Bleacher Report - AFC East

How Concerned Should Patriots Fans Be About the Effect of Injuries on 2013?

Marc Freshman — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:44:03 -0400

Injuries in the National Football League are emotionally crushing, even during the dog days of summer.

When players' bodies aren't working properly, it clouds the future and provides a murky, unfinished image of what a team will ultimately look like.

Case in point—the New England Patriots.

They're a tough bunch to nail down right now. They've been dealing with bumps, bruises, surgeries and rehabs for months. Their fans are justifiably invested in these injuries because the fate of the 2013-14 season may hang in the balance.

For many fans, the concern begins at the top with tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The concern stretches back to 2010 when his draft profile on NFL.com highlighted "durability issues" as his weakness, referencing the three games he missed in 2008 for the University of Arizona and the back surgery which caused him to miss his 2009-10 senior season.

The Patriots weighed the issues and elected to pick him anyway.

At the end of the 2011-12 season, Gronkowski had surgery to repair an ankle injury from the AFC Championship Game. Expectations were that he'd roar into the 2012-13 season with a vengeance, but that didn't happen.

Gronkowski instead eased into last season. He was a work in progress all year, as his conditioning and improvement always felt like a week-to-week thing.

Then injuries started piling up, beginning in November against the Colts when he broke his left forearm and missed five games. In January, he re-broke his arm against the Texans in the playoffs and in February, he had surgery to clear an infection in the same arm.

As if the forearm situation wasn't enough, concern began growing about potential back surgery for the tight end following his fourth surgery on his forearm. ESPN's John Clayton addressed this issue last Monday, saying:

The New England Patriots now have to be concerned because a fifth operation for Rob Gronkowski could really throw off everything in training camp and also the start of the regular season.

Everything was expected to be going as planned, when they had the fourth surgery planned on the forearm. They knew it was a 10-week, 11-week recovery, everything was on schedule there. But now you have to throw in the disc problem and where this is going to hurt, even though he can recover in time, is it’s gonna hurt his conditioning.

He has been in great shape, that’s one thing I think that’s been very positive. But now, if it’s gonna slow down his conditioning to go with his recovery from the forearm surgery, it could throw everything back.

Nevertheless, they still anticipate he’s gonna be there for the regular season. But another surgery, particularly one to a problem he’s had before, is a concern that really worries the Patriots.

Following Gronkowski's fourth surgery on his forearm, Mike Reiss, of ESPNBoston.com, had this update on Tuesday:

There is optimism with the results of Monday's surgery. There were no signs of infection. They did take some cultures to test, and if for whatever reason there is a residual infection that is found, they feel that it can be treated with antibiotics.

The best-case scenario is that Gronkowski returns in about the ten-week time frame, although a possible surgery on a disc in his back still looms, so that can alter any projected time frame.

The worst case scenario is that Gronkowski wouldn’t be ready for the regular season.

Unfortunately, New England's injury saga extends beyond just Gronkowski.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman has been in a walking boot for a portion of the offseason whilerehabbing a foot inury which derailed his 2012-13 season. His start dates for camp are still up in the air as is any clear grasp on what his role, or health, will look like in 2013.

There were also reports that tight end Aaron Hernandez had shoulder surgery earlier in the offseason according to NFL.com and ESPN. This comes after he missed six games last season and saw a major dip in his numbers from the previous season.

Another player to monitor is wide receiver Danny Amendola, who missed five games in 2012-13 and 15 games in 2011-12. Fans will also be keeping an eye on defensive end Chandler Jones, cornerback Aqib Talib, linebacker Dane Fletcher, cornerback Ras-I Dowling and running back Stevan Ridley—all of whom were struggling with varying degrees of injuries when we last saw them in action.

For Patriots fans, concern is warranted, but remember, it's only May. There's a long way to go so it's too soon to worry about what New England's health will look like in December and into the playoffs, which is when health matters most.

Even so, with all of that time, it still might be difficult for some to balance the stress of Gronkowski's situation. It's a mess, no doubt. For those fans who are burdened by the unreliability of Gronkowski's body, it might help to readjust the expectations they have of him. The same goes for Hernandez.

Getting these tight ends at simultaneous prime health will be a matter of timing, matters of timing can't be relied upon. One should have faith, but not expectation.

If you expect perpetually injured players to be healthy, then you're doubling your anxiety level—tripling it, even. You're also setting yourself up for disappointment, so why do that?

The power of this tight end tandem is akin to capturing lightning in a bottle—let it happen as it happens while accepting the possibility that it might not happen at all.

Lowering expectations for Gronkowski and Hernandez may sting, but keep in mind that the allegiance here isn't to the two-tight end setup, it's to winning.

That's truly the Patriot way.

It's not about dedication to personalities or schemes or structures. It's about rings and banners. That's the system that owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have built in New England and it's a good system.

A good system with nine new receivers for Brady to play with.

If the two-tight end attack is unreliable as a focal point of the offense, shake it up. Instead of fixating on how Jake Ballard, Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui can compensate for an incomplete tandem or keep a shaky blueprint afloat, think about how Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, Mike Jenkins, Lavelle Hawkins, Mark Harrison, Kenbrell Thompkins, T.J. Moe, Amendola and Donald Jones might go about bringing this offense back to a more reliable receiver-based focus.

Go with whatever works. As far as I'm concerned, Brady can throw it to the guys who fire the muskets. He can throw to the cheerleaders, too, if they're open and healthy—anything just so long as they win a championship this season and get this monkey off their back.

Here's the easiest way to tell whether or not you should be concerned.

Those expecting Gronkowski and Hernandez to duplicate their domination from 2011-12 and lead the march to a title in 2013-14 should be concerned. However, those fans expecting Brady and his new receivers to spark a new fire and lead the way to another championship this season with sporadic input from Gronkowski and Hernandez along the way should be very hopeful, encouraged and extremely excited.

In other regards to all of the offseason injuries, keep in mind that a team's headlines during the offseason don't necessarily indicate where it is headed. Teams like the Patriots, Giants, Ravens and Packers routinely stay quiet during the offseason, just before they win world titles.

By that rationale, it's wise to be patient with New England's offseason injuries. Things will get better. Bruises and scrapes aside, this is a good team and a contending team. Brady is New England's passport to the playoffs, but his new receivers and a revamped defense could very well be a ticket to the Super Bowl.

