Adam Archuleta joins the ranks of the unemployed

Former Rams defensive stand out Adam Archuleta was released by the Chicago Bears yesterday after a woeful season there marred by a broken hand.

Big free agent deals can come back to haunt a team, and Adam Archuleta's seven year, $35 million deal became a flashpoint for the Redskins in 2006. I paid little attention to what happened there at the time, but in as much as his abilities were in obvious decline, the Skins made him the scapegoat for their troubles. Archuleta replaced Redskins SS Ryan Clark, and the Redskins defense went from the 4th best unit in 2005 (-14.4% DVOA) to the worst in the league in 2006. I don't know much about the Redskins, but surely that wasn't all Archuleta's fault. The Redskins replaced him with Troy Vincent on Nov. 3 against the Cowboys and when Vincent got hurt later in teh season they refused to put Arch back in there, chosing to leave their well paid SS on the bench. Redskins fans didn't hold the move in high regard. The situation got even uglier until they parted ways with him. 

They then sent him to Chicago for a sixth round pick. And now he's out of a job.

At 30 and with his past injury history, it's unlikely he'll land a starting role anywhere. I'd be surprised if some team out there in need of depth and experience didn't take a flyer on him.

Arch Delux played gave the Rams the best season of his career in 2002, when he accumulated 102 tackles, 14 assists, 2.5 sacks and one INT. That was also the last saeason he played in all 16 games.

On the upside for him, he is still married to Jennifer Walcott . Grrrr.