NFL Free Agent Notes

NFL News - September 15th, 2009 - Written by John

Now is when we see NFL teams doing some shuffling around on their roster, a week into the season and off the hook from guaranteed contracts. Any player with at least four years experience in the league is entitled to vested veteran money, as per the collective bargaining agreement. In short, meaning if they signed before the season started, teams would have to guarantee base contracts to the likes of Derrick Brooks or Amani Toomer, or any other player on the free agent market.

But now the season has already begun, and teams can sign whoever they want for a bazillion dollars and never have to promise a thing. As usual, that has caused a big stir-up on the waiver wire only one day after the first week ended.
Brooks is already in talks with the Bears after it was learned that Brian Urlacher would have to miss the season with a broken wrist. Several other players are right behind him.

- Profootballtalk.com is reporting the Lions are interested in signing Paul Spicer, who was released by both Jacksonville and New Orleans in the off-season. Spicer, 34, could be a helpful reinforcement for Detroit's porous D that allowed third-stringer Mike Bell to run for 143 in the opener.

-The Lions are also looking into signing wide out Hank Baskett, who was recently released by the Eagles to make way for Michael Vick. Baskett is not a vested veteran and will have to pass waivers, making Detroit a likely destination.

-The Eagles weren't done making roster cuts to try to trim enough fat to allow Vick on their 53-man roster. Pro Bowl lineman Shawn Andrews was placed on injured reserve, just weeks after he said he was looking forward to facing Carolina Panthers' end Julius Peppers. But his surgically repaired back continued to cause problems and was sidelined for the opener.

-David Tyree is reportedly working out for the St. Louis Rams this week. It is his second team offering him a workout (Baltimore is the other) since being release by the Giants in August.

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