2010 Free agents: Who is available right now? Can they help the Bucs?
This time of year is always exciting due to free agency. I find myself constantly checking the news feeds to see who is available, and who has been re-signed. I know that GM Mark Dominik has said that we won't be big players in free agency, but where's the fun in that? I have composed a list of guys that are already out there or expected to be released in the next few days. Of course this list is going to grow, but as of today this is what I have come up with. Please feel free to add any players I have forgotten to include in the comments section and offer your analysis on whether or not you think they would be a good/great/horrible fit for the 2010 Buccaneers.
The analysis offered is solely my own. I don't claim to have any inside information or expert analysis. I'm a regular guy, just like you, that loves this team and wants it to succeed. I'm not sure if the Bucs even have any of these guys on their radar, but for this article I have decided to engage in a little of what I affectionately call "rosterbation" (before you guys start telling me I'm a comedic genius again, please note I did not invent this term, although I wish I had). This is where I simply fantasize about the Bucs being able to sign any of these guys regardless of the contracts they would demand, or whether or not they would want to come here.
Check out the list after the jump.
Safety: Antrell Rolle
Status: Expected to be released by Arizona this week.
Analysis: A former first round draft pick, Rolle transitioned from CB to FS this past season and made the Pro Bowl as an alternate. He amassed 71 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions last season. He will be the most highly sought after safety in free agency by far. Obviously we already have an outstanding free safety in Tanard Jackson, and Rolle is not suited to play strong safety. If the Buccaneers were to sign him I imagine they would ask him to transition back to cornerback, a position he is still extremely capable of playing. Having somebody as versatile as Rolle on the defense would improve the secondary tremendously. Chances of landing Rolle are slim as Arizona wants to re-sign him, and he will demand a hefty price tag. They were only forced to release him due to an extremely large bonus he was due from his rookie contract.
Linebacker: Karlos Dansby
Status: UFA, not franchised.
Analysis: Yet another Arizona player that could make us better in so many ways. Last season Dansby tallied up 109 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Although Dansby has played the last few years as an inside 3-4 backer, he is extremely versatile and is quite capable of playing either the strong side or weak side in a 4-3 scheme. He could easily play this season with Ruud and Hayes, and offer insurance should Ruud walk in 2011. Dansby will be sought after by any and all teams with a hole in the 2nd level of their defense, and will command a huge contract. We've got the cap room. Let's make it happen.
Wide Receiver: Torry Holt
Status: Released by Jacksonville
Analysis: If you would have asked me if I wanted Holt prior to the Bryant situation I would have told you no, but now bringing someone like him in is almost a necessity. Assuming we somehow obtain a #1 WR, we are still going to need a # 2 (unless you think Stovall is ready). Holt quietly had a decent little season last year in Jacksonville. He caught 51 balls for 722 yards, but did not find the end zone at all. These numbers are far from fantastic but are significantly better than any Buccaneer WR (aside from TD's) in 2009. Holt is a tremendous route runner and would still be an asset in 3rd down situations. He is a consummate professional and would be valuable in a "locker room" capacity as well.
LB/DE: Adalius Thomas
Status: Expected to be released by New England
Analysis: Thomas has had issues with Bill Belicheat in New England pretty much since he arrived from Baltimore. If the Bucs were to sign him it would obviously be at defensive end, a position he was successful at early in his career. Does he still have it in him? I think it's worth a shot if he's cheap enough, which he may very well be since he just had his third disappointing season in a row.
DE: Julius Peppers
Status: UFA, not franchised
Analysis: Peppers is finally getting his wish and will be allowed to leave Carolina. I feel like Peppers only plays hard when he feels like it (as in, it's a contract year). I'm not sure if he is worth the money it will cost to bring him in, but he would be an immediate improvement over the players currently on the roster. I feel like we would be throwing money away on Peppers and although I know he is a talented player, I don't want him on my favorite team. Thanks but no thanks, Julius. Go get paid somewhere else.
