Aaron, I'm with you. This has all the earmarks of a Washington pick up.

How about the Lions as the front-runner?

They are a cover two team, and he could get back together with Marinelli.

That said, I imagine he could still get a pretty nice pay day, regardless of where he goes. He still has some skill left, and if we've seen anything the past couple of years, it is that you can get a lot of money for just being pretty good.

All the talk about trading him during the draft was about him reuniting with Marinelli in Detroit. Is that likely?

Update: Yahoo says it's because of a failed physical.

Dear Dan Snyder,
I know you would love to sign Simeon Rice. I know you think he's the answer to what is ailing the pass rushing problems of the Redskins. I know there is sufficient cap space burning a hole in your pockets.

Please save the cap space for extending Chris Cooley. If you let another decent young player leave, more fans will start to turn on you.

Does Indy have a spot for him?

Was he a "true" DE or could he play a little OLB? I'm thinking Pats in that regard.

Sorry for the triple post, but are there different penalties/accomodations a team has to make when releasing a player in a cap move as opposed to releasing someone due to injury?

Another of Marinelli's boys are coming home. The Lions need a pass rusher at DE and anything that keeps Kalimba Edwards on the bench will make me happy.

The Skins would love to get him. They'll cut Phillip Daniels and Reynaldo Wynn both if that's what it will take. And it would be a good move, too, since he's not older than they are.

I would support such a move as long as he didn't get a bloated contract (ha ha, yeah right).

Something random struck me in that yahoo article linked above...Jake Plummer not wanting to play for TB.

Maybe he'd be a better fit in ATL than anybody else. And if he won't play for TB, why not try to get something for his rights?

Just a thought...

Was that an intentional Feeling Minnesota reference? If so, I'm not sure whether to applaud or not...

#10
You are right on. Plummer would be a better fit for ATL than anyone they have or could likely get. They run the same offense as Denver just not as well. Plummer is a good QB if you play to his strengths: play action and throwing on the run. Atlanta runs the ball well enough for the play action to work. However if Warrick Dunn and the running game can not get on track Plummer is a medicore QB at best as his game is totally dependant on a strong running game.

I see RIce in Dallas, Washington or Denver.

Re: 12

Correction- Atlanta used to run the same offense as Denver. They now have a new HC with a new offense. I didn't follow Petrino at Louisville, so I can't say what the offense is like, but I doubt it's the same one they had before. The only thing I know about it is that Petrino said his QB should be throwing at about a 66% completion rate, IIRC. I got a good laugh at the time thinking about Vick.

Plummer's career high is 62.6%, which is still way higher than Harrington's career high of 57.5%. To be fair, over his first 5 years Plummer's high was 59.2% and his career rate is less than 2 percentage points better than Harrington's, so maybe there is some hope for Joey.

Pass rush is the Vikes' biggest defensive weakness, and as I understand it they are still massively under the cap. Why not?

I really hope the redskins beat the patriots this year.

Redskins beat Patriots this year? ha. about as much chance happening as Falcons win super Bowl

I am drunk. This is probably the best site on internet for football talking. very happy group of guys talking about football and women. add of chick good. cause excitement for many readers. Tanier good, Shatz (speling?) good, others good, maybe one not good forgot who guy who said Russell garbage.

Rusell great. Will be next J Elway. more like black John elayw. same skills, same desire, same knowledgble. Russell bring lombardi trOpy back home here it belong in Oakland. Best Qb in draft, best since Elway. Steve Young win too, but not as good thrower as elwats, bvut better runnner, but Vick also better runner, but he sucks, so is running alk, that important enayyway?

Someone at another site tried to convince me that Rice was a Hall of Famer, so I looked up some info on him. I was surprised to discover that Simeon Rice has only made two pro bowls and one all-pro team in his entire career. I mean, pleasantly surprised. If Simeon Rice plays the run tomorrow, it'll be the first time.

For some reason, this is one of those big-name free agents that I couldn't get excited about if I tried. I think Rice to Washington makes sense, because Washington is the team that broke the bank for Adam Archuletta. He has no skills except for passrushing, and at 33 (and with only 2 sacks last year), I question even how much of that he has left in him. He's not a HoFer. I wouldn't even elect him to the HoVG. Maybe we can get him into the "One-Trick Pony Hall of Fame" along with Michael Vick, Dwight Freeney, and Ashley Lelie.

The Giants? Having Rice around might change Strahan's mind about holding out. I'm not saying it's necessarily a good idea, but it's a thought.

The Jaguars need another option at DE in case Hayword doesn't come back at full strength (likely) from his ACL injury. They picked up Wiley a few years ago, so it's not like their adverse to picking up once good now old DEs.

"“One-Trick Pony Hall of Fame� along with Michael Vick, Dwight Freeney, and Ashley Lelie."

Please click my name.

OH, COME ON!

It's been almost 9 hours since Raiderjoe posted, and nobody has made one comment!

