Free Agency: The Big Move That Nobody Is Talking About

While the signing of Reggie Brown is big news for Tampa Bay, the biggest news of the week for Buccaneers fans happened far from One Buccaneer Place.

Going largely unnoticed by the underperforming Tampa Bay media is a single move which may make all the difference to Tampa Bay when the 2010 Draft begins on April 22nd.  And while the Tampa media has finally figured out that the Rams will most likely pick a quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2010 Draft (Stowaway regulars have known this since February 1st), they have completely missed even bigger news.

Here is the biggest news of the week for Buccaneer fans:  The Seattle Seahawks traded Seneca Wallace to Cleveland for an undisclosed 2011 draft pick.  Yes, seriously.  No, I'm not insane . . . mostly.

This single move has many implications as to what those two teams are thinking.  Why would a Tampa Bay fan care what an NFC West and AFC North team, both of which pick after Tampa Bay, are thinking?   A great deal, I think.

Seattle has the #6 and #14 first round picks coming in the 2010 NFL Draft (as of today).  Cleveland has 11 picks in the 2010 NFL Draft, including #7 in the first round.  These teams have a form of currency that NFL General Managers crave -- draft picks in one of the deepest, most talented drafts in recent years.

Seneca Wallace was the Seahawks #2 quarterback.  The starting quarterback for Seattle has been the often injured Matt Hasselbeck who is entering his 12th NFL season.  With Wallace gone, Seattle is left with Mike Teel, 2009 5th rounder out of Rutgers, as their quarterback of the future.  Teel is 6' 3", 225 lbs, which are great physical numbers.  However, he did not take a single snap during the 2009 regular season which does not give any confidence to him being the answer at quarterback in Seattle.  There has been a coaching change in Seattle this offseason (Pete Carroll has arrived from USC) and the new coaching staff may have a high opinion of the youngster.  In that case, it seems that keeping Wallace while Teel develops would be prudent.  Since they did not keep Wallace, I believe it is more likely that Seattle is positioning to draft a quarterback in 2010.  This is very important assumption for the Buccaneers.  More on this a bit later.

On the other side of this transaction, the Cleveland Browns have not only acquired Wallace, an 8-year NFL veteran, they have also cut one half the two-headed monster they rolled out at quarterback last year.  Derek Anderson was simply cut and is now out shopping his talents as an unrestricted free agent.  There are also reports that Cleveland could be shopping Brady Quinn, the other "head" of that same quarterback monster as well (in a sense, there might be trade value in Brady Quinn -- which means he is more valuable than Anderson?  Yet Anderson started, did not start, then started again in 2009.  The mysteries of the Browns!).  This leaves new Cleveland General Manager Mike Holmgren with Seneca Wallace (8th year), Brady Quinn (4th year), and Brett Ratliff (2nd Year).  Ratliff took no snaps and did not see the field in 2009.  If the Browns are indeed shopping Quinn and trade him before the draft it would signal to me that Cleveland is also planning to seek a quarterback in the 2010 draft.

That's the groundwork.   The kicker is, according to CBS/NFLDraftScout.com (for example, and others agree), it appears there are only two first-round-quality quarterbacks available this year:  Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) and Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame).  Both sustained injuries during the 2009 campaign.  A very significant clue is that, post combine, these two men did not slide down draft boards.  Both attended the combine, but neither fully participated, electing to instead wait until their respective campus pro days with the suspected intent of having the most time possible to train and rehab.  However, even though they did not go through drills, they did go through the rigorous medical exams and appear to have come through clean.  So both these men have run over 90% of the rehab and recovery gauntlet and shown themselves to have franchise quarterback skills.

A quick check the top of the draft board as far as quarterback needs go sets the table:
1 - Saint Louis Rams:  Need a quarterback
2 - Detroit Lions:  Matt Stafford (2009 draft) appears to be their answer
3 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Josh Freeman (2009 draft) is their man
4 - Washington Redskins:  Is Jason Campbell the answer?  Todd Collins?
5 - Kansas City Chiefs:  Gave Matt Cassel a $63 million contract in 2009
6 - Seattle Seahawks:  Appear to be looking for a quarterback
7 - Cleveland Browns:  If Quinn is out, also looking for a quarterback

I believe that, should either of the two young quarterbacks fall to the Washington Redskins and new head coach Mike Shannahan at #4 he will be more than happy to make that pick.  All things staying as-is the pick would be Clausen.

