NFL Season 2009

[Kelverin]

Important off season dates

 

Feb. 18-24: NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, IN

 

Feb. 19: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players.

 

Feb. 26: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.

 

Feb. 26: Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired.

 

Feb. 27: Veteran free agency signing period begins.

 

Feb. 27: Trading period begins.

 

March 1: This is a common day for most players to receive their "Roster Bonus" (Possible day for cuts)

 

March 22-25: NFL Annual Meeting, Dana Point, CA

 

April 17: Signing period ends for restricted free agents.

**** 2009 Game Schedules will be released around this time. Last year it was released on April 15.

 

April 24: Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.

 

April 25-26: NFL Draft, New York City, NY

 

May 18-20: NFL Spring Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL

 

June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22.

 

June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.

**** Also note, this is a common day for most players to receive their "Roster Bonus". (Possible day for cuts).

 

June 15: Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year

[Kelverin]

Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft will have two rounds on the first day, and five rounds on the second day.

 

ROUND ONE

1. Detroit (0-16)

2. St. Louis (2-14)

3. Kansas City (2-14)

4. Seattle (4-12)

5. Cleveland (4-12)

6. Cincinnati (4-11-1)

7. Oakland (5-11)

8. Jacksonville (5-11)

9. Green Bay (6-10)

10. San Francisco (7-9)

11. Buffalo (7-9)

12. Denver (8-8

13. Washington (8-8

14. New Orleans (8-8

15. Houston (8-8

16. San Diego (8-8

17. New York Jets (9-7)

18. Chicago (9-7)

19. Tampa Bay (9-6)

20. Detroit (from Dallas) (9-7)

21. Philadelphia (9-6-1)

22. Minnesota (10-6)

23. New England (11-5)

24. Atlanta (11-5)

25. Miami (11-5)

26. Baltimore (11-5)

27. Indianapolis (12-4)

28. Philadelphia (from Carolina) (12-4)

29. New York Giants (12-4)

30. Tennessee (13-3)

31. Arizona (9-7)

32. Pittsburgh (12-4)

 

 

The 2010 Pro Bowl will be played one week before the Super Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 31 and both games will be staged in Dolphin Stadium

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true

[Enoch]

Can you feel the SCOUTING COMBINE EXCITEMENT??!!!!

 

 

Seriously, though, isn't it a bit early for this thread? Although there has been some actual news (Franchise Tags are flying!) lately, the real stuff to talk about doesn't kick off until the Free Agency period starts up next week.

[Kelverin]

Seriously, though, isn't it a bit early for this thread?

NO! It's never too early to start to talk about football.

 

I started the same type of thread last year at the same time and where were you then with your complaints??

Edited February 18, 2009 by Kelverin

[Enoch]

NO! It's never too early to start to talk about football.

Fair point.

 

So, Franchise tags, then!

 

Pats: QB Matt Cassel (Trade bait!)

Giants: RB Brandon Jacobs (Probably smart to avoid a long-term commitment in light of injury risk)

Bengals: K Shayne Graham (K/P tag salaries are cheap)

Falcons: P Michael Koenen

Ravens: LB/DE Terrell Suggs

Cardinals: LB Karlos Dansby (2nd year in a row; very expensive)

Buccaneers: WR Antonio Bryant (not confirmed yet)

 

Did I miss anyone?

[Kelverin]

Don't think you did.

 

 

2009 exclusive franchise player costs by position (Per wiki so take that for what its worth)

 

Position Cost

Quarterback $14,651,000 ( You won't see many of these)

Offensive Linemen (includes Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard, Center) $8,451,000

Wide Receiver $9,884,000

Running Back (includes all Fullbacks and Halfbacks) $6,621,000

Tight end $4,462,000

Defensive End $8,991,000

Defensive Tackle $6,058,000

Linebacker $8,304,000

Cornerback $9,957,000

Safety $6,342,000

Kicker or Punter $2,483,000

[Enoch]

New one:

 

Chargers: RB Darren Sproles

 

Wow. Sproles is a nice playmaker and all, but doesn't this make SD a tad over-invested in the RB position? (Also, it shows what the team's management thinks about Tomlinson's injury issues.) Kelv, you're the SD expert around here, what's up with this?

