Unexpected Drop: Somehow Braylon Edwards' Stock Is Much Lower Than What It Should Be

Everyone else is getting paid. Braylon Edwards is not. While the NFL Free Agent frenzy seems like a ridiculous cashflow where Nnamdi Asomugha makes his mega-millions only to be trounced by Kamerion Wimbley of all players, Edwards is still waiting for someone to make him an offer. Even Olindo Mare signed a four-year deal for $12 million. Olindo. Mare.

Even within the wide receiver corps, players are signing for nice amounts of money. Steve Breaston landed with the Chiefs, Lance Moore re-upped with the Saints, Santonio Holmes hit the mother lode with the Jets. Perhaps the worst part for Edwards is that a guy who’s been sitting in jail for the last two years (Plaxico Burress) is able to come back into the league, meet with Super Bowl caliber teams and sign a deal. And still Edwards sits.

The bottom line is that Braylon deserves better. Somewhere along the line, the former Michigan receiver gained a reputation for being dramatic and dropping the football. One is typical for higher-profile receivers; the other is a reputation that keeps you waiting for the phone to ring. Put them together and others are finding their receiving needs met elsewhere. And that’s a major mistake.

The reality is that Edwards’ reputation is silly; he’s very much an impact receiver with dynamic skills. He can stretch the field, turning his 53 catches last year into 904 yards for a 17.1 yards/catch average. He also had 7 touchdowns. He has good size at 6-3, 214 and even with 7 years of experience, he’s still only 28. In fact, those numbers last season was his best of the last four years.

Perhaps he worked himself harder in a contract year. Well, he wouldn’t be the first. But there’s no doubt that Edwards would immediately upgrade most receiving corps in the NFL and in the pass-happy league of today, having a go-to receiver like Edwards is a rarity. The idea that teams aren’t falling over themselves to invite Edwards in for a visit and sales pitch seems ridiculous.

Someone will find Edwards this offseason and maybe even find him at a discounted price. In the end, I’d predict that we’ll be able to look back in this crazy signing period and realize that one key player fell through the cracks — one who made as much of an impact on his team as the others flying around for big money and who should have received more attention in the midst of the free agent frenzy.

NFL Free Agency Rumors: Oakland Raiders Choose Khalif Barnes Over Jared Gaither After All

So much for the Oakland Raiders improving their offensive line. Or did they? That’s the question in the wake of the Raiders apparently deciding not to sign former Baltimore Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither in free agency, as they instead choose Khalif Barnes who had been with the Raiders the last two seasons, starting 3 games last year.

Gaither’s injured back is still a cause for concern for the Raiders, as it will be for any other team interested in his services. But if a team can be patient on the line, Gaither is the best tackle on the market when healthy. The Raiders will lose a bit going with Barnes at right tackle but that’s better than having an inactive Gaither.

ESPN’s Bill Williamson believes the Raiders can come back to Gaither after they feel better about his health. Then again, that will be the very reason why other teams would come in as well. The Raiders might be smart to reconsider and sign him, waiting for the back to heal while on their roster.

NFL Free Agency: Tarvaris Jackson Stupefies, Justin Bannan Signs, Plaxico Burress Decides

Another day, another crazy round of rumors as most teams around the NFL arrive at training camp and begin to play some actual football. Peyton Manning signs a contract. Plaxico Burress can shop teams instead of cell mates. Tarvaris Jackson is given a starting spot on a team that was very close to the Super Bowl. Yep, it’s time for some explaining on another edition of Quick Hits:

*Perhaps the most intriguing storyline of the day, at least to me, is the Seattle Seahawks head coach calling Tarvaris Jackson his starting quarterback in July. There’s plenty of training camp left, but the hefty draft bounty that the Seahawks paid for Charlie Whitehurst in 2010 has yielded nothing, and if Whitehurst can’t even earn the starting nod once Matt Hasselbeck is gone, then I’d say the ‘Hawks are worse off at the position than I thought. If Jackson to Rice couldn’t make it in work in Minny, they definitely won’t do anything in Seattle.

