...which will allow normal service to be resumed. Episodes of the soap opera known as the NFL Off-Season will resume, starting Saturday.
While all of the CBA extension excitement was occurring, Duante Culpepper has been busy proving that (a) if you're going to fire your agent, you should at least have a replacement lined up, (b) trying to be your own media adviser puts you in the position of having a fool for a client. Culpepper is doing God-knows-what in terms of media relations right now, sending snarky emails to the media now that he has finally figured out that the Minnesota Vikings aren't that interested in having him back. (This much had been obvious a long time ago, since the Vikings have been shopping him for weeks). The chances of Culpepper lining up under center for the Vikings next year are currently somewhere between zero and none. He is now demanding that the Vikings trade him or release him. He is likely to get his wish, since no team is likely to give up any significant compensation for a QB rehabbing 2 busted knee ligaments with a misdemeanour trial pending.
If Culpepper had his head screwed on correctly, he would have cut a plea bargain of some sort on the charges, taken his lumps, and got it out the way. Instead, he seems to have morphed into some sort of Don Quixote figure, tilting at all sorts of perceived bad guys left right and centre. He won't talk to the media except to send one-way messages, he is pissed at the Vikings, he has no agent and his job prospects are uncertain. His head seems to be internally mal-adjusted right now.
Elsewhere, the agent for Drew Brees appears to be trying to get suitors to form an orderly queue, with the Dolphins reckoned to be at the front of the line. Back in Chargerland, team president Dean Spanos has apparently had to sit Marty Schottenheimer and A.J. Smith down for a "now cut it out children" headmaster speech. Those two don't get along, but they look to be stuck with each other for the time being. Spanos had better hope that Philip Rivers can play in the NFL, or he might yet become known as the team owner who presided over 2 quarterback busts in San Diego.
With the cap rising to over $100 million, there may be a chance for some teams to re-sign veterans instead of letting them walk. However, watch for a lot of changes of teams by players this offseason, which to some extent reflects coaching changes. Not only are there a number of new head coaches, but there have been a lot of co-ordinator changes. This will generate movement as co-ordinators seek to hire players who know "their" system. One weakness in the NFL is that more talented players are often ignored in favour of less talented players who are presumed to fit into "the system".