Let the Spending.....Begin!

On opening day of the NFL free agent period, the San Francisco 49ers landed Nate Clements with an eight-year, $80 million contract, making him the highest-paid defender in NFL history. Friday was a very busy day for a lot of teams and players and here is what went down:


Nate Clemons - CB - To: San Fransico 49ers
By now you know the bit - 8 years and $80 million dollars; making him the highest=paid defender in NFL history...Was he worth it? I don't know for sure. He's a great player and at 27 years-old he is in his prime. San Fransisco has a plethora of money available this offseason and I think they're looking to send a big message this offseason. The message reads: We feel we can win NOW.

Jeff Garcia - QB - To: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After being rejected by Jake Plummer Tampa quickly shifted their focus towards Garcia; steering him away from the Raiders, Bears, and Vikes. I was kinda pumped after hearing this because this means that Jeff won't be playing in the NFC North this year like I had feared. ESPN.com's John Clayton reported the deal was believed to be for about $5 million a year and would be announced at a news conference later on Saturday. The Chris Simms vs. Jeff Garcia might be an interested QB battle to watch come training camp. And the Bucs could potentially have 4 legitamite QBs in camp if Plummer goes and you include Gradkowski.

London Fletcher - MLB - To: Washington Redskins
The Redskins wasted no time in netting themselves a proven runstuffer. London, at 31 might have been a little old for a five-year, $25 million contract that includes $10.5 million in bonuses. He will earn nearly $13 million in the first two seasons of the deal and about $15 million over the first three years. The deal reunites Fletcher with Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was his head coach with the Buffalo Bills for three seasons (2001-2003). The Redskins weren't very good against the run last year and I guess this is a step in the right direction.

Adalius Thomas - LB - To: New England Patriots
The Patriots have reached an agreement in principle with former Baltimore Ravens linebacker. In my opnion Thomas was among the premier players in the unrestricted free agent pool, and the seven-year veteran will be a perfect fit for coach Bill Belichick's trademark 3-4 defensive scheme. The Pats haven't had a double-digit sack master since 1995 (Willie McGinest). Thomas has 28½ sacks over the past three seasons, with a career-best 11 sacks in 2006. leading me to believe that that drought is about to end in 2007.

Ovie Mughelli - FB - To: Atlanta Falcons
I thought the Falcons already had a good FB in Justin Griffith, but i guess they decided to go bigger and more expensive. The contract is an $18 million deal that includes a $5 million signing bonus. The blockbuster deal is the biggest contract given to a pure fullback.

Eric Steinbach - OG - To: Cleveland Browns
A year ago, no one thought a guard would ever get $7 million a year but then Steve Hutchinson got a seven-year, $49 million deal from the Minnesota Vikings. The former Bengals guard topped Hutchinson by getting a seven-year, $49.5 million deal from the Cleveland Browns that included $17 million in guarantees. Over the first three years of the contract, he will receive $23 million. I think he was overpaid but the Browns are desperate to protect whoever they have behind center next year (Frye? Quinn? Smith?)


Other Big Names Still Out There (Purely Unrestricted FAs):
Travis Henry - RB
Ahman Green - RB
Daniel Graham - TE
Patrick Kearney - DE
Drew Bennet - WR
Ian Scott - DT
Donte' Stallworth - WR