Moss back to his roots

Well the Pats traded Randy Moss for a 3rd round pick yesterday. I was sick to my stomach all day. This certainly has an impact on fantasy football. I don't think it will have a major impact on Brady. I foresee him not having the long shot, but multiple short to intermediate passes. This could be big for leagues that have points for completions. BenJarvus Green-Ellis should see more carries as well. I like this idea. I think BenJarvus is one of those backs who gets better with more carries. In Minnesota this should be huge. Favre has the deep threat that has been missing. This will help open up the running game for Adrian Peterson. Getting defenders off the line of scrimmage. Another player who will be positively effected is tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. He had a big first 2 weeks. After that teams started doubling him up and taking that weapon away. Although, playing the Jets "D" is never a good way to start off. After that, things should start falling into place.

Fantasy football radio show

Every Sunday starting at 9am, tune into 98.5 The Sports Hub for the fantasy football show. We will be there for your weekly lineup questions, add/drops and trades will all be covered. This week will be a pre-draft show. Every Sunday at 9:20am, Will Carroll from SI.com will join us for the injury report. Call us at 617-779-0985 or text us at 69985. If your not near a radio, steam us live at 985thesportshub.com. Join Nick Cattles and myself all season long for your fantasy fix!

A sigh of relief

The Patriots opened up the preseason at Gillette tonight against the reining champs the saints. the defense came out looking good. Rookie Jermaine Cunningham recorded a sack in the first drive. Brady and the offense came out looking a little flat after a long Julian Edelman punt return. But after that the offense started to gel. BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran well and scored a TD. Rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski had a great block on that play. Moss, Tate and Edelman got into the mix catching passes. Edelman looks great everytime he touches the ball. Left guard Dan Connolly did a fine job in the place of Logan Mankins who is currently holding out in a contract dispute. The defense looked stout against the run. It wont surprise me to see Brandon Spikes end up getting the defensive rookie of the year award. After Brady losing it on the line last week and some poor practices. There was a lot of positives from tonights game. The defense looked good and the offense did as well. Lawrence Maroney ran hard, but can he do it during the regular season? We've all bee fooled before.

Brady sets a tone

Today was an interesting morning at camp. When I got there the three QB's were tossing footballs into a barrel from 30 yards away into the corner end zone. Brian Hoyer was the only player to sink one in the can. meanwhile the rest of the team was practicing special teams. Again, Brandon Tate stood out. After the horn sounded the first offense got together against the first defense. The offense looked sloppy. Aaron Hernandez, Randy Moss and the entire offensive line got chewed out by Brady at different points. Near the end of practice the team ran two minute drills. After being yelled at by Tom, the offense looked much better. Hernandez and Welker made a most of the plays. Both looked good in the short to intermediate routes. Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis was by far the best runner. Kevin Faulk was his usual outlet in the flats catching the ball. Offensive lineman Dan Connolly played a lot of left guard. He made some nice blocks out there and could be the replacement for Logan Maknkins. I was pretty big on Torry Holt coming in here. It looks as if he could be a roster casualty if things don't turn around. With Moss, Welker, Edelman, Tate and Price he could have a tough time making the 53 man roster.

Breaking down the divisions: AFC West

1. San Diego Chargers - (10-6) - The Chargers are in a year in which they need to find an identity. Tomlinson is gone and rookie Ryan Mathews is in. Mathews and Darren Sproles should form a solid duo in the backfield. Philip Rivers is coming off a nice season in which he threw 4,254 and 28 touchdowns. One of his top targets Vincent Jackson is suspended for the first three games. Jackson had his best season a year ago. Tight end Antonio Gates inked a new deal with the team and should be River's security blanket again this season. He will be leaned on in the first three weeks. Malcom Floyd is the only guy who had a decent amount of catches and he only had 45. He will have to step up the first few weeks and through out the season. Josh Reed and Buster Davis aren't going to do much. The offensive line is solid. Marcus McNeil has taken some steps back in the last few seasons. Not to mention he is holding out of camp for a new contract. The defense has some new faces. Massive Rookie Cam Thomas will battle Ogemdi Nwagbuo as the Anchor at nose. Shawne Merriman is another holdout for the team. Larry English will take his spot should the team release him or if he continues to hold out. English got his feet wet as a rookie and should be a good replacement. The rest of the linebackers look good. Shaun Phillips, Brandon Siler and Stephen Cooper are all good tacklers and can get after the QB. Trading Antonio Cromartie should have no effect of the defense. Antione Cason and Quentin Jammer should hold down the backfield fine. Neither are shutdown corners, but they can get the job done with a solid pass rush. Rookie Darrel Stuckey should be the starting strong safety if he can pick up the defense in the preseason. He doesn't have much competition. Eric Weddle will be back at free safety. Weddle is a very underrated player in my opinion. There probably wont be another team from this division in the playoffs. So it;s the Chargers spot to take.


2. Oakland Raiders - (8-8) - The Raiders made some positive moves this offseason. Bringing In Jason Campbell was a good start. Campbell has had his hiccups in his career. But he has some very good games under his belt as well. Jason Campbell is an upgrade over JaMarcus Russell for sure, that's not saying a whole lot. Darren McFadden has been a bust up to this point. Michael Bush will try to win the top runningback stop this preseason. Zack Miller has been the most consistent weapon in the passing game for the Raiders. The tight end is entering his forth season and could blow up this year with a legit QB. Campbell loved to target tight end Chris Cooley when in Washington. So look for big things from Miller this season. The Wide outs are below average. Chaz Shillins is the best player in that group. He missed the first 9 weeks of the season. But played pretty well when he came back. He should have a solid season for himself. The rest of the receivers aren't anything special. Louis Murphy will have to take a step forward after a decent rookie year. Darrius Heyward-bey is a huge bust and was a big mistake of a first round pick. Johnnie Lee-Higgins isn't anything special. The offensive line is average. Drafting Bruce Campbell could come in handy in passing situations. The defense is going to be the strength of the team, although I believe the offense will be better than in past seasons. The defensive line is solid. A 4-3 defense featuring Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, John Henderson and Quentin Groves. They will be good against the run. They may not be as good against the pass. Rookie Lamarr Houston is a smaller lineman who can get after the passer. Quentin Groves may be able to help in that area as well. The linebackers should be very strong. Rookie middle linebacker Rolondo McClain will be the next big thing. He will be that 100+ tackles a year type of player. Oakland got Kamerion Wimbley in a trade with Cleveland. He's a been a bit disappointing but can still bring something to the pass rush. Thomas Howard has been backing up Wimbley at the weak side this camp. He lost his position on the strong side to Trevor Scott. The secondary is held down by one of the top corners in the league. Nnamdi Asomugha makes it impossible to throw on and can shut down any teams top receiver. Tyvon Branch has been a nice surprise at strong safety. Free safety Hiram Eugene has been entrenched as the starter since his rookie year. He only has one interception in that span. Chris Johnson is excellent against the run at the other corner spot. If the line and linebackers can step it up rushing the pass. This could be a strong defense in a weak division.


