Next Stop For DeSean

Now that the Philadelphia Eagles have released WR DeSean Jackson, it should be interesting to see how much interest he generates on the open market.

There is no doubt about his skill level. Last year, he caught 82 balls for 1,332 yards and nine TD's. However, he carries a lot of baggage that has been with him even before he was drafted in 2008.

Rumors continue to circulate about his affiliation with gang members. He was questioned over the years in a few criminals cases.

Will this scare any teams away? Would the Pats even consider signing him after their fiasco with Aaron Hernandez?

I don't think he will ever end up in Foxborough, but some team will take a chance on him. He is too good of a player to remain unsigned.

Making A Deal For Johnny

There is something about Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel that makes me think that he will not be a big star in the NFL. Part of it is the whole "Johnny Football" nonsense. This guy has been anointed by the media. Some call it swagger, but I think it's all hype.

He put on a clinic at the Texas A&M Pro Day last week. There was a huge turnout of coaches and media. He took the field with shoulder pads and helmet, not the usual attire for that day. Wearing camouflage pants was a bit much.

If I was making the decision for the Houston Texans, I would try and trade my pick for a slew of draft choices. He will be a bust in the league.

Can't Sign Everyone

The Pats can't sign all of their free agents. They decided to let RB Legarrete Blount and LB Dane Fletcher go to Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay respectively.

I didn't think they would retain Blount who rushed for 772 yards and 5 TD's last year after being obtained in a trade from the Bucs for RB Jeff Demps. Blount shared snaps with Shane Vereen, Steven Ridley and Brandon Bolden. It was getting crowded in the backfield. The Pats feel they can either get someone in the draft or during training camp cuts.

Fletcher was a solid back-up and special teams player who was undrafted in 2010. He has three solid seasons. He missed the 2012 campaign after tearing his ACL. He will probably see more action than he did here.

Mr D

The NFL Network does a great job with their documentary of "A Football Life". It made a very compelling argument to elect former 49er' owner Ed DiBatartolo to the Hall of Fame. The team five Super Bowls under his ownership.

 He has been out of the league for many years, but his legacy still lives on. The NFL is al about the present, but Mr D was part of a great past that lives on.

Spotlight On Vick

I think Michael Vick's one year contract with the New York Jets was a big mistake for both parties. Social media has started a campaign against the player who will always live under a dark cloud for his conviction and jail time for running a dog fighting business.

He served his sentence and kept a pretty low profile in Philadelphia. His inability to consistently stay on the field lead the Eagles to  go in another direction for quarterback. Vick got a 1 year/$5 million deal with the Jets, but both parties might regret it in the end.

There has been a big backlash from animal lovers. Their voice is loud and will not be silenced. I think it's only going to get worse. I'm not sure how many other offers Vick had on the table, but he would have been a better fit in a small media market where the lights don't shine so brightly.

Going From The 20 yard Line

I like the plan by the NFL to conduct a test on the PAT during the first two preseason games by moving the ball to the 20 yard line. It will be like trying a 30 yard field goal.

Coach Belichick gave a great presentation to the owners and coaches yesterday. He criticized the current rule because PAT's are never missed or blocked. He said the fans don't enjoy this part of the game.

I agree with him. The PAT is boring unless it's for two. This idea needs to be explored further. It sounds like it will only be a test for two games.

Don't Even Think of Dunking

The NFL always lives up to its reputation as the No Fun League. They did it today when they announced another rule change.

Players can no longer jump and dunk the ball over the goal post. This probably was effected by the time Jimmy Graham of the Saints did it and bent the goal post. The game was delayed while repairs took place.

I never viewed that type of play as taunting, but it interpreted to be in order to implement the rule. Just another way to take the fun out of the game. They don't want any feelings to get hurt in a brutally violent game.

Can't Picture It

NFL owners and coaches are meeting this week. They will review proposed rule changes and conduct other related business.

One of the yearly traditions is a group photo of the 32 head coaches. Bill Belichick kept his tradition alive by skipping the picture session.

I wonder why he did it. He never explained his reason and doesn't need to. He is such a historian of the game. I think he would want to be part of the picture of head coaches for 2014. He will probably do the same thing again next year.

Vince +10

It has been ten days since Vince Wilfork went on a tirade and asked for his release after the Pats signed Darelle Revis.  The team has been silent and said nothing publicly about his contract. Vince is allegedly out of the country according to a local sports talks radio station.

