Attempting to buy your way to championship usually doesn't work out to well for NFL clubs, but that hasn't stopped them from doing it for many years. Now that free agents can sign with teams the flood gates are officially open. There are some early front runners on who may be the most desperate in buildinbg their teams by spending money in a cap free year. Lets take a look at the early signings that have happened since last evening at 12:00 PM EST.

• NY Jets

First the team ridded themselves of last year starting (CB) on the opposite side of All-World Darrelle Revis when they released Lito Sheppard on Thursday. Then late last evening the team sent a 3rd round pick in 2011 to the Chargers for Antonio Cromartie.

This deal by far gives the Jets the best starting pair of corners in the league. Now they just have to hope that Cromartie matures a bit more than his time in San Diego.

• Detroit Lions

The Lions made an early spalsh in helping their offense and young quarterback by signing veteran (WR) Nate Burleson to a five year deal.

While Burleson isn't a premiere guy, he is definetly better opposite Calvin Johnson than the Lions since he has came into the league. Now all they have to do is find somebody to protect the quarterback long enough to actually get the ball to these guys.

Now the Lions have improved the motor of their defense when they signed (DE) Kyle Vanden Bosch to a 4 year deal. Vanden Bosch is an all effort guy who will bring consistenty and good leadership to a young and improving defense.

Talk about an extreme defensive line make over. Who's running the show in Motown, Ty Pennington? The Lions have their new end and it also looks like they nabbed themselves a decent 3 technique tackle in Corey Williams who they obtained from the Cleveland Browns for the #12 overall pick in the 2010 draft.

This move not only improves the Lions it also brings more intrigue to the draft and what the Lions will do with the #2 overall pick. An offensive lineman can go much earlier than once thought or the Lions could move back and pick up a ton more picks for a shot at Suh, McCoy or Bradford. 

• Chicago Bears

The Bears made Jay Cutler a much more comfortable man this morning when they signed (TE) Brandon Manumaleuna to a five year deal.

Manumaleuna has played within Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system before and his size matched with ability give the Bears a huge upgrade for all those deep drops Cutler will be taking next season.

What do you do when your team sucks, hasn't seen the playoffs in three years and have no draft picks until the third round? Make a big splash in free agency. The team already signed one of the best blocking (TE) Brandon Manumaleuna, the team made an even bigger splash when they signed (DE) Julius Peppers to a six year deal AND (RB) Chester Taylor to a four year deal.

I'll have a more in-depth analytical look at these moves as the Bears are my favorite NFL squad.  

• Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles resigned (FB) Leonard Weaver to a 3 year deal. The move seems to indicate that (RB) LeSean McCoy won't be seeing much action without the athletic fullback in front of him.

The team released (LB) Will Witherspoon, one year after acquiring him in a trade with the St. Louis Rams.

• Indianapolis Colts

The Colts kept the middle of their defense secure when the team came to an agreement with (MLB) Gary Brackett to a 5 year deal.

The move ensures the Colts will have that security blanket they need on defense, because the defensive front is very weak ad Brackett did so very well securing tackles after the opposition broke through that line.

The Colts released (QB) Jim Sorgi, now we can welcome in the back-up quarterback era of one Curtis Painter.

• Washington Redskins

The Skins resigned a very versatile player today in (DT, OG, LB) Lorenzo Alexander. I guess after paying for so many free agents owner Daniel Snyder needs to keep as many players like Alexander as possible. Maybe he'll go both ways next season.

The team also came to terms with (C) Casey Rabach and (DE) Phillip Daniels.

The team also cut themselves free of a ton of salary when they cut; (WR) Antwan Randle-El, (DT) Cornelius Griffen, (G) Randy Thomas, (KR) Rock Cartwright, (CB) Fredd Smoot, (RB0 Ladell Betts, (QB) Todd Collins. All the players released are 30 or over and no longer impact guys or never really were at all. Is this move a dropping of money not well spent or is it just clearing room for more bad contracts?

• Kansas City Chiefs

I really thought this guy was looking for a ticket back to Foxboro, but I guess a one year deal from a really bad team is all (LB) Mike Vrabel has left in him.

The move secures a veteran guy for a team that still needs so much help on both sides of the ball.

The team re-signed (RB) Jackie Battle.

