Urlacher Retirement: 2013 Off-Season has been the Season for Retiring Legends

Ray Lewis, Matt Birk, Ronde Barber. And now Brian Urlacher.

The long-time Chicago Bears middle linebacker joins the list of this era's living legends to retire from the game this off-season, announcing his official retirement on Wednesday. Urlacher played all 13 of his professional seasons in Chicago, and will retire as the third-best MLB in franchise history (behind Butkus and Singletary).

As a versatile player on the field, Urlacher played multiple positions while playing his college ball at the University of New Mexico, including linebacker, safety, wide receiver and return specialist. The All-American was drafted ninth overall by Chicago in the 2000 NFL draft and ended up winning the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award following his Pro Bowl performance of 125 tackles, 8.0 sacks and two interceptions.

At 6'4"/250 pounds, the eight-time Pro Bowler 'backer was known as a great cover guy throughout his career but was also a feared tackler, chasing down ball-carriers from sideline-to-sideline.

Spread out over 180 career starts, Urlacher's numbers are some of the best you'll see from a middle linebacker during his era (not far behind Baltimore's Lewis), and are consistent across the board: 1,358 combined tackles, 41.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, 15 fumble recoveries, according to Pro-Footballreference.com.

Had Urlacher not missed two games during his rookie campaign, seven during the '04 season, 15 in '09 and four last season, who knows what these numbers could potentially look like. The four-time All Pro was the heart and soul of the Chicago defense during the 2000s––he was named on the league's All-Decade team––and provided veteran leadership to the young guys on the field.

Green Bay Packers All Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers has already come out and said that Urlacher was his favorite opponent and that he'd miss clashing with #54, as well as the banter between the two on the field. I don't feel as though he'd miss being hit by him, however.

With Urlacher's retirement coming the same off-season as Lewis and Ronde Barber, it's very possible that we could end up seeing the three of them being enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the same time in 2018. Wouldn't that be something? Each of the three were the face of their respective franchise during the 2000s, and would be welcomed into Canton with open arms.

But the football field will most definitely be missing numbers 52, 20 and 54 once September rolls around.

Additional 2013 retirees:

Donovan McNabb, QB
David Garrard, QB
Matt Birk, C
Rolando McClain, LB
Scott Fujita, LB
Al Harris, CB
Nate Kaeding, K

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Note: Stats according to Pro-footballreference.com

Jennings Not the First Packer Favorite to Leave Green Bay for Minny

Aside from the Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears storied rivalry––facing off with each other nearly 200 times since 1921––one of the biggest NFC North rivalries in today's NFL is the Packers/Vikings.

That's what makes Greg Jennings' departure from Green Bay this off-season that much harder for Packer Nation. He's hanging up his green and gold jersey, for a purple and gold jersey. Joining one of the most hated teams among Packer fans.

His last two seasons have been littered with injuries, missing three games in 2011 and over half the season in 2012. The injuries have limited his production while on the field as well, catching just 36 passes for Aaron Rodgers last regular season and averaging just over 10 yards per catch––a career-low for the 7-year pro.

Exactly six months shy of his 30th birthday, Jennings signed $47.5 million ($18M guaranteed) contract to play for his arch-rival for the next five years. If you're getting the 2011-12 Jennings, the Vikings definitely overpaid for his services. However, a return to his 2008-10 form would be a nice change of pace for the Vikings.

Jennings entered the league as a 2nd round draft selection of the Packers in 2006, and broke out with three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons in 2008, '09 and '10. The two-time Pro Bowler has 425 catches for 6,537 yards and 53 TDs over his 86 starts in Green Bay. But is his three superb seasons really worth $18M in guaranteed money? No, of course not. Jennings is locked up until he's in his mid-30s and I expect his production to start going downhill long before then.

We don't even know if he can return to his normal form, especially in Minnesota's offense. Two off-seasons ago, the Vikes lost top wideout Sidney Rice to the Seahawks. This off-season they dealt top wideout Percy Harvin to, guess who, the Seahawks. With the quarterback position in the air heading into this summer (acquired Matt Cassel from the Chiefs), we don't even know who will be throwing passes to Jennings.

He'll garner most of the attention from opposing secondaries, considering he's one of the few top targets on Minnesota's offense. Plus we'll of course see a heavy dose of Adrian Peterson again this season. So I'm not even sure if a healthy Jennings will manage to catch 80 passes this season.