3. Kansas City Chiefs - (6-10) - Matt Cassell and the Chiefs had a tough season a year ago. The offense looks like it could be potent this year. New additions Thomas Jones and rookie Dexter McCluster should add between the tackles runner and an explosive play maker. Jones gives Jamaal Charles a change of pace from a speed outside runner. Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers form a formidable duo. McCluster can play running back as he did at Ole Miss, Receiver, kick returner and QB in the wildcat formation. The offensive line is average. Matt Cassel will pair up again with former coordinator Charlie Weis to try and rekindle the old Patriot magic. I think Cassel will have a solid year. He should hit the 3,000 yard mark and 22-25 TD's. The defense is the weakness. Even though they have spent so many draft picks on it, it's not good. The line is underwhelming. Tyson Jackson only had 36 tackles and no sacks in his rookie season. Glen Dorsey hasn't been much better in the 2 seasons he has played. Both high first round picks. The middle linebackers are terrible. Outside linebackers Mike Vrabel is getting old and showed it last year. Tamba Hali had 8.5 sacks. He was the pass rush last year. The secondary is going to be better. It's young like the rest of the defense. Rookie Eric Berry will be a star and will make an immediate impact. Javier Arenas is another rook who may start this season at corner. Brandon Flowers is solid and will man the other corner spot. The linebackers are to bad to make this a good defense. In a 3-4 defense the backer are the most important players on the field. The will lose a lot of game because of them.


4. Denver Broncos - (5-11) - It was a tale of two seasons a year ago for Denver. They went from the hottest team in the NFL to finding a hard time to find a win. They lost star player Brandon Marshall. It looks as if Kyle Orton will be back behind center. They acquired Brady Quinn from the Browns and drafted Tim Tebow late in the first round. Orton should be the guy as he was last year. The runningbacks are not great. Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno will get the bulk of the carries. Moreno suffered a hamstring tear and the team hopes he will be ready for week one. They added some pieces to the receiving core. Eddie Royal hopes to rebound from a down year two. They drafted Demaryius Thomas in the first round. They hope he can replace Brandon Marshall. That will be a tough task. Look for Eric Decker to be a surprise for the team in the receiving game. He was a top prospect until he was injured half way through his senior year at Minnesota. The offensive line took a major hit when left tackle Ryan Clady hurt himself playing basketball. The team hope he can be ready early in the season. But it could take longer and he wont be full strength or speed. The defense has taken some major blows as well. NFL sack leader Elvis Dumervil's season is in jeopardy. He tore a pectoral mussel. His back up Javis Moss is also injured. He will need surgery to repair his broken hand. He should be back at some point in the season. Robert Ayers needs to have a better second year to make up for these injuries. The signing of nose tackle Jamal Williams will help plug up the middle. The secondary is average. Champ Bail;y is still good, he has definitely lost a step. Safety Brian Dawkins brought a lot of leadership to the defense last season. He should be back with a high motor this year as well. Andre Goodman had a good year intercepting 5 balls. They will need this secondary to really play well with Dumervil sidelined for the season. I think injuries, bad roster moves could really hurt Denver enough to land them in the cellar of the AFC West.

Tate stands out day 1

It was a nice sunny day when the second session started yesterday in Foxboro. Many questions surround the team in the preseason. Wide receiver is a position with many battling for position. Second year receiver Brandon Tate looked great. His speed and route running was better than I expected. Rookie Taylor Price showed very good speed. Both players returned kicks also. Veteran Torry Holt doesn't have the speed he once did but his cutting and routes were on point. Holt still has great hands. Wes Welker did not participate. No need to rush him back, he will be fine by week one. A guy who will struggle to make the cut is Matthew Slater. Slater went down with a calf injury yesterday and did not return. His main roll with the team is returning kicks. Price, Tate and Julian Edelman should all make the team and have return abilities. Sam Aiken may have a hard time making the team if Holt catches on quick and mentors the younger guys. Holt helped the Jacksonville receivers become standouts last season. his leadership could be invaluable. During a running drill yesterday, Rob Gronkowski looked like a school bus running through tall grass. With 5 players on each side holding bags, the players would run through them with getting hit by the bags. Fred Taylor and a few others fell. Gronk ran through them like they weren't there. We are going to see him running over many safeties down the field in his patriot career. I liked the way Zac Robinson looked. He threw a tight spiral and showed excellent form. On the defensive side, Johnathon Wilhite got burned continuously be Edelman and Price. he could be a camp casualty. The linebacking core was scary. Tully Banta-Cain started on the right side and Rob Ninkovich on the left. Banta-Cain is a nice situational pass rusher but now more than that. Rookie Jermaine Cunningham got a lot of work on the right side. Gary Guyton and Jerod Mayo in the middle. I fully expect rookie Brandon Spikes to be playing next to mayo at some point. Spikes by the way wearing long sleeves on a hot and somewhat muggy day. In the backfield Brandon McGowan, Patrick Chung and James Sanders all rotated at safety. So there are some big questions. Who gets cut? Who can rush the passer? These are the questions we hope will get answered in the coming weeks. only time will tell.

