Previewing
the NFL Free Agency Period: The Defense
3/1/05
Defensive Linemen
|
Buck
Rasmussen |
Patriots |
|
Jarvis
Green |
Patriots
|
|
Rodney
Bailey |
Patriots
|
|
Carl
Powell |
Bengals |
|
Shaun
Ellis |
Jets |
|
John
Abraham |
Jets
|
|
Bryan
Robinson |
Dolphins
|
|
Demetrin Veal |
Ravens
|
|
Marques
Douglass |
Ravens
|
|
Felip Claybrookes |
Browns
|
|
Tyrone
Rogers |
Browns
|
|
Eric
Taylor |
Steelers
|
|
Brett
Keisel |
Steelers
|
|
Corey
Sears |
Texans
|
|
Raheem Brock |
Colts
|
|
Rob
Meier |
Jaguars
|
|
Lionel
Barnes |
Jaguars
|
|
Jason
Gildon |
Jaguars
|
|
Shawn
Johnson |
Titans
|
|
Carlos
Hall |
Titans
|
|
Bryant
McNeal |
Broncos
|
|
Marco
Coleman |
Broncos
|
|
Reggie
Hayward |
Broncos
|
|
Anton
Palepoi |
Broncos
|
|
Bobby
Hamilton |
Raiders
|
|
Robert
Pollard |
Chargers
|
|
Alex
Brown |
Bears
|
|
Aaron
Kampman |
Packers
|
|
Bryce
Fisher |
Rams
|
|
Erik
Flowers |
Rams
|
|
Kyle
Vanden Bosch |
Cardinals
|
|
Chike Okeafor |
Seahawks
|
|
Brandon
Mitchell |
Seahawks
|
|
Karon Riley |
Falcons
|
|
Kavika Pittman |
Panthers
|
|
Tony
Bryant |
Saints
|
|
Darren
Howard |
Saints
|
|
Derrick
Burgess |
Eagles
|
|
Hugh
Douglas |
Eagles
|
|
Ron
Warner |
Redskins
|
|
Demetric Evans |
Redskins |
|
Pat
Williams |
Bills |
|
Ethan
Kelley |
Patriots
|
|
Josh
Evans |
Jets
|
|
Jason
Ferguson |
Jets
|
|
Alan
Harper |
Jets
|
|
James
Reed |
Jets
|
|
Dario
Romero |
Dolphins
|
|
Matt
Zielinski |
Ravens
|
|
Terrance
Martin |
Bengals |
|
Tony
Williams |
Bengals |
|
Nick
Eason |
Browns
|
|
Grant
Bowman |
Steelers
|
|
Kendrick
Clancy |
Steelers
|
|
Junior
Ioane |
Texans
|
|
Seth
Payne |
Texans
|
|
Dorsett
Davis |
Broncos
|
|
Luther
Ellis |
Broncos
|
|
Monsanto
Pope |
Broncos
|
|
Montique Sharpe |
Chiefs
|
|
Jacques
Cesaire |
Chargers
|
|
Dequnicy Scott |
Chargers
|
|
Eric
Downing |
Chargers
|
|
Shaun
Rogers |
Lions
|
|
Marcus
Bell |
Lions
|
|
Kelvin
Pritchett |
Lions
|
|
Cullen
Jenkins |
Packers
|
|
Chris
Hovan |
Vikings
|
|
Ross
Kolodziej |
Cardinals
|
|
Rocky
Bernard |
Seahawks
|
|
Tony
Brown |
49ers
|
|
Jordan
Carstens |
Panthers
|
|
Howard
Green |
Saints
|
|
Jon
Bradley |
Buccaneers
|
|
Chartric Darby |
Buccaneers
|
|
Jermaine Brooks |
Cowboys
|
|
Kendrick
Allen |
Giants
|
|
Lance
Legree |
Giants
|
|
Corey
Simon |
Eagles
|
|
Joe
Salave'a |
Redskins
|
BB:
Jesus Christ on a stick that’s a lot of defensive linemen. Let’s narrow it down
a little bit.
PR:
I demand that if Dean has a third son, his name must be Buck Rasmussen.
BB:
Corey Simon got franchised by the Eagles, which is kinda
weird for a guy that was getting the Chris Hovan-you-aren’t-good-anymore
press all 2004. Of course – it’s not as if the Eagles don’t have the cap room
for one season.
PR:
Oh yeah – no one was as maligned for his play last year as Simon was. And deservedly so, as he had career lows across the board except in
sacks. I am thinking that the Eagles are just hoping that someone
stupidly signs him so they can get they two first round draft picks. Yes – you,
like me, are thinking this is where the Redskins come in.
BB:
Hovan seems like he would be a good pickup for
someone assuming that his problems were due to the system he was in and the
situation as opposed to anything more substantial.