[Kelverin]

Surprised they did this but it doesn't mean that he will play in 2009 under the franchise tag. The tag might be used to buy time and keep him out of the FA market, they also might tag and then trade for a 2nd round pick, or it also gives the Chargers time to get a long-term deal done at a much better price tag (cap friendly). If nothing can get accomplished, the Chargers can drop the franchise tag if they so desire.

 

$6,621,000 is a ton of money to pay for a special teams player/part time back. Also remains to be seen what is going on with LT and his deal, they are just protecting themselves, if they didn't do this they might not have any (Healthy?) RB's on the roster.

[Kelverin]

More tags

 

Texans: CB Dunta Robinson

Titans: will use their franchise player designation on tight end Bo Scaife (Rumor, yet to be confirmed)

Rams: S Oshiomogho Atogwe as their franchise player.

Buccaneers officially tagged WR Antonio Bryant

Edited February 19, 2009 by Kelverin

[Kelverin]

This just in (Known for a long time however)

 

Colts agree to release Harrison

 

The Colts have agreed to release Marvin Harrison, the NFL's No. 2 all-time receiver, his agent says.

Check NFL.com

[Gfted1]

Kellen Winslow traded. Kinda surprising. Pro bowl TE's dont grow on trees.

[Kelverin]

Kellen Winslow traded. Kinda surprising. Pro bowl TE's dont grow on trees.

Mangenius cleaning house?

[Kelverin]

Keep track of all "free" agent moves

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency?icampaign=DW...e_agency_friday

[Kelverin]

Cassel traded to Chiefs

 

The New England Patriots have traded QB Matt Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs,

the teams have agreed on compensation, but no details of the deal were immediately available.

[Kelverin]

Coast Guard searching for missing boat with NFL players

 

"CLEARWATER, FL -- The Coast Guard is searching for a missing fishing boat about 50 miles off-shore in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to Coast Guard officials, the 21-foot fishing boat left from a boat ramp in Clearwater Pass Saturday about 6:30 am with 4 people on board.

A dispatcher told ABC Action News 3 of them are NFL players. One of the plays for the Detroit Lions, and one plays for the Oakland Raiders, the dispatcher said."

Story

 

I hope they are alright.

[Kelverin]

The Tampa Tribune has the names of two of the NFL players who have been reported missing on a boat off the coast of Clearwater, Florida.

They are linebacker Marquis Cooper of the Raiders and defensive end Corey Smith of the Lions.

A third person, identified as Nick Skyler, also is on the boat. We can find no evidence on the Internet (including NFL.com

[Enoch]

My Giants have had an interesting weekend.

 

They started off bidding with lots of other teams for Albert Haynesworth. He ended up in Washington, but the Giants soon found uses for all the dollars they were thinking of sending his way. First they signed Michael Boley, an outside linebacker formerly with the Atlanta Falcons. He should immediately upgrade the team's lack of athleticism at OLB. Next came defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks. An older player who isn't the greatest run defender around, but who is still useful as a part-time pass-rusher.

 

Lastly, and most surprisingly, they signed Chris Canty, a DE formerly with the rival Dallas Cowboys. They'll probably be moving him inside to Tackle (Dallas plays a 3-4 defense; the responsibilities of a 3-4 DE most closely mirror those of a DT in a 4-3, like the Giants run). The odd thing is that a starting DT isn't really one of the Giants' immediate needs-- Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield are both solid players. But both of them will be free agents after the 2009 season, so the Canty acquisition probably makes the most sense as an effort to anticipate their losses and fix them a year early. In the meantime, it leaves the team absolutely stacked at the DT position-- Robbins & Canty will probably start, with Cofield, Bernard, and last year's 3rd DT Jay Alford all competing for rotational duty. And that's in-between the best 1-2-3 lineup of defensive ends in the league: Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Mathias Kiwanuka.

