NFL Nation: Anthony Becht
Mike Wallace can make early-season impact
August, 28, 2012
8/28/12
1:00
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By
Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com
Wide receiver Mike Wallace reported to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday after missing all of the offseason workouts and training camp practices. But Wallace should be on the field in the season opener at Denver because he can make an impact in the game.
I'm not suggesting you should draft Wallace in the second round of your Fantasy draft. I'm not even predicting he'll get over 50 yards receiving in Week 1.
What I do know about is Wallace's speed. He won't be as comfortable in Todd Haley's playbook as Antonio Brown because he walked into the Steelers facility 12 days before the regular season kicks off for Pittsburgh. Still, Wallace knows how to run one route, the one where he goes straight down the field and flies past defenders. As coach Mike Tomlin has put it, Wallace is "a threat to take the top off a defense at any time."
Others don't see Wallace making much of a difference early in the season. ESPN's Jerry Rice said on SportsCenter that there's "no way" Wallace will be ready to make an impact in the season opener after missing all that time. Rice even suggested it could take Wallace four to five games to do so.
Even Wallace would have to acknowledge that he would've improved his chances of making an impact if he showed up last week and got a few snaps in a preseason game with the starting offense. But he didn't want to play in a preseason game. He sees his big paychecks when the regular season begins. It's selfish, but it's within his rights as an unhappy restricted free agent.
It's just hard to agree with the assessment that there's "no way" Wallace will make an impact. He needs to get in football shape (some believe holdouts injure themselves when they try to push themselves early), and he needs to get acclimated to Haley's system. But Wallace is still catching passes from Ben Roethlisberger, the same quarterback who has helped him catch over 1,000 yards and average 18.5 yards per reception over the past two seasons.
There is hope that Wallace will be able to pick up Haley's offense quickly. He was given a playbook during his absence. And tight end Anthony Becht, who played under Haley in Kansas City in 2011, said he learned Haley's offense in seven days. "Just a matter of how smart the guy is," Becht wrote on Twitter.
Wallace doesn't need to be the Wallace from the first half of last season to make an impact against Denver. When he lines up, everyone in the Broncos' secondary will know where he is. The attention put on Wallace opens up the underneath routes for Brown and the running lanes for Isaac Redman. For the past four months, Wallace has served as a distraction to the Steelers. Now, it's time for him to serve as a distraction for opposing defenses.
NFL free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Here is the complete list of unrestricted free agents for each team in the division:
Denver Broncos: S Brian Dawkins, DT Brodrick Bunkley, LB Mario Haggan, TE Daniel Fells, DE Derrick Harvey, OL Russ Hochstein, DE Jason Hunter, FB Spencer Larsen, LB Joe Mays, DT Ryan McBean, QB Brady Quinn, WR Eddie Royal, DT Marcus Thomas, TE Dante Rosario, CB Jonathan Wilhite, WR Matthew Willis , LB Wesley Woodyard, G Manny Ramirez.
Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jackie Battle, LB Jovan Belcher, CB Brandon Carr, S Jon McGraw, QB Kyle Orton, DB Travis Daniels, DE Wallace Gilberry, DL Amon Gordon, NT Kelly Gregg, S Reshard Langford, FB Le’Ron McClain, TE Anthony Becht, RB Thomas Jones, OT Ryan O’Callaghan, TE Jake O’Connell, QB Tyler Palko, S Sabby Piscitelli, TE Leonard Pope, OT Barry Richardson, WR Jerheme Urban, C Casey Wiegmann.
Oakland Raiders: DL Desmond Bryant, RB Michael Bush, LB Quentin Groves, OT Stephon Heyer, QB Jason Campbell, DB Bryan McCann, DE Jarvis Moss, C Samson Satele, WR Chaz Schilens, DL Trevor Scott.
San Diego Chargers: WR Vincent Jackson, G Nick Hardwick, OT Jared Gaither, RB Mike Tolbert, RB Jacob Hester, NG Antonio Garay, SS Steve Gregory, DL Tommie Harris, ILB Na'il Diggs, OLB Everette Brown, SS Bob Sanders, SS Paul Oliver, WR Patrick Crayton, OG Tony Moll TE Randy McMichael, ILB Stephen Cooper.
Denver Broncos: S Brian Dawkins, DT Brodrick Bunkley, LB Mario Haggan, TE Daniel Fells, DE Derrick Harvey, OL Russ Hochstein, DE Jason Hunter, FB Spencer Larsen, LB Joe Mays, DT Ryan McBean, QB Brady Quinn, WR Eddie Royal, DT Marcus Thomas, TE Dante Rosario, CB Jonathan Wilhite, WR Matthew Willis , LB Wesley Woodyard, G Manny Ramirez.
Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jackie Battle, LB Jovan Belcher, CB Brandon Carr, S Jon McGraw, QB Kyle Orton, DB Travis Daniels, DE Wallace Gilberry, DL Amon Gordon, NT Kelly Gregg, S Reshard Langford, FB Le’Ron McClain, TE Anthony Becht, RB Thomas Jones, OT Ryan O’Callaghan, TE Jake O’Connell, QB Tyler Palko, S Sabby Piscitelli, TE Leonard Pope, OT Barry Richardson, WR Jerheme Urban, C Casey Wiegmann.
Oakland Raiders: DL Desmond Bryant, RB Michael Bush, LB Quentin Groves, OT Stephon Heyer, QB Jason Campbell, DB Bryan McCann, DE Jarvis Moss, C Samson Satele, WR Chaz Schilens, DL Trevor Scott.
San Diego Chargers: WR Vincent Jackson, G Nick Hardwick, OT Jared Gaither, RB Mike Tolbert, RB Jacob Hester, NG Antonio Garay, SS Steve Gregory, DL Tommie Harris, ILB Na'il Diggs, OLB Everette Brown, SS Bob Sanders, SS Paul Oliver, WR Patrick Crayton, OG Tony Moll TE Randy McMichael, ILB Stephen Cooper.
Kansas City Chiefs cutdown analysis
September, 3, 2011
9/03/11
8:15
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
Check here for a complete list of the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster moves.
Surprise move: The Chiefs kept Keary Colbert ahead of fellow receivers Verran Tucker and Jeremy Horne. Colbert signed during the summer. He hasn’t been on an NFL roster since 2008. Yet, Colbert became a favorite of Kansas City coach Todd Haley. Defensive tackle Amon Gordon is another vet enjoying a career resurgence in Kansas City. He has played in just 17 games since entering the league in 2004. The Chiefs like Gordon as a run stuffer.
No-brainers: The big news out of Kansas City on Saturday is that standout tight end Tony Moeaki was put on the injured reserve with a knee injury he suffered at Green Bay on Thursday. Thus, the Chiefs kept both backups Jake O'Connell and Anthony Becht. Both players were considered bubble players but they are needed now.
What's next: It starts at tight end. The Chiefs could use a pass catcher. They could look at Donald Lee, who was cut Saturday, among other players. Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli could also make a run at safety Brandon Meriweather. He was cut by New England. Pioli was part of the team when it drafted Meriweather. The Chiefs also could scour the waiver wire at receiver, offensive line, inside linebacker and on the defensive line. So, yes, the Chiefs could look to upgrade throughout the roster. Also, if an interesting backup quarterback becomes available, the Cheifs could pursue him in favor of current backup Tyler Palko.
Surprise move: The Chiefs kept Keary Colbert ahead of fellow receivers Verran Tucker and Jeremy Horne. Colbert signed during the summer. He hasn’t been on an NFL roster since 2008. Yet, Colbert became a favorite of Kansas City coach Todd Haley. Defensive tackle Amon Gordon is another vet enjoying a career resurgence in Kansas City. He has played in just 17 games since entering the league in 2004. The Chiefs like Gordon as a run stuffer.
No-brainers: The big news out of Kansas City on Saturday is that standout tight end Tony Moeaki was put on the injured reserve with a knee injury he suffered at Green Bay on Thursday. Thus, the Chiefs kept both backups Jake O'Connell and Anthony Becht. Both players were considered bubble players but they are needed now.
What's next: It starts at tight end. The Chiefs could use a pass catcher. They could look at Donald Lee, who was cut Saturday, among other players. Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli could also make a run at safety Brandon Meriweather. He was cut by New England. Pioli was part of the team when it drafted Meriweather. The Chiefs also could scour the waiver wire at receiver, offensive line, inside linebacker and on the defensive line. So, yes, the Chiefs could look to upgrade throughout the roster. Also, if an interesting backup quarterback becomes available, the Cheifs could pursue him in favor of current backup Tyler Palko.
Bulger's retirement and what could've been
August, 3, 2011
8/03/11
9:13
AM ET
By
Mike Sando | ESPN.com
Rumors swirled in recent seasons that Marc Bulger, former Pro Bowl quarterback for the St. Louis Rams, was contemplating retirement.
BulgerBulger had taken so much punishment during his final years in St. Louis, the thinking went, that he had lost the will to continue in the game. Bulger hung around for one last season, spending 2010 as a backup with Baltimore. But he was indeed finished.
Bulger's retirement plans, revealed Wednesday by ESPN's Adam Schefter, come one year after the Arizona Cardinals considered bringing him in as a stopgap starter.