Breaking down the divisions: AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens - (13-3) - The Baltimore Ravens are my preseason pick to win the super bowl. The offense is young and reloaded. Joe Flacco is entering season 3 and has the weapons he's ever had. Anquan Boldin Has top receiver potential. Derrick Mason is ageless and still productive. New Tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta will make an impact. Pitta can line up in the slot and on the line. He has a Dallas Clark skill set. Ray Rice was a beast last season. He showed great running and catching ability. Willis McGahee is on the back nine but there is still some gas left in the tank. Baltimore's offensive line is one of the top in the league. All this is the making of a dangerous offense combined with a tough defense. The Ravens D-line is very stout. Rookie Terrence Cody will be a force in the middle while splitting time with Kelly Greg. Ray Lewis is still a dominant linebacker. Terrell Suggs is a speed demon rushing the QB. Paul Kruger and Sergio Kindle will get their chances at cracking the other outside linebacker side. The secondary still has Ed Reed and Dawan Landry at safety. The corners have some question marks. Fabian Washington and Dominique Foxworth are solid but unspectacular. The rushing attack of the linebackers helps any secondary so they don't have to have two Revis's holding down the corner spots. I was very surprised they didn't draft some depth at D-back. Last season they were bitten by the injury bug. The Ravens have the offense, defense and leadership to go all the way. Keeping guys healthy is always the key.



2. Cincinatti Bengals - (10-6) - The Bengals reemerged as a playoff team after a drought. Carson Palmer was back to top form. Chad Ochocinco had a good year. With more help around him this season he should be even better. Antonio Bryant is a solid number 2 receiver. The Bengals may finally have a pass catching tight end. Jermaine Gresham was the Teams first round draft choice. Gresham is a big target with good speed, questions linger due to being injury prone. Cedric Benson had a great year after many thought he was done. He rushed for 1251 and 6 td's. Can he do that again? The line still scares me and so does Benson. I don't trust that he will match what he did a season ago. I'm looking for 1050 yards, 6 touchdowns. I think the line may have some trouble holding up. Right tackle Andre Smith could easily show up to camp 360lbs. The Bengals defense took a big step forward last season. The defensive line is solid and they grabbed two players in the draft to help out even more. Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins could both start this season. Atkins is an undersized tackle, but he stood out at the senior bowl and was a tremendous player at Georgia. Two USC former standouts Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga should be excellent outside linebackers. Dhani Jones came in and played a pro bowl caliber game last year. The safeties aren't the strongest. Roy Willimas can't cover. The two corners are good. Leon Hall and Johnathon Joseph are a good duo, combining for 11 interceptions. The Bengals defense is good and so is the offense. Cincinnati should be in a playoff hunt again this year. If I am wrong about the offensive line look out. this could be a 12 win team.



3. Pittsburgh Steelers - (8-8) - With Ben Roethlisberger out 4 weeks the Steelers are going to have to run the ball. Rashard Mendenhall needs to come up big in the first for weeks. He showed flashes of being a big time rusher. Dennis Dixon and Byron Leftwich will battle it out in camp for the starting quarterback spot while Big Ben is out. Hines Ward is still a good receiver and premiere run blocker. Mike Wallace came out in his rookie season and played well. Wallace caught 6 TD's for 756 yards. He could challenge for the top spot this season statistically. Heath Miller had a solid year catching the ball from the tight end spot. The Steeler's O-line is solid and got an up grade. They took Maurkice Pouncey in the first round and he should start at center from day 1. The Steelers D is still good. Keeping Troy Polomalu healthy is always the biggest factor. The rest of the secondary is just okay. Ryan Clark is a big hitter from the other safety spot. Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden are less than spectacular. But they have great pass rushers Lamar Woodley and James Harrison in front of them to help out. Casey Hampton is still the rock in the middle, stuffing the run in front of two good inside linebackers Farrior and Timmons. The Steelers have a shot at the playoffs. They need to at least split the first 4 games. After that they get their QB back and should be a solid team.

4. Cleveland Browns - (3-13) - The Browns may get first pick in the draft come April 2011. They would have been better off with Brady Quinn behind center than Jake Delhomme. Jerome Harrison played extremely well when he took over for Jamal Lewis. He rushed for 561 yards total in the last 3 games of 2009. He is a smaller back at 5'9' 202lbs. He will be in a 2 back system with rookie Montario Hardesty. Hardesty is a power back and will be a nice combo for the team. I think they will both be productive. Last season Mohamed Massaquoi played well as a rookie at wide receiver. Josh Cribbs is a do it all type of player. He is productive running, catching and returning kicks. The line is solid with Joe Thomas holding down the blind side. But how far can Delhomme take them? Not far enough to over come a terrible defense. The defensive line is mediocre. Middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is about the only good player on the whole defense. The rest of the defensive unit is filled with role players and fringe guys. It's going to be another long winter in Cleveland in a tough AFC North. The Cleveland Browns are on the clock, Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett will be the biggest topic this coming season.

Fantasy Football top ten

Here's a look at my fantasy football top ten. Ranks are based on PPR(Points per reception) league:

1. Chris Johnson - RB - Titans - After amassing 2509 overall yards in 2009. Johnson is the consensus number one overall pick. Rushing receiving, he does it all. The only thing I am keeping an eye on is his contract situation. I think they will get it done before preseason games start. Best pure runner in football hands down.


2. Adrian Peterson - RB - Vikings - Despite fumbling issues, Peterson remains a top back. He scored 18 touchdowns and caught 43 passes. A number I think will go up with Chester Taylor's 50 catches a year ago now in Chicago. Rookie Toby Gerhart could be looked upon to get some of the tougher short yardage. This should help save Peterson's body and help him remain healthy.


3. Ray Rice - RB - Ravens - Rice took over as the main running back in Baltimore. He caught 78 balls a years ago. I think that number goes down this season with the new weapons in the Ravens passing attack. But his rushing yards will go up and his touchdowns should as well. Weeks 14 - 17 are in the Ravens favor as far as match ups.


4. Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Jaguars - Jones Drew took over as the main back for Jacksonville and had nothing but success. he will be looked at to provide the bulk of the Jags offense again. Expect double digit touchdowns and over 50 receptions again this season. He should run for 1200+ yards.


5. Michael Turner - RB - Falcons - Remember two years ago, not 2009. Turner had a down year but is looking to be the monster he was in 08'. I expect him to run for 1400 yards and 15-17 td's. Turner has said he's hungry to be the guy he was. He gets the ball on the goal line and can break them for 50. Not much of a pass catcher.


