QUOTE: “If I were dying, my last words would be, ‘Have faith and pursue the unknown end.’ ” -- Oliver Wendell Holmes
Usually, after the first weekend of free agency, the big money spending is over and players without the expected big contracts start to get a little nervous. As a fan, just because your favorite team hasn’t been active at the beginning of free agency, it doesn’t mean it won’t be making moves; it just won’t be making expensive moves. Here are more of my thoughts from the first weekend:
Brandon Marshall of the Broncos would make sense to many teams picking at the bottom of the first round, and clearly he would improve the Bengals. I’m sure the team’s coaches would agree with his assessment, but the Bengals front office will shy away from spending the money. There’s no wide receiver in this draft the Bengals could pick that could make a significant impact to their team like Marshall….
The Tim Tebow private workouts begin, with the Bills and Seahawks the first to visit the Florida campus. Expect the Panthers and the Broncos to follow. In a private workout setting, Tebow will be revealed as teams make him throw their route tree and in their rhythm of offense….
The Jags giving Aaron Kampman more than $11 million in guarantee is a surprise, but those guarantees have to be time sensitive and protect the club if his knee doesn’t respond in time. The Jags are confident Kampman will be ready for the beginning of camp, but being ready and being back to his normal playing level are quite different….
If I were a team in the AFC South, I would sign Jim Sorgi, the former Colts backup quarterback. He’s had inside access to the Colts’ methodology of offense, and he could really provide assistance on and off the field….
Shaun Hill’s tenure with the 49ers might be over now that former Texans quarterback David Carr has signed with San Francisco. Playing behind the 49ers offensive line might get Carr sacked again if he plays. The 49ers have to fix that line before they can take the next step. They allowed 40 sacks last year….
Ryan Clark of the Steelers is in Miami, and I expect him to be signed some time today as the Dolphins need economic value at safety since releasing the overpaid Gibril Wilson. As I wrote the other day, and as Antrel Rolle confirmed, the Fins were never involved in pursuing his services because he was viewed as too expensive….
The Browns took a huge plunge into free agency Sunday, signing Scott Fuijta of the Saints and Tony Pashos of the 49ers. Fuijta got such a strong offer from the Browns that he had no choice but to take the deal. The Saints were never going to be in that market….
Not sure how former Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles could help the Jets offense since he was no help to the Bengals. At this point in his career, Coles lacks burst in and out of his cuts to separate. He’ll have a hard time improving the Jets if he signs with them….
Why would the Lions trade for corner Chris Houston when the Falcons, who need corners, are willing to trade him? Well, Houston needs to play press corner and has to be able to get his hands on wide receivers, which fits the Lions’ Cover 2 scheme more than it does the Falcons. This is all about scheme fit.
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
For a breakdown of the 2010 free agents, check out this article from Bleacher Report.
Well, Lombardi,
I appreciate your insights as always and I do think Jim Sorgi would fit in well with the Titans, Jags or Texans if for nothing else, he can reveal the Colts' secrets. We'll see how things go. I do like Ryan Clark going to the Dolphins, except if the Dolphins have to go to Denver this season. Clark couldn't play for the Steelers last year in Denver due to some sickle cell deficiencies so that would be a tough break for the team, especially if my Broncos improve the way I hope they do. Speaking of which, we'll retain Brandon Marshall, I hope, if no one is willing to gamble on him. Ultimately, talent wins in this league so if he can be sufficiently humble, we can do great things with him. Keep up the good work and I am out.
I just don't understand the Brown family??? Give L. Coles a huge deal last year a pretty clear over payment for a guy on the back nine of his career yet they won't spend on a 26 year old big WR. Coles cost them 10 million, Brandon would be what 20-25 million guarenteed for triple the production and more years.
The 'Cuse rookie would be cheaper from where they draft, doubtful anyone else chances him there...