At his best, Bulger was a highly accurate passer and competent heir to Kurt Warner as conductor of the Greatest Show on Turf in St. Louis. He once completed 36 of 48 passes for 453 yards against San Diego, tossing four touchdown passes without an interception. He had four other games with at least 440 yards passing. But the Rams posted only a 1-2 record in the playoffs with Bulger. The team and organization began deteriorating around him as the years progressed, exposing Bulger to repeated beatings.
Bulger finishes his career with 122 touchdown passes, 93 interceptions and an 84.4 rating. The Rams were 26-10 when Bulger started from 2002-04, his first three seasons with the team. They never posted a winning record with him in the lineup thereafter. Bulger finished his career with a 41-54 record as a starter, including 5-30 over his last three seasons.
Tight end Anthony Becht, Bulger's teammate on the 1-15 Rams of 2009, blamed the Rams organization for Bulger's demise as a player. He said the team was unwilling to spend on its offensive line, exposing Bulger to punishment that left the quarterback without the necessary drive to continue.
"Congrats, my friend, on a spectacular career that could have been that much better," Becht wrote.
Bulger's retirement plans, revealed Wednesday by ESPN's Adam Schefter, come one year after the Arizona Cardinals considered bringing him in as a stopgap starter.
At his best, Bulger was a highly accurate passer and competent heir to Kurt Warner as conductor of the Greatest Show on Turf in St. Louis. He once completed 36 of 48 passes for 453 yards against San Diego, tossing four touchdown passes without an interception. He had four other games with at least 440 yards passing. But the Rams posted only a 1-2 record in the playoffs with Bulger. The team and organization began deteriorating around him as the years progressed, exposing Bulger to repeated beatings.
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Tight end Anthony Becht, Bulger's teammate on the 1-15 Rams of 2009, blamed the Rams organization for Bulger's demise as a player. He said the team was unwilling to spend on its offensive line, exposing Bulger to punishment that left the quarterback without the necessary drive to continue.
"Congrats, my friend, on a spectacular career that could have been that much better," Becht wrote.
On whether the Cardinals are active enough
July, 27, 2011
7/27/11
7:15
PM ET
By
Mike Sando | ESPN.com
Brian from Scottsdale, Ariz., hit the NFC West mailbag with concerns over the Arizona Cardinals' approach to free-agent negotiations so far. "For all of the talk and speculation over the past few months, things seem way too quiet," he wrote.
Mike Sando: Former Cardinals tight end Anthony Becht raised similar concerns earlier Wednesday. The team will still make a move for a quarterback at some point. That move will largely define this offseason for Arizona. It's too early to say Arizona hasn't moved quickly enough there. Kevin Kolb remains available. All signs point to the Cardinals making a trade for him. If and when that happens, I'm sure we'll hear complaints about the Cardinals giving up too much for an unproven player. The team cannot win either way in that situation.
Your broader concerns are valid. Arizona has bled talent over the past couple seasons. The roster would be stronger with Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and others. Losing Kurt Warner was huge. The Cardinals have made significant strides in recent seasons, but not enough to earn the benefit of the doubt across the board. The team's payroll plummeted last season. Steve Breaston, Deuce Lutui, Lyle Sendlein and others do not have contracts for the 2011 season.
"Arizona has the money [cap space], so you have to go out and spend to turn it around," Becht said when I followed up with him by phone. "You got rid of the guys you didn’t want, lost all those defenders. You have to commit yourself to something else. You are either proactive or reactive."
Becht thinks the Cardinals will wind up overpaying for Kolb by waiting. I think leverage can work both ways. If the Cardinals are the only team in the market for Kolb, why should they rush. Then again, if Kolb becomes the only realistic option for Arizona, the leverage swings back in Philadelphia's favor.
"I talked to [Eagles receiver] Jeremy Maclin and I asked him about Kolb," Becht said. "I’m all about experience and Kolb hasn't played much. [Maclin] told me as far as from a player standpoint, Kolb is legitimate -- a starting quarterback in the NFL, a real good player and wherever he goes, he is going to do well. He's been around coaches who know what they are doing, who helped transform Michael Vick. Kolb has the pedigree. Make a deal."
Mike Sando: Former Cardinals tight end Anthony Becht raised similar concerns earlier Wednesday. The team will still make a move for a quarterback at some point. That move will largely define this offseason for Arizona. It's too early to say Arizona hasn't moved quickly enough there. Kevin Kolb remains available. All signs point to the Cardinals making a trade for him. If and when that happens, I'm sure we'll hear complaints about the Cardinals giving up too much for an unproven player. The team cannot win either way in that situation.
Your broader concerns are valid. Arizona has bled talent over the past couple seasons. The roster would be stronger with Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and others. Losing Kurt Warner was huge. The Cardinals have made significant strides in recent seasons, but not enough to earn the benefit of the doubt across the board. The team's payroll plummeted last season. Steve Breaston, Deuce Lutui, Lyle Sendlein and others do not have contracts for the 2011 season.