6. Frank Gore - RB - 49ers - Gore is coming off a terrific season with two new editions on the offensive line. San Francisco spent two first round picks on O-lineman. I predict this will be Gore's best season ever. He is a very good receiver out of the backfield. look for 1400 yards and 10 touchdowns. between 40 and 50 receptions.


7. Aaron Rodgers - QB - Packers - I think this is Rodgers year to be the top QB. After adjustments to the Pack's throwing scheme to keep Rodgers off his back worked. They Grabbed some linemen in the draft to help it out even more. He has 5 quality receivers in Jennings, Drivers, Jones, Nelson and Finley. I see a career year of 4500 yards and 33-36 touchdowns.


8. Rashard Mendenhall - RB - Steelers - Mendenhall is going to be the offense for the first 4 weeks with Ben "The Hounddog ' Roethlisberger out. It will be run first and Mendenhall showed last year he can be the top runner the Steelers need. If Big Ben doesn't do anything to get into further trouble between now and then, Mendenhall will get some of the throws his way as well. 35 receptions and 1300 yards is a possibility for him.


9. Drew Brees - QB - Saints - Brees marched the high powered Saints offense to a championship last season. He will be huge again. The Saints division isn't the best, particularly against the pass. It should be high numbers for brees again. You can build a team around a great quarterback and come back round to and get a solid RB or top wide receiver.


10. Steven Jackson - RB - Rams - Jackson is the premier guy in the Rams offense. They have been building the line for the last 3 seasons and I think this is the year they gel. Jackson ran for 1416 yards and only 4 touchdowns. Mainly because they were never in the red zone. Even with a rookie or veteran behind center look for Jackson to get some passes his way. Jackson has caught 98 balls in a season before. I think his rushing rays stay the same, receptions and touchdowns go up.

Breaking down the divisions: AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts - (12-4) - The defending AFC champs are still loaded on offense. Payton Manning seems ageless and still has the weapons to succeed. Reggie Wayne is one of the top wide outs in the game. Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie had very nice seasons and should take another step forward this year. Anothony Gonzalez has been a bit of a disappointment so far. He improved on his rookie season. Can he go one step further this year? His competition proves to be tough and receptions will be harder to get with the cast around him. Another receiver that will be looking for catches is rookie Blair White. White is a tough slot receiver out of Michigan State. He has great hands but mediocre speed. Dallas Clark is one of the best tight ends in the league. Clark has the versatility to line up all over the field and creates match up nightmares for opposing defenses. The line is still a solid unit to protect manning and open up holes for the backs. Joseph Addai managed to stay relatively healthy and have a decent season for himself. Donald Brown got banged up in his rookie season. He showed flashes of being able to have success. The jury is still out on Brown, This season should be a showcase to see if he can take over as top dog for the Colts rushing attack. The Colts used their first round draft choice to add depth the the Defensive pass rush. Indy took defensive end Jerry Hughes from TCU. Hughes fits the fast smaller end speed rushing type they covet. He can get his feet wet behind the top duo of Mathis and freeney. The linebacking corps are solid. Philip Wheeler and Clint Sessions stepped up and showed they were worthy of being starters on the outside. Gary Brackett is a steady veteran. They added Pat Angerer in this past draft to learn behind Brackett. He could be the middle linebacker of the future. The defensive backs have some question marks. Safeties Sanders and Bethea are holding down the safety spots. The corners are another story. Kelvin Hayden has had good seasons in his career but hasn't stayed healthy the past two in a row. Jarraud Powers had one interception last year and looks to be the starter on the right side for the Colts D. With the defensive line as good as they are, it will help the backs.


2. Houston Texans - (9-7) - The Houston Texans are still looking for that playoffs birth. The offense has been deepened By free agency and the draft. Ben Tate was taken in the second round. Tate played at Auburn in a spread offense. He should be a perfect fit for Houston. He is a between the tackles runner with some skills in the receiving game. Look for Tate to get most of the goal line carries. Steve Slaton and Arian Foster will be looking for touches this season. Slaton Dissapointed in 2009. Foster had nice good games at the end of the year. It's an open competition at runningback, I think in the end Ben Tate becomes the workhorse they need. Matt Schaub led the league in passing yards a year ago. He has reached top status amongst active NFL quarterbacks. Throwing to the best wide receiver in the NFL helps. Johnson was again an unstoppable beast. Except when lining up across from New York Jet Darrell Revis. Kevin Walter is a solid option for Schaub. Owen Daniels is an excellent tight end but got injured last season. Jacoby Jones showed some skills in the receiving game and return game. The Texans still need one more option to throw to. Rookie Dorin Dickerson could be that guy. He made need a year of seasoning. Dickerson spent the last few seasons at tight end for the university of Pittsburg. The defense will take a hit the first month. Defensive rookie of the year Brian Cushing is out due to suspension. DeMaco Ryans is one of the premiere middle linebacker in the league. The defensive line is good. Mario Williams has been proving himself as the number one overall pick in 2006. Connor Barwin had a decent rookie year and should be more of a presence rushing the passer. Houston spent their first pick in the draft on Kareem Jackson a cornerback from Alabama. Bernard Pollard has established himself as an important player in the Texans Backfield. The rest of the defensive backfield is iffy at best. Eugene Wilson isn't a great free safety. The other corner Glover Quinn and Jaques Reeves need to step up to make this defense better. If they struggle it could be the difference between making the playoffs and not.


