NFL Free Agent Thread

[DBAHO]

Heard Robaire Smith was a possible target for da Bears, well now he's off da market. Post ur Free Agent goss rite here

 

Texans | Smith Agrees To Six-Year, $26.3M Deal - from www.KFFL.com

Wed, 3 Mar 2004 23:38:24 -0800

 

Jim Wyatt, of the Tennessean, reports the Houston Texans have agreed to terms with free agent DT Robaire Smith (Titans) on a six-year contract worth $26.3 million that includes an $8 million signing bonus.

[DBAHO]

And here r da main targets for my Cowboys,

 

IRVING – As NFC East counterparts Washington and Philadelphia made bold moves to upgrade their defenses, the Cowboys exchanged several phone calls with the agent for cornerback Antoine Winfield on the first day of free agency.

 

With Mario Edwards testing the market, the Cowboys are in need of a cornerback. Edward started all 16 games last season and had one interception, which was returned for a touchdown, and eight pass deflections.

 

The question is how much the Cowboys would be willing to pay. The Redskins gave Shawn Springs a six-year deal, averaging $5.6 million annually that included a $10 million signing bonus.

 

The Cowboys have not set up a visit with Winfield, who is considered the top cornerback available.

 

"I've had several conversations with [director of player personnel Stephen Jones], but I'm not sure we'd be able to close the gap financially on Antoine's market value," Winfield's agent, Rich Katz, said. "But there's mutual interest."

 

Winfield, who spent his first five years in Buffalo, had 124 tackles last season with one interception. He also had 14 pass breakups.

 

No call to Garcia: Sticking with owner and general manager Jerry Jones' stance regarding a veteran quarterback, the Cowboys did not make a call to free agent Jeff Garcia on Wednesday.

 

Garcia was released by San Francisco on Tuesday in order to get under the $80.6 million salary cap.

 

Defensive end to visit: The Cowboys will have some competition for defensive end Bert Berry. He is expected to visit with Arizona after he concludes his stopover with the Cowboys.

 

Berry had a career-high 11 ½ sacks last season in Denver and could fill the Cowboys' need for a pass rusher opposite Greg Ellis.

 

On the offensive line, tackle Adam Meadows will conclude his visit Friday, and it's believed the Cowboys are the favorite for his services. He is also dealing with Carolina and Atlanta.

 

Looking for a punter? Coach Bill Parcells made no secret of his displeasure with punter Toby Gowin last season, and the Cowboys could be in the market for a new punter.

 

The team has interest in Tom Tupa, who played for Parcells in New England and with the New York Jets, and Matt Turk, who had an impressive outing against the Cowboys with Miami on Thanksgiving and has told friends he would love to play for Parcells.

 

Signing Tupa or Turk would mean the team would have to use Billy Cundiff on kickoffs or bring in another specialist.

[witesoxfan]

Good news on the FA front as Antoine Winfield backs off of Jets offer after agreeing in principle to a deal with them

 

Keeps a good player off the Jets(good news for me), and keeps an ex-Bills player out of the division(for now).

[DBAHO]

Good news on the FA front as Antoine Winfield backs off of Jets offer after agreeing in principle to a deal with them

 

Keeps a good player off the Jets(good news for me), and keeps an ex-Bills player out of the division(for now).

Damn that's a big blow for da Jets, prob da best CB on da market now even though he's only 5'9. I wouldn't be suprised at all if he and Mario Edwards saw places, with Winfield goin to Dallas.

[DBAHO]

Another DE off da market to Seattle,

 

KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent defensive end Grant Wistrom to a multiyear contract Thursday.

 

Agent Tom Condon said Wistrom signed a six-year deal that includes a $14 million signing bonus.

Wistrom, 27, had 7 1/2 sacks for the St. Louis Rams last season. The Seahawks hope he can provide a consistent pass rush that they lacked during the 2003 season, when they were 10-6 and made the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season.

 

"I know I'm not the strongest guy or the fastest guy on the field, but most of the guys on the field, I'm going to outwork them," Wistrom told a news conference at team headquarters.

 

Wistrom visited the Seahawks on Wednesday and stayed overnight. Condon joined him Thursday and started negotiations with team president Bob Whitsitt.

 

"I'm not the type of guy who likes to drag things out," Wistrom said. "I want to get in here and get to work."

 

Wistrom was scheduled to visit the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals next week.

 

Wistrom was generally regarded as the second-best defensive end in this year's free-agent pool behind Jevon Kearse, who agreed to a $66 million, six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles that includes a $16 million signing bonus.

 

The Seahawks targeted defensive end as one of their top offseason needs, along with re-signing wide receiver Darrell Jackson and defensive tackle Cedric Woodard. Both are still on the free agent market.

 

"We wanted to get a defensive lineman, first of all, and we focused on a defensive end," coach Mike Holmgren said. "The two premier guys in free agency were Kearse and Wistrom. So that's what we targeted, and we're tickled pink about it. It makes us better right away."

 

Although the Seahawks ranked in the middle of the pack with 40 sacks last season, their pass rush was inconsistent.

 

Wistrom is expected to help shore up that area from his position on the right side of the line.

 

Wistrom spent the first six years of his career in St. Louis, where he had 41 sacks.

 

The Seahawks, as expected, this week lost free agent cornerback Shawn Springs, who signed a $30 million, six-year contract with the Washington Redskins.