Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

::2010 Age is as of September 1, 2010::

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Shayne Graham | Cincinnati Bengals | FA Type: UFA | 2010 Age: 32.9

Timing is everything and missing two second-half field goals in a contract year – including an easy 28-yard chip shot in the fourth quarter of the Bengals’ 24-14 wild card playoff loss at home to the New York Jets – was bad timing to the nth degree for kicker Shayne Graham. Entering the 2009 season, Graham was Cincinnati’s all-time leading kicker with a field goal accuracy rating of 87.5 percent. He also accumulated five additional franchise records in his seven years with the team including most points in a season (131) and most field goals in a game (seven).

Now an unrestricted free agent, Graham had been the Bengals’ designated franchise player during the 2009 off-season but was unable to agree to a long-term extension with the team. A disgruntled Graham reportedly bashed team management on his Facebook page which strained his relationship with the Bengals’ top brass. Graham finished the 2009 regular season having connected on 23 of 28 field goals and 28 of 29 extra points.

Following the wild card loss, the Bengals appeared ready to permanently part ways with Graham. The team tried out six kickers and signed Dave Rayner in February. Rayner, 27, who sat out the 2009 season with a hip flexor injury after a brief preseason stint with the Washington Redskins, has kicked with four other clubs including the Green Bay Packers in 2006 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007. He also stepped in for an injured Graham in October 2008. Rayner’s made 42 of 59 field goal attempts in his career.

Graham has been one of the league’s most accurate kickers and while he’s currently saddled with the “can’t make the clutch kicks” reputation, we think Graham will generate interest on the open market. His production over the past seven years is simply too good to not find a home with another team in 2010. The Baltimore Ravens are currently in talks with Graham, and the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and even the Indianapolis Colts are among other clubs that could be interested in signing him to a multiyear deal.

And while it’s a long-shot, we aren’t completely closing the door to the possibility that Graham could re-sign with the Bengals, though after the two missed postseason field goals, the club will not want to pay him more than the $2.8 million he earned in 2009. Depending on where he lands, Graham should continue to be a solid fantasy football option in 2010. If the Bengals completely sever ties with Graham, we expect them to bring in another leg to compete with Rayner during training camp or to look for a more proven kicker in the off-season. Given Rayner’s limited experience as a starter, we currently see him as a bye-week replacement at best.

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Over the past 10-15 years the role of a tight end in the NFL has changed. There used to be a time when the tight end was primarily used as an extra blocker; however, with the evolution of the passing game it has led to a huge spike in production at the position. Just how much has the tight end position developed over time? In 2000, Tony Gonzalez was the only tight end to record over 71 receptions and just two tight ends had over 800 receiving yards. Fast forward 10 years and you will notice how far how the passing game has developed around the league. In 2009 we saw eight tight ends catch over 71 passes and eight record over 800 receiving yards. On top of that, 15 tight ends score five or more touchdowns in 2009, while only four were able to achieve the same feat in 2000.

Whether it’s through free agency, the NFL Draft or making a trade, the rapid rise in growth at the position has led to many teams looking to find that franchise tight end. However, those NFL owners looking to free agency to fill a hole at tight end will be disappointed. Outside of Owen Daniels, who is a restricted free agent (RFA), the available options are nothing to get excited about. In fact, Benjamin Watson, who was the most attractive unrestricted free agent, (UFA) has already signed with the Cleveland Browns.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Alge Crumpler | Tennessee Titans | FA Type: UFA | 2010 Age: 29.9

Unrestricted free agent tight end Crumpler is a seasoned veteran who spent his first seven years in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons (2001-2007) before signing with the Titans prior to the 2008 season. Once among the league’s most potent receiving tight ends, Crumpler had just 27 receptions for 222 yards and one touchdown in 2009. While Crumpler’s role as a pass catching threat diminished due to his bulked up frame as well as the emergence of Bo Scaife, his skills as blocker contributed significantly to Tennessee’s rushing attack over the past two seasons.  In terms of fantasy football value, Crumpler has not been a factor since he signed with Tennessee; however, he is a solid overall player and has missed only five games through nine complete seasons. If he does not re-sign with the Titans, we expect him to find a home with a team looking for a blocking tight end with experience. A move isn’t likely to increase Crumpler’s fantasy value, so leave him undrafted in all formats.