He is still with the team under contract. I don't think the Kraft family ever wanted it to tend this way with Vince. It seems headed in that direction. If he wants to stay with the Pats, he will take a pay cut or not be here.

New Guy In The Big Apple

There is a great deal to say about the release of Mark Sanchez by the Jets and the free agency signing of Michael Vick. I think the New York Post said it best by their coverage.

The 2014 season will continue as the "No Ring Circus" based on the way the way the tabloid used pun-intended  headlines about Vick's dog problem. There will be a virtual feeding frenzy on Vick while he plays in the Big Apple.

I can see why he has only a one year contract for $5 million.

Gone After 13 Seasons

You can't blame players for wanting to get another contract for more money. Sometimes, they have no choice. The Carolina Panthers parted ways with Steve Smith, their all-time leading receiver with 836 receptions for 12,977 yards.

He played 13 seasons for the Panthers after being drafted in the 3rd round in 2001. He will be turning 35 this year and counted $7 million against the salary cap. He declined an offer to renegotiate his contract for less money.

He signed a 3 year/ $11million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He probably won't see all of that money. Such is the nature of NFL contracts.

Money Due Tuesday

The New York Jets face a day of reckoning next Tuesday with QB Mark Sanchez. He is due a $2 million roster bonus unless the team releases him.

Not too many people around the league expect the Jets to pay the money. He is a salary cap nightmare at a cost of  $11 million. If he stays, he will need to take a pay cut. Does the team even want him if they are going with Geno Smith?

Several teams will jump on him if he gets released.

Four Ideas of Bill

Coach Belichick will sometimes make a snide remark about the league's Competition Committee. In spite of his feelings, the team submitted four rule changes for consideration. I thought they were worthy of further discussion.

The Pats seem to be following the trend to bring the PAT out to the 25 yard line. That rule will definitely change things.

The controversial FG in the loss to Baltimore a few years ago influenced the proposal to raise the field goal uprights another five feet. That makes a lot of sense. Maybe even eight feet.

Belichick has been a big advocate of camera in the end zone to judge scoring plays. He also wants them to be able to cover boundary lines. This will get the call right.

The final proposal won't fly. He wants every non-scoring play to be reviewable by the coaches. I'm a big advocate of instant replay and challenges, but this would slow the game down too much. He must have his own reasons for this one.

Taking Two

It looks like the Pats will probably try to trade out of the first round in the upcoming draft. They have the 29th pick and can easily turn that into another 2nd and 3rd by dealing with a team that wants to grab a quarterback in the first round.

The Pats have a dire need at tight end with the absence of Gronk and Aaron Hernandez. They will also need a nose tackle if they end up releasing Vince Wilfork

I would like to see them grab two tight ends like they did a few years ago.  I don't want the team to base their future on Gronk.  At this point, anything they get from him will be a plus. He is a gifted player, but I think his career is destined to be marred by injuries.

Everyone Makes Mistakes

Every team makes mistakes with free agency signings. The Pats are no exception. They made their share of mistakes with Chad Johnson, Albert Haynesworth and a host of others. They were reckless with those two contracts in particular. It impacted their salary cap.

Having the "win for today" attitude can cause teams to have future cap problems. The Pats seem to avoid this for the most part and continue to have success.

Going to the AFC Championship game for the last three years is a good indication that something is going right.

Business Decision

The Pats have not reacted publicly to the demand by Vince Wilfork to be released. Will it happen this week or at all? Both sides are sitting tight.

I read a very insightful article about Will McGinest who went through a situation with the Pats after the 2004 season. He was not offered a contract after coming off the team's third Lombardi Trophy. He got a nice four year free agent contract in Cleveland. He was only with them for three seasons because the fourth year of the contract was too costly against the salary cap. His career ended after that.

Vince has a similar situation. I'm sure he wants to retire with the team. It was a given that he would, but not now. Willie felt the same, but it didn't happen. He discussed the emotional turmoil he went through after leaving the team. He talked about the harsh business realities of the NFL which are effecting Vince.

I wonder if Robert Kraft has any role in any part of this. It really is a business decision.

Tuck In Oakland

Fans around the league are seeing their favorite players leaving. Sometimes, it's against their will. Justin Tuck did that with the New York Giants.

