My way too early and I will deny making them when they end up being wrong predictions

On real optimistic side if we sign Finley I think he has his best season catching passes from Tom Terrific. Rodgers is great but nobody makes pass catchers better like Brady. He's had to most of his career. And Brady will go to Finley often as his size/skill taking the ball from defenders is a luxury to Brady. Finley is physical and athletic in contested passes in tight coverage much like Gronk. He'll gain Bradys trust fairly quick.

Dobson and Kenbrell will improve and play much faster within the system at X and Z positions and make consistent big plays. Both come close to 1000 yards. If we don't add Finley or Housler or Johnson they both top 1000 yards. Especially Kenbrell, he is working harder right now than any WR in the NFL, or any player for that matter. Then Vereen stays healthy and when Boyce gets couple reps at slot he and Vereen us a major weapon as both are big play threats from the slot and backfield. Another dimension Bill can add to his schemes to toy with NFL defenses. A 4.3 slot and 4.45 RB big play threxpl. Outside the hash. That's before we consider big plays from Dobson and Kenbrell making plays intermediate and deep or outside the hashes. Gronk and hopefully Finley are a threat on all levels as well

HERES THE SURPRISE THAT HAS THE WHOLE NFL JEALOUS AND SECRETLY VERY IMPRESSED. OUR OFFENSE MATCHING OR EXCEEDIND THE Broncos with a young crew of WRs when everybody is shocked because they thought the Patriots had no weapons besides an often injured TE and slot WRs who barely average 10 ypc. What can they say when Dobson and Kenbrell are racking up 100 yard games as fast as Denver's established weapons. Dobson when healthy embarrassed DBs at times. Take away those rookie jitter drops and he would already be on the radar as a breakout player. Kenbrell made some nice clutch plays before injuries and rookie stumbles with schemes. He will be be faster more explosive this year and all around sharp. He is working/training hard enough to get better that would make Jerry Rice proud. When our offense racks up stats like the Broncos with no names for now, Bradys stats will look much more impressive than Manning who is surrounded with pro bowl/high price pass catchers!

Rob0729 said:

Ok, with two weeks before camp, I figured I would get my season predictions out of the way. Of course I will probably change them by the beginning of the season. But what the hell:

Patriots

In General

• The Pats will finish the season 13-3. I just think this season's schedule will be easier than last year.
• My early target for losses are @ Green Bay, @ Indy, and Cincy. Not that I think any are neccesarily better than the Pats. It is always hard to beat Green Bay in Green Bay especially in late November. Cincy is on a short week and the second night game in a row. Plus, their defense is a good match up for any offense. I think Indy treats the game like a playoff game for revenge for getting embarrassed in the playoffs last year.

Offense

• Gronk will play the entire year and have over 1,200 yards and 13 TDs
• Aaron Dobson will have over 1,000 yards
• Stork will win the starting job. Wendell gets cut.
• Brady will pass for over 5,000 yards and have 37 TDs
• We will see Vereen become close to what Sproles was in NO. He will have about 1,000 all purpose yards. I will say about 400 rushing and 600 receiving.
• White will take over the role that Woodhead left a year ago. He will have a solid rookie season as a situational RB. I say about 500 all purpose yards.
• LaFell will have about 600 yards and 6 TDs.
• Both Boyce and Thompkins make the final 53 roster. Boyce becomes the kick returner. Boyce has a better season than Thompkins. Thompkins is regularly inactive.
• Ridley has a bounce back year with about 1,100 yards and 9 TDs and only fumbling once.
• Amendola has a better year than Edelman. Amendola has about 900 yards and 6 TDs. Edelman has 800 yards and 5 TDs.

