ESPN Clayton: Potential free-agent bargains and risks...Al Johnson blurb

[WoodysGirl]

Teams, players adjusting to new landscapeBy John Clayton
ESPN.com
Archive

Finding bargains in an overpriced market might be difficult. Every player who hits free agency Friday expects to hit the lottery. NFL teams enter this market with great trepidation. To sign top free agents, general managers must adjust to the idea of paying close to $7 million a year for guards, $5 million for a top tight end and more than $7 million for defensive ends. The hope for teams is that the market will settle down and good players will be available at decent prices.


Here are a few possibilities:


1. Running back T.J. Duckett, Washington Commanders -- The Falcons' top choice in 2002 understands he might not get the $5 million deal given to a featured back. His price might be around $2 million a year, a nice price for a 254-pound back who could complement a shifty feature runner. He'd look perfect in Steelers black-and-gold helping out Willie Parker.


2. Center Hank Fraley, Cleveland Browns -- The center market exploded when Andre Gurode got a six-year, $30 million contract. Giants center Shaun O'Hara is the next option, but the Giants are trying to sign him for a little less than $4 million a year. Fraley, a former Eagles center, bailed out the Browns after LeCharles Bentley went down with a knee injury last summer. The Browns are trying to re-sign him, but he could be available for between $2 million and $3 million a year.


3. Safety Kevin Kaesviharn, Cincinnati Bengals -- He might not go for a bargain price because he's one of the best coverage safeties available, but he's probably not going to break the bank. In other words, he won't go for Ed Reed, $6.35-million-a-year money. The safety market hasn't been set. Most of the available safeties are more strong safeties than free safeties.


4. Wide receiver Kelley Washington, Cincinnati Bengals -- The Bengals have never doubted his talent. Washington is a big receiver with speed. He's had some off-the-field issues, but the reason the Bengals won't be able to keep him is because Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry are ahead of him.


5. Tight end Eric Johnson, San Francisco 49ers -- When healthy, Johnson is one of the better pass-catching tight ends in football. Injuries have hurt him the past couple of season. The 49ers would like to get him back, but he might be a target for the team that doesn't land Daniel Graham.



Here are a few players who might be slightly dangerous at big money.

1. Cornerback Travis Fisher, St. Louis Rams -- Free agency has only about a half dozen starting cornerbacks, so teams in need of the position will be scrambling if they don't get Nate Clements, perhaps the top defensive player in free agency. Fisher has 53 starts to his credit, but the price has to be right. He's had only 17 starts in the past two years and hasn't had an interception since 2004.


2. Wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, Philadelphia Eagles -- Stallworth is a great deep threat, but he can't seem to shake injuries. The Eagles thought they picked up a No. 1 receiver when they traded for him last season. He showed only flashes. Paying $5 million a year for him might not net a No. 1 receiver.


3. Center Al Johnson, Dallas Cowboys -- Word is Johnson could get $4 million a year, but $4 million a year might be a little risky for a player who has had some injury questions. Johnson is clearly a talent and deserves a fresh start. He was a high second-round pick.

4. Defensive end Dewayne White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- White should do well in free agency because most of the top defensive ends are gone. The Bills gave a $13 million signing bonus to Chris Kelsay, a defensive end with 12½ career sacks, so White should have some leverage. But he has only 14 career sacks and only 13 career starts.


5. Defensive end Patrick Kerney, Atlanta Falcons -- Kerney is truly one of the top impact players in free agency, if not the best. He's all hustle and could produce double-digit sacks. But structure has to be everything with this deal. This will be his third contract, and teams getting players on their third contract sometimes don't get long-term security. The winner in this sweepstakes might not get great value toward the end of the deal.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

LINK

 

[BLT]

ok if al johnson our backup center can get 4 million, that just totally justified Gurode's contract in my eyes.

 

[kevwun]

Is her serious? Would someone really pay Johnson 4 million a year? There is a reason he's not starting.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Teams, players adjusting to new landscapeBy John Clayton
ESPN.com
Archive

Finding bargains in an overpriced market might be difficult. Every player who hits free agency Friday expects to hit the lottery. NFL teams enter this market with great trepidation. To sign top free agents, general managers must adjust to the idea of paying close to $7 million a year for guards, $5 million for a top tight end and more than $7 million for defensive ends. The hope for teams is that the market will settle down and good players will be available at decent prices.


Here are a few possibilities:


1. Running back T.J. Duckett, Washington Commanders -- The Falcons' top choice in 2002 understands he might not get the $5 million deal given to a featured back. His price might be around $2 million a year, a nice price for a 254-pound back who could complement a shifty feature runner. He'd look perfect in Steelers black-and-gold helping out Willie Parker.


2. Center Hank Fraley, Cleveland Browns -- The center market exploded when Andre Gurode got a six-year, $30 million contract. Giants center Shaun O'Hara is the next option, but the Giants are trying to sign him for a little less than $4 million a year. Fraley, a former Eagles center, bailed out the Browns after LeCharles Bentley went down with a knee injury last summer. The Browns are trying to re-sign him, but he could be available for between $2 million and $3 million a year.