*The Philadelphia Eagles have signed Cullen Jenkins in a move that just makes the rest of the NFL shake their heads. It’s not as if the Eagles are the Redskins who trade away all of their key draft assets and sign ridiculous free agent contracts. Instead, it’s a team with a solid young core, great lines and a willingness to take risks. And now they’ve added yet another significant free agent to generate more of a pass rush. It’s enough to make every other fan base angry with the lack of movement.

*Plaxico Burress has now met with both the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. It seems the wideout will have no problem finding a home with a competitive team despite his troubled past and his age. Neither team would waste their time unless Burress had something to bring to the table (besides a gun).

*Defensive tackle Justin Bannan is now a St. Louis Ram, following Josh McDaniels over from St. Louis. We’re not sure what Josh McDaniel has to do with wooing a defensive tackle who didn’t play that well under him in the first place, but it’s clear the Rams are shoring up weaknesses fairly agressively in free agency with their fourth signing. Bannan is 32 and last year had 35 tackles and 1 sack in 16 starts.

Peyton Manning's New Contract Should Help Colts Extend Robert Mathis, Sign Joseph Addai

He could have been the highest paid player in the game. He’ll settle for $90 million.

It’s a funny world Peyton Manning lives in — one that most of us will never even be able to relate to. But what is clear is that Manning left $10 million on the table for the Colts to be able to maneuver, and for a team with several holes and no significant moves thus far, that’s a helpful amount of money. In fact, it’s enough to begin to cement some of the key resignings.

Even after selecting Ben Ijalana and Anthony Costanzo in the draft, the Colts have Charlie Johnson out there as a UFA. They also need to resign Joseph Addai. Both players could be key for the Colts this season, seeing as how the Colts could push Ijalana to guard and bolster the line even further with the new big bodies.

The Colts also have the significant task of signing Robert Mathis to a major extension. Mathis has certainly proven his worth as a top-shelf pass rusher in a league where that’s a rare commodity. Mathis has 32 sacks the last three seasons and it’s vital the Colts have the ability to pressure the opposing quarterback since the secondary also has some holes.

Manning will now be in Tom Brady territory rather than a stratosphere all his own. While the word sacrifice still doesn’t come to mind, Colts fans might see it that way, especially if it allows them to keep several key players.

Surprise Entry: Nnamdi Asomugha Chooses Philadelphia Eagles Over Jets, Cowboys

In a surprising twist, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has now confirmed via Twitter that the most talented free agent on the board, Nnamdi Asomugha, has landed with a team that no one saw coming — at least not as of the last few hours. Instead of the Dallas Cowboys or the New York Jets getting into a bidding war with the salesmanship of Jerry Jones versus Rex Ryan, the Eagles came out of nowhere to land the impact corner that could change the entire NFC East race .

Facing quarterbacks like Eli Manning and Tony Romo in the division made upgrading the secondary a priority for the Eagles, but the ability to land a top-flight corner was another subject entirely. To place Asomugha alongside Asante Samuel and new addition Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is an amazing feat and gives the Eagles a secondary that instantly becomes the best in the league. Don't forget about safety Nate Allen who returns from a promising rookie season that ended due to injury.

It’s a major statement for Andy Reid and company, and this is perhaps why guys like Stewart Bradley were let go to create the room available for Nnamdi. Fans of Eagles should be happy but for the millions who can’t stand the two divisive franchises left standing in the cold, this also comes as good news. And as for the Raiders, Nnamdi’s former club, they’re left wondering what to do with their secondary as Michael Huff is also unsigned.

Check out Bleeding Green Nation for further news on Nmamdi and the Eagles offseason.

Time To Learn: Cam Newton Finally Lands With Carolina Panthers On Four Year Deal

The effects of the new CBA can be found most in this year’s rookie signings, where it seems that most teams have locked up their rookies within a matter of days, and the number one overall selection, Cam Newton, is in camp as quickly as anyone else. The Carolina Panthers have to be pleased with the results, since Newton will need as much time as anyone this offseason to get up to speed for the chance to help his team.

