ParkerBear7

I could not agree more. We thought Rex fumbled alot Warner would be toast without the WR in AZ.

That would have been great if we took Flacco to bad the Bears were to scared to draft him. I even wish we traded up to get Ryan Clady!

I would of loved to get Eddie Royal (short wr) in last years draft instead of Bennett but I think the Broncos took him in the 2nd round. But do agree that me need someone in the Brandon Marshall mold!

I agree with BearSox and would like to see us develop Hanie and see what we get in a another year or so. He definatley has some nice attributes and does not cost much to see if he can become "NFL" worthy!

Yes the Bears need to bring in Holmgrem or Shanny to be a QB / offensive consultant. This is to important and the organization has already prooved they are not capable of this responsibility and they have already admitted that QB is their number one focus for improving and stabilizing the team.

BearSox: First I appreciate your candid comment and no offense taken but every where the Tuna has gone he has made a big impact. Hence the "big Tuna" nickname. I respect your knowledge of the game and contributions to this forum but where do you get off being so damn critical and I did not know I needed your approval before creating a new thread. So the point of this thread you asks? The point is this: While we all know the Bears do not make radical aquistions but that is one of the bests things about this forum is that we can all express our opinions or conjure up hypothetical situations to help numb the pain we all feel by the mediocre product that we have to endure as die hard Bears fans year after year. Even when we have a winning team, we are winning ugly! Maybe if Bear fans stopped acting like cub fans (which I know you are not) we would force ownership to do something. Seems to be that this is how the Sox where able to get the organization turned around and win a world series in our life time. The Sox fans simply refused to support losing year after year. In all honestly I do not mean to offend the cub fans out there just want to use them as an example here. You also mentioned that Parcels went to Miami because he alread had most of the peices to run his scheme. I hardly would say that only keeping slighly less than half of a 54 man roster when arriving to Miam is having most of the pieces in place for Parcel's scheme. I think he wanted some nice weather for a change as well as to feed his ego as the primary reasons or the maybe he wanted to be associated with every team in the AFC East before retiring? So odds says that Bill will end up in Buffalo before Chicago. I never said that Phillips would fire Angelo, Lovie et al so please do not put words in my posts that are not there. Is it so proposterous to imaginge Bill coming and being the replacement for Phillips? I like Angelo overall and he has done a good job since becoming the Bears GM but what will it take to get this organization to the next level? Marc Cuban would be a nice start but that would not happen either. But I do have to ask who can honestly say they thought Bolen was going to fire his close friend of 21 years in Mike Shanahan? Now that seems radical! This porbably beongs on another thread but too bad! I have one final request; please stop calling for Kerry Collins to come in here as a FA qb! That makes no sense at all. We already tried the old retred qb's like Greise etc and we know these guys are washed up and overpaid. If the Bears had an OL like Tenn than Rex/Orton could probably be the guys here and we not be talking about any of this becasue we would be chatting about our playoff matcup this week. I want some young blood who can play good football without being another liability to be accounted for. I am in favor of brining in guys like Cassels (we can not afford to let him go to Minny or Detroit). Even Derek Anderson may be available depending on who the Browns bring in as GM / HC and he would be much better than Collins and also be an immediate number 2 and compete for number 1. But as you already pointed out: everything on this forum has about a .00000000000001 chance of happening. But is that not why they play the games and why we continue to write these posts? Happy New Years to all! Go Bears, Go Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, Rush, Fire and Cubs in that order!

Would Bill Parcels come to the bears if he becomes a free agent? He would clean house and do it quickly. comments welcome.

That has to be what happened. Bolen probably said I am going to relieve you of your GM duties and Shanny said no and this is why they went in a new direction. I agree he needed to give up the GM stuff but too bad that they could not work this out.

I would not compare Forte to Marshall but I am game for what you suggested nontheless. This organization is really desperate to put a legit contender out there and that is only going to take place by getting a modern NFL offense for this team. Yes, we still need to run the ball but it does not matter when you are only able to run 3 and outs! We need to be able to pass the ball and if the Bears can not evolve than we will not see another superbowl win in our lifetime. I sill think I prefer Cassel over Warner but if we have a shot at Warner I really can not criticize that move other than why the heck did they not get him a few years ago as he is getting up there in age. Cassel is more moblie and is much younger and could possibly be a franchise QB for many years to come.

