DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Free Agents Still Available aka Players we Won't be Signing

Quote:

---

Now how many dawg-talkers will suggest we give him a look?

---

Any more than 0 is too many. There will be all the usual justifications:

"It doesn't cost anything to bring him in."

"Maybe he could teach our receivers how to play."

"He's still better than anyone we have."

And the beat goes on!

If Tom Brady can't make him go, how is anyone going to?

I like the guy, and he was really good in his prime, but he's done as a productive player.

I am kinding hoping a vet gets cut somewhere around the league that maybe we would like to take a look at though.

Like TJ Houshmanzadeh said, If Ocho couldn't produce with Tom Brady then he should retire.

Pass rusher Carter just one vet coming off injury who may be a steal
By Jason La Canfora

Carter: '... My goal has been to be back for training camp. That's my focus".



Andre Carter knew immediately that his 2011 season was over the moment he crumbled to the ground in Denver last December because of a quad injury. All the hard work to get back to a Pro Bowl level at age 32 wouldn't be resulting in a chance for the veteran defensive end/outside linebacker to perform in the playoffs, or New England's eventual trip to the Super Bowl. Instead, surgery and months of grueling rehabilitation was ahead.

Now, a little more than a month before the start of training camp, Carter's hard work is paying off again. With the free-agent market largely already picked clean, Carter is nearing a return -- he vows to be ready by camp -- and he is one of a handful of players who may have fallen off the overall NFL radar, but who are being monitored closely by executives. Longtime stalwart guard Eric Steinbach, who missed all of last season because of a back condition, is getting closer to working out for teams as well, and Antwan Odom, developing into a dominant pass rusher before a series of wrist problems robbed him of years off his career, aims to be on an NFL roster next month as well.

Perhaps one of them will be helping to boost a club's playoff run come this winter. These kind of calculated signings -- scooping up an established veteran coming off injury just before or during camp -- can often pay big dividends. Without the contributions of guys like Carter and Mark Anderson a year ago the Patriots likely wouldn't have been playing in the final game. Carter, at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, and always in freakish shape thanks to a discipline of fitness and conditioning, believes he can pick up right where he left off when things came to a sudden end on the Mile High turf.

"Overall, I feel great," Carter said between rehab sessions near his home in California. "As you know, this quad injury is something that is not too common; you always hear about ACLs or MCLs, but to have it pop off the bone like that, I was like, 'Damn, I must have been doing some big thangs out there,'" at which point Carter let out one of his Barry White-worthy deep chuckles.

"But I had a follow-up last week and the doctors are pretty impressed with how I've come along, and as you know when it comes to rehab there's a certain timetable where you're supposed to be, and I've surpassed that. I'm ahead of the game and headed in the right direction. Even though I know this injury takes a long time, my goal has been to be back for training camp. That's my focus."

Carter, the seventh overall pick in the 2001 draft, was having probably his best season since 2002. He was a perfect fit in Bill Belichick's defensive designs while toggling between the 3-4 and 4-3, a dynamic, hybrid edge presence, picking up 10 sacks in 14 starts, including four in one game, a Pats record. After years of struggling to find his way in Washington's changing schemes, and frankly being outright misused at times, to have his comeback season with New England cut short just before the playoffs was heartbreaking.

He knew almost immediately that the season was over for him, and he'd be facing surgery and forced to be a sideline cheerleader for the remainder of the Patriots games. Carter's wife even broached the topic of retirement at one point, wondering if maybe he had put his body through enough, but after praying on it the decision was easy for the veteran.

"A few days after the injury I was like, 'I'm coming back, I'm not quite done yet'," he said.

Carter, who has posted 10 or more sacks four times in his career, reconvened with the same rehab group he worked with in 2009, when he ruptured his bicep, so there already was a comfort level there. His year-round fanaticism about fitness, his monster physique and mental focus gave him a strong foundation in the recovery. He's reached a stage now where he is jogging 30 minutes on a treadmill, doing lunges and jumping and also doing some work going against opposition out of a three-point stance.

He's always been a quick healer, and has a strong background in martial arts and MMA, open to trying new ways to stay limber and strong. Now he's doing substantial work with resistance bands, working all around his quad and knee, having to hold certain positions for a set period of time.

"From your quads to your glutes, everything's on fire, man!" Carter said, "but I tell you what, my legs are stronger than ever. The stuff you pick up in rehab, I always say, man, I wish I learned this a long time ago. I feel like I'm stronger now than ever."

Teams can never have too many pass rushers, something Belichick knows all too well. His sage moves to pick up Carter and Anderson a year ago point to that (a while back Belichick was trying to lure former sack-ace Kevin Carter out of retirement as well), so there will be a market for Carter, who made $2.25 million last season including a $500,000 signing bonus. Many expect he will end up back with the Pats.

"It would be great, it would be great," Carter said of a potential New England reunion. "But as you know it's a business as well. I'm just training my mind and body to prepare for another season, and hopefully a team will be interested in me and take a chance and I can go out and perform the best way I can. If it's New England, that would be awesome."

Similarly, teams are eyeing Odom as a possible value play, though he is much further removed from his top form. Odom suffered from wrist issues and had his career derailed by having a pin put in the wrong spot during a surgery when he was a Bengal, according to his agent, Tony Agnone, "that resulted in a worker's comp settlement."

Odom, 30, hasn't played more than a half season since 2008 and has only 10 appearances since 2009, but began lifting weights again several weeks ago. Teams like Baltimore and Denver are watching, knowing how little pass rush help is generally available. It makes sense, considering Odom racked up eight sacks in six games in 2009.

