NFL Free Agency Thread

[Agent Kev]

Falcons stuff:

- Patrick Kerney opps out of his contract looking for mo money mo money mo money.

- Ed Hartwell and Ike Reese get released- good decision

- Falcons sign Ravens FB Ovie Mughelli- good pick-up

Other Stuff:

- Joey Porter gets cuts- Jason/Grabber- any thoughts?

- Joe Horn cut

- Jamal Lewis cut

- Trent Green being shopped

- Nate Clements signs with the 49ers and is now the highest paid defensive player in the league.

- London Fletcher signs with Washington

- Corey Dillion cut (by his request)

- Raiders flirting with Garcia (as are Broncos and Bucs)

- Jake Plummer mulling retirement instead of a trade to Tampa Bay

[IWSfan4life]

I was gonna post the Porter cut but I was giving you time to bask in it, Kev. I'm obviously not happy as it seems we lost one of our leaders. No matter how much he talked or the league didn't like him, he was a very good, impactful player for the most part.

On the other hand, there are 3 factors that make the cut OK:

1. Porter had a really bad year last year for his standards
2. He was getting a huge bonus this year, totaling over $4 million against the cap
3. Pittsburgh cherns out Linebackers moreso than any team in the league. And we still have one of the more strong LB cores out there with Farrior, Foote, and Haggans, with the two Harrison's on the bench and the draft deep this year.

I was suprised to see Lewis and Dillon cut. It'll be interesting to see where they go. Varron Haynes and Patrick Ramsey were also cut. There was also a trade for another shutdown corner to Denver from the Lions, I can't place his name right now but it's a good deal.

-Jason

[Agent Kev]

Falcons add some LB depth since they dumped Hartwell and Reese yesterday (both good moves IMO):

Falcons add depth at linebacker, special teams with Wilkins
By Chris Pika, AF.com
March 3, 2007

Falcons Free Agency Monitor

The Falcons added depth to their linebacker corps and special teams on the second day of the free agent period as they signed former Cincinnati LB Marcus Wilkins on Saturday.

Wilkins became the second unrestricted free agent to sign with the Falcons in two days as he joined former Ravens FB Ovie Mughelli, who signed with Atlanta on Friday. Terms of Wilkins' deal were not disclosed.

Wilkins (6-2, 231 pounds), played three seasons with the Bengals after he was claimed by Cincinnati from Arizona just prior to the start of the 2004 season. Last season, he played in every game for the Bengals and finished third in special teams tackles with 16 - including 11 in his final seven contests.

He posted 57 special teams tackles in three years in Cincinnati - the most among Bengals players during that time period. He had 17 special teams tackles in 2005, which was second on the club.

The sixth-year pro out of Texas came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2002 with Green Bay and was one of three undrafted players to make the Packers' opening game roster.

He has played in 59 career games over his first five seasons in the league. He has a career total of 70 total special teams tackles (48 solo), one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, one blocked punt and one fumble recovery for a touchdown along with nine total tackles on defense.

Wilkins was a four-year letterwinner at Texas, where he played in 49 games and had career totals of 62 tackles (eight for loss), 14 quarterback pressures, one interception, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt. He played at linebacker his first three seasons with the Longhorns and moved to defensive end as a senior.

The native of Austin, Texas, attended Westwood HS, where he played four positions as a three-year starter.

[IWSfan4life]

I'd have kept Hartwell, even though I know money is an issue here.

-Jason

[Agent Kev]

stylesclash2004 said:

I'd have kept Hartwell, even though I know money is an issue here.

-Jason

Hartwell was a bust. No reason to keep him.

[Agent Kev]

Falcons signed another lower profile guy that looks to challenge to start for the corner opposite DHall with Jimmy Williams and Jason Webster.

Falcons add free agent CB Sanders from Houston
By Chris Pika, AF.com
March 7, 2007

Falcons Free Agency Monitor

An athletic cornerback with a blend of size and speed, former Houston CB Lewis Sanders became the Falcons' third free agent signee on Wednesday.

