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National Football League
Draft King Analysis
March 5, 2009
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
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Bronchitis has had me at less than 100% for the past couple of days, but I've been keeping a close watch out for happenings in the NFL. After the initial signing frenzy late last week, there was a bit of a lull... and now there has been a second wave of signings, along with some major cuts.
 | Terrell Owens has been cut by the Dallas Cowboys. (Icon SMI)
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News broke early this morning about the Cowboys cutting WR Terrell Owens. Throughout today there has been an interesting phenomenon where a number of NFL teams have stated in public that they have no intention in signing Owens. We'll see how long that lasts. Owens turns 36 in December, but he has had 1,000+ yards receiving in all but one year (2004 with Philadelphia where he only played in seven games following a falling out with team management). T.O. creates a circus wherever he goes, often receiving an inordinate amount of media attention, and there is a risk for any team that brings him on board that he could become a locker room distraction.
Also leaving Dallas is strong safety Roy Williams, who asked for (and received) his release from the team. Williams turns 29 later this year, and he could be a tempting player for a team wanting a hard-hitting safety who excels at blitzing.
Baltimore has retained future HOF linebacker Ray Lewis, signing him to a three-year, $22 million deal with an unknown amount guaranteed. Also, the Ravens replaced outgoing 25-year-old center Jason Brown (who signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with $20 million guaranteed with St. Louis) with 32-year-old Matt Birk, who left the Vikings to join Baltimore with a three-year, $12 million contract with $6 million guaranteed.
After a protracted negotiation period that included a laughable teasing at joining the 49ers, Kurt Warner has signed a new two-year contract with Arizona. He received $15 million in a signing bonus; the overall contract is two years for $23 million. Meanwhile, Cardinals OLB Karlos Dansby wisely signed the franchise tag tender of $9.678 million for 2009. I doubt that Arizona would have dropped the tag on him, but with the economy being what it is and the uncapped 2010 season on the horizon, it makes sense for Dansby to sign on the dotted line.
Cincinnati replaced T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who left via free agency in going to Seattle, with former Jets WR Laveranues Coles. It's worth noting that Coles, who turns 32 this year, passed up on $6 million from the Jets in 2009 (by voiding his contract) to hit the open market. The move paid off, as the Bengals signed him to a four-year, $28 million deal. No word yet on how much of that is guaranteed money.
The odds of the Lions stretching to take Ohio State CB Malcolm Jenkins at #1 (already a long shot) became even longer with Detroit signing free agent corner Philip Buchanon. The #17 overall pick of the 2002 Draft, Buchanon has been an up-and-down performer in the NFL, but he played well in Tampa Bay last season and secured a two-year, $8.5 million contract from Detroit as a result.
A player who broke out big in 2008 is former Bills and Ravens strong safety Jim Leonhard. He is following Rex Ryan (and LB Bart Scott) in going to New York, as he has signed with the Jets on a three-year, $6 million contract ($1 million guaranteed).
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