Defense

• NFL The defense will have the most blitzes of any season in the Belichick era
• The defense will look more like the Dynasty years in that you will see a lot more presnap movement and delayed blitzes and stunts than in recent year.
• Chandler Jones has 15 sacks or more sacks
• Easley will be practicing the first week of camp and gets 5 sacks his rookie season
• I think the starting CB opposite Revis (at least after week 4) will be a match up based type of call. I think Browner will start against big receivers. Dennard or Ryan will get the call against smaller ones.
• Hightower will play situational DE in subpackages and be primarily a pass rusher. He will have a bounce back year now that he will be playing in a position that fits his strength. I expect him to have 7 sacks.
• The DTs that make the roster are Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Jones, and Siliga. Kelly will see the most time on the field than anyone. He will play most downs. Wilfork will play only primarily first and second down. Easley and Jones will be situational pass rushers. Siliga will be a run down specialist.
• Wilfork will have a subpar year at least for his standards. I will say he will be slightly above average coming down from his Pro Bowl caliber.
• Collins has a break out second year. I give him 7 sacks, 4 INTS, and 2 FF. He will be the guy who covers TEs unless Browner is on a certain play.
• Harmon has a solid second year. I think he more than adequately fills in for the starting position opposite McCourty.
• Speaking of McCourty, he has an All Pro season with the improved secondary and more aggressive front seven.
• The defense will be top five in points allowed. It will be in the top 10 in most key categories most importantly third downs.
• Revis will win DPOY. Not necessarily that he is the best defensive player in the league (although he might be), but the perception of the Patriots defense will be so radically shifted that people will give all the credit to him.
• Pat Chung is somewhat productive in a limited role.
• Will Smith ends up losing rotational snaps to players from other positions like Hightower and Easley. He starts the season as the second guy off the best after Michael Buchannon who has a nice second year jump in production. Smith could get cut during the season or not even make it out of camp. I like the signing, but something tells me he will disappoint.

NFL In General

Division Winners

AFC East: Patriots
AFC North: Cincy
AFC South: Colts
AFC West: Broncos
Wild Cards: San Diego, Ravens

NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Falcons
NFC West:Seahawks

Wild Cards: 49ers, Cardinals

Wild Card Round
Broncos over Ravens
San Diego over Cincy

Eagles over Cardinals
Falcons over 49ers

Division Round
Pats over San Diego
Broncos over Colts

Seahawks over Falcons
Packers over Eagles

Conference Championships
Pats over Broncos
Seahawks over Packers

Super Bowl
Patriots over Seahawks (that is my heart, my head says the other way)

Superlatives
MVP - Aaron Rodgers
OPOY - Brady
DPOY - Revis
OROY - Mike Evans
DROY - Clowney

General Thoughts

• Seattle will be the first Super Bowl winner since the Patriots (I think) to win a playoff game the following year.
• The Broncos offense take a significant step back this year (which will still make them very good). I think both Manning and Welker show their age this year. Manning has a solid season, but like Brady's last year will be a very bad year by his standards. For all the hype about Sanders becoming a 1,000 yard receiver with Manning, I think he falls far short of it by a decent amount (200-300 yards). Because of this and a tough schedule, I expect them to not have a bye this year.
• The AFC closes the gap a bit from with the NFC, but will still be a handful of quality teams and most of the conference will be mediocre to bad.
• The Colts will be a great regular season team (12-4), but crumble again in the playoffs when they face a good team in the division round. They will benefit from a weak division.
• Teams taking a step back (be worse than last year by a bit) will be Denver, 49ers, Carolina, KC, Jets, Dolphins, Saints, Jets
• Teams taking a step up will be Arizona, Green Bay, Atlanta, Baltimore, Washington
• Coaches getting fired: Joe Philbin, Doug Marrone (the Bills will be sold and they will look for a big name head coach), Dennis Allen, and Rex Ryan (yes, I am predicting a clean sweep of coaches in the AFC East not named Belichick this season)
• Geno Smith will win the fixed QB competition in the preseason even though Vick outplays him. Michael Vick will be starting for the Jets by week 5. Geno Smith will be starting again by week 10 because Vick is injured.
• As I said, the Bills will be sold most likely to Jon Bon Jovi's group. My prediction for next offseason is that they trade San Francisco for Jim Harbaugh.
• Colin Kaepernick has a big step back in production due to age wall drops in production from Frank Gore and Anquan Bolden.
• Eli Manning continues to struggle and either gets cut or traded after the season.
• Brian Hoyer wins the starting job in Cleveland.