3. Jacksonville Jaguars - (8-8) - It aint gonna be pretty! But this team will win some games through grit, defense and a ground attack. Quarterback David Garrard has been good, bad and down right ugly at times. He has a young receiver core that learned a lot from Torry Holt last season. Mike Sims-Walker had a career high 63 receptions last season. He will be the main target in the passing game. Mike Thomas had a solid rookie season for himself in 2009 on the other side of Sims-Walker. The offensive line is good. The Jags took two tackles a year ago in the draft and they will again be opening holes for Maurice Jones-Drew. He is like a cannon ball running down the field at 5'7'' 210 lbs. Jones-Drew will again be a premiere back in the league. He ran for 1394 yards and 15 touchdowns when Fred Taylor departed via free agency. The defense was disappointing last year. They couldn't put any pressure on the quarterback. To fix in they spent first round pick on Tyson Alualu. A surprising pick, but Alualu is a speedy Defensive tackle. Austin Lane was taken in the fifth round. Lane was a stand out at the senior bowl rushing the passer. Aaron Kampman was brought in to play end where he is best suited. Kampman had a bad knee injury last season. Time will tell on his impact. The biggest acquisition was Kirk Morrison. He came over in a trade with the raiders. Morrison is one of the most underrated backers in the league. He is a tackling machine, averaging around 100 a year. Daryl Smith and Justin Durant can make this an elite group if Durant can step up his play a bit. The defensive backfield should be helped by the better pass rush. Rashean Mathis has show lock down ability at corner. Reggie Nelson has been impressive in his three years with the team. This could be a play off team if the defense can get after the QB. Jacksonville could take over Houston for a wild card spot if they can put it all together.

4. Tennessee Titans - ( 7-9 ) - Tennessee had two different seasons in 09'. after a 59-0 beating in New England, the Titans came out playing strong. Chris Johnson took the keys to the offense and ran all over opposing defenses. Johnson gained the most total yards ever in the NFL(2509) in his second season. Entering year three he is in a contract hold out with the team. I believe they will come to an agreement before the season starts. How can't they? He is the offense. Javon Ringer will get some touches this year with LenDale White gone. Rookie Lagarrette Blount could see some goal line carries. Vince Young still isn't a quality quarterback. He needs to throw more TD's and less picks. He can make things happen in the clutch toward the end of the game. But if there is any chance of making the post season, it rides on his shoulders. Kenny Britt was a bright spot at wide receiver. He showed the ability to be a top player at his position at times. Look for him to be even better this year. Only problem for him is the guy throwing the ball. Rookie Damien Williams could be another target for Young. Williams is an excellent route runner with good size and solid speed. The defense took a step back losing Albert Haynesworth. They added Derrick Morgan in round 1 of the draft and he should upgrade the line at defensive end. Will Witherspoon was brought in via free agency to complete a very good linebacking unit. Courtland Finnegan is a great Corner. The defense has the chance to bounce back. I like this team, but they are a quarterback away from being a playoff contender.

Breaking down the divisions: AFC East

1. New York Jets - (12-4) - The Jets have brought in some big names to win a championship. Rex Ryan's defense was great in his first season and should be again. Adding Jason Taylor can give them another pass rusher. Darrell Revis gets help on the other side of the field with Cromartie and rookie Kyle Wilson. Quarterback Marc Sanchez Got a couple of weapons in Santonio Holmes and Ladanian Tomlinson. Holmes can be great but needs to be more consistent. He is an upgrade. Tomlinson can take over the role of Leon Washington, catching passes out of the backfield. I think this can help keep him healthy. Shonn Green can be the main back chewing up the clock between the tackles. Tight end Dustin Keller could take that next step to be Sanchez's big target. He came into his own in the playoffs a season ago. The line is still strong. Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson just signed, a long term deal. The only question mark is if rookie Vladimir Ducasse can transition to guard. This is a team built to go far into the playoffs. Can the egos stay in check? There is the major question.

2. New England Patriots - (11-5) - Tom Brady has a year under his belt since the ACL injury. Randy Moss is in the final year of his contract and should be at the top of his game. Wes Welker is already running routes since getting hurt in week 17 in Houston. He may not play in the preseason, but could be suited up on week one. Julian Edelman stepped up as rookie to make an impact last year. Brandon Tate is healthy, two young tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will help the offense. Gronk should be a solid run blocker and a big target over the middle. Hernandez can be lined up all over the field. Don't forget the acquisition of future hall of famer Torry Holt. Holt wont light up the world. But he will add a great veteran presance and will be a target in the short to middle routes. He is not another Joey Galloway. Brady has a ton of weapons this year. The runningback situation hasn't gotten any younger. Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney are all back. Taylor will be the feature back. But fragile Fred has a history of injury. Faulk is a clutch player for the offense. He was the only player who tried in the blow out against the Ravens in the playoffs. Logan Mankins contract is a big problem. He wants a ton of money and probably isn't going to get it. The Pats have built up some depth in the last two drafts which will ease the blow should Mankins sit out. Rich Ohrnberger, Dan Connolly could both be starters at right and left guard this year. Ted Larsen was drafted this season and can play center and guard. So there is there. Vollmer will hold down the right side and Matt Light will be back at left. Thomas Welch is a viable back up for both sides. Welch is a rookie out of Vanderbilt. The defense added some parts in the draft. Devin McCourty was taken in round one and could be a starter at corner. He has 4.3 speed and will contribute on special teams. Brandon Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham will add depth and push for starting jobs at linebacker. Tyrone McKenzie missed last season due to injury at rookie mini camp. He is back healthy and wants to start this season. Leigh Bodden is back at corner. He was a solid performer last season and will be again in 2010. This unit needs to find a leader and tougher identity. If they find themselves in camp, it could be stronger that last year.

3. Miami Dolphins - (10-6) - Miami is going to sneak up on people by the end of the season. Chad Henne now has a year under center and a top wide receiver to throw to. Brandon Marshall is one of the most talented receivers in the NFL. Devon Bess, Greg Camarillo and Brian Hartline are all very underrated players. Ronnie Brown will be back with Ricky Williams. All this with a very solid offensive line makes for a tough offense. The defense has been upgraded through the draft and free agency. Jared Odrick was taken round 1 and could be a force at right end.
Karlos Dansby will play next to Channing Crowder making it tough for offenses to rush on them. The pass rush of Cameron Wake and rookie Koa Misi could prove to be very effective. The secondary is young and up and coming. Watch out for the Dolphins this year. They have a tough schedule but will find themselves in a playoff race.

4. Buffalo Bills - (5-11) - In my opinion the Bills totally whiffed by taking C.J. Spiller with their first pick of the draft. Runningback was not a major need. They could have taken a franchise left tackle which they need in Anthony Davis. But they passed on him. Trent Edwards is still at quarterback. He will never lead a team to the promise land of a championship. He doesn't have any great weapons to throw to. James Hardy has been a complete bust at wide receiver. Lee Evans skills have seemed to diminish. I like Fred Jackson at runningback. He is a tough running who's pass catching has been utilized more and more each of the last few years. Spiller can spell him and should be the main special teams player. The Bill defense is nothing special. Jarius Byrd was a bright spot at Safety as a rookie. Middle linebacker Paul Posluszny is solid but get hurt a lot. They will win some games with their rushing attack. Maybe a couple special teams plays by Spiller get them to win a game or two. Playing in Buffalo late in the season is tough. But 5 or 6 wins is the limit for the Buffalo Bills.

