Brett Farve Annouces Retirement Today - NFL.com

The NFL's Official Website NFL.com has a great tribute to Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Farve, who announced his retirement today. More on this development later, but it opens the door for Cal's Aaron Rodgers to take over the offense. Rodgers was the Packers number one pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Calvin Pace and Damien Woody Sign With Gang Green

General manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Eric Mangini remained exceedingly active in the free agent market today, signing Cardinals linebacker Calvin Pace and the Lions offensive tackle Damien Woody.

Pace, a former first-round pick in 2003, recorded 98 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season after managing a dismal 88 tackles and 7.5 sacks through his first four years in the desert.

Woody, a nine-year veteran from Boston College and member of the Detroit Lions for the past four seasons, will play right tackle for the Jets this upcoming season in an attempt to solidify New York's already formidable line.

Four-Time Pro Bowl TE Alge Crumpler To Tennessee

After being released last month by the Atlanta Falcons, tight end Alge Crumpler agreed to a two-year contract with the upstart Titans.

Transferring from one anemic offense to another, Crumpler will have a significant uphill battle with an embattled offense that struggled profusely last season to find the endzone.

During his first three seasons in Atlanta, the former second round pick out of the University of North Carolina was hampered by low reception and yardage total, but witnessed his productivity accelerate from 2004-2006. Crumpler compiled at least 48 receptions, 774 yards and five touchdowns en route to consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.

Within that same span, Titans starting tight ends managed a woeful 29 receptions, 370
yards and two scores at the very least. Quarterback Vince Young will receiver a much needed boost in the addition of Crumpler and a security blanket that he has not been privy to during his two seasons in Tennessee.

Alan Faneca To The New York Jets

Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Alan Faneca has agreed to a five year,$40 million deal that includes $21 million in guaranteed money.

A distinguished member of the Steelers All-Time team, Faneca played an instrumental part in the teams overarching success over the past ten years and their 2005 Super Bowl victory.

Faneca will now join 24-year old tackles D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold to establish one of the premier offensive lines in the NFL.

Bill Parcells Building Dolphins for 4-3 Not 3-4 - RealFootball.com

Personally, I prefer a hybrib combination defense, but regardless, Dolphins Guru of Rebuilding Bill Parcells is gathering talent suitable for a 4-3 defense and not a 3-4. Let's see if it's enough to help their leaky run defense of last year.

Randy Moss Back With Patriots For 3 years, $27 Million, with $12 Million Signing Bonus

From "Sox And Dawgs" - New England Patriots free agent wide receiver Randy Moss has agreed to terms to return to the Patriots. The contract is 3 years for $27 million, with a $12 million signing bonus. It is not known at this time how much guaranteed money was added in the value of the contract.

Moss came to New England in 2007 on a draft day trade with Oakland for a fourth round draft pick. He played for $3 million plus incentives under a restructured contract in which saw him catch almost 100 balls and set a NFL record with 23 TD catches.

In addition to two seasons in Oakland the five-time Pro-Bowler was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings out of Marshall University in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft.

DE Justin Smith Signs With 49ers

Justin Smith has decided to travel west to San Francisco for the opportunity of greener pastures and a completely fresh start with a rising organization.

The green will be overflowing in abundance for the fourth-pick in the 2001 draft after he agreed to a six-year, $45 million plus contract during the second day of free agency. Smith has been assured $20 million in guaranteed money.

At 6-4 and 275 pounds, Smith will be a valuable addition to a defense that ranked
25th last season en route to a 5-11 record.

Fresh Free Agent Signings Around The League

A plethora of impactful players switched zip codes Friday after agreeing to terms with their new teams.

Safety Gibril Wilson, who was instrumental in the Giants first Super Bowl Victory since 1990, signed a six-year, $39 million deal.

Veteran Issac Bruce, who amassed 14,109 yards and 84 touchdowns in his 14 prolific seasons in the gateway city, secured a two-year, $6 million contract with rival San Francisco. Kick return specialist Allen Rossum signed with the 49ers as well.

Todd Collins, who guided the Redskins to an improbable playoff run last season, re-signed with Washington, agreeing to a three-year, $9 million deal.

Bill Parcells remained highly active in free agency,signing wide receiver Ernest Wilford, trading for the Cowboys nose tackle Jason Ferguson and adding former Raiders quarterback Josh McCown.

Due to the departure of Quinn Gray, the Jaguars signed Dolphins quarterback Cleo Lemon to be their backup. Lemon led Miami to their lone victory last season.

Tampa Bay signed center Jeff Faine after electing to not re-sign John Wade.