By that same token of taking offseason headlines with a grain of salt, it would be wise to take the Broncos' preseason bravado with that same grain. It's just noise.

Remember, it's only May. The tide has a funny way of turning in this game.

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Breaking Down How Miami Can Ensure Dion Jordan Is Top DROY Candidate

Thomas Galicia — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:39:01 -0400

The Miami Dolphins hoped to get a shakeup on defense when they shook up the draft by trading up from the 12th position to the third position to get Oregon defensive end and linebacker Dion Jordan.

While Jordan's statistics at Oregon won't blow you away (121 tackles, 29 TFL, 14.5 sacks, two pass deflections and four forced fumbles), the athleticism and versatility he displayed while at Oregon will.

Jordan didn't just play defensive end and linebacker with the Ducks, he at times also lined up as a cornerback, covering not only tight ends, but also wide receivers. Versatility like this shouldn't be ignored by Miami, but rather exploited. By doing this, not only will Miami's defense show big improvement from last year, but Jordan would be the top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

I'm not by any means suggesting that Jordan lines up as a corner, however, his coverage skills would work great at linebacker, specifically when it comes to covering tight ends—there is no reason why we shouldn't see Jordan covering either Rob Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez on a few plays when the Dolphins play the Patriots.

Miami should also consider using Jordan as a pass-rushing linebacker, which is where he excelled at Oregon. From looking at Jordan's highlights, he seems to have better burst when standing than he does out of the three-point stance. At one point last season when scouting Jordan as a possible Dolphins draft pick, I said this:

My only concern with Jordan is the fact that Oregon just moves him around on every play; I'm not exactly sure how that would translate to a 4-3 defense and if it would work with him lining up in a three-point stance (notice how you see him standing on each play, while with Werner he's in the stance most of the time).

It might seem like a small nitpick to most of you but there is a difference between the two, as some players tend to lose burst when coming out of the stance, especially taller players like Jordan.

The Dolphins can get away with using Jordan this way by using a strategy similar to one I saw the St. Louis Rams use against the Arizona Cardinals last season.

Notice how there are five men on the line for St. Louis in this picture (which is circled). Miami could do the same thing by adding Jordan to the line in a standing position on the weak side next to Jared Odrick. With Cameron Wake coming from the strong side, Paul Soliai, Randy Starks and Odrick coming from the middle, the quarterback likely will be flushed toward Jordan, producing a likely sack, tipped pass or turnover for the rookie.

Miami could also shift Jordan to the WILL or SAM linebacker position with Odrick moving to the interior (moving Soliai to the bench for the play) while lining up Olivier Vernon on the weakside. This lineup would still have your four conventional players on the line for a 4-3 defense, while still sending at least five men towards the quarterback and opening up a gaping hole for Jordan to run through.

The many possibilities of using Jordan for the Dolphins are large, in the same way that the Miami Heat have many possibilities in running their offense when LeBron James is in the game. Due to James' talent and versatility, Miami is able to go "positionless" and play a very effective small-ball game that allows them to thrive offensively while creating havoc on defense.

How does this translate to football? Jordan is almost LeBron-esque in his versatility, and with the Dolphins' strong defensive line and linebacking corps, they can afford to come close to playing positionless football on the front seven, especially with other versatile players such as Vernon, Josh Kaddu, Jared Odrick, Koa Misi and even Cameron Wake.

By fully maximizing Jordan's talent, the Dolphins will have a defense in the NFL's top five, and would lead to Jordan likely winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year based off of his impact.

That is if Jordan's stats hold up, however, so what stats would Jordan need in order to win the award? Likely a year similar to Julius Peppers' rookie season in 2002. Peppers won the Defensive Rookie of the Year that season with 12 sacks, one interception, five forced fumbles, six pass deflections and 29 tackles.

Twelve sacks is incredible, but with the amount of talent on the Dolphins line, it's likely that Jordan might be cheated out of a sack or two. Jordan should win defensive rookie of the year if he's able to record at least 30 tackles (12 for a loss), 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, five pass deflections and an interception while covering a tight end.

If Miami uses him like the LeBron-type Swiss Army Knife that he is, Jordan will reach, and possibly exceed, those numbers.

Follow @thomasgalicia

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New England Patriots Running Backs: Full Depth Chart Evaluation and Analysis

Sean Keane — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:31:27 -0400

The New England Patriots enter 2013 with their most diverse group of running backs in years. Each of them could conceivably carve out their own niche in the offense, although after a breakout season in 2012, Stevan Ridley should have no trouble fending off competition for the lead role.

Gone are the pint-sized Danny Woodhead and lightning-quick Jeff Demps. In their place, the Patriots added the troubled-yet-talented LeGarrette Blount, Pro-Bowl return man Leon Washington and rookie free agent Akeem Shavers.

Right now we don’t know much about the depth chart behind Ridley, and predicting how Bill Belichick will use his roster is folly. That’s never stopped us from speculating before though, so why stop now?

I’ve broken down the Patriots depth chart according to what sort of role each running back will play and how heavy a load each of them will carry. Again, sorting through Belichick’s roster is far from an exact science, but based on what we know so far, we can make a few credible, well-founded assumptions, and here they are.

Spoiler alert: Nowhere in this article will you find the phrases "stable," "workhorse," "thoroughbred" or any other cliché pertaining to the equine species.

The Sherpa- Stevan Ridley

Born in the Himalayas and genetically predisposed to higher altitudes, the Sherpa are invaluable to the thousands of tourists and climbers who attempt to summit Mt. Everest. They don’t lead expeditions, but they help keep their parties on course and carry heavy burdens along the way to make things easier for the rest of the group.

Like the Sherpa, Ridley doesn’t lead the Patriots offense—that distinction belongs to Tom Brady—but he carries a hefty load, and his presence in the ground game allows Brady to run the offense with precision and confidence, knowing he has a reliable beast of burden to fall back on when times get tough.

Ridley may never climb Everest, but he’s at the summit of New England’s depth chart and for good reason. After rushing for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, he appears poised for another step on his uphill climb towards the league’s elite.

