Nick Wass / AP

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis finished the 2008 season with 117 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three interceptions.

Best of the Rest
1. Eric Barton – Barton, 31, is coming off a strong year, but the Jets wanted to clear cap space ostensibly to chase Scott or Lewis. Barton should still land a starting job on the open market.

2. Angelo Crowell - Crowell missed all of 2008 and recently revealed that he's dealt with chondromalacia, a chronic condition that infects his kneecap, since 2006. His rehab is ahead of schedule, and he's been a versatile tackling machine when healthy. Crowell is a high-risk, high-reward signing this offseason.

3. Mike Peterson - Peterson, 33, picked the wrong year to enter free agency. He spent much of the season in Jack Del Rio's doghouse and didn't play well when he did see action. After spending all of 2008 as a thorn in the Jaguars' side, he isn't going to generate a lot of interest on the market.

4. Zach Thomas – Thomas chose the Cowboys over the Patriots and Saints last offseason, but he ended up being a poor fit for Wade Phillips' scheme. Turning 35 this spring, Thomas may have just one more starting season left in him.

5. Derrick Brooks - Brooks, turning 36, would offer leadership to a Tampa two squad, but he's only a part-time player at this point in his career. He probably would only play on clear running downs.

Others: David Bowens, D.D. Lewis, Jamie Winborn, Morlon Greenwood, Kevin Burnett, Takeo Spikes, Napoleon Harris, Brad Kassell, Dontarrious Thomas, Tyjuan Hagler, Niko Koutouvides, Marques Harris, Roderick Green, Coy Wire, Heath Farwell, Darryl Blackstock, Andra Davis, Adam Seward, Nate Webster, Paris Lenon, Antwan Peek, Keyaron Fox, Darrell McClover, Clark Haggans, Pat Thomas, Khary Campbell, Troy Evans, Gilbert Gardner, Rocky Boiman, Monty Beisel, Junior Seau, Teddy Lehman, Rosevelt Colvin

Restricted Free Agent Linebackers
1. Brandon Johnson – Johnson turned heads in Cincinnati as the star of training camp in his first season outside of Arizona. He filled in admirably when Hines Ward ended rookie first-rounder Keith Rivers' season with a vicious block.

2. Rashad Jeanty – The Bengals extended a second-round tender to their second-leading tackler, so the starting strong side linebacker will likely return to Cincy in '09.

3. Keith Ellison – Ellison rebounded a bit after a weak 2007 campaign, but his lack of playmaking ability and less than ideal size won't have teams beating down his door.

Others: Jason Hunter, Pierre Woods, Jon Alston, Ricky Brown, James Anderson, Corey Mays, Lance Laury

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