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The NFL-provided list of projected unrestricted free agents included a column showing how many games each player started last season.



Getting the information into a spreadsheet allowed me to break down those figures by team, position and starts.



The chart shows projected UFAs with at least nine starts last season, by position.



The Cardinals are tied for the league lead with five: nose tackle Bryan Robinson, linebacker Chike Okeafor, linebacker Karlos Dansby, left tackle Mike Gandy and tight end Anthony Becht.



Take away 15-game starter Kurt Warner, who retired, and it’s clear this offseason could be very disruptive for the Cardinals. The team could also lose free safety Antrel Rolle, whose contract includes a $4 million roster bonus and $8.1 million salary.



Another key role player, Bertrand Berry, is retiring.



The Rams had four players make the list, but all four are older players nearing the ends of their careers (Leonard Little, James Hall, Paris Lenon and Randy McMichael).

The Cardinals’ signing of veteran center Melvin Fowler last offseason seemed to upgrade their depth on the line.



Fowler didn’t last. The Cardinals cut him. Detroit signed him. Fowler still hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2008.



The lesson: There’s usually a reason teams release players.



That context should help Rams fans from getting too excited about the team’s addition of former Bills tight end Derek Fine, recently claimed off waivers. Fine’s addition is still a move worth monitoring, based on the potential he has shown when healthy. Unlike Fowler, an older player with 60 regular-season starts, Fine has played in only 18 games over two NFL seasons.



Before a knee injury ended Fine’s 2009 season, Allen Wilson of the Buffalo News had this to say about him:

“Fine gives the Bills a bigger and more physical body at tight end than (Derek) Schouman or (Shawn) Nelson offers. A 6-foot-3, 250-pounder, Fine should be an asset in the running game because he is a tenacious run blocker who plays with good strength, leverage and technique at the point of attack. He’s also an underrated receiver. He doesn’t have the same burst to separate from defenders like Schouman or the speed and raw athleticism that Nelson possesses. But Fine has very reliable hands, runs good routes and has shown the ability to make himself an available target by finding soft spots in coverage.”

The Rams were happy with backup tight end Billy Bajema, late of the 49ers, last season. They probably need to replace Randy McMichael, who is scheduled to become a free agent. Fine, a fourth-round pick in 2008, helps their numbers at the position while giving them another prospect to develop.

The Seahawks have reportedly added two former CFL players this offseason. The Rams tried to sign one of them, Ricky Foley. The Cardinals signed Stevie Baggs, formerly of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.



All this activity across the border made me wonder whether we’re seeing more CFL players than usual landing with NFL teams.



The numbers are slightly up, according to the CFL. Along the way, I learned how these signings generally work.



A typical CFL contract includes an NFL option window that usually begins Jan. 1 and always ends Feb. 16. Players with such options in their contracts can sign with NFL teams during that window. If later released from the NFL, the player’s rights revert to his previous CFL team.



Thirteen CFL players with options in their contracts signed with NFL teams during their option windows, up from 10 last offseason. Four others — all three added by NFC West teams so far, plus Ryan Grice-Mullen of the Dolphins — agreed to NFL deals as free agents untethered to Canadian teams.



Six of the 10 from last offseason returned to the CFL.



The chart shows all 17 players added from CFL teams this offseason. The CFL confirmed 16 of them, but had no information yet on Foley’s reported deal with Seattle, which might not be official yet.

The San Diego Chargers are shopping former first-round pick Antonio Cromartie, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. With LaDainian Tomlinson likely on his way out of town, the Chargers are in desperate need of help at running back. Darren Sproles is a dynamic player, but he’s not ready to carry the load for an entire season.

Cromartie

There’s been speculation that the Dallas Cowboys might be a viable trading partner because of their talented group of running backs. But as ESPNDallas.com’s Calvin Watkins points out, Cromartie wouldn’t really be a good fit for the Cowboys. Mike Jenkins is on his way to becoming an All-Pro and Terence Newman was a replacement player in the Pro Bowl. Nickel cornerback Orlando Scandrick came on strong in the second half of the season.



Cromartie would be a luxury item at this point. The Cowboys have a talented and inexpensive asset in former fourth-rounder Tashard Choice, but it just doesn’t make sense to trade him for a cornerback. It’s up to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to do a better job using Choice in 2010. In fact, Garrett would be wise to take a look at how Sean Payton used his running backs in New Orleans.



I’m going to break away and write a column about the Skins’ quarterbacks situation at some point today. You guys on board with that?

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez says the surgery to repair the patella ligament in his left knee went “exceptionally well.”