NFL Free Agency Rumors: Buying or Selling the Latest Buzz

We are just a few days away from the opening of NFL free agency for 2014, and the floodgates are already starting to open. News of team cuts and re-signings has begun to flow.

There are still plenty of rumors surrounding free agent even though teams are unable (for the most part) to negotiate with such players. NFL franchises are revving their engines, ready to put the pedal to the metal on March 11.

Which rumors have legs, and which ones seem far-fetched? Click through to find out.

Buy: Decker Interested in Indy

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Wide receiver Eric Decker is the best available free agent at his position. There are several teams that need a receiver, so he should see some healthy interest on the open market.

One of those teams appears to be the Indianapolis Colts.

"

Among the teams that have interest in Eric Decker...Indy. If he can't play with PFM, he'd love to roll with Andrew Luck.

—Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) February 27, 2014"

This would be a great match for Decker, who would be going from the master to the apprentice, or something like that. Whether Peyton Manning would become more powerful than we can imagine if Andrew Luck strikes him down we'll probably never know, but that is beside the point.

In terms of money, the Colts have plenty to burn this offseason—they currently sport the fourth-most cap space in the league according to Over The Cap. This rumor has legs.

Sell: New England Disinterested in Amendola

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Wide receiver Danny Amendola was brought on in New England last offseason as a younger, more expensive replacement for Wes Welker.

Things didn't work out as planned for the oft-injured receiver.

The Patriots didn't get what they bargained for, and Amendola's $28.5 million contract was particularly unpalatable when juxtaposed with that of Julian Edelman. The diminutive Edelman was the true Welker replacement, eclipsing 100 catches and 1,000 yards in Amendola's stead.

It's no wonder that we are seeing rumors that Amendola might be cut or traded, according to NFL.com's Chris Wesseling. The question is why.

The Patriots are not a receiver-rich team. Outside of Amendola and Edelman last season, New England fielded a host of underwhelming rookies. Sure, Aaron Dobson, Kenbrell Thompkins and Josh Boyce flashed their potential at times, but are the Patriots going to roll the dice with that trio over a proven veteran? And I'm not even mentioning Edelman's impending free agency.

Cutting Amendola wouldn't save the Patriots any money, and his cap hit is just $4.6 million. Unless he recently debuted his stand-up comedy routine about Rex Ryan at a team meeting, there is little reason to cut him.

Why not give him another year to earn his keep?

Buy: Tampa Bay's Interest in Jason Hatcher

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Despite a salary cap boon with the cap rising to $133 million this season, the Dallas Cowboys are still in a money mess.

Hence, the Cowboys are probably going to lose some big players. Namely, defensive tackle Jason Hatcher is as good as gone, and it seems like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are keen on picking him up.

"

Curious to see the market for Pro Bowl FA DL Jason Hatcher. Tough for #Cowboys to afford him. Believe there is interest from #Bucs & others

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2014"

The Buccaneers have a decent amount of cap space—just over $18 million according to Over The Cap. Pairing Hatcher with all-world defensive tackle Gerald McCoy seems like a dream scenario for the Bucs, or a nightmare scenario for opposing offensive lines.

Sell: Jim Harbaugh's Locker Room Rift

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Things have gotten a bit dramatic in San Francisco in recent weeks.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh wanted out seemingly out of nowhere when the Cleveland Browns reportedly tried to trade for him a few weeks ago.

This sounds like much ado about little, though. Receiver Anquan Boldin recently threw a wet blanket on the whole idea that Harbaugh has created a rift in the locker room, per John Breech of CBS Sports. 

"

"At this time of the year, people grab at whatever," Boldin said. "Football season is not here so they'll do whatever they can to write, and a lot of it is far-fetched, has nothing to do with football and the team."

"When I heard about it, I kind of laughed," Boldin said. "I don't think anybody in the locker room has an issue with Coach Harbaugh. The way our locker room is built, if anyone has a concern or wants to voice an opinion, they're more than welcome to."

Boldin also added that he has a 'pretty good relationship' with Harbaugh. As the long as the 49ers keep winning, everyone in the organization will likely keep a united front. However, if the team starts off cold in 2014, things could get really interesting, really fast. 