"Arizona has the money [cap space], so you have to go out and spend to turn it around," Becht said when I followed up with him by phone. "You got rid of the guys you didn’t want, lost all those defenders. You have to commit yourself to something else. You are either proactive or reactive."
Becht thinks the Cardinals will wind up overpaying for Kolb by waiting. I think leverage can work both ways. If the Cardinals are the only team in the market for Kolb, why should they rush. Then again, if Kolb becomes the only realistic option for Arizona, the leverage swings back in Philadelphia's favor.
"I talked to [Eagles receiver] Jeremy Maclin and I asked him about Kolb," Becht said. "I’m all about experience and Kolb hasn't played much. [Maclin] told me as far as from a player standpoint, Kolb is legitimate -- a starting quarterback in the NFL, a real good player and wherever he goes, he is going to do well. He's been around coaches who know what they are doing, who helped transform Michael Vick. Kolb has the pedigree. Make a deal."
Whisenhunt: Roster turnover took its toll
February, 4, 2011
2/04/11
7:28
PM ET
By
Mike Sando | ESPN.com
DALLAS -- The Arizona Cardinals experienced more roster turnover than most from 2009 to 2010.
They felt it, too.
Arizona finished with a 5-11 record largely because quarterback Kurt Warner retired. The team hoped it had enough veteran strength throughout its roster to keep the Cardinals competitive. A favorable schedule and division in transition made it seem possible.
Looking back, the roster turnover played a leading role in the Cardinals' fall, coach Ken Whisenhunt said from the Super Bowl media center Friday.
"What you lose more than anything is that equity buildup that you have had for a couple years," Whisenhunt said.
Specifically, Whisenhunt said the Cardinals too often couldn't draw on shared experiences -- say, adjustment that worked against an opponent the previous season.
"Even though you have a Kerry Rhodes, you have Paris Lenon, you have guys you are comfortable with that are good players in the league, they don't know what you have gone through to get to that point," Whisenhunt said. "To have those guys step up and say, 'Listen, we are not practicing the right way, we are not making these plays like we should be,' you don't have that history with them. You can get away with that if it is one or two, but if you have five or six -- especially if they are good football players -- that is hard to overcome."
The Cardinals parted with a long list of players featuring Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle, Bryant McFadden, Bertrand Berry, Chike Okeafor, Mike Gandy, Reggie Wells, Neil Rackers, Anthony Becht, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban, Matt Leinart, Ralph Brown, Monty Beisel and Dan Kreider.
"You can never go in and say, 'Gosh, woe is me because we lost those guys,' because you are counting on the other guys to step in and you always want to be positive," Whisenhunt said. "But you have to recognize it's a pretty big blow to lose [key] guys."
Whisenhunt called the situation a "perfect storm" with Warner retiring, key players hitting the market and the NFL heading toward an uncertain labor situation.
"There is no operating plan for what you do or how you do it," he said. "It doesn't really matter at this point. You just have to move forward."
Quite a few younger players gained more experience than anticipated. That could help Arizona build back some of that equity Whisenhunt said was missing. But so much comes back to the quarterback situation. An upgrade at that position would cover for imperfections elsewhere on the roster.
They felt it, too.
Arizona finished with a 5-11 record largely because quarterback Kurt Warner retired. The team hoped it had enough veteran strength throughout its roster to keep the Cardinals competitive. A favorable schedule and division in transition made it seem possible.
Looking back, the roster turnover played a leading role in the Cardinals' fall, coach Ken Whisenhunt said from the Super Bowl media center Friday.
"What you lose more than anything is that equity buildup that you have had for a couple years," Whisenhunt said.
Specifically, Whisenhunt said the Cardinals too often couldn't draw on shared experiences -- say, adjustment that worked against an opponent the previous season.
"Even though you have a Kerry Rhodes, you have Paris Lenon, you have guys you are comfortable with that are good players in the league, they don't know what you have gone through to get to that point," Whisenhunt said. "To have those guys step up and say, 'Listen, we are not practicing the right way, we are not making these plays like we should be,' you don't have that history with them. You can get away with that if it is one or two, but if you have five or six -- especially if they are good football players -- that is hard to overcome."
The Cardinals parted with a long list of players featuring Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle, Bryant McFadden, Bertrand Berry, Chike Okeafor, Mike Gandy, Reggie Wells, Neil Rackers, Anthony Becht, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban, Matt Leinart, Ralph Brown, Monty Beisel and Dan Kreider.
"You can never go in and say, 'Gosh, woe is me because we lost those guys,' because you are counting on the other guys to step in and you always want to be positive," Whisenhunt said. "But you have to recognize it's a pretty big blow to lose [key] guys."