I think its pretty funny that Radierjoe drunk dialed FO.

I think it would be even funnier to hear Raiderjoe drunk dial a girl.

"I come over. We talk about Raider greats of old. J Russell next J Elway. B Quinn not good. You get naked in bed and leave door unlocked. Marriage in '08. RSVP now."

I'm with OMO. Freeney is not a one-trick pony.

Wow, Raiderjoe funny when drink.

re: raiderjoe I am drunk:
would the real raiderjoe use that superfluous 'am' ?
No!

26, Yeah, I thought that was suspicious too. I'm thinking impostor.

You know what, if you're going to cut a guy because he won't take a pay-cut, that's one thing. But letting the guy show up for the first day of camp, check into his room, and then let him get halfway through eating dinner with his teammates before pulling him upstairs is a real dickbag move.

The headline to this story needed to be "Steamed Rice."

#17 is absolutely the best thing I've ever read on any message board, period. Raiderjoe, you are my new hero.

#23 is hysterical.

I love you guys.

#26 - Raiderjoe wouldn't normally use that superfluous 'am', but drunk raiderjoe probably would.

How come we don't have an article like "The Best of Raiderjoe", and maybe an article with the best satires of raiderjoe?

I think FO needs to issue an addendum to the Prospectus.

"Freeney is not a one-trick pony."

Whats the second trick? Pass Rushing is the first.

You know what, if you’re going to cut a guy because he won’t take a pay-cut, that’s one thing. But letting the guy show up for the first day of camp, check into his room, and then let him get halfway through eating dinner with his teammates before pulling him upstairs is a real dickbag move.

The front office has yet to discover a way to part ways with any of our fan favorites with any ammount of class. I think a lot of this has to do with the fan base not believing that this can be a winning team if it doesn't include the guys who made us winners in the first place, so they make up weak excuses to try to make it look like there was no choice in the matter.

I think Rice still has another 10-sack season or two left in him. He was playing hurt all year, and he was the only true pass rush threat on the line. If nothing else, I'm sure gonna miss his press conferences.

Has Freeney become the new P. Manning for Colts-hater Pats fans?

Can't pick on PM for not winning the big one...so now it's "one-trick pony" Dwight Freeney?

Dwight Freeney:

27 forced fumbles in 5 years.

Causes a multitude of opponent's false starts.

Has consistently drawn double teams allowing "who dat" Robert Mathis to rack up 31.5 sacks in 3 years.

Has made opposing teams keep their RBs and TEs home to chip and double team him.

There is a perception that because Freeney is small and he used to do a lot of outside spin-moves that he is useless against the run. The fact is that he has expanded his repertoire and goes inside frequently as well.

In 2006, Freeney's FO numbers are spectacular, including his rush numbers: 87% stop rate vs runs (best on the team), 1.2 avg rushing yards allowed (also best on the team). That's on a low number of plays (23), so it could be sample size, but he is clearly getting to the RB in the backfield just like he's getting to the QB.

The PFP2007 Colts article also makes the point that opponents deliberately avoided running at Freeney (lowest number of runs against left end in the league) and suggests that it was because it was easier to run at the DTs. If that's the case, then Freeney clearly is at the very least better than his teammates against the run. Considering that one of those teammates was Booger McFarland, who isn't a slouch, I'd say Freeney is unquestionably not a one-trick pony.

"The PFP2007 Colts article also makes the point that opponents deliberately avoided running at Freeney (lowest number of runs against left end in the league)"

They avoid going around left end because thats where freeney is. They go Left inside, to where freeney just vacated.

"He was playing hurt all year, and he was the only true pass rush threat on the line."

2 sacks, 20 tackles, 8 games.

He was once the only true pass rush threat on the line, as in when uninjured. Last year was not one of those times. Those 23 other sacks (while extremely poor for a team total) had to come from somewhere.

If he hasn't recovered from his injury yet, and that's how he plays with the injury, he's not going to be anywhere near the leader in sacks this year either.

18- great post
20- the Jags also took on a washed up Hugh Douglas
34- that is a nice case your trying to build up for Freeney NOT being a one trick pony, but you fail to mention that the guy...
Jumps the count, which results in more false starts/offsides, is playing with leads where oposing offenses will have to pass more. It makes the job a lot easier on 3rd and 10 when the QB is a sitting duck.

You also fail to mention the guaranteed 7 rushing yards an opponent can get from running a simple off tackle draw right at Freeney who often turns his back on the ball and loops and spins right out of plays.

His sacks and fumbles are very easy to document and show up on sports center, but he is an absolute joke against the run and wipes out the positives. The first thing you learn in pee wee football is to not turn your back on the play, and coaches wanted limited spins moves if at all. Not only can the loop rush/spins make him void against the run, but he can end up being worthless against the pass if he "guesses" wrong.

