ostrogoth

I mention this because this draft guru has the Bears picking him.

Ryan Clady ran a 5.18 forty and posted a 31" vertical at the Boise State Pro Day. Clady tweaked his pectorals on the bench press at the Combine and was unable to do the rest of his drills. A terrific athlete, Clady projects as a starting left tackle at the next level. Zone-blocking teams will be intrigued. Source: draftheadquarters.com

League insiders tell the NY Daily News that "it's looking more and more like" the Jets will take Darren McFadden with the No. 6 overall pick. He'd have to be there, but the smart money is on McFadden not being a top-five pick because of off-field concerns. The Jets are expected to use this draft to upgrade their overall team speed. Free agent LB Brendon Ayanbadejo has narrowed his possible destinations to the Jets and Ravens. He'd been offered four-year deals by both clubs. He'll sign Thursday. He'd have a slightly better chance of playing defense in New York as an inside linebacker, though it'd only be as a reserve. Brett Favre will address the media on Thursday. Favre's retirement will be a little more convincing when he holds a press conference, though he probably won't say much about the Randy Moss speculation. One semi-encouraging thing for the Packers is that they'll save a ton of cap room when Favre is placed on reserve/retired

Free agent D.J. Hackett hasn't ruled out rejoining the Seahawks. He's begging for any suitors right now. The Tacoma News Tribune suggests Hackett re-sign for one year to rehab his value and show he can stay healthy. Falcons released QB Joey Harrington. The move clears $2.5 million in salary. Only the Falcons wanted Harrington last offseason, but he actually posted career highs in completion rate (61.8) and yards per attempt (6.4) before collapsing suddenly and losing his job to Chris Redman. Add Julius Jones to the list of free agents visiting the Titans Wednesday. Jones could succeed in new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger's one-cut system and add a speed element to the Titans' plodding running game

NBCSports.com's Tom Curran has confirmed that Randy Moss has agreed to a three-year, $27 million to remain a Patriot. It's uncertain if Moss' efforts to get other teams involved helped, but he's only making $1.33 million-per-year more than Bernard Berrian. His guaranteed money was increased.

Free agent Bryant Johnson revealed Monday that he has a meeting scheduled with the Redskins. It sounds like no visit with the Bears has been set up, despite multiple reports coming out of Chicago. Johnson is still at the Bills' facility and they could put on a full-court press to make sure he doesn't leave Buffalo.

The Bears are expected to meet with free agent Bryant Johnson this week if he makes it out of Buffalo. It doesn't sound like he's signing with Tampa Bay. At 6'3/216, Johnson looks the part of the big receiver Buffalo wants, but doesn't really play that big. Still all these times are needy.

LB Lance Briggs will reportedly meet with the Buccaneers. We heard this in another area earlier Friday, but the source was shaky. It's uncertain when the sides will meet. In terms of money, Briggs could be this year's Cato June, not that he'll come that cheap. Also a Tampa 2 weak-side linebacker, June wound up with a three-year, $12 million deal. Source: Tampa Tribune