Diamonds in the rough III

We know the big rookie names. Mathews, Best, Bryant are the guys you'll grab early to mid rounds. Who might be there late in your draft that could Surprise this season? Lets take a look at a few players who could be the next Colston or Edelman.

1. Ben Tate - Tate was a player I wanted the Patriots to take. His combination of size, speed and receiving ability make him a hot commodity. He should be the perfect fit for the Texans offense. Tate played in the spread offense at Auburn and has skills catching the ball. He is a between the tackles runner that could provide many touchdown opportunities and could gain some needed yardage on the ground. Grab Tate in your draft as your third of fourth runningback. He will be great depth or a good flex option. Possibly a good starting option. Especially if you a bitten bvy the injury bug.

2. Eric Decker - Decker was a top receiving prospect before a season ending injury at Minnesota last season. Decker is 6'2'' 215lbs and runs great routes. He may be the steal of the draft and Denver's number 1 receiving option. Look for Decker in the later rounds. 70 receptions 800 yards and 5 td's is not out of the question. A great third receiver or flex.

3. Mike Williams - Like Denver, Tampa Bay also will be relying on two rookie receiver. Mike Williams is impressing coaches in Tampa. The troubled Williams had many problems while Syracuse. Hopefully he can overcome them and be a valuable option for your fantasy team as depth. Grab Williams in the last round or two. He could either have a solid season or be a quick fantasy cut. worth taking a flyer on. Josh Johnson needs to be a better QB in his second season with the Bucs.

4. Dorin Dickerson - Dickerson is another weapon added to the Houston Texans arsenal. Dickerson played wide receiver early in his playing days at Pitt. He was converted to tight end later years. Dickerson could be that complement on the other side of Andre Johnson. Dickerson is 6'2'' 230lbs and runs a 4.4 40 yard dash. He could be a nightmare for opposing cornerbacks because of his size and tough on linebackers because of his speed. Dickerson has the ability to line up all over the field. If he becomes a polished route runner, look out for Dickerson in the coming years.

Trouble in paradise

Patriots left guard Logan Mankins contract issues went from bad to worse. The two time pro bowler is demanding a trade. The two sides can't meet on a figure they agree upon. New England has set a precedent on negotiating contracts. The normally stingy Patriots are offering up 7 million dollars a year. This would put him top 5 of all the guards in the NFL. So the 28 year old Mankins is demanding a trade. Apparently he thinks he should be paid as the top guard. At what point do you set your ego aside and take a great contract. When the Pats try to give you a big contract, it shows they value your game. They usually low ball their players. I guess a trade is in order. I like Mankins, he is a very good player. But a guard is going to cause a stink because he's being offered a top 5 contract at a position? Get real buddy. It will be a tough loss for the line. But a survivable one. If they trade him a valuable piece can be retained from another team. Either through draft picks or a solid position player. So it's not a total loss. Sorry Logan, i don't think there will be a lot of out cry for you. especially with 7 million being laughed at. I hope Ted Larsen is knee deep in his playbook. The rookie out of N.C. State will have to transition from center to guard a little quicker than they had hoped.

Thin position thickening for Pats

The thinnest postion on the Pats roster a few months ago seems to be getting very deep. Wide receiver was a weak spot for the Patriots outside of Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Welker went down week 17 in Houston making the position even thinner. Welker's progress from and ACL tear has been nothing short of amazing. He has been running routes and catching passes in the OTA's the past week. An injury that usually takes a year to come back from. He will most likely start the season on the PUP, but all this news is very encouraging. Julian Edelman should fill in nicely in his presence. Having Torry Holt can only help out the younger guys in their route running and game prep. Holt can be that Gaffney, Stallworth player for the offense. He doesn't need to make a huge impact. He can be that third outlet, chain moving option. Rookie Taylor Price will help out in the return game and be that 4th speed option to stretch the field. Brandon Tate got his feet wet last season before being put on the IR. So he will be in the mix for playing time next season. Veteran David Patten is back with the team. He can also help ease having Welker out for the begging of the season and gives them depth should someone go down. Rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will give them two more targets in the passing game. Gronkowski will be more of a short yardage target and Hernandez has some more speed and could be moved into the slot at times. Brady has plenty of players to go to this season. He'll need to spread it out against the Jets. Darrell Revis has Randy Moss and every other top wide out in the league on lock down. So adding these other pieces should benefit the offense. Hopefully the passing game can help keep the runningback healthy, all but Laurence Maroney are long in the tooth.

Seperated at birth?

Have you seen Florida Evans of "Good Times" and David Ortiz of the Red Sox in the same place?
I didn't think so!

Grading the Divisions: AFC EAST

In my last blog I gave the New England Patriots a B+. I thought they filled a lot of positions, but the lack of a running back and fist round pick kept me from giving them an A. Lets take a look at the other teams in the Pats division.

New York Jets - (B), I liked the Jets first round pick in Kyle Wilson. I thought they should have grabbed a pass rusher like Jerry Hughes instead. Wilson was not a bag selection by any means. Vlad Ducasse is a tackle out of UMASS who should transition into guard. They other two picks went to running backs. Joe McKnight and John Connor. McKnight is a runner with a ton of hype coming out of high school. He never lived up to it at USC. He's fast and has great hands. McKnight has the potential to be a great piece. If he doesn't take advantage and work hard, he'll just be another name in the league. Connor is a big big in the Shonn Green mold. More of a full back but can be used in short yardage situation. He is nice depth for the Jets, should anything happen to Green.

Miami Dolphins - (A-), I like what the Phins did. First rounder Odrick will be a great fit at D-end. Second round they grabbed a high motor speed rusher in Koa Misi. Misi will fill the void of Joey Porter's departure via free agency. I really like the third round selection in guard John Jerry. Jerry could start at multiple positions on the line. He just needs to control his weight. The two fifth rounders were nice secondary pieces. They add depth and should contribute on special teams and some on defense. another good parcells draft.

