March 2012
92 posts
The Bills are on the clock
Draft chatter is picking up with amazing speed, and that means we’re further capable to understand teams’ plans.
In most cases, that means filling in holes left during free agency. For the Buffalo Bills, the number of holes dramatically reduced with the signing of Mario Williams.
Williams, an elite rusher, immediately transforms the identity of Buffalo’s defense,...
Ranking the AFC East head coaches
Author’s note: This piece can also be seen at the Bleacher Report.
Effective Sunday, Sean Payton will be suspended as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. That’s led to a lot of discussion about how much his absence – along with that of assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six games – will matter as it relates to the on-field...
Predictions on five remaining NFL free agents
Editor’s Note: This piece can also be seen at the Bleacher Report.
It appears as though we’ve finally turned our attention from free agency to the NFL draft, but that doesn’t mean there’s not quality players still available for the taking on the open market.
Restricted free agents aside, there remains a handful of impact players on either side of the football that...
Detroit a possible landing spot for Samuel?
Editor’s Note: This post can also be seen at the Bleacher Report.
As speculation persists that Asante Samuel could end up in Tennessee, another team – the Detroit Lions – may too be a landing spot for his services.
Samuel remains on the trading block as Philadelphia attempts to reallocate resources, facing the prospect of having to pay a trio of corners –...
Antonio Garay Re-Signs With Chargers
Editor’s Note: this piece can also be found at the Bleacher Report.
Antonio Garay, who revitalized his career in 2009 with the Chargers, has agreed to a new deal with San Diego, according to Pro Football Talk.
Originally a 2003 sixth round draft pick of the Browns, Garay found himself out of football for the entirety of the 2008 season after the Bears opted to cut ties with...
Titans in on Samuel?
A year ago, the Eagles looked to be log-jammed at the cornerback position, with Asante Samuel being joined by both Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha.
The trio may soon be no more, as a report has emerged that the Titans could acquire Samuel for a conditional third round draft choice.
His name has been floated in trade rumors since last offseason as Philadelphia...
Buck the Trend? Unlikely in New England
Nobody knows with certainty how the 2012 NFL draft will play out, but we can often help ourselves by looking back in time to trace patterns and trends.
Take, for example, the string of trade backs conducted by the Patriots. Swap a first round pick in year 20XX for a second round pick in 20XX and a first round pick in 20XX+1.
Check it out, they’ve done it...
Rams, Browns looking to deal?
The Rams didn’t exactly swindle the Browns earlier this offseason, but team President Mike Holmgren was less than enthused that St. Louis accepted the Redskins offer for the second overall pick in favor of the package that Cleveland reportedly offered.
Evidently, the friction manufactured in that transaction hasn’t entirely soured the relationship between Cleveland and St....
Morning Recap: Lawson, Samuel, Hoyer & More
Catching up on a few items from around the league…
The Bengals have re-signed outside linebacker Manny Lawson (at least according to Lawson): Lawson’s 2011 season – his first as a Bengal – wasn’t sexy (78 tackles, 1.5 sacks), but he’s one of those players in which only his own team understands his true value. The Bengals know he’s capable to stuff the run, set the edge,...
The Tim Tebow trade will come down to wins and...
It’s societal, really. Our need to make mountains out of ant holes, that is.
We analyze and over analyze details so far from relevant we send ourselves into process overload, paralyzing our ability to think clearly.
The world of sports is the most consistent victim of this complex.
Take the Tim Tebow trade to the Jets, for instance. You take a player more polarizing than a...
Why the Browns now have to start Colt McCoy in...
There was a time earlier this offseason when I applauded the efforts of the Cleveland Browns for inking LB D’Qwell Jackson – amongst the feel good stories of 2011 – to a five-year extension in a move that made sense for both sides involved.
That day was merely a month ago, but it feels something like an eternity past.
Since then, the Browns have been virtual non-players in the game of...
Check out NFL Spin Zone!
Editor’s Note: Starting today, I’ll be contributing over at NFLSpinZone.com. It’s a growing website with a strong readership, so keep checking back there for quality NFL content.
I’ll be sure to link all my posts to the blog, and of course I’ll be updating the blog as the NFL off season continues.
As always, thanks for reading Thoughts From The Field!
Sean Payton reportedly reaches out to Bill...
Because it’s the NFL offseason, which, by the way, simply means games aren’t being played – there’s been no shortage of news – there’s yet another report that will shake media circles for the foreseeable future.
