JGalligan
Footballguy
With the NFL season now officially three quarters of the way through, many different things are going through the NFL fans mind: favorite team hopefully making the playoffs, fantasy football championship game coming up, that Lexus that you rear ended at the supermarket the other day – you know -- the usual stuff!
Anyway, what was recently running through my head though was the upcoming NFL Free Agency period. Usually thoughts like this will sprint by my conscience and never be thought of again for months on end, but I ended up latching onto this particular one like a New York City Mayor on an inconsequential and publicity boosting athletes handgun mix up!
I was originally going to do a Top 10 offensive free agents list AND a Top 10 defensive free agents list, but then I realized I don’t have to do that because we still have football to watch and it’s not the offseason anymore. So I’m just merging the two together to form one massive and highly likely to be controversial offensive and defensive free agent list. And a top 10 no less!
Just calm down though, calm down. Here we go.
I’m not going to try and prognosticate as to where these players will end up, there’ll be plenty of room for that in the replies. Instead I’ll just note what I think they’ll be offering the market and the potential teams that will be interested in singing them.
As always, please enjoy and feel free to print out as a lovely little stocking stuffer! And cheap too!
Honorable mention(s): Jonathan Vilma, Ray Lewis, Matt Cassel, Kurt Warner, Derrick Ward, OJ Otogwe, Dawan Landry
10. Dunta Robinson (DB)
2008 stats thus far: 25 total tackles (23 solo) with one interception in seven games played.
Dunta Robinson’s career has been bogged down by a lack of supporting talent on defense and an inconsistent offense until a year or so ago. He’s had some injury problems this year but remains an enticing option for any team who would be able to fit him into a quality system and surrounded by quality players.
9. Darren Sproles (RB)
2008 stats thus far: 36 attempts for 182 yards (5.1 ypa), 12 receptions for 234 yards with one TD in 12 games played.
Darren Sproles is perhaps best known, at least this year, for his rocket of a 40+ yard reception scamper for a touchdown. It was at this moment that many people were claiming that he was the heir to LaDainian Tomlinson’s crown. However, the predictions and declarations didn’t quite prove to be entirely fruitful – but he’s still one heck of a dual threat halfback.
8. Bobby Engram – WR
2008 stats thus far: 28 receptions for 301 yards in nine games played.
Many had high hopes for Engram heading into this season, that is, until the Seahawks were hit with the wide receiver strain of the bubonic plague. In somewhat limited action this season Engram has showed he can still produce, but with the rest of the team in shambles, you couldn’t really have expected him to perform any better. Engram is a solid, veteran, receiver and will likely be a hot commodity come free agency time.
7. Brian Dawkins – DB
2008 stats thus far: 57 total tackles (48 solo) with four forced fumbles, one interception and two sacks in 12 games played.
While certainly not getting any younger, Brian Dawkins has shown time and time again that he still has what it takes to play defensive back in the NFL. A decline in his production is to be expected eventually, but he could very well have another couple of years of incredibly effective and play disrupting left in him.
6A. Jeff Garcia – QB
2008 stats thus far: A 67.2% completion percentage with 1,902 passing yards for 8 TD’s and three INT’s in nine games played.
Just when you count Jeff Garcia out of it he goes and has another stellar year with minimal mistakes to boot! While it was puzzling that it took Jon Gruden so long earlier this season to insert Garcia as the starting QB permanently, the puzzling and baffling tale of Jeff Garcia will probably be given yet another chapter to add to the story. Watch him get passed up by a few teams who think he’s done and then proceed to lead whatever team he signs with to an improbable playoff run!
6B. Terrell Suggs - OLB
Added by popular demand. I am nothing if not an author of the people!
5. Julius Peppers – DE
2008 stats thus far: 41 total tackles (34 solo) with five forced fumbles and 11 sacks in 12 games played.
While rumors of an impending retirement are background noise, Peppers is just too raw and skilled of a football player to not get offered something that will succeed in changing his mind. In the right system and surrounded by the right players, Peppers could easily stretch out his career for a long, long time and continue to wreak havoc with his one-of-a-kind football build.
4. Nnamdi Asomugha – DB
2008 stats thus far: 30 total tackles (25 solo) with one forced fumble and one interception in 12 games played.
While Asomugha’s play has tailed off with the recent decline of the Raider franchise, a lot of people are forgetting the absolutely stellar season he had in 2006, complete with EIGHT interceptions – one of which was returned for a touchdown. To be fair though, this 'decline' in play is likely because teams just want nothing to do with him and thus the ball is being thrown away from him all game long. His skill and drive is there, but he just needs the right unit to really put it to use.
3. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – WR
2008 stats thus far: 81 receptions for 810 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games played.
