Off-season Tracker: Signings, Franchise Taggings, Releases, etc.

The 2012 off-season is officially in full-swing, with players agreeing to new contracts and teams placing their franchise tags left and right.

To make things slightly easier to keep track of, I will be listing the off-season moves in one post.

Contract Signings

Stanford Routt, three-year deal w/ KC

Arian Foster, re-signed w/ HOU

Stevie Johnson, re-signed w/ BUF (pictured)

Marshawn Lynch, re-signed w/ SEA

Ahmad Brooks, re-signed w/ SF

D'Qwell Jackson, re-signed w/ CLE

Will Montgomery, re-signed w/ WAS

Jermichael Finley, re-signed w/ GB

Trent Edwards, one-year deal w/ PHI

Lavelle Hawkins, multi-year deal w/ TEN

Rian Lindell, re-signed w/ BUF

Domenik Hixon, re-signed w/ NYG
Mark Sanchez, signs contract extension w/ NYJ
Rashean Mathis, re-signs w/ JAC
Lofa Tatupu, signs w/ ATL

Franchise Tags (Deadline: March 5, 4 PM ET)

Arizona--Calais Campbell, DT

Atlanta--Brent Grimes, CB

Baltimore--Ray Rice, RB

Chicago--Matt Forte, RB

Cincinnati--Mike Nugent, K

Cleveland--Phil Dawson, K
Dallas--Anthony Spencer, LB

Denver--Matt Prater, K

Detroit--Cliff Avril, DE
Indianapolis--Robert Mathis, DE

Jacksonville--Josh Scobee, K
Kansas City--Dwayne Bowe, WR
New England--Wes Welker, WR

New Orleans--Drew Brees, QB
New York Giants--Steve Weatherford, P

Oakland--Tyvon Branch, SS

Philadelphia--DeSean Jackson, WR

San Francisco--Dashon Goldson, FS
Tampa Bay--Connor Barth, K

Tennessee--Michael Griffin, FS

Washington--Fred Davis, TE

Releases

Hines Ward

James Farrior

Aaron Smith

Albert Haynesworth

Lee Evans

Chris Carr

Chris Kemoeatu

Anthony Adams
Dallas Clark
Gary Brackett
Joseph Addai
Peyton Manning
Melvin Bullitt
Brandon Jacobs
Marcus Trufant
Cedric Griffin
Anthony Herrera
Steve Hutchinson

Retirements

Ricky Williams, BAL RB

Kris Dielman, SD G

Bill Muir, KC offensive coor.

Chris Hoke, PIT NT

Note: I will be adding on to this list as the transactions happen). Last updated on Saturday March 10.

Photo credit

Steve Johnson: Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Houston Texans Free Agency Frenzy: Who Will Stay and Who will go?

Today marks the first day that NFL teams can place the franchise tag on one of their free agent players this offseason. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that every team will place the tag on a player today, because they have until the beginning of March to do so. But we could see a couple teams start to make a decision.

This also means we can start to focus more on the actual offseason, meaning free agency and scouting for the upcoming April draft (Scouting Combine in Indianapolis begins on Wednesday).

One key team I will be watching closely this offseason, in addition to Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, would have to be the Houston Texans.

The defending AFC South division champions have two huge impact players lined up to hit the free agency market, and there's a slight chance they could only bring one of those two players back for the 2012-13 season.

Bouncing back after a season-ending injury this season after just five games seems likely for free agent DE/OLB Mario Williams, who is looking to sign a long-term contract with his rookie contract expiring. The two-time Pro Bowler would cost Houston $23 million if he was to be franchise tagged, so it's highly likely he could test the free agent waters, in my opinion.

Houston's other impact player that could walk is running back Arian Foster, also coming off his rookie contract. Foster is a restricted free agent, but he may still receive offers from other teams. If he isn't franchised for some odd reason, Houston could still match any offers he gets from other teams.

All this being said, I would like to think that Houston will retain Foster, the 25-year old back who has run for 2,840 yards and 26 TDs the past two seasons, and let Super Mario walk. Again, Williams played just five games this season before suffering a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in a 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders. In six seasons, Williams started 82 games, recording 192 tackles, 53 sacks, 11 passes defensed and 11 forced fumbles.

