NFC West: free agency
On Carlos Rogers' rebirth with 49ers
None of the unrestricted free agents they added from other teams during the 2011 offseason received a deal exceeding three years in length or $4.25 million in average compensation.
One player in particular has stood out as a bargain.
Rogers' aggressive play at cornerback has given the 49ers a needed edge in their secondary. It's tough to say any other corner in the NFC West has made as positive an impact through Week 5. Rogers' 31-yard interception return for a touchdown against Tampa Bay was the latest in a string of impact plays from him for San Francisco.
Sometimes a change of address frees a veteran player to reach more of his potential. That seems to be the case with Rogers, a seventh-year veteran known during his six-year run with Washington for letting would-be interceptions slip through his hands. Rogers' three picks through five games exceed by one his single-season career high. He now has 11 for his career.
I was among several reporters gathered around Rogers in the 49ers' locker room Monday. A few highlights:
- On matching up with Detroit's Calvin Johnson: "He present a lot. A big, strong guy that can run. Then you got a quarterback who gets him the ball no matter if he is covered or not. We’re going to have to have something special for him, roll some coverages to him. They’ve been rolling, he’s been outjumping everybody, scoring touchdowns, catching balls in many different places. You see him all over ESPN and what they are doing."
- On his time with the Redskins: "I had coach (Joe) Gibbs, he basically ran our team. I had coach Gregg Williams as a defensive coordinator that everyone would die to play for. After that, it was coach (Jim) Zorn, and he didn’t really run our team. Guys were able to run over him and get things they wanted by just going to the ownership. After that, coach (Mike) Shanahan is a good coach, but my mindset by the time he came in, I was just ready to leave."
- On what bothered him about the Redskins: "We only re-signed Chris Samuels and Chris Cooley, which they deserve it, but everybody else was new guys they had brought in. It wasn’t guys who were drafted that we re-signed. I’m thinking once it comes to my turn, I’m not going to be here anyway. My whole mindset was like, 'Just get out of Washington, get a fresh start.' I’m always compared to what Shawn Springs do, what Fred Smoot do, what DeAngelo Hall do. I just couldn’t be Carlos. ... As a player, you get tired of that. You want something fresh. With this team, they just let me be me. They just let me play. I think right now I’m just playing at a level I know I can play at. I think back and it’s just like college. I’m back to my Auburn days, having fun."
- On the 49ers' 4-1 start: "We got a long way to go. I was with coach Zorn and we went 6-2 into our bye. The next eight games, we was 2-6. It’s a long season. We have a long way to go. Right now, (Jim Harbaugh) is just leading us in the right direction, keeping our mind strong on what we’ve got to do, and the right mindset of thinking throughout this whole process. It’s better than people thought. I tell people, we was supposed to be sorry. We’re surprising everybody. But we don’t want all the credit now. We want it at the end of the season when we get to our ultimate goal."
The chart shows basic contract information for Rogers and the other unrestricted free agents added during the offseason. Manny Lawson, Takeo Spikes, Aubrayo Franklin, Jeff Reed, Travis LaBoy and David Baas were the UFAs leaving the 49ers for other teams.
ESPN.com has put together the following unofficial list, to be updated, if necessary, once the league produces its list.
Our list shows only those players with four accrued seasons whose contracts expired following the 2010 season. It does not show street free agents (those released following the season).
As PatriotsBeatDown921 noted, the chart does not show all unsigned franchise players. There are eight: Haloti Ngata of the Baltimore Ravens, Ryan Kalil of the Carolina Panthers, Paul Soliai of the Miami Dolphins, Chad Greenway of the Minnesota Vikings, David Harris of the New York Jets, Kamerion Wimbley of the Oakland Raiders, Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles and LaMarr Woodley of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Teams can begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents from their own and other teams at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday. Teams can begin signing unrestricted free agents at 6 p.m. ET Friday.
Wink, wink: Handshake deals in free agency
The thought came to mind Monday upon reading through the NFC West mailbag. Paul from Butte, Mont., noticed that Ken Whisenhunt and Carson Palmer were playing in the same golf tournament over the weekend. Whisenhunt's Cardinals could use a quarterback. Palmer is a quarterback looking for a new team. When opportunity and motive combine ...
In this case, I doubt players and coaches would use a forum as public as a nationally televised golf tournament to conduct business outside NFL rules. However, it's no secret teams have lined up handshake deals before the official start to free agency, usually beginning at the scouting combine in February.
"We all do it,'' one team executive told ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas for a 2008 story. "Up until a few years ago, there were still a few teams that wouldn't do it. But they were the last bastion and they finally gave in because they realized they were losing out on players at the start of free agency because they weren't doing it.''
Teams and agents have little incentive to report one another because all parties want to continue benefiting from business as usual.
