Jackson Lands Three-Year Deal with Falcons, Reed and Urlacher Remain Unsigned

Free agency got off to a big start this week with Wes Welker grabbing headlines as he went to the Denver Broncos for a two-year deal. Lucky for him, he’s coupled with an equally talented quarterback as his previous one and success should come his way.

Welker has a 1000 1/2 o/u for total receiving yards for the 2013 season.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez didn’t pull a Brett Favre and keep everyone waiting about whether he’ll return or not. He’s already decided he’ll be back in 2013. He’ll find a new running back on the team and both will try to for another Falcons Super Bowl run.

Meet Steven Jackson.

After letting running back Michael Turner go, the help wanted sign went out and the team selected Jackson to fill the opening.

Falcons running back Steven Jackson

On Thursday, the soon to be 30-year-old player signed a three-year, $12 million deal. He’ll bring eight consecutive 1,000 yard seasons to the Falcons and a strong enthusiasm to win.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said to The Associated Press, “I think this is a very big signing for us. It continues to bolster our offensive firepower. It gives us not only strength, power in running ability but also the versatility to catch out of the backfield, which is a very important part of this offense.”

For this team, they were so close but yet so far in 2012. Looking ahead to 2014, they have 18 to 1 odds to bring home the Lombardi Trophy.

And then we have some unsigned veterans who have some suitors but nothing has been inked.

The Baltimore Ravens are slowly blowing up their Super Bowl-winning team and the next player likely to go is veteran safety Ed Reed. On Thursday, it was reported he met with officials from the Houston Texans including wide receiver Andre Johnson for dinner. Reed and Johnson were previously teammates at the University of Miami.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported Reed could have a done deal with the team by Friday.

Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher

Then there’s Chicago Bears veteran linebacker Brian Urlacher. The face of the team, the player is entering his twilight years and would like to remain with the team. Last Thursday, his agent submitted a deal and talks are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Urlacher isn’t sitting around waiting for the phone to ring from the Bears. He has another suitor: conference rival Minnesota Vikings.

The team has confirmed the talks but they believe in the end the player will stay with the Bears. They have already seen one of their other linebackers, Nick Roach, land with a new team, the Oakland Raiders.

Urlacher is rumored to have two other teams pursuing him: the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys, reported The Chicago Tribune. The player appears interested in a $5.5 million payday, a figure that former Ravens Ray Lewis got in his last season.

This could be the holdup in the “ongoing” talks.

The Bears made two much-needed offensive additions on Tuesday but will this make the 2013 season their year? They’re at 20 to 1 to win the Super Bowl.

And on a final note for the 2013 season, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, who started as a Heisman Contender but saw his season fall short of expectations, had a good pro day this week. He was impressive at the NFL Scouting Combine and now in front of 29 NFL teams this week, he went 60 for 64 in this throws, with two dropped passes and overthrows to two of his receivers.

On Monday, he had a private workout with the quarterback-heavy Philadelphia Eagles.

Considered a top quarterback for this year’s draft, Smith had 4,205 passing yards in 2012; he was the nation’s leader with 42 touchdown passes.

Should he land with the Eagles, there’s a 35 to 1 chance to win it all this season.