Easily the most likely candidate to garner the most attention at the WR position, the opinions on whether or not the Bengals will resign him are as different as the stars. On one hand you have the people who say he’s too supreme of a talent to let go – especially when he’s morphed into the teams #1 receiver over the past few years. On the other hand, you have the people who argue that the Bengals took two wide receivers early in the 2008 Draft. And well, most teams don’t do that unless they’re planning for the future. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
2. Albert Haynesworth - DT
2008 stats thus far: 44 total tackles (36 solo) with three forced fumbles and 8.5 sacks in 12 games played.
I pondered long and hard about whether or not to feature Albert Haynesworth in the number one spot of this list… but I just couldn’t do it. You can read more on that below. Haynesworth on the other hand has a come a long, LONG way since the day he decided to purposefully stomp on another player’s hand. Many apologies and an optimistic attitude later and Albert Haynesworth is arguably one of the top three defensive tackles in the NFL at this exact moment in time. You would think that the Titans would want to resign him to keep their fearsome defensive line together, but you never know. Regardless, Haynesworth will be a hot topic!
1. Brandon Jacobs - RB
2008 stats thus far: 185 attempts for 950 yards (5.1 ypa) and 12 TD’s.
While I would normally take the dominating, at the peak of his career defensive end here had it been any other running back, Brandon Jacobs is NOT any other running back. You can make as many comparisons as you’d like, but Brandon Jacobs runs to run through people and he doesn’t stop moving until he is forced to rest on the ground. His style, well, his style is that of Brandon Jacobs. Plain and simple! Instead of worrying about which former player to tag an association onto him with, why not just say he runs like Brandon Jacobs? He is a machine; he produces highlight reels of his running OVER safeties and cornerbacks on nearly a weekly basis! Even if the Giants offer him a lucrative deal that would make a ton of sense for both parties, expect a LOT of different teams to be throwing all sorts of money at Jacobs this off-season. And with good reason – he’s one of a kind!
That about does it for the Top 10! As always (again), feel free to disagree vehemently and call for my head in your replies!
Anyway, what was recently running through my head though was the upcoming NFL Free Agency period. Usually thoughts like this will sprint by my conscience and never be thought of again for months on end, but I ended up latching onto this particular one like a New York City Mayor on an inconsequential and publicity boosting athletes handgun mix up!
I was originally going to do a Top 10 offensive free agents list AND a Top 10 defensive free agents list, but then I realized I don’t have to do that because we still have football to watch and it’s not the offseason anymore. So I’m just merging the two together to form one massive and highly likely to be controversial offensive and defensive free agent list. And a top 10 no less!
Just calm down though, calm down. Here we go.
I’m not going to try and prognosticate as to where these players will end up, there’ll be plenty of room for that in the replies. Instead I’ll just note what I think they’ll be offering the market and the potential teams that will be interested in singing them.
As always, please enjoy and feel free to print out as a lovely little stocking stuffer! And cheap too!
Honorable mention(s): Jonathan Vilma, Ray Lewis, Matt Cassel, Kurt Warner, Derrick Ward, OJ Otogwe, Dawan Landry
10. Dunta Robinson (DB)
2008 stats thus far: 25 total tackles (23 solo) with one interception in seven games played.
Dunta Robinson’s career has been bogged down by a lack of supporting talent on defense and an inconsistent offense until a year or so ago. He’s had some injury problems this year but remains an enticing option for any team who would be able to fit him into a quality system and surrounded by quality players.
9. Darren Sproles (RB)
2008 stats thus far: 36 attempts for 182 yards (5.1 ypa), 12 receptions for 234 yards with one TD in 12 games played.
Darren Sproles is perhaps best known, at least this year, for his rocket of a 40+ yard reception scamper for a touchdown. It was at this moment that many people were claiming that he was the heir to LaDainian Tomlinson’s crown. However, the predictions and declarations didn’t quite prove to be entirely fruitful – but he’s still one heck of a dual threat halfback.
8. Bobby Engram – WR
2008 stats thus far: 28 receptions for 301 yards in nine games played.
Many had high hopes for Engram heading into this season, that is, until the Seahawks were hit with the wide receiver strain of the bubonic plague. In somewhat limited action this season Engram has showed he can still produce, but with the rest of the team in shambles, you couldn’t really have expected him to perform any better. Engram is a solid, veteran, receiver and will likely be a hot commodity come free agency time.
7. Brian Dawkins – DB
2008 stats thus far: 57 total tackles (48 solo) with four forced fumbles, one interception and two sacks in 12 games played.
While certainly not getting any younger, Brian Dawkins has shown time and time again that he still has what it takes to play defensive back in the NFL. A decline in his production is to be expected eventually, but he could very well have another couple of years of incredibly effective and play disrupting left in him.