An agent I spoke with Monday said he expects business as usual from teams unwilling or unable to restrain themselves. He said teams have been operating that way for years, and in his experience, the teams were the ones initiating the contact.
Teams face additional pressures to land targeted free agents this offseason. The lockout has wiped out minicamps and left teams less prepared. Teams with new coaching staffs and quarterback issues are worse off. The free-agent signing pool figures to be bigger than usual this year if, as expected, the new labor deal requires free agents to have only four accrued seasons to become unrestricted, down from six seasons a year ago.
It all adds up to a more chaotic, pressure-packed signing period if and when free agency finally does open.
Mike Sando: There are a few key points to keep in mind here. One, there is no free agency without a new labor agreement. Two, the next labor agreement will define terms for free agents. About 500 players with four accrued seasons could become unrestricted under the previous system. Another roughly 100 players will have three accrued seasons.
Teams have had a long time to anticipate a work stoppage. It's never a good time to have a long list of good players without contracts. But in most cases, teams have already re-signed the players they think they absolutely have to keep. Some teams have a long list of free agents by design. I would put Seattle in that category.
The Seahawks promoted competition during the 2010 season by shortening contracts in a few cases. They re-signed a couple players they wanted to target, but overall, I think they feel just fine going into the labor period with unsigned players. The number you cited -- 27 -- is in the right ballpark. The totals are unofficial until the league releases its annual list.
The 49ers have a shorter projected list featuring five starters from last season: Takeo Spikes, Aubrayo Franklin, Manny Lawson, Alex Smith and Dashon Goldson.
I've put together an initial list of 25 projected NFC West free agents to watch. These are not necessarily ranked in order of abilities. A couple "name" players did not make the list, and I'm noting there are only two St. Louis Rams on there (could have considered Adam Goldberg, Billy Bajema, Gary Gibson, Daniel Fells, Laurent Robinson, Clifton Ryan, etc.).
Unrestricted free agents: TE Anthony Becht, LB Monty Beisel, LB Bertrand Berry (retired), LT Jeremy Bridges, CB Ralph Brown, LB Karlos Dansby, LT Mike Gandy, FB Dan Kreider, WR Sean Morey, LB Chike Okeafor, K Neil Rackers, NT Bryan Robinson, QB Brian St. Pierre, S Matt Ware.
Restricted free agents: SS Hamza Abdullah, WR Steve Breaston, G Ben Claxton, FB Justin Green, LG Deuce Lutui, TE Ben Patrick, C Lyle Sendlein, TE Stephen Spach, WR Jerheme Urban, NT Gabe Watson.
Franchise player: none
What to expect: The Cardinals generally do not pursue marquee free agents from other teams. That trend figures to continue. The Cardinals have too many of their own free agents to re-sign for them to worry about chasing other teams' castoffs. We might see Arizona plug the roster with a few lower-tier free agents. They had success doing that last offseason, particularly with Becht at tight end. Dansby leads the list of 2009 starters expected to depart. Arizona is reportedly interested in quarterback David Carr.
St. Louis Rams
Unrestricted free agents: QB Kyle Boller, DE James Hall, SS Clinton Hart, LB Paris Lenon, DE Leonard Little, LS Chris Massey, TE Randy McMichael.
Restricted free agents: S Eric Bassey, S Craig Dahl, TE Daniel Fells, LS Ryan Neill, DT Clifton Ryan, CB Jonathan Wade, DE Victory Adeyanju, FS Oshiomogho Atogwe, T Alex Barron, RB Sam Gado, DT Gary Gibson, WR Ruvell Martin, G Mark Setterstrom.
Franchise player: none
What to expect: The Rams could be in the market for a veteran quarterback such as Chad Pennington. Beyond quarterback, coach Steve Spagnuolo said the Rams could use a little more seasoning in the form of veteran role players. The Rams will remain a young team, but they could add some experience. The team parted with players fitting that profile last offseason, but most had inflated salaries. The ones St. Louis adds this year figure to carry lower price tags in most cases. The Rams have said they want Little and Hall back. McMichael figures to be gone.
Seattle Seahawks
Unrestricted free agents: WR Nate Burleson, FB Justin Griffith, LS Kevin Houser, LB D.D. Lewis, CB Ken Lucas, T Damion McIntosh, S Lawyer Milloy, DE Cory Redding, LS Jeff Robinson.
Restricted free agents: T Brandon Frye, WR Ben Obomanu, LB Lance Laury, G Rob Sims, G Chris Spencer, DE Darryl Tapp.
Franchise player: K Olindo Mare
What to expect: The Seahawks are a little difficult to figure. Their owner has the money to bankroll aggressive spending if Seattle chooses to go that route. Coach Pete Carroll surely realizes the team could use talent upgrades. The new general manager, John Schneider, comes from the Ted Thompson school of personnel. Thompson's aversion for free agency is well established, although Schneider has characterized himself as slightly more aggressive. The problem, of course, is finding good players on the market. Burleson will hit the market. He could return if the price is right. Carroll has said nice things about Redding, who should be affordable.