For most fans, the enduring image of Ridley’s 2012 season is him fumbling in the AFC Championship game after being knocked unconscious by a vicious blow to the head from (then) Ravens safety Bernard Pollard. Ridley spoke to the Boston Globe last year about wanting to be the hammer and not the nail, but on that play, he may as well have been a thumbtack.

If New England’s OTAs are any indication, he’s taken steps to ensure he won’t be on the receiving end of many more blows this season. According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Ridley added significant muscle to his frame.

With his new physique Ridley won’t just be the hammer when he delivers blows to opposing defenders—he’ll also be the anvil when they try to do the same to him. Despite his reputation as a tackle-breaker, Ridley actually ranked among the league’s worst running backs in that department in 2012. According to footballoutsiders.com, he broke a tackle on just 4.1 percent of his total touches, making him the NFL's sixth worst RB in that department.

With his added muscle, Ridley should break more tackles than ever, making him a fearsome foe for any defender and a lethal load-bearer for the league’s best offense. As long as he doesn’t lose too much of his trademark explosiveness, New England’s Sherpa will leave defenses gasping for air on his way to the top.

UPS- Shane Vereen

What can Vereen do for you? If you’re the New England Patriots, a little bit of everything. Whether by ground or by air, Vereen has proven he can deliver.

He only eclipsed 10 carries in a game twice during the 2012 season but surpassed 40 yards rushing five times including the playoffs. He has the quickness and explosive burst to break a long run at any moment, and with Danny Woodhead stayin’ classy in San Diego, Vereen will slide into his role as the Patriots’ change-of-pace back.

Through the air, New England’s latest all-purpose threat has a highlight reel that would make some wide receivers jealous. His most notable performance came against the Houston Texans in last year’s AFC Divisional playoff game, where he toasted the Houston defense for 83 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions.

Vereen likely won’t start but neither did Woodhead, and he amassed over 2,100 total yards in three seasons by catching screen passes, running draw plays and squirting through the line on third downs and in the hurry-up offense. Vereen should have no problem filling Woodhead’s role and if past performance is any indication he actually represents an improvement.

While playing at California, Vereen was the change-of-pace back and primary backup to Jahvid Best, so the role is one he’s comfortable with. In that capacity, he racked up 2,132 total yards and 19 touchdowns in two seasons before eventually taking over the top spot on the depth chart in 2010.

With more involvement in New England’s offense and his blossoming all-around skill set, look for Vereen to play a critical role in the Patriots’ success in 2013.

The Aurochs- Brandon Bolden and LeGarrette Blount

A precursor to modern-day cattle, aurochs are most often found in fantasy novels like Game of Thrones. Renowned for their ability to carry immense loads and difficulty to bring down, they don’t set any land-speed records but plod along with a steely determination.

With their legendary size and strength, many people don’t realize that aurochs are not mythical creatures but rather an extinct species—typically depicted as a cross between a modern buffalo and a wooly mammoth.

Like the aurochs, these two lack much in the way of agility or pure speed, but both are daunting loads to bring down, especially Blount, who tips the scales at 247 pounds.

Bolden proved in 2012 that he has the power and determination to grind out tough yards. His no-nonsense, straight-ahead style of running plays very well in short-yardage situations and in the red zone, where his ability to take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ netted him both of his rushing touchdowns.

Barring injury, he won’t play a major role on offense, but he can do the yeomen’s work and will provide invaluable depth for the Patriots.

Blount is the true aurochs though. He inexplicably struggles in short-yardage situations, but once he gains momentum, he’s capable of stampeding through defenses and busting out runs of mythical proportions. At his best he tramples would-be tacklers and runs with a fury that would have prehistoric pack hunters scurrying for their caves.

As a bruising back with little-to-no pass-catching skills and suspect protection abilities, Blount is a dying breed. With the NFL’s continued offensive evolution, he may soon join his behemoth bovine brethren in extinction.

His shortcomings in blitz pickup make him something of a liability on passing downs, but in New England’s wide-open offense, he should face enough five- and six-man fronts to grind out the occasional highlight-reel rumble.

Orville the Albatross- Leon Washington

Like the scatterbrained air courier from Disney’s The Rescuers, Washington is only expected to carry a very light load.

In fact, he’s really a running back in name only at this point in his career. He figures to be the team’s primary return specialist, but after amassing a paltry 103 carries over the past three seasons, don’t expect him to suddenly start toting the rock at age 30.

In his early days with the New York Jets he was a respectable receiver out of the backfield, so he may find himself involved in the screen game where his Pro-Bowl return skills will make him a dangerous weapon in open space. He could conceivably sneak his way into a handful a running back draws as well.

His skill set resembles that of former Patriot Kevin Faulk (and he wears No. 33 to boot), so whatever contributions he makes likely won’t stand out in the box score. Still, with his ability to create for himself and elude defenders in space, he doesn’t need to carry a major load to have a major impact.

Tow Trucks- James Develin and Akeem Shavers

These two are relatively unknown and have exactly zero regular-season carries between them. Like a tow truck, you hope you never need them, but it’s nice to know they’re available to haul your rear end in an emergency.

Develin is a load at 6’3”, 251 pounds and was added to New England’s practice squad last season after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals. After playing defensive end at Brown University, he’s transitioned to fullback in hopes of sticking in the NFL.

Considering he was only active in one game over the last two years and given how rarely the Patriots utilize a true fullback, he’s a long shot to see the field at all this season. Then again, Belichick loves smart players, so maybe he’ll find a way to squeeze some use from the former Ivy Leaguer. I wouldn’t rule out Develin earning a role on special teams.

Shavers, on the other hand, is a true running back—he just doesn’t have any NFL experience.

An undrafted free agent out of Purdue, Shavers was released earlier this offseason by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Patriots scooped him up.

He didn’t post eye-popping numbers as a Boilermaker, rushing for 871 yards and six touchdowns in 2012. He added 370 yards and three touchdowns receiving, but he wasn’t on most draft radars and didn’t receive an invitation to the combine.

He did have an outstanding pro day, however.

According to NFLDraftScout.com, Shavers ran as low as 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash and complemented his speed display with a remarkable 39" vertical leap and 19 reps on the bench press. Perhaps the biggest attention grabber for the Patriots, however, was his excellent time of 6.89 seconds in the three-cone drill.