6A. Jeff Garcia – QB
2008 stats thus far: A 67.2% completion percentage with 1,902 passing yards for 8 TD’s and three INT’s in nine games played.
Just when you count Jeff Garcia out of it he goes and has another stellar year with minimal mistakes to boot! While it was puzzling that it took Jon Gruden so long earlier this season to insert Garcia as the starting QB permanently, the puzzling and baffling tale of Jeff Garcia will probably be given yet another chapter to add to the story. Watch him get passed up by a few teams who think he’s done and then proceed to lead whatever team he signs with to an improbable playoff run!
6B. Terrell Suggs - OLB
Added by popular demand. I am nothing if not an author of the people!
5. Julius Peppers – DE
2008 stats thus far: 41 total tackles (34 solo) with five forced fumbles and 11 sacks in 12 games played.
While rumors of an impending retirement are background noise, Peppers is just too raw and skilled of a football player to not get offered something that will succeed in changing his mind. In the right system and surrounded by the right players, Peppers could easily stretch out his career for a long, long time and continue to wreak havoc with his one-of-a-kind football build.
4. Nnamdi Asomugha – DB
2008 stats thus far: 30 total tackles (25 solo) with one forced fumble and one interception in 12 games played.
While Asomugha’s play has tailed off with the recent decline of the Raider franchise, a lot of people are forgetting the absolutely stellar season he had in 2006, complete with EIGHT interceptions – one of which was returned for a touchdown. To be fair though, this 'decline' in play is likely because teams just want nothing to do with him and thus the ball is being thrown away from him all game long. His skill and drive is there, but he just needs the right unit to really put it to use.
3. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – WR
2008 stats thus far: 81 receptions for 810 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games played.
Easily the most likely candidate to garner the most attention at the WR position, the opinions on whether or not the Bengals will resign him are as different as the stars. On one hand you have the people who say he’s too supreme of a talent to let go – especially when he’s morphed into the teams #1 receiver over the past few years. On the other hand, you have the people who argue that the Bengals took two wide receivers early in the 2008 Draft. And well, most teams don’t do that unless they’re planning for the future. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
2. Albert Haynesworth - DT
2008 stats thus far: 44 total tackles (36 solo) with three forced fumbles and 8.5 sacks in 12 games played.
I pondered long and hard about whether or not to feature Albert Haynesworth in the number one spot of this list… but I just couldn’t do it. You can read more on that below. Haynesworth on the other hand has a come a long, LONG way since the day he decided to purposefully stomp on another player’s hand. Many apologies and an optimistic attitude later and Albert Haynesworth is arguably one of the top three defensive tackles in the NFL at this exact moment in time. You would think that the Titans would want to resign him to keep their fearsome defensive line together, but you never know. Regardless, Haynesworth will be a hot topic!
1. Brandon Jacobs - RB
2008 stats thus far: 185 attempts for 950 yards (5.1 ypa) and 12 TD’s.
While I would normally take the dominating, at the peak of his career defensive end here had it been any other running back, Brandon Jacobs is NOT any other running back. You can make as many comparisons as you’d like, but Brandon Jacobs runs to run through people and he doesn’t stop moving until he is forced to rest on the ground. His style, well, his style is that of Brandon Jacobs. Plain and simple! Instead of worrying about which former player to tag an association onto him with, why not just say he runs like Brandon Jacobs? He is a machine; he produces highlight reels of his running OVER safeties and cornerbacks on nearly a weekly basis! Even if the Giants offer him a lucrative deal that would make a ton of sense for both parties, expect a LOT of different teams to be throwing all sorts of money at Jacobs this off-season. And with good reason – he’s one of a kind!
That about does it for the Top 10! As always (again), feel free to disagree vehemently and call for my head in your replies!
Last edited by a moderator:
to you and Michael Fox!
E Julius PeppersCB Nnamdi AsomughaDT Albert HaynesworthQB Kurt WarnerWR TJ HoushmandzadehRB Brandon JacobsRB Derrick WardQB Matt CasselLB Jonathan VilmaS OJ Atogwe
I was going to put Matt Birc at #4, I sweeearrrr, but the stat/player information link I was looking at listed him as not playing this year at all so I thought he had a pretty bad injury or something. It didn't go into detail. I probably should have added Mike Goff or Colombo just to get a little diversity into the list. Also Dewan Landry almost made the list but I edged in Dunta Robinson because I literally sat at my kitchen table and thought about it for like two and a half minutes. It doesn't sound like a lot but if you just sit and think for two and a half minutes its a pretty long time. 
Good list overall though! 