CB: Adam "Pac-Man" Jones
Status: Released by Dallas
Analysis: I know what you are thinking, but maybe Raheem the Dream is exactly what this guy needs to get his head on straight. Jones is a first round talent with a 7th round head. His physical tools are exemplary and almost unmatched in the NFL. If it were up to me I would invite him to camp and see if he can keep it together. He is working out for pro scouts on March 19th, which happens to be my birthday, so let's see if Pac-Man can give me a present and finally realize his potential without getting into hot water with the law or Mr. Goodell.
LB: Joey Porter
Status: Uncertain
Analysis: Miami just did some roster juggling (see link above) that left many wondering on whether or not Porter is going to be released. He certainly has expressed his desire to be let go. I don't think he would be a good fit for us at all. His attitude and age are a huge turn off for me. Maybe it's just because I have never liked him and view him as a "bad guy", but I don't want him playing for my beloved Buccaneers.
LB: Antonio Pierce
Status: Released by NYG
Analysis: Pierce only played nine games last year, and he didn't play well in those nine games either. All indicating factors point to the obvious conclusion that he is done. He would be a downgrade to Ruud at this point, but is probably unwilling to accept a 2nd string contract.
Center: Kevin Mawae
Status: Expected to be released by Tennessee
Analysis: While we are set at center with Jeff Faine, it would be nice to have a back up plan. The sixteen year veteran can still perform at a very high level, and even made the pro bowl last year. According to his agent Mawae wants to start somewhere, but if we could convince him to become a 2nd string player, he would add a ton of depth to the offensive line.
WR: Terrell "I love me some me" Owens
Status: Released by Buffalo
Analysis: No thank you. It's really that simple. The last thing Freeman needs is a drama queen like Owens whispering in his ear. I knew you guys would want me to include him on the list, but that's all I really have to say about him. He could probably be a decent #2, but his ego will never allow him to be.
RB's: LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Thomas Jones, and Darren Sproles
Status: In the order above; Released by S.D., Released by Philly, Expected to be released by NYJ, and Unsigned by S.D.
Analysis: If I could have any of the players above, it would be Jones. He is a bruiser and is still producing at a very high level. I always thought it was a mistake we let him go the first time, and would love to have him back in Tampa. Of course this means someone currently on the roster would have to go, which is not likely to happen. Sproles is interesting, but I think we have too much money tied up in the back field to sign him. If we were to release Ward it would be very feasible to sign Sproles and let him back up Caddy. Heck, he may even warrant a look as a starting running back, as he has never been given the opportunity.
L.T. and Westbrook are just too old and injury prone to provide a spark for this offense. They may help with ticket sales, but since I don't own the team, I don't give a crap about ticket sales. I suspect both will find homes somewhere for 2010, but I hope it's not here.
Well, that's what I've got so far guys. Like I said at the beginning, please feel free to sound off in the comments section with your opinions on the players listed or players I may have forgotten to include. Looking forward to the discussion.
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Comments
OT: but Stylez's name in spanish is
Estiloz G. Blanco or so its his twitter.
When it comes to Eric Berry, Tennessee fans have seen and heard it all. He's known as "The Fifth Dimension". "Two-thirds of the planet is covered by water; the rest is covered by Eric Berry." The Tennessee "Minister of Defense". Besides Chuck Norris, who is the only guy to crash into Tim Tebow head-to-head and live to tell about it? Eric Berry.
by Some other guy who does not care on Mar 1, 2010 5:14 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Thanks for leaving that extremely relevant information as the first comment on my post about 2010 free agents.
Youth movement????
OT means Off topic.
are you mad, Lee Caz?
When it comes to Eric Berry, Tennessee fans have seen and heard it all. He's known as "The Fifth Dimension". "Two-thirds of the planet is covered by water; the rest is covered by Eric Berry." The Tennessee "Minister of Defense". Besides Chuck Norris, who is the only guy to crash into Tim Tebow head-to-head and live to tell about it? Eric Berry.
by Some other guy who does not care on Mar 1, 2010 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
No not mad. I would say annoyed.
If I were going to get mad at 15 year old kids, I would have strangled my neighbor’s kids by now. I just think it’s rude to totally ignore the story and come in and drop an off topic comment of little importance. Especially if it is the first one.
Youth movement????
My fault.