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I just wanted to weigh in and say that the Title of this Thread is awesome!!

Off The Grid said:

I just wanted to weigh in and say that the Title of this Thread is awesome!!

Click to expand...

"its my island" great movie.......beautiful country

PatFanCraig said:

On real optimistic side if we sign Finley I think he has his best season catching passes from Tom Terrific. Rodgers is great but nobody makes pass catchers better like Brady. He's had to most of his career. And Brady will go to Finley often as his size/skill taking the ball from defenders is a luxury to Brady. Finley is physical and athletic in contested passes in tight coverage much like Gronk. He'll gain Bradys trust fairly quick.

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Only thing about Finley is that it doesn't sound to me like he's considering other teams all that much. He just said a few days ago about how hard he's working to return to the Packers, who have also expressed significant mutual interest. I almost wonder if it'll be Green Bay or nothing?

Jermichael Finley is 'working hard' to play again for the Green Bay Packers - SI.com

With new england being a winner and Tom an established great Jermichael would definitely play here if we showed trust and commitment to him and made a good offer.He knows the patriots love to use TEs more than any other team so he knows he will have opportunity for big stats/win a championship here which means have fun and enjoy playing. He wouldn't be as thrilled with a losing team and horrible qb.

I love the fact he is working hard to return to form. Many players return even better than pre injury due to working so hard to return to form and establish themselves again. They usually put in double or triple workout time of average players to return to form. The extra work makes them razor sharp with better flexibility/quickness/endurance. Like a boxer who trains all day at camp to be as quick and sharp as possible entering the ring. A player rehabbing gets that extra edge. The normal player just tries to work hard enough for game shape. A rehab player pushes himself the extra mile. So another reason to sign Finley as he will be better than ever. Kenbrell understands that extra mile or 2. And how training for speed/burst/flexibility/route running/endurance as if its a 8-12 hour a day full time job will push and maximize his skills beyond their fullest potential. Jermichael would have his best season ever for us being in his best condition ever from working overtime to rehab his injury and catching passes from Brady. Not to mention an offense that loves to display the TE. He has been cleared to play and I think he will exceed expectations. With Dobson and Kenbrell breaking out in a big way, Vereen if he stays healthy could have a shady McCoy season, the 2TE set of Gronk\Finley will surpass the one with Hernandez. Not to mention the run game would dominate as well in the 2TE set with Gronk/Finley both great blockers. Just an all around mismatch pass or run. And we have playmakers in Dobson/Kenbrell to stretch the field for the 2TE sets that we didn't have with previous 2TE sets. Cannon can finally settle at RG and if Stork doesn't take center position hopefully they try Halapio there who has already impressed with his power. With his torn pec healed they say he looks like a different player. The OLine can dominate if Bill is open minded enough to get our best most dominant lineman on the field. If we sign Finley this offense can surpass Denver hands down. My surprise player is Kenbrell Thompkins. He is using his off time like a player posessed training 8-12 hours a day like he is in a boxing camp preparing. This offense can equal the Broncos firepower or more especially if we sign Jermichael Finley. The NFL won't know what hit them.

Finley will receive 10 million from insurance if he does not play again. He isn't going to be a vet minimum signing.

The Patriot's doctors would have to clear him too. That's not 100% itself.

The doctor that performed his surgery happens to be the Steelers team doctor. He has already cleared Finley. The Steelers are supposedly interest in him as well.

Wow. Kudos on putting the thought into getting all of this down and covering so many angles. Here's a reaction "gloss" on the text...

Rob0729 said:

Patriots

In General

• The Pats will finish the season 13-3. I just think this season's schedule will be easier than last year. I tend to be conservative but would say 12-4 based on unknowns.
  
• My early target for losses are @ Green Bay, @ Indy, and Cincy. Not that I think any are neccesarily better than the Pats. It is always hard to beat Green Bay in Green Bay especially in late November. Cincy is on a short week and the second night game in a row. Plus, their defense is a good match up for any offense. I think Indy treats the game like a playoff game for revenge for getting embarrassed in the playoffs last year. Gutsy to call the shots on the 3 wins. I just wouldn't call the shots tbh... could argue any of these but logic is sound on them all.

