TIDBIT: Find a home for Ty Law
John Clayton
The NFL never seems to rest.
Just when coaches were heading out for vacations and NFL rookie draft choices were in the midst of a league symposium, the Ravens locked up playmaker Ed Reed to a $40 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid safety in the league. That is one of Baltimore's most important re-signings in the past two years.
It's an interesting time around the league. Most teams have rosters between 92 and 100 players as they prepare for the upcoming season. Because these rosters haven't changed much since the NFL draft, teams have time to do a lot of thinking. That's why you're seeing some backups who are heading into the final year of their contracts getting released or traded if teams find a more intriguing prospect available. Often, these moves lead to player-for-player trades.
Despite the advanced stage for team planning, plenty of things are left undone. Here are the top 10 things left on teams' agendas.
TIDBIT: Give Law credit for consistency. He hasn't backed off his $7 million a year, $10 million signing bonus demands. The Patriots and Chiefs are believed to be the most interested, while the Seahawks, Cardinals and Titans also appear to be in the mix. However, Law's financial demands will likely delay any signing until at least the start of training camp. Remember a year ago, when his demands didn't seem to have a leg to stand on? He was slow coming off foot surgery and his rigid offseason training didn't start until May. He ended up signing with the Jets, made $6 million, intercepted 10 passes and went to the Pro Bowl. Conventional thinking is that he may do a more financially friendly deal with the Patriots because of his friendships with Richard Seymour and others, but he's not going to lower his overall demands until the start of camp. The Patriots have more than $15 million of cap room, the most in the league. Law wouldn't mind returning. Maybe something can get done.
The NFL never seems to rest.
Just when coaches were heading out for vacations and NFL rookie draft choices were in the midst of a league symposium, the Ravens locked up playmaker Ed Reed to a $40 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid safety in the league. That is one of Baltimore's most important re-signings in the past two years.
It's an interesting time around the league. Most teams have rosters between 92 and 100 players as they prepare for the upcoming season. Because these rosters haven't changed much since the NFL draft, teams have time to do a lot of thinking. That's why you're seeing some backups who are heading into the final year of their contracts getting released or traded if teams find a more intriguing prospect available. Often, these moves lead to player-for-player trades.
Despite the advanced stage for team planning, plenty of things are left undone. Here are the top 10 things left on teams' agendas.
TIDBIT: Give Law credit for consistency. He hasn't backed off his $7 million a year, $10 million signing bonus demands. The Patriots and Chiefs are believed to be the most interested, while the Seahawks, Cardinals and Titans also appear to be in the mix. However, Law's financial demands will likely delay any signing until at least the start of training camp. Remember a year ago, when his demands didn't seem to have a leg to stand on? He was slow coming off foot surgery and his rigid offseason training didn't start until May. He ended up signing with the Jets, made $6 million, intercepted 10 passes and went to the Pro Bowl. Conventional thinking is that he may do a more financially friendly deal with the Patriots because of his friendships with Richard Seymour and others, but he's not going to lower his overall demands until the start of camp. The Patriots have more than $15 million of cap room, the most in the league. Law wouldn't mind returning. Maybe something can get done.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:57 AM
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