Patriots wide receiver Brandon Lloyd wasn't nearly the disappointment that Joey Galloway or Chad Ochocinco was, but he could be the latest one-and-done free agent wide receiver for New England.

Unlike his predecessors, however, his falling-out will not be all about his performances on Sundays; it will, at least in part, be affected by his attitude on Monday through Saturday.

No NFL locker room is squeaky clean, but it's important to maintain a good balance. If Lloyd's actions were part of the reason he wasn't as good as he could have been this season, there's no question he should be gone. The question, though, is how far it all went.

Greg Bedard of The Boston Globe had this to say in his offseason primer. 

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Like watching the draft prospects run the 40-yard dash, the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine came and went in a blur.

The New York Jets certainly had a vested interest in the goings-on in Indianapolis, holding the No. 9 overall pick as a chip to either take a top-notch player or to earn further draft capital to improve the team.

If they hold any sort of value for the combine, however, they may find it mighty tough to part ways with that pick.

That being said, we can't focus solely on the top pick. The Jets have all seven of their original picks, which means seven chances to improve their team. Which directions could they be looking after the combine?

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The outlook for Wes Welker returning to the New England Patriots in 2013 was not great. 

That is, until now.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Patriots and Welker could still strike a new deal before he becomes a free agent. 

A five-year deal at the age of 33? I can think of a few other words for it besides "impressive." Of course, I've already made it clear that the Patriots should try to get more explosive on offense by moving on from Welker. Greg Bedard of The Boston Globe thinks it could be a three-year deal, which makes slightly more sense.

If they're going to reach a new deal, though, they have until March 12. That's the start of the new league year, when Welker is free to sign with any other team in the league; Ron Borges of the Boston Herald reported recently that the Patriots would not be using the franchise tag on the wideout, and it was at that point which it appeared Welker's days in New England were done.

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The New England Patriots pass defense took significant strides in the second half of the season.

That being said, if you're not getting better, you're getting worse. The Patriots were not good enough to afford to take any steps backward.

This is an important offseason for the crystallization of the defense.

Several key free agents are coming up for new contracts, and the team has several holes to fill in addition.

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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is one step closer to retiring with the team that drafted him. 

According to Peter King of Sports Illustrated, the 13-year veteran has signed a three-year contract extension that will take him through the year 2017. 

Not only that, but the Patriots have ensured that Brady will play for well under market value over the next five years. Per King:

Of course, all this doesn't come without a price. Brady's contract is guaranteed all the way through 2017. Every dollar. Basically, the Patriots are betting on Brady until he's 40 years old.

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The Miami Dolphins went into the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine with questions about the wide receiver class. They will leave Indianapolis with at least a few answers.

The nature of those answers comes not just in the form of the numbers the receivers put up on the field, but also in the answers those receivers gave to teams in private meetings.

Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin enjoyed a great deal of success as the Packers offensive coordinator without ever spending a first-round pick on a wide receiver or even spending top dollar on a free agent wideout.

As Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post points out, there were plenty of wide receivers to run a blazing 40-yard dash at the combine. If the Dolphins want to add speed at wide receiver, they don't have to throw millions at Mike Wallace's feet.

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The Miami Dolphins face a dilemma in determining whether to re-sign running back Reggie Bush. As of two weeks ago, Bush still had not received a contract offer from the team.

It appears he won't receive one anytime in the future, either.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Dan Hanzus), Bush is unlikely to re-sign with the Dolphins.

All signs point to the Dolphins going in a different direction at running back. 

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It's understandable if you're a little behind on the draft research. The 2012 season ended just over two weeks ago, and we're already just days away from the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine.

My, how quickly the offseason moves along.

How about a quick way to get up to speed on the most important prospects to watch?

Glad you asked.

Positions of Need

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