Recently in Free Agency Category

With the draft starting later than ever this year (4PM), expect the pregame speculation to be cranked up this year.  Tom Curran and I will be at Radio City telling you everything we hear.  It's a beautiful morning in New York City, but there are few better ones to be parked in front of your computer.  And television. 

Here's a quick rundown of some of the Saturday morning news.

1. Michael Crabtree is atop the Packers' draft board, so he apparently won't slip any further than the ninth pick, no matter how great their receiver group is.  They also like B.J. Raji better than the suddenly hot Tyson Jackson.

2. The Giants are planning to make one final phone call regarding Braylon Edwards when they are on the click.  Despite reports to the contrary, this deal is not dead.  A lot of times it takes the deadline of a clock to get something done.  New York is willing to give up a second- and fifth-round pick, which is pretty fair if the Browns are so desperate to trade him.

3. The Panthers have received no trade offers for Julius Peppers.  Considering an interested team will likely need to come up with a new contract, it's really unlikely we will see a deal involving Peppers.

4. The Rams may want to trade Marc Bulger.  I'd be shocked if anyone wanted him.  Watch some of his games from the last two years and you'll realize it was no all the offensive line's fault.  They desperately need a quarterback, and that's why the Sanchez rumors make some sense.

5. Daunte Culpepper is expected to be Detroit's starter in Week 1, even after Matthew Stafford received the highest guaranteed money for any player in NFL history.  Look for Stafford to take over around Detroit's Week 7 bye.

6. After the Eagles lost out on Tony Gonzalez, they may try to trade for Denver's Tony Scheffler.     

7. The NFL has caught Twitter fever.  Commissioner Roger Goodell is on board, and Rich Eisen is updating like a madman from the NFL Network set.  The Patriots are going to announce their picks Via Twitter, possibly before we hear it in New York.  I'm even cautiously dipping my toe in the water.  I'll keep it to football, not how my morning run was. 

8. ESPN and NFL Network kicked off 13 hours of coverage (13!) at 11AM.  Deion Sanders just said 30% of the NFL smokes weed - bet the suits loved that.  That's what you get with a five-hour "pregame."  The rumors and smokescreens figure to heat up with them on the air.

Chad Ochocinco may be "crying" to get out Cincinnati, but coach Marvin Lewis isn't sympathetic.

"I don't know why people continue with the speculation of moving Chad," Lewis said at his pre-draft presser Tuesday. "Many times we've reiterated, I don't know if we're keeping count on this, Chad's not getting moved."

Well, then.  Lewis went on to say that the team would probably draft a receiver for depth at some point, like most teams.  "I don't think we're going to pick a guy that's going to be better than Chad. I haven't seen that guy yet."

Lewis' strong words support a Cincinnati Enquirer report that no team has even offered a third-round pick for Ocho.  With his stock so low and the market flooded with younger options (Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards), the Bengals may have realized they won't get value by selling low on number 85, no matter how much he's crying. 

Or maybe it's all a smokescreen.  That's why this week is so fun. 

Yep, PFT is crashing on the couch again.  Check out Florio's post below for an explanation.  Or the post I did back in February when all you folks last visited.

As much as we like helping out, everyone here at NBCSports.com hopes the real PFT is back up and running soon, hopefully tonight.  For Mike's sanity and those poor little hamsters, who may be in big trouble.

In the meantime, get comfortable.  Just try to clean up after yourselves when you leave. 

Donovan McNabb went into the offseason wanting roster upgrades.  On Friday, he got a whopper.

The Philadelphia Eagles have pulled off the coup of the NFL offseason by accquiring two-time Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters from Buffalo.  The Eagles have confirmed the move and have given Peters a six-year contract.  The National Football Post reports that Peters will get $24 million guaranteed.

The Bills will reportedly receive the No. 28 overall pick, a fourth-rounder, and a sixth-round pick in 2010.  Buffalo felt they had to move Peters his monetary demands were a distraction, but they got fleeced. 

If Jason Peters was in the current draft, how high would he go? 

My guess is that Peters would be a top five pick, possibly possibly first.  Teams are hoping that prospects Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe will become Pro Bowlers.  Peters, 27, already is one.  Why not take the sure thing? 

We don't know how much a tackle like Peters would even get on the open market because they never get there.  There's a reason for that. 

I don't want to hear from Bills fans that Peters' 2008 play was uneven after he held out last offseason.  While his second Pro Bowl nod was undeserved, Peters was probably the most dominant left tackle in the AFC in 2007. That came at the age of 26, with Peters playing a relatively new position.  He originally signed with Buffalo as undrafted free agent tight end! 

This was a game-changing move by Philadelphia, who has impressively upgraded both of their tackle spots with players entering their prime.  And they still have a first-round pick (No. 24) to use.  