Re #34: Has Freeney become the new P. Manning for Colts-hater Pats fans?

Can’t pick on PM for not winning the big one…so now it’s “one-trick pony� Dwight Freeney?

Dwight Freeney:

27 forced fumbles in 5 years.

Causes a multitude of opponent’s false starts.

Has consistently drawn double teams allowing “who dat� Robert Mathis to rack up 31.5 sacks in 3 years.

Has made opposing teams keep their RBs and TEs home to chip and double team him.

First off, I'm not a Pats fan. Second off, every single one of those things that you say Freeney causes are a DIRECT RESULT OF HIS ONE TRICK.

Dwight Freeney has forced 27 fumbles in 5 years... by getting into the backfield and hitting the QB.

Opposing tackles false start... in an effort to prevent Freeney from getting into the backfield and hitting the QB.

Opposing teams double-team him... in an effort to prevent Freeney from getting into the backfield and hitting the QB.

Opposing RBs and TEs chip Freeney... in an effort to prevent Freeny from getting into the backfield and hitting the QB.

It looks an awful lot to me like Freeney only has one trick- getting into the backfield and hitting the QB. I'm not saying that he isn't GREAT at that one thing- Simeon Rice was pretty great at it, too. I'm simply saying that that's *ALL DWIGHT FREENEY CAN DO*. He can't cover. He can't play the run. He can't keep containment. He can't plug gaps. All he can do is get into the backfield and pressure the QB. It's a very valuable skill to have, and Freeney is a very valuable player as a result. Hell, Ashley Lelie was one hell of a deep threat. None of this changes the fact that this remains his one and only trick.

#35: Rich pointed out what the problem is there, but go back and read the Colts Run Defense Too Deep Zone. Mike has five plays broken down. On every single one of those five, Freeney rushes on the outside. Two of those five specifically take advantage of Freeney taking himself out of the play. Mike describes Freeney's play in one play as "his usual long-distance pass rushing excursion."

Freeney not rushing inside was a prime problem. During the playoff run, in fact, he started rushing inside, and clogged up several plays while doing so.

Whether he can do that and stay a pass-rushing force is another question. But it's absolutely wrong to believe that just because no one rushes to Freeney's side, he's a good player against the run. He isn't. They run between the tackle and guard because there's a huge, wide open hole there because the center and guard can block the DT, because Freeney only requires minor attention on a running play.

The Maurice Jones-Drew run for 17 yards is a prime example of that.

To quote Mike,

Freeney himself is part of the problem. After writing the first draft of this article, I flipped through The Sporting News and found a blurb stating that opponents have figured Freeney out and were taking advantage of his one-trick pass rush. And there I was, with a computer full of diagrams showing Brian Westbrook and Maurice Jones-Drew running right through holes created by Freeney’s outside rush. Dungy and Meeks may call more stunts on neutral downs, allowing Freeney to work inside while gumming up the B and C gaps. Or they may try to force him to use his inside pass rush more. At the very least, they must aggressively protect his gap, because that’s the one running backs are exploiting.

"You also fail to mention the guaranteed 7 rushing yards an opponent can get from running a simple off tackle draw right at Freeney "

"Guaranteed"

Do you ever post without hyperbole and/or playing the "I played football card"?

"The first thing you learn in pee wee football is to not turn your back on the play"

Guess not.

"I’m simply saying that that’s *ALL DWIGHT FREENEY CAN DO*. He can’t cover. He can’t play the run. He can’t keep containment. He can’t plug gaps. All he can do is get into the backfield and pressure the QB."

2007 Playoffs.

The Colts coaching changed his tactics and he was very effective with all the things you mention above.

It's not that he "can't"...it's that he is not asked to do so.

Ashley Lelie runs up field on flys because that is all he can do.

Vick scrambles around and does his "vick" thing because that is all he can do.

Freeney rushes up the field to put pressure on the QB because that is what he is coached to do...I have conservatively heard Dungy say that while being interviewed at least 20 times, that Freeney is told to do this.

During the '07 playoffs, Freeney was asked to play the run, rush inside and play more containment and in my opinion, he did it very well.

And Rich is a Pats fan. My most robust apologies for lumping you in with such a group of unsavory characters.

;)

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to "figure" out Freeney. It's not like coaches "just" found this stuff out.

OMO- You must be a housewife with your constant bickering. Take a deep breath.

"Vick scrambles around and does his “vick� thing because that is all he can do."

Not True. Vick is very good at running a small business.

One other thing....

Has anybody else noticed that the "Football Outsiders Fanshop" icon on the left side of this page has TO's Eagles jersey??

...and to call someone a "housewife" means you must be a 15 year old child...who wants so badly to be seen as a "manly man" with a huge internet penus.

Which is probably why at the drop of the hat you can't wait to play the "I played football card". Manly men play football...manly men subscribe to the notion that housewives bicker all the time...

the rams should pick him up forget them other teams