• Carolina Panthers

Here we have the first example of a team going the opposite way in using the NFL uncapped season to save money. With no salary cap floor, teams are free to spend as little as they like on their rosters and the Panthers look to be doing just that.

The most recent releases by the Panthers are (DT) Ma'ake Kemoeatu, (LB) Na'il Diggs and (LB) Landon Johnson. Maybe the team doesn't like apostrophes in the middle of players names.

The Panthers look to be clearing house this offseason. First the team let go longtime guy (DT) Damoine Lewis and then cut free (QB) Jake Delhomme.

The Lewis move was probably about money and age, Lewis is 32 and was due $5 million if kept past Thursday. The Delhomme cut is a dream come true for most Panthers fans who still have nightmares of him throwing multiple interceptions over, over and over again. His play has taken a huge drop-off over the past couple of seasons. The nose dive begun in the NFC divisional playoff game in 2009 versus the Arizona Cardinals where he turned the ball over six times. He continued that poor play well into this season where he was given many chances that he wasn't finished.

Look for Matt Moore to get the first crack at keeping and holding onto the Panthers quarterback job as he was tendered a (1st & 3rd) round deal on Thursday before the Panthers cut Delhomme.

• San Diego Chargers

The Chargers released their man in the middle (NT) Jamal Williams. Once considered one of the best center pieces of a 3-4 schemed defense. It seems that age and injury have caught up with Williams and it is yet to be seen if another team will take a flyer on the massive gap filler.

The Chargers have re-signed (TE) Kris Wilson.

• Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals only needed one season to realize that (WR) Laveranues Coles doens't have much left in the tank. Coles was very good under-sized receiver for many years, but without elite sizr when you lose a step your career falls off very quickly. He will find work somewhere, but is no better than a 3rd or 4th reciever at this point and time in his career.

• New Orleans Saints

In a curious move the Saints released (DE) Charles Grant. Though the Saints defense looked impressive all year long that lead to Super Bowl Championship it was done more with mirrors than actual performance. The team came up with a ton of a turnovers which was lead by the pressure they were able to put on the opposition's quarterback. That pressure was mostly linked with (DE) Will Smith, but without Grant opposite (the less rich Will Smith) who is very good in his own right, Smith will become average once again.

• Denver Broncos

Looks as if Broncos coach Josh McDaniels does have some guys on his roster from last year he actual does like or maybe they don't back-sass him. They re-signed (WR) Brandon Llyod and (G) Russ Hochstein.

• Atlanta Falcons

It looks as if the Falcons were impressed with the late season replacment job done by (QB) Chris Redman as the team resigned him today to a two year deal.

• Houston Texans

Still one of the best at giving his team a edge in field position gave the Texans plenty of reasons to resign (P) Matt Turk.

The Falcons locked up the best cornerback on the free agent market Dunta Robinson to a six year deal.

• Miami Dolphins

Per his agent Alvin Keels, (S) Gibril Wilson will be released by the Dolphins today.

The team also completed their original wish and released linebacker Joey Porter along with his corp mate Akin Ayodele.

Out with the old and with the new. After the team ridded itself of (LB) Joey Porter they struck a deal with the best free agent linebacker availabe in Karlos Dansby in a five year deal.

The team also re-signed (QB) Chad Pennington to a one year deal. While Pennington believes he is still a NFL starter he will most likely back-up Chad Henne who improved on a weekly basis after taking over the starting job last season. 

• St. Louis Rams

For the second season in a row the Rams signed a really bad back-up quarterback. Last year it was Kyle Boller, this year it is AJ Feeley. Sure hope the "Glass Man" Marc Bulger can find a way to stay on the field in 2010.

• Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens acquired the toughest receiver in the league, that is my humble opinion. They sent a 2010 3rd and 4th round pick for (WR) Anquan Boldin plus a 2010 5th rounder. The Ravens also got Boldin signed to a new 4 year deal. Quite a day for the Ravens passing offense.

This move may just be the un-official official end of the Derrick Mason era in Baltimore. Joe Flacco just got a whole lot better.

• New York Giants

You don't usually give a huge contact to your free safety, but when your secondary was as bad as the Giants was last season they really didn't have a choice. The Giants found hooked one of the best secondary pieces available on the free agent market when they inked Antrel Rolle to a five year deal.