Free Agents

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Since this is a thread about free agents, here is an "incomplete" list of available talent by position. Obviously some of these guys will get tagged by their clubs (Hutchinson, Clements), but this seems to be the best of what's out there:

Offense

 QB:  Drew Brees, Jon Kitna, Chris Simms (restricted), Josh McCown, Seneca Wallace (restricted), Jeff Garcia, Chris Weinke, Jeff Blake, Charlie Batch, Jamie Martin, Ty Detmer, Todd Collins, Anthony Wright

RB:  Shaun Alexander, Edgerrin James, Jamal Lewis, Ahman Green, DeShaun Foster, Chester Taylor, Najeh Davenport, Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Wells
 
FB: Mack Strong, Lorenzo Neal, William Henderson, Fred Beasley, Jeremi Johnson

WR: Reggie Wayne, David Givens, Joe Jurevicius, Antwaan Randle El, Antonio Bryant, Nate Burleson (restricted), Brandon Lloyd (restricted), Kevin Curtis (restricted), Shaun McDonald (restricted)

TE:  Chris Baker, Christian Fauria, Jerame Tuman, Aaron Shea, Justin Peelle, Dan Campbell, Matt Schobel

OT: Jon Runyan, Jeff Backus, L.J. Shelton, Kevin Shaffer, Tom Ashworth, Mike Pearson, Stockar McDougle, John St. Clair, Kevin Barry, Anthony Clement, Victor Riley, Tony Pashos (restricted), Wayne Hunter (restricted), Jordan Black (restricted)

OG:  Steve Hutchinson, Tutan Reyes, Stephen Neal, Terrence Metcalf, Toniu Fonoti, Grey Ruegamer, Vince Manuwai (restricted), David Diehl (restricted), Reggie Wells(restricted), Sean Mahan (restricted), Montrae Holland (restricted)

C:  LeCharles Bentley, Roberto Garza, Mike Flanagan, Jeff Mitchell, Justin Hartwig, Trey Teague, Seth McKinney, Melvin Fowler


Defense


DT:  Grady Jackson, Chris Hovan, Russell Davis, Ryan Pickett, Damione Lewis, Rocky Bernard, Ron Edwards, James Reed

DE: John Abraham, Darren Howard, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Aaron Kampman, Kimo von Oelhoffen, Orpheus Roye, Anthony Weaver, Kalimba Edwards, Robert Mathis (restricted)

ILB:  Andra Davis, Gary Brackett, Derek Smith, Brandon Moore, Brad Kassell, DaShon Polk, Ben Taylor, Gerald Hayes (restricted)

OLB:  Julian Peterson, Will Witherspoon, Akin Ayodele, Ben Leber, Antwan Peek (restricted), Tommy Polley, Bart Scott, Scott Fujita, Nick Greisen, Raonall Smith, Hunter Hillenmeyer (restricted)

CB: Nate Clements, Charles Woodson, Deshea Townsend, Ike Taylor (restricted), Brian Williams, Terrence McGee (restricted), Ricky Manning Jr.(restricted)

S: Adam Archuleta, Chris Hope, Corey Chavous, Dexter Jackson, Will Demps, Tank Williams, Marlon McCree, Ryan Clark

Being an FSU homer, I'd love to see the Dolphins get Dexter Jackson, Chris Hope and Orpheus Roye.   They could use them all, particularly the first two. 

[Dphins4me]

Not exactly...The way I understand the definition of the rule, once a player who has been tagged signs a long-term contract, the club is free to use the tag on another player the next season. There are no lingering tag effects on a player once he signs a long-term contract.

I'm not up on the date but its sometime in July.  If a team signs the franchise player prior to this date in July then they will not be able to use the franchise tag again until that contract is up.  Its a loop hole & its one that teams use.  Miami has used it a time or two.

A couple of years ago Miami used the tag on Taylor.  JT signed his tender, then waited till July to sign his long term deal he is currently playing under.

[run_to_win]

Here's an official transcript of the agreement.

Seattle: Shaun, we've designated you as our franchise player for 2005.  Here's the one year tender as required by the NFL CBA.

Shaun: I'll sign this if you promise not to designate me as your franchise player again next year.

Seattle: Agreed.

Shaun: Can I get a group hug to consumate our agreement?