That is why they are going to over pay to get the franchise QB that thus far this franchise has yet to be able to draft or develop. I watched some of Cassel's game here and there and the dude has talent and throws a nice deep ball with touch and accuracy. But I would not mind trading for McNabb or Carson Palmer either at this point I a sick of the 3 and outs because we can not complete passes to help open the running game.

Yes, I agree 100% Pix. What did everyone think when NE drafted Cassel when he did not even start at USC and look at what he has done this year after being the 3rd stringer for a few years. I like Hanie alot and we need to develop him for the future and see what we get.

Shanahan is an Illinois native. I beleive he played QB at Oak Forest or Park Forest in high school before going on to EIU where he began his coaching career. Would be great to have an offensive mind and established HC hear in Chicago. The Bears should at least hire him as a consultant to revamp this offense!

I strongly agree -- Hanie is a keepr to be developed. We also need to bring an entirley new offense and defensive scheme to town.

Thanks Connor, I obvioosly had bad intel!

Here is what is listed under Tommie's bio for trasactions on ChicagoBears.com Entered NFL as a first-round selection (14th overall) by Chicago in 2004 NFL Draft… Signed 5-year contract with Bears (7/29/04). SIGNED through 2008

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story?id=090...mp;confirm=true Free-agent class of 2009 appears mighty impressive By Adam Schefter | NFL Network Matt Stroshane/Getty Images Ray Lewis is one year away from possibly hitting the free-agent market. Now the Ravens know what it feels like to run into perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis. The two sides have hit a stalemate on contract talks aimed at a long-term extension. After 12 seasons in Baltimore, Lewis is heading into the last year of his contract. The two sides have engaged in contract talks, the Ravens have weighed in with their multi-year offer, Lewis has spelled out his asking price, and too much of a gap now exists to make anyone think a deal is anywhere near imminent. But Baltimore knows Lewis will still play all out without an extension. Lewis knows he’s going to get paid somewhere. And heading into this weekend’s mandatory minicamp in Baltimore, each side is comfortable with where the situation is at. For now. But it is an issue that, if unresolved, will garner more attention as the season goes on. It is a similar story in other cities, where other high-profile players are creeping closer to hitting the free-agent market after the 2008 season. Check out the list of prospective free agents for 2009, though any could be wiped off it with a long-term extension at any time. The list of potential free agents is a highly decorated one. It will garner a record amount of money. Here is a look at arguably the top 10 players poised for free agency this winter. Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Julius Peppers could be an attractive free-agent option for many teams. 1. Julius Peppers, Panthers defensive end –- Coming off a down year, but teams pay premium for pass rushers. 2. Steven Jackson, Rams running back –- Hard to imagine St. Louis parting ways with its most popular player. 3. Tommie Harris, Bears defensive tackle -– Talks on a long-term contract hit a standstill last month. 4. Marion Barber, Cowboys running back –- Last season, one NFC coach said Barber is an elite back in the same class as LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson. Now he wants to be paid that way. 5. Chris Snee, Giants guard –- At a time when interior offensive linemen are cashing in, the son-in-law of Giants coach Tom Coughlin is going to cash in. 6. Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders cornerback –- Oakland plans to franchise him again if he remains unsigned, which is a distinct possibility. 7. Albert Haynesworth, Titans defensive tackle –- Tennessee wouldn’t let Haynesworth leave this offseason, and its stance is unlikely to change. 8. Terrell Owens, Cowboys wide receiver -– At the age of 34, T.O. is performing like he were 24. 9. Will Smith, Saints defensive end -– New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant got his money and Smith intends to do the same. 10. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals wide receiver –- Still waiting for his first big-money deal. Of course, the list hardly stops there. It goes on and on, like the money that could be spent on some of these players. The free-agent class of 2009 also is scheduled to include Lions wide receiver Roy Williams, Bills wide receiver Lee Evans, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman, Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin, Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking, Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson, Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby, Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia and Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer. It stands right now as one of the more attractive free-agent classes in recent memory -- maybe the most attractive. It is rare that so many talented players hit the market. But it could have something to do with the skyrocketing prices now being paid to players. There still is plenty of time to see the list of free agents reduced, to watch long-term extensions get worked out, or for teams to slap franchise tags on their players if no deal can be reached. But the early indications are, front offices need to get their checkbooks ready.

From what I read Harris will be an UFA so we would not bring him back for what he is asking not be releasing him so we can spend the money elsewhere.