San Francisco 49ers
Unrestricted free agents: WR Arnaz Battle, CB Dre Bly, CB Walt Harris, T Tony Pashos, FS Mark Roman, T Barry Sims, LB Jeff Ulbrich (retired), LB Matt Wilhelm.
Restricted free agents: LG David Baas, LB Ahmad Brooks, CB Marcus Hudson.
Franchise player: NT Aubrayo Franklin
What to expect: The 49ers have largely turned their back on free agency now that they feel better about their roster. I would expect the team to lay low again when the signing period begins late Thursday night on the West Coast.
Putting 'final eight' rule in perspective
Basically, the final eight teams alive in the playoffs, including Arizona, will have a harder time signing free agents from other teams if the NFL and its players fail to extend the collective bargaining agreement. I don't think this is a huge deal, though, because rules will also dramatically reduce the number of players available in free agency. And remember, there haven't been many good players hitting the market, anyway.
Without a new CBA, players must have six years in the league, not four, to become free agents. Teams will also be able to use one franchise tag and two transition tags to restrict veteran players.
Pat Kirwan of NFL.com has done a good job explaining some of the implications here and here.
Last offseason, Arizona lost (and in some cases did not want back) Terrelle Smith, Eric Green, J.J. Arrington, Antonio Smith and the since-re-signed Monty Beisel in unrestricted free agency. The Cardinals added Bryant McFadden and Jason Wright as unrestricted free agents. The team re-signed unrestricted free agents Brian St. Pierre, Ben Graham, Kurt Warner, Ralph Brown, Clark Haggans, Bertrand Berry and the since-released Elton Brown, with Karlos Dansby re-signing as a franchise player.
Basically, these players might have to wait an extra couple seasons to become unrestricted free agents.
Among NFC West players, this could prove particularly costly for Ahmad Brooks, Oshiomogho Atogwe and Deuce Lutui.
Cardinals cuts show perils of free agency
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Titans liked Travis LaBoy when the defensive end became a free agent before the 2008 season. The team probably would have re-signed LaBoy if the organization thought the pass rusher could stay healthy.
Instead, LaBoy hit the market and cashed in with the Cardinals, pocketing a $5.75 million signing bonus and $750,000 in first-year salary. LaBoy also collected a $1.5 million roster bonus this offseason, bringing his 13-month haul to $8 million.
This is often how free agency goes. The other players Arizona released Tuesday, running back Edgerrin James and cornerback Rod Hood, were also marquee free-agent signings. James fulfilled three years of his four-year deal, collecting $25 million -- not a horrible outcome by free agency's standards. Hood lasted two of five seasons, collecting $8 million.
Don't call the Cardinals cheap. They took a high-stakes risk on LaBoy and paid the price when it didn't work out. They shelled out $41 million for James, LaBoy and Hood over the last three seasons. Such can be the price of becoming players in free agency.
Quick glance at NFC West free-agent picture
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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
NFC West rosters stand to shrink considerably in the short term as free agency begins Friday.
The chart shows how many players at each pos
ition are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents if they do not sign contracts before Friday.
I also listed the division's top free agents at each position, with apologies to J.J. Arrington, Bobby Engram, Will Heller and Bertrand Berry.
Seahawks linebacker Lance Laury will join the list because Seattle does not plan to extend a contract to him as a restricted free agent. I'm also not sure what the Rams have in store for offensive lineman Mark Setterstrom.
The Rams have seven offensive linemen scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, matching the number they have under contract. The number under contract will shrink if the Rams release Orlando Pace.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
NFL teams routinely sign players with ties to their organizations. Those ties become more difficult to track this time of year because so many coaches and personnel people have changed teams recently. But we'll make an initial attempt here.
The Bucs' decision to release Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway and Cato June raises questions about the Seahawks' potential interest. Seahawks president Tim Ruskell and vice president Ruston Webster were with the Bucs when the team drafted Brooks and Dunn. New Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was with all four released players last season.
The Raiders' recent moves -- releasing Gibril Wilson, Kalimba Edwards, Ronald Curry, Justin Griffith and Kwame Harris -- raise questions about the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers. Wilson played for new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo with the Giants.
- The Rams have quite a bit invested in free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, making it unlikely they would invest heavily in Wilson. But the ties between Spagnuolo and Wilson are still worth mentioning.
- Harris played for the 49ers before signing with the Raiders. San Francisco is looking to upgrade its depth on the offensive line. The team also needs a starting right tackle. Harris would not be the answer as a starter.
