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| Ronald Martinez
One of the crown jewels of free agency, OLB Paul Kruger, celebrates after winning his first Super Bowl.
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On Tuesday at 4 PM ET, those pieces will officially be able to fall in to place. However, if I may, I'd like to express an annoyance before jumping into the free agency goodies.
In previous years, teams were allowed to reach an "agreement in principle" with a player's agent well before the beginning of the official league year. This agreement would also usually be leaked to the media during the three-day negotiating period, creating a huge wave of exciting news story over the weekend and telling other teams to stay away from their prize.
Friday, Mar. 8 at 12 AM ET, technically Saturday, was supposed to be the start of this negotiating period in 2013, but then something happened...
Just before the negotiating period opened on Friday night, the league released a memo to all 32 NFL teams warning that if any agreements (expressed or implied, oral, or whatever) had been reached before the league year's opening on Tuesday, there would be investigations for tampering.
Ridiculous.
Unfortunately for the fans, and the many sports writers around the country, the league's memo worked. Friday night's news came and went with a whimper, as did Saturday and Sunday's. The team's were scared and the three-day excitement-filled news stream was effectively snuffed out.
Funny enough, the rules of free agency, according to the league, actually state that it's perfectly acceptable for teams to enter into negotiations with a player's agent. No "agreement in principle" is prohibited, only the execution of an actual contract.
“Beginning at 12:00 midnight ET on Saturday, March 9 (i.e., after 11:59:59 p.m. ET, on Friday, March 8) and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 12, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2012 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12.”I'd be confused, but I then remember that we're talking about the NFL—one of the most powerful corporations in the entire world. The commissioner is the most powerful man in sports. If he wants to make up some rules, he will.
Damn the fans excitement, apparently.
Money and entertainment rules, but even more importantly, the NFL's agenda rules all. According to the rumor mill, the NFL is preparing to organize a "signing day" for future years, much like what we see with high school players when they commit to a college.
And there, folks, is the reason the three-day negotiating period has been reduced to zilch.
Sigh. Well, enough of my rambling. In celebration of the actual opening of free agency tomorrow, I'd like to list a few free agency predictions.
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| Mitch Stringer
Kruger sacks Colts quarterback Andrew Luck in the playoffs.
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Back in February, I wrote a column encouraging the Colts to pursue outside linebacker Paul Kruger to be their pass rusher of the future. Well, according to various sources, the Colts may have been listening (or at least I'd like to think so). Kruger will apparently be the fuel for a bidding war between the Colts and Ohio's own Cleveland Browns. Both teams are in a very favorable cap situation (money available to spend), but who will be the victor?
Call me biased, but I say the Colts. If money isn't Kruger's only motivation—it's obviously a huge factor and rightfully so—the Colts are just a better fit.
Kruger's former defensive coordinator, Chuck Pagano, is now the head coach in Indianapolis. He's worked with Kruger before and he's a player's coach; a guy's guy. Guys want to play for him and connecting the relational dots is always one of the most significant tells in predicting a player's, coach's, or executive's possible destination.
Last season, Pagano brought former Ravens Corey Redding, Brandon McKinney and Tom Zbikowski to town with him.
Furthermore, the Colts established themselves as a team on the rise. In their "rebuilding" year, they managed to go 11-5 and make the playoffs. Quarterback Andrew Luck proved to absolutely be worth the No. 1 pick the Colts used to draft him, and like any great band, you have to have a lead singer. The Colts have their rock star, er, franchise quarterback of the future.
While in Baltimore, Kruger has also benefited from a star-quality supporting cast. Across from Kruger in Baltimore was OLB Terrell Suggs, the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year. In Indianapolis? Robert Mathis, or one half of the legendary Freeney-Mathis sack duo, would be his new brother in arms.
What else does Kruger need? Sign the dotted line, Mr. Kruger. Unless you want Cliff Avril to play for a contender, instead.
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| Joe Sargent
Welcome to Miami, #17.
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It's been speculated from the moment Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace wasn't re-signed, but on Tuesday, it will be official: Mike Wallace is going to be a Miami Dolphin.
According to sources, Wallace not only wants to be paid, but he also likes warm weather. Silly, but every perk helps. The Dolphins are also in serious need of a No. 1 receiving target for promising second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill and they're willing to pay to make it happen. The Vikings will make sure they pay, too.
Do you notice a trend? Having a quality quarterback is a huge recruiting advantage. Tannehill wasn't spectacular, but Miami feels he is their guy of the future.
