AFC East and AFC North Free Agent Lists
Posted on February 15, 2010
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ProFootballTalk.com posted the complete list of free agents from the AFC East and AFC North, with both lists available below:
Interesting to note on that list is former Patriots captain Larry Izzo is an unrestricted free agent for the Jets.
As for the available players for the AFC North, here’s that list:
One thing worth mentioning is that ESPN’s Adam Schefter made the point on Twitter tonight that “A good reason free agency won’t be a cure all: Pat Kirwan said on Sirius that 14 teams don’t have any starters who will be free agents.”
So it appears the pickings for talent this offseason may be thin. Needless to say feel free to post your thoughts on any players who catch your eye in the comment area below this post.
Patriots Interested in LB Dansby?
Posted on February 15, 2010
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The National Football Post reported on Monday that the Patriots could be a potential suitor for Arizona Cardinals free agent linebacker Karlos Dansby.
With Adalius Thomas likely finished in New England, the Patriots could certainly use a veteran like Dansby. Dansby was franchised in 2009 and totalled 100 tackles and four sacks, and has been a very productive player over the years. Since being drafted in 2004 he’s recorded 24.5 sacks and 9 interceptions, taking two back for touchdowns. He also recovered a fumble during the playoffs this past season in overtime by Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and returned it 17 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the highest scoring game in NFL postseason history.
This team needs another playmaker and a gritty guy that fits the type of player who exels in Belichick’s system. Whether or not they can find a salary that fits will likely be the deciding factor of whether or not he lands in New England.
The Giants, Dolphins, Redskins and Chargers are also reported possibilities. Needless to say stay tuned…
What Does the Future Hold For Matt Light?
Posted on February 15, 2010
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Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light has been a staple at left tackle since replacing another well known tackle named Bruce Armstrong, who anchored that side of the line for 14 seasons before Light took over. Now heading into the final year of his contract there are many questioning what the future will hold, and whether or not he could be a candidate to be traded at some point during this offseason.
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Light, who was drafted in the second round of the 2001 draft, has protected Tom Brady’s blindside for the duration of his career. He was also one of the keys behind the Patriots success in their running game during each of their Super Bowl championships.
Unfortunately injuries hampered Light for much of the 2009 campaign which opened up the opportunity for rookie Sebastian Vollmer to prove that he’s going to be a solid player in this league, and he did a more than serviceable job in Light’s absence. Some recent discussions now surrounding the future of the offensive line have many wondering what the plan will be heading into the 2010 campaign.
Has Vollmer proven that they could live without Light? Are they better served to move on and try and get something for him now before they lose him?
I think one of the interesting points surrounding this discussion is the fact that teams have really been coming at these guys to try and get to Brady, with 2009 being one of the most physical seasons we’ve seen in quite some time. Many of these guys were banged up during the year, with Vollmer also suffering a concussion midway through the year and missing time. With Light in the final year of his contract, while it would be nice to grab a potential high draft pick, protecting Brady is going to be critical next season and as we’ve seen they could use the depth. After all, opponents aren’t going to be backing off next season and the protection definitely needs to be better. According to published reports Brady was battling through a broken finger, rib injuries, and a leg injury. So despite only being sacked just 16 times last year, the other times he was drilled obviously left him pretty banged up.
They already have questions at right guard. Stephen Neal was emotional at the end of 2009, basically saying he didn’t know if his body would allow him to play on another season. Neal, who was a college wrestler and didn’t even play football in college but was an undrafted free agent in 2001, has been a tremendous player over the years. He’s battled through injuries but has been a consistent contributor since he started getting playing time in 2002. After he missed time this past season the Patriots saw Dan Connolly step in and play well, which lead to Connolly getting an extension after the season ended. Nick Kazcur, who has been serviceable at right tackle since taking over in 2006 and signed a four-year extension, would be the likely candidate at right guard if Vollmer moves over to right tackle.