ESPN has reported that Saints head coach Sean Payton – who has been suspended by the NFL for the 2012 season, effective April 1st – has reached out to...
On the dichotomy of the Saints offseason
Editor’s note: this piece can also be seen over at BleacherReport.com.
There was a time this offseason the New Orleans Saints’ grandest issue was trying to finalize a contract extension with free agent wide receiver-to-be Marques Colston.
The team was resigned to slapping QB Drew Brees with the exclusive rights franchise tag, but as the hours waned leading up...
NFL players from Final Four schools
With the Final Four set (congratulations to all 68 NCAA Tournament teams by the way), here’s a look at the NFL players from each of the schools that will play in New Orleans next weekend in the national semifinals: Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, and Ohio State.
All information and images below are courtesy of ESPN.com’s player search database:
Total: 7
Best Player: Aqib Talib
...
Ochocinco restructures, and a look at the Patriots...
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has long been known for his dedication to building a roster through the draft. As some will be quick to note, two anchors of Belichick’s three Super Bowl winning teams were drafted just one round apart, all the way back in 2001, when New England snagged both DL Richard Seymour and OT Matt Light.
Neither was a sexy pick at the time, but few can argue...
Bills re-sign Choice, Chiefs targeting nose...
Finally the NFL offseason seems to have slowed down, although one shouldn’t bank on that remaining the case for long, as the owners meetings will commence next week near Palm Beach, Florida.
A slow start to the weekend likely correlates with execs and coaches taking a moment to breathe after what has been arguably the busiest start to a free agency period in league...
Why Stephen Ross and the Dolphins are failing to...
There’s a balance that NFL teams – and any professional organization, really – aim to strike, and that is one of pleasing those they serve while keeping business matters and strategy in-house.
One team, the Miami Dolphins, is failing with that this offseason, and it starts at the top with Owner Stephen Ross.
The team has come under fire after an offseason based around the defection...
News and notes from Friday
Catching up on the Friday afternoon that was:
Marion Barber III, whose 2011 will be remembered for running out of bounds in the closing moments of the Bears contest versus the Broncos (a move that would afford Tim Tebow one last chance to make a comeback. You guess what the outcome was), has retired.
It’s a surprising move – he’s only 28 – and although Barber...
Packers Sign Jeff Saturday
Lost in the shuffle of, well, the quarterback shuffle of the 2012 NFL offseason is the revolving landscape of NFL centers.
Such notable names as Chris Myers, Scott Wells, Jeff Saturday, Dan Koppen and a host of others were amongst those potentially available for signing, and as of Friday, many of them have found a home.
While many assumed Saturday would end up in Denver to...
Joel Dreessen Signs With Denver
Acquiring Peyton Manning was step one for Denver, finding the offensive cast to support him was soon to follow suit.
On Friday, the Broncos landed one piece of the puzzle, signing free agent TE Joel Dreessen, who previously has played for the Jets and Texans.
Dreessen adds value as a two-way tight end for Denver, capable to hold his own as a blocker and dynamic enough in the...
Five quarterback situations examined
Unsurprisingly, a lot has been made about the soon-to-be-official dynamic between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. What we know, or at least what the Jets are leading us to believe, is that Sanchez is the unquestioned starter, while Tebow will land in the huddle for specific assignments (i.e. in the red zone, short yardage situations, etc.).
It’s risky business the Jets are...
Patriots rework Brady's contract: what it means
Before Tebowmania landed in New York, the news surrounding Jets quarterbacks was the curious extension that GM Mike Tannenbaum signed Mark Sanchez to. Truth be told, however, it was a money saving maneuver in the best interest of the team, at least for 2012.
Out in Oakland, QB Carson Palmer was similarly greeted with a contract tweak, except his didn’t involve the addition...
Chicago Signs Michael Bush
As it turned out, the free agent running backs had to wait their turn before earning their keep this offseason, as a run on pass rushers, receivers and whatever was available in a slim quarterback market preceded their pay days.
But the time has come for running backs to cash in, and the best available running back has found a new home: Michael Bush signed a four year, $14...
Buffalo adds Mark Anderson, more pass rush punch
The NFL is an evolving league. The days of running to set up the pass are numbered – quarterbacks are now shattering passing records to the point that we must reconsider what statistical benchmarks even matter anymore.
As a result of the changes, the premium placed on effectively rushing the passer has grown to astronomical heights – just ask Tom Brady and the Patriots, twice the...
Why Tim Tebow To Jacksonville Is Right For The...
