# The 2009 NFL free agency thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 11, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384 "2009-02-11T16:39:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/101 "2009-03-01T21:36:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I suppose we _might_ be persuaded to take him off your hands for the right price… you know, as a favor. > > 😃 C’mon, you really don’t want him, do ya? All stupid-haired and ugly-like. Plus, the name Jay? Doesn’t work. That’s the name of a letter, not a quarterback. He’d just bring you guys down and, as my twenty-first favorite team, I’d hate to see that happen to the Bucs. Plus, what’s wrong with Greise? He’s… good. 😉 ---
**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:** [March 1, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/102 "2009-03-01T21:43:07Z")
> [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](#): > > C’mon, you really don’t want him, do ya? All stupid-haired and ugly-like. Plus, the name Jay? Doesn’t work. That’s the name of a letter, not a quarterback. He’d just bring you guys down and, as my twenty-first favorite team, I’d hate to see that happen to the Bucs. I do hate his stupid haircut but I think I could deal for a couple of 3,500/25/10 seasons. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/103 "2009-03-01T21:56:28Z")
B-but… it would KILL your 2010 draft pick! And… and… Ah, screw it. Go Nuggets. Hmph. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/104 "2009-03-01T22:45:52Z")
New football needs, Corey Smith of the Lions and Marquis Cooper of the Raiders have been missing since Sat. morning in a boat. The tragedy is mitigated only because their agent was with them. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/105 "2009-03-02T02:17:51Z")
This Cassel trade and the resulting Cutler fall-out is getting [weirder and more inexplicable](http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-6-5/Why-would-Pats-turn-down-12th-pick-for-Cassel-.html) by the minute. > [@](#): > > ESPN’s Chris Mortensen has since reported there was a much better offer on the table, that the Patriots passed on the 12th overall pick in a three-way trade that would’ve sent Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. > [@](#): > > ``` > This one defies logic, but a source I really trust tells me it's true: The Broncos were willing to offer their own first-round pick (12th overall) to the Patriots for Cassel. Obviously, it was conditional upon Cutler being traded and Tampa Bay was the most likely destination, the Bucs willing to part with their first- and third-round picks. > > But Belichick never embraced a trade with the Broncos, even though it was a head-scratcher on the value part (second-rounder versus a first-rounder). It suggests two or three speculative thoughts: > > 1. Belichick has always valued second-round picks (he now has three) and didn't want to be stuck at No. 12 financially for whatever reason; > 2. Belichick had an agreement with Pioli all along and wouldn't break his word; > 3. Belichick isn't about to help another former assistant. > > The Broncos sensed resistance all along, which is why they held the Bucs, Lions, Vikings, etc., at arm's length and allows McDaniels his plausible deniability on trading Cutler (and logic supports his denial). > > However, despite intense efforts to keep this run at Cassel under wraps, enough damage has been done that Cutler may now be on the block. > > The Broncos/Cutler aspect of the trade was reported by the Boston Globe. A Patriots' leak? Why? To mess with McDaniels? > > ``` This sounds like a combination of corruption, bitterness and sabotage. Unfuckingbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/106 "2009-03-02T02:23:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If the Lions had taken a quarterback in that draft I suspect it would have been Leinart. Anyway, Ernie Sims is one of the incredibly few Lions first-round picks who actually turned out to be a good player. > > Count your blessings! This is true, but Ernie is a bit undersized. On the Colts, he’d be a fucking wrecking ball (not that he isn’t now). I did NOT like the Sims pick one bit when it was made. I liked Cutler and wanted Cutler over Leinart. Sims had (has) a history of concussions and not shying away from contact, which sounds like a recipe for disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/107 "2009-03-02T02:25:48Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > This Cassel trade and the resulting Cutler fall-out is getting [weirder and more inexplicable](http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-6-5/Why-would-Pats-turn-down-12th-pick-for-Cassel-.html) by the minute. > > This sounds like a combination of corruption, bitterness and sabotage. Unfuckingbelievable. Agreed. There’s some kind of shady business going on. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/108 "2009-03-02T02:26:39Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I did NOT like the Sims pick one bit when it was made. I liked Cutler and wanted Cutler over Leinart. Sims had (has) a history of concussions and not shying away from contact, which sounds like a recipe for disaster. He had a couple of [character flags](http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/07/Sports/FSU_s_Sims_suspended_.shtml) too. Still, you can’t go wrong with an FSU linebacker. _sniff_ Goodbye, Mr. Brooks. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/109 "2009-03-02T02:47:56Z")