I look at this chart and it seems pretty obvious -- if you want one of the top two quarterbacks this year you have to get the #1 pick away from the Rams or get ahead of the Redskins at #4.

And, after all that, here is why it matters to the Buccaneers:  if one QB goes in the #1 or #2 spot, one of the top two defensive linemen in the draft fall to Tampa Bay at #3.  And if Seattle or Cleveland uses that valuable draft currency to make a deal with Detroit (or if Washington decides to get into the mix and move up from #4), then quarterbacks could go #1 and #2 and the Buccaneers would have a clear board to take the player of their choice -- most likely their favorite of the two defensive linemen -- getting the best player to fill a team need and blend into an already existing solid young defensive core.  That would have to be the best possible result with the #3 pick.

That is why I think Seneca Wallace going to Cleveland for a 2011 draft pick is very big news for Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans.  Now you know, too, even if nobody (else) noticed.

Bucs Pluck Reggie Brown From Eagles

Yesterday the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded away a 6th round pick in the 2011 draft to Philadelphia for wide receiver Reggie Brown.  Brown (6' 1", 197 lbs, 6th NFL season) was a second round pick of the Eagles in the 2005 draft.  Brown's career statistics show he has been a productive receiver each year with a high water mark of 46 catches for 816 yards in his second season in the NFL.  Some injuries in 2008 and a young and improving core or receivers in Philadelphia (Jason Avant, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin) made him expendable.  Buccaneers General Manager Mark Dominik may have been able to wait until free after the draft to see if the Eagles released Brown from his contract.  However, the Buccaneers are in a position to absorb Brown's contract so to avoid a bidding war Dominik moved early and offered a late pick next year.

One thing you want with a young team is a player who loves the game.  Reggie Brown certainly has, at least, a great sense of humor:


Combine that with a guy who's been man enough to go over the middle since college:


Reggie Brown appears to be that physical-type player Coach Raheem Morris has said he wants on this team.  One other bit of trivia:  if you check the video on Brown's NFL.com statistics page, you'll see he was the benefactor for the longest pass thrown by Micheal Vick in 2009 (and help set up Vicks only passing touchdown of the 2009 season).

Brown is not part of the young core offense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  He is more likely to replace some of the production lost when Antonio Bryant became an unrestricted free agent.

Welcome to the Buccaneers, Reggie!

Free Agency: Rams Leave Hints With Early Moves

Since the end of the 2009 Season, the Saint Louis Rams General Manager Billy Devaney has been busy looking for players who can help his team improve.  None of the moves are significant enough to tell us what Saint Louis might do with the first pick in the 2010 draft:
1/6 - OC Drew Miller signed.
1/6 - OG Mark Lewis signed.
1/6 - DE Sean Conover signed.
1/8 - CB Marcus Brown signed.
1/13 - LB Dominic Douglas signed.
1/13 - TE Eric Butler signed.
1/20 - DT Chris Bradwell signed.
1/28 - WR Nick Moore signed.
2/17 - TE Derek Fine acquired from waivers.

However, two moves on the first day of free agency could be the best insight thus far regarding the Rams intentions with the #1 pick in the 2010 Draft:  the Rams cut Kyle Boller (QB, 7 years) and signed AJ Feeley (QB, 10 years).  These two moves speak volumes about the quarterback situation in Saint Louis as well as confirm the initial review of the Saint Louis situation heading into the 2010 offseason.  The Rams need a new quarterback.

The situation:
- The incumbant, Marc Bulger, finished 2009 on injured reserve.  Bulger's situation was recently summarized as:

"Bulger signed a six-year, $65 million contract extension in 2007, and next season, he's due $8.5 million, which is a large amount for a quarterback who hasn't performed well or stayed healthy the past three seasons. He has passer ratings of 70.3, 71.4 and 70.7, respectively, in the last three seasons and missed 11 games because of injuries."

- Sam Wyche, NFL.com columnist

It appears that Bulger is not an option. 

- Kyle Boller was the #2 QB in 2009 appearing in 7 games and starting 4 for the Rams.  He obviously did not show enough to be either the backup or the plan for the future.  Boller had signed a one year contract in April 2009.  Since he has now been cut Boller is not an option.

