# NFL Offseason Thread: Combine & Free Agency Version **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 23, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165 "2010-02-23T20:53:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/521 "2010-04-20T22:16:06Z")
Some interesting NFL Rumors on ESPN. Supposedly Alan Faneca is done in New York and might be released after the draft. That’s completely new news to me. I figured he was a lynch pin there on that O Line. I must have missed something. The Steelers are maybe looking to bring in Leftwich to fill in as a backup when Big Ben is suspended, that’s sound logic I think. There are rumors that the Rams might be looking to trade for Osi Umenyiora in the wake of the Carriker move. Makes sense I supposed with the Spagnulo connection and the rift in Jersey but I’m not sure what Carriker has to do with it. The Bears are rumored to be interested in Josh McCown to back up Cutler. I like McCown quite a bit but I don’t know if I believe this. The Bears have pretty consistently said they are high on Hanie and I’m not sure that;s changed. McCown has experience with Martz and perhaps Martz is lobbying for him, he’d be an asset for the WRs in practice I suppose, but not sure where that’d leave Hanie. Competition is good I suppose so long as the price is right. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/522 "2010-04-20T22:20:46Z")
Has the world gone mad? McNabb lobbying the Redskins to sign TO? Craziness. > **[Sources: McNabb asks Redskins to study T.O.](https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5118016)** > > Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb has encouraged the team's coaching staff to consider signing free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens, despite the acrimony that marked their time as Eagles teammates, according to multiple sources. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/523 "2010-04-20T22:22:46Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Has the world gone mad? McNabb lobbying the Redskins to sign TO? > > Craziness. > > [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5118016](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5118016) Reeks of misinformation to me. I bet it’s a smokescreen for something the Redskins are planning to do in the draft. Dez Bryant at 4 maybe. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/524 "2010-04-20T23:00:17Z")
The Lions traded Ernie Sims, who they touted as a linebacker of the future, the lynch pin of the defense they were building for Sheffler a tight end. The Lions drafted Pettigrew, last year. They claim to love him. Something is not making sense. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/525 "2010-04-20T23:30:17Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > The Saints [signed](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5118571) another FA DE in Jimmy Wilkerson. Smart moves here and with Alex Brown. That pretty much kills my mock draft this year. I took Griffin at DE in the first round, and Sapp (OLB) in the second. Also, I’m hearing rumors that the Saints are trying to move up in the first round, maybe as high as the top half of the draft… ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/526 "2010-04-20T23:32:55Z")
49ers [sign pass rushing LB Travis LaBoy](http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2010/04/laboy-signing-gives-49ers-another-pass-rusher.html), further taking care of needed positions. Now I definitely don’t see the 49ers draft a defensive lineman or OLB in the first two rounds unless it’s Dan Williams (who I personally don’t want at 13 or 17). ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/527 "2010-04-20T23:34:31Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > **The Lions** traded Ernie Sims, who they touted as a linebacker of the future, the lynch pin of the defense they were building for Sheffler a tight end. The Lions drafted Pettigrew, last year. They claim to love him. **Something is not making sense.** Bolding mine. Makes sense to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/528 "2010-04-20T23:47:15Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > That pretty much kills my mock draft this year. I took Griffin at DE in the first round, and Sapp (OLB) in the second. Also, I’m hearing rumors that the Saints are trying to move up in the first round, maybe as high as the top half of the draft… Wilkerson has 12 sacks in 7 season in the NFL. It’s not like they signed Julius Peppers. ETA: Same with the LaBoy signing. These seem to me to be insurance policies more than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/529 "2010-04-21T17:22:55Z")
The Bears just announced that chairman Michael McCaskey will step down after the 2010 season and his brother will replace him. [http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/2183846,michael-mccaskey-retire-bears-chicago-21.article](http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/2183846,michael-mccaskey-retire-bears-chicago-21.article) ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/530 "2010-04-21T19:27:01Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Has the world gone mad? McNabb lobbying the Redskins to sign TO? > > Craziness. > > [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5118016](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5118016) > [@Omniscient](#): > > Reeks of misinformation to me. I bet it’s a smokescreen for something the Redskins are planning to do in the draft. Dez Bryant at 4 maybe. Which given Dez’s off season attitude would pretty much amount to the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/531 "2010-04-21T19:37:42Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Which given Dez’s off season attitude would pretty much amount to the same thing. I heard this morning on Mike & Mike that McNabb basically denied the story that he was actively lobbying for TO to join the Redskins and be reunited (and it feels so good!) with him. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/532 "2010-04-21T20:48:37Z")
You’ll like McCown a lot, **Omni**. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/533 "2010-04-21T21:26:25Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You’ll like McCown a lot, **Omni**. Are you implying that something actually happened? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/534 "2010-04-22T03:31:52Z")
No. Just that he’s a nice guy, and a pretty solid backup. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/535 "2010-05-04T19:06:54Z")
The Chronicle is [reporting](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?blogid=45&entry_id=62792) that the 49ers have resigned Patrick Willis, for five years. I was worried he’d test the waters of free-agency instead. I might be able to buy a #52 jersey now. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/536 "2010-05-04T22:47:40Z")
The Bengals signed Pacman. I can’t fucking believe it. I’m pretty sure its camp fodder to help keep Joseph and Hall from getting injured from overwork, but I don’t want that grade-A d-bag anywhere near my team. The Bengals have worked pretty hard to shed their criminal image, in spite of having some success with guys recently that were in some trouble (Tank Johnson, Cedric Benson) but Pacman is a whole other order of magnitude of stupid. I hate this move. Camp fodder is what UDFA’s and late-round rookies are for! ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/537 "2010-05-04T23:31:51Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > The Bengals signed Pacman. Destiny. No other words are needed. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/538 "2010-05-04T23:47:47Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > Destiny. No other words are needed. The only consolation I get is from Mike Zimmer’s mouth: \*“But he was very disciplined today. That was impressive. He did everything the way we asked him to do it and he looked good doing it,” Zimmer said. “It was kind of a promise. We told him back in February if he did what he was supposed to do and got in shape, we’d look at him again in April. We’re a few days late but he looked good. You can tell he’s been working. He weighed 12 to 15 more pounds than the last time and he looked fast.” But his off-field problems have cost him two full seasons, '07 and '09. Jones, the sixth pick in the '05 draft, has only played nine games since 2006 and, as Zimmer says, “As a football player, we don’t know what we’ve got. But if we hit it, it’s a home run.” Zimmer has made it quite clear. “We’ve got a bunch of strong character guys on defense,” Zimmer said. “I’m not going to let this kid screw up our chemistry. I don’t think he will. He looked me in the eye and shook my hand and said, ‘Coach, I just want to play.’ He seems very humble. He seems to understand.” \* ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/539 "2010-05-07T00:28:26Z")
I was surprised by the move because the main two Bengal CBs rock the house. If Pacman totally kicks ass he’ll still only be the nickelback, which IMO isn’t worth even potential controversy. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/540 "2010-05-07T02:39:12Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > Destiny. No other words are needed. Well, It gets to be quite a chore developing your own basket-case felons all the time, It’s about time they bring in a natural to help the young-uns understand just how big a fuck-up you can be if you really apply yourself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165.md?page=28)