UPDATE: Bruno Boys is following news reported in the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald that Crumpler is close to signing a deal with the New England Patriots. While it’s possible that Crumpler could see more targets given the Pats passing attack, his primary role will likely be a blocker. New England is expected to draft a pass-oriented tight end in the second round.

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According the the NFL Players Association, the average player in the NFL lasts just 3.3 years. If you think that is a short lived, try being a running back in the NFL. The average running back lasts just 2.57 years, which is almost one full year less than league average. The reason for this is because of the wear and tear a running back endures over the course of a 16-game season. We mention this when talking about NFL Free Agency because with the average running back having a short lived careers it leads to turnover at the position and often times teams look to the open market to build their backfield.

When taking a look at the 2010 Free Agent Running Backs you will notice a big difference between Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) and the Restricted Free Agents (RFA). All of the mentioned players have exceeded the average life span of a RB; however, some of them are reaching the end of the road. The most desirable UFA running backs are veterans that have had very successful careers to date, but seem to have lost a step or two, while the top RFA options are only three to five years into their careers but have enjoyed some sort of success thus far.

::2010 Age is as of September 1, 2010::

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

LaDainian Tomlinson | Free Agent | FA Type: UFA | 2010 Age: 31.4

Tomlinson heads the list of 2010 unrestricted free agent running backs and he didn’t make the list because his contract expired. The San Diego Chargers released Tomlinson on February 22 after an incredible nine-year run with the franchise. With Tomlinson due to receive a $2 million dollar roster bonus in March, San Diego management decided it was time to close the book on arguably the greatest running back of all-time. They also said goodbye to a player his fans had come to know as LT. Heading in to the 2009 season, Tomlinson rushed for at least 1,100 yards and scored double-digit touchdowns in each of his first eight seasons in the league. Unfortunatey things began to unravel for Tomlinson in his ninth season with the Chargers. The wear and tear on his body caught up with Tomlinson and it was noticeable on the field. LT averaged a career low 3.3 yards per carry and only three out of 223 rushing attempts were over 20 yards.

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- Written by Marc Caviglia

Take a quick look at the 2010 Free Agents Quarterbacks and you will notice the list isn’t full of front line options. There are a few unrestricted free agent (UFA) that could be appealing to a team in need of veteran leadership but don’t expect any of these signal callers to get much buzz when teams are allowed to offer contracts to free agents on March 5.

::2010 Age is as of September 1, 2010::

Chad Pennington | Miami Dolphins | FA Type: UFA | 2010 Age: 34.3

Among NFL free agent quarterbacks, Pennington will demand the most interest on the open market. Pennington, an unrestricted free agent (UFA), will enter the 2010 season at the age of 34 and he doesn’t have many throws left in his noodle arm; however, his ability to manage a game could be appealing to a team that relies on a smash-mouth football and defense to win games. Throughout his 10 year career, Pennington has used an abundance of high percentage throws to take care of the football. His 66.1 completion percentage is first in the NFL among all quarterbacks who have thrown enough passes to qualify and his 90.1 passer rating ranks 12th overall.

Teams looking to employ Pennington to compete for a starting job, or be a mentor to a young quarterback, will have to make sure he is healthy enough to produce. In 2009, a torn shoulder capsule on his throwing arm forced the veteran into the surgery room and cut his season short after just three games. This marked the third time (2005-twice, 2009) in four years that Pennington went under the knife to repair his shoulder.

Proven signal callers, who know how to win, usually have no problem finding a new home in the NFL and this should hold true for Pennington. His career record is 43-34 as a starter and odds are there will be a handful of teams contacting Pennington about wearing their uniform in 2010. We expect interested suitors to include the Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, New York Jets and a return to the Miami Dolphins isn’t out of the question.