I mostly agree but don't like either Collins nor Garcia. Cassells is not going to break the bank but if he cost a little more than I would be fine with that because he is definatley an upgrade from what we have around here. Even if he Cassells came in a played like Matt Schaub I would take that. Besides it would be a great reason to revamp the offensive schemes and it is not like we do not have a few nice offensive players to start building around i.e. Forte, Olsen, Hester. We need to bring in a vet WR and improve the OL via draft. I also like Weaver!

Yeah that is why I could not really suggest an FA OL other than maybe Goff or Gross. They are also hard to evaluate unless you follow that team closely.

Grizz, I agree there is something very intringueing with this kid. I think he should be givien a shot next season because we need a total new approach on offense and def for that matter. I still like Cassells as a veteran to comae in a challege KO as well.

Have you watched any of Cassells games? in case you have not, he makes good decisions, can play in cold weather and throws a very accurate deep ball.

So far I would add these players assuming we have the cap space: QB -- Matt Cassells ( I really like what he has done this season (Brady Clone?) DE -- Suggs (I think not having a pass rush is killing us) but can't go wrong here with Julius or Albert S -- Dawan Landry, a veteran who would be a nice upgrade in our secondary WR-- TJ; but maybe can we trade Mark Anderson and conditional pick to ARI for Boldin? RB -- Derrick Ward, This guy is tough and knows how to get North and South smd would be a nice complement to Forte