Whether or not he will break camp as the starter, at the very least, it would do him good to play as much as possible this preseason. Jimmy Clausen is already in house and could remain the starter until the team deems Newton is ready. But last year’s abysmal rookie season for Clausen means the leash should be short — especially because anyone responsible for choosing Clausen was fired.

The Panthers have made Newton comfortable financially as as well on the roster, keeping most of their playmakers while adding several more. Newton has the chance to be something really special in the NFL, and the Panthers are doing everything they can to make it work. The rest is up to him.

NFL Free Agency Updates: Bad News Continues For 49ers With Michael Crabtree Injury, More On Flozell Adams

It’s Day Four of the NFL free agency signing period and several teams are now already in training camp. Official signings can be announced this afternoon at 4pm ET, so that means that players like Chad Ochocinco or Steve Breaston can now practice with their new teams and sport their new colors. That should be exciting for fans anxious to get their first glimpse at the new rosters.

Yet it’s also time for those rosters to take shape and there are plenty of players out there, including the best free agent on the market in Nnamdi Asomugha. Here’s the latest Quick Hits from around the league to keep you updated on player movement:

*Michael Crabtree will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a foot injury that happened just last month, and the injury could potentially keep him out through the preseason. If he starts the actual season on the same PUP list, then he must miss the first six games. It’s another shot for a 49ers team trying to turn things around under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Unfortunately, he’s already dealing with a star running back who plans to hold out in Frank Gore. This could be a long first season as the team transitions.

*Dawan Landry had a career year last year for the Ravens in terms of tackles, with a high of 111. He’s been rewarded today with a five-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who earlier added Paul Posluszny to their linebacking corps. For a team that lost a significant draft pick to trade for Blaine Gabbert, it’s been a nice defensive haul so far to add to their young defensive core. Landry failed to have an interception last year after having four the year before, and perhaps the Ravens were ready to move on. But Jacksonville should reap the benefits of having a hard hitting vet with playoff experience.

*Flozell Adams was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers today and it might be close to quitting time for the left tackle. Given the need for depth and experience around the league, someone will inevitably sign him due to injuries at camp or just out of need on the roster, but it will be interesting to see if Adams is willing to come in as a possible back-up for some team or whether he will wait for a team to have an injury at the position — the very same reason he was in Pittsburgh in the first place.

NFL Free Agency Update: Darren Sproles Flies South, Jon Beason Stays Put

The Carolina Panthers have to be ecstatic with the way this offseason is turning out. Then again, when you have millions to spend, the players will come your way losing record or not.

After a 2-14 season, the Panthers have struck often in the frenzy of the free agency season, locking up their own players like Charles Johnson and DeAngelo Williams and convincing Steve Smith to rescind his trade request. At the same time, they’re trading for tight end Greg Olson and signing defensive tackle Ron Edwards. Now, a contract extension with Jon Beason is officially in the books.

Beason had 121 tackles last year, and the linebacker has been a force in the middle for the Panthers for years. He’s the kind of dynamic sideline to sideline force that Ron Rivera can anchor his defense around, and at 26, he can still play well all the way through his new five-year contract extension. It’s another nice move for the Panthers.

Meanwhile, Darren Sproles has reportedly left San Diego for another warm climate to play with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. He will fill the role that Reggie Bush would have played and gives the Saints some offensive versatility that head coach Sean Payton should enjoy.

After multiple seasons playing alongside LaDanian Tomlinson and forcing A.J. Smith to choose both or either running back, the Chargers now turn to Ryan Matthews as the main back, who had a decent rookie year with 678 yards with a 4.3 yards/carry.

New England Patriots Acquire Chad Ochocinco Via Trade With Bengals

Wow.

Coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have done it again. On the same day New England acquired disgruntled Albert Haynesworth from the Washington Redskins, the Patriots have made another splash as they picked up wide receiver Chad Ochocinco from the Cincinnati Bengals. ESPN Boston just recently posted the story on their website.

Ochocinco, 33, is a six-time Pro Bowler (four times named All-Pro), and had been with the Bengals his entire career since the team drafted him in the second round of the 2001 draft out of Oregon State University.