- Curry played for new Seahawks offensive coordinator Greg Knapp in Oakland last season. The Seahawks will be looking to improve their depth at receiver. I do not know what Knapp thinks of Curry, but he would be familiar with him.
The Panthers' decision to release receiver D.J. Hackett makes available a familiar name for the Seahawks. Seattle appeared lukewarm in retaining Hackett last offseason. The interest might be cooler given changes to the Seahawks' staff. Mike Holmgren and his coaches knew Hackett, but the offense will be different under Knapp.
These are a few connections to keep in mind. Please offer up others if you have them.
Chat wrap: Free agency picked over already
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Thanks to those who dropped by the NFC West chat this afternoon. You can jump directly to my portion of the transcript here.
As I looked at the list of free agents, sorted by grade, I noticed how many of those free agents already knew their fates for 2009. There simply aren't many premium free agents to discuss heading into the signing period.
Thirteen of the projected top 20 free agents will not become unrestricted free agents Friday. The seven still scheduled to hit the market: Albert Haynesworth, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Ray Lewis, Kurt Warner, Bart Scott, Jason Brown and Chris Canty.
The Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals would be better with Brown at center. Houshmandzadeh would make sense for NFC West teams other than the Cardinals, but the Rams need fewer players in their 30s, not more of them. And I question whether Houshmandzadeh would want to join a rebuilding organization after years with the Bengals.
RFA preview: Cardinals' Pope, Watson on deck
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Cardinals' commitment to 3-4 principles as part of a hybrid defense means they'll want to keep nose tackle Gabe Watson from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Watson and tight end Leonard Pope are restricted free agents this offseason. The Cardinals can retain rights to both by making minimum qualifying offers before the Thursday deadline.
The Cardinals would like more consistency at tight end. I would expect them to offer Pope at the minimum level. That would almost certainly be enough to dissuade other teams from making an offer, for if the Cardinals declined to match, the signing team would send a third-round choice to Arizona.
Arizona will likely take a safer approach with Watson. A minimum offer would return only a fourth-round pick to Arizona if the Cardinals declined to match an offer. The Cardinals could gain insurance by making a $1.545 million offer. In that case, Arizona would receive a second-round choice for failing to match offers on Watson.
The knee problems Watson overcame last season might dissuade other teams from valuing him as a second-round choice. But if Watson makes a full recovery and helps the Cardinals, he could be worth the $1.545 million investment.
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RFA preview: Seahawks' Laury to hit market
The Seahawks have only one potential restricted free agent this offseason: linebacker Lance Laury. They have already informed him they do not plan to make a qualifying offer.
The decision means Laury will become an unrestricted free agent Friday.
Laury has been a special-teams player and backup linebacker. He occasionally made big hits on special teams, including one memorable block on then-Rams linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski, but he was not consistently effective and the team had no plans to develop him as a linebacker.
The Seahawks' decision also reflects escalating pay scales. The minimum qualifying offer jumped to $1.01 million for 2009. That's how much Seattle would have to offer Laury for the right to match any offers he might have received from other teams. And that's how much Laury would have earned from the Seahawks if they had made the offer and kept him on the roster.
Teams have until Thursday to make qualifying offers for restricted free agents.
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RFA preview: Rams face decision on Setterstrom
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Rams have three potential restricted free agents this offseason. The team faces fairly straightforward choices with guard Richie Incognito and defensive lineman Victor Adeyanju, but offensive lineman Mark Setterstrom could present a more difficult call.
Incognito and Adeyanju were mid-round draft choices. The Rams can make the minimum RFA offer -- $1.01 million this year -- without exposing themselves to undue risk.
Pending potential roster changes, St. Louis expects Incognito to start at right guard. If another team wanted to offer a long-term deal, the Rams could match the offer. If they decided against matching, they would receive a draft choice in Incognito's drafted round, the third. Either choice could help the Rams over the long term.
Setterstrom's case is different. He was only a seventh-round choice. The Rams wouldn't mind having him around as depth, but they presumably aren't excited about paying him more than $1 million, either. The team has until Thursday to make a decision.
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RFA overview: An explanation of the process
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
With the free agency period starting on Friday, it's the right time to freshen up on what happens to players not quite ready for prime time: restricted free agents.
By definition, RFAs have three years of NFL experience. They become unrestricted free agents Friday only if their teams decline to offer one-year contracts at prescribed amounts. We will see that happen quite a bit this year as the minimum qualifying offer exceeds $1 million.
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The four-tiered pay scale for restricted free agents carries 2009 salaries of $1.01 million, $1.545 million, $2.198 million and $2.792 million. The more teams offer by the Thursday deadline, the more they would receive in return if they decided against matching an offer from another team.
The lowest offer would return a draft choice in the round the player was drafted. If the player was not drafted, the original team would receive nothing in return. Teams have until Thursday to make qualifying offers. I'll make projections for each team as the day continues.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