Tell us who you like on this list and how they fit the bears needs or what role they could have? http://www.footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html 2009 NFL Free Agents By: Greg Davis Top Quarterbacks Kurt Warner, UFA, Arizona Cardinals The former MVP and Super Bowl winner is having a resurgent season in Arizona. He has 3,155 yards passing through ten games, having thrown 20 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He has also posted a passer rating of 105.5. His yardage total is second in all of the NFL, while his touchdown total is second in the league and the passer rating is easily tops in the game. Warner will be looking for an extension from the team shortly, but if both sides can’t agree to a deal, Warner will still earn good money on the market even for an older player. Matt Cassel, UFA, New England Patriots -- The kid has been impressive and worth a serious look beside we do not have anything like him here which is a good thing! While he was inconsistent for a majority of the season, Cassel has come on strong the past couple of weeks. It appears as though he has adjusted to being a starter. He has reached the 400-yard passing mark the past two games and tallied six touchdowns to just one interception in that time. His passer rating for the season is 90.5 and he has a decent touchdown to interception ratio for a first time starter. Cassel may continue being a backup in New England, but if he keeps playing as well as he has lately, a team may risk luring him away in hopes he can be a legitimate starter. Other Quarterbacks Jeff Garcia, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rex Grossman, UFA, Chicago Bears Charlie Batch, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers Kerry Collins, UFA, Tennessee J.P. Losman, UFA, Buffalo Bills Patrick Ramsey, UFA, Denver Broncos Kyle Boller, UFA, Baltimore Ravens 2009 NFL Free Agent Running Backs By: Greg Davis Brandon Jacobs, UFA, New York Giants Jacobs is a tough runner, and that type of running kept him from being on the field in parts of the two seasons prior to 2008. This season, Jacobs has seen action in every game, and while carries are limited at times, he has still been able to rush for 879 yards and score 11 touchdowns. Jacobs was injured in the Giants most recent game, so the team will monitor his situation closely. He averaged five yards a carry during the Giants Super Bowl season, gaining over 1,000 yards in just 11 games and is averaging well over five yards a carry this season. He is a quality goal line back, but has become more than that. Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw contribute to New York’s backfield as well, so while the team likely wants Jacobs to stick around, Jacobs could have other plans and may bolt for a team willing to give him more of the carries. There will be some tough decisions concerning the Giants backfield and who will play what role in the future. Maurice Morris, UFA, Seattle Seahawks -- could be used like Chester Taylor in used with AP in minny Morris has always been a back under the radar—mainly because he was backing up Shaun Alexander for a period—but he has good vision and speed. He cracked the 100-yard mark in week twelve for the first time since week ten of the ’06 season. He is receiving limited carries but has averaged more than five yards per rush and may be a useful backup come next season. Seattle has a lot of questions to answer and Morris may not be in the plans for the future. Ricky Williams, UFA, Miami Dolphins Williams has shown flashes of the back that he was in his early days, but he has been inconsistent and less than impressive most of the time. Williams is over 30 and not likely to be a starter with anyone, but he gets a mention because of his controversial past. There is a team out there that will take a chance on him if the Dolphins are unwilling to retain his services. Look for Williams to try and land somewhere as a backup. Darren Sproles, UFA, San Diego Chargers Would be nice but maybe we already have this guy ........Wolfe??? Sproles is a spark plug of a runner, who doesn’t shy away from contact and has excellent speed. He has done most of his work on special teams, where he is averaging more than 25 yards per kick return and almost 11 yards per punt return. Sproles’ best hope is to be a number two back while doing the special teams work as well; that’s just the position he finds himself in with the Chargers. Sproles will likely stay unless a team offers him a chance at a starting role. Michael Turner has found some success having left San Diego, but Sproles doesn’t have the same skill set. Other Running Backs J.J. Arrington, UFA, Arizona Cardinals Correll Buckhalter, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles Jesse Chatman, UFA, New York Jets Heath Evans, UFA, New England Patriots Rudi Johnson, UFA, Detroit Lions LaMont Jordan, UFA, New England Patriots Ryan Moats, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles Dominic Rhodes, UFA, Indianapolis Colts Aaron Stecker, UFA, New Orleans Saints Derrick Ward, UFA, New York Giants -- This guys knows how to get North and South 2009 NFL Free Agent Receivers By: Greg Davis T.J. Houshmandzadeh, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals -- would be a welcomed addition and would not cost a 1st rounder like Boldin if he were aquired via trade but I would seriously entertain the idea!! A Pro Bowl player, Houshmandzadeh is one of the league’s top receivers and arguably the best number two receiver in the entire league. A seventh round selection, Houshmandzadeh now has more than 5,600 career receiving yards. Amazingly, he has increased his reception and touchdowns totals in each of his six seasons and is coming off of a league-leading 112 receptions with 12 touchdowns. Also, he has been able to put up strong numbers this season even without Carson Palmer throwing to him for most of this season. He may once again reach a triple-digit total for receptions