Belichick has long been known as a a maverick in coaching, not caring about reputations of players he brings into the fold with New England. He's lead the team to four Super Bowls and three Super Bowl titles during his his tenure in Foxboro. He has been the head coach since 2000, after having served as assistant head coach of the New York Jets from 1997-99.

The only question now seems to be how long before second year tight end Aaron Hernandez gives up the #85 jersey.

Trade details are not fully known at this time.

NFL Free Agency Rumors: Could Vince Young Head To Oakland Raiders?

The quarterback ranks of the AFC West can be easily split down the middle between two categories: the sure things and the complete unknowns. The ridiculous situation in Denver has rumors that Tim Tebow isn’t even looking as good as Brady Quinn in throwing sessions. They’re also not even sure what’s happening with Kyle Orton. On the other hand, Oakland isn’t that much better, which is possibly why Vince Young could be headed there to compete for a back-up role.

Young certainly hasn’t lived up to the hype of his Rose Bowl performance that landed him near the top of the NFL Draft for the Titans. Instead of becoming the next great dual threat quarterback, personal issues and lack of consistency and leadership eventually got him the boot from Nashville and now has him searching for a home. Adam Schefter is reporting that the spot could be in the AFC West.

Hue Jackson is taking over the controls in Oakland this year and the former offensive coordinator should have the Raiders dangerous on that end. Perhaps he would be the right coach to work with VY and take him to that next level. They already have Jason Campbell in house, which is about as comforting as having a windbreaker in a hurricane, and the same can be said for back-up Kyle Boller.

Perhaps the Raiders will just throw veteran spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks. That’s not a bad approach if Jackson can center the team around the run with Darren McFadden. Even more important is keeping tight end Zach Miller for whoever ends up throwing the ball.

NFL Free Agency Rumors: Steve Smith Stays, Malcolm Floyd Goes, Steven Tulloch Wonders

Just when you finish one column, it’s time to start another. Such is life when you’re covering the NFL Free Agency period in this crazy offseason. The latest round of player news is good for Carolina, bad for San Diego and disappointing for a few players. Here’s the latest rumor round-up:

*Steven Tulloch has been rumored to head to the Detroit Lions for some time given his connection to Jim Schwartz, the former Titans defensive coordinator. Now apparently he’s not targeted by the Lions at all, leaving Tulloch to wonder where to go next. Several teams have holes at middle linebacker, and expect the Buffalo Bills to swoop in and at least check him out given the loss of Paul Posluszny.

*Philip Daniels just tweeted the news that he’s been released after a solid career with the Washington Redskins. The talented end should find a new home given his continued productivity and the constant need for even a rotational player along the defensive line. Even at 38, he still had 28 tackles and 2 sacks last season.

*Steve Smith isn’t headed anywhere as Carolina continues its magical offseason of signing and retaining players that are key to its future. Apparently Smith likes where the team is headed and has rescinded his trade demand to head coach Ron Rivera.

*Malcolm Floyd is rumored to be heading to the Vikings or at least another team away from San Diego. That’s good news for the AFC West who won’t have to contend with another dangerous target for Philip Rivers, and Floyd might just be the best wideout left on the open market.

NFL Free Agency Quick Hits: Braylon Edwards, Jason Babin, Nnamdi Asomugha Rumors

The NFL continues its crazy carousel and if you choose to use the restroom or make a sandwich, well, you’re bound to miss the latest signing or two. So in our efforts to keep you posted during this free agency signing period, we offer this morning’s latest round of Quick Hits:

*Jason Babin has officially signed a five-year deal with the Eagles after being connected to the Chiefs along with half of the NFL and CFL. The Eagles get a pass rusher coming into his own and most believe it’s a good fit for new coordinator Juan Castillo. The Eagles continue to draft and sign solid d-linemen year after year so this marriage is no surprise.

