LKelley67

nj.com-

Teams finalizing shopping lists
Sunday, February 27, 2005
MARK ECKEL

When free agent shoppers hit the market this week, the rush could be in the expanded wide receiver aisle and at the linebacker section, while those looking for help on the offensive and defensive lines could find long lines but not much available.

It all starts at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday when teams can begin to sign unrestricted free agents or make offers to restricted free agents to take back to their original clubs.
Last year, you might remember, the Eagles struck the first major free agent deal when the team came to terms with defensive end Jevon Kearse on a $66 million deal with $16 million guaranteed just hours after the market opened.

Will that happen again this week? Possibly, but if it does it could be with a wide receiver.

Here's a position-by-position look at the top free agents who will be available unless they re-sign with their original team over the next three days.

QUARTERBACKS Teams looking - Detroit, Arizona, San Francisco, Chicago, Cleveland.

Dallas' signing of Drew Bledsoe made this thin group even thinner.

Kurt Warner, who had the Giants within striking distance of the playoffs at 5-4 before being benched for Eli Manning, could draw the most interest. Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans could give Warner's agent a call this week.

Jeff Garcia (Terrell Owens' favorite quarterback) also will get looks from Detroit, Arizona and possibly Tampa Bay, which is trying to sign every quarterback who ever has thrown a touchdown pass in hopes of finding one who will throw another.

Mike McMahon, the former Rutgers quarterback, could come back to New Jersey as a Giant, although Kansas City also has interest in making him Trent Green's backup.

RUNNING BACKS Teams looking - Arizona, Miami, Eagles, Tampa Bay, Oakland.

What happens here will be interesting because there is a strong group of backs in the draft and two good backs also could be had through trades.

Indianapolis, despite placing the franchise tag on Edgerrin James, could move him for picks or players to help its defense. Keep in mind the Colts also re-signed James' backup, Dominic Rhodes, to a two-year deal.

Buffalo also is looking to move Travis Henry and may have a rare player-for-player deal, with Arizona in exchange for left tackle L.J. Shelton.

The top two backs on the market are LaMont Jordan of the Jets and Anthony Thomas of Chicago.

Jordan wants an opportunity to be a starter after being Curtis Martin's backup - and wants to be paid like one as well. The A-Train just wants to get out of Chicago, where he landed on the bench in favor of Thomas Jones.
WIDE RECEIVERS Teams looking - Baltimore, Washington, Eagles, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Jets, San Diego, Houston.

Plenty of teams have needs and there are plenty of players to fill those needs.

Start with Washington's Laveranues Coles, who could be released or traded. The latest rumor has him headed back to the Jets, perhaps for Santana Moss in another player-for-player deal.

Pittsburgh's Plaxico Burress is another high-profile receiver who will switch teams shortly and might be headed to arch-rival Baltimore. The Steelers, meanwhile, plan to replace Burress with Cincinnati's T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Derrick Mason, cut by Tennessee for salary-cap purposes, also should be attractive and already is being pursued by Jacksonville.

Kevin Johnson, the former Hamilton High star, opted out of his contract with Baltimore and hopes to sign with the Eagles. If the Eagles don't want him, he won't go unemployed. Look for Miami, Minnesota, Chicago and Kansas City to get involved.

One restricted free agent who will get interest is New England's David Givens, but players just don't walk away from the Patriots.

BreesFN9

I heard the Cole to Jets in a straight up deal might not work, Here\'s a link to an article on it :

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8232506

But If the Cardinals get Henry and a QB, I\'ve heard that they might be solid? Weak division doesn\'t hurt either.

LKelley67

coles/santana definitely sounds dead