and might also break the 1,000-yard plateau for the third straight season. Losing Houshmandzadeh would be a major setback for Cincinnati. Look for the Bengals to make every effort to retain and possibly promote Houshmanzadeh. Bobby Engram, UFA, Seattle Seahawks Engram likely won’t be the most desired receiver on the market this offseason, but he will provide a veteran option for team’s looking to add experience with their youth and others. Engram has an injury history that has caused him to miss a fair amount of time, but he’s been a solid receiver when healthy. His 2007 campaign was the best of his career. His 94 receptions helped him rack up 1,147 yards and six touchdowns without a strong running game supporting the offense. In six games this season, he has 22 receptions for 222 yards, but no trips to the endzone. With his history of injury and a struggling offensive unit not helping his numbers, he’ll likely wind up back in Seattle with his career closer to the end than the beginning. Devery Henderson, UFA, New Orleans Saints Henderson’s career high in receptions may be 32, but he’s a deep threat and seems to make big plays almost on a weekly basis when things are clicking. He’s had at least three scores in each season of his four-year career and is currently on pace to surpass his career high of 745 yards receiving that he posted in ’06. If the Saints let Henderson go, someone may give him a shot at a bigger role. Shaun McDonald, UFA, Detroit Lions McDonald has had to play behind the likes of Torry Holt, Roy Williams, and Calvin Johnson during his six seasons. He hasn’t been spectacular, but he has shown that he can be a quality receiver. He had a career-high with 79 receptions last season with the Lions and converted six of them into touchdowns. His numbers have dropped this season as the entire team has struggled, but considering his situation, 35 catches for 332 yards isn’t a poor showing. McDonald has the ability to be a solid number two, and chances are he’ll look to play for a more competitive team. Other Wide Receivers Hank Baskett, RFA, Philadelphia Eagles Jabar Gaffney, UFA, New England Patriots Dante' Hall, UFA, St. Louis Rams Sam Hurd, UFA, Dallas Cowboys Brandon Jones, UFA, Tennessee Titans Ashley Lelie, UFA, San Francisco 49ers Koren Robinson, UFA, Green Bay Packers Amani Toomer, UFA, New York Giants Roydell Williams, UFA, Tennessee Titans Cedrick Wilson, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers Other Tight Ends Owen Daniels, UFA, Houston Texans Will Heller, UFA, Seattle Seahawks Eric Johnson, UFA, New Orleans Saints Jeff King, RFA, Carolina Panthers Jim Kleinsasser, UFA, Minnesota Vikings Leonard Pope, UFA, Arizona Cardinals Daniel Wilcox, UFA, Baltimore Ravens L.J. Smith, UFA, Philadelphia Bo Scaife, UFA, Tennessee 2009 NFL Free Agent Offensive Linemen By: Greg Davis Matt Birk, UFA, Minnesota Vikings Birk is a Pro Bowl center who has gotten the job done for the Vikings for the last decade. He’s fairly athletic for a lineman and is playing alongside another great lineman, guard Steve Hutchinson, making Birk’s life even easier on the field. He’s grounded in Minnesota, so the chances of him choosing to leave seem slim at the moment. However, Minnesota is grooming John Sullivan in hopes that he will eventually replace Birk. Mike Goff, UFA, San Diego Chargers While the Chargers would probably prefer to keep Goff, the franchise has been effective in drafting and developing linemen and might look for Goff’s replacement at a better price. Goff has been a leader who simply goes about his business and players like running back Ladainian Tomlinson have benefited from his level of play. Goff has played for a quality line for some time and he’s a big part of the equation when it comes to success. Jordan Gross, UFA, Carolina Panthers A first round pick in 2003, Gross earned a starting role in his rookie season and held that role as a tackle for the entire season. His ability to step in and play well right away paid off for the Panthers, as the team put together a run to an NFC Championship. He’s continued being a starter since that rookie season and is a solid player. Carolina slapped the franchise tag on him for this season, and chances are he will be another team come ’09. Mark Tauscher, UFA, Green Bay Packers Tauscher is a seventh round pick that became a success story. In his first season in the NFL, he was forced into a starting role because of an injury to another player. Tauscher isn’t an elite player, but he is solid in his role as a starter and hasn’t missed a game since 2002. Tauscher could be at the top of many team’s lists because he could come cheaper than some of the other free agent lineman, but could be nearly or equally effective. Other Offensive Lineman Stacy Andrews, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals Khalif Barnes, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars Jordan Black, UFA, Houston Texans Jason Brown, UFA, Baltimore Ravens Vernon Carey, UFA, Miami Dolphins Jahri Evans, UFA, New Orleans Saints George Foster, UFA, Detroit Lions Chris Gray, UFA, Seattle Seahawks Pete Kendall, UFA, Washington Redskins Seth McKinney, UFA, Cleveland Browns Jon Runyan, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles Jeff Saturday, UFA, Indianapolis Colts Marvel Smith, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers Tra Thomas, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles Fred Weary, UFA, Houston Texans John Welbourn, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs 2009 NFL Free Agent Defensive Linemen By: Greg Davis Julius Peppers, UFA, Carolina Panthers A freakish athlete, Peppers struggled in ’07, but has come back strong in ’08. Teams will be lining up to try and lure him away from Carolina with a huge contract offer. The 6’7” end has nine sacks and five forced fumbles through ten games. He could be the top free agent player as teams look to add an end that has had double-digit sack totals four times in six