Thompson made a run at Revis???

[sharpe1027]

Here's the thing, there are only a handful of players each year that would qualify as "big" free agents. With 32 teams out there, is it realistic to expect a big free agent signing every couple of years? What teams actually do this with any consistency?

Over the years Thompson has taken a shot at a number of different FAs that we know of. I presume there are plenty we don't know about. I don't think we are as great of an anomaly in our FA activity as the press likes to portray.

[mraynrand]

Here's the thing, there are only a handful of players each year that would qualify as "big" free agents. With 32 teams out there, is it realistic to expect a big free agent signing every couple of years? What teams actually do this with any consistency?

Over the years Thompson has taken a shot at a number of different FAs that we know of. I presume there are plenty we don't know about. I don't think we are as great of an anomaly in our FA activity as the press likes to portray.

Oh yeah, the Packers are an anomaly. Hardly anyone on the team comes from outside the system. But with 32 teams, it's hard to get a 'spash guy' all that often. And TT is targeting specific guys when he does go after a 'big' FA. He likes the physical specimens - the guys with combinations of size, speed, ability/knack that you almost never draft except at the top of the first round. Pickett, Woodson, Peppers. Very deliberate with FAs is TT. Either flyers at the bottom, or specimens who the rest of the league seems about to give up on.

[sharpe1027]

Oh yeah, the Packers are an anomaly. Hardly anyone on the team comes from outside the system. But with 32 teams, it's hard to get a 'spash guy' all that often. And TT is targeting specific guys when he does go after a 'big' FA. He likes the physical specimens - the guys with combinations of size, speed, ability/knack that you almost never draft except at the top of the first round. Pickett, Woodson, Peppers. Very deliberate with FAs is TT. Either flyers at the bottom, or specimens who the rest of the league seems about to give up on.

Well, part of only having their own guys that is that they cut many of their FA signings. Is that due to who they sign, or because they have a pretty talented roster? Probably a bit of both.

Another part is that they use undrafted FA with success. Those category of FA's don't count in many people's books because they have played for another team. But, is it that much different?

[mraynrand]

Well, part of only having their own guys that is that they cut many of their FA signings. Is that due to who they sign, or because they have a pretty talented roster? Probably a bit of both.

Another part is that they use undrafted FA with success. Those category of FA's don't count in many people's books because they have (not?) played for another team. But, is it that much different?

All true. Mostly they do low risk, (hopefully) high reward with FAs.