They have All-Pro Logan Mankins, who has been a nasty player and given them the necessary mentality that the guys up front really need in the NFL, especially considering the talented pass rushers and defensive tackles there are in this league. He’ll be a restricted free agent, and while they have leverage in keeping him here for another season, it would be nice to see an agreement reached for an extension. Makins hasn’t missed a game since he was drafted in the first round in 2005, and honestly guys like him don’t come around too often.
So they have some questions that they’ll need to address. One would believe that they’ll address the line during the draft in April, and considering the success they’ve had recently with the players they’ve selected (Mankins, Vollmer, etc.) hopefully they’ll find another potential player who can contribute.
One poster in our message board forum suggested a line comprised of the following:
LT Matt Light
LG Logan Mankins
C Dan Koppen
G Nick Kaczur
RT Sebastian Vollmer
Hopefully with an offseason of rest and recuperation, Light will come back next season and play like the player we had seen before last year. He’s obviously a leader in the locker room, as well as a great role model with all of his charity work here in New England with his foundation.
In the end for all we know this is a non-issue behind closed doors. At $4.5 million that’s not exactly overly expensive for a two-time Pro Bowl tackle, so his contract isn’t exactly a burden. Not to mention that knowing how important depth is on this football team, head coach Bill Belichick may simply decide to get what they can out of Light this season and worry about his contract later – especially considering 2011 may not even happen with the potential lockout looming.
Overall I think this group is pretty solid, and unless a team offers something ridiculous for Light that would cause them to pull the trigger (ie: like the Raiders did by offering a first round pick for Richard Seymour) I think trading him would hurt this team more than help them. According to ESPN Light battled through a dislocated kneecap and an MCL injury which likely caused him to struggle the way he did. Given some time off, by the time training camp begins he could be a different player.
In the end only the front office knows the plan. Needless to say we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out. However feel free to post your comments and thoughts on this subject below.
Looking at QB Sacks vs. Winning A Title
Posted on February 13, 2010
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One of the topics of discussion this offseason is obviously going to revolve around the lack of pass rush the Patriots have had over the last couple of seasons.
They’ve definitely been in decline, with 2008 and 2009 seeing this team finish with their lowest sack totals since they won their first championship back in 2001. Here are the numbers, and results from each season:
New England Sack Totals Since 2001
2001 Tied for 13th with 41 (Won Super Bowl)
2002 Tied For 20th with 34 (Missed Playoffs)
2003 Finished 6th with 41 (Won Super Bowl)
2004 Tied For 2nd with 45 (Won Super Bowl)
2005 Finished 23rd with 33 (Lost in Divisional Round to Denver)
2006 Finished 5th with 44 (Lost AFC Championship to Indianapolis)
2007 Finished 2nd with 47 (Lost Super Bowl)
2008 Finished Tied for 14th with 31 (Missed Playoffs)
2009 Finished Tied For 23rd with 31 (Lost Wild Card Round to Baltimore)
Interestingly enough, looking back year by year at every team who made the playoffs, leading in this category doesn’t guarantee that a team would make the postseason. However, with the exception of the 2006 Colts, having some success certainly determined how far each team advanced, along with those who actually went on to win the championship. Again, other that 2006 Indianapolis team – each team who actually won the big one finished at least in the top 13 in sack totals. Here’s a summary of each of the two teams facing off in the Super Bowl year-by-year since 2001 (the farthest back the NFL had available in defensive standings online in their statstics site). *Super Bowl winners in bold.
