What about Bob?

Not a bad group here, with some big names - starting with Ravens All Pro inside linebacker Ray Lewis - to spice things up.

The class of linebackers would have been even stronger had Terrell Suggs of the Ravens and Karlos Dansby of the Cardinals made it to the open market. But their respective teams slapped the franchise tag on both players, effectively taking them out of consideration.

Here's what's left over:

1. Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens. A future Hall of Fame inside linebacker, Lewis will hit the open market unless he agrees to remain in Baltimore before the signing period begins. We're told that won' t happen, so Lewis will explore his options. The only downside: at 33, you don't know how much longer he'll be playing at an elite level. The upside: if you're ready to win now, he's tailor-made for your defense.

2. Bart Scott, ILB/OLB, Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are interested in retaining both Lewis and Scott, but it's difficult to see them being able to afford all three. In some ways, Scott is a better investment than Lewis because he's only 28 and still has plenty of good years left. He's not quite the leader that Lewis is, but he's capable of creating havoc. Will he follow Rex Ryan to the Jets???

3. Channing Crowder, ILB, Miami Dolphins. This guy has turned into a tackling machine, and the Dolphins don't want to lose him. Crowder is only 25, and can be a difference maker wherever he plays.

4. Jonathan Vilma, ILB, New Orleans Saints. Traded from the Jets last off-season, Vilma recovered from knee problems and helped anchor the Saints' run defense. (Their pass defense still is horrendous, but through no fault of Vilma's.) Vilma is expected to re-sign with the Saints, but if a team makes a big push to get him, you never know.

5. Leroy Hill, OLB, Seattle Seahawks: A late addition here, although he isn't going anywhere, because the Seahawks slapped the franchise tag on the former third-round pick.

6. Mike Peterson, ILB, Jacksonville Jaguars. Peterson had a falling-out with the Jaguars' coaching staff last season, and will not be asked back. He is a very good tackler, although he's not youngster; at 32, he already has 10 NFL seasons in the books.

7. Keith Brooking, ILB/OLB, Atlanta Falcons. The former first-round pick is not part of the Falcons' future, but if you're looking for a veteran leader, the 33-year-old Brooking is your guy. One of the most versatile linebackers around, Brooking can play either inside or outside.

8. Eric Barton, ILB/OLB, New York Jets. It's unlikely the Jets will retain Barton, who has been a reasonably productive player since joining the team in 2004 as a Raiders' free agent. Barton played inside in the 3-4 alignment, but can also play the outside in a 4-3. A decent value for a team in need of a quality 'backer.

9. Zach Thomas, ILB, Dallas Cowboys. Thomas' better days are behind the 35-year-old Thomas, but he remains one of the smartest players anywhere. He is a very sure tackler, and excels in short-range pass coverage. Concussions have been a problem, although he remained healthy last season.

10. Takeo Spikes, ILB, San Francisco 49ers. Injuries and age have slowed Spikes, who once was a dominant player. But he did have a solid year in 2008, finishing with 96 tackles and three INTs.

11. Andra Davis, ILB, Cleveland Browns. Is most definitely a descending player, and was not particularly effective last season, when the Browns' defense tanked. But he did have 90 tackles in 2008, and can add reasonable depth on the inside in a 3-4 defense.

Here's our look at free agent quarterbacks ... and running backs ... and offensive linemen ... and wide receivers/tight ends ... and defensive linemen.

Up next: defensive backs.

(Baltimore Sun photo)