The Patriots have a history of high interest in players who excel in that drill, as evidenced by their drafting of Josh Boyce and Logan Ryan and signing of T.J. Moe—all three of whom were among the 10 best in the drill at this year’s combine.

With his agility and speed, Shavers could be a surprise contributor in the return game. Add his receiving skills to the mix and he projects as an excellent insurance policy for Vereen should he succumb to injury or poor production.

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Miami Dolphins' Running Back Breakdown: Full Evaluation and Depth Chart Analysis

Mario Cuadros — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:23:32 -0400

The Miami Dolphins have a history of fielding a good crop of running backs—from Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris to Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins will now look to field another group of top running backs.

The Dolphins lost leading tailback Reggie Bush in free agency, and will be looking at a young group of players to fill his void.

Head coach Joe Philbin will be looking to finally instill his West Coast offense with the talent Miami has added this offseason and, even though it will be a pass-happy offense, running back is still an important position.

Miami will most likely start out with Lamar Miller as their starter when the regular season begins. He had a full season to get acclimated to Philbin's system and the speed of the NFL. He was used sparingly last season, but did show some flashes that he can take over the starting role.

Miller carried the ball 51 times for 250 yards and a touchdown, while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He showed patience behind the offensive line and a burst that allowed him to get to the second level in a hurry. He also showed soft hands as he caught six passes for 45 yards out of the backfield.

What kept Miller off the field was the fact that he really struggled with his pass blocking. Running backs in today's NFL have to be able to contribute even when they aren't running the ball. Miller just wasn't getting the job done in that department.

If he shows improvement in this area during OTA's and the preseason, his name will be written in ink on the depth chart.

Behind Miller, there will be fierce competition between three running backs. Mike Gillislee, Daniel Thomas and Jonas Gray will have a lot to prove in order to fill the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

Gillislee was Miami's first pick in the fifth round and was considered one of the steals of the draft. He comes out of Florida showcasing the complete package as a running back at the next level.

He shows speed, burst, soft hands and the ability to block. Gillislee was given his opportunity to shine during his senior season in Gainesville and failed to disappoint. He carried the Florida Gators on his back and was their best offensive player throughout the year.

If Gillislee is able to improve during training camp, he will secure the second spot on the depth chart and may even give Miller a run for his money.

What about Thomas? If anyone has read any of my previous articles you probably know I'm not a big fan of Thomas. That doesn't mean I can't change my mind.

In his two years with the team, he has been plagued by injuries and hasn't shown he can be the leading running back.

During his career, Thomas has carried the ball 256 times for 906 yards and four touchdowns. If you do the math, you can see how many yards per carry that is. If you're not good with numbers (like myself), I can tell you that he has averaged 3.5 yards per carry during his career.

Not exactly what you're looking for from a second-round pick.

With the addition of Gillislee, I think Thomas will be staring up at both Gillislee and Miller in the depth chart. The only thing that will get him on the field is his big body, which the Dolphins could use in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

However, Gray is also a big-bodied back who will be eager to compete for a spot on the roster. As an undrafted rookie last year, Gray spent the whole season on IR after suffering a torn ACL during his senior season at Notre Dame.

The coaching staff obviously saw something they liked if they decided to keep him around all season. He will finally have the chance to get on the field and prove what he's capable of.

I don't think Gray will be competing for the starting spot, but he does have the ability to be used for short-yardage situations.

Depth Chart Prediction

No. 1: Lamar Miller

No. 2: Mike Gillislee

No. 3: Daniel Thomas

No. 4: Jonas Gray

This young group of running backs is still very much unproven, but they have a lot of talent and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

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New York Jets Running Backs: Full Evaluation and Depth Chart Analysis

John Shea — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:01:08 -0400

New general manager John Idzik made it a distinct priority this offseason to improve upon the New York Jets' stagnant rushing game.

Last season, the Jets averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, which put pressure on the passing game, and second-rate QB Mark Sanchez failed to deliver.

The Jets have seemingly replenished the ground attack to the point of relevance. However, this season will invoke significant contributions from players that have never handled a bulk of the carries on offense.

New feature back Chris Ivory will lead a band of cast-offs that were complementary players at best last season. Ivory is destined to earn more touches than the Jets' other three running backs: Bilal Powell, Mike Goodson and Joe McKnight.

Each player will supposedly have a distinctive role in the team's new offense, in accordance with new OC Marty Mornhinweg's guidance, but it's highly unlikely for all four backs to be delegated entirely different roles on offense.

The following slideshow is a depth chart analysis of the running backs on the Jets' roster:

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NFL Week 1 Picks: New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills

Jeff Grant — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:07:22 -0400

The New England Patriots are 8-1 against the spread in their last nine road games against the Buffalo Bills, which is important to consider when making your Week 1 NFL picks, as the two teams meet on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Sports bettors will find that the Patriots are 6.5-point favorites in the pro football odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 53 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this AFC East matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction on the total along the way.

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Breaking Down Geno Smith's Chances of Being the Week 1 Starter in New York

Adam Waksman — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:17:09 -0400

Geno Smith, the New York Jets' second-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, is a potential star and optimistically the future franchise quarterback of the team.

Jets fans would no doubt love to see Smith be ready to go for Week 1 and be the starting quarterback right away. But what are the chances of that really happening?

The quarterback competition this summer has become simpler than it was with the retirement of David Garrard. Garrard would have been the most veteran and arguably the most reliable presence on the team. Instead, it is now a two-way competition between Smith and the incumbent Mark Sanchez.

There are several scenarios that remain possible. I'll break down the likelihood of each case to determine what the probable future is for the Jets heading into the 2013 season.

Case 1: Smith Starts Week 1

The first possibility is that Smith will start in Week 1. This is in a sense the best case because it would mean that Smith has demonstrated he is ready to play and has learned offense coordinator Marty Mornhinweg's new offense.

Like Russell Wilson last year for the Seattle Seahawks, Smith is a young quarterback from outside of the first round trying to defeat an established but not star-level veteran. It is becoming more common for rookies to achieve this type of speedy progress, so this is a real possibility.

Ultimately, it will come down to both Smith and Sanchez because if Sanchez can show improvement in a West Coast offense, he could have a leg up in the competition.