*John Clayton of ESPN is tweeting that Braylon Edwards might be the new target of the Minnesota Vikings after losing Sidney Rice to a mega-deal in Seattle. Edwards is the odd man out given the New York Jets resigning of Santonio Holmes to big money and their hopes for Nnadmi Asomugha (see below). The Chiefs signed Steve Breaston and Edwards is going to find limited options for big money soon enough. Giving McNabb a solid veteran target to complement that offense would be a nice personnel move given their losses.

*Speaking of Asomugha, the Jets are zeroing in on him with nearly $10 million in salary cap room left and more smoke than any other NFL rumor right now. Darrelle Revis is already bringing up how loaded a secondary they would become, and it appears that Asomugha might just make the Jets even more fierce than last year. That also opens up things for Jim Leonhard and makes that vaunted Rex Ryan defense astounding. It’s no wonder that Bill Belichick is making moves to bring in Albert Haynesworth.

Masterstroke: Patriots Trade For Albert Haynesworth Could Turn Into Bill Belichick's Best Move Yet

It’s a move that no one could have expected. Then again, if anyone was going to make this move it’s Bill Belichick.

That’s the continued mastery of Bill Belichick, who proved today that he doesn’t need Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli around to make risky personnel moves that might be the difference between being a playoff team and being elite.

With the Patriots announced trade for maligned defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the Patriots are taking some level of risk — something apparently that every other NFL franchise did not want to take. He’s uncoachable. He has no work ethic. He could care less about anyone else. He’ll take the money and run — or rather sit. He’s the opposite of what any NFL coach worth their money would want in the locker room. But that’s on his bad days.

Even after all of the drama in Washington, there’s not a defensive tackle that anyone would want more than Haynesworth when he’s at his best — save for Ndamukong Suh. He’s a lethal force who can beat double teams. He can single-handedly change the game and make everyone around him better. His moves have no counter. His strength and leverage are amazing. But those days are long gone, only needing them to get the major payday from the Redskins brass and owner Daniel Snyder.

But Belichick paid very little: a fifth round choice in 2013. For a team that stacks draft picks like poker chips, Belichick will have that pick replaced by tomorrow. And in the process, he’s earned the right to try the key to a lock that, when opened, reveals breakthrough results. Even if it doesn’t work out and Haynesworth remains a locker room cancer, you simply cut the guy and lose a late round choice two years from now.

But if he can return to form, Haynesworth instantly makes the Patriots the favorites in the AFC. The Pats couldn’t generate a significant enough pass rush last season and while young players like Jermaine Cunningham will continue to get better with time, the difference could be huge having a guy like Haynesworth open up rushing lanes for everyone. A young, athletic secondary could take more chances, the linebackers could be more creative and he could make it a championship caliber defense.

That’s a big if. There’s no reason to suggest Haynesworth is interested. But Belichick will figure it out, if anyone can. And that’s why turning a fifth round choice in 2013 into the second best defensive tackle in the NFL could be the next masterstroke for Belichick. Or it could simply be a wasted fifth rounder. That’s a risk worth taking.

NFL Free Agency Quick Hits: Latest News On Max Starks, Chris Johnson, Sidney Rice

Well, it's the beginning of another day and if you logged off of your computer last night and chose to actually live something called a life, then that means you missed a few important NFL transactions (or rumored transactions since nothing can be final until Friday anyway). Here's this morning's Quick Hits:

*Sidney Rice has apparently struck a five-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks, a team that has made questionable moves to this point. It's interesting to see Rice partnered with Tarvaris Jackson, but those are the Seahawks main move to this point. Rice is certainly a dynamic receiver when healthy and he's a great addition for a team that could use a strong presence at the position. Some promising targets are there along with Mike Williams, but Rice instantly becomes the go-to for whoever throws the ball. Nice signing.

*The Vikings are resigning longtime kicker Ryan Longwell. Really, what else can be said about this?

*The Pittsburgh Steelers are making major moves along their offensive front as they've reportedly told Max Starks they are releasing him and are aiming to resign Willie Colon who missed last season with injury. Starks has started 55 games at left tackle for the Steelers over the last four seasons.