Wallace undoubtedly has other suitors, but if Wallace isn't a Dolphin at exactly 4:00 PM ET, I'll be incredibly surprised.
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| USA Today Sports
Freeney in orange? Hey, Manning pulled it off.
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Freeney will go down as one of the greatest Colts of all time, but just because he's finished in Indianapolis doesn't mean he's finished chasing another Super Bowl ring.
With the Broncos unwilling to pay DE Elvis Dumervil the $12 million he is due to make in 2013, they'll need to quickly find a replacement. Enter Freeney. Former Colts and current Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has apparently been lobbying for the Broncos to sign his former Colts teammate, and he should get his wish.
Manning isn't John Elway (Broncos general manager), but he definitely has a way of getting his message across. Last year he wanted wide receiver Brandon Stokley in Denver, and he got him. Manning's preference considered, Freeney makes a ton of sense in Denver. He's 33 years old, but he still has a lot of gas left in the tank, especially in the 4-3 defensive system (4 defensive linemen, 3 linebackers).
It was obvious that he struggled with his new role in Indianapolis last year as a 3-4 (3 defensive linemen, 4 linebackers) OLB, but in Denver he'll be able to comfortably slide back into the role that likely made him a Hall of Famer.
Oh, and he'll be on a team that is already the favorite to win the Super Bowl.
Not being a sports person, I appreciate how you take something that applies to the sport and talk about it and not solely give a play by play. Not being much of a sports person, I found this article interesting and something that anyone can enjoy. I really related to, "damn the fans excitement, apparently."
ReplyDeleteI liked how you explained the different defenses and such for those who don't know much about football. Also, I liked how you got the Mike Wallace to Miami right, but then again, that widely believed to be where he was going. Great post, and great blog.
ReplyDeleteFootball!!! We bonded over this last semester. Enjoy that its not a play by play (even though there is no play by play right now because football season is over.) And your in depth in detail is great. Clearly you know your stuff. Good job
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your post man. It's more than just covering specific games, and sometimes it really gets into the politics of the sports which I can relate to. At the same time, the focus stays true to a sports blog. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to it for that reason. The only criticism that I really have is that it's a bit long for the assignment. If I was critiquing it outside of class however, I wouldn't have any problems with the lengths. Also, I like the use of all the pictures. Solid post.
ReplyDeleteAlright I'm not a football person and had to ask Google what a DE was, which I knew what it was in the first place, I just lost my mind for minute. I enjoyed your post and your own personal take on the free agent frenzy. As someone who knows very little about football it was easy to read, it was a little long. The visuals were great since I had no idea who any of these people were.
ReplyDeleteI like that I can read your passion for this subject. I'm not a football person, but that's my favorite part. I feel like I'm learning something when I read your blog, although some parts are a little hard to understand. (terminology.) Always watch your AP style. (Numbers before 10 are written out and March is not abbreviated.)
ReplyDeleteBesides that, keep it up! Don't lose your passion in your writing! It's very expressive and I love it!
Thanks for the post, Whitney! I do make it a point to obsessively check my AP style, but believe it or not, "No. 1," defensive styles (4-3, 3-4), scores, records (11-5) etc. are actually the AP standard in sports writing. As always, there are exceptions lol.
DeleteOh dear Stewardo, as usual you never cease to write so beautifully. Considering you are already an active blogger, I think it's cheating since you have all this "profesional" experience.. I'm kidding.. You are very clear in your writing and the points you want to make are just as clear. You're an amazing writing, you should definitely never stop. I don't like football but I like reading what you write as I'm sure most people do. Nice job brosef!
ReplyDeleteThis was a greatly informative post. I had no idea about the free agent negotiating period or the head of the NFL's autocratic power. Very interesting. Some might think that this post is too long (like I'm one to talk), but it's written so well, it absolutely held my attention all the way through. You do a great job balancing fringe topics with more direct game play ones. And as always, great use of photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all of the kind words, ladies and gents! I'm thoroughly relieved that you enjoyed my rambling. =)
ReplyDeleteI really connected to this. Although I have no interest in football and would otherwise know nothing about this, I understood all of this very well and could definitely understand the disappointment in the ban. It was written in a way that someone that knows absolutely nothing could easily tell what was going on. The strength is really your voice. It comes through loud and clear and makes it so that it's a lot more fun to read. I think the only weakness may be the length towards the end I felt like I was making myself finish instead of wanting to continue, like I had in the beginning.
ReplyDelete