2008 NFL Free Agency Kicks Off

Less than two hours into free agency, and several signings are already being reported on ProFootballTalk:

Justin Smiley, Guard, to the Miami Dolphins for $25 million over 5-years
Kwame Harris, Tackle, to the Oakland Raiders, no details available
Jeff Faine, Center, to the Tampa Bay Buccanears, no details available, other than apparently the deal will make him the highest paid center in the league.

That’s right, the highest paid center in the league.  Maybe I’ve been asleep for the last couple years, but I’ve never heard anything about Faine that makes me think he’s worth that much, even if the Bucs had an astounding $44 million in cap space.

Other deals rumored to be close include Asante Samuel to the Eagles (for at least $10 million a year, another case of over paying), Randy Moss supposedly staying with the Patriots (for what Sid Hartman’s word is worth), and one that’s way out there, Derek Anderson supposedly signing with the Panthers (although that one could just have been someone having fun with Wikipedia, which has already come down).

There are also several visits rumored to be lined up, but frankly I’m too tired to get into that at this point.  All I will say is that if Bernard Berrian gets the deal he is rumored to want, I hope he’s not lining up in purple next year.