The Bears are in [talks with](http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-01-bears-darren-sharper-chicagomar01,0,1561589.story) Darren Sharper to replace Mike Brown at Free Safety. I’d like to get him for his tackling and leadership, but his age and declining speed are worrisome. The best case scenario is that we are able to sign him for a reasonable price and bring in a rookie to develop under him via the draft. Hopefully he can teach the young crappy guys we already have in Steltz and Payne. In any case, we are going to need to bring in more than one player at Safety. I’d like to see both Sharper and Wilson added but that’s not the Bears style. ---
**Author:** ![Improvisor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@Improvisor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improvisor)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/110 "2009-03-03T00:26:12Z")
Looks like Houshmandzadeh is going to the Seahawks. > **[The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment,...](https://www.seattletimes.com)** > > Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/111 "2009-03-03T06:55:47Z")
Lots of activity on this Monday. Derrick Ward [chooses](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3947527) the Tampa Bucs. Or should I say chooses 4 years and $17 million, it’s a pretty front loaded deal so it’s probably even a better deal than it appears at first glance. I really like the fit for the Bucs. They needed some extra punch on offense and I think he gives it to them. Coupled with Winslow, Clayton and Bryant this team should move the ball pretty well if they are able to settle on a QB. The Giants added [Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3944397) to pump up an already stout defensive front. They are paying Canty $42M over 6 years and Bernard $16M over 4 years. I think they over paid for both players. The Giants also [added Michael Boley](http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfceast/0-8-159/Boley-signs-with-Giants.html) at the Will OLB, taking one of my fantasy FA signings for the Bears for a moderate $25M over 5 years. All in all, the Giants defense is going to be fucking ridiculous this year…and expensive. The Titans filled holes by stealing another FA I coveted for the Bears in Nate Washington for [6 years and $27M](http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-6-56/Double-whammy--Titans-land-Washington--Haye.html). With only $9M guaranteed it’s a pretty nice price. Jovan Haye from the Bucs is also going to the Titans to fill the hole left by Haynesworth. Both are savvy deals and Washington could be very dangerous with Collins ability to get the ball deep downfield. Jason Taylor was released by the Redskins and is rumored to be talking to the Bucs. Considering the guys they let go last week, Taylor would give them some much needed veteran leadership and he’d probably be a great fit re-teaming with Jim Bates. Houshmandzadeh going to Seattle is interesting news but I’m not going to get very excited about it until Haselbeck shows he’s back to being an effective player. I will say that 5 years and $40M with a paltry $15M guaranteed is a bargain price and it’s insane that the Bears with $30M to spend this season alone weren’t bigger players. This is probably the kind of money Boldin will be worth and he’d be a steal too. This probably puts Seattle out of the running to draft Michael Crabtree, Al Davis has wood. The biggest shoe left to drop seems to be Kurt Warner. Will he go to the Niners or stay home in Phoenix? ---
