NFL Free Agency Recap

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The NFL has been a crazy place the past few days. When the new league year began and number of players got paid big time, while others over-estimated their value. This article is just a recap of the "notable transactions" new league year after the first weekend.

San Fransisco 49ers:  
Signed: QB Matt Barkley, WR Pierre Garçon, WR Marquise Goodwin, K Robbie Gould, QB Brian Hoyer, FB Kyle Juszczyk, and LB Malcolm Smith.

Chicago Bears: 
Released QB Jay Cutler

Signed: WR Kendall Wright, DB Prince Amukamara, WR Markus Wheaton, QB Mike Glennon, DB Quintin Demps, and TE Dion Sims.

Cincinnati Bengals:
Re-signed CB Dre Kirkpatrick and WR Brandon LaFell

Buffalo Bills:
Signed: WR Philly Brown, LB Lorenzo Alexander, FB Patrick DiMarco, K Stephen Hauschka, S Micah Hyde, S Jordan Poyer, and FB Mike Tolbert.

Released S Corey Graham and S Aaron Williams. Agreed to terms with
Restructured QB Tyrod Taylor contract, and re-signed P Colton Schmidt.

Cleveland Browns: 
Released QB Robert Griffin III.

Signed G Joel Bitonio to a five-year contract extension.
Acquired Houston Texans' 2018 second-round pick, 2017 sixth-round pick and QB Brock Osweiler for Cleveland's 2017 fourth-round compensatory pick.
Claimed OL Marcus Martin off waivers from San Francisco.
Signed WR Kenny Britt, OL J.C. Tretter and OL Kevin Zeitler.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Signed WR DeSean Jackson and  DT Chris Baker.
Re-signed RB Jacquizz Rodgers and Safety Chris Conte.

Arizona Cardinals: 
Signed LB Karlos Dansby, K Phil Dawson, LB Chandler Jones, S Antonine Bethea, and C A.Q. Shipley.

Los Angeles Chargers: 
Signed Russell Okung OT and QB Kellen Clemens

Kansas City Chiefs:
Signed S Eric Berry and G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to contract extensions.

Indianapolis Colts:
Signed Jabaal Sheard OLB, John Simon OLB, and Jeff Locke Punter and signed Jack Doyle TE to a contract extension. 

Traded: Dwayne Allen TE to New England

Dallas Cowboys: 
Signed Nolan Carroll CB, Re-signed WR Terrence Williams 

Miami Dolphins:
Signed LB Lawrence Timmons and Safety Nate Allen  
Re-signed TE Anthony Fasano and WR Kenny Stills 
Acquired  TE Julius Thomas from Jacksonville and acquired DE William Hayes from Rams

Philadelphia Eagles:
Released DE Connor Barwin.

Signed G/C Stefen Wisniewski, G Chance Warmack, WR Alshon Jeffery, and WR Torrey Smith.

Atlanta Falcons:
Re-signed DT Courtney Upshaw and QB Matt Schaub

New York Giants:
Signed OL D.J. Fluker and WR Brandon Marshall

Jacksonville Jaguars:
Signed Barry Church S, Calais Campbell DL, and A.J. Bouye CB. LT Branden Albert acquired via trade from Miami.

New York Jets:
Signed PK Chandler Catanzaro and OT Kelvin Beachum.

Detroit Lions:
Signed G T.J. Lang and CB DJ Hayden.

Green Bay Packers:
Signed TE Lance Kendricks and TE Martellus Bennett Re-signed LB Nick Perry, T/G Don Barclay, and P Jacob Schum

Carolina Panthers:
Signed:  WR Charles Johnson, T Matt Kalil, CB Captain Munnerlyn, DE Julius Peppers, and S Mike Adams

New England Patriots:
Acquired WR Brandin Cooks in a trade with the New Orleans Saints, DL Kony Ealy in a trade with the Carolina Panthers and TE Dwayne Allen in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts.
Signed CB Stephon Gilmore
Re-signed S Duron Harmon.

Oakland Raiders:
Signed Marshall Newhouse OT

Los Angeles Rams:
Signed Aaron Murray QB, Robert Woods WR, and Andrew Whitworth LT.

Baltimore Ravens:
Signed Brandon Williams NT and Danny Woodhead RB

Washington Redskins:
Kirk Cousins QB and Terrelle Pryor WR

New Orleans Saints:
Signed Ted Ginn Jr WR and Nick Fairly DT
Acquired 1st round pick from the Brandin Cooks trade.

Seattle Seahawks:
Signed Luke Joeckel OT

Pittsburgh Steelers:
Re-signed Landy Jones QB, and David Johnson TE.

Houston Texans:
Traded Quarterback Brock Oswieler to Cleveland
Re-Signed Shane Lechler P and Nick Novak K

Tennessee Titans:
Re-Signed Matt Cassel QB and Signed Logan Ryan CB

Minnesota Vikings:
Released Adrian Peterson RB

Signed OTs Rilet Reiff and Mike Remmers

Leadoff with Lee 7.3.14

-The Cleveland Indians rallied in the 8th inning to beat the Dodgers 5-4 in L.A. After being behind 3-2, the Tribe scored 3 times to take the lead and keep it. Trevor Bauer got the start going 5 2/3 innings giving up 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 strikeouts and 2 walks in a no decision. Bryan Shaw got the win with the Tribe's rally and Cody Allen recorded his eighth save of the season. The Indians went 4-4 on their recent road trip and return home Friday to start a three game series with the Kansas City Royals.

-The Cavs have met with restricted free agent small forward Gordon Hayward. It is believed the Cavs will offer him a max contract of $15 million per season, but there are some conflicting reports that say otherwise. Hayward averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the Utah Jazz last season.

-Former Cavs guard CJ Miles visited the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night and was offered a contract Wednesday afternoon. Miles and the Pacers agreed to a 4 year deal worth $18 million dollars. NBA contracts can't officially be signed signed until July 10th.

-Free agent forward Carmelo Anthony was in Chicago Tuesday, and visited the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks Wednesday. Amoung the people who met him in Houston Dwight Howard, James Harden, coach Kevin Mchale and Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler were there to help pitch the Rockets to Anthony. Guard Jeremy Lin would have to be traded to clear enough cap room to sign Melo. Lin tweeted a bible verse yesterday morning and was feeling disrespected by the Rockets as they showed Anthony wearing a number 7 jersey, the same number Lin wears currently. Carmelo Anthony will meet with the LA Lakers today.

-What will happen with the Heatles? Lebron James is reportedly looking for a max deal. Chris Bosh is looking for a deal upwards of 15-18 million and not the rumored 12 million. Dwayne Wade won't get a max deal because he can't stay healthy. Miami targeted center Marcin Gortat and Kyle Lowry, who both re-sign with their current teams in Washington and Toronto, respectively. So what does that do to the big 3? How can they improve and get the key free agents they need to make it past the Spurs next year? All these questions will be answered once Lebron James returns from vacation and figures out what the best option is for him. There is no way they can bring in free agents if LBJ signs the 5 year max contract and if James doesn't sign one Bosh won't get one either. That's if they choose to stay in Miami. So what will they do? Could this be Lebron's homecoming? We shall see..

-New Orleans Saints hybrid tight end Jimmy Graham lost his appeal on being franchise tagged as a wide receiver rather than tight end. Graham played two-thirds lined up as a wide receiver in 2013 rather than on the offensive line as a traditional tight end. Graham will be paid under the tight end franchise tag at $7 million per year as opposed to the wide receiver tag which would have paid him $12 million per year.