Then again, we all know the Vikings have a history of scooping up former Packer fan favorites and ticking off the state of Wisconsin:

Brett Favre: After 16 legendary seasons in Green Bay (and one subpar season with the Jets), Favre signed a two-year deal worth $25 million. He was 40 at the time. The season before, while in New York, Favre had led the league in interceptions (22) and missed the postseason after an epic second half collapse.

So what would be the reason for giving the gunslinger $25 mil? It's still a mystery.

The deal was almost deemed genius though, as Favre was just one big play away from taking Minnesota to the Super Bowl in 2009––his first season with the team. He appeared to have revitalized his career with 4,202 yards, 33 TDs , 7 interceptions, 107.2 QB rating and a 12-4 record. The MVP candidate came up just shy in the NFC Championship against the New Orleans Saints, throwing a late interception to spoil the Vikes' hopes.

The following season, and final year of Favre's 20-year Hall of Fame career, didn't pan out quite as well. Minnesota went 5-8 in Brett's 13 starts while he threw for just 2,509 yards, 11 TDs and 19 interceptions. The 2009 season was worth nearly every penny of the $12M the Viking front office dished out to Favre, but the $13M in 2010? What a waste of precious money.

Darren Sharper: The former 14-year free safety was drafted by the Packers 1997 and established himself with the fan base, playing eight years at Lambeau. But 105 starts, 500+ tackles and 36 interceptions later, Sharper strayed for Minnesota. What did he do his first season there? Only made 51 combined tackles, picked off 9 passes and led the league in interception touchdowns (2).

In just four seasons with the Vikings, Sharper intercepted 18 passes and matched his Pro Bowl total from his Green Bay days (two; five appearances during his career). Sharper wasn't quite over the hill at the time of the signing, but there's no doubt his best days were in Green Bay.

Ryan Longwell: Kickers are technically football players, too.

Longwell, once again, was drafted by the Packers and established himself as a solid placekicker while donning the green and gold. As a rookie in 1997, Longwell led the league in extra points attempted and made, going a perfect 48-for-48.

After nine seasons with the Packers, Green Bay's all-time leading scorer was signed by the Vikings as a free agent prior to the 2006 season. He played six more years with his NFC North foe, and even hit a higher percentage of field goals while in Minnesota (81.6% with Packers, 86.0% with Vikings). How's that for sticking it to the man?

- - - - -

I'm not sure what the Packers fans are more PO'd about, the fact that Jennings strayed for their rival or that Brett Favre was the one that helped the Vikings land their coveted wideout.

According to Jennings himself, he was on the phone with Favre when he got off the plane to visit with the Vikings. And from the sound of it, it appears as though Favre was lobbying him to do what he felt was right. And apparently Jennings "felt right" leaving Green Bay.

I guess he and Favre both realized they were once again overpaying for a former Packer star. There seems to be a pattern here, doesn't there?

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Free Agency Part II: Top Defensive Free Agents by Position

We're now just over 24 hours into the 2013 NFL free agency period (began Tuesday March 12 at 4 pm eastern time), and we've yet to post the second of two parts to the free agency preview. So, though it's a tad late, here's the defensive edition.

We've already seen plenty of big-name guys find new teams, but we've decided we would just break down the top remaining defensive guys left on the market.

Defensive Line: Cliff Avril, Detroit

Avril is one of the youngest and most productive d-lineman in this year's free agent class. Detroit opted not to franchise him for the second straight year and instead he'll test the FA waters. At age 26, Avril had 9.5 sacks in 2012 and 11.5 in 2011, and could get a hefty offer from a team desperate for pass-rushing help. There have been whispers that the former third round pick has drawn interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Best of the Rest

Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis––Freeney battled injury, missing three starts last season, and was forced to switch from defensive end to outside linebacker in Chuck Pagano's 3-4 defense. He'd be a great fit in Denver's 4-3 scheme, reuniting with former Colt teammate Peyton Manning. It's a possibility.

John Abraham, Atlanta––Normally age 30 is when players start to decline, but the soon-to-be-35-year old defensive end has racked up 54.5 sacks since turning the big 3-0. Atlanta was unable to bring back the reliable vet, but his 10.0 sacks this past season will give him negotiating leverage despite his age.