Whisenhunt called the situation a "perfect storm" with Warner retiring, key players hitting the market and the NFL heading toward an uncertain labor situation.
"There is no operating plan for what you do or how you do it," he said. "It doesn't really matter at this point. You just have to move forward."
Quite a few younger players gained more experience than anticipated. That could help Arizona build back some of that equity Whisenhunt said was missing. But so much comes back to the quarterback situation. An upgrade at that position would cover for imperfections elsewhere on the roster.
Roster turnover is a leading topic for discussion in Seattle following the release of T.J. Houshmandzadeh in particular.
I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.
This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.
Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).
St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)
Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)
Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)
Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)
Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)
Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)
Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)
Special teams: Ryan Neill
Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)
Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)
Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)
Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)
Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)
Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)
Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)
Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)
Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)
Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)
Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)
Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)
Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)
Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)
Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)
Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)
Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)
Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)
Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)
Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)
Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)
Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)
San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)
Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)
Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker
Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)
Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)
Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)
Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)
Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt
Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)
The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.
The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.
I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.
This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.
Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).
St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)
Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)
Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)
Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)
Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)
Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)
Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)
Special teams: Ryan Neill
Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)
Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)
Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)
Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)
Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)
Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)
Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)
Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)
Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)
Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)
Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)
Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)
Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)
Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)
Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)
Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)
Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)
Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)
Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)
Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)
Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)
Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)
San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)
Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)
Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker
Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)
Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)
Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)
Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)
Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt
Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)
The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.
The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.
Biggest surprise: The Cardinals parted with tight end Anthony Becht even though rookie Jim Dray didn't seem to show a great deal through most of camp. Becht became a valuable blocker in the Cardinals' two-tight end sets last season. Stephen Spach's improved health this offseason lets him step into the role. Dray's ability to contribute on special teams also gave him an edge over Becht. Releasing outside linebacker Cody Brown stands as a surprise only because Brown was a second-round choice in 2009. Every other second-round choice from last season was still with his original team as of Friday morning. The move was less surprising based on Brown's contributions. I once thought Herman Johnson might develop into a starting offensive lineman, but he reported to camp overweight and the Cardinals let him go. Their depth on the line gave Johnson less margin for error.
No-brainers: Veteran insider linebacker Monty Beisel had started during part of preseason and the Cardinals are lean at the position after placing Gerald Hayes on reserve/physically unable to perform. But Beisel wasn't the answer at the position and keeping him on the roster for Week 1 would have guaranteed his salary. Rookie Daryl Washington looks like he'll be starting at linebacker sooner rather than later. The Cardinals have also been pleased with veteran Paris Lenon. Reggie Walker also survived the first wave of cuts.
What’s next: The Cardinals still must release three players to conform with the 53-man limit. Matt Leinart's future remains in limbo. Coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters Friday that he wasn't prepared to make a decision on that front just yet. The Cardinals have four quarterbacks on their roster: Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton and Leinart. That situation should shake out in the coming days. Whisenhunt said he needs to figure out whether Leinart could fit as a backup if the team decided to name Anderson its starter. "It's not so much a question of Matt and his ability to play football as it his how he fits with our team," Whisenhunt said. Update: Here's my take on Leinart, who was released Saturday.
Cardinals players cut:
QB Matt Leinart
LB Stevie Baggs
TE Anthony Becht
LB Monty Beisel
LB Cody Brown
DE Jeremy Clark
DE John Fletcher
CB Trevor Ford
WR Ed Gant
OL Herman Johnson
WR Mike Jones
WR Onrea Jones
CB Justin Miller
OL Jonathan Palmer
OL Tom Pestock
FB Charles Scott
WR Isaiah Williams
I'll provide a separate file breaking down each NFC West team's roster moves once they meet the 53-man limit.
In the meantime, a few odds and ends:
Arizona Cardinals
Traded guard Reggie Wells to Philadelphia; released tight end Anthony Becht; released linebacker Steve Baggs; released linebacker Monty Beisel; apparently informed receiver Max Komar he made the initial 53-man roster; apparently did not tell quarterback Matt Leinart about his status to this point; scheduled a news conference for 6 p.m. ET (but nothing significant on Leinart is expected at that time).
San Francisco 49ers
Released running back Michael Robinson, released fullback Brit Miller; released fullback Jehuu Caulcrick; released receiver Jason Hill; released receiver Kevin Jurovich; released offensive lineman Cody Wallace; released defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell; released tight ends Tony Curtis and J.J. Finley; released linebacker Bruce Davis; released cornerback Karl Paymah.
Seattle Seahawks
No known moves to this point; Seattle waited until Saturday to announce its cuts last season.
St. Louis Rams
No known moves to this point; the Rams also waited until Saturday last season.
In the meantime, a few odds and ends:
Arizona Cardinals
Traded guard Reggie Wells to Philadelphia; released tight end Anthony Becht; released linebacker Steve Baggs; released linebacker Monty Beisel; apparently informed receiver Max Komar he made the initial 53-man roster; apparently did not tell quarterback Matt Leinart about his status to this point; scheduled a news conference for 6 p.m. ET (but nothing significant on Leinart is expected at that time).
