Free Agency Preview

[Delhommey]

The NFL is about to embark on the most frantic free-agent period in its 18-year history. The schedule for acquiring new players has been compressed, giving teams all of 10 days to complete a free-agency process that usually takes a month. Prime targets identified back in February have been wallowing in limbo. Unlike every other year, coaches and general managers won't have the benefit of a draft to patch up the spots they missed in free agency; if a franchise misses out on the player(s) it wants, it will be forced to wait until the post-training camp cuts to shore up its weakest parts.

Depending on which side you're on, then, it's either ironic or terrifying that this year's group of free agents is pretty bad. There's only one Can't Miss in the entire market. The core of the market is a group of flawed tackles: too fat, too slow, too old, too young, too inexperienced, there are valid critiques for every one of them. Owners looking for a dynamic playmaker to excite a jaded fan base are going to find them few and far between. The quarterback crop looks like an erstwhile fantasy team from 2007.

And yet, with the implementation of a harder salary floor that forces all teams to hit $89 million or so in real spending, even the league's cheapest franchises will have to spend their money somewhere.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6800194/the-nfl-great-scrambling-act

More info than you probably need.

[Montsta]

When the NFL sees how much web traffic and ESPN watching happens this Friday, I promise you that within 3 years free agency will turn into an NFL Draft-style event that everybody watches during some weekend in May or something. It'll be a 3 day special like "The Decision" minus douchebag Lebron where everyone is wondering what cities the players will be taking their talents to. More money for them to fight over in 10 years.

[Kurb]

http://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/07-25-11-free-agency1.pdf

List of the 2011 Free Agents.

[Montsta]

Richard Marshall deserved a contract extension after the 2009 season. After moving into the starting lineup at right cornerback for the Panthers, he helped them put up the league's second-best pass defense. Unfortunately for Marshall, the Panthers were busy extending Jake Delhomme's deal, and while they only fell to eighth in pass defense last season, Marshall shouldered a lot of the blame. He's still just 26, and he'll catch on somewhere as a well-rounded corner capable of playing both outside and in the slot.

Hmmmm.....

[PantherBrew]

I fuggin love grantland.

[Evil Hurney]

http://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/07-25-11-free-agency1.pdf

List of the 2011 Free Agents.

I didn't see Kalil on there? Did he already sign an extension that I wasn't aware of?

[Vampire the buffet slayer]

Franchised

[Evil Hurney]

Franchised

Right, but he wasn't listed under the franchise category (2).