets

We all know that Rex Ryan and the Jets would like to bring Peyton Manning to their franchise, but I just can't see how the feeling would be mutual.

Another quarterback linked to the team, Chad Henne, is an actual possibility and could take over the starting job. 

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have almost nothing in the way of draft picks and are about $22 million over the salary cap, meaning there is just about no news coming out of the rumor mill in Oakland.

But the salary cap issue pretty much guarantees that Michael Bush would be brought back to spell the oft-injured Darren McFadden and also makes it unlikely for the coveted Tyvon Branch to return as well.

Philadelphia Eagles

The biggest news in Philadelphia is that the team is willing to listen to trade offers for DeSean Jackson and Asante Samuel.

Jackson is consistently in the headlines for being a headache in the locker room, while Samuel is being offered up due to a logjam at the position and schematic change defensively.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers released 14-year vet Hines Ward yesterday and still don't appear capable of re-signing Mike Wallace. Don't forget about the departure of Bruce Arians to the Indianapolis Colts.

What does all this mean for the Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers?

It's the end of a pass-heavy era in Pittsburgh and could mark the return of a much more run-oriented offense that is more characteristic of the franchise historically.

San Diego Chargers

Boy, letting Darren Sproles go in free agency sure looks stupid now. Now Mike Tolbert is set to hit the market and doesn't seem likely to return.

With that said GM AJ Smith is expected to pursue Cadillac Williams to pair with Ryan Matthews for the upcoming season, according to the same article.

San Francisco 49ers

When you have season like the 49ers just had there aren't going to be a lot of rumors coming out about your team. 

Hard-hitting safety Dashon Goldson is a free agent, and the team is expected to use its franchise tag on him, costing the team about $6 million.

Seattle Seahawks

ESPN's John Clayton reports that the Seahawks will be the lead pursuers of DE/OLB Mario Williams when March 13th rolls around.

They will, of course, have some fierce competition for Williams' services, but, as of now, the Seahawks are the frontrunners.

St. Louis Rams

If you don't know what rumor is associated with the Rams, you're just not paying attention.

Obviously, the Rams have the No. 2 pick in the draft and are up for auction in the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs have more than $60 million in cap space to do some tinkering (or full-scale overhauling) with this offseason.

They have been linked to Carl Nicks, Mario Manningham and Curtis Lofton. Look for there to be many new faces in Tampa Bay when the 2012 season begins.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans surprised a lot of people by going 9-7, but they have a lot of holes to fill this offseason.

It looks as though the team is going for some wholesale changes in the secondary, allowing longtime starters Cortland Finnegan, Chris Hope and Michael Griffin to go freely.

Expect the Titans to take their same calculated approach to their free agent signings despite having more than $30 million in cap space. 

Washington Redskins

The Redskins are always aggressive going after a player they want, and this year is no different.

The Redskins are prepared to deal two first-round picks and other selections to the Rams to move up to the second overall pick.

Washington has the sixth overall pick, and the team reportedly covets Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, according to the Washington Post.