| ProFootballWeekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the news around the NFL. 
Eagles release Charles Johnson
WR Charles Johnson, who caught a team-high seven touchdowns last season, has been
released by the Eagles.
Johnson caught 56 passes last season — second most on the Eagles. Philadelphia
decided to release him following the acquisition of free agent James Thrash and the
selection of Freddie Mitchell in the draft.
Buchsbaum: Good player, good team man, but it just came down to finances. Basically,
he’s not a two-plus-million-dollar-a-year wide receiver anymore, and he basically was
slated to be a backup with the receivers they brought in this year. You just can’t
pay that much money to a backup. I think Andy Reid wanted to open the door for his young
receivers to get every chance to play.
ProFootballWeekly.com: As Johnson looks for a new team, is he likely to find a
No. 2 starting job or is he going to be a backup?
Buchsbaum: He can be a No. 2 for certain teams and a backup for others, but he’s
going to have to take about half the money he was making.
RB James Allen signs one-year deal with Bears
RB James Allen has signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Bears. Allen led
Chicago rushers with 1,120 yards last season. This upcoming season, Allen figures to be
challenged by rookie Anthony Thomas, a second-round pick.
Buchsbaum: He’s a shifty type runner with good vision, good instincts and good
balance who lacks great speed and power.
ProFootballWeekly.com: What are your thoughts on the combination of him and
Anthony Thomas?
Buchsbaum: It should work. You’re not going to have a breakaway back back there,
but Thomas is more of an inside hammer and Allen is maybe a little bit more skillful, a
little bit more make-you-miss type.
Saints agree to deal with WR Willie Jackson
Willie Jackson, who caught three TD passes in New Orleans’ playoff victory over
St. Louis last season, has agreed to a free agent deal that will keep him with the Saints
for another season. Jackson caught 37 passes for 523 yards and a career-high six
touchdowns in 2000. He led the NFL in postseason reception yards with 267 and tied for the
lead in postseason points with 24.
Buchsbaum: He’s an excellent No. 3 receiver who can start and worked very, very
well with (Aaron) Brooks at the end of last year.
Panthers sign Sauerbrun
The Panthers have signed P Todd Sauerbrun and released Ken Walter, who average was
second-to-last in the NFL last season. Sauerbrun played for the Chiefs last season but was
waived in March.
Buchsbaum: Sauerbrun has a big leg but inconsistent.
ProFootballWeekly.com: Is he an upgrade over Walter?
Buchsbaum: Off the Ken Walter you saw last year yes, but not off the Ken Walter we used
to see.
Report says Trevor Pryce has agreed to huge deal with Broncos
The Broncos and Pro Bowl DT Trevor Pryce have reached an agreement on a seven-year deal
worth between $58 million and $61 million, according to reports in The Denver Post and the
Rocky Mountain News.
Buchsbaum: He’s one of the finest inside defensive linemen in the game. He may be
one of the top three inside pass rushers. He’s not quite as stout against the run as
you’d like, but he’s big, he’s very athletic and he can get up the field.
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