There was nothing free about this year’s free agency class. Even worse, there was nothing talented about it. I’m sure you have read ad nauseum about how the CBA affected this year’s class and prevented many players from becoming unrestricted free agents, so I will not delve into that here. Mainly because I hope you’ve read it, but also because there are intricacies within the CBA that I have not read about and would likely not understand even if I had. Let’s have a looksie at the winners in the free agent market based on the highest dollar amount for what the team will get in return. In other words, worst free agent signings of the offseason, from horrific to the unthinkable.

Horrific

Honorable mention for the worst contracts of the year goes to the most recent signing. Somehow, Derek Anderson not only signed a contract with an NFL team, but he’s theoretically in position where he could be a starter. Anderson was 2007 Pro Bowler. He then fleeced the Browns into giving him a long term deal with $20M guaranteed, which is particularly odd for a team that had just taken Brady Quinn in the first round as their QB of the future. Since that campaign, Anderson has a stellar 12:18 TD-to-INT ratio, and an even better 47.9 completion percentage. As previously mentioned, he will somehow be competing for a starting job come OTAs.

Terrifying to the fan base

5. Julius Peppers
Peppers’ new contract with the Bears is a six year, $84 million deal. It is essentially a three-year, $40.5 million deal in terms of guaranteed money. The Bears could actually cut with Peppers after his first year, but the Chicago Tribune insists “that won’t happen.” He has a $12.9 million base salary in 2013, though, which he won’t receive unless he’s racking up double digit sacks on a consistent basis. The stymie in this deal is that Peppers is undeniably a top five defensive end in the league, even with the most inconsistent motor around. He guarantees you ten sacks per year, and in conjunction with Tommie Harris could be a threatening line. The only problem with that train of thought is, Peppers shows up half the time, Harris shows up half the time, and the days that neither decide to show up will be reminiscent to Bears fans of, well, 2009.

4. Antrel Rolle
The NY Giants signed Rolle to a five-year, $37 million contract with $15 million guaranteed.
The Giants were basically forced to upgrade their safety position, as in the past two years they have lost Gibril Wilson, James Butler, and had to deal with injury prone first rounder Kenny Phillips. Of all the free agent signings so far, I actually may dislike this one the most. Perhaps it is my insight into the NFC West, but Rolle landing a huge contract like this makes no sense when he is clearly on the decline. He offers good coverage skills and centerfield range, but has never made a Pro Bowl, is a poor tackler, and doesn’t have the instincts you would like in a ballhawk type of safety. All things considered, if he meshes with Phillips they could be a terrific, but overpriced safety tandem.

This guy doesn’t even help our team, and we’ve already got someone better at his position

3. Brandon Manumaleuna
Bears agreed to terms with TE Manumaleuna on a five-year, $15 million contract, with over $6 million guaranteed. There’s a new sheriff in town, and his name is Mike Martz. A Martz favorite from the old STL days, this signing means the Bears have no use for Dez Clark or Greg Olsen. Manumaleuna goes 6′2/295, which means he is a good sized guard in a zone blocking scheme. He is very athletic, but doesn’t really have a position on the football field. You know how Michael Vick was this unreal hyper athlete that could do anything on a football field except anything that was actually a football type talent? That’s kind of how Manumaleuna is in tight end form. I suppose he’s one of the better blocking tight ends in the league, but really is that what Chicago needs at this point? Why completely bend to Martz when he could be gone next year?

Unquestionably on the decline, but his name got him a new contract

2. LaDainian Tomlinson
The NY Jets and Tomlinson agreed on a two-year, $5.2 million contract. Another $500,000 is available via incentives. There are essentially three types of running backs in the NFL, feature backs, third down backs, and goal line backs. Tomlinson currently offers none of these abilities. He cannot punch it in close, he no longer possesses the burst to get out of the backfield, and does not have the speed to be effective on third down. Shonn Greene is clearly the top back in the Jets’ rotation, but it’s questionable why the Jets let Thomas Jones walk after a year of rushing for 1402 yards and 14 touchdowns. Tomlinson was paid the same amount that Jones received from Kansas City, and rushed for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns. I suppose he makes a little sense at the goal line, but as I mentioned, the Jets kind of had that one covered already.

Jesus Christ, we didn’t just sign Jake Delhomme did we?
1. Jake Delhomme

Inexplicably, the Cleveland Browns signed QB Jake Delhomme to a two-year contract. Delhomme wanted to be in a situation where he could start, and this somehow still exists. The Browns will be privy to a Delomme-Seneca Wallace training camp battle. The contract will pay him $7 million in the first season. Matt Moore took over in Carolina after Jake was benched with a flinching 8:18 TD-to-INT ratio. He will earn $19.7 million in 2010 because the Panthers are on the hook to pay him $12.7M from the extension he signed in Carolina. The Browns’ decision to sign him indicates Delhomme is the favorite to start over Seneca Wallace. A betting man would take Wallace to defeat a washed-up Delhomme and enter the season as opening day starter. Cleveland GM Mike Holmgren must have really hated Brady Quinn, and by looking at the picture, it is hard not to.

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