- Perhaps the Rams are considering giving the reins over to 2009 6th round selection QB Keith Null.  Null started four games including the season finale for Saint Louis.  His performance was not exceptional but he does have a full offseason and preseason to improve.  Null is one option.

- In December (as insurance when Marc Bulger went on the Injured Reserve List), the Rams signed Mike Reilly off the Green Bay Packers practice squad.  Reilly did not play in 2009 and is an undrafted 2nd year player.  Only the Rams know what they have with this player.  Since he is still on the roster it appears that Reilly is an option.

After these four players there are only two other options -- free agency and the 2010 draft.  The Rams moved quickly on the first day of free agency.

But is free agency the answer?  AJ Freeley has appeared in five games in the past six years while bouncing through four different rosters (San Diego, Miami, Philadelphia, and spent 2009 on the Carolina roster).  He did not take a snap for Carolina last year.  Is this 10 year veteran the answer?  He is certainly part of the answer or he would not have been signed -- but most likely only a short term answer.  Freeley is an option.

That brings us to the 2010 Draft and the Rams #1 pick.  It appears that this is where they will look to find their long term answer to compliment AJ Freeley as the short term answer.  The top two QBs in the 2010 draft appear to be Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) and Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame).  Both Bradford and Clausen were injured in 2009.  To compensate for recovery time a team would need two experienced QBs to run the show while the rookie completes rehabilitation.  Saint Louis has set themselves up for this situation with Feeley and Null.  By getting the pieces in place right away the Rams have given themselves the maximum time to evaluate both 2010 draft candidates.  However, I think it is more likely that the Rams have already decided that one or both of the 2010 quarterback draft candidates are player(s) they want to target.  Said another way, by the Rams knowing what they would pursue with their draft strategy a clear set of needs dictated their early free agent moves (instead of making the moves in hope of finding out if one of the quarterbacks was healthy enough to be the player they need).

And so comes the pressure of the pick:  The Rams selected 2nd in 2009.  Matthew Stafford was off the board but Mark Sanchez was not.  The Rams picked an offensive tackle and Sanchez took the Jets to the playoffs.  In 2008, the Rams also selected second and picked a defensive end.  The third pick that year was Matt Ryan who took the Atlanta Falcons to the playoffs.  Can the Rams afford to pass a third time on a young signal caller?

I fully expect the Rams will be selecting a quarterback with their #1 pick in the 2010 draft.

Free Agency: Tampa Bay Enters Silently

Sticking to a plan mentioned many times recently (and stated on this blog in January), General Manager Mark Dominik of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered free agency quietly.

In the late hours before free agency the Bucs made a few last moves:
- Tendered WR Mark Bradley with 2nd round pick
- Tendered RB Clifton Smith
- Tendered CB Elbert Mack

Four free agents were not tendered:  LB Matt McCoy, LB Rod Wilson, FB Byron Storer, and WR Brian Clark.

As mentioned yesterday, there was no massive release of veteran players like in 2009.  However, the Bucs did cut three veteran players:  DB Corrie Cox (7 years), P Josh Bidwell (10 years), and P Dirk Johnson (7 years).  All three finished 2009 on the injured reserve list.  Look for Tampa Bay to possibly negotiate a new deal with Cox depending on the value of other offers received.  The Buccaneers entered the offseason with P Sam Paulescu on the roster so it is unlikely that either Bidwell or Johnson will return to the roster this offseason.

It's important to remember that roster bonuses occur on June 1st and the 2010 Draft starts April 22nd.  Both of these events can prompt additional roster moves.  The Buccaneers roster currently contains 59 players (the offseason limit is 80 leading into training camp).

Another Veteran Purge in 2010?

Will they do it again?  Will the Buccaneers 2010 offseason have another veteran purge like during the 2009 offseason? 

Free Agency begins March 5th, 2010, and while some of the players on this list are still under contract, a number of them could be missing by the time training camp rolls around next fall.  And it would be with good reason:  Tampa Bay purposely moved veterans out of the way to find out exactly what they had on the younger end of the roster.  Now that all has been revealed it's down to who can help the team next year.

