Free agents still worth a look?

[Sephiroth]

While the free agency purge and the NFL Draft have come and gone, teams hold minicamps and continue to evaluate their rosters as they look to shape the club they will bring to training camp late this summer. While the premier free agents have been plucked from the market, many players -- mostly experienced veterans - remain available to provide key depth or injury replacements.

 

Here's a look at the top 10 unrestricted free agents left on the market and how they could still help a team.

 

Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Daunte Culpepper is a quarterback still on the market with starting experience.

 

1. Daunte Culpepper, QB: On a long list of experienced veterans, quarterback trumps all other positions and Culpepper is the best still available. He is now a year removed from injuries that still had him limping around last year. The combination of his arm strength and game experience will make him a valuable backup and a guy who can step in and carry a team when injuries hit.

 

2. Takeo Spikes, LB: Though probably on the down side of his career, Spikes is still a strong run defender who made 139 tackles last year in 14 games. He can also pressure the QB, is capable in coverage, though not as strong as he once was, and can be the leader of a defense, making all the defensive calls. If he can find a spot as an inside backer with limited coverage responsibilities he can still thrive in the NFL.

 

3. Shaun Alexander, RB: While he's not an every down back any more, Alexander still presents a good second option for a club. Going into a season knowing he doesn't have to be the focus of an attack may give the veteran a fresh start.

 

4. Koren Robinson, WR: Just released by the Packers and young enough to still have a good career. He has return skills as well as being a big target. A team like Dallas should take a look at him

 

5. John Carney, PK: Carney is better than a few kickers who already have jobs. He has nearly 20 years in the league, bringing valuable experience to the table. He's not that far removed from his stellar 2006 season with the Saints when he was 23-25 on field goal attempts (92 percent) and put up 115 points.

 

6. Jeremy Newberry, C: Eleven years in the trenches and numerous knee injuries have taken their toll on Newberry, but he is a tough, physical mauler as a run blocker. He plays with a mean streak, but is also very technically sound. He can make all the line calls and could fill an important leadership role inside for a young O-line like the one the Chiefs are putting together in Kansas City.

 

7. Kyle Brady, TE: Brady keeps getting work because he is very good at what he does. Heading into his 14th season, the former first-round pick may still be the best in-line blocker in the game. He's a big, physical end who really takes care of himself, which is why he has enjoyed such a long, productive career.

 

8. Michael Pittman, RB: Pittman's value comes in his versatility. He can run with power, he understands protection schemes and blitz pickups, and he is a reliable receiver out of the backfield.

 

9. Ron Dayne, RB: Dayne has proven he can excel in a zone scheme and will add valuable depth to any roster, especially in today's NFL when teams have found a need for more than one back to carry the load. He still makes sense in Houston.

 

10. Mike Doss, S: Doss is at his best when playing close to the line of scrimmage, or when in deep zone coverage with the play in front of him. But he has starting experience in the NFL and can play any number of positions in a team's sub (nickel/dime) packages.

Best of the rest

Free Agency 2008

 

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Eric Moulds, WR: Played in all 16 games last year, including eight starts, with 32 receptions for 342 yards.

 

Byron Leftwich, QB: Started two games in 2007, throwing for 279 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 32-58 attempts.

 

Verron Haynes, RB: Appeared in just one game in 2007.

 

Kevin Jones, RB: Started 10 games for the Lions, rushing for 581 yards and eight touchdowns on 153 carries. He averaged 6.2 yards on 32 receptions.

 

Musa Smith, RB: Rushed for 264 yards with two scores on 75 carries last season with the Ravens. He also caught 27 balls for 192 yards and a score.

 

Keenan McCardell, WR: Put up 256 yards and one touchdown on 22 receptions with the Redskins.

 

Jerramy Stevens, TE: Caught 18 balls for 189 yards and four scores with the Buccaneers.

 

Ruben Brown, OG: Started all eight games he appeared in last season with the Bears.

 

Rick DeMulling, OG: Played in five games last season with the Redskins.

 

Nat Dorsey, OT: Saw action in five contests with the Browns.

 

Chris Naeole, OG: Started eight games with the Jaguars.