It’s fitting on a day that NFL news took the country by storm again that the deal to send Tim Tebow to the New York Jets has hit a snag, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Fitting because we’ve learned that as it relates to sports and America, football is papa bear and there is no close second.
But I digress.
Schefter has gone on to say that as the talks between New York and...
Tebow Traded, Saints Punished
In an attempt to break Twitter, two major NFL stories broke concurrently earlier this afternoon: the New York Jets have acquired Tim Tebow in a trade, and Roger Goodell handed out his stiffest punishment yet with sanctions placed on the New Orleans Saints in relation to the recent bounty matter.
To start with Tebow: the Jets have shipped a 4th and 6th round pick in this year’s draft for Tebow and...
Checking In On The Chiefs' Offseason
Editor’s Note: This piece can also be seen over at the Bleacher Report.
While the full court press of the John Elway-led Denver Broncos brass paid off in luring Peyton Manning to town, there’s been another AFC West team quietly going about its business and assembling one of the more productive offseasons in all of football.
The Chiefs, who stumbled to a 7-9...
Early Offseason Grades: AFC West
In some ways, the mediocrity of the AFC West was what shined through brightest about the division in 2011 … minus the whole Tebowmania phenomenon. But putting the soon to be former Bronco aside, it was in fact the overall averageness of Denver, San Diego, Oakland and Kansas City that will be most remembered. Heck, the teams combined to finish 31-33 last year, two games shy...
Early Offseason Grades: AFC South
On now to the AFC South, also known as the least exciting division in football this offseason, what with the Colts standing pat and all that. Oh wait…
Houston Texans: GM Rick Smith walked into the offseason with a specific goal in mind: retaining his own free agents. Mission accomplished. Sort of. Houston’s offseason is really a matter of taste, as although the team shored up two...
Early Offseason Grades: AFC North
Our plan to continue with our early evaluations of each team’s offseason was temporarily derailed by Peyton Manning’s decision to take his talents to Denver. But now that the buzz surrounding his move has tempered, at least in part, let’s press forward with our look at the AFC North, and how each team has fared so far this offseason.
Baltimore Ravens: Getting under the cap was the...
Peyton's New Place: Denver
Hold your breath no more Broncos fans, Peyton Manning is coming to town.
Contract specifics are not yet in place, but Manning has elected to join the organization that put the full court press on him the moment he became available, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen.
To ask what it means is to open up a narrative that could stretch on for hours, but we’ll...
Early Offseason Grades: AFC East
You wouldn’t think it based on the flurry of activity surrounding the opening six days of NFL Free Agency, but the offseason is far from over. In fact, in many ways it’s still getting started. Nonetheless, the dust seems to have effectively settled on the first wave of free agent signings, creating a natural checkpoint for us to take a look at who has done what.
Here’s a look at...
Chiefs Sign Eric Winston: A Massive Coup For KC
It’s not often we’re mesmerized by the pursuit of a free agent right tackle, but it’s even less common for a 28-year old strong side protector in the prime of his career to become available for signing.
That’s what happened when the Houston Texans blindsided Eric Winston earlier this week by parting ways with their 2006 third round...
NFL Free Agency: Where Do We Stand Now?
Assuming your head hasn’t entirely spun out of control through the first 72 hours of NFL Free Agency, you’ve likely been able to see that the landscape of a league built on competitive balance can seemingly shift instantly.
That’s not to say that teams like the Giants, Patriots and Packers – the best in football a year ago, but virtually silent thus far in free agency –...
Super Rich (And Important) Mario
It’s about time for two things to change in the NFL: the moniker for Mario Williams (let’s evolve it to Super Rich Mario), and our perceptions about the Buffalo Bills franchise.
Williams, the latest athlete to join the fabled $100 million club (ok, he’ll never meet the clauses necessary to earn all that dough, but it sounds nice), represents so much more to...
NFL Free Agency Day 2 Winners
It hasn’t taken but 36 hours to establish a trend for the 2012 NFL free agency period, and that trend is overpaying.
Seemingly as frequently as a new deal has been announced have I thought to myself, “that guy got that much?”
Ok, so it hasn’t been all bad, but it’s hard not to notice a pattern of teams adopting the mentality of, “We have a void at this position, player X...
Free Agency Resources
Rest assured that my Day 2 Free Agency Winners post is forthcoming, as rather than attempting to keep up with every free agent signing with a blog post and analysis, I’ll continue to truncate my thoughts into one post at the conclusion of the day’s activity.
In the meantime, I wanted to pass along some of my must read free agency resources, which includes websites and Twitter...
