NFL offseason thread

[katmai]

Craig Dahl signed from Rams to replace Goldson

[CountDeMoney]

I'm sure someplace, somewhere, there's a clause in the contract boilerplate that mentions avoiding this sort of activity.

MIAMI (Reuters) - National Football League wide receiver Donte' Stallworth suffered serious burns when a hot air balloon carrying him and his girlfriend hit power lines near Miami on Saturday, but is expected to recover fully, his agent said.

"He has suffered some burns to his body. However he is expected to make a full recovery in the near future," agent Drew Rosenhaus told Reuters.

"We expect him to be able to resume his football activities in a few weeks, most likely," he said.

Stallworth and the unidentified woman were taken to a hospital in the Kendall area south of Miami, where both were being treated for burns. The woman also was expected to recover, Rosenhaus said.

The balloon operator was not hurt, the newspaper said.

Stallworth, who was signed by the New England Patriots as a free agent in December, has a home in South Florida.

[CountDeMoney]

Elvis Dumervil is a free agent now:

Apparently he's meeting with the Ravens in the next day or so.

[Neil]

Elvis Dumervil is a free agent now:

Apparently he's meeting with the Ravens in the next day or so.

Better option than Harrison, that's for sure.  Might break the bank though.  They still need to pay Ed Reed or another safety, and they need a middle linebacker.  On offence, they're going to need to find a tackle somewhere, and I don't believe in David Reed to replace Boldin.

[CountDeMoney]

I read they were sniffing around Kevin Walter.  Might be a decent underneath replacement.

Anyway, Ozzie's not going to go out and sign big names off the bat;  that's not his style.  The Clevelands and the Jets and the Miamis always overpay immediately, and that's what notoriously bad franchises always do at the beginning of free agency, but the Ravens will never overpay for a price point that they have in mind for a player (including Ed Reed) and they will wait for time to pass, the market settle, and that's where the bargains will be found.  That's why the Ravens are one of the best in the business at what they do.

And I've noticed nobody's ringing McKinnie's phone off the hook.

[Neil]

I read they were sniffing around Kevin Walter.  Might be a decent underneath replacement.

Anyway, Ozzie's not going to go out and sign big names off the bat;  that's not his style.  The Clevelands and the Jets and the Miamis always overpay immediately, and that's what notoriously bad franchises always do at the beginning of free agency, but the Ravens will never overpay for a price point that they have in mind for a player (including Ed Reed) and they will wait for time to pass, the market settle, and that's where the bargains will be found.  That's why the Ravens are one of the best in the business at what they do.

And I've noticed nobody's ringing McKinnie's phone off the hook.

Yeah, Walter's not bad.  And Texans wideouts seem to improve once they get to Baltimore.

You wonder.  Ozzie is getting value guys right now, like Canty and Spears.  If they get a bookend to go with Suggs, we could see a real step up in line play next year, especially if Suggs and Ngata manage not to injure themselves.  I just think that Reed is going to get some decent offers, and so it won't be quite like Ray Lewis' flirting with free agency a few years back.

McKinnie's history is hurting him there.  Nobody wants to give him a big signing bonus and have him show up for camp weighing 400 pounds.  Still, he's shown that he can be a differencemaker.  Some GM is going to be a hero or an idiot for that one.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Jake Long to the Rams.  4 years/ $36 million.

Dolphins made the smart move on that one, because Long is not worth anywhere near $9 million/year anymore.  The Rams overpaid big time.

[CountDeMoney]

You wonder.  Ozzie is getting value guys right now, like Canty and Spears.  If they get a bookend to go with Suggs, we could see a real step up in line play next year, especially if Suggs and Ngata manage not to injure themselves.  I just think that Reed is going to get some decent offers, and so it won't be quite like Ray Lewis' flirting with free agency a few years back.

Canty and Spears are value run stoppers, sharp veterans and they'll help with platooning on the line.  That was one of the Ravens' major off-season priorities, to shore up the defensive line against the run.
The way the Ravens have stockpiled draft picks for next month, and how deep not only this years' draft is deep in defense, as well as next year's, I think they'll find a lot of nice, young talent.  And even if they wind up signing Dumervil for end they'll still have that Alabama beast Upshaw on the other end as a DE/LB hybrid, and I can still see them drafting an ILB, whether it's Minter or Te'o, they'll find a system-friendly 'backer.

McKinnie's history is hurting him there.  Nobody wants to give him a big signing bonus and have him show up for camp weighing 400 pounds.  Still, he's shown that he can be a differencemaker.  Some GM is going to be a hero or an idiot for that one.

That's because the entire league knows he's a high maintenance head case, going all the way back to the Vikings.  And unfortunately, Ray Lewis isn't there anymore to put his foot up his fat ass.  With the FA market relatively heavy in tackles, I predict he'll remain in Baltimore.

[CountDeMoney]

The Ravens are interested in former Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.
The Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans are among the other teams that have Huff firmly on their radar, per the source.

Luz, and compensatory picks were awarded yesterday as well;  Ozzie has 12 to play with this year.

[CountDeMoney]

Free-agent safety Ed Reed is on the verge of joining the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports.

Reed, who has spent his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens, visited the Texans last week but left last Friday without a deal.

According to reports, the Texans offered Reed a 3-year deal in the salary range of $4 million per year, though Reed has been seeking a salary similar to the $7.2 million he earned last season.

The Ravens, who have seen significant turnover since winning the franchise's second Super Bowl, appeared interested in retaining the nine-time Pro Bowler.

"On the hopeful scale I'd say it's of high hope," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday. "It's high on the measuring stick. We'll just have to see how it works out."

Reed, 34, is the Ravens' franchise leader in interceptions with 61, and his 1,541 return yards with those pickoffs is an NFL career record. He was the NFL's top defensive player in 2004.

With Reed possibly on the move, Baltimore has also scheduled a visit with Raiders free-agent safety Michael Huff, a league sourced told Schefter.

[derspiess]

So it looks like the owners voted 31-1 to pussify the game a bit more.  Just one brave owner voted no.

[Neil]

Yeah, this looks like a 'fuck the game, we're concerned about PR and legal liability' move.

So, Ed Reed is pretty much gone.  Will they get Huff, or will the era of Omar Brown begin?

[MadBurgerMaker]

Reed to the Texans.

[CountDeMoney]

So, Ed Reed is pretty much gone.  Will they get Huff, or will the era of Omar Brown begin?

Huff is visiting this week.  If he doesn't sign, it could very well be the era of Reid from LSU, who could be on the board when the Ravens draft.  Who the hell knows.

[Neil]

It'll be interesting to see how Reed functions on the Texans.  He's not the same guy he used to be (he missed a LOT of tackles last year), but he can be relied upon for a handful of turnovers and a number of breakups.  It'll be interesting to see.  And the Texans should be better this year anyways, now that blowing up Cushing's knee is illegal.