Here's how SportsLine senior writer Len Pasquarelli rated the top 65
unrestricted veterans available when the free-agent signing period began at
12:01 a.m. on Feb. 11.
The list does not include players who were designated
as "franchise" or "transition" free agents. Also excluded are several
players who SportsLine learned were close to agreements with their current
teams late Thursday night.
| Rk |
Player |
Position |
1999 team |
Experience |
| 1 |
Jon Runyan |
OT |
Tennessee |
4 yrs. |
| |
Monster right-side power blocker who has become league's highest paid offensive lineman. (Signed with Eagles)
|
| 2 |
Bruce Smith |
DE |
Buffalo |
15 yrs. |
| |
Sure he's 36 years old, but he's also hacked off now
and might get 10-12 sacks in 2000. (Signed with Redskins)
|
| 3 |
Jeff George |
QB |
Minnesota |
10 yrs. |
| |
Resurrected his career in '99 but still has doubters who worry about his past excess baggage. |
| 4 |
Ashley Ambrose |
CB |
New Orleans |
8 yrs. |
| |
Isn't as good as the money he got, but best of a bad corner crop and played better in 1999. (Signed with Falcons) |
| 5 |
Ruben Brown |
OG |
Buffalo |
5 yrs. |
| |
Another guy who isn't as good as his reputation, but he'll maul defensive tackles in close quarters. |
| 6 |
Chuck Smith |
DE |
Atlanta |
8 yrs. |
| |
Won't ever be a 15-sack end, especially at age 30, but he's got one of the biggest motors in the league. (Signed with Panthers) |
| 7 |
Phillip Daniels |
DE |
Seattle |
4 yrs. |
| |
Has never had more than nine sacks in a season, but he's young (26) and has improved every season. (Signed with Bears) |
| 8 |
James Stewart |
RB |
Jacksonville |
5 yrs. |
| |
Runs too straight-up at times and absorbs a lot of punishment, but he has become a rich man. (Signed with Lions) |
| 9 |
Roman Oben |
OT |
New York Giants |
4 yrs. |
| |
Extremely inconsistent in '99, but it's hard to find a starting left tackle who is only 27 years old. (Signed with Browns) |
| 10 |
Thomas Smith |
CB |
Buffalo |
7 yrs. |
| |
Has only six interceptions in his career, but several teams felt he was a better coverage player than Ambrose. (Signed with Bears.) |
| 11 |
Jeff Christy |
C |
Minnesota |
7 yrs. |
| |
Tough, hard-nosed and a self-made player whose departure will cause significant problems for Vikings. (Signed with Bucs) |
| 12 |
Sam Adams |
DT |
Seattle |
6 yrs. |
| |
Lazy and usually out of shape, but he gets motivated every so often and there simply aren't any tackles available. |
| 13 |
Jay Riemersma |
TE |
Buffalo |
4 yrs. |
| |
Not a glamorous player but a willing blocker and especially effective as receiver in the red zone. (Re-signed with Bills) |
| 14 |
Trent Dilfer |
QB |
Tampa Bay |
6 yrs. |
| |
Change of scenery will be best thing for career; needs to get into system that allows him to throw upfield. (Signed with Ravens) |
| 15 |
Randall McDaniel |
OG |
Minnesota |
12 yrs. |
| |
Coming off two poor seasons but some contender will take chance 11-time Pro Bowl player can put them over top. (Signed with the Bucs) |
| 16 |
Randall Godfrey |
LB |
Dallas |
4 yrs. |
| |
Didn't look as comfortable playing inside in '99 as people felt he would but physical and still developing. (Signed with Titans) |
| 17 |
Curtis Conway |
WR |
Chicago |
7 yrs. |
| |
One-time deep threat is going to have to prove to many skeptics he isn't as fragile as last year indicated. (Signed with Chargers) |
| 18 |
Jeff Blake |
QB |
Cincinnati |
8 yrs. |
| |
Hardly a prototype pocket passer; at his best on the move and when he's gunning the ball deep downfield. (Signed with Saints) |
| 19 |
Alonzo Spellman |
DT |
Dallas |
7 yrs. |
| |
Impressive transition from end to tackle in '99 but, given his many past problems, buyers had better beware. |
| 20 |
Shawn Jefferson |
WR |
New England |
9 yrs. |
| |
Getting a little long in the tooth and never really has been a consistently solid pass-catcher. (Signed with Falcons) |