One of the team's best pass rushers will certainly be missed if they let him go, but there's no question they have proven this season that they can still play top-tier defense without him in the lineup.

Thanks to some breakout performances from young guys such as rookies J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed, in addition to hard-hitting inside linebacker Brian Cushing, the Texans ranked second in overall defense (yards) and fourth in scoring defense on their way to a franchise-record 10-win season.

As for the offensive side of the ball, Matt Schaub should return as the opening day starter at quarterback in 2012 despite rookie T.J. Yates doing a fine job filling in for the injured Schaub. With the duo in Foster and Ben Tate continuing to gain ground, the only huge hole on offense seems to be at the receiver position.

Andre Johnson, Houston's 30-year old five-time Pro Bowl wideout, battled a right hamstring injury all season long, starting just seven games in 2011. He, aside from veteran Kevin Walter and tight end Owen Daniels, is pretty much the only all-star caliber talent Schaub has in the passing game. None of the receiving corps will hit the market, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Houston go after a target or two either in free agency or through the draft.

On the line, center Chris Meyers is a free agent as well, but I have no reason to believe that he wont be brought back this offseason. Other than that, Houston's line seems to be pretty solidified for 2012, with tackles Duane Brown and Eric Winston, and guards Wade Smith and Mike Brisiel anchoring the offensive line for Gary Kubiak's squad.

Don't be surprised if Mario Williams signs a record-breaking contract with a team other than Houston, and we see Houston with a top three rushing attack led by Foster and Tate again in 2012.

Photo credit

Williams: Bob Levey/Getty Images

Foster: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Randy Moss Returning to the Game in 2012?

Earlier today via Ustream, wide receiver Randy Moss told his fans that he has decided to make a comeback to the league in 2012. According to Pro Football Talk, he was quoted saying "I miss football and just wanna play again."

He had retired before the season began, on August 1, 2011, due to what he said was 'family issues.'

The six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All Pro turned 35 years old today, and left the game in 2010 on bad terms. Being seen as a locker room cancer, Moss left New England for Tennessee after four games (9 Rec., 139 yards, 3 TD) where he played eight games (6 Rec., 80 yards, 0 TD). He finally ended the 2010 campaign with a return to Minnesota, where he was supposed to revitalize his career with what little he had left in the tank (13 Rec., 174 yards, 2 TD).

Moss, a combined career-low 28 receptions for 393 yards and five TDs with the three teams, showed the league that he may have been nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career in the '10 regular season.

In his 15-year professional career, Moss has put up astonishing numbers. After breaking in to the league as a rookie in 1998 with one of the most explosive offenses this league has seen (set a rookie record with 17 TD catches), Moss put up 1,000 yards receiving in 10 different seasons. He also caught double digit TDs in nine different seasons, including leading the league in '98, '00, '03, '07 and '09.

I think it's fine and dandy that Moss wants to make a comeback to the league, but I'm not so sure it's a good idea. I mean, he's already done enough to hurt his legacy. There's no question his career numbers of 954 receptions (ninth all-time), 14,858 yards (fifth all-time) and 153 TDs (tied with Terrell Owens for second all-time) are enough to get him in to Canton. But don't you think jumping from team to team in his final year will put a dent on his legacy already?

Not to mention he was a non-factor at the receiver position in his final season, he didn't seem to have his head in the game. Although that could also be because the family issues he mentioned were on his mind the whole season.

So, despite no one wanting the 38-year old Terrell Owens last season–coming off a 983 yard/9 TD season in Cincinnati–or this year for that matter, I think someone will take one last shot at the 35-year old Moss.

But what Moss will have to understand is that the contract will obviously only be a one-year contract, and I would expect it to be worth no more than a couple million. If he's looking for anything more than that, then the options available to him may be a little bit more limited.

Luckily for Mr. Moss, there's a team out there waiting to take a chance on him.

Oh, and by the way happy 35th birthday, Randy!

Photo credit: found on otrsportsonline.com