2009
New Orleans (T 13th)
Indianapolis (T 16th)
2008
Pittsburgh (2nd)
Arizona (T 14th)
2007
New York Giants (1st)
New England (2nd)
2006
Indianapolis (T 30th)
Chicago (T 8th)
2005
Seattle (1st)
Pittsburgh (T 3rd)
2004
New England (T 2nd)
Philadelphia (T 2nd)
2003
Carolina (8th)
New England (6th)
2002
Tampa Bay (T 6th)
Oakland (T 6th)
2001
St Louis (T 7th)
New England (T 13th)
I found these numbers pretty interesting, especially looking at the totals for teams who actually made the playoffs. There were many teams who were in the bottom 3rd of this category who got in, but when the dust settled and the final teams were left, it was the teams who had success getting to the opposing QB who were playing for a title. We’ve seen the decline they’ve experienced the last couple of years, and hopefully they take a look at their options during this offseason to try and bring some pressure back to their defense.
Will the Patriots trade LB Thomas?
Posted on February 9, 2010
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Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com released his mailbag on Tuesday, and one of the topics of discussions involved what the future may hold for Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas.
According to Reiss, he feels the team may try to trade him but also said that salary considerations may come into play in moving the disgruntled veteran linebacker.
“I’d say they try to trade him, but it could be tough because of salary considerations,” writes Reiss. ”Based on what teams saw on tape, and the way he’s publicly lashed out at Bill Belichick, I’m not sure too many of them will be lining up to pay him $4.9 million in 2010.”
Reiss did mention that should no trade develop, a division rival could end up with him.
“If there are no trade possibilities, I don’t see how Thomas is back in New England,” writes Reiss. ”Once released, I agree that he heads right to the Jets.”
One thing Reiss did mention was the prediction that fans ”are going to see a few dynamic players added to the offense at running back and receiver”, with those players coming from two high draft picks.
You can read his full mailbag here: Mike Reiss Mailbag
Could Julius Peppers Be Back on the Radar?
Posted on February 9, 2010
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Christopher Price of WEEI.com reported on Tuesday that Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Julius Peppers sounds like he’s done in Carolina, which could put him back on the free agent market.
Peppers, who accepted the franchise tag from the Panthers and signed a $16.7 tender offer back in June, has apparently been getting the “silent treatment” and no longer has interest in signing a long-term deal.
“Last year, at the time, that was the option that I wanted most,” Peppers said in an interview aired Tuesday morning on Charlotte radio station WFNZ-AM. “Now it’s not.”
Peppers recorded 10 1/2 sacks last season and made the Pro Bowl, and according to the HeraldNet out of Charlotte New England could certainly be a team that may be interested. With the prospect of draft picks and added compensation no longer an issue, provided Peppers has changed his interest toward being with a winning franchise and isn’t looking for ridiculous money – it seems less absurd. As we’ve seen they’ve had their issues with generating a pass rush, so Peppers definitely seems like a guy they might consider.
New England finished the 2009 regular season with just 31 sacks (tied for 23rd with the Panthers) with Tully Banta-Cain leading the way with 10 of them. Other than Banta-Cain, the next closest were Mike Wright and Derrick Burgess, who had five each.
Needless to say getting to the quarterback has been an issue.
Whether or not he fits Belichick’s style of defense will likely be a deciding factor, along with his work ethic. With many changes looming on this roster, Belichick has already had his share of guys who were great players before they got here but didn’t pan out (ie: Adalius Thomas), and there have apparently been questions surrounding Peppers’ inconsistency. He finished with just 2 1/2 sacks in ‘08, and according to the HeraldNet he acknowledged in that interview Tuesday that even former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio (now coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars) told him during his rookie year in 2002 that it doesn’t appear he’s playing hard on every down.
“I told him just because it doesn’t look like I’m running as hard as the next man with my arms swinging, sweating and breathing hard doesn’t mean I’m not trying as hard,” Peppers said. “I’m still trying hard, it just doesn’t look like it. I do it easier.”
So there are certainly lots of factors to consider. We’ll have to wait and see in the coming months if being a Patriot could come to fruition, or if he’ll be just another big name who ends up with a big payday elsewhere because he’s just not the right fit.
