2016 Season - Week 24 (Cont)

We are less than a month away from Free Agency (March 9th) and already lists of key free-agents have been produced. Some will be re-signed by their existing clubs but some will be moving on so keep an eye on who goes where, as free agency and the draft will affect your team. Number one free agent, RB Le’Veon Bell is likely to be re-signed by Pittsburgh but there are stories that new San Francisco Coach Kyle Shanahan would love to get current Washington QB Kirk Cousins to drive his offence. Others offensive starters who are at contracts end include WRs Alshon Jeffery (Chicago), DeSean Jackson (Washington) and Terrelle Pryor (Cleveland) and Patriot Tight End Martellus Bennett. Franchise Players 2016-2017 As is the norm you’ll select your Franchise player after the NFL Draft and the majority of free agency as I shall be asking for your Franchise man for the next two years in early June. You’ll be giving up the player that you franchised two years ago though some have been cut due to injury or as they failed to live up to their owner’s expectations. Franchised players becoming available include QB Ryan Tannehill, rushers Jamaal Charles and Lamar Miller, receivers Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, Torrey Smith and TY Hilton plus kickers Stephen Gostkowski and Steven Hauschka. Los Angeles 2 St Louis & San Diego 0 It’s with a touch of sadness that I have to report that one of the best cities in America has lost its NFL Franchise. Following Stan Kroenke’s decision to move his Rams from St Louis to Los Angeles last season, the San Diego Chargers are now the Los Angeles Chargers. On January 12th the Chargers Owner Dean Spanos announced they were joining the Rams in playing in Kroenke’s new super stadium which should be ready in 2019. In the mean-time they will spend two seasons playing at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, in front of just 27,000 fans. And the Raiders discussed move to Las Vegas may be back on again. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report has tweeted that an “NFL source said Raiders Exec Marc Badain has told the league the team has two banks ready to loan the money for the Vegas project”. This comes after one of the Casino magnates, Sheldon Adelson pulled out of the plan as the NFL were reportedly unhappy with Casino bosses having part ownership of any NFL teams. Draft Diary Dates The 2017 BUMS Player Selection Meeting (or draft) will be at 7pm on Sunday 3rd September at HQ, with the first game of the season four days later. Cheryl will do food before the drafting starts, so make a note in your Filofax now. Meanwhile the (slightly less important) NFL Draft will be from April 27th to the 29th. Hopefully it will be covered by Sky and we’ll be able to get together for the first round on Friday evening April 28th.