Free Agent Friday Starts Tomorrow

Free Agent Friday is here. We’ll I take that back, it’s like 11 hours away, but it’s close! This will be the first Free Agency period without a salary cap since 1993. Don’t think it’s going to turn into Major League Baseball. The economy still sucks right now and this is football where the risk of injury is much higher than baseball. So don’t expect owners to get stupid dumb with these contracts shelling out MLB numbers.

Julius Peppers is getting his wish of being able to test the free agent market. It seems as if he’s already been testing it with the Chicago Bears. Let’s hope that whoever he signs with the doesn’t get any tampering charges because it seems as if Peppers and his advisers are doing their Oklahoma Sooner impersonation, by getting ahead of the deadline.

If Peppers doesn’t go to the Bears, he could land with the Eagles, Redskins or Patriots. He complained last year about wanting to play in a 3-4 defense which is what the Pats run and they are always a perennial Super Bowl pick. The Eagles have a shaky QB situation right now, but they are always in the thick of things come playoff time. The Redskins are a definite no to me. Yes, Peppers would help their already good defense, but this is an offensive league and the Skins sure as hell do not have an offense.

There are several other big name Free Agents ready to hit the market at midnight tonight: Dunta Robinson, Carlos Dansby, Gary Brackett, Terrell Owens, Joey Porter and many more.

I say Peppers ends up with the Eagles. I just don’t see the Bears forking over enough money to pay him what he really wants to be paid.

The leader of this class is of course Peppers and it will be interesting to see where he goes. But the most interesting transactions will happen with the restricted free agents. Teams will place either a low tender (3rd round draft pick), mid tender (1st round draft pick) or a high tender (1st and 3rd round draft pick) on their restricted free agents. A quick break down of the free agents is that unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any team they like. Restricted free agents can negotiate deals with any team, but in order for that team to sign the player they must give up whatever tender is placed with that player.

The most interesting restricted free agent right now is Brandon Marshall of the Broncos. Marshall is clearly one of the top 5 receivers in the game, but he only has a 1st round tender. Now think about that, to get a top 5 receiver all you have to do is give up your first round draft pick. Umm…STEAL! Any team that needs a top flight receiver, (Bengals, Dolphins, Ravens, etc.) jump on this offer immediately. The most difficult position for a rookie in the league is WR. They must adjust to the speed of the ball, speed of the game, and corners who are just as big and fast as them. Why would you draft a receiver when you can simply swap your draft pick for a top 5 receiver in Marshall.

I also think the Broncos are stupid. Why would you only give up a first round tender on Marshall. They gave their high tender to their Pro Bowl DE/OLB, Elvis Dumerveil. Both players are great, but this is a passing league, and there are several ways to put pressure on a quarterback. I’d much rather have a top flight receiver. So now the Broncos will have Kyle Orton at QB and only Eddie Royal who is nothing more than a #2 wideout to throw it to. Good move Broncos.

It will be very interesting to see where the Peppers, Marshall and the rest of the free agents end up landing. Check out Sporting News’ top 50 free agents list.

That’s all I got,

Ricky Writer

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