Free-Agency Buzz: Harrison, Wallace And Cason

We are now one day into the unofficial start of free agency and so far, crickets.

Teams are moving very cautiously at the start of this new three-day “legal tampering” period recently implemented by the NFL. Club execs and agents are allowed to talk with one another, but were warned by the league that “any announcement of an agreement or an agreement in principle by a club or another party…may subject the club to a tampering investigation.”

Confident that no deals will be struck this early on in the process, the Eagles and the rest of the league are fishing around to get a sense for what the market could be for a player, but aren’t all that willing to set the market by talking real numbers. With no offers coming in, agents are left feeling confused and frustrated. One that we talked to Saturday started letting most calls from general managers go to voicemail, opting instead for a round of golf. Talks will likely intensify as we get closer to the real start of free agency (4 p.m. Tuesday), but  it’s off to a slow start.

There is some news to pass along:

— I started getting questions about James Harrison the moment the news broke that he got cut from the Steelers. Would the Eagles go after him?

Howie Roseman talked about overlooking age in some instances if the player can be a culture-setter for the franchise. Harrison knows a little about establishing a winning culture, and could certainly help the Eagles transition to a 3-4.

“I want to try and stay in the scheme that I’m in — in a 3-4 defense,” he said, via ESPN. “Warm weather is probably better but sometimes you don’t have a choice on where you get to go. You have a choice in picking the team but it still depends on the circumstances around that team. You have to go with what is best for you.”

At 34, the guess here is Harrison would want to go to a championship-ready team, but I suppose you never know.

— Five teams are reportedly showing interest in wide receiver/returner Josh Cribbs. Two of them — the Giants and Cowboys — reside inthe NFC East. The Eagles aren’t mentioned as a possible suitor, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hop in.

— A lot of fans have a natural interest in Mike Wallace. The Dolphins are supposedly the “lead dog”, and the Patriots are said to have some interest.

— The Plain Dealer says the Browns have shown some interest in free agent corner Antoine Cason.

— Sheil mentioned that Detroit D-lineman Sammie Hill as a potential option at nose tackle. Hill has supposedly drawn interest from four unnamed teams. The Lions are not one of them.

— Bills offensive lineman Andy Levitre has four potential suitors so far (Eagles not mentioned).

We’ll continue to keep an eye on the market for you.