Top 10 Prospective Free Agents to Watch

1. Albert Haynesworth
Albert Haynesworth is one of those players that changes the way you play offense. His combination of size and speed at the tackle position is unmatched and should he continue the level of play that we’ve seen the past two seasons, it’s only a matter of time before his name is mentioned alongside the Randles and the Sapps. Furthermore, the effect that Kris Jenkins has had in New York has only added to the stock of an elite Defensive Tackle.
Haynesworth was franchised last season despite the Titans making the playoffs with a 10-6 record and if those in the know are to be believed, Haynesworth’s Pro Bowl berth this season will prevent the Titans from franchising the 27-year-old. The Titan’s Defense have been instrumental in wrapping up the number 1 seed in the AFC, but it’s unlikely that will be enough alone to keep Haynesworth in Tennessee. How far the Titans can go will be crucial.

2. Nnamdi Asomugha
12 players were franchised last season. Only 1 was given the exclusive tag which prevented any negotiation with other teams. That was Asomugha, in many people’s opinion the best shut-down corner in the entire league. A former first round pick, Asomugha’s stock has not stopped rising in the last 3 seasons and was voted a Pro Bowl starter for the second time despite being on a 4-win Oakland team.
Asomugha is a high-character guy and Al Davis committed a huge error in judgement by not giving Asomugha the money he deserves and opting to spend big on DeAngelo Hall who lasted just 8 games. That snub could be the final straw for Asomugha and his resigning will be an absolute priority for Oakland this offseason. The franchise tag is almost certain, but there are a number of teams that would jump at the chance to sign No.21 should he become available.

3. Matt Cassel
The season isn’t over yet, but Matt Cassel looks to be leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record, exactly what Tom Brady did when he filled in for Drew Bledsoe. The playoff odds are against New England but two things are certain: Matt Cassel’s stock has skyrocketed and no matter how much longer the Patriots’ season goes on, Cassel is not going to usurp Tom Brady when healthy.
With Cassel in a contract year, the Pats face a dilemna, especially with concerns over Brady’s health come next September. But Cassel is 26 and the cost of franchising a Quarterback would be well over 10 million, for a backup. Franchising a QB is unheard of, let alone paying that much for a backup. Cassel will want to test the waters, and it’s not as if the Patriots tend to keep costly players around in these situations. Lawyer Milloy and Ty Law were let go without established replacements, with Cassel they have the best QB in the league to replace him. My bet? Tampa Bay

4. Julius Peppers
The Panthers are one of those teams that have one too many player’s on the potential UFA list to keep. Peppers is probably the biggest name and a freakish talent. But with a poor 07 hanging over him, consistency is in question, and that’s something you shouldn’t have to worry about with the league’s best DEs. That may be enough for Carolina to consider letting him go.

5. TJ Houshmandzadeh
TJ is 32 next year, and the life-span of an elite-level WR doesn’t extend much further. He made his first pro-bowl in 07 leading the league in receptions and would be a fantastic target for someone like Donovan McNabb, Matt Ryan, plenty of teams looking to push on. Despite a once-potent offense in Cincy, TJ may feel that the Bengals’ ship sailed in 2006 and his championship ambitions would be better suited elsewhere. It would be quite the coup if Cincinatti could re-ink no.84.

6. Chris Gamble/Jordan Gross
The other two big names on Carolina’s to-do list this season. Gamble is one of the better corners in the league whilst all-pro left tackles are extremely hard to find. Gross making this year’s Pro Bowl has only made the situation more difficult for the Panthers and they could face the prospect of losing both of these players should they splash the cash on Peppers.

7. Terrell Suggs
Many feel that Suggs hasn’t completely fulfilled his potential. His arrival in the league was similar to that of Shawn Merriman; explosive and sack filled. Irregardless of consistency issues, he still has great potential when in the right system with Baltimore choosing to franchise him last year. But with 3 linebacking stars in their contract year, can they afford to keep Suggs?

8. Mike Peterson
For years, Mike Peterson has been the heart and soul of the once prized Jacksonville defence. But after a tumultuous 08 season filled with injury and infighting, Peterson fell out with Head Coach Jack Del Rio and was even internally suspended. Back in the team now, the stint may be brief if the relationship with Del Rio is irreparable. A wily veteran such as Peterson could be a fantastic addition to any number of teams.

9. Bart Scott
Like Suggs, Scott’s stock was at an all-time high in 2006 and it’s on the rise again with the team on the brink of a playoff berth. Scott’s play has been as solid as ever but Baltimore will struggle to keep all of it’s linebackers this off-season. Perhaps slightly in the shadow of Ray Lewis, Scott may be keen to move on to pastures new.

