Cuts Add to Free Agent Market
by 
David Kindervater on February 28th, 2007
Every year at the NFL Scouting Combine, I look forward to receiving a folder of information from the National Football League Players Association. One of the items inside that folder is the listing of projected free agents. I enjoy thumbing through it to see who will be available on the open market and then matching team needs with who should be available. With the start of free agency just two days away, the action is heating up. Teams are releasing players they deem dispensable and resigning those they don’t want to get away.
What causes a team to release a player that another team may covet? That’s easy. Roster bonuses and huge base salaries for 2007. And lack of production. Today was especially busy as press release announcements were rolling into my email inbox throughout the day. Some of the more noteworthy cuts included Jamal Lewis (Ravens); Brian Simmons (Bengals); Ross Verba (Lions); Eric Moulds, Seth Payne and Zach Wiegart (Texans); Brad Johnson (Vikings); Ernie Conwell (Saints); Derrick Blaylock and Bobby Hamilton (Jets); Dexter Coakley and Adam Timmerman (Rams); and Christian Fauria (Redskins).
Probably the most surprising of these names is Jamal Lewis. According to BaltimoreRavens.com, however, the team wants to resign him sometime in the off-season. That is if no other team gets to him first. By observing what the Colts did this past offseason in letting Edgerrin James go and basking in the success of rookie Joseph Addai, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Ravens cut ties with Lewis and found a suitable replacement in April’s Draft. The aforementioned Ravens Web site is already talking-up Louisville RB Michael Bush.
Certainly, more cuts are coming in the next 24 hours. Among those expected to be released is Indianapolis Colts WR Brandon Stokley. If that happens, he will be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market, especially because there aren’t many big names on the WR list.
Tags: adam-timmerman, Baltimore Ravens, base-salaries, brandon-stokley, derrick-blaylock, dexter-coakley, edgerrin-james, eric-moulds, free agency, Indianapolis Colts, jamal-lewis, jets, joseph-addai, michael-bush, NFL, ross-verba| 2.5 |
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