Osi Umenyiora, New York Giants––Personally, Umenyiora makes the "best of the rest" simply because of his name. He's post-30, and his numbers have declined each of the past three seasons in New York. Not to mention his bad attitude. BUT, someone will give him a chance and most of the top guys in the DL pool have already signed deals.

Others available: Matt Shaughnessy (OAK), Michael Bennett (TB), Richard Seymour (OAK), 

Already signed: Michael Johnson (franchise-tagged by CIN), Cullen Jenkins (signed three-year deal with NYG), Randy Starks (franchise-tagged by MIA), Desmond Bryant (signed five-year deal with CLE), Glenn Dorsey (signed deal with SF), Mike Devito (signed three-year deal with KC), Chris Canty (signed three-year deal with BAL), Henry Melton (signed one-year deal with CHI), Robert Geathers (signed deal with CIN), Isaac Sopoaga (signed three-year deal with PHI), Jason Jones (signed three-year deal with DET).

Linebacker: Brian Urlacher, Chicago

The Chicago/Urlacher talks haven't been very public, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him remain a Bear. Nevertheless, Urlacher is certainly still the best linebacker left out there. The eight-time Pro Bowler has been very reliable for Chicago throughout his career and his presence on the field alone can improve any defense.

Best of the Rest

James Harrison, Pittsburgh––Harrison battled injury in 2012 and Pittsburgh made the decision not to retain him for 2013. But, for the right price, Harrison could be an improvement for just about any defense in the pass-rushing category. Not to mention he strikes fear into his opponents. Don't expect anyone to give him much more than a one-two year deal, though.

Connor Barwin, Houston––Barwin was a very underrated piece to Houston's stingy defense in 2011 and '12. Raking in 14.5 sacks and 12 passes defensed over the last two seasons, Barwin made an impact in both stopping the run and the pass. The 26-year old wont warrant a big-time, long-term deal, but whoever winds up with him will likely love the results.

Karlos Dansby, Miami––Dansby recorded 134 combined tackles in his third season with Miami this past year, but was released (along with teammate and fellow LB Kevin Burnett) by the Dolphins yesterday. Dansby is a great coverage 'backer and plays sideline-to-sideline. Solid option among the ILB's still on the market.

Others available: Shaun Phillips (SD), Daryl Smith (JAC), Kevin Burnett (MIA), Nick Barnett (BUF), Rey Maualuga (CIN), D.J. Williams (DEN).

Already signed: Paul Kruger (signed five-year deal with CLE), Anthony Spencer (signed one-year deal with DAL), Dannell Ellerbe (signed five-year deal with MIA), Larry Foote (signed three-year deal with PIT), Stewart Bradley (signed one-year deal with DEN), Phillip Wheeler (signed five-year deal with MIA), Erin Henderson (signed two-year deal with MIN), Manny Lawson (signed four-year deal with BUF), Quentin Groves (signed two-year deal with CLE).

Cornerback: Sean Smith, Miami

At just 25 years of age, Smith has yet to hit his prime in his four-year professional career. His numbers and effectiveness on the football field continues to improve with each passing season as well. His size (6'2"/215 pounds) makes him a physical back who can keep up with the top guns. I'd take a young Smith over a proven vet such as Charles Woodson or Antoine Winfield (both released by their respective teams).

Best of the Rest

Aqib Talib, New England––The troubled Talib was productive in what little time he saw on the field with Tampa and New Enland last season. Washington is reportedly making a push for the 27-year old, so we'll see if he can find a long-term home in D.C. in the next couple of days.

Cary Williams, Baltimore––In his second consecutive full season as a Raven, Williams stole the spotlight late in the season as he filled in for the injured Lardarius Webb...and he won a championship. But just like many other Baltimore defenders, the Ravens likely wont be able to retain him and he's more than likely going to have to find a new home.

Nnamdi Asomugha, Philadelphia––A failed two-year campaign with what was dubbed by Vince Young as the "dream team" in Philadelphia, Asomugha was practically chased out of Philly. He missed just one start, but was certainly not the same "shutdown corner" that he was in Oakland. Nevertheless, he'll find a team out there looking to add a guy of Asomugha's potential.

Others available: Brent Grimes (ATL), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (PHI), Keenan Lewis (PIT), Antoine Winfield (MIN), Mike Jenkins (DAL), Tracy Porter (DEN).