"

Furthermore, Harbaugh himself that he isn't going anywhere, per Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg.

"

"I see all these reports about how I want to be the highest-paid coach in football," Harbaugh said. "They presume I covet some kind of extension. I have never said to anybody that I want to be the highest-paid coach in football. I have never said that to anybody -- my wife, my brother, my dad. I make plenty of money.

"The other one is that I want more power. I have never said that, nor do I want any more power than I have. I coach the team. I've told my owner I don't want any more power. I want to coach the team. And I've never told anybody else otherwise."

"

Enough said? 

Buy: D'Qwell Jackson Has Narrowed His Choices

David Richard/Associated Press

It was a bit of a surprise when the Cleveland Browns cut stalwart linebacker D'Qwell Jackson last week. His play has declined, but he was reportedly one of the vocal leaders in the locker room.

Unlike most free agents, Jackson can sign with any team before March 11. So he has been on a free-agent tour.

"

LB D'Qwell Jackson had his Dolphins visit today and now will visit Indianapolis, per multiple reports.Will choose among those 2,Denver, Tenn

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 4, 2014"

While it seems likely he will be making his choice soon, the Miami Dolphins don't seem like a logical choice. They signed linebackers Phillip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe to big contracts last offseason, and they would be huge cap hits to cut this year.

If Jackson wants to sign with a contender, Denver and Indianapolis seem most likely. The Colts have the biggest need and the most money, so they are the likely front runners.

Sell: DeSean Jackson in TheDanger Zone

Eugene Tanner/Associated Press

Things are going well in the City of Brotherly Love this offseason. Well, almost.

The Philadelphia Eagles have done a marvelous job retaining top contributors at a relatively low cost. Jason Peters, Jason Kelce, Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin all signed extensions, ensuring the offense will have continuity.

But there are dark rumblings out of Philadelphia, too.

Retaining Cooper and Maclin triggered a wave of speculation the Eagles might be cutting or trading their top receiver, DeSean Jackson, per CBS Sports' Josh Katzowitz.

Sound ludicrous? Looks like it is, as Philly.com's Jeff McClane puts it:

"

The Eagles are not actively shopping DeSean Jackson, nor do they have any intention of parting with their Pro Bowl wide receiver this offseason.

Jackson isn’t close to being cut, and even if he was one misstep away from forcing the Eagles to move him, they most certainly wouldn’t release him without getting something in return.

The Eagles, of course, don’t respond to rumors. It wouldn’t be within their best interest to feed a reporter the above information without attribution – e.g. as a “team source” – because refuting speculation would be acknowledging it.

But after talking with almost a dozen sources from around the league, it’s clear the Eagles aren’t interested in dealing the 27-year-old Jackson – not by a long shot.

"

So there you have it, straight from the beat writer's laptop. 

Buy: Jared Allen Wants to Play for a Contender

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Defensive end Jared Allen is finally free of that burdensome $72 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, and it looks like he will be earning his paycheck elsewhere this season. It sounds like he wants to sign with a contender, as he stated on Sirius XM radio yesterday.

"

FA DE @JaredAllen69: I think for my next team it will come down to a chance to win, a good organization, as well as getting a fair contract.

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) March 5, 2014"

Of course he wants to play with a contender; the question is which contender wants to pony up to pay him. Allen is just young and productive enough at 31 with 11.5 sacks last season that he might want another big contract.

Will a contender be willing to tie up, say, $32 million for his services?

Sell: The Bills Can Still Sign Jairus Byrd

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

The Buffalo Bills just signed safety Aaron Williams to a four-year, $26 million deal according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. But they won't have you believe that precludes them from signing star safety Jairus Byrd, too.

"

Spoke to a #Bills source, on if they could sign Jairus Byrd after Aaron Williams’s huge extension: “They’re completely independent” So, yes

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2014"

That doesn't seem probable, however.

Per CBS SPorts' Jason LaCanfora, the Bills already made an offer to Byrd substantial enough that would make him the highest paid safety in the league for the next two seasons.

And he turned them down. How can a team that was already spurned sign a guy who doesn't seem to want to be there?

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