When it comes to Eric Berry, Tennessee fans have seen and heard it all. He's known as "The Fifth Dimension". "Two-thirds of the planet is covered by water; the rest is covered by Eric Berry." The Tennessee "Minister of Defense". Besides Chuck Norris, who is the only guy to crash into Tim Tebow head-to-head and live to tell about it? Eric Berry.
by Some other guy who does not care on Mar 1, 2010 8:06 PM EST up reply actions
I can see why we won't be active
Not a lot out there. You will have to overpay for the few top guy’s available. I wouldn’t touch T.O. or pacman. Like you said T.O. can’t accept being a role player. At this point that is all he is. Adam Jones is the dumbest guy alive. He couldn’t make in Dallas with a full time babysitter. In fact they got in a fight. He did this knowing he had no rope. On top of that he isn’t good anymore. I can’t imagine another year off improved him. The only RB that would interest me is Westbrook. He could really help Freeman out. I kind of hope they address RB in the draft.
"big-time players make big-time plays in big games."
I like Sproles
but I think he is more of a poor man’s version of Westbrook. I would rather address the position in the draft. It would be great if we could get a quick, pass catching RB to help out freeman. We seriously lack explosive player’s.
"big-time players make big-time plays in big games."
I am interested to see if Huggins can be that guy for us.
He is fast as hell. I know forty times are questionable indicators of talent, but he did run a 4.28 forty yard dash, so the home run capability is definitely there.
Youth movement????
It would be great
if he could do it. It alway’s helps a rebuild to find a couple of diamond’s in the rough.
"big-time players make big-time plays in big games."
Ernie Graham
compared Huggins to an in-prime Fast Willie Parker last season.
Cannons... fire them.
Buc'Em - SBNation's home for discussion of all things regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I would be concerned about Sproles trying to run between the tackles
as he would take a lot of abuse. I guess I always felt that way about Warrick Dunn too. I’m afraid Westbrook has very little left in the tank PLUS the danger of getting knocked in the head again. How about that Toby Gerhart? Runs a 4.53 40 and can catch. Remind me of a smaller (230 lb.) Mike Alstott.
Ugh no
Gerhart has almost nothing in common with Alstott, other than his skin colour. Gerhart isn’t just a tough fullback who runs over people, he’s an agile, tough back who has a lot of open-field speed too. Much more complete back than Alstott.
More like Bush
He was an extremely poor running back last year – worse than LDT, and LDT already had a really bad year (don’t let the TDs fool you, Norv just gave him every single goal-line carry time after time). Sproles’ value is similar to Reggie BUsh, the short passing game, outside runs and screens. So he may have value there, but as a solid RB – no thanks.
Thomas Jones really slowed down at the end of last year. I wouldn’t touch him. And Westbrook may just be done completely. LDT – well, he looked poor too. I’d just stick with Caddy, Ward and Graham.
They have been saying that about Jones for the past five years
and he still keeps rushing for 1,200 yards. He can play on my team any day.
Youth movement????
They sure have
He already did worse last year, and now he’s going to be 32. Almost no running backs stay productive after 32.
Worse how?
Thomas Jones 2008: 290 carries, 1,312 yards 82.0 YPG, 4.5 YPC, 13 TD’s
Thomas Jones 2009: 331 carries, 1,402 yards, 87.6 YPG, 4.2 YPC, 14 TD’s.
How is that worse? The only stat that didn’t go up is YPC.
Not sure what world you’re living in where that is a worse season, but it’s definitely not the world I reside in.
Youth movement????
YPC is the most relevant stat for RBs
The rest is just a consquence of being handed the ball more – that doesn’t make him better.
You so sure that slight drop in YPC
is a result of aging and not just a happenstance? I agree with LeeCaz…I’ll take TJ on my team any time and find out for myself.
Cannons... fire them.
Buc'Em - SBNation's home for discussion of all things regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
.3YPC is a significant drop
And yes, I’m pretty sure it’s aging, or being worn down from playing. It’s rare for backs to even be real productive past 30, but at 32?