"He will be ready to go in July," Agnone said. "He's starting to get into the full mode now."

Steinbach, 32, was an anchor on the Browns offensive line, but a problem with a bone fragment on his spinal cord nerves (hurt just writing that clause, ouch), required surgery prior to the start of the 2011 season and ended up with his release. From 2003 to 2010 he missed only three games, however, and agent Jack Bechta said three teams have been in contact with him about the guard.

He was cleared to begin full work in his recovery on April 1 and is at his playing weight of 295, Bechta said, with improved strength. Steinbach is probably around 85 percent now, working out daily in Chicago.

"He will be ready to start working out for teams in mid-July," Bechta said.

Barring a setback, all three could be back in the league in short order, and I wouldn't bet against them making an impact. There are always redemptive stories in the NFL, and those seeds are often sewn in the downtime between OTAs and the start of camp, as injured players regain health. These veterans want the chance to go out on their own terms, and that day could be coming soon enough.

"I have a good work ethic, and I know I have some sick genetics," Carter said. "I've always been a fast healer. One of my coaches said, if you put those two together that's a great advantage. I'm dedicated to coming back and I'm going to do it and I want to be a leader on the field. That feeling has not subsided yet, and I know I can still give a little bit more."

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19338...-may-be-a-steal

Shurmur to discuss possible roster additions

by Marty Gitlin, CBSSports.com

Coach Pat Shurmur said a meeting was imminent to discuss possible additions to the roster. He didn't elaborate about what positions he sought to upgrade, though the Browns need help at WR and more experienced depth at LB and OL.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/team/CLE

Quote:

---

What I do see them doing is putting together that famous list of guys who they might be interested in, if they become available. Veterans (or even rookies) who might be cut at some point before the season opens who they might be interested in taking a look at. I doubt that it's any more than that. Why would it be? They aren't going to bring a guy in to work in a couple of OTAs then sit around for over a month.

---

I bet you that's the case.. Well, that and looking at guys to put on a list of injury replacements. someone goes down, they go to that list, bring in a guy that can fill the gap..

I generally don't get too excited by getting a player on the outs with their team, but I think we should be all over this one if the Vikings are dumb enough to trade him.

http://tracking.si.com/2012/06/20/percy-...3&eref=sihp

It'd cost too much, me thinks.

Wonder if we could throw McCoy into a package to cheapen it up.

you mean Greg Childs? He was available in the 4th.

There is at least a connection with Harvin.. his former HC is out OC.. so who knows

For a 3, yes.

For a 2, maybe.

For a 1, no way in hell.

Harvin is always injured. I'd just stick with Benjamin.

I agree.

I'd take Harvin in a heartbeat.

i get the point.. lol.

Unlikely that Vikes' Harvin winds up in Cleveland
June 20, 2012 11:02 a.m. - by Marty Gitlin

Given the stormy relationship between OC Brad Childress and Percy Harvin, it seems unlikely the Browns will trade for the Vikings' disgruntled WR. The two had to be separated during a practice in 2010, when Childress served as head coach in Minnesota. Though the Browns need a WR with Harvin's talent, don't look for such a deal to happen.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/19390132

Harvin makes too much sense for the Browns.
Forget about the issue between Childress and him.
You can't have too much playmakers on the field at one time.
There isn't one WR on the Browns roster that has his skill set.
Bring him in,and automatically he makes Greg Little better, Cribbs..even Massaqiou who should be able to beat another teams 3rd or 4th CB.
The Steelers have Wallace..the Ravens have Torrey Smith..the Bengals..A.J Green..
the Browns have.........who? who do the Browns have that is threat every time he catches the ball....?
defenses have to account for Harvin every time he's on the field.
Can't say that much for Cribbs,Norwood or Massaqiou
but Heckert won't pull the trigger.
yet they traded for Gocong to fill a need

Like Harvin, technically not a free agent. This dude has the dropsies anyway . . .

Report: Browns not interested in trading for James Jones

Posted by Josh Alper on June 24, 2012, 10:00 AM EDT

Packers wide receiver James Jones talked this week about being part of a deep wide receiver group in Green Bay and admitted to occasional moments of frustration when it comes to getting in line for opportunities.

Jones also gave his hypothetical reaction to a trade, which involves a few tears and then a quick move to the new team. Jones’ name comes up now and again as a trade possibility, although it is hard to say if that’s just because it makes sense that the Packers would make a move from strength to shore up other weaknesses or if teams have really been engaging in conversation.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns are not one of the teams involved in any such conversation. In a response to a mailbag question about trading Colt McCoy to Green Bay for Jones, Cabot writes that the Browns are not interested in adding Jones to their receiving corps.

The Browns have Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi as starting receivers at the moment and they may want to give both a chance to establish themselves this season. With Josh Cribbs ticketed for primarily special teams work, there isn’t a lot of depth behind the starters and whatever depth they do have is very short on experience. Jones would definitely be an upgrade to the group, although the lack of Cleveland interest in a deal and the absence of clear signs that Jones will be traded make it hard to see him catching passes from Brandon Weeden this season.

James Jones for Colt McCoy? I'd take it. Although I remain a McCoy fan and do believe that he could be a good QB with more development, its clear that Weeden is the guy. Jones would be an active asset here whereas McCoy will likely sit on the bench unless Weeden is hurt.

Admittedly, part of me would like to see McCoy pull a Drew Brees type evolution and just explode this year.