*Chris Johnson is reportedly preparing to hold out, according to Adam Schefter making it two rookie head coaches having to deal with significant drama coming into the season. Mike Munchak has a more settled overall scenario than what Jim Harbaugh has with the 49ers, but the Titans rookie head coach cannot be happy with his star running back at this point. But Johnson has been believed to hold out for some time, so it's not entirely unexpected.

NFL Free Agency: San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks Among Losers So Far

We’ve already assessed a few early winners of the NFL Free Agency period despite the still consistent flurry of moves back and forth that bring one team good news and then bad the next minute. Despite the ups and downs that come with such an offseason, some teams have already made some bad moves or just experienced some rotten luck. Here are the losers as we see it.

Losers:
Buffalo Bills – Throughout the 2010 season, two NFL franchises teetered on the brink of finally turning the proverbial corner: the Lions and the Bills. But what both teams need to do this offseason is cement their future with the right moves to put them over the top. For the Bills, things aren’t quite going according to plan.

Specifically the “loser” mentality revolves around one key player: linebacker Paul Posluszny. The captain of the defensive middle is now gone, leaving the Bills with a gaping hole in the middle of an already weak position. Adding Aaron Wilson and Marcel Dareus is great, but there have to be some playmakers in the middle, especially experienced ones, and the Bills lost the one player they couldn’t afford to.

Seattle Seahawks – No one knows what exactly they are thinking. They could potentially lose DT Brandon Mebane to Denver and they’ve already traded franchise quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for Tarvaris Jackson — at least indirectly. If you’re muddled at the game’s most important position, you’re bound for some disappointment.

Thus far, they’ve lost their kicker, Olindo Mare, to the Panthers and they’re bound to lose some more, including offensive linemen like Sean Locklear or Chris Spencer. There’s also Raheem Brock to worry about. Plenty of talent could be going out and the early talent coming in is hardly inspiring. Pair this with the odd reach in the NFL Draft’s first round with James Carpenter and you have a confusing offseason to date.

San Francisco 49ers – With a new head coach comes a lot of transition, but the 49ers are apparently going to have to practice and learn without their best offensive player in Frank Gore as he holds out. The team also lost Takeo Spikes quickly in free agency and Aubrayo Franklin could be the next one out the door. If the team loses out to the New York Jets for Nnamdi Asomugha, things could get ugly for Jim Harbaugh before he even has a chance to right the ship.

Some impressive rookies were brought and Aldon Smith and Colin Kaepernick will provide athleticism and excitement on both sides, but there are several holes to fill and having your best player distract the entire team is not the way to start a new slate.

Make sure to check out all the NFL action and rumors over at SB Nation’s NFL page.

NFL Free Agency: Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers Among Winners So Far

Hundreds of players have yet to change addresses. Several trades are still to be made. Some of the most talented players are still days away from making up their minds on their future franchises. Yet it’s still not too early to begin to declare some early Winners and Losers in the 2011 NFL free agency period. After all, several players have already found new homes or remained in familiar places, making certain teams comfortable or frustrated in the process. Here’s our take on the NFL free agency period so far.

Winners:
Carolina Panthers – The lowly franchise had a league low 2-14 record last season, and the house was cleaned thereafter with new head coach Ron Rivera brought in to establish a new mindset and vision for the Panthers. A brand new quarterback was brought in with Cam Newton’s first overall selection in the draft. But the amount of work to be done was daunting given that most players seemed like they were headed out.

So far, the new regime has stopped the bleeding. Defensive end Charles Johnson was perhaps the best pass rusher on the market. DeAngelo Williams was arguably the best running back available, and he was rumored to possibly head to Denver to follow John Fox. Instead, both cornerstone players were brought back and now Newton has taken to the press to convince Steve Smith to stay. The work is far from over in Carolina, but the tide is turning for the team already.

San Diego Chargers – If the Chargers would have lost their best defender in safety Eric Weddle, a defense that already has some holes would have been decimated beyond the ability to compete for the playoffs. But Weddle is back and the linebacking corps has been partially remade with the smart signing of Takeo Spikes and the addition of Jonas Mouton in the draft. Add other choices of Cory Liuget and Marcus Gilchrist and A.J. Smith really is developing something special. Expect the team to rebound rather quickly this season.