Offense

• Gronk will play the entire year and have over 1,200 yards and 13 TDs
  This is my biggest disagreement. I assume he is lost several games each year, including the most important ones, until I see otherwise at this point.
  
• Aaron Dobson will have over 1,000 yards Another big question mark, the "kids' " production. I'm bullish too - will call Dobson a lock for 800-900, and think 1,000 is in the "main sequence" of reasonable predictions. 8-12 TDs?
  
• Stork will win the starting job. Wendell gets cut.
• Brady will pass for over 5,000 yards and have 37 TDs Disagree. 4,300-4,500/low 30s. While each piece on offense has promise some will pan out and some will not. We're also moving toward more stops on defense rather than being able to win shootouts.
  
• We will see Vereen become close to what Sproles was in NO. He will have about 1,000 all purpose yards. I will say about 400 rushing and 600 receiving.
• White will take over the role that Woodhead left a year ago. He will have a solid rookie season as a situational RB. I say about 500 all purpose yards.We don't know the ceiling on White. The process of learning that will dictate the mix of outcomes for the two.
  
• LaFell will have about 600 yards and 6 TDs. Right range.
  
• Both Boyce and Thompkins make the final 53 roster. Boyce becomes the kick returner. Boyce has a better season than Thompkins. Thompkins is regularly inactive.
• Ridley has a bounce back year with about 1,100 yards and 9 TDs and only fumbling once. Agree on the low fumbles. Disagree on 1100/9TDs. 700/5 is more what I expect.
  
• Amendola has a better year than Edelman. Amendola has about 900 yards and 6 TDs. Edelman has 800 yards and 5 TDs. So, similar range for the two, you give the edge to Amendola. Okay. Do not have a strong feeling to the contrary.

Defense

• NFL The defense will have the most blitzes of any season in the Belichick era BB has some toys now. Take away one side of the field (with pretty good lockdown on the other side) and you have more options. So, agree - and outcomes will be enhanced w/coverage sacks.
  
• The defense will look more like the Dynasty years in that you will see a lot more presnap movement and delayed blitzes and stunts than in recent year. See above
  
• Chandler Jones has 15 sacks or more sacks No. But he gets 10+
  
• Easley will be practicing the first week of camp and gets 5 sacks his rookie season okay on 5 sacks, patience on healing by first week of camp.
  
• I think the starting CB opposite Revis (at least after week 4) will be a match up based type of call. I think Browner will start against big receivers. Dennard or Ryan will get the call against smaller ones.insightful & reasonable thought.
  
• Hightower will play situational DE in subpackages and be primarily a pass rusher. He will have a bounce back year now that he will be playing in a position that fits his strength. I expect him to have 7 sacks.Well, he did just do an interview w/Reiss saying he's open to this, although not specifying the DE position. Just get him out of coverage down the field - that's his kryptonite, being mismatched with a fast HB or TE. He's got a versatile mix of skills and he's tantalizingly close on the coverage ability, but not close enough.
  
• The DTs that make the roster are Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Jones, and Siliga. Kelly will see the most time on the field than anyone. He will play most downs. Wilfork will play only primarily first and second down. Easley and Jones will be situational pass rushers. Siliga will be a run down specialist.
  
  [*]Wilfork will have a subpar year at least for his standards. I will say he will be slightly above average coming down from his Pro Bowl caliber.
  [*]Collins has a break out second year. I give him 7 sacks, 4 INTS, and 2 FF. He will be the guy who covers TEs unless Browner is on a certain play. Will go further than stats and say he will get the defensive headlines this year, more and more as the year goes by. Some teams will test Revis early (still). He'll get the headlines those games. Otherwise Collins will begin to look elite at MLB, I see that high a ceiling.
  
  [*]Harmon has a solid second year. I think he more than adequately fills in for the starting position opposite McCourty.
  [*]Speaking of McCourty, he has an All Pro season with the improved secondary and more aggressive front seven. No. I like him but I don't all pro like him.
  