Patriots Highlight Video from 59-0 Win
Posted on February 8, 2010
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Sitting here this evening and surfing YouTube, I came accross a highlight video someone put together from the 59-0 win over the Titans earlier this season, which obviously was one of the biggest highlights of the year.
So as the NFL Season comes to a close, here’s a video to hopefully give fans some good memories of one of the most impressive wins in NFL history heading into this offseason. The video was dubbed with play-by-play audio from Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti.
11 Fans Are All That Welcomed the Colts Home
Posted on February 8, 2010
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Talk about a “passionate” fan base. All of 11 fans made the trip to greet the Indianapolis Colts at the airport following their Super Bowl loss to the New Orleans Saints.
According to the Indianapolis Star (who called the crowd “sparse”) that little group were apparently the only real fans who decided to take the time to brave the cold weather and appreciate thier AFC Championship season and welcome their team back home.
ARTICLE: Sparse crowd greets Colts on return
So much for a “passionate fan base”. Even when the Patriots lost to the Giants in stunning fashion, there were still over 200 fans who were on hand to welcome the team home to Foxboro. Ironic that the Providence Journal also used the term “sparse” when taking about a crowd that was 20 times larger.
An Extension on Tap For QB Brady?
Posted on February 8, 2010
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After watching last night’s Super Bowl, it appears that suddenly there is some new found appreciation for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady among many in the media – along with some discussion of how he compares to Colts QB Peyton Manning.
That being said the veteran QB is heading into the final year of his contract, and it’s going to be interesting to see if a contract extension is going to be reached prior to the start of the upcoming season.
Brady, who according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com is reportedly due to receive a $3 million roster bonus on March 5th, has previously made it clear that he’ll do what it takes to help the team stay competitive and doesn’t seem to necessarily feel the need to be the highest paid guy at his position. That’s more or less been his stance since he took over the reigns in 2001.
However things were different back then. He wasn’t married, didn’t have kids, and also didn’t have his football mortality tested after suffering a major knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2008 season. One has to wonder if the realization that his career could be over in the blink of an eye may cause him to take what could be his final potential “big pay day” a bit more seriously.
How the front office handles these negotiations will also be critical, as they haven’t exactly seemed to be very tactful in that regard recently. Look at the handling of the Vince Wilfork negotiations. For a deal that seemed to be imminant before the start of training camp last year, something clearly went drastically wrong. Now instead Wilfork seems very irritated and certainly doesn’t sound like the same guy we heard comments from last April when it seemed like it was already a done deal.
Obviously everyone within the organization has to know what Brady means to this football team, and one would have to believe that he’s got to be somewhere near the top of the list for priorities before next season. Reiss believes that a new deal for Brady could be somewhere between $15 – $18 million per season (and potentially higher), which still wouldn’t make him the highest paid guy at his position, but could be enough to get it done. However previously he’s said that he’s willing to take less money so the team can retain and surround him with talent. Considering what transpired during this past season, that commitment should definitely be tested this offseason. Randy Moss isn’t getting any younger (and he’s coming off of suffering a separated shoulder), and the team will likely be without Wes Welker for at least a portion (if not all) of 2010. So they’re definitely going to need to get him some more offensive weapons. We also know that they’ve also got their problems on defense which need to be addressed, especially if they can’t find a way to work something out with Wilfork.
Needless to say this could be one of the most interesting offseasons in recent memory. It would be nice to see #12 locked up and kept in a Patriots uniform for the rest of his career, but it seems like there are definitely some factors to consider. Let’s hope the team finds a way to get something worked out, and preferably before the 2010 season begins.
Video Reactions from Manning, Caldwell and Clark
Posted on February 8, 2010
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NBC.com posted a video with reactions from Colts QB Peyton Manning, head coach Jim Caldwell, and Colts TE Dallas Clark. Interesting how Manning referred to the “Colts” in third person when he said, “I thought the Colts started out hot,” instead of “we”. Very odd…I don’t quite get that comment.
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