Case 2: Smith Starts Week 2

While it might seem odd to start a rookie quarterback in Week 2, I view this as a real possibility. In the first week of the season the Jets will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have retooled their defensive secondary with the acquisition of Darrelle Revis.

There are two reasons starting Smith off against the Buccaneers could be a bad idea.

The first is that starting off a quarterback against such tough competition could be bad for his development. The second reason is that Sanchez has spent literally his entire career facing off against Revis on the practice field. He knows Revis perhaps better than any other quarterback does.

Considering how effective Revis is at capitalizing on the mistakes of young quarterbacks, it might make a lot of sense to use Sanchez in Week 1 and then Smith in Week 2.

In the second week of the season, the Jets face the New England Patriots, a team with a much more porous secondary. Even if Smith proves that he is ready to go this summer, there is a strong chance that he could start in Week 2 rather than Week 1.

Case 3: Smith Starts Midseason

A few years ago, the most likely option would have been for a quarterback like Smith to start in the midseason. It used to be rare for rookie quarterbacks to start right away, and allowing Smith to watch Sanchez for half a year could potentially be very beneficial for him.

This is still a possibility if it turns out that Smith does not seem ready over the summer and needs time to watch Sanchez play. However, with all the positive reports coming out of Jets camp, I view this as an increasingly unlikely possibility. If Smith learns the offense and does not struggle, I do not think the Jets will wait overly long to play him.

Case 4: Unexpected Events

There are a few unexpected events that could occur. Geno Smith could be injured; Mark Sanchez could have a breakout year or one of the other quarterbacks on the team could surprise everyone in the preseason.

Greg McElroy and Matt Simms remain, for better or worse, in the competition.

I do not expect the unexpected. I anticipate that Smith or Sanchez will be the starter in Week 1, and it will boil down to whether or not Smith seems ready to handle the Buccaneers defense.

Adding It Up

Based on what we know now, I'm inclined to think that the first two cases are the likely ones. While it does not seem that there is urgency to start Smith right away, there appears to be a sense that sooner would be better than later.

The early-season schedule is certainly relevant, and Revis can be a nightmare for quarterbacks. Therefore, while I would put Smith's chances of starting in Week 1 at only around 50 percent, I would give him a substantial chance of starting in Week 2.

Adam Waksman is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report who writes primarily about the New York Jets and the NFL. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter to receive updates right away.

Follow @AdamWaksman

Read more AFC East news on BleacherReport.com

The 6 Best and Worst Moves of the New England Patriots' 2013 Offseason

Nick Lantz — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:00:37 -0400

The New England Patriots had quite a busy offseason between free agency and the 2013 NFL draft. Some fan favorites were let go, a few veteran leaders were brought in and somehow, the Pats ended up with seven draft picks.

After a disappointing 28-13 loss to the Ravens in the AFC Championship, so many questions were stuck unanswered in the minds of Patriots fans worldwide. Two very important players, Wes Welker and Aqib Talib, were free agents, and the secondary was something that clearly needed to be addressed (though it's really has been an issue for several years).

The Patriots have made some very difficult decisions this offseason to get to where they are now. It's time to take a look at the Pats' best and worst offseason moves.

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Miami Dolphins: The 5 Best and Worst Moves of the 2013 Offseason

Richard Santamaria — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:05:55 -0400

The Miami Dolphins have improved themselves more than any other team since the 2012-13 NFL season came to an end. The Dolphins are clearly the 2013 offseason champions, but can Jeff Ireland's seemingly brilliant work translate into regular-season success?

Miami added Mike Wallace, Brent Grimes, Dustin Keller, Brandon Gibson, Lance Louis, Tyson Clabo, Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler, Dion Jordan and Jamar Taylor, among others—while retaining Brian Hartline, Randy Starks, Matt Moore, and Chris Clemons.

The subtraction of Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, Reggie Bush, Sean Smith, Anthony Fasano and Jake Long almost seems insignificant when compared to the immense combined talent of the aforementioned group.

Which of these roster moves will prove to be the most significant for the Miami Dolphins?

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Why Reshad Jones Is Right to Be Upset About His Contract, Not Show Up to OTAs

Erik Frenz — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:19:33 -0400

As the Miami Dolphins continue to fight for money to fund stadium renovations, one of their own is fighting for money to fund his livelihood.

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Dolphins safety Reshad Jones is not planning on showing up for organized team activities unless contract talks begin:

He has every right to be upset about his current situation.

Jones signed with the Dolphins in 2010 as a fifth-round draft pick, but he has clearly surpassed his draft slotting at this early stage in his career. He has developed into a playmaker for the Dolphins defense, and ranked third on the team in tackles and first in interceptions in 2012.

According to stats website Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he allowed a 38 passer rating into his coverage, which ranked fifth among all NFL safeties. He also allowed just one touchdown into his coverage, while his four interceptions tied for fourth among safeties.

For all of Jones' merits, his 2013 salary is a pittance compared to what the other safeties are making.

Dashon Goldson signed a five-year, $41.25 million contract with the Buccaneers, and LaRon Landry signed a four-year, $24 million deal with the Colts.

Not only are safeties making big money this offseason, but so are players who do business with general manager Jeff Ireland. The Dolphins have already signed nine notable contracts worth a grand total of approximately $183 million this offseason. Perhaps that means the Dolphins are done spending, especially with just over $7.3 million in cap space (according to Spotrac) and a few draft picks left to sign.

That being said, they could still make it work, and Jones doesn't need to look any further than his own locker room for a good example of why holding out may not be such a bad idea after all. Last year, defensive end Cameron Wake made a similar statement about his sentiments toward his contract, and he got his wishes with a new five-year, $33.2 million deal.

The Dolphins could wait until next offseason, when they'll have over $20 million in cap space yet again (per Spotrac), but with signings at nearly every other key position, Jones should be the next contractual priority for Miami. If the Dolphins are doing business right, they'll make sure he doesn't get a chance to explore other options.

Erik Frenz is also a Patriots/AFC East writer for Boston.com. Follow Erik on Twitter and "like" the AFC East blog on Facebook to keep up with all the updates. Unless otherwise noted, all stats obtained from the Sports-Reference.com network, and all quotes obtained firsthand or via team press releases.

