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NFL Offseason Schedule

Since there are two months left until actual football is played, I thought it would be a good idea to present a list of Restricted Free Agents that are left out there.  Today is the deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if the player is not signed by another club by July 22.  This is also the deadline for old clubs to send tender to their unsigned RFAs or to extend an offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.  This is what the St. Louis Rams are up against in regards to Safety O.J. Atogwe.  The Rams have been in constant talks with the safety, but if they don't place a high tender or sign him to an extension by midnight, he will become an unrestricted free agent.  

June 1-11 begins all of the Organized Team Activities, while June 15th starts mandatory mini-camps across the NFL.  Late July is when training camps begin, and Preseason starts in August. 

Here is a list of remaining unsigned RFAs team by team:

2010 NFL Mock Draft

2010 NFL Mock Draft

2010 NFL Mock Draft

23. Green Bay Packers (11-5)

DE/OLB Brandon Graham (Michigan)

Although their biggest need right now is definitely offensive line help, the Green Bay Packers don't have anyone that is worth this value right now.  They opt to get more depth at the linebacker position, and Brandon Graham is their man.  This is one of the few teams that I believe will think long and hard about trading down in the draft to get the player they want.  With offensive line being a key need, and players such as Charles Brown and Bruce Campbell still on the board, this is a pick that goes either way.  If it does turn out that they stay put and draft Graham, this is still a good pick because they can still improve their pass rush.  LB Clay Matthews was the only player who consistently put pressure on the QB, and although fellow LB Brad Jones is a solid player, he is not a full time starter.   

Why he's good for the Packers:

The Green Bay Packers get a proven pass rusher in Graham, who has the ability to finish plays, as he showed over the past two seasons compiling 45 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks.  Someone who he draws comparisons to, is fellow Michigan Wolverine and current Pittsburgh Steeler ,LB LaMarr Woodley.  He and Woodley were both considered "tweeners" and now Woodley has shown that he has what it takes to be an NFL linebacker. 

Top NFL Draft Prospects

23. Trent Williams, OT

Green Bay Packers(11-5)

The Green Bay Packers boasted great defensive and offensive numbers, but the area that they struggled most in, was protecting the quarterback.  Aaron Rodgers managed to put up career numbers this year, but was sacked 50 times this year and 34 times the year before.  The Packers have the ability to draft the best OT prospect that is there at the 23rd pick, and Trent Williams is a good fit for their system.  He is very versatile, with the ability to play both left and right tackle positions.  He has good size and good agility for a guy his size, and with his long arms and quick feet, he is rarely beat outside.    

Why he's good for the Packers:

The Packers struggled early on in the year and started to play better as the season rolled on, but they still need tom make some upgrades and get a little younger.  With starting LT Chad Clifton starting the 2010 season at 34 and RT Mark Tauscher being 33, there must be some youth on the bench.  This will be a good opportunity for Williams to gain some additional experience, and he will not have to start as a rookie, but may get into games if these older players start to wear down.  Williams also has some experience at guard which only helps his stock rise even more.  

NFLPA Executive Director: Chances of Lockout: "On a scale of 1 to 10, it's a 14."

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith put everything in perspective when asked what the real chances of a lockout after the 2010 season.  With the word out about the potential uncapped year coming up if an agreement is not reached by March 5th, 2010, talks of the potential lockout have been swirling the past week.  It boils down to the need for a new collective bargaining agreement, which is the pact between NFL owners and the Players' Association.  This agreement has kept the league running since the last labor strike which occurred in 1987.  Since then, the NFL has run smoothly, but ownership has claimed that they have been losing money while players have continued to enjoy all the benefits.  Ownership has already braced themselves for the potential lockout and have known of the chances since early 2009 when they decided to opt out of the agreement early.  One of the main concerns that the Players' Association has is with the fact that the team owners are unwilling to open up their books to audit in order to see just how much each team is supposedly losing in revenues.  The only team that has been willing to open the books for the PA is the Green Bay Packers, and their profits have seen a 40% decline.  If a deal is to be done, it needs to happen soon and both parties need to compromise on some of their demands.  As it stands now, the said offer to the players would reduce their share to 41 percent of applied revenues from about 59 percent.  This is a tough pill to swallow for players who are being asked to take about a $340,000 pay-cut in order to save the NFL.  

I understand where both parties are coming from... on one side you have the owners who have seen a reduced amount of revenue, meanwhile the players get richer, but on the other side you have players who are being asked to take a very large pay-cut and that isn't going to sit well with anyone.  The fact that people have not fully grasped yet is, that the owners are ready for a lockout and they have the ability to sit this one out until they get what they want and feel they deserve.  As I've said before, the owners have known about the implications of opting out of the CBA early and have taken all necessary steps to cover themselves in case of emergency.  With these new endorsement deals and the contract with DirecTV, the NFL will still get paid billions of dollars during the lockout.  This is something that the players can not afford to let happen.   The real losers in the end will definitely be the players.  The players have been winning ever since the labor strike in 1987, and now it's the owners' turn.  

NFL: Saturday Wild Card Preview

Saturday 4:30PM: New York Jets(9-7) at Cincinnati Bengals(10-6)

In this rematch from week 17, the Bengals will attempt to put forth a better effort then their last meeting with the New York Jets. In their meeting last week, the Jets routed the Bengals 37-0. The Jets boast the number 1 defense in the league and will have to put forth another strong effort against a team that wants to prove that the beating they took was a fluke.  The key match-up will be the Jets CB Darrelle Revis, and WR Chad Ochocinco.  Last meeting, Ochocinco was held to no receptions and QB Carson Palmer went 1 of 11 passing for zero yards.  This duo will definitely need to find a way to contribute or the outcome will be the same.  The main question mark for the Jets is how will rookie QB Mark Sanchez handle the pressure of his first playoff game.  Sanchez has not played well during his rookie campaign and the Jets will most likely have to rely on their rushing attack to control this ball game. 

Saturday 8:00PM: Philadelphia Eagles(11-5) at Dallas Cowbows(11-5)

Last week, the Dallas Cowboys were crowned NFC East champions when they throttled the Philadelphia Eagles.  The crown will mean nothing if QB Tony Romo and company can not end their playoff woes in this rematch.  The Cowboys have looked like one of the hottest teams ending the year with wins over the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, and the Eagles.  With a balanced attack featuring RBs Marion Barber, Tashard Choice, and Felix Jones, the Philadelphia Eagles' 9th ranked rushing attack will have their hands full.  The Cowboys, on the other hand, will have to deal with an air attack against their 20th ranked pass defense.  Rookie WR Jeremy Maclin and WR DeSean Jackson combine to be big play threats anytime they touch the ball.