Defensive Tackle
Tommie Harris – played with the Chicago Bears: At 6’3”, 295 pounds, Harris can be a disruptive force in the middle. His tackle production has declined in recent years, but he can still bring veteran experience to a team needing help in the middle of its defensive line, especially against the run. Harris was, in fact, cut by the Bears, so a return to Chicago appears improbable.
Update – Harris signed with the Indianapolis Colts, as reported earlier today.
Pat Williams – played with the Minnesota Vikings: Father Time may be catching up to Williams, at age 38. Williams did experience a dip in his tackle numbers but can still be a force in the middle of a defensive line. Last week, the Vikings agreed to terms with former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Remi Ayodele, so it appears that his days as Viking are over. On the other hand, the Saints need a replacement for Ayodele and are in need of a compliment to Sedrick Ellis at DT.
 |
| Big Pat Williams is going to plug holes no matter where he ends up. 1 |
Defensive End
Shaun Ellis – played with the New York Jets: A recurring theme in today’s Hat Trick among free agent defensive lineman: time catches up to all of us. Ellis has been a consistent presence throughout his entire 11 year career with the Jets. Like Harris and Williams, Ellis’ production was modestly down in 2010. Like the aforementioned defensive tackles, he can still bring productivity and veteran leadership to a defensive line. From all accounts I have read the Jets are still negotiating with Ellis for his return in 2011.
Jarvis Green – played with the New England Patriots: The veteran out of LSU has spent the first eight years of his career with the Patriots before signing with the Houston Texans, but not playing, last season. However, his skills as a pass rusher have been in gradual decline over the past several seasons. I find it very difficult to believe, however, that Green cannot offer a team, short of depth, some value on the defensive line.
 |
| The Jets could use Ellis' services if they expect to take a shot, for the third straight year, in the AFC Championship Game. 2 |
Keith Ellison – played with the Buffalo Bills: When healthy, Ellison brings a strong presence to the middle of the Bills linebacking corps. However, Ellison has played in no more than 8 games in each of the past two seasons. He has played in all 16 games in a regular season only once in his career. Most sports media outlets covering the free agency landscape that I have read speculate that the Bills are likely to make an effort to retain Ellison, in spite of his health questions, to provide linebacking depth.
Dhani Jones – played with the Cincinnati Bengals: Jones is a FREAK BEAST in the middle. The Bengals were a bad football team in 2010. They can expect to be a lot worse if “Dhani Tackles the Globe” and travels outside of Cincinnati. The Bengals website described Jones as departing the team. Information on where Jones could be headed, or if a return to Cincinnati is still possible, is very limited.
Kirk Morrison – player with the Jacksonville Jaguars: Morrison had a marginal drop off in tackles and sacks in 2010. Still, he is pretty good. Based on what I have seen on the trusty rumor mill of the World Wide Web, it appears that the Jaguars are interested in retaining Morrison. The San Diego Chargers are another speculated landing spot for the linebacker.
Julian Peterson – played with the Detroit Lions – Peterson is aging, but the fact of the matter is that, year in and year out, Peterson has been one of the most consistent linebackers of his time. Peterson became available by being cut by the Lions, but, assuming he is in good health, Peterson will be able to make an immediate contribution to the linebacking corps of the team that signs him.
| Jones and his bow ties may have to travel elsewhere this season. 3 |
Cornerback
Brent Grimes – played with the Atlanta Falcons: Grimes has been a critical part of the Falcons secondary during the past two seasons. He is a restricted free-agent, meaning the Falcons would have first right of refusal if he signed an offer sheet with another team. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Grimes has yet to sign a $2.61 million tender offered by the Falcons. The bottom line is that there is no way the Falcons can afford to let Grimes go and unless another team makes an outrageous offer, I would expect to see him playing in Atlanta this season.
 |
| Few NFL cornerbacks can make this, an interception of a Drew Brees pass, a reality. 4 |
Husain Abdullah – played with the Minnesota Vikings: Abdullah has a breakout season last year, his third in the NFL, seeing substantially more playing time and responding by spreading his presence all over the field against the pass and the run. Abdullah is a restricted free agent, but his agent, C.J. LaBoy has given strong indications that Abdullah will resign with the Vikings.
Jordan Babineaux – played with the Seattle Seahawks: Babineaux played in all 16 games last season, but had fewer than half of the tackles he recorded in 2009. Still, Babineaux is a durable, experienced veteran and an asset to most NFL defensive backfields. His agent, Chris Egan, recently Tweeted that Babineaux is most interested in either returning to Seattle, or leaving to join the Tennessee Titans or New York Jets.
Atari Bigby – played with the Green Bay Packers: Bigby has proven in the past that he can make a big impact on the field. He missed 12 regular season games due to injury in 2010, however. The Packers appear unlikely to resign Bigby, having safeties Morgan Burnett and Charlie Peprah prepared to compete for Bigby’s former spot. Teams will have to ask themselves if they are convinced that Bigby has fully recovered from injury
Deon Grant – played with the New York Giants: Grant is a 12 year veteran but he has shown no signs of slowing down. The Giants appear poised to stick with Kenny Phillips at the strong safety position, making Grant expendable. Grant is one of the few remaining available free agents who possess both a wealth of experience and a starting safety’s physical skill set, in spite of his age.
Michael Lewis – played with the St. Louis Rams: Lewis only played in 5 games in 2010. Prior to last season, he was consistently a valuable contributor and legitimate starter. He was not happy in San Francisco and his ability to contribute was limited in St. Louis last season. Still, Lewis is a veteran who has walked the walk in the past.
Lawyer Milloy – played with the Seattle Seahawks: Milloy appears to be ageless as the 37 year old appeared to continue trucking along with the Seahawks last season. The Seattle times described Milloy as “departed” from the team and retirement is an option for him. Should Milloy play, however, there is no reason to think that he would not be an upgrade to the defensive back unit of most NFL teams.
Brodney Pool – played with the New York Jets: Pool has been a steady contributor throughout his NFL career. Rotoworld.com reported that its sources said Pool was unlikely to return to the Jets. The Dallas Cowboys have been rumored as a potential landing spot for Pool by the Fort Worth Star.
Darren Sharper – played with the New Orleans Saints: Darren Sharper will always be a Saint for his special 2009 season in which he made invaluable contributions, which helped make the Saints Super Bowl Champions. He missed 8 regular season games, recovering from offseason knee surgery. It appears unlikely that Sharper will return to the Saints in 2011 and any team that takes a chance on the 35 year old is likely to have concerns about Sharper’s health. In spite of the veteran leadership that Sharper can bring to any locker room, it is possible that 2010 could have been Sharper’s final season in the NFL.
Roy Williams – played with the Cincinnati Bengals: Williams, 30, is not the super stud he was after he came out of Oklahoma University. Still, he is a legitimate starter and still very effective against the run. Williams will be an upgrade to most secondaries. It is unclear whether he is seriously considering a return to the Bengals but, a week after NFL training camps have begun, the time has come for either the Bengals or Williams to make a decision.
 |
| I wonder if he is smiling because he can load his chuck wagon and leave Cincinnati. 5 |
Don't forge to vote in the fan polls!
To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.
1) Image from nfltouchdown.com
2) Image from nydailynews.com
3) Image from tvrage.com
4) Image from blogs.ajc.com
5) Image from mkrob.com
No comments:
Post a Comment