It depends on the type of runner
TJ is very much 3 yards and a cloud of dust type of guy and as the game went on, he would break some huge runs. Remember the game (forget who it was against) where he had two 60 yard TD runs or something like that? He’s a very patient runner who will take his 1 yard now, knowing that he will get his 30 yarder later.
Would I want this guy as my only RB? No, but if you put him in the right situation, he still can produce.
Sorry Sandman, but you are dead wrong on this one.
For starters 4.2 isn’t even bad, it puts him right in the middle of the pack. The .3 drop can easily be attributed to the fact that opposing defenses knew that NYJ rarely passed the ball on 1st and 2nd down with a rookie quarterback, and consistently made him run against 8 men in the box. In fact, given these circumstances I would say that 4.2 is spectacular.
As far as wearing down goes, any player with 300 plus carries is going to wear down, regardless of what age they are. Jones was the NFL’s 3rd leading rusher last season. As far as saying that UPC is the most relevant stat, I have to disagree with you. I guess we should just kick Emmitt Smith out of the Hall of Fame because his career UPC was coincidentally 4.2
Youth movement????
by LeeCaz on Mar 2, 2010 9:18 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Those should say Y P C
Stupid Ipod. I hate you and your auto edit
Youth movement????
by LeeCaz on Mar 2, 2010 9:20 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'm not saying Thomas Jones didn't do good last year
I’m saying that he did significantly worse than the year before that. And he did. He did a lot worse at the end of the year and in the playoffs, and he will continue to slow down.
And yes, any back with a lot of carries shows wear and tear. Jones has been doing this for years with tons of carries. He’s not going to last forever.
I doubt he would even want to come here...
as veteran guys want a ring before they hang it up. No ring by coming here unless you but it yourself.
by Cracker Ball on Mar 2, 2010 11:36 AM EST up reply actions
Jones here? He left Dodge first chance he got when he was here.
Stinks cause he would have been worth keeping, but too old now.
Go USA!!!!
LeeKazmir
In your estimation can you give us a 1-10 ranking on each guy as far as likelihood they sign with us and then another rank on their impact if they sign here?
Well, the likelihood of signing them is extremely tough to gauge.
Especially considering I have no idea what goes through Mark Dominik’s head (I would say a lot of wind though).
Let’s do a 1-5 ranking for likelihood to sign, and a scale of 1-5 stars for impact.
Here goes:
Rolle: 4 * * * * * Would start at either S or CB right now.
Dansby: 2 * * * * * Would start somewhere in the second tier of the defense.
Holt: 4 * * * * Unfortunately if he were to sign right now, he would be our #1 WR.
Thomas: 2 * * * Would be given a chance to win starting DE position in camp
Peppers: 3 * * * * * Would obviously be the starting DE position, no questions asked. Probably be good for ten sacks.
A. Jones: 1 * * * Would compete for nickel spot in secondary. Also a dynamic punt returner.
Porter: 2 * * Best suited for 3-4. Not fast enough for WLB and not strong enough for DE
Pierce: 2 * * Is old and beat up. Could back up Ruud if his ego will allow it.
Mawae: 3 * * * * As Faine has missed games the past few seasons, a veteran back up like Mawae would be huge.
Owens: 1 * * * Would be the #1 right now, and would love every second of it. Throws fit when we sign real #1
Tomlinson :1 * * Rotation back. Maybe a goal line threat
Westbrook: 1 * * * Third down back at best
Sproles: 2 * * * Third down back, maybe part of rotation
T. Jones: 2 * * * Goal line threat, great guy to close the game out (of course, we would have to be winning).
Youth movement????
The Bucs have a real opportunity to upgrade our defense
to once again make us a Top 5-8 defense. Wether we do it or not, is a whole ’nother question. I think we stay quiet unfortunately.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
I think they will have a top 10 D
With top draft picks and returning players with lots of in game experience.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan since 1979
by Niko Houllis on Mar 2, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
Niko you crack me up
There is no way we are going from 28th to top ten. Every team in the NFL has players with in game experience. It doesn’t make them any better. Our draft picks are a great asset to future development, but to expect a bunch of rookies to catapult us to the top ten is about as unrealistic as it gets.
Youth movement????
