Free agent market grows … In a move that really wasn’t all that unexpected, Houston has released long-time offensive stalwart WR Andre Johnson who is free to sign with any team in the league. Same story for New England CB Darrelle Revis as the Patriots have reportedly decided to not pick up his contract option. That will make Revis an unrestricted free agent when the new NFL season starts tomorrow, although it is still very possible that the Patriots remain in play if they can offer Revis a new deal he can live with. Nobody is putting up a “last person to leave the building please turn out the lights” in San Francisco, but the 49ers took at least one more hit with news that MLB Patrick Lewis will try while DE Justin Smith is reportedly close to making the same decision. Earlier today Chicago signed former Baltimore OLB Pernell McPhee to a long-term deal, despite the fact he was never a full-time starter with the Ravens. Most analysts figure that Chicago, which is switching to a 3-4 defense this coming season could very well use the 7th pick in this year’s draft on an edge-rushing OLB, however, in addition to McPhee at he position the Bears are moving DEs Jared Allen and Willie Young to the OLB slots so they could very well also be looking even harder at at NT liker Washington’s Danny Shelton or even Michigan State CB Trae Waynes to help shore up a very un-Bears-like defense with their top pick.. Meanwhile, the Bears are still reportedly trying to find a trade partner for QB Jay Cutler, but according to sources, the only other team even remotely interested is Tennessee where the former Vanderbilt star played his college football.