10. Jeff Garcia
Since Garcia rekindled his career in Philadelphia, he’s had nothing but success in Tampa Bay. Even if they miss out on the playoffs, they will still have a winning record. But the extension Garcia has been lobbying for hasn’t been produced, and Tampa may be looking to the future already. Garcia’s 38, and a late extension would be the most plausible outcome. If Tampa decide to go after someone like, say, Matt Cassel, would Garcia land a starting spot elsewhere? Or just call it a day?

Also keep an eye on…

While many backups flatter to decieve at the RB position after getting a big contract, the sucess of ex-San Diego Charger Michael Turner makes the prospect of Darren Sproles testing the Free Agent waters a lot more interesting. The speedster, like Turner, made a valuable contribution behind the disappointing LaDainian Tomlinson and may be worth a gamble for certain franchises. Kurt Warner’s season is ending with a stutter rather than a bang but has led the Cardinals to their first playoff berth in 10 years. With talks of retirement continuing to crop up, it’s unlikely he’ll leave Arizona should he stay on.
Ray Lewis is likely to be at the top of the Raven’s priority list which could mean the likes of Dawan Landry moving on. Antonio Bryant is coming off an unbelievable season but considering his age and his stint out of the NFL, he may think better of trying to get a deal somewhere other than Tampa Bay. A serious knee injury dealt a large blow to Dunta Robinson’s stock, but the talented corner has quietly looked like returning to his best and the Texans will hope he is still under most team’s radars.
Joey Porter’s sack-filled season has somewhat overshadowed the impressive play of fourth-year pro Channing Crowder and could earn a big contract this summer and Houston’s Owen Daniels will be a restricted free agent after emerging one of the NFL’s better tight ends.

Arrogant to a Fault

As another unpredictable, wild NFL regular season draws to a close, perhaps the biggest surprise is Tennessee. With that impressive win against Pittsburgh yesterday, they wrapped up their 13th win and ensured home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Now any team that locks up a number one seed, let alone with a week to spare, deserves respect and credit, but I’m putting this out there right now; Tennessee will be one and done.

There’s plenty to like about this Titans team. Albert Haynesworth, Kerry Collins’ renaissance, the efficient defense. But for all that technical ability, there’s one thing I don’t like, and that’s this sense of arrogance I get about the franchise. It’s almost as if they’re trying to play with some chip on their shoulder. It’s a relatively young team, and with youth comes a bullishness and a desire to prove something, but it’s starting to spill over into arrogance, and that will get this team absolutely nowhere.

Apparently before the Pittsburgh game, Fisher was using the notion of a “lack of respect” to rally the troops. A lack of respect? You’re 12 and 2, you’ve knocked off some big teams but as big as home field advantage is, this isn’t your superbowl, it’s a stepping stone. The way the Titans celebrated you’d think they’ve already gone the distance.

What really riled me however was the players making a point of kicking the Steeler’s terrible towels in the dirt and making a point of stomping on them. What on earth is clever about doing this? How about you show some dignity and go about your business. You haven’t won anything, the Steelers are going to the playoffs with a bye as well, you could well be seeing them again. Instead of acting like idiots and celebrating garishly in your opponents faces, how about you show some respect and understand that you’ve gotten nowhere yet. And look who was leading those “celebrations”, Lendale White, what a surprise.

As good as White has been this season at fulfilling his role (complementing Johnson), I haven’t like him or Johnson’s attitude all season. Arrogant rookies who are just waiting to be put in their place when it matters, namely the playoffs. The Steelers are a veteran team who had to go through the toughest regular season schedule that’s been seen in quite a while, and they’re still going to be sitting watching during wildcard weekend. Just because you beat them at home they aren’t still dangerous? In the Steeler’s superbowl season, they earned a wildcard after being beaten to the division title by the Bengals. The Bengals made a point of disrespecting the towel in the regular season too. What happened to them? The Steelers came back and punched them square in the jaw as they beat them up in their own stadium.

There’s trash talking, there’s playing with a chip on your shoulder, and there’s being a stupid arrogant kid who hasn’t earned his stripes yet. Joey Porter for example may trash talk, but you know he’s going to bring everything to the field. Lendale White disrespects you, and you’re going to put that fool in his place. I expected more from Keith Bulluck who joined in the antics.

The Titans may have been the most consistent in the regular season, but there are plenty of one season wonders. The Colts started slow but they’re back again. The Steelers are back again, the Patriots probably will be returning. For teams such as these, it doesn’t matter how you get there anymore. Would you honestly bet against the Colts going into Tennesse in the playoffs?

There’s nothing wrong with confidence, but as Tom Landry said; Act like you’ve been there before.