Sorry Denver, nobody's going to give you a #1 draft choice. Lets get real. Where's all the takers? Either going to accept a #2 and lower round draft choice and or another player trade or you will have back a disgruntled player. Marshall will just play out his last contract year and then he will be an unrestricted free agent and Denver will get NOTHING. Look what Antwain Boldin went for. A #3 and a #4. Lets be real!
Jay-
That's not exactly true. If the Broncos do end up keeping Marshall for 2010, then he'll be an unrestricted free agent after the season at which point the Broncos could use the franchise tag on him or let him walk and pick up a 3rd round compensatory pick (maybe more). The Broncos are doing the right thing, letting this play out.
I still expect the Broncos to work out a deal to trade him this offseason, but I don't think it's going to happen anytime before the draft unless Seattle does go ahead and sign him to an offer sheet or offer the 14th pick for Marshall. At this point, nobody really knows what's going to happen. Comparing the oft-injured and 30 year old Boldin to Marshall is laughable. Marshall is in a class with Fitzgerald and Johnson as the top big wideouts in the league.
Have to agree with Denver , you can't compare Boldin to Marshall , Marshall is better and younger which all by itself makes him more valuable .
While I agree that Marshall is the better WR (not to mention younger), I would still rather have Boldin at the price Baltimore paid for him. Everyone talks about what a steal Marchall would be for teams picking at the bottom of the first round, but that fails to take into account that the next pick those teams have to address their needs is in the 50s.
And as far as Sorgi goes, does he have ANY value aside from his insight into the Colts' offense? Every single time he has taken the field, even in garbage time, he looks beyond horrible. I can't for the life of me understand why anyone outside of the AFC South has any interest in him. He's easily the worst QB in the league on any team's depth chart.
And the Bengals won't spend the money why? I posted the other day the exact point Lombardi made about how any team with a need to complete their O with a WR have no one available in the 1st round who can step right in and make a bigger impact than Marshall, and most WR's out of the draft take 2 yrs. to develop anyway, and someone responded about how hes not in top 50 YPC and hes a possession reciever - so? You have a guaranteed producer versus a college prospect, and if you need a WR chances are that's a finishing touch to your O, why not put the icing on the cake with a guaranteed 1 or at WORST a 2? For 3 mil to start? The Bengals O production drastically dropped after Chris Henry's subtraction, why not open up a checkbook, sign a guaranteed stud, and pair him with Ocho to have a killer 1-2 punch for the remainder of Carson Palmer's time as an above-average QB?
Are you kidding me? I'd take Boldin in a heartbeat over Marshall. Q is the definition of the warrior mentality, and his only major off-field issues had to do with getting a contract. Well, now he has it. Not Fitz' 10 mil a year, but close enough for government work. And he gets to be the star of the show...no way Stallworth takes that away from him.
Marshall's diva attitude and life issues are well-known. He has locker-room cancer written all over him, and that's something Q will never be. The Ravens made the right choice, and it could mean a SB appearance for them in 2011.
For all those who are saying Marshall is better then Boldin you guys need to check the stats. Their pretty much the same receiver stat wise except for a couple of things. Boldin will block & he's a model citizen so you won't have to worry about him going to jail &/or getting suspended. Now Boldin has injury concerns thats THE only reason why he was had so cheaply. That & his price tag of course. But as far as age is concerned you guys act like he's ancient. He's going to be 30 in October. Marshall 26 in 2 weeks or so. 3 1/2 years difference isn't that much. Receivers don't take as much of a beating either although the way Anquan plays that has to be a consideration. Still stat wise they're the same player. Possession receivers except you'll get maximum effort from Anquan & he'll help U even when hes not receiving the ball. Marshall will not. And well he's a douche bag!
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Mar 08, 2010
12:34 PM
The Niners are going to fix that line in a hurry with two prime drat picks this year, 14 and 17. People can talk about CJ Spiller all they want but it starts up front and I think the Niners brass is smart enough to know this.