Day 1 Free Agency Winners
Media pundits like to kid and say there is no offseason in the NFL. Truth be told, they’re right.
Just when we thought the buzz around the NFL would go dormant, the combine and free agency happened, and today’s firestorm has the world of social media gasping for breath.
With 532 players becoming available as free agents as of 4:00 PM EST today, it was inevitable that a flurry of...
Bears Trade For Brandon Marshall
Today was supposed to be about free agents finding new homes, but that didn’t stop new Bears GM Phil Emery from making his first big splash on the job by acquiring WR Brandon Marshall from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for two third round draft picks.
It’s a head scratching move – for now – by the Fins, as Marshall was their unquestioned top talent at the receiver spot and a guy...
Early Free Agency Tracker
While we expect free agency to pick up in a major way come 4 PM EST, a number of important transactions have already been submitted for league approval involving teams taking caring of their own.
Here’s a look, and we’ll keep the updates coming throughout the day:
Player/Position/Team/Terms (If known):
Terrell Thomas, cornerback, New York Giants, 4 years, $28 million.
Jordan...
The True Cost of a Bounty
Editor’s Note: The following post is a contribution from a good friend and trusted football mind, Chris Morrissey. Follow him on Twitter: @CMOGreen51.
The immediate reaction in the wake of Bountygate has created a witch-hunt obsessed with finding out who did what to whom, and who was in on it or knew about it. These facts are important, especially to NFL commissioner...
Saints Working On Deals For Nicks, Colston
Amongst the foregone conclusions of the NFL offseason was that the Saints inability to agree to a long-term contract with Drew Brees – which subsequently led to his being franchised – would affect the team’s ability to re-sign WR Marques Colston and G Carl Nicks, the franchise’s “other” high-profile free agents.
Not so fast.
According to a report from Pro...
Franchise Snapshot: Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
Division: AFC West
Owner: Pat Bowlen
Head Coach: John Fox (entering 2nd season with Broncos, 8-8)
General Manager: Brian Xanders (John Elway is head of Football Ops)
2011 Record: 8-8, 1st in AFC West, Lost to New England in Division Round
First Round Draft Status: 25th overall
Notable Free Agents: DT Brodrick Bunkley, S Brian Dawkins, LB Mario Haggan, LB Joe Mays,...
Randy Moss Signs With 49ers
Randy Moss is officially returning to the NFL.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 49ers have inked the receiver to a one-year deal.
Moss was out of the NFL in 2011, but he recently announced his intentions to come back to the league and has already garnered interest from multiple teams, including the Saints.
In San Francisco, Moss will provide the Niners with a linear deep threat and...
It's Peyton's Choice. Just Don't Go Insane Waiting...
Before Dolphins, Broncos, Titans, Cardinals, Seahawks, Chiefs, Texans and 49ers fans head to the local Sports Authority to purchase a customized Manning number 18 jersey in their team’s colors, they ought to do themselves a favor and direct their attention away from the Peyton hysteria.
Never in the NFL – at least not in the past decade or more – has a free agent attracted the attention of...
Eric Winston Released
In a move that has already set the football world into a state of minor hysteria, the Houston Texans have released right tackle Eric Winston. As in the best pass blocking right tackle and a key cog in one of the best lines in all of football. The guy who had one of his best seasons as a pro in 2011.
Huh? It’s a fair question to ask, as the only possible justification for cutting...
Jets Re-Sign Sione Pouha
Just days after making noise for handing out an extension to quarterback Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets have re-upped another of their own, inking DT Sione Pouha to a three-year deal less than 36 hours before he was due to become a free agent.
The move is an important one on multiple levels, but let’s start with where Pouha’s presence is most regularly felt:...
Franchise Snapshot: Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
Division: AFC South
Owner: Bud Adams
Head Coach: Mike Munchak (entering 2nd season with Titans, 9-7)
General Manager: Ruston Webster
2011 Record: 9-7, 2nd in AFC South
First Round Draft Status: 20th overall
Notable Free Agents: OL Jacob Bell, DE Jason Jones, CB Cortland Finnegan, LB Barrett Ruud
Franchise Tag: Michael Griffin, Safety
Team Needs: OL,WR,...
Why Every Game Matters in the NFL
In football – more so that in any other professional sport – every game matters.
It starts with the fact that NFL teams are only guaranteed 16 of them in a given regular season; the stakes are inherently high, the margin for error slim. But it’s compounded by the fact that – from top to bottom – the NFL is the most level of playing fields in major athletics.
On Friday night, we...