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Is Dolphins S Reshad Jones Justified in Skipping OTAs?

Zach Kruse — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:55:50 -0400

After waiting around patiently while the Miami Dolphins freely spent gobs of cash this spring, safety Reshad Jones is now justified in accelerating his own payday by skipping the start of organized team activities (OTAs).

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Jones was absent for Monday's workout, which served as a conditioning session in advance of Tuesday's start to OTAs. Salguero notes that teammates are speculating Jones' absence is directly tied to the "lack of progress" in new contract negotiations.

Jones, a former fifth-round pick in 2010, is entering the last year of his rookie deal in 2013. He'll make just $1.32 million next season, a total that fails to accurately represent the caliber of safety he's become. His remaining one year also lacks the kind of long-term security that players so often covet.

Considering how often general manager Jeff Ireland has signed off on big deals this offseason, it's no wonder why Jones is feeling a little left out monetarily.

Since March, the Dolphins have agreed on deals for receivers Mike Wallace ($60 million, $30 million guaranteed) and Brian Hartline ($30.8M/$12.5M), linebackers Dannell Ellerbe ($35M/$14M) and Philip Wheeler ($26M/$13M), cornerback Brent Grimes ($5.5/$3M) and offensive tackle Tyson Clabo ($3.5M/$1.5M).

According to Salguero, the Dolphins have spent $91 million in guaranteed money and over $200 million in total contract value this offseason. Handing out money has not been a difficulty for Ireland.

Yet an in-house building block like Jones, who played at a Pro Bowl level in 2012, has yet to receive the extension from Miami he deserves.

Last season, Jones finished fourth on the team in tackles with 94 and first in both interceptions (four) and fumble recoveries (two). He was the lone NFL safety with at least 90 tackles, four interceptions and two recoveries in 2012.

Advanced stats favored Jones, too.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Jones graded out as the No. 3 overall safety (plus-22.1) in the NFL last season. Only Eric Weddle and Jairus Byrd received higher grades at the position.

Of the safeties who played 500 or more snaps at the position, Jones allowed the third-best passer rating (38.0) and provided the third-most pressures (13). No other safety combined an opposing passer rating under 60.0 and 10 or more pressures last season.

Clearly a budding star, Jones now has every right to use OTAs as a leverage point in getting a new deal.

The safety can also look back 12 months for an example of another Dolphins star gaining the leverage needed to secure an extension.

In 2012, defensive end Cameron Wake skipped a portion of offseason workouts before Ireland gave him a new long-term deal. Like Jones, Wake was entering the final year of his former deal.

The two sides eventually agreed on a four-year extension.

The structure for Jones' new deal could be found somewhere between agreements from Michael Griffin (five years, $35 million) and Tyvon Branch (four years, $26 million), who both signed contracts in 2012. In 2010, Antoine Bethea signed a four-year, $27 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

A former fifth-round pick with one good year under his belt, Jones could reasonably expect to fetch a similar deal.

Regardless of structure, Jones deserves a new deal from the Dolphins this offseason. Ireland has spent more than any other NFL general manager over the last three months, but he's failed to lock up one of his in-house stars.

Skipping a portion of OTAs doesn't change that fact, but it does accelerate the discussion process on Jones' well-deserved extension.

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New York Jets Running Back Breakdown: Complete Evaluation, Depth Chart Analysis

Adam Waksman — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:31:50 -0400

Competition is the buzzword this summer in New York. Within the Jets organization competition is everywhere both on the field and off of it. While the most discussed competition will inevitably be the one at quarterback, the most intense and most intriguing one will be the one at running back.

After four years with the team, Shonn Greene has been allowed to leave and is now a Tennessee Titan. In his place are four starting quality running backs, each trying to break through in the NFL. Arguably all four of them are more skilled than Greene, yet none of them has a secure roster spot just yet.

Chris Ivory

Chris Ivory is perhaps the most fascinating of the bunch. While he has ridden under the radar so far in his career, he has shown flashes of brilliance that may imply that he has the highest ceiling of any of them. In college at Washington State, he demonstrated his high motor, running for 534 yards on 5.9 yards per carry.

Ivory spent the rest of his college career in Division II, causing him to go undrafted. However, even in his rookie season in the NFL he showed that he was ready to play. While injuries have been a frequent issue for him and his durability has been questioned, his raw ability and drive are what make him such a strong value and give him such high potential.

Ivory came over from the Saints in a trade this offseason and could easily be viewed as the overall favorite to win the starting job.

Mike Goodson

A former fourth-round pick in 2009, Mike Goodson was snagged by the Jets in free agency this spring. After stints with the Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders, it seemed that Goodson was perhaps going to get his opportunity to start. That was before Ivory was acquired. Now Goodson will have to compete with Ivory in addition to the rest of the running backs on the roster.

To makes things more complicated, he was recently arrested on charges related to drug possession and possession of a firearm. Goodson remains on the team at the moment, but release, suspension or jail time are all possible consequences that could keep him off the field.

As arguably the most durable and physically reliable back on the team, it had seemed exceedingly likely that Goodson would find a spot on this team and earn carries. However, the recent arrest could put a damper on the whole situation.

Joe McKnight

A backup with the Jets since he was drafted in 2010, Joe McKnight badly wants to be a starter now that he is entering his fourth season. McKnight emphasized this to Mark Cannizzaro of NYPost.com, saying, "Words can't even describe how badly I want to be that guy. I've got an edge, a fire to me... When I'm out there practicing it's like I'm [ticked] off. I've got to play the game [ticked] off."

McKnight is a quick back and has excelled in terms of yards per carry (6.0 in 2012) in his three previous years with the Jets. However, his carries have been few and far between with him sitting behind Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell on the depth chart.

His abilities as a special teams player, which earned him a spot on the All-Pro team in 2011, essentially guarantee him a roster spot barring unforeseen events. Still, if he finds himself at the No.3 or No. 4 spot on the running back depth chart, he will not see many carries.

One thing we do know is that McKnight will do whatever he can to keep his roster spot. He has been exceptionally vocal and fiery this offseason. As he said himself (via Connor Orr of the Star-Ledger), "They're going to have to kill me to take my spot. So, whoever they bring in, I don't care."