[Gfted1]

The Tampa Tribune has the names of two of the NFL players who have been reported missing on a boat off the coast of Clearwater, Florida.

They are linebacker Marquis Cooper of the Raiders and defensive end Corey Smith of the Lions.

A third person, identified as Nick Skyler, also is on the boat. We can find no evidence on the Internet (including NFL.com

[Gfted1]

Cowboys cut T.O. *manly sobbing*

[Volourn]

That was dumb by Dallas. Wonder who will pick him up. One of the top 10 receivers in the NFl should NOT be unemployed.

[Hurlshort]

That was dumb by Dallas. Wonder who will pick him up. One of the top 10 receivers in the NFl should NOT be unemployed.

 

While I'm sure someone will take a chance on him, I'm not sure how relevant he is anymore as a top receiver. He's not much of a team player.

 

The Raiders will probably sign him.

[Enoch]

Beyond the well documented off-the-field stuff, Owens wasn't commanding nearly as much double-coverage as he has in the past. He's 35, and starting to show it.

 

Someone will be willing to pay him to play in '09. The question is whether anyone will be willing to pay him a salary above the level he will deign to accept. If Owens demands a longer-term deal or siginificant guaranteed money, he could end up spending the season at home.

 

He makes sense to a team that is weak at WR and thinks that it's close to making a playoff run. The rest of the NFCE has already said "no thanks" in no uncertain terms, and other franchises and coaches who have dealt with him in the past like SF, MIA (Parcells/Sparano), and MIN (Childress was his OC in Philly) are almost certainly out. The Jets? Chicago? Baltimore?

 

Edit: Scratch Baltimore-- I forgot that Harbaugh was the ST coach while Owens was in Philly.

Edited March 5, 2009 by Enoch

[Volourn]

A team like the Giants are retaredd if they don't pick him out. They have no shut at championship without a true #1 eceiver. TO is still one of the best receivers in the game even if he is 35. There aren't 10 - let alone 32 - wide receivers better than him in the league. And, he's been a pretty solid citizen in Dallas. On top of this, Dallas was a better team with him then they were without him. He's just a scapegoat here.

[Enoch]

A team like the Giants are retaredd if they don't pick him out. They have no shut at championship without a true #1 eceiver. TO is still one of the best receivers in the game even if he is 35. There aren't 10 - let alone 32 - wide receivers better than him in the league. And, he's been a pretty solid citizen in Dallas. On top of this, Dallas was a better team with him then they were without him. He's just a scapegoat here.

 

10 better WRs:

 

1) Andre Johnson

2) Larry Fitzgerald

3) Randy Moss

4) Steve Smith

5) Roddy White

6) Reggie Wayne

7) Calvin Johnson

Greg Jennings

9) Anquan Boldin

10) Marques Colston

 

Owens was losing it last season, and it's not just because he spent some time with Brad Johnson at QB. His stats don't look terrible, but that's largely a result of aggregation-- yeah, he got 1052 yards, but that was on 140 passes (which he caught less than half of). Greg Jennings had the same number of passes, but produced 1291 yards. Steve Smith had 10 fewer passes, and produced 1424.

 

Dallas may not be better on gameday without Owens, but they are more likely to avoid a late-season locker-room/press-conference explosion that dooms the team's morale and cohesion. It's a matter of risk tolerance.

Edited March 5, 2009 by Enoch

[Volourn]

Nonsense. Absolute nonsense. His stats don't look horrible because he still had a great season despite having a washed up QB 'throwing' the ball. Dallas is NOT a better team without Owens. You know it, I know it, everyone knows it. This move did NOT make Dallas a better team hence it is a horrible move. Period.