Excitement, anxiety greet players in free agency

Linebacker Lance Briggs is likely to become one of the game's highest-paid players once free agency season comes to a close. AP

The NFL's free agency period begins Thursday at midnight and most fans have a wish-list of players they'd love to see their team acquire. Unlike the draft, which is vastly more speculative, free agency is really the only time to secure proven NFL commodities like cornerback Asante Samuel and linebacker Lance Briggs, two of the biggest names in this year's crop.

But what are the players thinking as this process unfolds? Are they excited, anxiety-ridden? I spoke with both former free agents and soon-to-be free agents in an effort to gauge what the process is like for them. Bear in mind, that for every Samuel or Briggs, there are two or three players who wish their contracts had never expired.

First-tier riches

Players who fall into this category are about to hit the lottery. Within hours, if not minutes, after midnight, Samuel and Briggs are likely to receive offers of guaranteed money well in excess of $20 million. The total contract value will likely exceed $50 million each.

Another top-tier player likely to experience a financial boon is Jake Scott, an offensive guard/tackle who played the four previous seasons with Indianapolis and has been a starter since midway through his rookie season in 2004. With players like Steve Hutchinson, Eric Steinbach and Derrick Dockery recently re-setting the bar for top offensive guards, Scott will join Alan Faneca as one of the top guards available on the free agent market.

"I am really more excited than nervous," said Scott, "I know I am going to get something done quickly and gonna go somewhere."

It's not uncommon for a top-tier free agent to be on a plane the first day of free agency and likely sign a contract three or four days later, if not sooner -- one that could provide financial security for the rest of their life.

Though Scott would love the opportunity to return to the Colts, the team that drafted him and the team he helped win a Super Bowl, his increased value has probably priced Indy out of the market.

"I have not really heard from them in a while and don't expect to," he said. "I had four good years there, but they are pretty tight against the cap and I know there are other teams that are interested in me.

Most first-tier free agents gravitate to the highest, and Scott is no different. After all, this is a business. But there are other factors that he says he'll take into account.

"I want to win. Football is not fun at all when you aren't winning," he said.

So what numeric value would he place on the importance of winning? Scott said he could envision a scenario in which he took 10-15% less to sign with a team that had Super Bowl potential.

That is borderline philanthropic in a league in which, as one assistant coach said, free agent decisions "always come down to money."

Who could blame Scott for maximizing his full financial potential? He has made the playoffs ever year, won a Super Bowl in 2007, and protected arguably the best player in the game for the past four years. But he didn't break the $1 million mark for career earnings until halfway through last season. The guaranteed money in his next contract will likely surpass his career earnings up to this point by a minimum of tenfold.

1 of 2