ED: Well, Hovan wasn’t
really that good to begin with. Sure he
was really white and ugly. And that
certainly made a lot of people happy.
But he was…OK. At
best. Then again, with the media
as it is, that’s enough to make him a superstar. The perfect match for him is Cincy or New England.
He’ll want more than either team will pay so he’ll end up in Kansas City
where he can dry Dick Vermeil’s tears.
BB:
John Abraham got franchised too. And I think Shaun Ellis signed a long-term
deal. I think. I’m not an expert. Thank god the Jets only spent two other first
round picks on defensive linemen since then.
PR:
Yup, the Jets gave Ellis a six year deal with $15.5 million guaranteed.
Considering he signed in November, I have no idea why he still shows on the FA
list. I blame the Internet. And speaking of the internet,
am I the only one who is surprised that Josh Evans’ name hasn’t shown up in one
of those online Instant Messenger sexual predator FBI raids yet?
BB:
Ross Kolodziej’s last name sounds like it was in a
car accident and lost two or three letters. Or it sounds constantly incomplete.
One or the other.
PR: It appears that Dennis Green cut one letter
for every game that Kolodziej played in. Oh yeah –
and don’t think he wasn’t originally drafted by the Giants. Oof…
BB:
The Patriots will tender Jarvis Green to the point where it’s not worthwhile
but he’d be a good signing for one of the teams late to the party and switching
to the 3-4 in 2006.
PR:
It might be easier to list the teams NOT switching to a 3-4
defense.
BB:
Bryce Fisher had a really good game against the Seahawks and will probably get
too much money from someone because of it. Let’s say…Cincinnati.
ED: Cincy, KC. They’ll be the buyers this off-season on the
D-line front. Assumedly. Well, they’ll try. Of course, no one wants to go to KC or Cincy so they’ll get shot down repeatedly. Good thing their head coaches are geniuses.
PR:
Oh yeah, KC is the spot. I see Dick Vermeil ignoring all facts and reasoning,
just wondering around Arrowhead touting that he always knew that Fisher fella had potential.
BB:
Shaun Rogers got a huge deal to stay in Detroit, something like $46 million for
6 years. In Madden I just signed him for $18 over 4. Of course – I might have
homosexuals on my Madden Lions. That’s the price of heterosexuality.
ED: If there weren’t any Matt Millens’
in the sports world, we’d be stuck doing reviews of Voltron,
wouldn’t we?
PR:
The 5 piece Lion version or the 11 piece vehicle version?
BB:
This is where I pretend like I know what they’re talking about.
BB:
Kendrick Clancy played really well everytime I saw
him and I think if the Steelers aren’t able to resign him, he could be a good
fit for someone like the Browns, especially if they trade Gerard Warren to,
say, the Cowboys. Hey look – I just booked three offseasons.
ED:
The thought of Gerard Warren in Dallas make my heart happy. Which, oddly, would do the
opposite for Bill Parcells. Darn.
PR:
Well, you will just have to be happy about him going to the Broncos instead.
Bill already ruined the run stoppers are sexy joke so we are going to have to
think outside the box here. Yeah… remember when Bill brought up teams switching
to the 3-4. Hmmm… one DT starting and you already have Mario Fatafehi, who is better and cheaper. Yeah, this won’t be
awkward. Of course, I am being distracted by Len P. calling Warren “Big Money”.
PR:
Kavika Pittman might not be a bad guy to take a flier
on. Sure he is old and crippled but I need to dream that a guy only a few
months older than me can still play.
PR:
I don’t think I ever let Kendrick Allen play a single down for me in Madden.
Still, he had a nice 4 game run for the Giants last year. Still, I doubt he is
meant for a NFL roster much longer. Lance Legree had
a nice little mini-breakout season and I would love the Giants to keep him…
mainly because I won’t have to work so hard to improve his numbers next year in
Madden.
LINEBACKERS
|
Josh
Stamer |
Bills |
|
Eric
Alexander |
Patriots
|
|
Justin
Kurpeikia |
Patriots
|
|
Don
Davis |
Patriots
|
|
Jason
Glenn |
Jets
|
|
Kenyatta Wright |
Jets
|
|
Morlon Greenwood |
Dolphins
|
|
Bart
Scott |
Ravens
|
|
Edgerton
Hartwell |
Ravens
|
|
T.
