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Fans and NFL merchandise collectors around the country watched Jake Delhomme’s emotional goodbye from Carolina last week, now many of those same Panthers memorabilia investors are wondering what’s next for their former franchise quarterback. While a backup role would fit the 35-year old well, there’s still a chance he returns to the NFL in 2010 as a starter.

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Look for teams like Denver, Arizona, Seattle, Buffalo and St. Louis to be in the running for Delhomme’s services.

Will Julius Peppers land in Chicago? Fans and Bears merchandise collectors have been hammering talk radio in the Windy City all but demanding the team sign the franchise defensive end. Peppers, whose autographed NFL items have been top sellers for fans seeking Panthers merchandise in recent years, will be able to sign with any team at midnight tonight. With practically the entire Bears front office on the hot seat, many around the league feel that Chicago will literally pay almost any price to land the 30-year old pass rusher.

Fans and Jets memorabilia collectors knew this day was coming: the team announced they will release veteran running back Thomas Jones. Jones, who rushed for over 1,400 yards last season, refused to renegotiate his contract despite all but disappearing during the team’s run to the AFC Championship Game in January. The departure of the 32-year old is a shame especially when considering the demand for Jones’ NFL jerseys and autographed NFL memorabilia amongst fans in the Tri-State area.

While his days as a starter are likely over, expect Jones to draw attention from teams like San Diego and New England that are in dire need of backfield help.

Fans and NFL memorabilia collectors watched some awfully big names hit the free agent market yesterday. The question now becomes who will join them? Less than 24 hours after LaDanian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook were released by the Chargers and Eagles respectively, word has it the Panthers are soon to part ways with franchise pass rusher Julius Peppers. While fans in Jets merchandise would love a pass rusher to go along with their already dominant defense, one has to wonder if they’d prefer another cornerback across from Pro Bowler Darrelle Revis. After cutting L.T., word has it the Chargers will also be saying goodbye to Antonio Cromartie. Chargers memorabilia collectors in San Diego shouldn’t be surprised, the former Pro Bowl corner has made no secret of his dislike for the Bolts’ defensive scheme. The team lead the league with 30 interceptions in 2007, but have managed just 29 in the previous two seasons combined.

It’s a sad day that many fans and NFL memorabilia collectors knew was coming. The San Diego Chargers released former MVP and Pro Bowl running back LaDanian Tomlinson yesterday just two days before the start of the NFL Scouting Combine. The team said the time of the transaction was to allow Tomlinson to meet with teams while at the Combine. Despite many Chargers memorabilia collectors who’ve collected LaDanian Tomlinson merchandise being sick this morning, many knew this day was coming. Tomlinson’s production amounted to just over 52 yards per game in 2009, down from the glory days of 113 per game back in 2006. The 30-year old running back was due a $2 million roster bonus at the start of next season.

Tomlinson is eighth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 12,490. His 138 career rushing touchdowns rank second behind only Emmitt Smith, who retired with 164 rushing touchdowns.

While they’re undoubtedly still partying in New Orleans, fans and Saints memorabilia collectors will be ecstatic when they learn they will host the 2010 regular season’s Kickoff Game on Thursday September 9th.

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The opponent for the Super Bowl XLIV Champs won’t be known until the NFL releases their 2010-’11 regular season schedule in April.

Since the NFL introduced the Kickoff Game in 2002, the reigning Super Bowl Champions from the previous season are 6-0.

Updating a previous report, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will undergo surgery on his left knee tomorrow. The surgery will fix a ruptured patella ligament and the 22-year old should be at 100% come training camp.

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Deconstruction on the stadium that housed the Jets and Giants began just under two weeks ago. Both teams will move literally across the street in the Meadowlands Sports Complex starting with the 2010 NFL preseason.

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The Julius Peppers watch is officially on. The 30-year defensive end will likely be a free agent this offseason unless the Panthers decide to pick up his weighty $20 million option for 2010. If a separation is in the cards, figure in teams like the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and possibly the Arizona Cardinals to inquire about his services. Peppers’ autographed Panthers items have been the team’s top-sellers in recent years, expect that trend to continue wherever the sack-machine suits up next season.

Super Bowl XLIV wasn’t just a hit amongst fans and NFL memorabilia collectors. 106.5 million people tuned in to watch the Saints’ 31-17 victory over the Colts, breaking the 27-year television record held by the series finale of M.A.S.H.. The 1983 M.A.S.H. finale had 105.97 million viewers.

The 106 million-plus who tuned in weren’t let down, as the Saints and Colts offered up one of the most thrilling championship games in NFL history. The underdog-city, underdog-team story line of Drew Brees and the Saints made the team’s victory even sweeter, with fans draped in Saints merchandise parading on Bourbon Street until the wee hours of the morning.

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The game was also by far the most-watched Super Bowl in history, with the previous record holder being last year’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals.

Fans in the Bay Area and those who’ve collected his autographed NFL memorabilia had to be excited to watch Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha play in Sunday night’s Pro Bowl. They got to watch their favorite Raider take on the NFC’s best, but were in for a surprise come post-game interviews. In talking to a prominent AFC blogger, the superstar corner said he wanted to relocate to New Jersey and play for Rex Ryan and the New York Jets. These comments obviously threw fans and Raiders merchandise collectors into a tailspin.

Going as far as to say he’s talked to Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan and fellow shutdown corner and Pro Bowler Darrelle Revis about the move, Asomugha was likely having just a little fun. His gigantic $45 million contract insures he likely won’t be “jetting” anywhere until at least 2013.

While many fans will be spending this week hunting down Saints autographs and authentic Colts memorabilia in time for the big game, it’s never too early for the NFL rumor mill to start churning.

With Brett Favre’s impending retirement, or possibly impending indecision, many sources around the league are wondering aloud if Donovan McNabb would be a good fit for Brad Childress’ offense. The 33-year old McNabb’s status is a yearly topic of debate amongst Eagles merchandise collectors in Philadelphia. After an embarrassing first-round playoff exit via the Dallas Cowboys, many critics seem even more vocal for an exit.