Following an exciting first round, we break down the favorite picks, most pleasant and biggest surprises, most under-appreciated pick, worst move and more.
Peyton Manning, Mario Williams, Mike Wallace and Carl Nicks headline an intriguing free agent class that can shift the balance of power this offseason.
The Eagles seemingly came out of nowhere to sign Nnamdi Asomugha as they eye a trip to the Super Bowl.
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Lately my inbox has resembled ?Ask Icness? about both draft prospects and offseason moves. Thanks to all who take the time to pluck my brain, with a special thank you to Brian from Durham, who forwarded me some nice pictures of my dream date, Robin Meade (yes, I?m happily married, but I?m not dead!). Here?s an early stab at some of the more frequent or interesting questions and rumors.
What the bleep is Daniel Snyder doing with his coaching staff in Washington?
As of this writing, they still haven?t hired a new head coach but have fired presumed leading candidate Gregg Williams and Offensive Coordinator Al Saunders. Not promoting Williams reputedly cost Snyder $1 million although he likely could find that much in his pool filter. Aside from interviewing Williams four times and bringing in at least 5 other legitimate candidates, Snyder still hasn?t made up his mind on a successor to Joe Gibbs just yet. They did bring in Jim Zorn to run the offense and promoted Greg Blache to run the defense which is a strong indicator that Snyder has his eyes on a specific target who won?t have much time to assemble a staff of his own. All signs point to Giants' Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, whose Giants slayed the giant in impressive fashion. I believe former Giants' Coach Jim Fassell, who has interviewed at least once already, is the best fit for the job and absolutely deserves another shot. Steve Mariucci, not so much. The bottom line is that Dan Snyder apparently has not figured out the NFL business just yet, and his franchise is almost certainly going to suffer because of it, no matter whom he hires.
Where will Asante Samuel wind up?
I doubt he remains in New England, certainly not if he wants Nate Clements' money, and there?s no reason to believe he won?t demand at least equal guaranteed $$. Suitors figure to include Miami, Kansas City, and Dallas, but I have heard small talk that the Lions will make him an offer too. Of these suitors, the Cowboys make the most sense for a variety of reasons: an aggressive owner willing to shell out $25 million, the cap room to make it work (this assumes they don?t bring back Flozell Adams, Julius Jones, or Ken Hamlin--of which only Hamlin would be a surprise), and an attractive enough situation to appease Samuel?s competitive drive. Samuel would allow them to move Anthony Henry to safety and let Hamlin get overpaid by someone else.
What are the Browns going to do with Derek Anderson?
They made him a preliminary offer this week, but that?s basically window dressing to set the market and show they are serious about keeping him. From numerous Browns' insiders I?ve talked with, GM Phil Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel do indeed want Anderson back as the starter in 2008 and have no problem with the prospect of Brady Quinn sitting for another season or two. But other teams are likely to part with the required 1st and 3rd round picks to get Anderson, and I?ve heard from these same sources the Browns will indeed consider those offers. The likely suitors: Minnesota and Chicago although I know it kills the Ravens that they gave up on Anderson and now have major QB issues of their own. Both the Bears and Vikings pick in the similar range where the Browns could land a big upgrade along the DL with the 1st rounder. My best educated guess at this point is that Anderson will still be with Cleveland, but if the Bears sweeten the pot with, say, a future 2nd or 3rd rounder, DA will be with Da Bears in 2008.
Will the Shaun Rogers for Jonathan Vilma deal really go down?
I have it on reliable sources that this deal very nearly happened last summer, but Lions' management didn?t want to give up on Rogers just yet. They?re more than ready now, and Vilma finds himself in the same status with the Jets. This deal makes far too much sense on all sides for it to actually happen; both Rogers and Vilma are highly talented young players misfit with their current teams and schemes, with acrimony and questions about injuries and dedication floating around them. The Jets desperately need Rogers? active bulk to anchor their 3-4 DL while the Lions sorely need Vilma?s quickness and ability to operate in space in their LB corps. I put the odds on this particular deal at about 30% although it is a certainty neither Rogers nor Vilma will be back in their former locker rooms in 2008.
Who wins the war in Cincy--Chad Johnson or Marvin Lewis?
This is one of the most unnecessary battles since Reagan invaded Grenada, but it?s a fight that Head Coach Marvin Lewis appears to have initiated against his best player. There is not a person close to the situation who doesn?t believe Lewis is the infamous ?unnamed team source? who has been ripping Johnson and drumming up trade talks. Johnson is a great WR but also a giant sucker for cutting down forests of fuel for this fire with his insecure whimpering and apparent paranoia about both Lewis and leaving town. This should be an easy decision for Bengals' management--a charismatic, fan-favorite All Pro WR or a defense-oriented head coach with a growing history of leading underachieving teams with lousy defenses. But this being the Bengals, don?t be surprised if Ocho Cinco winds up elsewhere, and Lewis leads the team to a 6-10 2008.
Where are some of the prominent free agents headed?
Far too early to tell, as right now most personnel departments are focused on the draft and evaluating what they have and what they need. Some early guesses on some of the bigger names:
- Albert Haynesworth will get franchised by the Titans
- Terrell Suggs will get franchised by the Ravens
- Jared Allen works out a long-term deal with Kansas City
- Alan Faneca will also call Kansas City home
- Jamal Lewis returns to Cleveland after flirting with several suitors
- Michael Turner heads to Houston, mitigating their need to draft Darren McFadden
- Lance Briggs leaves Chicago for San Diego, rejoining Ron Rivera, the coach that developed him into a guy worthy of a franchise tag
- Julius Jones winds up replacing his brother a year too late in Chicago
- Flozell Adams rejoins Bill Parcells in Miami
- Randy Moss stays in New England for below market value
Bernard Berrian moves to Oakland, where they learn quickly he?s not worth the money