J. Slaughter |
Ravens
|
|
Adalius Thomas |
Ravens
|
|
Marcus
Wilkins |
Bengals |
|
Nate Webster |
Bengals |
|
Frank
Chamberlin |
Bengals |
|
Chris
Clemons |
Browns
|
|
Kevin
Bentley |
Browns
|
|
Ben
Taylor |
Browns
|
|
Barry
Gardner |
Browns
|
|
Warrick
Holdman |
Browns
|
|
Eric
Westmoreland |
Browns
|
|
Dedrick Roper |
Steelers
|
|
Larry
Foote |
Steelers
|
|
Kendrell Bell |
Steelers
|
|
Troy
Evans |
Texans
|
|
Marcus
Bell |
Texans
|
|
DaShon Polk |
Texans
|
|
Gary
Brackett |
Colts
|
|
Rob
Morris |
Colts
|
|
Jim
Nelson |
Colts
|
|
David
Thornton |
Colts
|
|
Tony
Gilbert |
Jaguars
|
|
Rocky
Calmus |
Titans
|
|
Justin
Ena |
Titans
|
|
Brad
Kassell |
Titans
|
|
Donnie
Spragan |
Broncos
|
|
Scott
Fujita |
Chiefs
|
|
Quinton
Caver |
Chiefs
|
|
Tim
Johnson |
Raiders
|
|
Stephen
Cooper |
Chargers
|
|
Zeke
Moreno |
Chargers
|
|
Donte Curry |
Lions
|
|
Wali Rainer |
Lions
|
|
Jody
Littleton |
Lions
|
|
Paris
Lenon |
Packers
|
|
Hannibal
Navies |
Packers
|
|
Torrance
Marshall |
Packers
|
|
Nick
Rogers |
Packers
|
|
Chris
Claiborne |
Vikings
|
|
Keith
Newman |
Vikings
|
|
Max
Yates |
Vikings
|
|
Jeremy
Loyd |
Rams
|
|
Trev Faulk |
Rams
|
|
Tommy
Polley |
Rams
|
|
Ronald
McKinnon |
Cardinals
|
|
Orlando
Huff |
Seahawks
|
|
Ray
Wells |
49ers
|
|
Saleem Rasheed |
49ers
|
|
Brandon
Moore |
49ers
|
|
Julian
Peterson |
49ers
|
|
Jamie
Duncan |
Falcons
|
|
Eric
Johnson |
Falcons
|
|
Matt
Stewart |
Falcons
|
|
Artie
Ulmer |
Falcons
|
|
Sean
Tufts |
Panthers
|
|
Vinny Ciurciu |
Panthers
|
|
Brian
Allen |
Panthers
|
|
Jessie
Armstead |
Panthers
|
|
Mark
Fields |
Panthers
|
|
Will
Witherspoon |
Panthers
|
|
James
Allen |
Saints
|
|
Roger
Knight |
Saints
|
|
Sedrick Hodge |
Saints
|
|
Keith
Burns |
Buccaneers
|
|
Ryan
Nece |
Buccaneers
|
|
Kalen Thorton |
Cowboys
|
|
Ryan
Fowler |
Cowboys
|
|
Scott
Shanle |
Cowboys
|
|
TJ
Hollowell |
Giants
|
|
James
Maxwell |
Giants
|
|
Keith
Adams |
Eagles
|
|
Jeremiah
Trotter |
Eagles
|
|
Lemar Marshall |
Redskins
|
|
Antonio
Pierce |
Redskins |
BB:
Jeremiah Trotter will get a new deal pretty easily although he’s going to end
up being a disappointment. He is also the only one of the NFC East LBs available who I’ve ever even heard of. Jesus – I don’t
even like football that much.
ED:
And that’s why you’re not an expert.
PR:
Aww… how quickly you forget Jessie Armstead. I remember when I thought the Giants would pay
for releasing him. That is why I’m not an expert.
PR:
I am sure the Bengals are happy they spent that money
on Nate Webster. Whoops!
BB:
Will Witherspoon is a stud and might be the best defensive player available
this offseason as a UFA.
ED: And Carolina will back up the Brinks truck
for him. At least they should. I mean, they’re not paying Chris Weinke anymore are they?
PR:
Read the Offensive preview Ed. Okay, the UFA caveat prevents me from arguing
that Julian Peterson is better. Of course, Big Len doesn’t have Witherspoon in
his Top 25 so again – what the heck do we know? I mean, when in doubt, sign the
31 year old Kevin Carter.
BB:
For those of you who are more interested in guys who can be great but really
are gonna be injured – this is where you come in, Paul
DePodesta – Kendrell Bell
might be more up your alley.
ED: Ahh, over-hyped Steelers players. You will get old enough to spot them someday,
Bill. They’re easily recognizable by…ya know…being Steelers.
PR:
I learn it by signing them in Madden and then trying to trade them before the
end of training camp. I actually even did this with Bell recently.
BB:
Julian Peterson got franchised and…well, poor fella
has to be a 49er now for a while.
PR:
One would assume that Peterson doesn’t send the Yorks
Christmas cards.
BB:
Chris Claiborne would make a lot of sense for the Packers if they could find
the salary cap space for him. It would also mean he’d have played for 3 of the
4 NFC North teams, and if you collect all 4, you get elected into the Chris
Berman Hall of Fame.
ED: I tell myself that I do not want to know what getting into the Chris Berman Hall of Fame gets you.