NFL Free Agency

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ask the 2000 Ravens even .

[SlowwHand]

Excellent point. They're acheiving balance, is all I'm saying. Let that badass defense rest some and think how badass then.

[Lord Avalon]

Stallworth might spend just one year with Patriots

By Michael Smith and Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

The Patriots continued their offseason spending spree, adding wide receiver Donte' Stallworth to their 2007 haul, league sources told ESPN.com.

The deal -- negotiated by agent Drew Rosenhaus, who concluded a frenetic week in free agency by constructing a contract that met the needs of all parties -- can be as brief as one season or as lengthy as six. But for the Patriots to retain Stallworth beyond the 2007 season, a year in which he will make $3.6 million in bonuses and salary, New England will have to make a significant investment.

Stallworth will receive an initial signing bonus of $1 million, a roster bonus of $1.6 million and a $300,000 workout bonus, to go along with his 2007 base salary of $700,000. That totals $3.6 million for the coming season.

It's after the 2007 season, however, when the really big money could potentially kick in.

For the Patriots to retain Stallworth for the 2008 season, they must pay him an option bonus of $6 million by Feb. 25, 2008. There is a subsequent roster bonus of $2 million due on March 1, a second roster bonus of $1.6 million based on playing time, a base salary of $1 million and a $400,000 workout bonus. That totals an exorbitant $11 million for 2008, or a two-year total of $14.6 million.

To keep Stallworth for 2009, the Patriots would have to pay another option bonus, this one of $2 million, by Feb. 25 of that year. In terms of bonuses and base salary, the 2009 season would be worth $5 million to Stallworth, for a three-year total of $19.6 million.

The final three seasons of the contract all include workout bonuses of $500,000 each and base salaries of $4 million each. The maximum value of the contract, if the Patriots were to keep Stallworth for all six years, is $33.1 million.

An initial report on ESPN.com saying the deal was worth a guaranteed $12 million was later clarified by a source, who said the deal -- which only guarantees one year -- gives Stallworth and the Patriots flexibility.

The rationale behind the structure: Stallworth has the opportunity to register a huge season in 2007, playing with quarterback Tom Brady, and on a team that figures to be a Super Bowl contender. And after the 2007 campaign, the Patriots will have to dig deep to retain him, dramatically rework his contract, or allow him to go back into the free agent market. It was a creative concept developed by Rosenhaus, one accepted by several of the teams bidding for Stallworth, to maximize his client's earning potential. At the same time, it provides New England a big-play threat for at least one season, with the capacity to retain Stallworth beyond that, if desired.

Stallworth, who played last season in Philadelphia after being acquired from the New Orleans Saints, also was being courted by the Eagles, Dolphins and Titans.

Stallworth, 28, had 38 catches for 725 yards and five touchdowns for the Eagles in 2006. A first-round choice of the Saints in the 2002 draft, he has 233 career receptions for 3,516 yards and 28 touchdowns in 68 games, including 44 starts.

League and union officials are investigating a Philadelphia Inquirer report that Stallworth is in the NFL's substance-abuse program, sources from both parties told ESPN.com.

Citing unnamed sources, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday that Stallworth is a participant in the league program, and that he could be subject to suspension if he suffered a repeat violation of its conditions. The newspaper also reported that a breach of the program's confidentiality agreement can warrant a league fine, and NFL and NFL Players Association officials began to seek out possible sources for the leak on Monday.

The Patriots have been busy this offseason, adding coveted linebacker Adalius Thomas, ranked No. 2 on ESPN.com's list of free agents, as well as Dolphins kick returner/receiver Wes Welker, tight end Kyle Brady and backup running back Sammy Morris.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2794615

[Lord Avalon]

Schlesinger agrees to deal with Dolphins

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Twelve-year veteran fullback Cory Schlesinger, who played his entire career with the Detroit Lions before becoming an unrestricted free agent two weeks ago, has reached agreement with the Miami Dolphins on a two-year contract.

inancial details of the deal were not immediately available. Schlesinger visited with Miami officials last week.

A prototype fullback during most of his Detroit tenure, and regarded leaguewide as one of the NFL's premier lead blockers, Schlesinger's role was dramatically diminished in the offense installed by Lions' offensive coordinator Mike Martz last season. The Martz system rarely employs a fullback and Schlesinger did not log a single carry and registered only eight receptions.

The eight "touches" in 2006 were the fewest for Schlesinger since 1996.

In Miami, though, first-year coach Cam Cameron feels that Schlesinger, even at age 34, can be an effective escort for tailback Ronnie Brown. During his time as the San Diego offensive coordinator, Cameron witnessed the importance of standout fullback Lorenzo Neal to Chargers' tailback LaDainian Tomlinson, and feels Schlesinger can fill that same role.

Schlesinger never carried more than 49 times in a season in Detroit and never rushed for more than 154 yards. But his value as a blocker and a receiver twice made him a Pro Bowl alternate. In 2001, he notched 60 receptions.

For his career, Schlesinger has 167 carries for 473 yards and five touchdowns. He also has 197 catches for 1,445 yards and nine scores.