**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:** [March 3, 2009, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/112 "2009-03-03T08:34:46Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > … > The biggest shoe left to drop seems to be Kurt Warner. Will he go to the Niners or stay home in Phoenix? Just the news of Warner visiting the 49ers facility has me in a combination of :eek: and :dubious:. He’s been our nemesis for a decade. He’d need somebody to throw to, but having Gore in the backfield with him would scare opponents. I’m just happy we re-signed Takeo Spikes. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/113 "2009-03-04T19:45:43Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > The biggest shoe left to drop seems to be Kurt Warner. Will he go to the Niners or stay home in Phoenix? Those of you who picked “[staying home](http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/47623)”, see Guido in the back to pick up your winnings. Two years, $23 million – and this fucker is hugely front-loaded. Signing bonus of $15 million with a $4 million/year salary. $19 mil for 2009 – better see a repeat performance for that kind of coin. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/114 "2009-03-04T19:58:35Z")
Will be very interesting to see if the “$2 Million discount for restructuring Boldin’s deal” clause gets activated. If you can get Warner for $10.5 Mil for 2 seasons that’s a pretty fair price. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/115 "2009-03-04T22:03:45Z")
Bengals sign Laverneus Coles for 4 years, 28 mil… Ravens resigned Ray Lewis, terms undisclosed so far I believe… And the Seahawks overpaid for Houshmanzadeh. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/116 "2009-03-04T22:14:39Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > And the Seahawks overpaid for Houshmanzadeh. I don’t know about that. I thought Housh was just a beneficiary of playing next to Chad Johnson until last year, when CJ played poorly on one arm. Now I’m not so sure. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/117 "2009-03-04T22:26:11Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Ravens resigned Ray Lewis, terms undisclosed so far I believe… And they signed Matt Birk to replace Jason Brown at C. Flacco’s probably a little happier today than he was yesterday. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/118 "2009-03-04T23:15:07Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Bengals sign Laverneus Coles for 4 years, 28 mil… I’m surprised he went for that much money. I was having a pipe dream that he’d come to Chicago for a modest 2-year deal. Well, crap. Denver added another running back in LaMont Jordan. They’ve got a lot of legs back there, they are like the anti-Shanahan Broncos. Wonder if the RB success will continue after he leaves. Devery Henderson resigned in New Orleans with a 4 year deal. Another of my theoretical Bears targets is gone with nary a visit. Jim Leonhard, one of the best of a very, very thin class of FA and rookie safeties signed a 3-year deal to go to the Jets and play for Rex Ryan. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/119 "2009-03-05T00:43:33Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t know about that. I thought Housh was just a beneficiary of playing next to Chad Johnson until last year, when CJ played poorly on one arm. Now I’m not so sure. Housh was certainly a beneficiary of Chad’s commanding double teams, as well as being Carson Palmer’s most reliable target. Last year sucked overall because Ryan Fitzpatrick, who’s like a younger, more mobile version of noodle-armed Jon Kitna, was the QB for 12 games. TJ makes his living over the middle and finds holes, can take a pounding and fights hard for extra yards. I loved him as a Bengal, and am sorry he’s gone, but he wasn’t worth what the Hawks are paying him, and I think he’s in for a rude awakening when he no longer has an elite wideout playing on the opposite side of him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitter nor do I wish him ill, I just don’t think he’s a 10mil a year receiver. His contract is also the product of a weak WR FA class this year. He doesn’t have the athleticism nor the speed to be a true #1 wideout, but he should still be relatively productive. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384/120 "2009-03-05T00:45:50Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > **I’m surprised he went for that much money**. I was having a pipe dream that he’d come to Chicago for a modest 2-year deal. Well, crap. > > Denver added another running back in LaMont Jordan. They’ve got a lot of legs back there, they are like the anti-Shanahan Broncos. Wonder if the RB success will continue after he leaves. > > Devery Henderson resigned in New Orleans with a 4 year deal. Another of my theoretical Bears targets is gone with nary a visit. > > Jim Leonhard, one of the best of a very, very thin class of FA and rookie safeties signed a 3-year deal to go to the Jets and play for Rex Ryan. I’m not surprised at all. They gave Coles the deal they were offering TJ, which was a fair one. Coles is really good, and has a different skillset than TJ. He’s faster and more elusive in the open field, and even sports a better career YPC than Housh. I’d call it a wash in terms of comparing the two, and the Bengals didn’t have to give TJ 3 mil a year more to keep him, which hopefully translates into more money for other areas of need (and the Bengals have many). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2009-nfl-free-agency-thread/485384.md?page=7)