Even when you don't make the connection with William Green these days, you get the message.

"All things work for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose," the recorded voice of William's wife, Asia, says on the couple's answering service.

The 2002 first-round pick (No. 16 overall) has spent the past two seasons finding his way with God. Now, the question is whether Green will find his way back to the NFL. After two seasons out of the game, Green will be working out Tuesday at Boston College, his alma mater, in hopes of catching the eye of NFL scouts, coaches and executives.

There figures to be a good crowd in attendance at the Chestnut Hill campus. Matt Ryan, the top-rated quarterback in this year's draft, is scheduled to work out along with the other draft-eligible players from BC. Ryan could go as high as No. 1 overall to Miami … or to another team if the Dolphins decide to trade out of the top slot.

For Green, the question is whether he will get a

Despite an impressive season in which he helped lead the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship game, quarterback Brett Favre has decided to retire.

"Brett Favre has informed us of his intention to retire from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said in a statement issued Tuesday morning. "He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms – not many players are able to do that."

Favre walks away from the game as the all-time leader with 442 touchdown passes and multiple other NFL records during his 17-year career. Most notable is that Favre played in 275 consecutive games, including the playoffs.

Favre notified the Packers of his decision on Monday night, according to his agent Bus Cook. Favre had wrestled with retirement in recent years, but usually took a couple of months after the season ended before announcing his return.

Favre's announcement

The first weekend of NFL free agency featured a whirlwind of activity with 40 players having either re-signed with their team, moved on or being traded by Monday morning.

Though success in free agency hasn't always led to instant success in the regular season ('07 San Francisco 49ers anyone?), here's a look at the winners and losers from the opening weekend:

WINNERS

1. Cleveland Browns

Again, it only takes one blown patellar tendon to spoil an offseason, as the Browns found out two years ago with center LeCharles Bentley, but the Browns have done a great job both maintaining continuity while also filling key needs. They re-signed running back Jamal Lewis before free agency and inked quarterback Derek Anderson. They also beefed up the middle by adding defensive tackles Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams. Rogers and Williams aren't spectacular, so Cleveland fans should be careful with expecting too much, but they are both experienced and Rogers can be a terrific space eater. His presence

Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor has already moved away from South Florida. The only thing left is to figure out his next address.

Three sources close to the Dolphins organization said this week that Taylor and the team he has been part of for 11 years have graciously agreed to part ways between now and the NFL draft April 26. There's no animosity between Taylor and new Dolphins guru Bill Parcells or coach Tony Sparano.

There are just plans that each side has. Those plans don't include each other.

For the Dolphins, who are still stinging from the worst year in team history, the plan is to get younger, both through the draft and free agency. The Dolphins have signed six players in the first two days of free agency, none of them household names. They range from quarterback Josh McCown to linebacker Reggie Torbor to defensive tackle Randy Starks.

With the exception of McCown, who is still a relatively young 28 for a quarterback, all of those players are 27 or younger. All have

As the NFL begins the 16th year of free agency in its current form, this group easily may take the crown as the worst class ever. Though Yahoo! Sports tried hard to come up with a list of the top 50 free agents, we were halted at 43 (down to 40 after a few guys re-signed with their teams) because the names got pretty ugly. The list – formed after discussions with 10 coaches and general managers – is divided into top-flight players, players who can be good starters and a list of guys who are solid players and sometime starters:

TRUE BLUE

1. WR Randy Moss, Patriots: Expected to re-sign with the New England Patriots.
2. LB Lance Briggs, Bears: With Brian Urlacher hurting, can the Chicago Bears afford to let him go?
3. G Alan Faneca, Steelers: Even at 31, he'll likely get $8 million a year.
4. DE Justin Smith, Bengals: He only had two sacks last year, but his overall body of work will attract suitors.
5. CB Asante Samuel, Patriots: Figures to be the highest paid free agent this year.
6. S

Here's a small bit of advice for those fans who are intrigued by free agency in the NFL this time every year.

Don't blink, you might miss it all.

The NFL free agency Class of 2008 reads more like the attendance roll from the school in "Little House on the Prairie." Sure, there's some intrigue to go with the likes of wide receiver Randy Moss, guard Alan Faneca and cornerback Asante Samuel.

But to put all of this in perspective, of the top 10 free agents as rated by a group of 10 NFL general managers and/or coaches, two are kickers and one is a fullback.

Not exactly the types of players who change a team.

"No, there just isn't much out there," Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson said. "Teams have done a really good job of keeping their own players, signing guys to longer contracts earlier. Everybody has become a lot smarter about handling the (salary) cap."

While that's true to an extent, the drop in top-flight free agents has a lot more to do with the explosion in the salary cap

INDIANAPOLIS – The $26 million figure didn't faze one NFL general manager in the least.

"Sounds about right," the GM said without a hint of excitement or disgust.

That price is the neighborhood of guaranteed money some team figures to spend to sign prized cornerback Asante Samuel to a contract during the opening weekend of free agency, which begins at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday. The guarantee, combined with cash flow over the first three years, is the key part of any contract a player signs these days. So while many people talk about Samuel being the first $100 million cornerback in the NFL, the real measure is how much money he commands earlier in the contract.

That said, if you're Samuel's agent Alonzo Shavers, naming a price in this year's free agent market doesn't make a lot of sense. When you have the goods, let the market determine itself.

"That's how we're going to handle it," Shavers said. "There's no reason to get ahead of ourselves too much. As they say, hope for the best and