The former Nebraska star was a sixth-round choice in the 1995 draft. He has played in 181 games, including 87 as a starter.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2794741

Chiefs land veteran LB Edwards

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Veteran linebacker Donnie Edwards, who wore out his welcome in San Diego despite being one of the Chargers' most productive defenders, is being welcomed back by the team with which he began his NFL career.

One of the more sought after defenders remaining in the unrestricted free agent pool, Edwards on Saturday reached agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs on a three-year contract worth about $14 million.

The 11-year veteran was originally chosen by the Chiefs as a fourth-round selection in the 1996 draft. He signed with the Chargers as an unrestricted free agent in 2002.

Edwards, 33, is the second standout linebacker added by the Chiefs in recent days. Last week, Kansas City signed unrestricted free agent Napoleon Harris to a six-year contract. Clearly, coach Herm Edwards is determined to overhaul his linebacker corps in the offseason, after a 2006 campaign in which the Chiefs' defense statistically ranked 16th in the league.

Despite his age, and the fact the Chargers had tired of what they perceived as his excessive contract demands, Edwards drew considerable interest leaguewide in the opening days of the free agent signing period, and with good reason.

The former UCLA standout is a versatile defender, one who played inside linebacker in the San Diego 3-4 alignment, but who had performed well in the past as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. Harris is projected by most as the new middle linebacker for the Chiefs, so Edwards probably will move back to an outside slot in Kansas City.

No matter where he has aligned in the past, Edwards has been a consistent and durable playmaker. In 11 seasons, he has missed only two games, just one due to injury. And his resume is one of the most well-rounded among NFL linebackers over the past decade.

For his career, Edwards has 1,479 tackles, 21½ sacks, 27 interceptions, 51 passes defensed, 14 forced fumbles and 10 recoveries. His 17 interceptions are the most by any linebacker in the league since 2002 and he led the Chargers in tackles in each of the past five seasons.

Edwards has posted 150-plus tackles five times in his career. But his interception and passes defensed totals also reflect his rare ability to drop and cover as well.

San Diego officials attempted to trade Edwards last spring and came close to a deal with the New Orleans Saints before deciding to retain him. He ended up starting in all 16 games on a San Diego defense that ranked 10th in the league, and registered 141 tackles, 2½ sacks and three interceptions.

Edwards has appeared in 174 games and started in 160 of them.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2794070

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Pats add yet another WR, Kelley Washington, on the same kind of one year try before you buy contract as Stallworth. Should be interesting to see what NE's offense looks like next year. Rumor has it they're going to zone blocking because they think it will make Maroney more successful...that's also probably one of the reasons for all the WRs, he's not the pounding runner that Dillon or Antwan Smith were, so they need to get the defense away from the line of scrimmage to let him work. I think the days of dink and dunk are over in NE. Given Brady's long range lack of accuracy I'm not sure that's so great, but we'll see...

[Zopperoni]

It's a good thing that these guys signed early... they'll be ready when it's camp time so Brady can practice the vertical passing routes.

Plus, he doesn't have to go deep, it opens up more room underneath to slide it to other receivers, or to run slashes and off-tackles.

[-Jrabbit]

Pats will go 19-0 if they stay healthy.

[Jaguar]

Oh boy, now that they have Kelley Washington, no way that they lose a game!

[-Jrabbit]

Exactly.

[-Jrabbit]

Lance Briggs says he's prepared to sit out the 2007 season.

"I've played my last snap for them," he told FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer. "I'll never play another down for Chicago again. There are things I can do to make sure I'm fine financially." Briggs says he's looking for Brian Urlacher money. Trade rumors are likely to heat up as the draft nears.
Source: FOXSports.com

Drew Rosenhaus strikes again.
Full Story

[snoopy369]

So what the #$%#@ are the Bears doing this year?

[SlowwHand]

Briggs, to a Chicago outsider, is as big of a deal as Urlacher.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by snoopy369
So what the #$%#@ are the Bears doing this year?

Deal him before the draft.

[-Jrabbit]

That's what he wants -- a deal as big as Urlacher's.
In the interview, he also states that he wants to BE an Urlacher -- to be "the man" on defense for someone.

Story from the local suburban paper, the Daily Herald, last week:

Last off-season, a full year before his original contract expired, the Bears offered Briggs $33 million over six years, with approximately $15 million in guaranteed money.

Briggs and agent Drew Rosenhaus turned it down, after the Bears believed they were on the verge of an agreement. At that time, Briggs and his agent were told by the Bears that the franchise tag was an option they would consider, failing the long-term deal the team considered more than fair.

That offer is no longer on the table, but Briggs and the Bears have until July 16 to strike a long-term deal or he must play for the franchise salary, which he currently is ruling out.

Urlacher's deal is $56.65 million over seven years.
So basically, they're playing chicken with Rosenhaus.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Deal him before the draft.

I meant what are the Bears doing to improve their team. FFS, they haven't signed ANYONE this year yet, and have plenty of holes...