Bilal Powell

Since being drafted by the Jets in 2011, Powell has been fighting for reps in practice and for carries in games.

At the end of the 2012 season, it would have been very reasonable to view Powell as the incumbent favorite to finally start this year. Especially once Greene was officially allowed to leave via free agency, Powell seemed to be almost a sure thing to start, with him being more versatile and more reliable than McKnight.

With the arrivals of Ivory and Goodson, Powell's situation with the team is now a major question mark. If he falls to third or fourth on the depth chart, it is conceivable that he could lose his roster spot entirely, since he is not heavily used on special teams. However, one would hope that given the promise he has shown so far with the team that they will find a way to keep him on the roster.

Projected Winner: Chris Ivory

General manager John Idzik did his job by stacking this year's roster with competent running backs. Now head coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg will need to figure out the best way to use their overabundance of backs.

There should not be one true winner of this competition, at least not by Week 1. The Jets have generally gone with a running back by committee approach during the Rex Ryan era. Still, someone will have to take most of the snaps in Week 1.

Given the evidence available right now, the clear favorite has to be Ivory. He is the most explosive back on the team and is arguably the most trustworthy in pass protection.

The game film on Ivory from the Saints, while limited, demonstrates a tremendous upside. As long as he can remain healthy (which is of course an uncertainty), he should be viewed as the favorite to win the competition this summer.

Adam Waksman is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report who writes primarily about the New York Jets and the NFL. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter to receive updates right away.

Follow @AdamWaksman

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Miami Dolphins: What to Watch for at OTAs

Thomas Galicia — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:01:51 -0400

For the first time since the draft, we will get to see the Miami Dolphins as a team (or close to it) when they begin their OTAs on Tuesday.

The Dolphins have already had most of the team together for offseason workouts, and already had the rookies in camp. But now, the entire team is set to participate in football-like activities that are used to help develop younger players and help instill the game plan for the coming season.

With Miami's OTAs set not only for this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but also May 29-31 and June 3-6 (along with mandatory minicamp beginning on June 11), there is a lot to look for with the Dolphins during this time.

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New England Patriots: What to Watch for at OTAs

Mike Dussault — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

The Patriots will take to the field numerous times over the next few weeks, with organized team activities scheduled for May 20-21, May 23, May 28-30, June 3-4 and June 6-7, and the team’s lone mandatory minicamp will take place June 11-13.

While reporters are only given limited access, and the practices are not in pads nor is any hitting allowed, there are still some things we can learn based on who is out there, where they're lining up and what they have to say.

Here's what to keep an eye out for as we get an early sense of the 2013 Patriots in the coming days and weeks.

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Buffalo Bills: What to Watch for at OTAs

Joshua Cornwall — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:40:16 -0400

Organized team activities started for the Buffalo Bills last Monday, and the team will run practices three days a week for the remainder of the month. OTAs are completely volunteer-based—although it is unwise to not attend them—and it gives players their first shot at proving themselves worthy of a roster spot.

Plays run during OTAs are dumbed down to accelerate a more fluid style of practice, but players young and old will soon be asked to master the new Buffalo Bills’ playbook.

There are many storylines headlining the Bills’ offseason event this year with a completely reshuffled front office and a newly-drafted quarterback with charisma that can charm even the hardest-hearted media members. Not to mention, Buffalo’s franchise-tagged safety Jairus Byrd is missing in action without the long-term contract that is well overdue.

As the Bills cap off a busy week of practice and front-page pressers, there is plenty still to be watching for in the next two weeks.

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New York Jets: What to Watch for at OTAs

Aidan Mackie — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:37:25 -0400

The New York Jets have already had a tumultuous and eventful offseason, and organized team activities (OTA) have not even begun.

The Jets have already seen their two highest-profile free agents retire and be arrested, and the team released celebrity Tim Tebow last month.

With a quarterback controversy in the works, a head coach on the hot seat and a whole new depth chart at hand, OTAs are sure to be entertaining.

Here are five things to watch at Gang Green's OTAs in 2013.

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2013 Fantasy Football Profile and Projection: Jets RB Chris Ivory

Kevin Hanson — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:53:37 -0400

When it comes to fantasy sports, a player's opportunity can be nearly as important as his talent. Chris Ivory should finally get the opportunity to showcase his talent in 2013.

Although Ivory led the New Orleans Saints in rushing in 2010 as a rookie with 716 yards, he has been buried on the team's depth chart over the past two seasons behind Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles. In fact, he played in only 12 games over those two seasons combined.

In the offseason, the New York Jets traded their fourth-round pick to the Saints for Ivory, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Jets.

With Shonn Greene leaving in free agency, Ivory will compete for touches with Mike Goodson, Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight. Of those backs, Goodson is Ivory's biggest competition when it comes to workload.

Considering that Goodson was recently arrested, however, it's possible that his days with the Jets are numbered. Speaking of Goodson's arrest, teammate Willie Colon recently said to Seth Walder of the NY Daily News: "It's one of the things where it's zero-tolerance with stuff like that. It's sad. Mike could have been huge for us."

Whether or not Goodson is given his walking papers, Ivory should still lead the squad's backs in touches.

Over the past three seasons, Ivory has been productive when given the opportunity. Carrying the ball 256 times during that span, he rushed for a total of 1,307 yards, for an average of 5.1 yards per carry. Ivory was little used as a receiver with the Saints, though, as he caught only three passes in his career.

As a big back (6'0" and 222 pounds), Ivory scored eight touchdowns for the Saints. With the Jets, he should get the short yardage and goal-line opportunities as well. Considering the team's low-powered offense (2012: 30th in total offense, 28th in scoring offense), however, there may not be many goal-line opportunities.

The days of Mark Sanchez under center appear to be numbered, and it's possible that the Jets will start Geno Smith, their second-round pick, at some point this season. Whether it's the turnover-prone Sanchez or the inexperienced rookie under center, it would make sense for the Jets to go with a ground-and-pound approach to limit turnovers.

With RB2 upside, Ivory is a nice value from where he is currently being drafted. Based on current average draft position (ADP) data from Mock Draft Central, Ivory is the 28th running back, on average, off draft boards recently.