  [*]The defense will be top five in points allowed. It will be in the top 10 in most key categories most importantly third downs. Yes.
  
  [*]Revis will win DPOY. Not necessarily that he is the best defensive player in the league (although he might be), but the perception of the Patriots defense will be so radically shifted that people will give all the credit to him. I think yes on both counts. Getting a homer boner about this D right about now.
  
  [*]Pat Chung is somewhat productive in a limited role. would like to see it, but he has underwhelmed thus far in his NFL career.
  
  [*]Will Smith ends up losing rotational snaps to players from other positions like Hightower and Easley. He starts the season as the second guy off the best after Michael Buchannon who has a nice second year jump in production. Smith could get cut during the season or not even make it out of camp. I like the signing, but something tells me he will disappoint. Wait and see. Always iffy whether "what you did there" = production in Pats' system.
  

Won't comment on the "In General" piece... but thanks for putting in a thought-provoking breakdown.
NFL In General

Division Winners

AFC East: Patriots
AFC North: Cincy
AFC South: Colts
AFC West: Broncos
Wild Cards: San Diego, Ravens

NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Falcons
NFC West:Seahawks

Wild Cards: 49ers, Cardinals

Wild Card Round
Broncos over Ravens
San Diego over Cincy

Eagles over Cardinals
Falcons over 49ers

Division Round
Pats over San Diego
Broncos over Colts

Seahawks over Falcons
Packers over Eagles

Conference Championships
Pats over Broncos
Seahawks over Packers

Super Bowl
Patriots over Seahawks (that is my heart, my head says the other way)

Superlatives
MVP - Aaron Rodgers
OPOY - Brady
DPOY - Revis
OROY - Mike Evans
DROY - Clowney

General Thoughts

• Seattle will be the first Super Bowl winner since the Patriots (I think) to win a playoff game the following year.
• The Broncos offense take a significant step back this year (which will still make them very good). I think both Manning and Welker show their age this year. Manning has a solid season, but like Brady's last year will be a very bad year by his standards. For all the hype about Sanders becoming a 1,000 yard receiver with Manning, I think he falls far short of it by a decent amount (200-300 yards). Because of this and a tough schedule, I expect them to not have a bye this year.
• The AFC closes the gap a bit from with the NFC, but will still be a handful of quality teams and most of the conference will be mediocre to bad.
• The Colts will be a great regular season team (12-4), but crumble again in the playoffs when they face a good team in the division round. They will benefit from a weak division.
• Teams taking a step back (be worse than last year by a bit) will be Denver, 49ers, Carolina, KC, Jets, Dolphins, Saints, Jets
• Teams taking a step up will be Arizona, Green Bay, Atlanta, Baltimore, Washington
• Coaches getting fired: Joe Philbin, Doug Marrone (the Bills will be sold and they will look for a big name head coach), Dennis Allen, and Rex Ryan (yes, I am predicting a clean sweep of coaches in the AFC East not named Belichick this season)
• Geno Smith will win the fixed QB competition in the preseason even though Vick outplays him. Michael Vick will be starting for the Jets by week 5. Geno Smith will be starting again by week 10 because Vick is injured.
• As I said, the Bills will be sold most likely to Jon Bon Jovi's group. My prediction for next offseason is that they trade San Francisco for Jim Harbaugh.
• Colin Kaepernick has a big step back in production due to age wall drops in production from Frank Gore and Anquan Bolden.
• Eli Manning continues to struggle and either gets cut or traded after the season.
• Brian Hoyer wins the starting job in Cleveland.

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One additional - if predictable - addition... This:

I have some lofty predictions, but this is all in good fun right –

- Tom Brady wins his third MVP with 65% completions, 5150 pass yards, 38 touchdowns, 6 interceptions.
- Shane Vereen becomes more than just a third down RB and carries 150 times for 720 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns to go along with 60 catches for 525 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.
- Aaron Dobson doubles his production with 65 catches for 1075 yards and 8 touchdowns.
- Stevan Ridley does not fumble, carries the ball 215 times for 965 yards and 8 touchdowns.
- Julian Edelman matches his production from 2013 with 110 catches for 1150 yards and 6 touchdowns.
- Rob Gronkowski wins CPOY playing in 15 games – 85 catches, 1260 yards, 14 touchdowns
- Josh Boyce has a solid 25 catch, 325 yards and 3 touchdown season.
- Brandon LaFell is used exclusively as the Joker-TE; he has 35 catches for 465 yards and 6 touchdowns.
- The starting OL will be – Solder-Mankins-Stork-Cannon-Vollmer with Halapio as the top backup at guard.
- Ryan Mallett is traded in the preseason to a team that loses its QB for the season.
- Danny Amendola has a disappointing second season and plays in less than 50% of the team’s offensive snaps.
- Vince Wilfork benefits from playing with Tommy Kelly and Dominique Easley sets a new career high with 5.5 sacks.
- Chandler Jones becomes an all-pro with 75 tackles, 16 sack, 4 forced fumbles, 12 run stuffs, 8 pass knockdowns.
- Dominique Easley’s is a monster with 30 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 8 run stuffs.
- Rob Ninkovich plays more LB than DE. Michael Buchanan takes his reps at LE has a very good second season with 6 sacks.
- Jamie Collins becomes best all-purpose 4-3 OLB in the NFL – 90 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 9 pass defends, 8 run stuffs, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries.
- Will Smith does not make the team.
- James Anderson is a disappointment.
- Steve Beauharnais assumes Brandon Spikes like run stopper role on early downs.
- Revis is the Revis of 2011 absolutely dominate.
- Browner makes the tight end cornerback a position that all teams will attempt to copycat in future years.
- Ryan Allen makes the pro bowl as the AFC punter.
- Cameron Gordon shows he is the best ST LB since Izzo.

Sticky Caulk said:

Finley will receive 10 million from insurance if he does not play again. He isn't going to be a vet minimum signing.

The Patriot's doctors would have to clear him too. That's not 100% itself.

The doctor that performed his surgery happens to be the Steelers team doctor. He has already cleared Finley. The Steelers are supposedly interest in him as well.

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This has been misreported. Finely gets the $10 million insurance if no one offers him a contract. If the insurance company finds that he could get a job in the NFL but chooses not to because they aren't paying him enough, they will deny the claim. The $10 million is for him being physically unable to work, not choosing not to work because he isn't getting enough money.

Insurance companies always look for ways not to pay on claims. No way they are going to pay Finley if someone is willing to hire him in the NFL, but he chooses not to play because it isn't enough money.

mayoclinic said:

Since we're drinking Koolaid, I vote 14-2 and the SB.

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Who is drinking kool aid?

I thought we were jus being pragmatic.

Rob0729 said:

This has been misreported. Finely gets the $10 million insurance if no one offers him a contract. If the insurance company finds that he could get a job in the NFL but chooses not to because they aren't paying him enough, they will deny the claim. The $10 million is for him being physically unable to work, not choosing not to work because he isn't getting enough money.

Insurance companies always look for ways not to pay on claims. No way they are going to pay Finley if someone is willing to hire him in the NFL, but he chooses not to play because it isn't enough money.

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That's interesting. Could that be why nobody has offered him anything yet? Teams respecting his ability to collect that money.

I like the Pats for 13-3 or better, and the AFC Superbowl entrant. My guess is that an unexpected newcomer will join the AFC Playoffs. That team is the Texans, and Fitzpatrick will win the Comeback of the Year.

Not having to carry and push an inferior team, like the Bills, Fitz will only have to play within himself. Like Alex Smith, and the Texans will fight the Colts every step of the way, and either win the AFCS outright themselves; or be the WC from the AFC South. They are the far more talented AFCS team everywhere except QB, and BOB will help them reassert themselves.

I think both the Seahawks and 49ers are overrated, and are weaker than last season, and in an upset I pick the NFCW rep with the best QB and most balanced squad, on both Offense and Defense to represent the NFC in the Superbowl. That Team is the Phoenix Cardinals.

The Pats will beat the home team in the Lombardi tournament, at Phoenix University Stadium, and the Pats win their 4th under Brady and Belichick.

