Early Free Agency

The NFL free agency signing frenzy doesn't getting rolling until March 11 but there's a growing group of free agents that can sign with any team at any time. Those are the players that are released by the former teams for various reasons, usually economic. That got started about a month ago when the Atlanta Falcons released corner Asante Samuel and linebacker Stephen Nicolas. About a week later the Detroit Lions released receiver Nate Burleson and safety Louis Delmas. The New Orleans have unloaded a ton of salary with the release of defensive end Will Smith, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, safety Roman Harper, and corner Jabari Greer. Gabe Carimi, Erin Henderson, and Vonta Leach have joined those players as unemployed players in the past few weeks. The Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks felt compelled to part ways with receiver Sidney Rice and defensive end Red Bryant. There was a time, not long ago, when several of these players were much sought after players. A lot has changed since then. Despite being able to sign with any team right, it doesn't seem that they are getting much attention. Only Carimi found has found a new home. He got lucky when the Falcons hired Mike Tice to coach their offensive line. Tice was Carimi's offensive coordinator with the Bears when he was the team's first round draft pick. Delmas has visited with a couple of teams but nothing but he has yet to sigh with another team.

The most intriguing player to hit this early free agency is linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. The Cleveland Browns released him Wednesday to avoid paying him a bonus of $4.1 million. Within hours of his release, it was reported that seven teams were interested in bringing him in for a visit. The Tennessee Titans were the first to arrange a visit. It probably helped that Jackson's defensive coordinator with the Browns, Ray Horton, is now in the same role with the Titans. If nothing happens in Tennessee, Jackson continues his recruiting tour with the Denver Broncos this weekend. Three other teams reportedly have visits lined up with very much in-demand linebacker. Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reported that the Minnesota Vikings were working on setting up a visit. He would be a terrific addition to the middle of the Vikings defense. There was quite a void there last year. The Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins may also have visits set up with the very popular D'Qwell Jackosn.

The players that are freed from their contracts in this manner get a jump so it has some perks. They enter a smaller market so they get more attention but that's about it. They are usually older players. Carimi is the only one that doesn't fall into this category so it may come as no surprise that he's the only to sign with another team. They are usually released from their former teams because they usually carry hefty salaries. If they do sign with another team, it's often for considerably less than they made before. Fans usually get pretty excited over these immediately available players. That's mainly because they are often big name players even though their best days are very much behind them. If nothing else, the release and possible pursuit of these early free agents add a little spice to the days before the signing whirlwind that starts March 11.