seasons, including 13 in ’06. He also has four career interceptions and has been making quarterback’s lives miserable since he entered the league. Peppers probably shouldn’t be able to do some of the things that he can and many teams would prefer to have those things happening for them rather than against them. 1. Julius Peppers, Panthers defensive end [/b]–- Let Harris walk and Give Tommie's money to Suggs, Peppers or Haynesworth as I am maily concerned with his health / production at this point[/b] Albert Haynesworth, UFA, Tennessee Titans -- upgrade over always hurt Tommie Boy Haynesworth has had his share of controversy surrounding him, but lately he’s turned things around and has focused on simply playing the game. He has improved upon his ’07 season when he made six sacks and 40 tackles in 13 games. Through week eleven he has 39 tackles, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. The Titans look like a different team on defense depending on whether or not Haynesworth is on the field; with him on the field they are one of the best defenses in the league because of the pressure he took off of others. Expect Tennessee to work hard to keep him in hopes that he continues to bolster their defensive play as a whole. Terrell Suggs, UFA, Baltimore Ravens -- would make a fine addition Being a converted linebacker has helped Suggs become a defensive end that can track the ball above average. In his first five seasons, Suggs had 299 tackles and 45 sacks to his credit. Through eleven weeks of the current season he is putting together another strong showing with 47 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions. Suggs may not be as rewarded as Peppers or Haynesworth will be in free agency, but he will certainly be pursued by a number of teams who want to save a little money and still come away with a quality defensive end. Baltimore is constantly pumping out quality defensive players, so they may not be willing to match a big offer if one comes along, but they will miss Suggs if they lose him. Bertrand Berry, UFA, Arizona Cardinals Berry has four sacks and two forced fumbles for the Cardinals in eight games of action. He may not be the most coveted potential free agent at his position, but he’s definitely effective when he’s healthy and playing his best. He’ll be looked at as a role player on the market and there’s a decent chance that the Cardinals will move on. Other Defensive Linemen Jonathan Babineaux, UFA, Atlanta Falcons Rocky Bernard, Seattle Seahawks Kevin Carter, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chris Canty, UFA, Dallas Cowboys Shaun Cody, UFA, Detroit Lions Jovan Haye, UFA, Tampa Bay Bucs Tank Johnson, UFA, Dallas Cowboys John Thornton, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals Marcus Tubbs, UFA, Seattle Seahawks 2009 NFL Free Agent Linebackers By: Greg Davis Ray Lewis, UFA, Baltimore Ravens With over 1,500 tackles, 31 sacks, and 28 interceptions during his 13 seasons, Lewis isn’t just a Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl winner, but also a future Hall of Famer. Since entering the league, Lewis has been a force and helped the Ravens to be one of the league’s best defensive units year in and year out. He’s been in Baltimore his entire career so it’s hard to imagine him with another franchise. The Ravens will make him an offer that should lock him up until almost the end of his career and rumor has it that he is close to signing an extension. Eric Barton, UFA, New York Jets While Barton’s ’07 productionwas down, he was playing for a defense that didn’t get much help from the offensive unit. Brett Favre’s arrival has improved the offense, which has also helped alleviate pressure on the defense. Barton made 100 tackles and 4.5 sacks in ’06, probably his best season since he left Oakland, and he is on a similar pace this season with 73 tackles and 1.5 sacks through ten games. There are a fair amount of teams that could look to acquire Barton and save some money. Karlos Dansby, UFA, Arizona Cardinals Dansby is becoming a consistent linebacker in the NFL. In his last three full seasons, he has tackle totals of 89, 82, and 99. He has also tallied at least three sacks in each of his five seasons as a pro. His three interceptions last season tied a career high and Dansby is young and athletic. So far in ’08, he has made a pair of picks, has three sacks, and has made 70 tackles. He isn’t in the same class as some of the linebackers on this list, but he may eventually be pretty close. Dansby will appeal to several teams because of his age, size, and potential. Mike Peterson, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars -- may come and play with his bro AP Peterson had played in just 15 games over the course of the last two seasons, but he played ina ll but one game this season. When healthy, he is one of the better middle linebackers around. He has six seasons in triple-digit tackles and the three seasons he failed to reach that mark were injury-shortened years. In ’05, his most recent full season, he also had six sacks and three interceptions. His health concerns will scare some teams away, but Peterson may still have some quality seasons left in him. Bart Scott, UFA, Baltimore Ravens Even though Scott was an undrafted free agent, he has managed to become a quality linebacker. While he has benefited from playing alongside Pro Bowlers like Ray Lewis, he has also helped them benefit from his own contributions. He had just one sack last season as the Ravens defense struggled more than usual, but he showed in ’06 that he is capable of over 100 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He has added a sack in ’08 and has 50 tackles at this point. The Ravens will probably pay Scott enough to keep him around, but they may let him go if they are unimpressed with his play this year. Jonathan Vilma, UFA, New Orleans Saints Vilma has returned from a serious injury and is making a good impression with his new team in New Orleans. He