Buffalo Bills - (C+), C,J. Spiller is a tremendous athlete. He could be a excellent pro if he can stay healthy. But running back was not a position of need for a team with holes all over the roster. The next two picks were spent on D-line which is smart. second and third rounders, Torrell Troupe and Alex Carrington will add depth and could start at some point for a line that gave up a ton of yardage on the ground. Ed Wang from Virginia Tech could find himself starting due to a poor offensive line. He was a fifth round pick. I think they really struck out not grabbing Anthony Davis(LT) round one and Jimmy Clausen(QB) round 2. Again, Spiller is a good player, but not a need.

The New England.....Gators?

The round one pick by the New England Patriots came with much scrutiny. Devin McCourty from Rutgers went to the Pats. My hope is that he steps in at free safety and nickle next season.
I think the Patriots had a solid draft and in the end, patched some holes.

I liked their first selection in round two. They filled a major need by grabbing tight end Rob Gronkowski out of Arizona. Gronkowski is a huge end at 6'5'' 260 pounds with great hands. With the next two picks in the second round, the Pats grabbed two teammates from the Florida gators. Both defensive players who can help immediately. Jermaine Cunningham played defensive end in college. He should fit great at outside linebacker in a pass rushing role. Cunningham is very fast coming off the edge. He is also solid against the run, which can make him a three down linebacker. The third pick in round two was spent on Brandon Spikes an inside linebacker. Spikes is a leader who was the heart of the Gators defense. Spikes isn't a fast player but playing inside in a 3-4 defense he doesn't have to be. I like the thought of him lining up next to Jerod Mayo. He loves to hit and is great against the run and better against the pass than he gets credit for. Great pick, he is passionate about the game of football. I fully expect him to be the leader of the defense for years to come once he gets comfortable in the New England defensive scheme.

The Patriots had one pick in round three. The grabbed Taylor Price from the university of Ohio. Price has great speed and nice size. He needs to work on his hands a bit. Taylor showed he can play against top competition when he had a very nice game against Tennessee this past season. His quarterback held him back a bit. He plays tough and doesn't mind getting hit. He may never be the top dog on the Pats roster but should be a fine number two receiver at some point.

In the fourth round New England took another tight end in Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez has a much different game that Gronkowski. His speed is tremendous for an end who is 6'2'' 250lbs. He has been clocked in the 4.5's and his hands are good. One major plus is the fact he can line on and off the line of scrimmage. Something the Pats will need with Welker out much of next season. This was a very smart pick for New England. It gives Brady a solid receiver who is a mach up nightmare for both corners and linebackers due to his size and speed.

With the 19th pick in the fifth round(119 overall) the Patriots took punter Zoltan Mesko from the university of Michigan. Another holed they needed to fill. The only punter on the team is David king who has never played in the NFL before. Mesko was the Wolverines punter for the last three seasons.

In the sixth, The Pats drafted interior offensive lineman Ted Larsen. Ted played at N.C. State under former Boston College head coach Tom O'Brien. Larsen can play guard and center. His versatility gives him a better chance to catch on with the team. Most likely as a back up. He even played defensive tackle early in his college career.

New England had many seventh round picks. Thomas Welch, a big tackle from Vanderbilt can play on the right or left side will gives competition for the back up spots. Late in the seventh round they had three out of four picks. Brandon Deadrick is a defensive lineman from the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. He has experinece in a 3-4 defense playing for coach Nick Saban. I think he will stick around and get some time next season at end. Nice pick in the so late. After Deadrick the Pats went D-line again. Kade Weston who is a massive nose tackle prospect. Weston got a ton of experience at Georgia in all four years. The next pick was quarterback Zac Robinson from Oklahoma State. I really like this choice. Robinson was a productive passer in a tough Big-12. Zac was in my opinion the best looking quarterback at the Senior bowl this past february. He is a mobile guy but needs to get bigger. Injuries have been a problem for Robinson because of his weight. Something that can be worked on while sitting and learning from one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game in Tom Brady.

I really like the whole body of work in the draft for the Patriots. Many of the players they chose will make the team and have various impacts through out the season. I give them an B+ overall.

Pats swing and miss round 1

The Patriots selected Devin McCourty with the 27th pick in the NFL draft. I'm not really sure why they took him. He went right about where I thought he was going to go late in the first round. But why the Patriots took him is what puzzles me. They re-signed Leigh Bodden and Darius Butler is entering his second season. The Patriots have needs. Defensive end, outside linebacker, wide receiver and even guard. All of these would have been better slots to fill than D-Back. The Patriots were bad against the pass last season. The Major reason, no rush! They could have grabbed Jerry Hughes out of TCU who played in a pro style defense. But they didn't, the Colts did. They could have upgraded the defensive end position. They didn't and Miami a division rival did. They have three picks tonight in the second round. It's important they fill some holes on the defense. Ricky Sapp out of Clemson could be a target. Sapp was an end in College but looks to be an outside linebacker in the Patriots 3-4 defensive alignment. Corey Wooten is a big end prospect at 6'7'' and 270 pounds. Wooten injured his knee in the bowl game against Auburn in January. They need to take advantage of the next four picks. The one pick in the third could be a starter because of the depth of this draft.

Top 5 Defensive backs

1. Eric Berry - The university of Tennessee star has been on every one's radar since his freshman year. Berry is equally as good against the run as he is in pass protection. He is not afraid to come up and stick someone. Berry is an all pro caliber player. Eric Berry will be a game changing type safety for someone. He will go top 10. If Tampa doesn't take him at 3, Joe may land with the chiefs at pick 5 or 6 to Cleveland.

2. Joe Haden - Haden was a star for the Florida Gators national title teams. He shut down many of the top receivers in college. Haden ran a 4.5 40 at his pro day. Haden will be a solid corner in the NFL. I'm not sure if he is on the same level as Revis or Bailey. He will be a valuable asset for someone in need of a good corner. Haden will come off the boards top 15. Cleveland has a lot of interest in Haden.

