By Gayle Saunders
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Ray Rice – Ravens - Through four years in the league, Rice has established himself as one of the NFL’s most consistently productive running backs and heads a decent class of free agents at his position. A product of Rutgers in 2008, the small, but versatile ball-carrier has appeared in two Pro-Bowls and been an integral part of Baltimore’s dangerous offense. While it’s hard not to question how many hits a 5-foot-8 back like Rice will be able to take, especially with his up-the-middle running style, there’s been no question the 24-year-old has been the centerpiece of the Ravens in recent years. With three straight years of at least 1,220 yards and five scores on the ground, he’ll likely command a big payday, but figures to be back with the team he began his career with.

Matt Forte -Bears – Typically, when a premier running back prepares to hit the open market, his team works hard to get a long-term deal done ahead of time, but that hasn’t been the case with Forte and the Bears, meaning other NFL clubs could have a shot at landing a top-tier ball-carrier this offseason. He followed up a promising rookie campaign with a forgettable 2009 season that included a yards-per-carry average of just 3.6, but has since developed into one of the league’s top all-around offensive threats. This past season, he fell just three yards short of the 1,000-yard mark and also hauled in 52 passes for nearly 500 yards…in 12 games. At 26, Forte is older than Rice, but remains a potentially elite free agent option.

Marshawn Lynch – Seahawks- Before joining the Seahawks during the 2010 season, Lynch appeared to be on a serious decline, which followed up a promising, yet controversial tenure with Buffalo, but has turned his career around and figures to garner a good deal of interest as a free agent. After two straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his professional career, Lynch fell victim to injuries and quickly fell out of favor with the Bills, especially after being suspended for a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Since coming to Seattle via trade, however, the 25-year-old Lynch has been nothing short of a bruising highlight reel, powering his way to over 1,700 rushing yards in 26 starts for the Seahawks.

Running Backs
Ray Rice
Matt Forte
Marshawn Lynch
Michael Bush
Peyton Hillis
Cedric Benson
Mike Tolbert
Kevin Smith
Jason Snelling
Justin Forsett
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Tim Hightower
Steve Slaton
Cadillac Williams
LaDainian Tomlinson
Ronnie Brown
Ryan Grant
Jackie Battle
Sammy Morris
Mewelde Moore
Maurice Morris
Earnest Graham
Chester Taylor
Kevin Faulk
Tashard Choice
Derrick Ward
Thomas Jones
Jerious Norwood
LenDale White
Rock Cartwright

By Gayle Saunders
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Kevin Faulk picks up the ringing phone on Monday Night Football as Darren Sharper plays on the role as Operator!

By Gayle Saunders
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Today the Cleveland Browns signed Benjamin Watson, the trusty free agent tight end from New England Patriots who he spent his first six seasons with.

Watson has appeared in 71 regular games in his career, including 47 starts. He has caught 167 passes for 2,102 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s played in nine playoff games and started seven, and has had 19 receptions for 195 yards and threes touchdowns. His most successful season was in 2006 when he had 49 catches for 643 yards and three touchdowns. He has accounted for a career high six touchdown catches the following year, when he totaled 36 receptions for 389 yards.

Benjamin Watson celebrates while going in for a touchdown against Cleveland Browns his "new team".

The deal is reportedly for three years and $12 million, $6.35 million guaranteed. The Cleveland Browns out bid the Seattle Seahawks for Watson’s services. General manager Tom Heckert spoke highly of Benjamin Watson.

“We viewed Ben as one of the top all-around tight ends in the free agent market,” said Heckert. “Because of his athleticism and intelligence, he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets. He comes from a winning program in New England and possesses the traits that we like in a player. We feel as though he can help us in many different areas and we are excited about his addition to our team.”

Cleveland is a team that is in dire need of receiving options, Watson should instantly be featured in all pass-catching schemes.

The New England Patriots while letting Watson leave, in the meantime they have decided to keep Kevin Faulk for one more year. The team did not release the terms of the deal, however the deal is for one year and will be signed today. Its most likely Faulk will receive a $1 million signing bonus and can earn an additional $2 million in salary and incentives.

Faulk has been clutch for New England.

Faulk’s agent Raymond Brothers said that “four or five teams” were interested in talking with Faulk, but the player wasn’t ready to get on a plane.

“It probably would have pushed his deal with the Patriots more if he had taken the visits,” Brothers said. “But he told me ‘I don’t want to be bluffing. I want to be back with the Patriots. If we can’t work something out, then we’ll do it.’”

Given the Patriots’ focus on locker-room dynamics this offseason, bringing Faulk back was a no-brainer. If you look at the team’s running back group, it definitely has some older guys in the over-30 club with Faulk (33) joining Fred Taylor (34) and Sammy Morris (32) and two younger backs in Laurence Maroney (25) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (24).

With a solid the group returning, the Patriots have options and wont be locked into selecting a back in the draft.