Early this week, the Titans signed former Falcons All Pro tight end Alge Crumpler to a 2 year deal, proving Crumpler feels comfortable with mobile, inaccurate passers.  Vince Young still has a few years to prove himself, but through 2 years he's been worse than Michael Vick as a quarterback.   

The move gives the Titans a formidable TE duo of Crumpler and Bo Scaife.  Seeing as Tennessee loves to run the ball, we could see a lot of 2 tight end sets that result in 'bigger' passing plays for a team that has 21 touchdown passes the last 2 years, good for dead last in the league.  Yikes.

While the Crumpler signing makes a lot of sense and could be one of those "under the radar" deals that reaps big rewards for a team that managed to get to the playoffs with a poor offense, the Raiders and Vikings are spending money like drunken hooligans.   

Javon Walker signed a 6 year $55 million deal to compliment last week's Gibril Wilson signing, giving the Raiders 2 of the highest paid players in the league at their position.  Oakland also resigned Justin Fargas earlier this offseason, nullifying the ridiculous contract handed out to Dominic Rhodes last offseason (who, just like Gibril Wilson, was a Super Bowl winning player whom the Raiders grossly overpaid for). 

Earlier this week, the Raiders' 2003 1st round draft pick Tyler Brayton signed on with Carolina, after underachieving to the tune of 6 sacks in 5 seasons and playing so poorly that he failed to start a single game for Oakland in 2007.  The transaction is notable because a) it demonstrates the Raiders' poor drafting and/or player development and b) Brayton is the guy who shoved his knee in Jerramy Stevens' groin during a 2006 game.  For this reason, Brayton should have a lifetime contract with the NFLPA - everyone should respect a man who tries to take out Jerramy Stevens' groin.

Also in the AFC West, Chiefs safety Greg Wesley wants out of Kansas City, notable only because of Wesley's humorous plea for freedom:

"They’re holding me here, and teams need safeties. Let me find another team. Are they going to hold me until there are no more jobs? I could find a pretty good deal out there right now, but if they hold me much longer, I’m going to get a (lesser) contract.”

Considering Gibril Wilson got nearly a $40 million deal and Madieu Williams is set to rake in $33 million from the Vikings, I can at least see Wesley's point, but acting like he's desperate to put food on his family's table is humorous.  Don't the Chiefs care about the wants and needs of other teams.  OTHER TEAMS NEED SAFETIES GOD DAMNIT!  (PS: check out Madieu Williams' personal Web site and note the tremendous musical score).

Sticking with the Vikings, they made a play for Justin Smith, but didn't offer up a sweet enough deal, so they instead splurged a fat 6 year $42 million contract on Bernard Berrian.  You can't fault Minnesota for trying to improve their receiving core, but paying a deep threat with mediocre hands and zero career 1,000 yard seasons more money than Randy Moss is dumb.  But I guess when your 2nd and 3rd receivers are Bobby Wade and Robert Ferguson, you become desperate.

And that leads us to our updated list of overpaid free agents.  Keep in mind, this is not based on scientific fact. 

5. Shaun Rogers - Browns

4. Bernard Berrian - Vikings

3. Javon Walker - Raiders

2. Gibril Wilson - Raiders

1. Tommy Kelly - Raiders (13 sacks in 3 seasons, played only 7 games last year due to knee problems and signed a 7 year $50 million deal with $18 million guaranteed making him the highest paid tackle in the league - guess I forgot to mention that earlier).

Justin Smith is lurking around the top 5, but at least you can count on him playing a full 16 games every year.

It's really convenient to bash the Raiders for being, well, the Raiders, but the top 3 players named in the tiny list above prove someone is smoking crack in Oakland.