2006 Free Agent Tracker - Defense

[BigEd76]

Fat Lenny P says the Raiders signed Lance Johnstone

[MURP]

Giants sign Brandon Short to a 1 year minimum deal. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

He wanted to get back close to his woman.

[SunMo]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — LaVar Arrington took a physical for the New York Giants Thursday, one indication that the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker might be on the verge of signing with the team.
Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi said Arrington came to the New York area to take the physical. Arrington also visited the team March 11-12, but at the time, the 27-year-old declined to submit to an examination of his surgically repaired right knee.
Accorsi declined to go into detail, including where the physical took place or the results.
"He has had a physical with us," Accorsi said. "That's all that's taken place. If this triggers another round of hysteria, it will be inaccurate just like the last round. Nothing has happened in the negotiations. Obviously, you're not even going to think about a player without a physical examination. Now we have that."
Arrington was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2000 and during his career at the taterskins made three straight Pro Bowl appearances. But he injured his knee in 2004 and saw only limited playing time that year and also had differences with the taterskins about playing time and playing style.
He finally bought out his contract for $4.4 million, but failed to get offers for close to the money he was asking.
The Giants, short on depth at linebacker, have been one of the teams interested, along with Miami, Cincinnati, Jacksonville and Green Bay. Arrington is thought to prefer the Giants because they are in the same division with the taterskins and because their middle linebacker, Antonio Pierce, is a close friend from their days together in Washington and has been pushing them to sign him..
The Giants did add to their linebacking corps by signing Brandon Short on Wednesday. He started for the Giants for three seasons before signing with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2004. The Panthers released him last month.

[MURP]

Panthers | Team signs Diggs
Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:13:08 -0700

Pat Sutherland, of the Charlotte Observer, reports the Carolina Panthers have signed free agent LB Na'il Diggs (Packers) to an undisclosed contract.

[Diomedes]

Bears | R. Manning signed to offer sheet
Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:36:21 -0700

Pat Yasinskas, of the Charlotte Observer, reports the Chicago Bears have signed Carolina Panthers restricted free agent CB Ricky Manning Jr. to an offer sheet. The Panthers will have seven days to match the deal or they will receive a third-round draft choice from the Bears in this year's NFL Draft.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

That'll change a lot of mocks. If the Bears get their CB in FA, wonder if they will go WR in the first round. Maybe take one of the TEs?

[The BIGSTUD]

Packers | Team told Arrington signing elsewhere; most likely with the Giants
Fri, 21 Apr 2006 18:01:52 -0700

Tom Silverstein, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports according to a National Football League source, the Green Bay Packers were informed that free agent LB LaVar Arrington (taterskins) planned on signing with another team. It's unclear who Arrington is going to sign with, but his visit to the New York Giants is a pretty good sign that they are in the lead for his services.

I hope the Giants do get that bum. He'll be lost in coverage all day up there. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Giants, Arrington reach agreement

[Diomedes]

How nice for them.

[mussa]

man the nfc east is going to be a battle next year.  i just hope we are in it

[phillymic2000]

yep, everyone else in the East is getting better but hey we're gonna get Walker right

[PhillyGirl]

yep, everyone else in the East is getting better but hey we're gonna get Walker right

The Eagles suck. Every team is SO much better, we just plain suck.

[phillymic2000]

Yeah thats exactly what I said

Oh and by the way how many division wins did we have last year?

The cowboys/giants and skins have made better offseason moves so far this year then us, but there's nothing to worry about at all PG, keep drinking the kool aid and wait for Walker to save us

[The BIGSTUD]

I disagree with the Giants and taterskins making better offseason moves than us.

The Giants signed a bunch of overrated run down players, and the Giants have late round picks. The taterskins have like no draft picks. Who did the taterskins sign? Randle El? Carter? Lloyd? Lloyd is better than Gaffney, but Randle El isn't and Howard who we signed is better than Carter. Plus we got a quality backup QB, and very solid WIL LB in Barber, and a nice TE in Schobel.

The Eagles signed quality players who fill positions of needs and on top of that have 9 draft picks, all high up in the rounds. When all is said and done the Eagles will have had rthe best offseason in the NFC East.