Sticky Caulk said:

Finley will receive 10 million from insurance if he does not play again. He isn't going to be a vet minimum signing.

The Patriot's doctors would have to clear him too. That's not 100% itself.

The doctor that performed his surgery happens to be the Steelers team doctor. He has already cleared Finley. The Steelers are supposedly interest in him as well.

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Although you'd definitely be right in stating that Dr.Joseph Maroon has been the Steelers neurosurgeon for over 30 yrs, I think Finley chose him due to his excellent reputation and experience in treating the specific condition that he had.

Whether or not that equates to any real interest from the Steelers or not is anyone's guess, but I do know that they're very happy to have a healthy Heath Miller back. I'm not seeing Pittsburgh as being the greatest opportunity for Finley myself, but only time will tell what happens to him.

supafly said:

Only thing about Finley is that it doesn't sound to me like he's considering other teams all that much. He just said a few days ago about how hard he's working to return to the Packers, who have also expressed significant mutual interest. I almost wonder if it'll be Green Bay or nothing?

http://www.si.com/nfl/2014/07/09/Jermichael-finley-working-hard-play-again-green-bay-packers-0

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I can't quite get Ben Watson out of my head when thinking of Finley dropping Brady's lasers.

Nothing you predicted is unreasonable IMO. I'm going to disagree on Gronk and Vereen, would love to see those 2 last a full season but it's almost like they are cursed injury wise. Hopefully if they can be healthy for the playoffs that is all that would matter though. Regardless I predict an improved top 10 offense, top 3 if Gronk does indeed stay healthy.

Defensively I share all the optimism, I think it's the best defense since the dynasty version. Definitely a solid SB contender overall.

I predict…

captain stone said:

I predict…

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Would like to see Hightower and Easley on the left side of the defensive front in our nickel bringing pain to qb's opposite Chandler Jones.

Rob0729 said:

Cincy is on a short week and the second night game in a row.

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Not only that but the Bengals have a bye the week before. Sorry but that's an epic fail on the NFL's part. There's no way one team should have a short week and another a bye coming into a game. Never mind two playoff teams.

Here are some. In a thread like this go big or go home right? : P

#1 White will be the most important RB by the end of the year. He brings more consistency than Vereen

#2 Ryan ends the year as the #2 CB. This is not because Browner or Dennard are hurt or playing badly but he is just really too good to not be full time at that point.

#3 Ryan leads the team in Ints with 7 (Revis just is not thrown to enough).

#4 The Patriots will have a shutout this year.

#5 Collins makes the probowl.

#6 Dobson averages 75 yards per game. I don't know if he breaks 1000 cause he might miss some but that should be his average (1200 over a full season)

#7 Easley will finish top 3 in DROTY voting

#8 Kelly has a better year than Wilfork who will be closer to 2013 than 2012 form sadly I think.

#9 Halapio - G will start all 16 games this and look good doing it

#10 The Patriots will not lose a game this year when Revis/Gronk/Brady are all healthy.

Bonus! Manning will go 1 and done in the playoffs this year.

I liked your post because I think there's some pretty good insight there and I share your enthusiasm, but there's some stuff I don't believe for a minute, notably:

Rob0729 said:

• Gronk will play the entire year and have over 1,200 yards and 13 TDs
• Aaron Dobson will have over 1,000 yards
• Stork will win the starting job. Wendell gets cut.
• The defense will have the most blitzes of any season in the Belichick era

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The rest is either good or bold predictions that I will accept in the spirit in which they were delivered. With respect to the above, however:

• I don't see Gronk being ready for week 1. Week 4 is more likely and lately quite possible. I think you set the bar way too high for coming off a late-season ACL injury.
• Dobson will be good, but the ball will be spread around too much. I see him in the 750 yard range, particularly when you consider how many balls go the way of Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Gronk, and Vereen.
• Stork won't be ready to start in week 1. Wendell might get cut, if Connolly can play Center, but I doubt it.
• This defense will get after the QB with 4 enough that they don't need to blitz that much, but it will feel like they do, because it there will be an unpredictable mixture of blitzes and 4-man pressures, and the QB will never know who is coming.