3. Patrick Robinson - Robinson has shown flashes of brilliance at Florida State. He had some injury problems his senior year. Robinson looked good at the senior bowl. He could end up being the better pro between himself and Haden. He runs well with 4.42 speed. He should go mid to late first round.

4. Kyle Wilson - Wilson was a very good corner in the WAC, which is known as a passing conference. The Boise State stand out has good speed and great foot work. Wilson should go late first to mid second round. Wilson will be a good corner for the team that drafts him.

5. Devin McCourty - McCourty is a fast riser on the draft boards. His 4.3 40 at the combine has him climbing up charts. McCourty is not the biggest guy, he is only weighing in at 185 lbs. He could find himself in the late first round. most likely going in the second.

Other notable D-backs: Jamar Wall from Texas Tech played in a good Big 12. He also had a lot of competition in practice against some great Texas tech passing offense. Wall had a nice showing at the East-West shrine game. 3rd or 4th round prospect. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is a small school guy. He played at Indiana (PA) a division 2 school. He has great speed and good size. Scouts are very intrigued by him. He looks to be a 3rd round prospect with a lot of raw talent. Larry Asante was a stand out for Nebraska at safety and on special teams. Solid tackler who could find a starting position with the right team.

Top 5 wide receiver prospects

1. Dez Bryant - Dez Bryant has a ton of talent. He has size and decent speed. Questions linger about how passionate he is about the game of football. He should still go top 15. The early entry was also suspended this past year at Oklahoma St. Denver, Miami, Cleveland, Seattle could all be landing spots.

2. Golden Tate - Tate has been a star since high school. A top ten ranked high school player had a good college career. Tate has great hands and good speed. A constant target for Jimmy Clausen at Notre dame. He reminds me of a Steve Smith type player. He may end up having the best career of all the receivers in his class. Tate could be a great slot receiver and eventually number 1 guy for someone. I don't see him falling past the Jets in the first round.

3. Arrelious Benn - Benn has excellent size and speed. His stats at Illinois suffered due to a poor quarterback in Juice Williams. Benn is also a good kick returner. He should go late first to mid second round. Terrific value for him. He could be a great fit for many teams.

4. Demaryius Thomas - Thomas didn't get many looks in the Georgia Tech Offense. If he had played in a passing offense he could be considered the number one guy at the position. Thomas could land in the late first round. He's a big player for the position at 6'3'' 229lbs.

5. Andre Roberts - Roberts is a small school player from the Citadel. He broke many records while playing in college. Roberts is a smaller prospect at 5'11' 190lbs. He had a nice week during senior bowl week in practice. Roberts didn't have a huge game but was solid enough. Andre could go late second, or find himself in the fourth. This is a sleeper pick for someone. He runs in the 4.4's and also returns kicks. Roberts should be a great slot receiver.

Other notable players: Damian Williams from USC has good size and experience. Should come off the boards in the second round. Blair White out of Michigan St is a slower wide receiver but runs solid routes. Dexter McCluster played running back at Ole Miss. Dexter could be a player that lines up all over the field. Getting 5-10 carries and out wide. McCluster is a tiny guy, but plays like he's 220lbs.

Tomlinson Jets to AFC

The New York Jets have signed veteran running back LaDainian Tomlinson. It didn't make sense to me why they cut Thomas Jones. Jones has been very productive for New York. He slowed down toward the end of the season. That could have been more about injuries. Tomlinson also adds to what may be lost with Leon Washington going down with a knee injury last season. Washington may not be full strength all of next year. LaDainian could come into New York with a chip on his shoulder. He still has some gas in the tank. He could definitely run for 1,000 yards next season. LT can also add a receiving threat out of the backfield. New York has an excellent offensive line making this move look like it could really work. Curtis Martin resurrected his career and had great success toward the end. I think Tomlinson can do the same. It may be a one and done, but I think he will be solid in 2010. It wont surprise me if the Jets end up in the Super Bowl. I don't think LT is the reason. A good offensive line and quarterback in his second season with playoff experience should help the offense. This is a run first team with a great defense. The have those pieces. Adding a pass rusher or a top wide receiver in the first round would be smart. Brandon Graham or Arrellious Benn could put this team over the top as first round picks.

Ranking the top 5 Runningback prospects

1. C.J. Spiller - The Clemson speedster is a very versatile back. He has experience in the return game and passing game. I think this is where he will be best used. Spiller needs to go to a team that likes to pass. He is not a 20 carry a game back. C.J. is more of a Reggie Bush Leon Washington type player. He could go anywhere from Cleveland's 6 pick to Seattle's 14th pick. He did not flourish in his senior season running the ball. He had only 4 games over 100 yards rushing.

2. Ryan Mathews - Mathews had a huge junior year in the WAC. The Fresno star ran for 1808 yards and 19 TD's. He is a bigger running back at 5'11'' 225lbs. He may find himself in the first round with teams cutting ties with older backs. San Diego could be a landing spot late. He reminds me a bit of Detroit's Kevin Smith the way he runs. He is a little shorter and about 10 pounds heavier.

3. Ben Tate - Ben Tate had a nice career at Auburn. He flew under the radar in the SEC. Tate is a down hill runner and tough to bring down with his 5'11'' 218 pound frame. He ran a 4.43 and benched 225lbs 26 times showing his strength. He's not much of a threat in the passing game, but can catch passes out of the backfield. He should be a grinder for some one. Tate will most likely go in the second round pick. I'd love to see the Pats take him round 2. Cut ties with Sammy Morris.

4. Jahvid Best - Best is a Darren Sproles type back. He wont be a guy you can depend on for a lot of carries. He's a change of pace type runner who can catch and return. He isn't afraid of contact but can be injury prone. He could slip into the first round. Will help immediately in the return game.

5. Johnathon Dwyer - Dwyer is a slower back that will find success between the tackles. He ran well in Georgia Tech's triple option offense. Dwyer will be a two down back and in short yardage situation. He should find himself off the boards in the second or third.

Other notable players: Joe McKnight, The USC Trojans back never lived up to the hype out of high school. Fumbles and injuries plagued his college years. Fast back that wont pan out. Lonyae Miller was the other half of the running attack at Fresno St. Miller will find himself later in the draft around the 5th round. I think in a few years he will have some big games for somebody. Never an elite runner but may have some success.