NFL Free Agency Set to Begin

Thanks to an assortment of ISP inconveniences (shame on you SBC Yahoo), spyware headaches, and other bullshit PC issues this past week, I've been off my game here at my personal site and companion site to Bitterfans. Nevertheless, it's time to get back into the swing of things.

At 12:01 AM tonight (or tomorrow morning if you choose to call it) the NFL Free Agency period begins, fresh off the overtime agreement on a new labor deal that will keep the NFL above the rest of the sports when it comes to how it structures its league. Now...players and teams are lining up to spend and consume the extra 10 million or so that will be available in increased salary cap space. Some player moves to new teams have already been leaked/announced:

DT La'Roi Glover is signing with the St. Louis Rams - The 31 year old is set to help the Rams restructure their interior line. Glover is certainly not a giant at the position, but he's athletic, and very strong, and can still help a team after he was cut by the Cowboys. The Rams have DTs Ryan Pickett and Damione Lewis set to walk away as unrestricted Free Agents, so the Rams had to pounce quickly to help first year coach Scott Linehan out.

CB Sam Madison agrees to 4 year deal with the Giants - The Giants spent no time setting up a deal for the former stud CB from the Dolphins, helping them address a positional weakness before Free Agency really got going. Madison has been one of the best in the game during his first 9 seasons in the league, but a corner's shelf life is always in question. We'll see how he integrates with the Giants.

Aside from that, other players are getting ready to go for top dollar who haven't already been resigned by their current place of employment. Like most off-seasons before Free Agency sets to start, everyone raves over all the big names that are going to be Free Agents and like always, most of them come off the market with new deals or with the dreaded Franchise Tag.

Just recently, one of the biggest names thought to be available, Shaun Alexander signed the richest RB contract in NFL history to stay with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks threw way too many years at Shaun with 8, but he's pretty much assured to spend the rest of his career up in the Great Northwest scoring shitloads of TDs.

Some of the other big names that ARE going to test free agency are listed below with some of the teams listed as possible destinations: Drew Brees (Dolphins), Sam Adams (Dolphins), John Abraham (Broncos), LaVar Arrington (Giants), LeCharles Bentley (Eagles), Kevin Mawae (Dolphins), Brandon Lloyd (Redskins), David Givens (Browns), and Willie McGinest (Browns).

On the subject of my favorite team, the Cleveland Browns, I will start providing my takes on the Browns as they work their way through Free Agency and prepare for the draft in the coming weeks on this blog. As it stands right now, the Browns have 26 million of cap space and lot of options through Free Agency as they try to improve Romeo Crennel's football team with more solid veterans.

As it stands, the Browns have been linked with a lot of players right now, especially from New England and Baltimore. Some of the players include:

Trevor Pryce (Broncos) - Talented DE who had a great 2005 after an injury plagued 2004. Would probably fit in well in the 3-4.

LaVar Arrington (Redskins) - Perhaps a bit of a problem in the clubhouse, but a beast of a player. Arrington's agents are the Postons, and he's already being ridiculous about money demands.

David Givens (Patriots) - A great WR to have on your team, and would probably be one of the best signings this team could make to help their WR corps.

Joe Jurevicious (Seahawks) - The Browns have yet to have a TRUE solid veteran presence at WR since they re-entered the league in 99. Bringing in the hometown boy would change that.

Willie McGinest (Patriots) - Rumor has it, that Willie got in touch with Romeo shortly after he was cut from the Patriots. I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank, but his veteran presence on that team still getting settled in the 3-4 would be nice.

Maake Kemoeatu (Ravens) - Reserve NT for the Ravens is being raved about like Lional Dalton was a few years back. If he ends up playing like Lional once he settles in as the starter, I'll pass. He's a prototype NT in a 3-4 so the Browns and Dolphins are probably going to fight over him.

Dave Zastudil (Ravens) - Former Ohio University standout punter could help shore up a position the Browns have suffered with since "Captain Dipshit", Butch Davis, let Chris Gardocki go sign with the Squeelers a few seasons back.

Chester Taylor (Ravens) - Browns' GM Phil Savage screwed the Ravens by making them pay Taylor good money last year after he signed an offer sheet with the Browns. Now he is unrestricted, and Savage may like a more reliable option behind Ruben Droughns.

We'll see how this all shakes out as Free Agent signings across the league will already be making headlines starting tomorrow. I'm excited to see how thing go with the Browns, and other teams across the league. I'll be back with Browns off-season moves and analysis along with other NFL newspieces.