As I have said over and over
We also have to take some other factors into that “turnaround”. We faced three back up QB’s in that time frame and still couldn’t stop them. We lost to Chris Redman, Matt Moore, and Kellen Clemens. Teams also quit beating us so badly because they figured out all they had to do to beat us was run the ball consistently. This limited their possessions and scoring, which led to less lopsided losses, but they were still losses.
Let’s not forget that the numbers from an absolutely horrible Seattle team helped skew those rankings as well. I’m not saying the defense didn’t improve under Morris, it did. But if you guys think we were running a top ten defense at the end of the season you need to get your heads examined. The Atlanta game in week 17 should be enough proof to dispel you of that notion real quick. The only impressive performances were against Seattle and New Orleans (who were cruising into the playoffs at that point).
We must also remember that our defensive coordinator is also splitting time as a head coach, and one if not both of those responsibilities are likely to suffer for it. UNFNOLE is right. We need free agents if we want to be a top ten or even a top fifteen defense (next season).
Youth movement????
It's going to take a good chunk of change to improve it....
but so be it. Take the necessary actions. Many people thought the Glazers were saving money for an uncapped year, but I don’t think that’s the case. Now the excuse will be that they aren’t spending money with the looming lockout.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
More speaking of the media....
However, I just dont EVER foresee the Glazers spending more money again. They realize the NFL isn’t worth it to spend money. I dont have figures so this is a guess, but they are probably making more money now than when they were meeting the cap on the bottom line.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
This could be a factually incorrect statement...
just taking a stab.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
There had better be some awesome picks
in the draft, and a couple of F/A signings to make that kind of leap. Has been done before, bu kinda unlikely. Hope for the best though… right?
Well my point was with enough FA acquistions.
Just saying that potential is there if we were willing to spend money and make it happen this year. It’s a fairly moot point though, because it won’t happen. However, there is enough pieces through FA and Draft to make it work.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
You mean the #1 D based out of One Buc Place?
Just try to keep some of those Tampa high schools outta there.
by Cracker Ball on Mar 2, 2010 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
OK... I might go for that one.
MIA and JAX were No.s 21 and 22 respectively, so that’s within reach. We should still try to keep out Tampa Plant H.S., just to be sure.
by Cracker Ball on Mar 2, 2010 10:44 PM EST up reply actions
Care to make a small wager involving a Viking helmet...
complete with ponytails?
by Cracker Ball on Mar 2, 2010 11:42 PM EST up reply actions
I drink from the same water supply as Niko. It's all good as long as you're a Buccaneer.
Gonna win 59 straight Super Bowls.
Go USA!!!!
Who'd have thought with Rolle and Dansby, coupled with Boldin and Berry
that people would actually be clamoring for multiple Cardinals players. Seems weird.
The Skins already have a pretty good defense...
so having Peppers, Haynesworth and Orakpo on the same line almost seems illegal.
Their DEF was already at #10...
I bet they will be very, very good with that kind of pressure up front. It hides a multitude of sins in the secondary.
After Shanahan gets his O put in, forget it.
Wasn’t this one of the teams somebody said we were going to beat next year?
Go USA!!!!
I know it wasn't me...
My prediction is DET, STL and SEA at home are the possible wins. I see none on the road.
So no to Cleveland....
and they won’t win a single division game? I think that is very unlikely.
Boom. Outta Here.
Yeah, I think no to CLE
They were improving and have a better run game than we do. We might be close on a couple of division games, maybe even squeak by in one, but the rest of our own division IS a lot better than we are.
I am sticking with the 3 – and possibly one lucky win we shouldn’t have (see NO)
I don't see the results show us that far behind vs our division...
New Orleans was the only game out of reach, and we won the rematch …on the road. Both Atlanta games were respectable, and both panther games were winnable.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan since 1979
by Niko Houllis on Mar 2, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
Agree, but our talent level did fall well short of Atlanta and NO.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
No Way
All 16 games we have a chance to win, we should be around 7-9/ 8-8 this year. We were in 6 of the last 9 games last year, the first Saints game and Jets game we lost but the other 6 we had a good chance to win, and won 3 of them. Even the first 7 games we had a few that we were in like the WASH game and the first CAR game. Couple position changes and were competitive, not playoff bound but competitive.
