Night Train
02-29-2008, 01:56 AM
2:29am
Everyone expected a quick start to free agency, but the limited market of players made things ever crazier than normal Friday morning.
Less than a hour after the 12:01 a.m. start to free agency, the Dolphins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=mia) reached a five-year, $25 million deal with 49ers guard Justin Smiley (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6805) that included $9 million of guarantees. The Raiders (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak) quickly made contact with 49es tackle Kwame Harris (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6362) and may try to do something at a similar price although talks are in the early stages.
The 49ers wasted no time hitting their free-agency shopping list. They agreed with Vikings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min) linebacker Dontarrious Thomas (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5573) to a two-year deal and allowed Lions quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6103) to be re-united with new 49ers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sfo) offensive coordinator Mike Martz by agreeing to a one-year, $645,000 contract. The 49ers also locked up a two-year, $1.8 million deal with former Panthers halfback DeShaun Foster (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5920) and a one-year, $870,000 deal with kick-returner/cornerback Allen Rossum (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4492).
The post midnight contact for Steelers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit) guard Alan Faneca (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4288) set the stage to a possible $8 million-a-year deal before Monday. The 49ers, Rams and Jets contacted Faneca's agent, Rick Smith, after midnight to set up visits. Faneca plans to spend Friday mapping out plans and visit a team Sunday. The Cardinals expressed interest in Faneca but indicated to him they couldn't do an $8 million a year deal now because of Larry Fitzgerald (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6762)'s contract. Fitzgerald has a $16.48 million cap number this year and the team hasn't been able to restructure his contract.
The phone was busy for Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6456) with the Eagles (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=phi) making the early calls and winning the first visit. Samuel is hoping to get a five-year, $50 million or six-year, $62 million contract that will force him to leave the Patriots.
Things were tight-lipped around Randy Moss (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4262), the Patriots receiver who wasn't franchised and is technically a free agent. Many believe he will re-sign in New England, but there was no deal in place at the start of free agency.
The Falcons (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=atl) contacted Seahawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sea) kicker Josh Brown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6558) and also tried to convince Chargers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sdg) running back Michael Turner (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6913) to make a visit on Friday. The Panthers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=car) convinced Raiders defensive end Tyler Brayton (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6368) to make Carolina his first visit. The Vikings and 49ers battled it out to convince Bengals defensive end Justin Smith (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5451), but Smith informed the 49ers he will make San Francisco his first stop.
Late deals to keep players prevented some suitors from getting visits. Defensive tackle Brian Young (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5168) is considering an offer to re-sign with the Saints and declined a visit. Chris Redman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5104) is considering re-signing with the Falcons.
Plenty of trades are expected to be announced Friday. The Packers traded franchise defensive tackle Corey Williams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6938) to the Browns for a second-round choice. Williams is expected to sign a six-year, $38 million contract. The Saints are close to finishing a trade for Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6771). Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5491) is heading to the Jets for a third-and fifth-round pick. Vikings wide receiver Troy Williamson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7183) will go to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick. Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5508) and Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5460) are also on the trading block and deals could move quickly involving them.
Everyone expected a quick start to free agency, but the limited market of players made things ever crazier than normal Friday morning.
Less than a hour after the 12:01 a.m. start to free agency, the Dolphins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=mia) reached a five-year, $25 million deal with 49ers guard Justin Smiley (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6805) that included $9 million of guarantees. The Raiders (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak) quickly made contact with 49es tackle Kwame Harris (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6362) and may try to do something at a similar price although talks are in the early stages.
The 49ers wasted no time hitting their free-agency shopping list. They agreed with Vikings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min) linebacker Dontarrious Thomas (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5573) to a two-year deal and allowed Lions quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6103) to be re-united with new 49ers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sfo) offensive coordinator Mike Martz by agreeing to a one-year, $645,000 contract. The 49ers also locked up a two-year, $1.8 million deal with former Panthers halfback DeShaun Foster (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5920) and a one-year, $870,000 deal with kick-returner/cornerback Allen Rossum (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4492).
The post midnight contact for Steelers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit) guard Alan Faneca (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4288) set the stage to a possible $8 million-a-year deal before Monday. The 49ers, Rams and Jets contacted Faneca's agent, Rick Smith, after midnight to set up visits. Faneca plans to spend Friday mapping out plans and visit a team Sunday. The Cardinals expressed interest in Faneca but indicated to him they couldn't do an $8 million a year deal now because of Larry Fitzgerald (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6762)'s contract. Fitzgerald has a $16.48 million cap number this year and the team hasn't been able to restructure his contract.
The phone was busy for Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6456) with the Eagles (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=phi) making the early calls and winning the first visit. Samuel is hoping to get a five-year, $50 million or six-year, $62 million contract that will force him to leave the Patriots.
Things were tight-lipped around Randy Moss (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4262), the Patriots receiver who wasn't franchised and is technically a free agent. Many believe he will re-sign in New England, but there was no deal in place at the start of free agency.
The Falcons (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=atl) contacted Seahawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sea) kicker Josh Brown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6558) and also tried to convince Chargers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sdg) running back Michael Turner (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6913) to make a visit on Friday. The Panthers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=car) convinced Raiders defensive end Tyler Brayton (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6368) to make Carolina his first visit. The Vikings and 49ers battled it out to convince Bengals defensive end Justin Smith (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5451), but Smith informed the 49ers he will make San Francisco his first stop.
Late deals to keep players prevented some suitors from getting visits. Defensive tackle Brian Young (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5168) is considering an offer to re-sign with the Saints and declined a visit. Chris Redman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5104) is considering re-signing with the Falcons.
Plenty of trades are expected to be announced Friday. The Packers traded franchise defensive tackle Corey Williams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6938) to the Browns for a second-round choice. Williams is expected to sign a six-year, $38 million contract. The Saints are close to finishing a trade for Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6771). Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5491) is heading to the Jets for a third-and fifth-round pick. Vikings wide receiver Troy Williamson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7183) will go to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick. Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5508) and Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5460) are also on the trading block and deals could move quickly involving them.