San Francisco 49ers
Released running back Michael Robinson, released fullback Brit Miller; released fullback Jehuu Caulcrick; released receiver Jason Hill; released receiver Kevin Jurovich; released offensive lineman Cody Wallace; released defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell; released tight ends Tony Curtis and J.J. Finley; released linebacker Bruce Davis; released cornerback Karl Paymah.
Seattle Seahawks
No known moves to this point; Seattle waited until Saturday to announce its cuts last season.
St. Louis Rams
No known moves to this point; the Rams also waited until Saturday last season.
NFL teams hardly make a move without tapping into some sort of connection.
The Seahawks' agreement with Patriots castoff Chris Baker fits the profile. Baker, 30, and Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates were together with the Jets in 2005. Baker averaged a career-high 14.9 yards per catch that season. He caught 14 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns with New England last season. The Patriots terminated his contract.
The Seahawks also showed interest in former Patriots tight end Ben Watson, but he signed with Cleveland instead. This deal with Baker made Seattle the latest NFC West team to seek depth at tight end. The Rams brought back Daniel Fells. The Cardinals brought back Anthony Becht and Stephen Spach. The 49ers visited with Becht.
It's possible the Seahawks disagree with that assessment. If not, the team is getting another receiving tight end to go with John Carlson. John Owens, Cameron Morrah and Jason Pociask are also on the roster at tight end for Seattle.
The Seahawks' agreement with Patriots castoff Chris Baker fits the profile. Baker, 30, and Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates were together with the Jets in 2005. Baker averaged a career-high 14.9 yards per catch that season. He caught 14 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns with New England last season. The Patriots terminated his contract.
The Seahawks also showed interest in former Patriots tight end Ben Watson, but he signed with Cleveland instead. This deal with Baker made Seattle the latest NFC West team to seek depth at tight end. The Rams brought back Daniel Fells. The Cardinals brought back Anthony Becht and Stephen Spach. The 49ers visited with Becht.
Scouts Inc. on Baker: Baker is a short, thickly built tight end who isn't a powerful blocker at the point of attack, but has enough athleticism to be an effective target in the passing game. He has good foot agility, quickness and balance to be an effective short and intermediate route-runner. He has improved as a route-runner by using his body to get separation. He has good, reliable hands to extend and make receptions away from his body. Baker doesn't have great burst or speed to stretch deep seams and he can be a liability as a run-blocker at the point of attack or anchoring versus bull rushers off the edge. He has developed into a solid football player, but is somewhat one-dimensional because he is primarily used as a receiving tight end and wall-off type blocker.
It's possible the Seahawks disagree with that assessment. If not, the team is getting another receiving tight end to go with John Carlson. John Owens, Cameron Morrah and Jason Pociask are also on the roster at tight end for Seattle.
Former Rams and Cardinals tight end Anthony Becht is visiting the 49ers, the team said, and I think he could fit.
The 49ers drafted and then released blocking tight end Bear Pascoe in 2009. Unable to find a suitable replacement, the 49ers carried only two tight ends on their roster all season, one fewer than expected. Vernon Davis excels at blocking and receiving, with backup Delanie Walker more in the H-back mold.
Adding a tight end with Becht's blocking credentials could provide the 49ers with more options from a power running standpoint. Becht played about 40 percent of the Cardinals' offensive snaps last season, more than I would have expected. He is an unrestricted free agent.
The 49ers drafted and then released blocking tight end Bear Pascoe in 2009. Unable to find a suitable replacement, the 49ers carried only two tight ends on their roster all season, one fewer than expected. Vernon Davis excels at blocking and receiving, with backup Delanie Walker more in the H-back mold.
Adding a tight end with Becht's blocking credentials could provide the 49ers with more options from a power running standpoint. Becht played about 40 percent of the Cardinals' offensive snaps last season, more than I would have expected. He is an unrestricted free agent.
Arizona Cardinals
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, TE 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.
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.
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, TE 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.
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.
The NFL's list of projected unrestricted free agents for 2010 included one column showing agents and another showing starts.
This made it easy to see which agents had the most projected UFA clients, and how many starts those clients averaged in 2009.
The result is the chart below. Drew Rosenhaus has more than 100 clients across the league, more than any agent. The NFL lists 15 of them on its projected UFA list, including Terrell Owens and three NFC West players (Randy McMicahel, Anthony Becht and Olindo Mare).
Agents Peter Schaffer and Brian Mackler are next on the list with seven projected UFA clients apiece, but no agent with at least four players listed can match Tony Agnone for players with lots of 2009 starts. Agnone's list features 16-game starters Casey Rabach, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Bobbie Williams, plus seven-game starter Michael Gaines.
