GREAT ARTICLE.... A POD, MUST READ!!!!

The more I read, the more the possibility for Detroit to add talent from free agency dwindles.  According to Scouts.com, 31 out of the top ranked 50 FA's are restricted this year.  That astounding as last year's rankings had only 3 restricted in the top 50.

The Scout.com free agent database debuts, with a whopping 31 of the top 50 free agents being restricted. “It’s not going to be the great free agency that people and some of the players expect,” Scout.com NFL insider Adam Caplan said of free agency, which starts March 5.

 

The positive news?   Along with the noted restrictions above... the 'final eight' playoff teams can only sign an UFA if they lose a UFA...PLUS, they cannot pay the newly signed UFA more than the one they lost.  (you have to read that 3 times before getting it.)   Which Means the Vikings AND the Saints, Dallas, San Diego, Colts, Jets, Baltimore, Arizona....  all these 'contenders' will be difficult to play for, for those UFA's looking for a ring, as it is very unlikely that any of these teams will be allowed to pay a whole lot.

Now, here is a list of all 19 UFA's that made the top 50...

Pos	Overall Rank	Rating	Name	Type	Yr	Ht/Wt	College	2009 Team	Signed Team
DE	6		Julius Peppers	UFA	8	6-7/283	North Carolina	Carolina
OLB	11		Karlos Dansby	UFA	6	6-4/240	Auburn	Arizona
DT	13		Vince Wilfork	UFA	6	6-2/344	Miami (FL)	New England
K	16		Neil Rackers	UFA	10	6-1/207	Illinois	Arizona
DT	21		Casey Hampton	UFA	9	6-1/325	Texas	Pittsburgh
MLB	23		Gary Brackett	UFA	7	5-11/235	Rutgers	Indianapolis
CB	24		Dunta Robinson	UFA	6	5-10/184	South Carolina	Houston
WR	26		Antonio Bryant	UFA	7	6-1/205	Pittsburgh	Tampa Bay
C	27		Kevin Mawae	UFA	16	6-4/289	LSU	Tennessee
WR	28		Kevin Walter	UFA	7	6-3/214	Eastern Michigan	Houston
WR	29		Derrick Mason	UFA	13	5-10/192	Michigan State	Baltimore
DE	30		Kyle Vanden Bosch	UFA	9	6-4/278	Nebraska	Tennessee
OG	32		Bobbie Williams	UFA	10	6-4/345	Arkansas	Cincinnati
OG	33		Stephen Neal	UFA	8	6-4/305	California State-Bakersfield	New England
DT	37		Ryan Pickett	UFA	8	6-2/322	Ohio State	Green Bay
DT	38		Fred Robbins	UFA	10	6-4/317	Wake Forest	NY Giants
DT	39		Aubrayo Franklin	UFA	7	6-1/334	Tennessee	San Francisco
OLB	43		Keith Bulluck	UFA	10	6-3/232	Syracuse	Tennessee
OLB	44		Scott Fujita	UFA	9	6-5/250	California	New Orleans

Now that its widdled down to 19, Let's discuss the ONE player that the lions will sign.  Because you know as well as I, Mayhew isn't going to break the bank this offseason.

I'll go first... from that list;   Dunta Robinson is a given 'want/need'... , a Casey Hampton could come at a decent price, but he's a 3-4 guy.   Stephen Neal... hmmm...   Hell, lets get crazy and hope for Dansby...lol

Oh well, I just thought I'd throw up another post about the new restrictions and list out the UFAs that are worth a damn.

-CLF

BTW, I'm attending a Superbowl party that's throwing a Miami Vice theme... prizes for the best Don Johnson look a like.... now where did I put that white blazer and turquoise T-shirt.......