This likely takes Philly out of the running for Anquan Boldin, but Donovan McNabb should realize that he has all the weapons he needs to make another deep playoff run.  Flashy wideouts are nice, but extra time in the pocket is better. 

There was no question that Marshawn Lynch would be suspended to start the year after his recent arrest; the only question was how long.

We have an answer.

ESPN's Michael Smith reports that Lynch will be suspended three games by the league, pending appeal.  An official announcement could come as early as Thursday. 

While Lynch won't be going "Beast Mode" for a while, he welcomed his most famous teammate to the Bills facility this week.

Much was made about Terrell Owens skipping initial offseason conditioning work, but it was a non-story.  Now that he's showed up and is working working out, it's a non-non story.

If the Bills can add some firepower in the draft, their offense has potential to sneak up on some teams.  As long as they don't do anything crazy like trading their Pro Bowl tackle to the Eagles. 

When Terrell Owens was released, the most logical player to emerge with more playing time was fourth-year receiver Miles Austin.  So what happens if Austin leaves too?

The relative unknown Cowboys reserve will visit the Jets Friday on a restricted free agent visit.  If the Jets extend an offer sheet, the Cowboys will have one week to match the deal.

Expect Dallas to do everything possible to keep Austin.  He's a Jerry Jones favorite, and was slated for a possible starting role.  If Dallas lets Austin get away, there will be more pressure than ever for Roy Williams to avoid being one of the, "biggest busts in the history of the league."

Tony Romo is not having a good week.   

The Bucs took a major gamble when they acquired Kellen Winslow for two draft picks.  On Monday, they doubled down by handing him a huge contract. 

Don't buy the hype that the six-year deal was the largest ever for a tight end.  While that looks good in an agent's brochure, it's essentially a three-year, $20.185 contract, with the first two years fully guaranteed.  The third year is guaranteed for injury.  Now Winslow's fortune will match his impressive tally in the wife department. 

The Bucs know that Winslow's knees, surgically repaired countless times, make him old  for a 26-year-old player.  He's only topped 10 yards-per-catch once since getting drafted in 2004. 

After dumping franchise legend Derrick Brooks, Winslow was the first big move of the Raheem Morris/Mark Domenik era.  They are clearly comfortable with Winslow as a symbol for their new regime.  They are paying Winslow to be a top-five player at his position now, and he must stay healthy to live up to his end of the bargain.

It's debatable whether Jeff Garcia is still a quality NFL quarterback.  His numbers last year would indicate he is.  Anyone who watched his performance against the Raiders in Week 17 last year would say he isn't.

Anyone except the Raiders, that is.

Oakland signed Garcia Monday to an undisclosed contract in one of the strangest moves of the offseason.

The Raiders are going back to their traditional vertical offense that relies on throwing bombs.  Jeff Garcia may have the weakest arm of any quarterback in the league.

The Raiders are doing everything possible to nurture JaMarcus Russell, who could use a veteran hand to mentor him.  Garcia, though, has never been happy as a backup. He's often often made waves with teammates and coaching staffs.

This is a big year for Russell's development.  He's only 24 years old, but needs to show more signs he was worth the number one overall pick.  Now he'll have to do it with a likely fan favorite as his backup, just dying get on the field. 

Football's Opening Day may be five long months away, but the NFL has plenty of action going on Monday. 

Recently deposed Giants wideout Plaxico Burress has won a grievance against the Giants after they withheld $1 million in bonus money after Burress shot himself in the leg.  Burress' dogged pursuit of the money may have contributed to his release.  New reports that Plaxico swore at police during a recent traffic stop may have also informed New York's decision.

While the union fought and won for Burress, Larry Johnson was not so lucky.  "Special Master" Stephen Burbank ruled that LJ breached his contract when he was suspended last year.  That means his salary is not guaranteed for 2009 if the Chiefs cut him. 

Plaxico and L.J. received different results Monday, but look for them to have something in common soon enough: they will both be looking for a job.

Last offseason, the Bengals reportedly turned down an offer of two first-round picks from Washington for Chad Johnson.  Refusing that monster deal indicated that Ocho Cinco was essentially not on the market.  That may not be the case anymore.

Yahoo's Jason Cole is getting mixed messages, but he has sources that believe the Bengals are willing to trade Johnson. 

T.J. Housmandzadeh says Johnson wants out, and that is supported by the wideout's absence at Cincy's offseason conditioning program.  Johnson will forgo a $250,000 workout bonus if he doesn't show up soon.

Despite Johnson's terrible '08 season, there should be a market for a receiver who led the AFC in receiving four straight years.  Profootballtalk writes there "is some belief" the Raiders have interest, which makes a lot of sense on paper.  They need weapons. 

Johnson has mostly kept his mouth shut this offseason, but his desire to leave the Bengals for riches elsewhere hasn't changed.  This year, he might get his wish.