We're two months from training camps, a time when most NFL teams are done with free agency (at least the big-name signings, primarily because most of those guys have jobs) and have transitioned to evaluating players currently on their rosters. Not the Bucs. They're still looking for wideouts.
The stagnant and seemingly dried-up free-agent wide receiver market looks like it will receive a jolt. According to a published report, Matt Jones, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, will avoid league suspension for violating terms of a court-ordered drug program.
Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.
I often chuckle at the amount of time people spend whining about how you can't accurately evaluate the draft immediately. We know that. We also don't know exactly who is going to do what in each season, but that doesn't stop us from giving preseason predictions or fantasy football advice. Sometimes you just have to have a little bit of intestinal fortitude and put yourself out there. The reader demand is there, so we'll provide the supply.
One of the few cases (along with teams like the Steelers and Patriots) where it's probably not a good idea to say anything bad, though, is when it comes to Bill Polian and the Colts.
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
The Indianapolis Colts enter the 2009 season as one of the NFL's marquee franchises. They have made the playoffs nine of the last 10 seasons, and have won at least 12 games for six straight seasons. There's a reason for that. Well, there are many reasons, but everything starts with how well the Colts draft. Beginning with the franchise-making decision to take Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf in 1998, Bill Polian has missed once in the first round. I imagine Colts fans are pretty trusting of their Team President when Roger Goodell strolls to the podium.
Marvin Harrison has been out of work for six weeks now, and there's no reason to think that'll change anytime soon.
Teams have shown no interest in the 36-year-old, 13-year veteran and Hall of Fame lock. He barely cracked the top-10 in FanHouse's list of top available free agents, which is remarkable when you see such luminaries as Byron Leftwich, Cato June and Dre Bly ahead of him.
While a lot of the NFL's big-name free agents have found homes for 2009, there are still some very recognizable talents lingering on the market. With that in mind, FanHouse's NFL team has picked out the best of the remaining crop. Six writers took part in a quick-fire poll, with each asked to rank their top-10 guys out of a group of 20-plus players still available in free agency. Players received 10 points for a first-place vote down to one point for a 10-place vote.
Check out the gallery after the jump to find out who FanHouse thinks could still make an impact next season.
The Philadelphia Eagles put together a great run to end the season, eventually making it to the NFC Championship game (again) with Donovan McNabb at quarterback. His week 12 benching seemed all but forgotten, until McNabb reminded the media that things were still kind of awkward.
Then word sprung up that McNabb and the Eagles were getting close to a new deal. But before that could happen, McNabb, according to Michael Smith at ESPN, decided to step away from negotiations, in order that he might find out what the Eagles' offseason would include before signing an extension.