 

Floyd Womack, OG: Appeared in 14 games with the Seahawks.

 

Rod Coleman, DT: Had two sacks in a limited role with the Falcons.

 

Grady Jackson, DT: Played in nine games with the Jaguars.

 

Warrick Holdman, LB: Did not play in 2007 with the Broncos.

 

Jeremiah Trotter, LB: Had 13 tackles in three games with the Buccaneers.

 

Terry Cousin, CB: Played in every game last season with 47 tackles, one sack and an interception with the Jaguars.

 

Chris Henry, WR: Even though he may be the most talented free agent on the street, teams will be hesitant to sign the former Bengal because of his off-the-field issue

 

 

 

 

I've gotta say out of all these guys, the only one I think might be worth a look is Spikes... and that's if it's for the vet minimum... but if Shock somehow still ends up in N.O, at least we know there's a few vets out there that are decent.

[BIGBLUE01]

 

 

I thought the exact same thing, Spikes. Maybe Trotter, just for the experience and his knowledge of the Eagles. And if Shock does leave, Kyle Brady wouldnt be a bad pickup. But yeah, only if the right price.

[Taylorized56]

I wouldn't mind a vet like Spikes, though FTR whoever wrote that article messed up, Takeo actually had 86 total tackles. Weird that they would do that again, when he was first cut by the Eagles it was also reported by several sites that he had 139 tackles. He's never had that many in a season in his entire career, the closest he came to it was years ago when he was still in his prime but like I said out of that group he's the one I'd want the most.

[BIGBLUE01]

I wouldn't mind a vet like Spikes, though FTR whoever wrote that article messed up, Takeo actually had 86 total tackles. Weird that they would do that again, when he was first cut by the Eagles it was also reported by several sites that he had 139 tackles. He's never had that many in a season in his entire career, the closest he came to it was years ago when he was still in his prime but like I said out of that group he's the one I'd want the most.

 

Off topic. How did you get that Manningham sig in a Giants uni? Thats cool. On the flip side, PLEASE get rid of that avatar with Kobe. I hate that fucker. :brooding:

[Taylorized56]

Off topic. How did you get that Manningham sig in a Giants uni? Thats cool. On the flip side, PLEASE get rid of that avatar with Kobe. I hate that fucker. :brooding:

 

 

Who you mean the NBA MVP?

 

 

The Manningham was from a jersey switch I did.

 

http://www.sportswrath.com/index.php?showt...mp;#entry335775

 

 

[BIGBLUE01]

Who you mean the NBA MVP?

The Manningham was from a jersey switch I did.

 

http://www.sportswrath.com/index.php?showt...mp;#entry335775

 

No, I mean the single most me-me player in basketball. If I wanted to see a slam dunk contest, he'd be my first choice. If I wanted to win a championship, he'd be my last. I loved when Shaq left and he was exposed. Obviously, the championship rings he wears are owed to Shaq. Fuck Kobe.

 

Nice Manningham though, Im gonna try something like that.

[RandolphScott]

No, I mean the single most me-me player in basketball. If I wanted to see a slam dunk contest, he'd be my first choice. If I wanted to win a championship, he'd be my last. I loved when Shaq left and he was exposed. Obviously, the championship rings he wears are owed to Shaq. Fuck Kobe.

 

Nice Manningham though, Im gonna try something like that.

 

 

Exposed?

 

He was practically the only player on that team that WAS starting material.

If your starting guys like Ronnie Turiaf and still have a winning record....it's all Kobe.

 

Tell your Suns to play some defense for a change and then might be able to stop him.

[BIGBLUE01]

Exposed?

 

He was practically the only player on that team that WAS starting material.

If your starting guys like Ronnie Turiaf and still have a winning record....it's all Kobe.

 

Tell your Suns to play some defense for a change and then might be able to stop him.

 

Oh, most definatley, Kobe is that team. You are so right about that. So, tell me. With Shaq, Kobe attained 3 titles. How many has he attained since he's been the team?

Yup, exposed.

 

And as for the Suns remark.....Defense? Whats that.