The NFL has no agents listed for Phillip Daniels, Tully Banta-Cain, Leigh Bodden, Mike Furrey, Damion Cook, Tank Johnson and Matt Ware.
Jeff Feagles, Jeff Zgonina, Daunte Culpepper, Paul Spicer, Clinton Hart and Vernon Fox are listed as representing themselves.
This made it easy to see which agents had the most projected UFA clients, and how many starts those clients averaged in 2009.
The result is the chart below. Drew Rosenhaus has more than 100 clients across the league, more than any agent. The NFL lists 15 of them on its projected UFA list, including Terrell Owens and three NFC West players (Randy McMicahel, Anthony Becht and Olindo Mare).
Agents Peter Schaffer and Brian Mackler are next on the list with seven projected UFA clients apiece, but no agent with at least four players listed can match Tony Agnone for players with lots of 2009 starts. Agnone's list features 16-game starters Casey Rabach, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Bobbie Williams, plus seven-game starter Michael Gaines.
The NFL has no agents listed for Phillip Daniels, Tully Banta-Cain, Leigh Bodden, Mike Furrey, Damion Cook, Tank Johnson and Matt Ware.
Jeff Feagles, Jeff Zgonina, Daunte Culpepper, Paul Spicer, Clinton Hart and Vernon Fox are listed as representing themselves.
The NFL-provided list of projected unrestricted free agents included a column showing how many games each player started last season.
Getting the information into a spreadsheet allowed me to break down those figures by team, position and starts.
The chart shows projected UFAs with at least nine starts last season, by position.
The Cardinals are tied for the league lead with five: nose tackle Bryan Robinson, linebacker Chike Okeafor, linebacker Karlos Dansby, left tackle Mike Gandy and tight end Anthony Becht.
Take away 15-game starter Kurt Warner, who retired, and it's clear this offseason could be very disruptive for the Cardinals. The team could also lose free safety Antrel Rolle, whose contract includes a $4 million roster bonus and $8.1 million salary.
Another key role player, Bertrand Berry, is retiring.
The Rams had four players make the list, but all four are older players nearing the ends of their careers (Leonard Little, James Hall, Paris Lenon and Randy McMichael).
Getting the information into a spreadsheet allowed me to break down those figures by team, position and starts.
The chart shows projected UFAs with at least nine starts last season, by position.
The Cardinals are tied for the league lead with five: nose tackle Bryan Robinson, linebacker Chike Okeafor, linebacker Karlos Dansby, left tackle Mike Gandy and tight end Anthony Becht.
Take away 15-game starter Kurt Warner, who retired, and it's clear this offseason could be very disruptive for the Cardinals. The team could also lose free safety Antrel Rolle, whose contract includes a $4 million roster bonus and $8.1 million salary.
Another key role player, Bertrand Berry, is retiring.
The Rams had four players make the list, but all four are older players nearing the ends of their careers (Leonard Little, James Hall, Paris Lenon and Randy McMichael).
» AFC Free Agency: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South
An early look at the free-agent situation in the NFC West.
Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.
Arizona Cardinals
Unrestricted free agents: LB Karlos Dansby, LT Mike Gandy, OLB Chike Okeafor, K Neil Rackers, NT Bryan Robinson, WR Sean Morey, TE Anthony Becht, DE Bertrand Berry, LT Jeremy Bridges, CB Ralph Brown, FB Dan Kreider, QB Brian St. Pierre, S Matt Ware, LB Monty Beisel.
Key figures: The more than $17.7 million Arizona has paid to Dansby over the past two seasons should suffice as a parting gift if, as expected, the linebacker leaves in free agency. Dansby could be leading an exodus. Okeafor turns 34 in March and could be on his way out. Berry announced his retirement. Morey has had concussion problems. Gandy's return probably depends on whether he's willing to stay for less than the $5 million he earned last season. Safety Antrel Rolle does not appear on the list, but he would hit the market when free agency begins if the Cardinals decline to pay a $4 million roster bonus.
San Francisco 49ers
Unrestricted free agents: WR Arnaz Battle, CB Dre' Bly, NT Aubrayo Franklin, CB Walt Harris, RT Tony Pashos, FS Mark Roman, LT Barry Sims, LB Jeff Ulbrich, LB Matt Wilhelm, CB Keith Smith.
Key figures: The 49ers have been proactive in re-signing their own players. That explains why relatively few big names appear on this list. The franchise tag appears well suited for Franklin, the only marquee UFA on the 49ers' list this offseason. Tagging Franklin at the $7 million franchise rate makes sense heading into labor uncertainty. Why spend lavishly on a long-term deal? Franklin has played at a high level consistently for only one season, and a lockout could keep him off the field in 2011. Re-signing Sims for depth would make sense. Ulbrich, meanwhile, has retired and joined the Seahawks' coaching staff.
