Free Agency Continues, Names Continue to Switch Teams

It's now day three of free agency, and teams keep throwing money around as if millions were dollar bills in a strip club. 

Less than twenty four hours after losing Antrel Rolle to the New York Giants, the Arizona Cardinals went out and swung a deal with the other New York club, the Jets, to acquire Kerry Rhodes.  In exchange, the Cardinals gave up a fourth round pick in this year's draft and a seventh rounder in 2011. 

What makes this move more ironic is that the Jets had stated that Rhodes would be back and a part of the team in 2010 immediately after swinging the deal for Antonio Cromartie earlier in the week.  Why there was such an about face in personnel decisions has yet to be revealed, unless GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan were merely paying lip service to Rhodes, all the while trying to make a move to extricate him from the defensive secondary landscape. 

One thing is for certain, the Jets definitely could take some time to read up on the latest colon cleanse reviews: they seem to be rather stuffed up at the moment.  To do such an about face that quickly makes one think that there was more than meets the proverbial eye regarding Rhodes and his imminent departure.

Elsewhere, the Jaguars look to bolster their league worst pass rush by signing former Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman to a contract.  Kampman struggled after switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense in Green Bay and then suffered a season ending knee injury in November.  However, he has recorded at least 9.5 sacks in the three seasons prior to that, and still has the ability to get after the quarterback.  Jacksonville recorded a franchise low 14 sacks last season, a number that definitely needs to improve in order to force turnovers and create short field opportunities for the offense. 

The Redskins added Minnesota guard Artis Hicks yesterday, which surprisingly was their first acquisition in free agency from another team.  After throwing truckloads of money around in the past decade, Daniel Snyder and company have been a bit more patient and cautious this time around, much to the surprise of many around the league.  The loss of Hicks allows Minnesota to now sign two unrestricted free agents.  Remember, they lost Chester Taylor to the Bears on Friday. 

Then there is a list of guys making some rounds.  Terrell Owens is still wanted in Cincinnati according to Chad Ochocinco, and Carson Palmer said he has no problem with Owens' past or anything of the sort.  Willie Parker was making a trip to Washington, and could be an effective 1-2 combination with the equally injury prone Clinton Portis.  David Carr went to San Francisco but left without a contract and there is talk that Cleveland may have some interest in him.  The Browns also reportedly have interest in Seattle backup Seneca Wallace, who is familiar with the Mike Holmgren style offense that is going to be implemented in Cleveland.  New England is interested in having a meeting with Bills slot receiver Josh Reed, who could be useful with Wes Welker being injured and most likely missing the first part of the season. 

No matter how you slice it, whether your team has made a big splash, or yet to create a ripple in the pond, there's a lot going on between now and the draft next month.  What teams do now may very well influence who gets picked where come draft day.

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