[xxi-xxv]

Kyle Brady is a punishing blocker... intriguing if you ask me

[RandolphScott]

Oh, most definatley, Kobe is that team. You are so right about that. So, tell me. With Shaq, Kobe attained 3 titles. How many has he attained since he's been the team?

Yup, exposed.

 

And as for the Suns remark.....Defense? Whats that. <_>

 

 

He's been the team! Name one guy, minus Wilt Chamberlain who by himself led his team

to a championship? O'Neal has always had a great guard on most of his teams.

 

In Orlando he had a great Penny Hardaway

In L.A. he had Kobe

In Miami he had D. Wade

 

You always need a complimentary player on your side.

Was Kevin Garnett exposed in all those years up in Minnesota for failing to win

the big one?

[BIGBLUE01]

He's been the team! Name one guy, minus Wilt Chamberlain who by himself led his team

to a championship? O'Neal has always had a great guard on most of his teams.

 

In Orlando he had a great Penny Hardaway

In L.A. he had Kobe

In Miami he had D. Wade

 

You always need a complimentary player on your side.

Was Kevin Garnett exposed in all those years up in Minnesota for failing to win

the big one?

 

Garnett hasnt been exposed, because he is a great player who hasnt won the big one yet and he always has been. Kobe got top billing as the best player in the NBA, etc. etc all those years with Shaq. It was more Shaq than anything. I agree that you have to have more than one player, but that team is almost the same team minus Shaq, esp. with Fisher back. Odom is still there and is a very good player. The expiosed Im referring to, is that Kobe is electryfying, but not a leader, like Jordan. Jordan would put up 50 a night and theyd win. Kobe puts up 50 in a lot of losing efforts. And the cast around Jordan were nobodys until they rode with Jordan.

[Taylorized56]

No, I mean the single most me-me player in basketball. If I wanted to see a slam dunk contest, he'd be my first choice. If I wanted to win a championship, he'd be my last. I loved when Shaq left and he was exposed. Obviously, the championship rings he wears are owed to Shaq. Fuck Kobe.

 

Nice Manningham though, Im gonna try something like that.

 

 

Basketball is the ultimate team sport, for the first time since Shaq left Kobe has actually had a championship caliber team surrounding him and his scoring went down and he won the MVP.

 

During our 3peat we had the perfect role players to compliment Shaq and Kobe. Everyone thinks it was all Shaq, granted I think in his prime he was the best big man ever (sorry Wilt) but in basketball you need those complimentary players. Jordan won nothing until Scottie Pippen started blossoming into a great player and the Bulls of the 90's also had several of the best role players in the NBA (Kerr, Grant, Kucoc, Rodman etc) Look at the Spurs and how deep they are, same thing.

 

 

[boohyah]

When Doss was released, i thought he was worth a shot. Years ago I was hoping we'd draft him. other than that maybe Spikes, but the rest to be would not be worth it.

[gateb]

Man Rod Coleman has really fallen fast.

 

He was a dominant pass rushing DT as short as a year ago.

[Sephiroth]

Man Rod Coleman has really fallen fast.

 

He was a dominant pass rushing DT as short as a year ago.

 

Yeah man, what DID happen to Coleman? I remember seeing him totally disrupt offenses as recently as two seasons ago.

 

Also, has anyone noticed the glut of former first-round picks on that list?

 

 

And also... Basketball... Basketball.... oh wait! Isn't that the sport that girls play?

[BIGBLUE01]

Basketball is the ultimate team sport, for the first time since Shaq left Kobe has actually had a championship caliber team surrounding him and his scoring went down and he won the MVP.

 

During our 3peat we had the perfect role players to compliment Shaq and Kobe. Everyone thinks it was all Shaq, granted I think in his prime he was the best big man ever (sorry Wilt) but in basketball you need those complimentary players. Jordan won nothing until Scottie Pippen started blossoming into a great player and the Bulls of the 90's also had several of the best role players in the NBA (Kerr, Grant, Kucoc, Rodman etc) Look at the Spurs and how deep they are, same thing.

 

Exactly my point. If it werent for Jordan, there would have been no blossoming. Jordan was that good. IMO, Kobe is not. And the ULTIMATE team sport? Not more than Football.