Tuck signed a 2 year/$11 million contract with the Oakland Raiders after spending his entire nine year career with the Giants. He left very reluctantly after it appeared that he was not part of their future plans.

When he arrived in Oakland for his visit, he gave the Giants one last chance to match their offer. Big Blue offered two years, but $5 million less in money. Tuck's heart was in New York, but the money was tough to turn down. He wanted to retire a Giant, but the economics of the game prohibit that.

I never blame any player for switching teams. Careers are so short. They need to make their money while they can.

Vince's Day of Reckoning

I'm very disappointed in Pats fans who are bashing Vince Wilfork because he refused to take a pay cut and asked for his release. He has that choice. It was no secret that the team wanted him to restructure the final year of his contract because of the $11.6 million salary cap hit.

There was no way the team was going to pay him that much money in 2014 after returning from Achilles surgery that ended his 2013 season early.

It remains to be seen what the next step will be for the Pats. Vince has been a fan and Kraft family favorite during his ten year tenure in Foxborough. He seem destined to be part of the team once he retired.

He probably has some gas left in the tank. He will be 33 next season with some questionable health issues. I hope he decides to retire. I won't blame him if he tried to play for a few more years for additional millions.

It never ends pretty for most players. Nobody seems to leave on their own terms.

Defense Gets Better

I think it was a great idea to sign CB Darelle Revise. Reports indicate that it's a two year contract, but the terms of the second year will ensure his release after one season. They will be on the hook for $12 million for 2014.

It's a risky move, but one they had to make after they lost Aqib Talib to the Broncos. They became a better team today, but will need to release a few players to get more cap space. Hopefully, he stays healthy all season.

Gone To Denver

You can't blame Aquib Talib signing a six year, $57 million free agent contract with the Denver Broncos with $26 million guaranteed. It was never going to happen in New England for that type of money.

The Broncos foolishly overspent for a skilled player who is injury prone. He will never play another six years in the NFL. Like most free agents, he will only see a fraction of the guaranteed money. In future seasons, the team will either release him or restructure his deal before certain roster bonuses are due.

The money we are seeing for free agents is just smoke and mirrors. Very few players ever get it.

The New League Year

Sports talk radio is getting too many crazy calls and complaints about the way the Pats are handling the free agency process. They offered Julian Edelman a three year deal, but they wanted a response by 4pm today. Edeleman rejected the offer and is now on the market. Aquib Talib has no offers from any team.

Will both players be back in Foxborough next season or find more money with another team? Teams are throwing around big dollars. The numbers are off the charts, especially the guaranteed cash. Fans need to realize that it's only guaranteed if they are on the roster at the start of the new league year or by a certain date.

Some fans want the Pats to spend money recklessly like other teams. It gets to the point where it's easier to not listen to all this talk.

Feeding Frenzy @ 4pm

The news ticker on NFL roster moves is humming along today. Players are signed to extensions, while others become salary cap cuts or announce their retirement.

Free agency starts tomorrow at 4pm. What will the Pats do? They know what their needs are. Will they fill any of them or wait until the draft? It's risky either way.

It should be very interesting to watch the process..

No Longer Entertaining

Free agent RB Rashad Mendenhall surprised everyone when he announced his retirement from the NFL at 26. He wrote a very insightful story on the Huffington Post website. He put a great deal of thought into his decision.

Mendenhall said he wanted to leave the game while he was still feeling good. During his six seasons with the Steelers and Cardinals, he rushed for 4,236 yards and 37 TD's. He had 1,000 yard seasons in 2008 and 2010 with the Steelers.

The game has taken a toll on him physically. He fractured his shoulder during his 2008 rookie season. He also tore his ACL in Week 17 of the 2012 season.

The former first round pick said he no longer wanted to play football for entertainment purposes. I found this comment to be very striking. The NFL is a $10 billion segment of the entertainment industry. Players risk permanent and crippling injuries on every play. The game is one continual train wreck. It entertains the American public, but the players pay a big price physically.

I give Mendenhall a lot of credit for wanting to leave the game while he still has good health.

Categorically None

As the NFL approaches free agency, many teams and fans feel that shuffling the deck will lead to success and championships. Teams will squander money on players who they will cut after next season. There is no formula to ensure good signings.

I saw a statistic that said it all. There were no free agents last year who signed with a new team who made the top ten in the following categories: passing, rushing, or receiving yards as well as interceptions.