3. Safety Kevin Kaesviharn, Cincinnati Bengals -- He might not go for a bargain price because he's one of the best coverage safeties available, but he's probably not going to break the bank. In other words, he won't go for Ed Reed, $6.35-million-a-year money. The safety market hasn't been set. Most of the available safeties are more strong safeties than free safeties.


4. Wide receiver Kelley Washington, Cincinnati Bengals -- The Bengals have never doubted his talent. Washington is a big receiver with speed. He's had some off-the-field issues, but the reason the Bengals won't be able to keep him is because Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry are ahead of him.


5. Tight end Eric Johnson, San Francisco 49ers -- When healthy, Johnson is one of the better pass-catching tight ends in football. Injuries have hurt him the past couple of season. The 49ers would like to get him back, but he might be a target for the team that doesn't land Daniel Graham.



Here are a few players who might be slightly dangerous at big money.

1. Cornerback Travis Fisher, St. Louis Rams -- Free agency has only about a half dozen starting cornerbacks, so teams in need of the position will be scrambling if they don't get Nate Clements, perhaps the top defensive player in free agency. Fisher has 53 starts to his credit, but the price has to be right. He's had only 17 starts in the past two years and hasn't had an interception since 2004.


2. Wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, Philadelphia Eagles -- Stallworth is a great deep threat, but he can't seem to shake injuries. The Eagles thought they picked up a No. 1 receiver when they traded for him last season. He showed only flashes. Paying $5 million a year for him might not net a No. 1 receiver.


3. Center Al Johnson, Dallas Cowboys -- Word is Johnson could get $4 million a year, but $4 million a year might be a little risky for a player who has had some injury questions. Johnson is clearly a talent and deserves a fresh start. He was a high second-round pick.

4. Defensive end Dewayne White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- White should do well in free agency because most of the top defensive ends are gone. The Bills gave a $13 million signing bonus to Chris Kelsay, a defensive end with 12½ career sacks, so White should have some leverage. But he has only 14 career sacks and only 13 career starts.


5. Defensive end Patrick Kerney, Atlanta Falcons -- Kerney is truly one of the top impact players in free agency, if not the best. He's all hustle and could produce double-digit sacks. But structure has to be everything with this deal. This will be his third contract, and teams getting players on their third contract sometimes don't get long-term security. The winner in this sweepstakes might not get great value toward the end of the deal.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

LINK

I know this is spilled milk...but I DO NOT CARE...how in the h*ll do you spend a HIGH 2nd round pick on a Center that cannot even get on the field. We are not talking about a QB or CB or DE...h*ll Dielman from the CHarger was a converted DL. This still botheres me.

 

[sago1]

You conveniently seem to forget that Johnson was our starting center for several years but, despite his good size & mental ability to handle that job, he physically couldn't stop the push from bigger DL which is something Gurode can do. In a different offensive scheme (like in Denver) he might do just fine. The Cowboys aren't the only team whose draft picks don't always produce at the expected level. Heck even Jimmy Johnson didn't have the 100% ratio you seem to expect.

I realize our 2nd round picks have been a problem for us. Antonio Bryant was a 2nd rounder who certainly had great ability but he mental/emotionally immature to say the least. OT Rogers from California had injury history/question about his ability to play tough which should have alerted Parcells and there other guys as well. Take a look at other NFL draft picks and check out their odds compared with ours.

I actually think Parcells drafted well & we will see if Phillips can get better results and consistency from these defensive players. But frankly compared with Jones picks from Jimmy Johnson left until Parcells came, we've had a magnificent run despite some notable failures. If you check around there seems be a lot of teams trying get rid of some higher draft picks that didn't pan out.

 

[joseephuss]

You conveniently seem to forget that Johnson was our starting center for several years but, despite his good size & mental ability to handle that job, he physically couldn't stop the push from bigger DL which is something Gurode can do. In a different offensive scheme (like in Denver) he might do just fine. The Cowboys aren't the only team whose draft picks don't always produce at the expected level. Heck even Jimmy Johnson didn't have the 100% ratio you seem to expect.

Wouldn't that be just 2 years and not several? He missed his rookie season in 2003 due to injury and Gurode was the starter for 2006. Johson was there for 2004 and 2005.

 

[Charles]

3. Center Al Johnson, Dallas Cowboys -- Word is Johnson could get $4 million a year, but $4 million a year might be a little risky for a player who has had some injury questions. Johnson is clearly a talent and deserves a fresh start. He was a high second-round pick.

This is a great year to a free agent, but IMHO that is fair market value for Al Johnson.

I don't think scheme has anything to do with Al Johnson's success. There are center with similar and lesser body weight succeeding to all blocking schemes.

He just has to improve his play.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I hate we could lose Johnson and get nothing in return.