Jacksonville Jaguars – Nothing like plugging a weakness in such a way that it now becomes a strength, but that’s exactly what general manager Gene Smith has done in the middle of his defense by signing linebacker Paul Posluszny. The former Buffalo Bill is a young tackling machine who will embody exactly what Jack Del Rio wants to do on defense. Partnered with a dynamic young defensive line, the Jags are going to be a sleeper team in the AFC South.

Make sure to check out all the NFL action and rumors over at SB Nation's NFL page

NFL Free Agency Quick Hits: Latest News On DeAngelo Williams, Frank Gore, Olindo Mare

The latest word on various players this NFL offseason includes even more signings, resignings and word on a probable holdout that should leave one rookie coach rather frustrated. Here’s the latest Quick Hits for you this afternoon:

*Frank Gore is rumored to be holding out once everyone returns to camp, which will create a troublesome situation for a new head coach in Jim Harbaugh as he tries to establish a new tone, work ethic and chemistry on the team. The franchise is already behind, as all teams are, in terms of working in new schemes and plays, so this puts the 49ers behind the 8-ball in a division that’s actually quite open for the taking. Here’s wondering if Gore knows that drama might work to his advantage in any negotiations.

*DeAngelo Williams will not be following John Fox to Denver after all now that he’s signed a five-year, $43 million deal to stay in Carolina. Ron Rivera now has his two main offensive and defensive cornerstones back after Carolina could have lost both players to free agency. If any team is doing well this offseason, it’s the Panthers, who could use every piece of good news they can get.

*Olindo Mare is leaving Seattle, which means a bit of a kicking carousel is going to take place. The Seahawks didn’t place the franchise tag earlier, so they’re now forced to look at rookies and free agents. Not that Mare was that consistent over his tenure in Seattle anyway, but it is an interesting loss of note.

NFL Free Agency: Peter King Doesn't Understand Tarvaris Jackson Deal With Seattle Seahawks

In a recent tweet, Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King said what everyone else has been thinking about the first major strike in the quarterback aisle of the NFL free agent market: why? The transaction is one of the most perplexing in the early days of this offseason.

Specifically, King sent out a message that read, “I don’t know why Seattle had to pay Tarvaris Jackson $8m for 2 years. There was really that sort of competition for him? Can’t see it.” King questions the money in this sentence, which is one aspect to the deal that’s confusing. That’s quite a bit of guaranteed money for a quarterback that might not be any better than the one already in house with Charlie Whitehurst, since Jackson gave no real indication in his time with the Vikings that he’s the right guy.

With such volume on the QB market at a higher tier, the Seahawks could have at least waited and then turned to Jackson if other options didn’t fall through. The Cardinals are thinking the same thing and waiting on a Kevin Kolb trade or something else to come to fruition, but you don’t see the panicked move that Seattle just made on a team headed by Ken Whisenhunt.

Then again, Seattle made everyone eat their words last season by coming within a game of the Super Bowl, so perhaps Pete Carroll sees something he can work with in Tarvaris and has a plan in mind. Perhaps the Seahawks thought the musical chairs game of waiting on a QB could leave them without a chair so they decided to just sit on one for security’s sake. Either way, it is a bit confusing since they already had a storied veteran in house in Matt Hasselbeck. And it’s the first deal that just doesn’t make any sense.

NFL Free Agency Quick Hits: Latest On Matt Hasselbeck, Donovan McNabb

It’s day two of the NFL Free Agent circus and we don’t want to keep you waiting, so here’s the latest round of Quick Hits:

*Adam Schefter is now reporting that Matt Hasselbeck is finally switching teams after a long storied career with the Seattle Seahawks. It appears the rumors are finally coming true that he will sign with the Titans to help replace Vince Young, who was let go, and Kerry Collins, who has retired. Linking Hasselbeck and first round choice Jake Locker officially resets the Titans franchise at the most important position.

