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| Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images |
| Ryan Grant is one of several elite NFL players who went undrafted. |
As New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum watched the NFL playoffs last weekend, he realized they were an infomercial for undrafted free agents. But even he didn’t comprehend exactly how much.
The All-Undrafted team
Offense Defense
» QB: Tony Romo DE: Greg White
» DE: Ryan Grant DT: Cullen Jenkins
» RB: Willie Parker DT: Ed Johnson
» WR: Wes Welker DE: Paul Spicer
» WR: Ruvell Martin LB: Antonio Pierce
» TE: Antonio Gates LB: Gary Brackett
» C: Jeff Saturday * LB: James Harrison **
» G: Stephen Neal CB: Nick Harper
» G: Kris Dielman CB: Terry Cousin
» T: Ryan Lilja S: Atari Bigby
» T: Donald Penn S: Brian Russell
» K: Rob Bironas * P: Jeff Feagles
* = AP All-Pro selection
** = Second-team All-Pro
When the playoffs kicked off, the 12 playoff teams had 167 undrafted free agents on their roster.
In this weekend’s divisional playoffs, the eight teams have 106 undrafted free agents on their roster.
Part of this is the salary cap. It has forced teams to dig deeper for depth, and allowed undrafted, unproven players to stick around longer than they ordinarly would.
Evidence: The Redskins, who spend freely on free agents, had 21 undrafted free agents on their roster –- 21 of 53 players -- when the playoffs started, including linebacker London Fletcher.
But more of it might be the fact that undrafted free agents have a built-in desire that other players lack. It shows in their play, as will be on display this weekend.
Notable undrafted free agents that did not make this team -– and there are some solid players in this group -- include Giants center Shaun O'Hara, Giants guard Rich Seubert, Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia, Buccaneers linebacker Ryan Nece, Jaguars safety Sammy Knight and Cowboys wide receiver Sam Hurd.
And all of this is just one more reason why the hours after the NFL draft sometimes can be as important as the hours at the end of it.
Here is a look at an all-undrafted free agent playoff team with some slight changes: Colts guard Ryan Lilja was moved to tackle only because Indianapolis has stuck him in there when emergencies have struck in the past. With an overload of undrafted free agent guards, Lilja has been shifted to tackle.
Also, rather than go with Seattle's undrafted free-agent fullback Leonard Weaver, this team features two running backs because both are so good.