Already signed: Chris Houston (signed five-year deal with DET), Bradley Fletcher (signed two-year deal with PHI), Dunta Robinson (signed three-year deal with KC), Leodis McKelvin (signed four-year deal with BUF), Greg Toler (signed three-year deal with IND), Aaron Ross (signed deal with NYG), Jerraud Powers (signed three-year deal with ARI), Darius Butler (signed two-year deal with IND), William Gay (signed three-year deal with PIT).

Safety: Ed Reed, Baltimore

Reed has threatened retirement a couple of different times, stemming from his recurring neck injury. But all things point to Reed being on the football field in 2013, just not with the Ravens. He's set to visit with the Houston Texans tomorrow, but don't rule out teams such as New England and San Francisco (just lost Goldson via free agency) as possible suitors for the future Hall of Fame free safety.

Best of the Rest


Charles Woodson, Green Bay––The Pack let Woodson go after he started just seven games in 2012. At his age, Woodson is clearly no longer the shutdown defensive back he once was. But a one-year deal with Woodson seems like a low-risk, high reward deal if he can even come close to his 2011 form.

Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay––Barber, 37, switched over to safety, like Woodson, last year and that seemed to put new life into the five-time Pro Bowler. He picked off four passes, made 91 tackles and broke up 13 more passes as the heart and soul of Tampa's defense. Even though he'll be 38 in April, Barber clearly still has a little something left in his bottomless tank.

Louis Delmas, Detroit––Delmas is just 25 years old, meaning he could get a lengthy contract. But, unfortunately, his health history may hold a few teams back. Delmas is Pro Bowl-caliber when he's on the field, but starting just 18 games over the last two seasons doesn't help his case too much.

Others available: Kenny Phillips (NYG), Bernard Pollard (BAL), Kerry Rhodes (ARI), LaRon Landry (NYJ), Michael Huff (OAK).

Already signed: Jairus Byrd (franchise-tagged by BUF), Glover Quin (signed five-year deal with DET), William Moore (signed five-year deal with ATL), Chris Clemons (signed one-year deal with MIA), George Wilson (signed two-year deal with TEN).

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We've had a lot of action over the last 24 hours, yet there are still plenty of options out there, both on offense and defense. Isn't free agency fun?

Be sure to check out the "off-season" tab at the top of the page to keep up with all the off-season signings and acquisitions!

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Joe Flacco's New Contract: Could this Lead to a Mega-Deal for Rodgers?

If there's one thing we've learned from Joe Flacco's new contract, it's that in order to get a big-time payday all you gotta do is say you're 'the best.'

Friday afternoon the Baltimore Ravens and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco agreed on a new, six-year contract which is reportedly worth $120.6 million. The contract is not likely to be fully complete until this evening or Monday morning, and Flacco will be in Baltimore to sign it on Monday. But the basics of the contract have been reported by FOX Sports' Jay Glazer and ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The new deal will make the five-year pro the highest paid player in league history, surpassing Drew Brees' $120 million contract with the Saints.

The deal comes following a Super Bowl run in which Flacco played nearly flawless football in his three postseason games and the Super Bowl, throwing for 11 TDs and zero INTs in wins over the Colts, Broncos, Patriots and 49ers. The 28-year old has never made a Pro Bowl appearance or been named to an All Pro team, but he's the only quarterback to win a postseason game in each of his first five years and holds the record for most road postseason wins (6).

The numbers show us that Flacco has been just above average in his first four seasons in the league, and was never able to get over the hump until this season. But luckily for him the timing was right. He managed to back the Ravens into the playoffs but got hot at the perfect time.

Now, instead of giving him Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady-type money, the Ravens were forced into making Flacco the highest-paid quarterback. Certainly this will keep Joe happy for the next six years, but will the Ravens end up regretting this decision? It's likely. I'd expect the contract to be restructured to benefit the Ravens after two or three years.

Despite the money being thrown at Flacco, it's still possible that the Ravens will be able to retain key defensive pieces such as Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe and Ed Reed depending on how the contract is structured.

This contract has taught us a lot: 1) timing is everything 2) Baltimore is fully invested in their franchise quarterback 3) Aaron Rodgers needs a better contract.

I don't expect Flacco to hold the "highest paid quarterback" title for very long. Green Bay Packers signal caller has two years left on his contract and we can expect he'd receive an extension before it expires. In 2013, Rodgers is due $9.25 million and $10.5 million in 2014. When compared to Flacco's new deal, Rodgers is highly underpaid with his current contract. Don't be surprised if Aaron uses Joe as leverage in negotiating an extension.

