Free Agency Causes Excitement

The NFL has unique powers. The season's been over for a month and there aren't games for another six months. The off-season has just started, but people are still acting like it's Christmas morning. The reason: Free agency.

Some big names have already been cut. LT, Westbrook, Thomas Jones, Jake Delhomme. Some bigger names are out visiting teams.  Julius Peppers seems to be the most sought after free agent this year.

Glazer reported Peppers is in Chicago taking a physical with the Bears. Schefter just reported it's a done deal. I heard he was to visit the Pats and Philly, but I guess Lovie swept him off his feet.

Peppers is a great pick-up for the Bears, but that alone won't be enough for them to get them over the hump. Mike Martz still has to find a way to shrink Cutler's head and ego. Without Cutler playing at a high-level, it doesn't matter who the Bears sign.

I'm surprised Peppers chose them. I thought he wanted to play in a 3-4. Chester Taylor is also a nice pick-up for them, because Forte can't handle the load on his own. Taylor has only aged over the last three years with Minnesota, but he's got to be better than the other Adrian Peterson the Bears were using.

Free agency gives fans hope. All the "Wait 'til next year" fans get excited. They see their team as being one big name away from the Super Bowl. Usually not the case, but who can tell someone not to dream?

These signings no doubt have gotten Bears fans all lathered up with excitement and hope. I recall the same excitement from Bears fans last off-season when they got Cutler so forgive me for taking a wait-and-see approach. Peppers is a good start, but don't get out of control again, Bears fans. Win a few games first.

Trades are starting to surface now as well. The Jets picked up Antonio Cromartie for a conditional third-round pick in 2011. I love this pick up by Rex Ryan.

Cromartie was the best corner in the game in 2007. He's slipped a little bit the last couple of years, but that Chargers defense was a mess. I predict Cromartie to flourish in Ryan's 3-4 with Revis on the other side. He will be a top corner once again.

I saw a few jokes last night about Cromartie's tackling, especially the play on Shonn Greene. The Jets aren't looking for him to tackle. They want the lockdown cover man he's proven to be in years past so they can blitz even more.

I'll be looking forward to seeing where these free agents land. Then I will start the countdown until the draft. Then OTAs, then mini-camps, then preseason.

Then on the Saturday before Week 1, I'll look to see what Brett Favre is planning on doing.