Sanders (6-1, 210 pounds), an unrestricted free agent who spent two years with the Texans, played in nine games with seven starts in 2006 before he was lost for the season with a hand injury. He was originally selected by Cleveland in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft and spent five years with the Browns. Terms of his contract were not disclosed.

Sanders had a career-high 37 total tackles (29 solo) and six passes defensed along with six special teams stops for the Texans last season before his injury. He posted 10 tackles, one pass defense and two special teams tackles vs. Washington (Sept. 24) and added eight solo tackles at Indianapolis (Sept. 17).

In 2005, he played in 12 games with three starts for Houston and finished with 22 tackles, one forced fumble and one interception.

In Cleveland, Sanders had 27 tackles in 2002 and added 25 with two interceptions in 2004. He missed the entire 2001 season with a leg injury.

In 73 career NFL games with 19 starts, Sanders has 140 total tackles (109 solo), five interceptions, 31 passes defensed, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 43 special teams tackles.

In college, he was a third team All-America selection by The Sporting News, a first team All-ACC choice and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation's top defensive back) as a senior at Maryland as he had 56 tackles, 14 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and six interceptions. He ranks sixth on the Terps' career list with 956 kickoff return yards and seventh in career interceptions with 10.

The native of Staten Island, N.Y., Sanders was a high school All-America at St. Peter's High School in his senior season as he ran for 800 yards and 10 TDs.

[Agent Kev]

Falcons are busy today:

Sources: Falcons reach deal with ex-Saints WR Horn
By Michael Smith
ESPN.com

Atlanta's young and underachieving receiving corps has a leader. More important, the Falcons have fetched Michael Vick another dependable target.

Joe Horn
Horn

Former Saints receiver Joe Horn, released last week by New Orleans, agreed Wednesday to sign with the rival Falcons, according to team sources. Terms of the contract, which was being finalized, were not immediately available.

Horn began his visit with the Falcons on Monday night and never left, deciding not to visit Green Bay or Jacksonville, who also were interested in the services of the 35-year-old wideout, who has 576 receptions, 8,501 yards and 57 touchdowns in 11 seasons with Kansas City and New Orleans.

Horn, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who served as the voice of the Saints' franchise -- and, to some extent, the Gulf South region -- during a 2005 season ruined by Hurricane Katrina, posted four 1,000-yard seasons with the Saints. But he's had only five touchdown catches the past two seasons and missed six games last year due to injury.

The chance to face the Saints twice a season and remain close to New Orleans presumably played a part in Horn's decision to sign with the Falcons, along with the prospect of playing with Vick in new head coach Bobby Petrino and offensive coordinator Hugh Jackson's system.

The Saints deemed Horn expendable largely because of the emergence last season of rookie Marques Colston and former second-round pick Devery Henderson.

In Atlanta, Horn immediately vaults to the top of a receiver depth chart that includes former first-round picks Michael Jenkins and Roddy White, who will no doubt benefit from a mentor as experienced and accomplished as Horn.

[IWSfan4life]

Horn is a great signing. Also:

Jamal Lewis to Cleveland
Willis McGahee to Baltimore
Dominic Rhodes to Oakland
Ruben Drohns to NYG
Jake Plummer retires
Nate Clements to 49ers
Joey Porter to Dolphins
Dennis Northcutt to Jags

and a lot more!

-Jason

[Agent Kev]

Falcons trade Matt Schaub to the Texans and get back 2 second round picks (one this year and one next year) and switch first round picks with Houston (move from 10 to 8). Good move in that next year the Falcons would get nothing for Schaub so know they get 2 potential future starters and a better first round pick.

Texans then sign Schaub to a 6-year deal and cut David Carr.

Falcons sign former Louisville QB Chris Redman.

[Agent Kev]

Carolina signed David Carr and the Falcons countered by signing Joey Harrington.