Either way, fellow quarterbacks need to take notice. Perhaps this summer we will hear more NFL quarterbacks come out and reiterate Flacco's now infamous words: "I think I am the best QB in football."

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Free Agency Part 1: Top Offensive Free Agents by Position

The new league year begins on March 12, meaning we're right around the corner from the free agency period. Unlike this year's draft, there are plenty of options on offense (and defense as well), for teams looking to make quick improvements heading into April.

We've broken down the top free agents into two parts––offense and defense. Here are the top guys available by position on the offensive side of the ball, in addition to possible destinations for the 2013 season and beyond..

Quarterback: Joe Flacco, Baltimore

The quarterback free agent class is very top-heavy, and there really aren't going to be too many guys out there that teams such as Arizona and Jacksonville to make a move on. Why do you think the Chiefs acquired Smith? We all know Flacco will be staying in Baltimore and getting that long-term contract he's been lobbying for, but he's still up for grabs for other teams (such as Cleveland) to attempt to steal him, in case Baltimore doesn't want to match what Flacco wants.

But if a deal isn't reached before March 12, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get hit with the franchise tag so that they have more time to reach a deal. Bottom line here: Flacco will remain in Baltimore, leaving Matt Moore the best remaining quarterback on the market.

Others available: Moore (MIA), Jason Campbell (CHI), Josh Johnson (TB), Drew Stanton (IND), Charlie Batch (PIT), Rex Grossman (WAS).

Running back: Steven Jackson, St. Louis

The Rams allowed Jackson, 29, to void the final year of his contract and hit the free agency market on March 12. This easily puts him atop the list of available running backs despite Atlanta's release of Michael Turner earlier today. There's no way Jackson will change his mind and return to the Rams, he clearly wants out. There are several teams that could show interest and make a move for Jackson, including New York (Giants), Green Bay, Detroit, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.

Though the three-time Pro Bowler has scored double digit TDs just one time in his nine-year career (2006), Jackson has broken the 1,000 yard barrier in each of the last eight seasons. He has still shown that he's got the explosiveness of a No. 1 back in this league, and could give a team another 2-3 solid years. I'd expect to see Jackson the first RB to find a new team, and for one of the aforementioned teams to land him for 2013.

Best of the Rest:

Michael Turner, Atlanta––The Falcons made the decision to release the 31-year old Turner, who averaged just 3.6 yards per carry this season. Though he's clearly on the downfall of his career, Turner has still run for 10+ TDs in each of the past five seasons and will make for a great 3rd down back for a team looking to add a proven vet to their offense.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York (Giants)––The Giants decided not to keep the injury-prone Bradshaw (smart move), meaning he'll hit the market and will be in a new uniform come September. It's clear he can no longer carry the full-load, but like Turner, the 26-year old could team up and make for a great second option coming out of the backfield.

Reggie Bush, Miami––Bush appeared to be nothing more than a solid return man while in New Orleans, but in his past two seasons with the Dolphins Bush has revamped his career. He ran for 2,090 yards and 17 TDs in five seasons with the Saints, but in just two years in Miami he's broken out for 2,072 yards and 12 TDs. Quite the turn-around, huh? I'm expecting to see Miami bring Bush back for more in 2013.

Shonn Greene, New York (Jets)––The explosive, 235 pound Greene appears to be turning things around over the past two seasons, but if I'm the Jets I want to bring in fresh legs. They need to enter rebuilding mode and completely change things up. I don't think they'll bring Greene back and he'll, like Bradshaw, be playing somewhere outside of New York in 2013.

Others available: Rashard Mendenhall (PIT), Felix Jones (DAL), Cedric Benson (GB), Peyton Hillis (KC), Danny Woodhead (NE).

Wide Receiver: Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh

Personally I believe that Greg Jennings, not Wallace, is the top wideout name in the free agency pool. But, considering the position we're in, Wallace will generate the most buzz. Jennings is expected to remain in Green Bay, but I don't see Wallace sticking in Pittsburgh. Wallace wants "Larry Fitzgerald-type" money and the Steelers aren't going to give him that. The only way they'd be able to keep him for '13 would be if they used the franchise tag on him, and that's out of the question. Ben Roethlisberger was forced to restructure his contract to save $6M in cap room, and with Antonio Brown's mega deal, the Steelers don't have the money for Wallace.

