NFL Offseason Outlook

With only a few days left until the free agency period begins, teams are starting to prepare themselves. Teams are releasing veterans, trades are starting to be put in place, and contracts are even being discussed.

This free agency, however, is going to be different then any others, and that’s because of the veterans that could be out on the market. Guys like Ray Lewis, Deuce McAllister, Fred Taylor, and Marvin Harrison are going to be on different teams next year after being with one team basically their whole careers.

Ray Lewis is sounding more and more likely to be on the market, and he is probably the only veteran out of that group that is going to get a solid contract offer. Derrick Brooks is another veteran linebacker that is going to be looking for a new home this offseason.

With new head coach Raheem Brock taking over, he decided to go younger, and released all of his veterans, including Brooks, Joey Galloway, and Warrick Dunn. Don’t expect them to go out and make a lot of big splash’s though.

They were rumored to go after Albert Haynesworth, but after the Redskins were rumored to make a $100 million contract offer, the Bucs will probably back off of their interest, and go after someone else, or even go with some of the guys they have on the team already, and through the draft.

Deuce and Fred Taylor both can play at a high level, but with the two back system becoming more and more popular today in the NFL, they will most likely be a No. 2 back behind guys like Maurice Jones-Drew, Laurence Maroney, or even Darren Sproles in San Diego.

That’s right, San Diego might have a backfield next year that doesn’t have LaDainian Tomlinson in it. With a record breaking 14 franchise tags being placed this offseason, there has been a lot of controversy that has come after, including LaDainian Tomlinson.

Just a year ago, Tomlinson was considered the best running back in the NFL, now he has a guy on his team that had one good postseason scheduled to make more then him next year.

Not only is Sproles scheduled to make more, but the GM would like Tomlinson to take even more of a pay cut for the Chargers. In Houston, franchise player Dunta Robinson has come out and complained about the Texans front office, and has said that he wont sign his franchise tag.

In the NFL, when one player speaks out, others will usually follow. Now start middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans has come out and lashed the Texans front office as well, saying that they wont even discuss a new contract with him.

In New England, star QB from last year Matt Cassell got the tag placed on him, only to be put right on the trading block. However, the $14 million cap hit that the Patriots are taking if he stays on their roster is minimizing their ability to talk with veterans like Vince Wilfork about a contract extension.

Matt Cassell isnt the only player that is being placed in trade talks. The Vikings and Texans have already completed a trade that will be finalized on Friday, sending QB Sage Rosenfels to the Vikings for a fourth-round draft pick.

This move will pretty much seal the retirement of veteran Gus Frerotte. There are also the big name players that get tossed in trade talks as well, like Terrell Owens, Lito Sheppard, Torry Holt, or Chad Johnson. Ever since the cowboys season ended, there have been talks about whether Owens will stay or go.

The Raiders have come out and said that they can see Owens as a Raider, however owner Jerry Jones is denying all news about Terrell Owens going anywhere. Unlike Owens, veterans like Lito Sheppard, Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, and Derrick Burgess are actively being put on the block, however no teams have come out and expressed interest in any of them.

Some of the players that are planning on becoming free agents on Friday have already expressed where they would like to play, including veterans like Jeff Saturday, Bart Scott, Ray Lewis, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

DeMarcus Ware said in an interview that Ray Lewis wants to wear the star on his helmet. However Lewis hasn’t talked much about where he would like to play. Since the Ravens entered the NFL about a decade ago, Lewis has been the heart and soul of that franchise.

He has led them to a Super Bowl win and many other postseason runs. Baltimore fans do not want to see him go, however with many other free agents that the team has to resign, its sounding more and more like he will be gone.

Fellow Raven linebacker has basically set his mind on two teams, the Miami Dolphins, and playing with his old head coach Rex Ryan in New York. However the Ravens appear close to signing him before he hit’s the market.

Houshmandzadeh said in an interview that his game earlier in the year in Philadelphia was a tryout for head coach Andy Reid.

The Eagles front office has come out and said they don’t plan on addressing WR this offseason, but if they want to sign McNabb to a contract extension, they may not have much of a choice.

Finally, all-pro center Jeff Saturday has expressed his interest in playing for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, even if that means he switches positions from center to guard.

The Steelers have a very good guard free agent that they can re-sign and take away the option of Saturday, but the front office hasn’t commented on what they plan on doing yet.

And of course there cant be an offseason in the NFL without Brett Favre, however he wasted no time this year. Favre has officially retired from the NFL, this time for good. Favre retired last year while he was still a member of the Green Bay Packers, only to return later in the season to play football again.

The Packers had moved on to franchise QB Aaron Rodgers, so they traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets.

Favre had the Jets as one of the best teams in the NFL at one point in the season, only to collapse later and miss the playoffs in his final year in the NFL. Favre injured his shoulder at one point in the season, and he said that had a lot to do with his decision to retire.

He didn’t feel like having shoulder surgery and struggle to prepare for the season. He wasted no time sending in his papers, making it seem like this really is it for the golden boy.

Next year will be the first time in years that the NFL wont have Favre starting at QB, now Peyton Manning will be the active streak leader for games played. He has a long way to go, and will have to follow the route of other teams in the NFL, doing it without veterans like Marvin Harrison, Jeff Saturday, and the leader and voice of that team, Tony Dungy.

Should shake up for an interesting offseason.

Originally written by Brendan at Real Sports Talk Forums