Category: NFL (Page 1245 of 1282)

I guess you can disregard my earlier Brees post. The Vikings and Dolphins have agreed on a trade that will send Daunte Culpepper to Miami.

The Vikings and Dolphins have agreed on a trade, with Miami sending a second-round pick to the Vikings in exchange for the Pro Bowl quarterback.

The trade is contingent upon Culpepper passing a physical, and takes Miami out of the running for free-agent quarterback Drew Brees who also agreed to terms with the Saints on Tuesday in a six-year deal.

I have to think that either the Dolphins had concerns about Drew Brees’ shoulder or Brees had already agreed to go to New Orleans, because there isn’t a universe, parallel or otherwise, where Daunte Culpepper is a better quarterback than Drew Brees. Especially considering Culpepper’s disasterous knee injury last season. Daunte Culpepper with reduced mobility? No thanks.

Brees has signed with the Saints. Good for them, they deserve a break.

Who would you rather play for?

Drew Brees appears to be leaning towards the Dolphins, who aren’t offering as much guaranteed money as the Saints. The Dolphins are an up and coming team, while the Saints…well…aren’t.

Brees, who arrived in South Florida on Sunday and dined with Saban that night, remained at Dolphins camp well into Monday evening before returning to Birmingham, Ala., to resume his injury rehabilitation. Condon and the team are expected to maintain talks.

For the Dolphins and Condon, who is considered a hard-line negotiator, the main issue was over guaranteed money. The Saints are believed to have offered more than $8 million.

The Dolphins might not be willing to go there, but Brees has been advised by many friends and associates to sign with Miami. The thinking is that the Dolphins are more stable and in a better position to win than the downtrodden Saints.

If Brees is able to match last year’s production, he would be a huge upgrade over the quarterbacks that the Dolphins have had over the last few years. Given the history of the Saints, as well as the devastation New Orleans experience at the hands of Hurricane Katrina, he’d be wise to steer clear of the franchise.

Edgerrin James wasted no time in free agency, signing a four-year, $30 M contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

“It’s a great situation. All they really need is a back,” James said at a news conference. “They’ve got an MVP quarterback (Kurt Warner), they’ve got two Pro Bowl receivers. They got a back and they’re going to shore up the offensive line.”

Then he added, “OK it’s a risk. But hey, I’m a poker player. You can take it to the river. I’m not scared to make a change. I’m not scared to go out on a limb and try something different.”

This signing continues Denny Green’s makeover of the Arizona offense. He now has the great back to go with his two talented wide receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. It’s unclear whether or not the Colts intend to go with Dominic Rhodes as their starter or if they have another guy in mind.

The Cleveland Browns have the cap room, and GM Phil Savage is wasting no time spending it. The Browns got off to a great start by signing one of the big prizes in this free agent class, two-time Pro Bowler LeCharles Bentley. Bentley can play center or guard, and as a Cleveland native and former Ohio State Buckeye, he’s thrilled to be playing for the Browns.

Savage also signed left tackle Kevin Shaffer who helped Atlanta generate one of the most potent running games in the NFL.

Finally, the Browns added some veteran leadership to the WR corps by adding another Cleveland native, Joe Jurevicious.

For a list of the top 50 free agents, check out the list compiled by ESPN.com.