And the open market value of their own players will likely be a rough reality for a Bears team that is suddenly feeling a distinct talent depression since falling in the Super Bowl a little over a year ago. Besides the possibility of losing Briggs, Berrian and Ayanbadejo, Chicago released Muhsin Muhammad and Fred Miller, on top of having traded away workhorse running back Thomas Jones last offseason. The Bears also gave a low tender to wideout Rashied Davis, who appeared ready to emerge as a diamond in the rough after a solid 2006 season. Instead, Davis’ production suffered along with the rest of the Bears offense in 2007. Now he will likely draw interest from teams needing a dependable slot receiver who can also return kicks – potentially leaving Chicago with only Mark Bradley and Devin Hester in a suddenly thin group of receivers. The loss of talented young pieces, combined with the release of aging veterans and a one-year contract for quarterback Rex Grossman has left Chicago looking like a team in flux. But Bears coach Lovie Smith waved off any notion the Bears are suddenly in transition. “We’re definitely not rebuilding,” Smith said. “As far as Super Bowl window, it was a long time ago it seems like we played in the Super Bowl. But we like the core of our team still. I feel like we’re close. It’s a fine line between winning and losing. This past season it went the other way for us. The Super Bowl champion New York Giants had an excellent year, we were right in it with them right up until the end. So we feel like we are close.” How close Chicago remains will be hashed out in the next several weeks. But whatever happens in that span – whether the Bears are raided for key pieces or find a way to retain them – marketplace sobriety is likely to have little to do with it.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ag9c...o&type=lgns INDIANAPOLIS – Eyeing the free agent bloodbath on the horizon, Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo preached “sobriety in the marketplace” – the act of keeping your head, spending money wisely, and not corrupting prices in the NFL’s free agent period. “Because you have the money,” Angelo said, “doesn’t mean you have to spend all the money.” In a way, it sounded like a verbal white flag from the team most likely to get raided when free agency begins on Friday. Of all the years to allow talented free agents to get to the open market, Chicago gambled and stumbled upon the worst. A solid period of free agency has been gutted by contract extensions and franchised stars such as Albert Haynesworth, Jared Allen and Terrell Suggs. The result is a confluence of cap space and second-tier stars who are poised to break the bank. ADVERTISEMENT Salary cap sobriety? If anything, Angelo and the Bears are about to get a first-hand lesson on the lack of it. Perhaps no team will suffer more from this offseason’s lack of free agent talent. Chicago has three unrestricted free agents all sitting at or near the top of their respective positions: outside linebacker Lance Briggs, wideout Bernard Berrian and special teams ace/linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo. All three are Drew Rosenhaus clients, and all three are expected to draw offers on the open market that will be too rich for the historically budget-minded Bears to match. “I would project that those guys would at least get to free agency or at least the beginning of it,” Rosenhaus said earlier this week. “But the Bears are going to be in the mix as we continue to talk with other teams. We’re going to have a good, healthy dialogue with them.” Rosenhaus was dipping deep into his bag of diplomacy heading into the free agent period, knowing he still has to negotiate a long-term extension for Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris next season. But other personnel executives expressed skepticism over whether the Bears will ever get a sniff of Briggs or Berrian once the free agent period begins. “If they get to the market, they’re not going back,” said one NFC general manager, who asked to remain anonymous because of the league’s rules on tampering. “(Briggs and Berrian) are one week guys. They’ll have a half dozen visits set up right out of the gate, and with the little bit of talent that’s out there, I’d bet they don’t make it past one or two of those trips before someone overpays to get them. Someone will pay for (Ayanbadejo), too. A player who gives you depth at linebacker and a good special teams player, those will draw a good premium in this class.” Opinions varied on what Berrian and Briggs could draw in free agency, but they have more than just the talent vacuum working for them. With the ailing back of Brian Urlacher last season, Briggs was Chicago’s best defensive player. Meanwhile, Berrian still proved to be Chicago’s best and most consistent threat, despite being plagued with erratic quarterback play all season. And both players have youth on their side, with both turning 28 late next season. Briggs should draw somewhere in the neighborhood of the $20 million in guaranteed money given to Miami’s Joey Porter and New England’s Adalius Thomas last season, despite Briggs being a pursuit 4-3 weak side linebacker rather than a sack specialist in a 3-4 alignment. As for Berrian, one AFC general manager said he believed the receiver could land something approaching the six-year, $39 million pact given to Deion Branch by the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. That deal included about $13 million in guarantees. That’s a remarkable sum for a player who had his best season last year but still didn’t manage 1,000 receiving yards, finishing with 951 and five touchdowns. It already sounds like Angelo and the Bears have reached a maximum contract figure in their heads with Briggs, Berrian and Ayanbadejo. Whether the market exceeds that number will mean the difference between keeping or losing them. “You have to put values on players and then you have to stay disciplined to that, or else what you are going to wind up doing is you’re going to keep all those players at an exorbitant amount of money—way beyond how you valued the player,” Angelo said. And the open market value of their own players will

The Redskins are not believed to be interested in free agent LB Lance Briggs, according to the Chicago Sun Times. It looks like Briggs overestimated the market. He hasn't even made a visit yet to our knowledge. If he makes it through the first wave of free agency, Denver, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay could up their efforts to pursue him.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playernews.aspx?sport=NFL

Free agent Bernard Berrian is reportedly en route to Oakland. The Vikings couldn't get him signed immediately, not that they're entirely out of the running. Berrian is the deep threat big-armed JaMarcus Russell needs and Al Davis has tons of cap room, even after the Tommy Kelly signing.

The Bears are working to set up a visit with free agent WR Bryant Johnson. It'd be Johnson's first visit. He could be in Chicago by early next week. It's no surprise that the overrated wideout isn't being highly sought after.

Broncos released WR Javon Walker, according to ESPN's Michael Smith.