Will there be a purge like 2009?  No.  But with 10 draft picks looming at least some of these men have played their last game as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

The players with seven or more NFL seasons from the 2009 Buccaneers roster are:
Ronde Barber (13)
Josh Bidwell (10)
Chris Hovan (10)
John Gilmore (8)
Jermaine Phillips (8)
Ryan Sims (8)
Jerramy Stevens (8)
Antonio Bryant (7)
Torrie Cox (7)
Angelo Crowell (7)
Jeff Faine (7)
Byron Leftwich (7)
Jimmy Wilkerson (7)

The February Draft: Players Return from Injured Reserve

On February 10, 2010, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cleared their injured reserve by welcoming players injured during the 2009 season back to the regular roster.  This is the second round of potential improvements for the 2010 regular season roster (after practice squad promotions).

Notable among the list of returning players:
- Byron Storer, who missed some of 2008 and all of 2009 with a knee injury and re-injury.  Storer started three games each in 2007 and 2008. An undrafted free agent picked up by the Buccaneers on May 3, 2007, they have stuck with Storer for some time.  It will be worth watching to see if the new administration continues to believe Byron can come back from his injuries.  If so, it creates a battle-to-watch with B.J. Askew, who is also returning from injured reserve due to back and neck injuries from a 2009 car accident.  The cupboard is certainly full in the Tampa Bay backfield and keeping two fullbacks seems very unlikely with the versatile Earnest Graham on the roster.
- Two Punters, Josh Bidwell and Dirk Johnson, return to the roster.  Which (if either) of these men will battle incumbent punter Sam Paulescu for the only roster spot?  Again, a possible preseason battle-to-watch.
-  Three 2009 draft picks ended the 2009 season on IR:  Xavier Fulton (T), E.J. Biggers (CB),  and Sammie Stroughter (WR).  Stroughter played very well and only missed a few games at the end of the season.  Fulton and Biggers, on the other hand, missed all and most (respectively) of the season and are basically 2010 draft picks.

Here is the full list of the players returning to the Tampa Bay roster organized by the day they were placed on injured reserve.  Also noted is the start of the regular season and the three games won in 2009:

5/18  Byron Storer (FB) (knee)
PRESEASON
8/17  Josh Bidwell (P)  (hip)
8/24  Angelo Crowell (LB)  (torn biceps)
9/5  Xavier Fulton (T)  (knee)
REGULAR SEASON BEGINS
9/19  E.J. Biggers (CB) (shoulder)
9/22  Jermaine Phillips (S) (broken left thumb)
10/20  B.J. Askew (RB) (PUP - back, neck)
11/8/2009 GREEN BAY WIN
11/10  Rod Wilson (LB)  (undisclosed)
11/11  Will Allen (S) (thumb)
11/17  Arron Sears (G) activated from PUP
11/24  Byron Leftwish (QB) (right elbow)
11/30  Torrie Cox (CB) (hip)
11/30  Dirk Johnson (P) (hamstring)
           Aaron Sears to Reserve/Non-Football Injury
12/8  Clifton Smith (RB) (concussion)
12/20/2009 SEATTLE WIN
12/21 Sammie Stroughter (WR) (foot)
12/27/2009 NEW ORLEANS WIN
12/28  Jimmy Wilkerson (DE) (torn acl)
12/28  Earnest Graham (RB) (toe)

2010 Practice Squad Promotion: Lee Robinson

Lee Robinson, newly promoted from the Buccaneers practice squad to the 2010 offseason roster, was described at the 2009 NFL combine as:

"An ultra-productive linebacker who finally made the All-SWAC team as a senior (first team), collecting 111 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and three forced fumbles. The four-year starter had 223 tackles (33.5 for loss) coming into the season, so he was no one-year wonder. NFL defensive coordinators who use 3-4 scheme principles may view him as a potential starter at rush linebacker."
 NFL.com Combine Profile

He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos.  Here is an analysis of his game:

2010 Offseason: Saint Louis Rams Initial Review

First year general manager Billy Devaney and first year head coach Steve Spagnuolo inherited the lowly Saint Louis Rams after a 2-14 regular season mark in 2008. Unfortunately, 2009 was one game worse, and their 1-15 record puts them at the top of the board for the 2010 draft.

The following is a review of the Rams as they stand at this time.  Years of experience is given in parentheses. Players with more than five years experience are in bold.