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- Written by Allie Fontana

This article kicks off a new Bruno Boys series focused on NFL Free Agency. Throughout the 2010 NFL Off-season, Bruno Boys Allie (aka BBFantasyGirl) will address a wide variety of topics ranging from breaking down the free agent players at every position to assessing free agent signings to examining how changes to free agency in an uncapped year impact the drafting and trading strategies of teams around the league. We believe that understanding free agency helps fantasy football owners make better decisions when it comes to drafting your teams and also provides insight into how the new rules governing free agency in an uncapped year will impact the NFL come August. So fasten your seatbelts Bruno Boys Nation and fantasy football fans…the 2010 NFL season promises to be a wild and crazy ride!

Despite 18 months of meetings and negotiations, NFL owners and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) were unable come up with a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) prior to the midnight March 5 deadline. This means that the league will operate under new rules in 2010 – rules that seem to favor owners far more than players.  So how did this happen?

In May 2008, owners exercised their right to opt out of the last two years of the agreement they signed in 2006. Although there were a number of reasons for their decision, the primary issue centered on how much of the gross revenues players should be paid. Under the 2006 CBA, the players receive 59.9% of the revenue – an amount that owners want to significantly reduce. They say profits are down and costs have escalated while the players want the owners to open their books to prove financial hardship.

Without a new CBA in place, the 2010 NFL season will be played without a salary cap for the first time since 1993. The threat of an uncapped year was supposed to be an incentive to owners to get a new agreement in place, while changes to the rules of free agency and a reduction in benefits were intended to motivate players. With neither side choking on its respective “poison pill” what we have instead, is a stalemate. Also looming large over the negotiations is the possibility of a lockout when the current CBA runs out in March 2011. 

No Cap Means No Ceiling and No Floor

In 2009, the salary cap had a $123 million ceiling and a $108 million floor. In a 2010 uncapped world, there is no limit on players’ salaries – either maximum or minimum. Teams can spend as much or as little as they want on their players. There are expectations that teams with deep pockets, such as the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys will take advantage of the uncapped year and spend big bucks in an attempt to buy a championship team. Another school of thought is that owners, in a show of solidarity, will choose to limit or curtail spending around the league. For example, rather than spend any significant money on free agency, an owner could decide to fill his roster with undrafted players or cheaper, later round draft picks.

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February 24-March 2 — NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana

Workout Schedule
Friday, February 26 – Kickers, punters, special teams
Saturday, February 27 – Offensive linemen, tight ends
Sunday, February 28 – Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs
Monday, March 1 – Defensive linemen, linebackers
Tuesday, March 2 – Defensive backs

February 25 – Deadline at 4:00 PM ET for clubs to designate franchise and transition players.

March 4 — Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they wish to retain a right of first refusal and/or compensation.

March 4 — Deadline for clubs to submit an offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired.

March 5 – Start of capped or uncapped 2010 NFL season.

March 5 — Free agency begins.

March 5 — Trading period begins.

March 21-24 — NFL Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

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The following is a position-by-position breakdown of minimum tenders for franchise and transition players in 2010.

Franchise Player Tenders

To designate a Franchise Player in 2010 and retain a Right of First Refusal and potential compensation of two first round Draft Selections, the required Minimum Tenders are as follows:

*or 120% of player’s 2009 salary, whichever is greater

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The 2010 class of Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) has different levels of tender offers based on a player’s number of accrued seasons and their associated levels of draft choice compensation. The following list breaks down tender offers by the number of accrued seasons:

Player with Three Accrued Seasons

Right of First Refusal — $1,101,000
Right of First Refusal plus Pick in player’s original draft round — $1,101,000*
Right of First Refusal plus Second-Round Draft Pick — $1,684,000*
Right of First Refusal plus First-Round Draft Pick — $2,396,000*
Right of First Refusal plus First- and Third-Round Draft Picks — $3,043,000*

*or 110% of player’s 2009 Paragraph 5 Salary, whichever is greater

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NFL teams had until 4:00 p.m. ET on February 25 to tag 2010 franchise and transition players. Six franchise player designations were made in advance of the 2010 NFL free agency signing period. There were no transition player designations this year. The following individuals have been designated as 2010 franchise players:

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