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Factoid

No security for safeties

You've probably noticed how there's been little money available for free agent running backs this offseason, making it arguably the NFL's least respected position. Another lightly regarded job, it seems, is safety.

Not that safeties don't occasionally get paid, but there definitely isn't much continuity, even for the ones who are the most productive. Among the most productive tacklers at the position in 2013, close to half of them have either changed teams, are currently unemployed, or will likely be backups on their own teams next season.

That doesn't even include players who weren't as productive last year but also changed teams -- Donte Whitner (San Francisco to Cleveland), Louis Delmas (Detroit to Cincinnati), Jairus Byrd (Buffalo to New Orleans), Malcolm Jenkins (New Orleans to Philadelphia) -- or remain unsigned (Thomas DeCoud, Mike Adams). It's not a position that inspires much loyalty.

The table below shows the NFL's top tacklers at safety last season, followed by their current status and/or 2014 fate. (Unchanged statuses are left blank.) The draft and training camp may well regulate others of these 2013 starters to backup roles, as well.

TOP TACKLERS AT SAFETY, 2013
Player Pos TotSoloAst 2013 Team2014 Team/Status
Barry Church FS 13510728Dallas
Eric Weddle FS 1158827San Diego
T.J. Ward SS 1127537ClevelandDenver
Antoine Bethea SS 1108030IndianapolisSan Francisco
Reshad Jones FS 1078423Miami
Earl Thomas FS 1057827Seattle
Ryan Clark FS 1046143PittsburghWashington
John Cyprien SS 1048717Jacksonville
James Ihedigbo SS 1016338BaltimoreDetroit
Dawan Landry SS 1006238N.Y. Jets
Major Wright SS 1007822ChicagoUFA
Kam Chancellor SS 996534Seattle
Bernard PollardSS 997722Tennessee
Antrel Rolle SS 988018N.Y. Giants
Charles Woodson FS 977522Oakland
Morgan Burnett SS 966036Green Bay
Tashaun Gipson FS 956332Cleveland
Chris Clemons SS 936330MiamiHouston
Chris Conte FS 907317Chicago2nd-string
Mark Barron SS 887018Tampa Bay
LaRon Landry SS 876225Indianapolis
William Moore SS 866719Atlanta
Andrew Sendejo FS 845232Minnesota2nd-string
Michael Griffin FS 826121Tennessee
Nate Allen SS 825923Philadelphia2nd-string
Aaron Williams SS 826022Buffalo
Reed Doughty SS 804733WashingtonUFA
Steve Gregory SS 795029New EnglandUFA

--Andy Richardson

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