OFFENSE

QB Keith Null (1), Kyle Boller (7), Mike Reilly (1) -- Marc Bulger (9) on IR

FB Mike Karney (6) -- Daniel Fells (4) on IR

RB Steven Jackson (7), Samkon Gado (4), Kenneth Darby (3), Chris Ogbonnaya (1)

WR Donnie Avery (3), Ruvell Martin (5) -- 3 WRs on IR

LT Alex Barron (6), Ryan McKee (1)

LG Roger Allen (1), Mark Setterstrom (5)

C Jason Brown (6)

RG John Greco (3), Eric Young (2) (listed as T on roster) -- Jacob Bell (7) on IR

RT Adam Goldberg (8), Phil Trautwein (1), Jason Smith (1)

WR Danny Amendola (1), Brandon Gibson (1), Jordan Kent (3)

TE Randy McMicheal (9), Billy Bajema (6)

OT Jason Smith, WR Brooks Foster, QB Keith Null, and RB Chris Ogbonnaya were draft picks last year. The Rams have to be a bit disappointed that the 2009 Draft #2 overall pick (Smith) ended the year third on the depth chart (concussions). Null, a sixth rounder out of West Texas A&M, finished the season with a QB rating of 49.9 completing 73 of 119 for 566 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions while starting the last four games of the season after Bulger went on IR. None of the Rams QBs had more touchdowns than interceptions last year. It is also worth noting that Bulger is the third oldest player on the team.

DEFENSE

RCB Quincy Butler (3), Jonathan Wade (4), Cord Parks (1)

RE Chris Long (3), James Hall (11)

RT Clifton Ryan (4), LaJuan Ramsey (4)

LT Darell Scott (1), Leger Douzable (3)

LE Leonard Little (13), Victor Adeyanju (5), James Wyche (5)

LCB Ronald Bartell (6), Justin King (3), Danny Gorrer (1) - 1 CB and 1 DB on IR

ROLB David Vobora (3), Larry Grant(2) , K.C. Asiodu (1)

ILB James Laurinaitis (1)

LOLB Paris Lenon (9), Chris Chamberlain (3)

SS James Butler (6), Clinton Hart (8)

FS Craig Dahl (4) (listed as SS on roster), David Roach (2) -- One FS on IR

ILB James Laurinaitis, DB Bradley Fletcher, and DT Dorell Scott were 2009 draft picks. Fletcher ended the year on IR. Laurinaitis was a serious candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year (107 solo tackles and two interceptions), and Scott worked up from his fourth round draft spot into the starting lineup. On this side of the ball, the two oldest players on the roster are both at DE (Little and Hall). Hall appears to be expendable with youth already in place around him -- but will there be quality depth if he leaves?

So the question comes down to -- where is the biggest need? Or can we tell yet? There appears to be a lot of youth on the DL and not much on the OL. Steven Jackson is taking a lot of wear and tear at running back. Having drafted an OL last year, the Rams tipped their hat about issues up front on offensive line.  And that the draft pick was not able to contribute fully -- so they may still consider OL an important need.

The other consideration is draft position. Not just any player is worth the money of the number one draft position. Is a DL worth the money? Consider Albert Haynesworth, the alleged $100 million man, played 12 games (missed 4!) in 2009 for 29 tackles, 8 assists, and four sacks. Defensive linemen also take a lot of abuse in the trenches. Where an offensive linemen could be protecting a major investment at QB a defensive linemen is generally not protecting an expensive player.  Defensive lineman are generally counted on to be interference and make the linebackers more productive.  St. Louis had a very productive linebacker last year, so it does not appear that defensive line is a real need.

A young defensive line with a young, all-pro-caliber linebacker would indicate that the defense is being productive but just lacks experience.  As a result, this team gave up over 27 points and 370 yards per game.  It gave up an average of 8.0 yards per passing play and 4.4 yards per rush.  The rush number is respectable but the passing number is not.  I believe that the defensive backfield would be a more important place for improvement than in the front seven.

On the other side of the ball a quarterback selection is suggested by the age of the incumbent (Bulger), the lack of production by the backups, the drafting of an offensive lineman the previous year, and having a very productive running game already in place.  I would say QB, DE, CB, and Safety are the top priorities at this time.

If they are active in free agency the picture should make itself clearer; if not, the Rams could pull a big surprise with the #1 pick this year!

(Updated: Rams Leave Hints In Free Agency)