Finding one player who can change a team is elusive.

Spikes For Hire

It doesn't sound like LB Brandon Spikes will be back with the Pats. The second round pick from 2010 is now a free agent. In a recent interview, he mentioned that it might be good for him and the team to have a fresh start.

Things ended badly last season when he was placed on IR after the Buffalo finale. It later came out that he had missed a team meeting which almost resulted in his release.

Spikes played great defense against the run and had a reputation of giving big hits. It just won't be in Foxborough next year.

Future of Edelman

Reports indicate that the Pats are talking with Julian Edelman about a contract. It's hard to determine what that really means. I'm sure they have established his value. That will set the bar for any financial negotiations.

I think the Pats want to retain him and the feeling is  mutual with Edelman. He is very suited for the offense run by Tom Brady.

He could get more money some place else. The market was dry for him last year, but I think he helped it now with his recent success during the 2013 season.

I will be surprised if he doesn't sign with the Pats.

The Price Isn't Right

Rumors circulate that the Pats have an interest in trading with Tampa Bay for CB Darrelle Revis. The cost would be a 3rd or 4th round pick which appears quite doable. However, his salary of $16 million would put most teams into cap space chaos. The Bucs need to move him by March 13th or they will owe him $1.5 million. They will also need to give the Jets a 3rd round draft pick as part of the original trade that brought him to Tampa Bay.

The Pats seem to be willing to let Aqib Talib test the market. He did the same last year before resigning with the team. He is a great player, but injury prone. I don't think he will get the type of contract he is looking for.

Revis would be a great addition, but not at his current salary. I think the Pats should make the trade if they can restructure his contract. Otherwise, they will need to look at other options.

Going To Bat

It has been a troubling time for the Miami Dolphins and Richie Incognito. They have become an embarrassment to the NFL.

Incognito appears to be someone with some type of mental health issue. It was only a matter of time before it boiled over. The other day he took a baseball bat to his $275,000 Ferrari, causing numerous dents in his pricey car. This happened in the wake of the release of the report by the league concerning its investigation into his harassment of teammate Jonathan Martin and others.

He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital at the insistence of the Scottsdale, AZ police department. He will stay there for an undetermined amount of time. This is probably the final nail in the coffin for his NFL career.

They need to determine whether his issues are caused by post-concussion syndrome. He looks like a textbook case. Hopefully, he gets help before it's too late.

Kicking The Tag

Very few teams have used the franchise tag on players because of the implications on the salary cap.  That has not stopped the New York Jets placing it on their kicker Nick Folk.

He will now count $3.556 million against their cap. It seems like a lot to pay considering the availability of kickers in the draft. He gets a big pay boost from his 2013 of $780,000, but is looking for a long term deal.

The Jets have until July 15th to work a new deal. In the worst case, he will get a big paycheck for 2014 and be at the same spot next year.

The Brady 6

The NFL Network has outstanding programming. One of my favorites is "The Brady 6" which details the story of the six quarterbacks drafted ahead of Tom Brady in 2000.

The story is a great reminder of the inexact process of the NFL draft. None of the six had any resemblance to the success that Brady had. Some had very short careers.

So many first round picks fizzle out. Careers never live up to the pre-draft hype. There are players right now waiting for their name to be called in the draft. For some, the call will never come. Others will be drafted way too early, later than expected or not at all. It happens every year.

All In The Family

Pats CB Alfonzo Dennard began his 60 day jail sentence for violating terms of his probation on his police assault case in Nebraska. He had a chance at doing 30 on his original conviction, but was picked up on a DUI charge last summer. The judge allowed him to wait until the end of the NFL season before going away.

NFL teams have a double standard when it comes to discipline. Dennard is a valued corner back. The Pats have really struggled in recent years to get a shut-down corner. They knew Aqib Talib had baggage when they traded for him, but great DB's are tough to come by. Dennard will do his time and be welcomed back to the team.

The Pats should consider drafting his cousin Darqueze Dennard, a consensus All-American from Michigan State and the 2013 winner of the Jim Thorpe Award for the best defensive back in college. Darqueze will probably go in the first round, but the Pats really need help at that position.

Alfonzo was considered a first or second round pick before he got into trouble two weeks before the draft. He slipped to the 7th round before the Pats scooped him up.