The biggest deep threat in the league will hit the market, though his 2012 performance will likely hurt his free agency stock. Either way, some team out there will be willing to pay him the big bucks...and it wont be Pittsburgh.

Best of the Rest:

Greg Jennings, Green Bay––Like I said, Jennings wants to get paid..especially after Vincent Jackson's 5-year $55M deal last off-season. There's still a chance that the Pack could give him the franchise tag, but I don't think that'll go over too well with Jennings (he's already said returning to Green Bay under the tag would be "unwelcome"). But whether he's tagged or not, Jennings will return to Lambeau in 2013.

Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City––With the Chiefs in rebuilding mode and Bowe due a big-time payday, I don't see him returning to Kansas City. The only thing he's got going for him is he's got an upgrade at the quarterback position. But if he goes elsewhere there's a chance he could not only get a big-time contract, but also have a much better team around him. I'd expect him to look elsewhere later this month.

Wes Welker, New England––This is a sticky situation in Foxboro. Welker, 32, played under the franchise tag this past season. If the Pats weren't ready to give Welker a long-term deal last season, what makes you think they will be ready to with another season under his belt. His productiveness now has a number on it, and there's no guarantee that he'll be a Patriot next season. Plus Tom Brady has proven throughout his career that he can perform at a high level no matter who is lining up at wide receiver. Looks like Welker will be forced to test the waters.

Others available: Brian Hartline (MIA), Danny Amendola (STL), Jerome Simpson (MIN), Randy Moss (SF), Julian Edelman (NE), Donnie Avery (IND), Kevin Ogletree (DAL).

Tight End: Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta

Retirement still isn't out of the question for the 37-year old future Hall of Famer––and best receiving tight end this league has ever seen. In fact, I got the feeling that he'd retire once he finally got that playoff victory. But with no sign of slowing down (93 catches, 930 yards, 8 TDs for Atlanta in 2012), I guess we shouldn't be surprised to see Gonzalez stick around.

But if Tony and the Falcons don't agree on a contract, I don't see him going somewhere else to play. It's either Atlanta or retirement. If the Falcons make a couple moves and have a solid draft, I think it'd be enough to force Gonzalez to return for one last ride in 2013.

Others available: Fred Davis (WAS), Martellus Bennett (NYG), Dustin Keller (NYJ), Jared Cook (TEN), Dallas Clark (TB), Delanie Walker (SF).

Offensive Line: Jake Long, Miami

Long, 27, is perhaps the biggest free agent name among offensive lineman, considering Denver recently placed the franchise tag on tackle Ryan Clady. Clady hasn't missed a start in his five-year career with the Broncos, and has been selected to three Pro Bowls. The 6'7"/315 pound Miami tackle has been nearly as productive, missing just six starts with four Pro Bowls. Reportedly the Dolphins have made Long several offers this off-season, but he has turned down every one of them. Long was quoted by NFL.com earlier this off-season, saying "whether or not I stay on Dolphins is 'on them.'"

That said, it's likely he'll remain a Dolphin given that the demands aren't too much for Miami. With Will Beatty recently signing a 5-year, $38.75M deal, it's likely Long wont settle for anything under $8 million per year, possibly even as much as a deal that gives him $10 million per season. Hefty price.

Others available: Andre Smith (CIN), Sebastian Vollmer (NE), Brendan Albert (KC), Brandon Moore (NYG), Todd McClure (ATL), Dan Koppen (DEN), Andy Levitre (BUF).


**You can check out there complete list of free agents here**

Up Next: Part 2--Top Defensive Free Agents

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Detroit Lions: What does the Jahvid Best Concussion Issue Mean for Schwartz's Offense?

It's been brought to the attention in Detroit that running back Jahvid Best may have already played his final down in the National Football League.

After suffering his fourth concussion since his senior year at Cal earlier in the season, Best, 23, has yet to find a doctor that would clear him to return to football, according to a Chris Wesseling article on NFL.com.

Taken in the first round of the 2010 April draft, Best has some memorable moments on the field in Detroit, but his production has been hampered by the multiple concussions he's suffered. Last season Best suffered two concussions and was limited to just 84 rushing attempts over his six starts. This season Best didn't play a single down in both the preseason and regular season, being placed on the season-ending IR on November 3 due to sprouting post-concussion issues.