That's a good point...
because that is EXACTLY what he wrote.
Boom. Outta Here.
by Ryan Gilliss on Mar 1, 2010 10:42 PM EST up reply actions
I hate that I'm the first one to do this but,
Rec’d.
Good stuff. If I wasn’t in such a hurry I’d elaborate. But this was very entertaining man, thanks.
Thanks Vin
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Youth movement????
by LeeCaz on Mar 2, 2010 8:20 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
LeeCaz
How much do you think Peppers is going to get on the FA market? How many years? Mortensen reported that Peppers isn’t getting much more than a 10 mill per year contract.
When it comes to Eric Berry, Tennessee fans have seen and heard it all. He's known as "The Fifth Dimension". "Two-thirds of the planet is covered by water; the rest is covered by Eric Berry." The Tennessee "Minister of Defense". Besides Chuck Norris, who is the only guy to crash into Tim Tebow head-to-head and live to tell about it? Eric Berry.
by Some other guy who does not care on Mar 2, 2010 9:38 PM EST reply actions
In my opinion he doesn't even deserve that
For some reason he is still considered an elite pass rusher. He will probably sign a 3-4 year contract worth around 35M and he will demand a good chunk of change guaranteed. He doesn’t deserve that but he is literally the only pass rusher out there. Look for a bidding war to ensue between Chicago and Washington. He is going to get paid by somebody and the people doing the paying are probably going to regret it.
"Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein." - Joe Theismann
by LeeCaz on Mar 2, 2010 10:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He is crazy if he doesn't go to WAS
bacause they have more playmakers on their DL. It will definitely make it easier on him if he’s not the main guy.
by Cracker Ball on Mar 2, 2010 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
That and if he truly wants a 3-4 D
then that’s where he goes.
When it comes to Eric Berry, Tennessee fans have seen and heard it all. He's known as "The Fifth Dimension". "Two-thirds of the planet is covered by water; the rest is covered by Eric Berry." The Tennessee "Minister of Defense". Besides Chuck Norris, who is the only guy to crash into Tim Tebow head-to-head and live to tell about it? Eric Berry.
by Some other guy who does not care on Mar 2, 2010 10:52 PM EST up reply actions
What We NEED from FA and other thoughts
I’m surprised at the list of LBs here. Would any of them truly prove to be an upgrade over Black or Hayes or Ruud? I have my doubts.
DE Peppers would be an absolute steal for us. He’d have to have an interest in coming to a defense where the emphasis will be on the front four getting sacks every passing down. The only concern here is if he could be a cancer in the locker room… I haven’t heard anything about bad behavior in the locker room or off-the-field, but I have heard about the ‘taking plays off’ issue… I would think that some of that was due to being stuck playing where he didn’t want to be. I would take the risk on getting this guy.
Past DE, getting a solid WR with good hands and route running would be the next need to fill. We need someone reliable to aid a young QB still learning the pro-level game. I dunno if that’s Holt (how old is he?) so is there anyone on the market that could fit? The other option would be to trade for Boldin, but I know without looking that the Cards’ asking price is going to be too high.
RB is not much of a need, unless Ward gets cut from the squad for excessive pouting or Graham leaves for San Diego or something (is Graham on the market?). A high-profile guy like Thomas Jones is gonna want to be a starter, so forcing him into a rotation with Caddy and Ward would be asking too much.
If we do go after Rolle, unless he proves he can play the strong safety spot, then shifting him to CB makes a lot of sense. What it will do, however, is send Ronde either to the bench or the door…
Relive the shocking NOOOOOOOO of April 25 2009 at Witty's Draft Review and laugh laugh laugh...
He would prove to be very costly...
and he is 29. AB was 28. Boldin has made the same kind of noises in ARI that AB did here. This make the whole scenario unlikely in my eyes. Why would he want to come here anyway?
by Cracker Ball on Mar 3, 2010 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
As long as it doesn't require giving up draft choices
I’m for it. We need all the help we can get. AZ is about to lose a lot of good players.

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