For the Seahawks, it’s a wonder that they’d let Hasselbeck go given his success last season through the playoffs. Remember, it wasn’t that far of a stretch for the Seahawks to make the Super Bowl. However, with his injury history, it’s interesting that the Titans gave Hasselbeck three years. Still a good move for the Titans.

*Donovan McNabb is apparently headed to the Vikings after all with multiple sources confirming the rumor that there is some form of low round draft compensation for the Redskins quarterback. Most personnel expect the Redskins to receive a sixth round choice in return. It’s been a long fall for a guy who was recently one of the NFL’s dynamic starting quarterbacks.

NFL Free Agency Quick Hits: News On Takeo Spikes, Paul Posluszny, Plaxico Burress

With each passing hour, it seems the amount of NFL news is exponential. Some players have already re-signed. Some others have changed addresses. Some rookies are already coming to camp. Some others are talking holdout. It just goes to show that the NFL free agency signing period is the circus that we thought it’d be. In our effort to keep you informed, dear reader, here’s the latest nuggets from around the NFL:

*Takeo Spikes has inked a deal with the San Diego Chargers, filling some of the linebacking holes that the team was expected to address. They already drafted Jonas Mouton back in April, but there were more holes than just what Mouton can fill. This allows the talented second round choice to learn from a celebrated veteran whose been around the block with several teams. Good signing for A.J. Smith.

*Former Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny is reportedly heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which leaves Chan Gailey without a quarterback in the middle of the defense. Posluszny is a fantastic signing for the Jaguars and exudes that Jack Del Rio feel as a tough interior defender. One team just got a lot better, while a Bills team seemingly on the brink after a great draft now finds itself searching for answers.

*We can’t understand why Plaxico Burress would want to rejoin the same team that dropped him before (in the largest possible media market), but it seems the New York Giants and Burress are discussing a contract offer. Perhaps Burress wants to right his wrongs and restore his image — and certainly there’s no better place to do it — but if he fails, the spotlight will be huge.

*Shawn Andrews is the latest Giants offensive lineman to get cut, joining Rich Seubert and Shaun O’Hara. The team was definitely over the salary cap and needed to cut some high priced veterans, but NY is getting woefully thin and young up front in a division where they need that unit to be in top form on every down. Perhaps one will re-sign for less money, but expect the Giants to sign a veteran guard soon.

NFL Free Agency Quick Hits: Tarvaris Jackson, Marion Barber, Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer

Most fans and media analysts anticipated that the NFL offseason would resemble a circus, yet it's difficult to be prepared for anything like this. Honestly, there's simply nothing to do but try to keep up with what is real and try to get to what is rumored as much as you can. That's the reason we're providing some quick hits for you as you try to sift through the avalanche of NFL news. Away we go...

*Donovan McNabb is possibly headed to the Minnesota Vikings as ESPN reports that the Redskins and Vikes are talking trade for McNabb's services. Minny's last veteran acquisition worked out rather well, at least for one magical season, so they're hoping that McNabb can do the same. It's undetermined what any trade would cost the Vikings, but the Redskins should certainly expect at least a mid-round choice in 2012.

*Matt Hasselbeck's career in Seattle is officially over according to multiple sources, leaving Pete Carroll and his staff with last year's acquisition in Charlie Whitehurst and new signing Tarvaris Jackson. It's an interesting scenario to dump one proven talent like Hasselbeck, whose main issue is staying healthy, for another who never made it in Minnesota. And given what Hasselbeck was able to do in last season's amazing playoff run... well, this one just doesn't make sense unless Hasselbeck was determined to leave.

*Carson Palmer is apparently retiring rather than returning to the Bengals, proving that his threats this offseason weren't empty. It's still difficult to tell what will happen until the season officially opens, but be prepared for a game of chicken between Bengals owner Mike Brown and the franchise quarterback. Andy Dalton waits in the wings either way as Cincy's QB of the future.

*The Cowboys have cut several notable players including RB Marion Barber and WR Roy Williams. Both players should find quick homes with other franchises, and the Williams' release in particular must sting after paying such a high cost of several draft choices and $20 million.