NFL free-agent rankings: Best players available (1 Viewer)

[Dan in Lafayette]

Howard Balzer / Special to USA Today

When the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 29, the NFL's new working year will officially begin. The question is, how long it will take for heads to shake, incredulous at some of the initial signings that will take place in free agency?

With 11 players receiving franchise tags, and a 12th getting the transition tag, the available pool of top-line players has been significantly reduced. It is lessened even more as teams re-sign their own players before they hit the open market.

Said Billy Devaney, executive vice president of player personnel for the St. Louis Rams, "There were non-starters that got the franchise tender this year. That's because the pool (of free agent) is so small this year. There's going to be a small amount of players who are going to get ridiculous money and people are going to say, 'You've got to be kidding me.' Full Story – USA Todayhttp://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-02-24-free-agent-rankings_N.htm