Seattle Seahawks
Unrestricted free agents: DE Cory Redding, CB Ken Lucas, K Olindo Mare, LB D.D. Lewis, FB Justin Griffith, LT Damion McIntosh, SS Lawyer Milloy, LS Kevin Houser, LS Jeff Robinson.
Key figures: New coach Pete Carroll is on the record saying he likes what he's seen from Redding. Mare is coming off an outstanding season. Lucas has the size Seattle's new leadership wants in its cornerbacks. Milloy played for Carroll in New England. There isn't much more to say about this relatively nondescript group, and it's unclear how much the new regime will value these UFAs. Unrestricted free agency isn't the only road out of Seattle this offseason. The team will probably part with a few established players who haven't lived up to their salaries because of injuries and other factors. Patrick Kerney and Deion Branch come to mind.
St. Louis Rams
Unrestricted free agents: DE Leonard Little, DE James Hall, LB Paris Lenon, QB Kyle Boller, S Clinton Hart, LS Chris Massey, TE Randy McMichael.
Key figures: Boller, 28, is the only player on the Rams' list younger than 30. Franchise player Oshiomogho Atogwe and starting tackle Alex Barron become only restricted free agents under rules governing the uncapped year, explaining their absence from the Rams' UFA list. It's unclear how seriously Little and Hall figure into the team's plans for 2010. Chris Long's emergence late last season should make it easier for the team to move on without them, but the aging defensive ends did combine for 27 starts and 11 sacks last season.
An early look at the free-agent situation in the NFC West.
Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.
Arizona Cardinals
[+] Enlarge
Tony Medina/Icon SMIKarlos Dansby has led the Cardinals in tackles in each of the past two seasons.
Tony Medina/Icon SMIKarlos Dansby has led the Cardinals in tackles in each of the past two seasons.Key figures: The more than $17.7 million Arizona has paid to Dansby over the past two seasons should suffice as a parting gift if, as expected, the linebacker leaves in free agency. Dansby could be leading an exodus. Okeafor turns 34 in March and could be on his way out. Berry announced his retirement. Morey has had concussion problems. Gandy's return probably depends on whether he's willing to stay for less than the $5 million he earned last season. Safety Antrel Rolle does not appear on the list, but he would hit the market when free agency begins if the Cardinals decline to pay a $4 million roster bonus.
San Francisco 49ers
Unrestricted free agents: WR Arnaz Battle, CB Dre' Bly, NT Aubrayo Franklin, CB Walt Harris, RT Tony Pashos, FS Mark Roman, LT Barry Sims, LB Jeff Ulbrich, LB Matt Wilhelm, CB Keith Smith.
Key figures: The 49ers have been proactive in re-signing their own players. That explains why relatively few big names appear on this list. The franchise tag appears well suited for Franklin, the only marquee UFA on the 49ers' list this offseason. Tagging Franklin at the $7 million franchise rate makes sense heading into labor uncertainty. Why spend lavishly on a long-term deal? Franklin has played at a high level consistently for only one season, and a lockout could keep him off the field in 2011. Re-signing Sims for depth would make sense. Ulbrich, meanwhile, has retired and joined the Seahawks' coaching staff.
Seattle Seahawks
Unrestricted free agents: DE Cory Redding, CB Ken Lucas, K Olindo Mare, LB D.D. Lewis, FB Justin Griffith, LT Damion McIntosh, SS Lawyer Milloy, LS Kevin Houser, LS Jeff Robinson.
Key figures: New coach Pete Carroll is on the record saying he likes what he's seen from Redding. Mare is coming off an outstanding season. Lucas has the size Seattle's new leadership wants in its cornerbacks. Milloy played for Carroll in New England. There isn't much more to say about this relatively nondescript group, and it's unclear how much the new regime will value these UFAs. Unrestricted free agency isn't the only road out of Seattle this offseason. The team will probably part with a few established players who haven't lived up to their salaries because of injuries and other factors. Patrick Kerney and Deion Branch come to mind.
St. Louis Rams
Unrestricted free agents: DE Leonard Little, DE James Hall, LB Paris Lenon, QB Kyle Boller, S Clinton Hart, LS Chris Massey, TE Randy McMichael.
Key figures: Boller, 28, is the only player on the Rams' list younger than 30. Franchise player Oshiomogho Atogwe and starting tackle Alex Barron become only restricted free agents under rules governing the uncapped year, explaining their absence from the Rams' UFA list. It's unclear how seriously Little and Hall figure into the team's plans for 2010. Chris Long's emergence late last season should make it easier for the team to move on without them, but the aging defensive ends did combine for 27 starts and 11 sacks last season.