[Taylorized56]

Exactly my point. If it werent for Jordan, there would have been no blossoming. Jordan was that good. IMO, Kobe is not. And the ULTIMATE team sport? Not more than Football.

 

 

what I meant was in no other team sport do you depend more on your supporting cast than in basketball, there's only 5 starters.

 

So you don't think Andrew Bynum who has greatly improved the past couple years playing along side Kobe is not good? I don't blame you for hating Kobe if your a Suns fan, it's expected and I don't like Steve Nash as much as anyone in the league with the exception of the entire roster of the Boston Celtics.

[BIGBLUE01]

what I meant was in no other team sport do you depend more on your supporting cast than in basketball, there's only 5 starters.

 

So you don't think Andrew Bynum who has greatly improved the past couple years playing along side Kobe is not good? I don't blame you for hating Kobe if your a Suns fan, it's expected and I don't like Steve Nash as much as anyone in the league with the exception of the entire roster of the Boston Celtics.

 

I think Andrew Bynum is good, but not due to Kobe. Kobe didnt make Odom good, Fisher good etc. Pippen is one of the most overrated players in NBA history, because w/o Jordan, he was garbage.

[Taylorized56]

Jordan would put up 50 a night and theyd win. Kobe puts up 50 in a lot of losing efforts.

 

For the record, after Shaq left the Lakers we had a winning record when Kobe scored 50+ points.

[Virginia Giant]

Basketball is the ultimate team sport, for the first time since Shaq left Kobe has actually had a championship caliber team surrounding him and his scoring went down and he won the MVP.

 

During our 3peat we had the perfect role players to compliment Shaq and Kobe. Everyone thinks it was all Shaq, granted I think in his prime he was the best big man ever (sorry Wilt) but in basketball you need those complimentary players. Jordan won nothing until Scottie Pippen started blossoming into a great player and the Bulls of the 90's also had several of the best role players in the NBA (Kerr, Grant, Kucoc, Rodman etc) Look at the Spurs and how deep they are, same thing.

Kay, I'm gonna have to add my 2 cents. Baskatball isn't the ultimate team sport, vertainly it takes 5 guys all playing together, but you put jordan on any team in the league and that teams a contender bvecause he's there. Take pippen, Kerr, Purdue, kukoc etc, all of them together and make a team out ofd them, and they might fight for a playoff berth.

[Taylorized56]

Kay, I'm gonna have to add my 2 cents. Baskatball isn't the ultimate team sport, vertainly it takes 5 guys all playing together, but you put jordan on any team in the league and that teams a contender bvecause he's there. Take pippen, Kerr, Purdue, kukoc etc, all of them together and make a team out ofd them, and they might fight for a playoff berth.

 

 

A contender doesn't make you a champ in basketball dude, it's not the same as other sports especially in this day and age of basketball, ask Allen Iverson.

[Virginia Giant]

A contender doesn't make you a champ in basketball dude, it's not the same as other sports especially in this day and age of basketball, ask Allen Iverson.

 

 

I understand that, but you can put ladanian Tomlinson on the Dolphins last year, and they'd still suck.

 

Put Arod on the Rangers and, well, nevermind.

 

 

Put Jordan on the Clippers when they sucked, and they would be among the contending teams. Would they win 6 championships? Nope, but they'd be in the playoffs near every ryear. I'll admit role players might be more important in basketball than other sports (baseball is close), but the gap between suckage and elite isn't nearly as wide in basketball as it is in other sports, and 1 player can make a dramatic difference.

[Taylorized56]

Jordan never made the playoffs with Washington while still averaging over 20 pts per.

[Virginia Giant]

Jordan never made the playoffs with Washington while still averaging over 20 pts per.

At what? 38? 39? I mean I'm not saying that basketball isn't a team sport or that you don't need role players and supporting cast, but baskatball teams can be improved much more by the addition of a single player than any other sport. i mean, for one there is only 5 players on the court for 1 team, vs 11 for football and 9 for baseball.

[Taylorized56]

What exactly did Jordan win before he attained the role players necessary to win multiple rings in Chi-town? Magic needed Kareem, Worthy, Cooper on D. Bird needed Mchale, Parish, DJ etc.