49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz immediately phoned Isaac Bruce Thursday night after learning of Bruce's release from the Rams. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that if Bruce gets on a plane to San Francisco Friday, it won't be for a formal visit. It will be to sign a contract

Alan Faneca isn't making any free agent visits until he's ready to sign a contract. The Jets have offered four years for $32 million with about $20 in guarantees. The Rams and 49ers are also reportedly making offers. Faneca's agent will present the deals to his client Saturday, and a decision will come by Sunday at the latest.

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports that the Jaguars agreed to terms with Jerry Porter

Bills signed LB Kawika Mitchell. Mitchell should slide right in as the strong-side linebacker, pushing Angelo Crowell over to the weak side and Keith Ellison to the bench, but it's uncertain. The speedy Mitchell should be a good fit in Buffalo, and the move gives them one of the better linebacker trios in the league. Saints finilized a deal to acquire Jonathan Vilma Friday, sending a conditional 2009 pick to New York for him. The Saints checked Vilma out medically Monday, so they must be confident in his ability to recover from knee surgery.

The Bears and Brian Urlacher are discussing a restructuring of his contract. Urlacher signed a nine-year deal in 2003, but will make just $3.95 million this season, as salary inflation has far exceeded the increments in his agreement. The timing is bad for Urlacher, though, as he suffered with a sore back for much of last season, and still won't be able to run for two more weeks after undergoing neck surgery. Source: Chicago Tribune Michael Turner is visiting the Falcons Friday. Atlanta, looking for a power rusher, is the most logical landing spot for Turner. We wouldn't be surprised if he signs Friday. The Lions, Bears and Saints are also said to be actively pursuing the running back The Vikings have reached a six-year agreement with Madieu Williams, formerly of the Bengals. We'll doubt he'll be cheap, but Williams was one of the best young defensive starters available in free agency. He's similar to a younger Darren Sharper, which means the Vikings have great ball skills and not a lot of thump at safety.

Barely a half hour into free agency, and the Vikins have set up a Friday visit with Bears receiver Bernard Berrian. Berrian wants a contract that pays out $24.5 million over the first three years, and that includes $12 million guaranteed. He would provide a deep threat for the Vikings' West Coast offense. Have a guy who can stretch the field opens up the various underneath routes in the system. source: pft

The Jets are reportedly poised to make free agent G Alan Faneca a deal averaging $8 million per season. Interestingly, the NY Daily News notes that the Jets are expected to "outbid the Rams and 49ers," neither of which we've heard linked to Faneca. Niners GM Scot McCloughan is outspokenly opposed to giving guards monster contracts. The Rams are needy there, but in poor salary cap condition.

The St. Petersburg Times "has it on good authority" that free agent Asante Samuel will sign with the Eagles. In the last hour, there were all kinds of unsubstantiated reports coming out of Philly that the sides have a deal in place. The Birds may wait a few more hours or (ugh) until tomorrow to announce the agreement formally. As free agency began Friday at 12:00 AM ET, the Patriots had no deal in place with Randy Moss, according to ESPN's John Clayton. The 6'4 wideout with 4.3 speed and a 40'' vertical who scored 23 TDs last season is officially open to the highest bidder. The Patriots shouldn't be out of the picture, but the 31-year-old may as well look around. The Bears, Lions, and Saints are "believed to have the strongest interest" in free agent Michael Turner, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Chicago isn't in great shape under the cap, but he'd probably like to play in his hometown. The Union-Trib suggests that Turner won't sign during the first wave of free agency with teams hesitant due to an RB-rich draft class

Rams released WR Isaac Bruce. St. Louis asked Bruce to take a pay cut and he refused. The Rams have put themselves in awful cap condition with poor free agent signings the past few seasons, and now have to cut their most tenured player. Bruce has plenty left in the tank, and will instantly be on San Francisco's radar. If the Rams are smart, they'll make him another contract offer.

The Bears extended tenders to restricted free agents Rashied Davis, a receiver, and Brandon McGowan, a safety. Davis, who got the low tender, lost his slot role to Devin Hester last year and dropped to 17 catches, but may see a bump in playing time with rebuilding at wideout. McGowan is a core special teamer. His tag was undisclosed. Source: Chicago Sun Times Related: Brandon McGowan Bernard Berrian-WR- Bears Feb. 28 - 1:10 am et The Bears' latest offer to impending free agent Bernard Berrian was reportedly for five years, $25 million with $8 million in bonuses. If they don't step up soon, the Bears are going to lose their best receiver. Berrian wants $24.5 million in the first three years. The Vikings, Bucs, 49ers, Raiders, and Browns are all have the cap room to meet that demand. Source: Chicago Sun Times