has 79 tackles and an interception through week eleven. Prior to his shortened ’07 season, Vilma had registered 108 tackles or more in three straight seasons, including 173 in ’05; he also has six interceptions in his four seasons of work. Vilma is quick to the ball and consistently makes the right play. At 26 years of age, he will be a point of interest for several teams if he hits the market. Linebacker: Jordan Beck, UFA, Denver Broncos Monty Beisel, UFA, Arizona Cardinals Michael Boley, UFA, Atlanta Falcons Angelo Crowell, UFA, Buffalo Bills Channing Crowder, UFA, Miami Dolphins James Farrior, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers Tyjuan Hagler, UFA, Indianapolis Colts Leroy Hill, UFA, Seattle Sehawks Willie McGinest, UFA, Cleveland Browns Carlos Polk, UFA, San Diego Chargers Sam Williams, UFA, Oakland Raiders 2009 NFL Free Agent Defensive Backs By: Greg Davis Nnamdi Asomugha, UFA, Oakland Raiders Asomugha’s numbers don’t overwhelm other than his eight interceptions in ’06, but the big reason that he has only 241 career tackles and 10 interceptions is because opponents attack the side of the field that Asomugha isn’t on. He has 40 passes defensed over the past three seasons prior to ‘08 and he’s one of the NFL’s best in coverage. He’s held some of the game’s best receivers in check in single coverage and when he becomes a free agent, he may command the most attention of the lot. With the release of DeAngelo Hall, the Oakland may look to pay Asomugha, considering how talented he is. Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears -- would be a better DEF Coord than Babich When healthy, Brown has proven to be a valuable part of the Bears defense. Brown’s best season was in 2001, when he had five interceptions and three sacks, but he been a steady contributor when he has been in the lineup. In four seasons, from ’04 through ’07, he played in just 21 games. To this point this year, he has a sack and an interception to go along with 55 tackles, while playing in every game. Teams will be concerned about his health history, so Chicago appears to be the right fit for him. However, there are teams willing to take a risk in the NFL, and Brown has been healthy so far this season. Brian Dawkins, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles Dawkins has been one of the better safeties in the league for some time now. He’s in his mid-thirties, but he will still be of interest to several teams because of his track record. He has had at least one interception in each year of his 13-year career, and he’s had only one during the two seasons he missed considerable time. As recently as two seasons ago, he had five forced fumbles, four picks, and 98 tackles. While he may not be quite the same player he once was when he becomes a free agent, he’s having a decent season and will probably still be a better option than many other safeties in the league. He’s played in Philadelphia his entire career and chances are it’ll stay that way. Dawan Landry, RFA, Baltimore Ravens -- Veteran who would be nice in our secondary It is difficult to imagine that the Ravens would let Landry get away considering he is young and showed major potential during his first two seasons in the NFL. Landry, a safety, made a significant impact in his first year when he made 69 tackles and had five interceptions as well as three sacks. While his sacks and interceptions dropped in year two, he tallied 83 tackles, still making plays on the ball but just not coming up with turnovers. He was placed on injured reserve for this season after playing in just two games this year. Landry is athletic and finds the ball well. It’s a safe bet that Baltimore wants to keep him around through his prime. Dunta Robinson, UFA, Houston Texans Robinson missed nearly half the season last year, but before he was injured he was being mentioned alongside the top corners in the league, even though he played for a struggling Texans team. He also missed the first five games of this season, but has 18 tackles and a pick in the five games he has played in since. He made a name for himself in his rookie season when he made six interceptions, three sacks, and 88 tackles. Any team would like to have his services in their defensive backfield if he can stay healthy, and if Houston doesn’t start winning, Robinson could look for a change of scenery with a more successful franchise. Other Defensive Backs Oshiomogho Atogwe, UFA, St Louis Rams Tyron Brackenridge, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears Phillip Buchanon, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chris Gamble, UFA, Carolina Panthers Jabari Greer, UFA, Buffalo Bills Rodney Harrison, UFA, New England Patriots Kelvin Hayden, UFA, Indianapolis Colts Renaldo Hill, UFA, Miami Dolphins Daven Holly, UFA, Cleveland Browns Sean Jones, UFA, Cleveland Browns Bryant McFadden, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers R.W. McQuarters, UFA, New York Giants Justin Miller, UFA, New York Jets Lawyer Milloy, UFA, Atlanta Falcons Deltha O'Neal, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals Jarrad Page, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs Jermaine Phillips, UFA, Tampa Bay Bucs Allen Rossum, UFA, San Francisco 49ers Darren Sharper, UFA, Darren Sharper

I thought Cassells is an UFA?

Deja Vu -- that first TD that Tillman / Manning gave up to A. Johnson was the same play from the Superbowl TD when Peyton exploited the exact same mistake. One would think the superbowl lesson would have been costly enough not to let that happen again! Terrible execution / schemes / play calling / on both sides of the ball has made this team appear worse than they actually are all season. Looking to 2009: Rex will probably be gone so I would love to bring in Cassells to compete with KO. Fire Babich, hire a non-cover 2 DEF Coord! Sign a legit WR (TJH), improve OL and FS via Draft / FA. Smith one more chance to show that he will not make the same coching mistakes.