Tuesday, July 19, 2011

It's Gonna Be Free Agent Mayhem Around The NFL

When then final I's and T's are dotted and crossed and the NFL finally gets rolling again after the lockout that lasted four plus months, there will be many teams seeking to sign players around the league as well as some trade deals being made.
One major trade being bantered about is Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb going to the Arizona Cardinals.
The roster moves will be made over a brief two-week period prior to the start of training camps.
There are four individual star players who seem to be attempting to stir the pot as the settlement nears later this week.
Indianapolis Colts' QB Peyton Manning, New Orleans QB Drew Brees, San Diego Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson and New England offensive lineman Logan Mankins are attempting to quash the "franchise" tag put on them by their respective teams and seek to become unrestricted free agents.
Mankins and Jackson, in particular had long holdouts last year that lasted well into the regular season.
In fact, many San Diego fans blamed Jackson for the team's dismal 9-7 finish last season that cost the Chargers their stranglehold on the AFC West division.
The odds are against these players being granted anything as a possible lawsuit may be invoked to help them become unrestricted free agents.
That's the only blip on the radar as the players' union gets put back together and the collective bargaining deal is struck with the owners (a possible ten-year deal is what is being talked about) to ensure the NFL season gets going in 2011 and beyond.
If all goes well, training camps will open in the next two weeks and the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams will kick things off in the pre-season opening Hall-of-Fame Game on Sunday, August 7th in Canton, Ohio.

1 comment:

  1. Good to be writing about football again eh Jim? Yeah its going to be a free agent bonanza like one we have never seen. Of all the aspects of the lockout this is the one I'm most happy about because the signings will come quick instead of being drawn out like last year in the NBA.

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