Mattie T’s Day 2 Update of NFL Free Agency..
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on March 1, 2009
Time for a Day 2 Update on NFL Free Agency!
In the biggest move of the day, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired quarterback Matt Cassel from the New England Patriots.
Cassel’s arrival will now put Tyler Thigpen as a backup, despite Thigpen throwing for a career-high 2,608 passing yards & 18 touchdowns in 14 games last season for the Chiefs.
This trade signals that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady should be fine for the 2009 season. Brady is on pace with his recovery schedule after tearing his ACL during Week 1 against Kansas City.
Cassel wasn’t the only quarterback on Saturday to switch zip codes, as the Dallas Cowboys acquired Jon Kitna from the Detroit Lions.
This will now reunite Kitna with wide receiver Roy Williams, as the twosome spent over 2 seasons together in Detroit.
In return, Detroit will receive cornerback Anthony Henry, who will try & help boost the Lions’ 27th ranked pass defense.
Kitna can rack up big yardage, but is also turnover prone. In the two seasons (2006 & 2007) that he threw for over 4,000 yards passing, Kitna also combined to throw 39 touchdowns & 42 interceptions.
Kitna is expected to be Dallas’ backup for Tony Romo next season.
In a separate move, Dallas also signed linebacker Keith Brooking to a $6 million, 3 year deal.
This move signals the end of Brooking’s 11-year tenure with Atlanta, where he made 5 Pro Bowl appearences.
The Lions also signed wide receiver Bryant Johnson on Saturday, who will compete for a starting position alongside Calvin Johnson.
Johnson’s best NFL season to date was in 2006 for Arizona, as he caught 740 receiving yards, 46.3 yards per game, averaged 18.5 yards per reception & caught 4 touchdowns. (all career-highs)
The Philadephia Eagles signed right tackle Stacy Andrews on Saturday, which will now reunite him with brother Shawn, who plays at right guard.
The twosome could become just the first brother tandem to play together on the same team since Gene & Tom Golsen played fullback/tailback and guard respectively for the now-defunct Louisville Colonels in 1926.
The San Francisco 49ers signed wide receiver Brandon Jones to a $16.5 million, 5 year deal on Saturday.
Jones is still looking for a breakout season, but did catch a career-high 41 receptions for 449 receiving yards in 2008 for the Tennessee Titans.
The Houston Texans signed defensive end Antonio Smith on Saturday to a $35 million, 5 year deal.
Smith spent the previous 4 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals & had 1 sack in both of their playoff wins against Atlanta & Carolina.
Finally, the Denver Broncos signed safety Brian Dawkins to a $17 million, 5 year deal on Saturday.
The signing ends Dawkins’ 13 year tenure in Philadelphia, where he made 7 Pro Bowl appearences.
Dawkins tied a career-high last season with 6 forced fumbles.
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