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Y'all ready for this?
The official start of free agency is finally upon us, as teams and unrestricted free agents can finally begin signing contracts at 4:00 PM Eastern time this afternoon. Of course, numerous players have reportedly come to agreements with new teams thanks communications taking place during the NFL's legal tampering period.
Oh, but that's not kosher for the NFL, who is going to investigate this improper activity. Of course, who could possibly foresee that teams and agents would ignore the league's vague guidelines about this period and actually discuss terms of new contracts when they're talking to each other for three days? That's just crazy talk.
In the meantime, expect quite a bit of Packers news today. They have until 4:00 to offer tenders to their restricted free agents (Don Barclay, Jarrett Boykin, and Sean Richardson) and their exclusive-rights free agents (DuJuan Harris, who has already been notified that he will not be tendered, and Chris Banjo).
Keep it here throughout the day to stay updated.
Decision time on cornerbacks for Packers | JSOnline
There are a few noteworthy items here; first, Ted Thompson reportedly "balked" at offering Bryan Bulaga $7 million per year, while Davon House is apparently shopping himself around and not giving the Packers a chance to match a big contract offer.
Davon House could be a free-agent bargain - ESPN
This is an interesting idea though - as far as return on investment goes, House could indeed be one of the better pickups in free agency, but only if he can stay healthy.
'My heart never left Green Bay' | ESPN Wisconsin
Here are some more quotes from Randall Cobb regarding the negotiation process on his new deal. Apparently there was a two-week dead period between Ted Thompson and Cobb's agent, but they got all the details hammered out on Saturday.
Reviewing the Green Bay Packers' free-agent history under Ted Thompson - ESPN
As far as true unrestricted free agents go, Ted Thompson has signed exactly two since 2009 (since Julius Peppers and Letroy Guion don't count).
2015 NFL mock draft: Different voices change the 1st round - SBNation.com
No change here for the Packers this week - Paul Dawson is still Dan Kadar's pick for Green Bay at #30.
NFL to investigate premature contract agreements - SBNation.com
To be honest, you can't very well expect agents/players and teams to not agree to contract terms if you let them talk to each other for three days. You don't get it both ways, here. Still, notice one team that has been conspicuously absent from any rumors about other teams' free agents - yes, that would be Ted Thompson's Packers.