In his three professional seasons, Best––selected by head coach Jim Schwartz to be the Lions' primary shifty back––has combined for just 945 rushing yards and 6 TDs (774 receiving yards, 3 TDs) over his 15 starts. Not exactly the sort of production you'd like to see from your 30th overall draft pick.

Led by quarterback Matt Stafford and face-of-the-franchise Calvin "Megatron" Johnson, Detroit has a high-powered passing attack and made it back to the postseason for the first time since 1999 last season. But the lack of a viable option coming out of the backfield may have hampered any further damage the offense could have done. I believe if the offense wasn't one-dimensional and had the ability to run the ball on a regular basis, this Detroit squad could have done some major damage.

Instead, Detroit went 10-6, snagging a wild card spot but faltering in the opening round of the postseason last season thanks to a 29th-best rushing attack. Best was Detroit's leading rusher with his 390 yards and 2 TDs, but as a team the Lions managed 100+ yards on the ground in just six different times. Their 32 rushing yards in the wild card loss to New Orleans limited what the Lions could do offensively, and the Saints slipped away with a 45-28 win thanks to a grand total of 167 yards and 3 TDs on the ground.

Heading into this season the Lions had high hopes for adding on to recent success and topping its 10 wins from the season before. But once again Best faced symptoms from his past concussions and the Lions were forced into giving its 2011 second round draft selection Mikel Leshoure a shot at running back. A standout at Eastern Illinois, running for 1,607 yards and 17 TDs as a senior, Leshoure looked promising.

But a training camp injury to his achilles tendon as a rookie in 2011 following a collision with teammate Cliff Avril, Leshoure missed all of his 2011 season. Leshoure was then suspended by the league for the first two games of the 2012 season after two off-season marijuana arrests.

It appeared to be running back-by-committee once again for Detroit in 2012, using veteran Kevin Smith and Joique Bell in the first two games of the season in the absence of Best and Leshoure. With a 1-1 start to the season, Detroit's pass-to-run ratio sat at 80-44. Not too much of a surprise, but it's tough to win that way when your quarterback is throwing three picks a game like Stafford did in the first two games.

Leshoure finally hit the field for his pro debut the following week against Tennessee, and coach Schwartz proved that he wants to give his opponents a heavy dose of the running game. Leshoure carried the ball 26 times for 100 yards and his first career touchdown in a 44-41 overtime loss.

That game was one of just two instances all season that Leshoure carried the ball 20+ times, but he still managed to finish the season with 9 rushing TDs. Leshoure is a power back at 6-foot, 227 lbs, but I'm not so positive that he can be the primary No. 1 running back for Detroit for a full 16-games. Short yardage, perhaps even a viable third down back, but a back who can run for 250-300 times a season? No way.

Schwartz took Best in 2010 because he loves his speed and shiftiness. He was a threat in three facets of the game: run, pass, and kick return. Leshoure managed to catch just 34 passes in his 14 games, while Best caught 85 over his 15 starts. Best's speed coming out of the backfield is exactly what Schwartz loved about him, and his ability in the open-field. Leshoure is a great second option as a power guy, but it would be a smart move if Detroit went out and got a No. 1 back this offseason.

The draft this spring isn't looking like the strongest draft class in terms of running backs. Early rankings have guys such as Alabama's Eddie Lacy, Wisconsin's Montee Ball and Clemson's Andre Ellington as some of the top available options at the position, but none of the aforementioned would likely be taken off the board in the first round.

The free agency period could get interesting for Detroit, however, with shifty backs Reggie Bush (Dolphins), Shonn Greene (Jets) and Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers) all becoming free agents. Going after Mendenhall is risky, and it's tough to tell what Greene's true ability is as he's gotten limited reps in New York. But Bush still shows he can use his speed and ability to catch passes out of the backfield and break free from defenders. He revitalized his career in Miami, but I wouldn't expect him to stay there. If I was Schwartz, I would lobby to make Bush my guy in Detroit. Wouldn't that be interesting?

A consistent running back is all Detroit needs on offense at this moment in time to take it to a new level. So why not sign Bush to a contract and then free up your draft for focusing on improving the offensive line and reeling in a top pass rusher or adding depth to the secondary.

What do you think should be Detroit's main focus this offseason? Because even if by some miracle chance Best does return in 2013, there's still a good chance he could continue struggling with concussions.

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