The Super Bowl champion Ravens lost more key players to free agency What a wild rush.
Guess the three-day, pre-market window of legalized tampering was just the ticket to ignite the market at the opening bell.
The flurry of moves on Day 1 was stunning. I don't recall the league's new year ever getting off the ground with such velocity, with so many transactions.
TUESDAY MOVES: Find out who went where
During the first five hours after the 4 p.m. ET kickoff, more than four dozen free agents had new contracts … and counting.
But it wasn't just the mad money -- we'll get to that -- that marked the event. Adding to the craziness was a Deadspin.com report revealing a secretly-recorded conversation between two NFL general managers -- Buffalo's Buddy Nix and Tampa Bay's Mark Dominik -- that could result in charges for the pranksters.
During the chat, Nix bemoaned his starting quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Naturally, on Tuesday, Fitzpatrick was cut -- which was probably going to occur anyway, with a new coach and $3 million roster bonus -- with the recording providing an ominous backdrop.
Another notable cut that was seen coming: Nnamdi Asomugha.
BELL: Don't cry for broken-up Ravens
Two years ago, he was the prince of free agency. Asomugha signed a five-year, $60 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, leading off the talent haul that inspired Vince Young to dub them "The Dream Team."
Now Asomugha, who had a $15 million salary for 2013, is way too expensive for new coach Chip Kelly. So he's back on the just-opened market.
Asomugha's tumble shows just how fleeting the big money deals can be, and why NFL contracts come with an asterisk.
It has been a tough week for high-priced cornerbacks. The Redskins cut DeAngelo Hall on Monday, and the Vikings gave Antoine Winfield the boot on Tuesday.
They have something else in common. Hall and Winfield were among the three cornerbacks in the NFL during the 2012 season to tally at least 100 tackles, with St. Louis' Cortland Finnegan rounding out the short list.
To get 100 tackles as a corner is rare, vouching for the type of run support that Deion Sanders was never famous for. For years, I've considered Winfield, 5-9, 180, as the best pound-for-pound defender in football. But he's getting older. He's 35. And he carried a $7.25 million base salary for 2013. That made him expendable.
PHOTOS: USA TODAY Sports' top 50 NFL free agents 
50. Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets
Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
49. Sam Baker, OT. SIGNED: Atlanta Falcons, six years, $45M. (Old team: Falcons.)
Dave Martin, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
48. Donald Thomas, G. SIGNED: Indianapolis Colts. (Old team: New England Patriots.)
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
47. Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons
Jamie Squire, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
46. Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets
Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
45. Brandon Gibson, WR, St. Louis Rams
Kevin Hoffman, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
44. Martellus Bennett, TE. SIGNED: Chicago Bears. (Old team: New York Giants)
By William Perlman, The Star-Ledger/US Presswire Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
43. Gosder Cherilus, OT. SIGNED: Indianapolis Colts. (Old team: Detroit Lions)
Duane Burleson, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
42. Glover Quin, S, Houston Texans
Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
41. Mike DeVito, DE. SIGNED: Kansas City Chiefs, three years, $12.6M (Old team: New York Jets.)
Andy Lyons, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
40. James Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers.
Vincent Pugliese, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
39. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
38. Danny Amendola, WR, St. Louis Rams
Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
37. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants
Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
36. Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis Colts
Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
35. Brandon Moore, G, New York Jets
Debby Wong, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
34. Eric Winston, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
John Rieger, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
33. Sean Smith, CB, Miami Dolphins
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
32. Osi Umenyiora, DE, New York Giants
Jim O'Connor, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
31. Israel Idonije, DE, Chicago Bears
Matt Kartozian, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
30. Louis Vasquez, G. SIGNED: Denver Broncos, four years, $23.5M. (Old team: San Diego Chargers)
Kathy Willens, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
29. Phil Dawson, K, Cleveland Browns
Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
28. Jared Cook, TE. SIGNED: St. Louis Rams. (Old team: Tennessee Titans.)
Don McPeak, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
27. Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
26. John Abraham, DE, Atlanta Falcons
Bob Leverone, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
25. Philip Wheeler, OLB. SIGNED: Miami Dolphins, five years, $26M. (Old team: Oakland Raiders.)
Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
24. Chris Houston, CB, Detroit Lions
Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
23. Ed Reed, FS, Baltimore Ravens James Lang, US Presswire