Tommy Kelly resigned with the Oakland Raiders earlier this week to a seven-year contract worth more than $50 million. The productive defensive lineman has been assured more than $18 million in guaranteed money.

Rams Jeff Wilkins Retires, Kicker Josh Brown Signs

The same day after 14-year veteran and all-time leading scorer Jeff Wilkins announced his retirement, Josh Brown bolted from the division rival Seahawks to sign with the St.Louis Rams.

Brown agreed to a five-year, $14.2 million contract that includes a $4 signing bonus. Brown's new contract will propel him to the status of highest paid kicker in the league.

During his five seasons in the Northwest, Brown connected on 80% of field goals and 99.6% of extra points. The former Cornhusker has a knack for timely kicks, accumulating four game -winning field goals in 2006, two of which were against his new team.


Undrafted out of Youngstown State in 1994, Wilkins firmly established a name for himself as one of the premier place kickers in NFL history. Since joining the Rams in 1997, Wilkins played in very game except for five in the year 2000. Consistency evolved as the benchmark of Wilkins's career,as he connected on 307 of 375 field goals and 26 that were from 50 yards or greater.

“Throughout my 11 years with the Rams, everybody in the organization has been fantastic - from top to bottom,” Wilkins said. “But retirement is the best for me, my family and the Rams.”

Derek Anderson Remains With Cleveland Browns

The clock struck 12:01 A.M. Friday morning and Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Anderson was officially a restricted free agent. After weeks of tireless work by Browns executives to keep their primary signal caller, a deal was unable to be accomplished.

Five hours later representatives for Anderson and general manager Phil Savage agreed to a three-year, $24 million contact with $13 million in guaranteed money.

After throwing for a career high 29 touchdowns and 3,787 yards in 16 games for the 10-6 Browns, it was necessary that a deal was consummated as quickly as possible. If Anderson bolted for another team, Cleveland would have received a first and third-round draft pick.

Porter, Williamson Headed To Jacksonville

In order to provide speed,agility and security for rising quarterback David Garrard, the Jaguars delved into the free agency market by signing Oakland Raiders disgruntled wideout Jerry Porter and acquiring despondent wide receiver Troy Williamson from the Minnesota Vikings.

After spending the first seven years of his career in the Bay Area, Porter was eager for a fresh new start with an established club. In signing a six-year,$30 million contract, Porter is expected to emerge as the Jaguars number one option at wide receiver.

Playing in 16 games last season with an anemic offense, Porter managed to reel in 76 receptions for 942 yards and five touchdowns.

Drafted seventh overall in 2005, Troy Williamson has been a significant disappoint for the Vikings, finding the endzone three times in three seasons.

“We’re giving Troy a chance, an opportunity for him to come down here and rejuvenate himself, have fun, don’t worry about the high expectations that were associated with his selection and his place there,” Del Rio said.

If Williamson is focused and determined to succeed, the Jaguars have an ability to propel to the top of the AFC South.

Free Agent Frenzy Around The NFL

Kris Jenkins, Jonathan Vilma, Shaun Rodgers, Kawika Mitchell, Asante Samuel. These five defensive stalwarts highlight the list of players who took full advantage of the beginning of free agency this morning and will be dawning new uniforms next season.

Jenkins, a three time All-Pro and seven-year veteran, was dealt by the Carolina Panthers to the New York Jets in exchange for draft picks. He promptly signed a new five-year, $35 million contract that is worth $20 million in guaranteed money.

While heralded as the foundation of the Jets 3-4 defense, Jonathan Vilma was unable to acclimate to coach Eric Mangini's system. The totality of the situation was too much for the Jets rising star to adjust to and a shift to the crescent city will do the two-time defensive captain very well. In return for Vilma, New Orleans sends a fourth-round draft pick to New York.

At 340 pounds, overbearing defensive tackle Shaun Rodgers is a force to be reckon with when not inspired. To imagine the impact Rodgers can cement on Cincinnati's porous defense when motivated is very intriguing to Bengals fans now that he's been acquired for a third and fifth-round pick. In 16 games last season, Rodgers compiled 39 tackles, seven sacks and four forced fumbles.

Super Bowl champion linebacker Kawika Mitchell capitalized off of the Giants playoff push by signing a five-year deal worth $17.5 million.

The city of brotherly love will be feeling a lot more joyous this fall when shut down cornerback Asante Samuel takes the field at Lincoln Financial. With two Super Bowl victories to his credit, Samuel has compiled 22 interceptions and 238 tackles in five short seasons. Considered the premier free agent in this year's market, Samuel agreed to a six-year, $54 million contract on the first day of free agency.