Fantasy Strength of Schedule

Based on the cumulative fantasy points allowed by their opponents from Week 1 to 16, Ivory and his fellow Jets' running backs have the league's most favorable schedule in both standard-scoring and point-per-reception (PPR) leagues.

In the fantasy postseason (typically Weeks 14, 15 and 16), the Jets face the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns, respectively.

Projection: (rushing) 245 attempts, 1,176 yards, eight touchdowns; (receiving) five receptions, 45 yards

Also, check out:

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New England Patriots Hope Defensive Tackle Changes Improve Run Defense

Randolph Charlotin — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:35:12 -0400

Ron Brace, Myron Pryor, Brandon Deaderick and Kyle Love were released this offseason by the New England Patriots. All played defensive tackle—the position at the heart of the first line of defense.

A purge at one position typically indicates a problem area for a team. But the Patriots run defense finished ninth overall in yards allowed (1,630) and sixth overall in yards per attempt (3.9 average) in 2012.

Upon further analysis, though, good teams don’t fear New England’s run defense and for good reason.

New England’s run defense was aided by the prolific offense that forced many opponents to abandon running the ball just to keep up with the Patriots. In close games, however, opponents pounded the ball for four quarters and wore down New England’s run defense.

The first step in evaluating the run defense was to separate the blowouts from the games decided by 10 points or less. The blowouts were wins over Tennessee, Buffalo, St. Louis, Indianapolis, the New York Jets, Houston and Miami. The close wins were over Denver, the Jets, Buffalo, Miami. and Jacksonville, while the close losses were to Arizona, Baltimore, Seattle and San Francisco.

While yards per carry were nearly even (3.8 yards/attempt in blowouts, 3.9 in close games), the average yards per game jumped from 87.1 to 109.9.

The increase of 22.8 rushing yards per game doesn’t sound like much, but that was gained with an additional 5.1 more attempts per game. That’s a yards-per-carry average of 4.5 yards.

To put that in perspective, 109.9 yards allowed per game would rank 14th in the NFL in 2012. Eight yards more than New England’s season average of 101.9 rushing yards per game would change the Patriots run defense from good to mediocre.

In an attempt to be fair, the 31 yards gained by San Francisco’s Dashon Goldson on a fake punt was subtracted from the total yards, as was his single rush attempt. If these numbers were included, the rushing yards would increase from 989 yards to 1,020 yards, 254 attempts, a 4.0 yards-per-carry average and 113.3 yards per game allowed.

Run Defense in Blowouts Versus Close Games
Type of Games	Games	Attempts	Yards	Yds/att	Yds/gm
Blowouts	7	161	610	3.8	87.1
10 Points or Less*	9	253	989	3.9	109.9
2012 Totals	16	415	1,630	3.9	101.9
*Dashon Goldson’s one rush for 31 yards subtracted from totals

Brace and Pryor couldn’t stay on the field. It might be more about a change in approach for the defense.

Only six 300-pound space-eating defensive linemen are currently on the roster. Based on the current roster, the defensive linemen won’t be waiting for the ball-carrier to come to them in 2013. The approach will be less two-gap play and more penetrating, getting into the backfield and making the play kind of D-line play.

Vince Wilfork is the prototype for what the Patriots want at defensive tackle. Free-agent addition Tommy Kelly had 14.5 sacks combined in 2010 and 2011, and New England hopes he can regain his penetrating ways. Armond Armstead had six sacks in his only season playing for Toronto in the CFL.

The remaining DTs are Marcus Forston, a rookie free agent in 2012 who spent most of last season on the practice squad, and 2013 restricted free agents Cory Grissom and Dewayne Cherrington.

That’s a lot of change at one position, but it had to be done. Last year’s run defense wasn’t as good as the numbers suggested.

Questions? Comments? Send to randolphc82@comcast.net.

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Intel on New York Jets UDFA Wide Receiver Marcus Davis

Adam Waksman — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:36:36 -0400

The New York Jets have finally acquired undrafted rookie wide receiver Marcus Davis, according to Curtis Crabtree of NBCSports.com.

Longtime readers might remember that I repeatedly called for the Jets to draft Davis either in the sixth or seventh round. While Davis was a bit of an unknown, his high ceiling and extremely athletic abilities made him a perfect example of a high-risk, high-reward player to snag in the late rounds of the draft.

To my surprise, Davis fell all the way through to the end of the draft without being selected.

Now that Davis is a Jet, he becomes arguably the most intriguing UDFA prospect that they have signed so far this offseason. A receiver out of Virginia Tech, Davis racked up 51 catches for 953 yards and five touchdowns in his last college season. A big, fast and athletic receiver, his measurables are the following (via Brian Bassett of TheJetsBlog.com):

Height: 6'3" Weight: 233 lbs.
Hands: 10.25" Arm Length: 32.75"
40 Yard Dash: 4.56 Bench: 19 reps
Vertical Jump: 39.5" Broad Jump: 120.0"

Obviously, with his height, size, big hands, great vertical jump and speed, there is no doubt that Davis has the physical requirements to become an NFL quality wide receiver. He fell through the cracks in the draft because of his lack of experience and his generally raw abilities.

Therefore, we should not expect too much of Davis as a rookie, nor should we judge him too harshly based on his rookie season. Nevertheless, the Jets are severely lacking in wide receiver depth. Beyond their three starters—Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley—the Jets have virtually no depth on the bench.

Could Davis earn the fourth spot on the depth chart, even as a rookie? It is entirely conceivable. Brian Bassett of TheJetsBlog.com provides some intel on Davis' weaknesses:

[Marcus Davis] needs to be more aggressive... and polished in his technique. Davis also needs to use his size to better fight for position and to get physical with defenders for the ball in the air... Davis has also been noted for not using his size to be as aggressive in the run-blocking game.

All of these weaknesses are related and signify one general trend. Davis has not yet learned how to use his physical advantages and turn them into positive plays. He is an excellent athlete already but not yet a great receiver. Not dissimilar from Stephen Hill, a second-round pick by the Jets last year, Davis will need to learn how to become a reliable pass-catcher and how to make the best use of his physical abilities.

Like with Hill a year ago, we should be expecting some roughness around the edges during Davis' rookie season. If Davis can bring any amount of value off the bench as a UDFA, then that is a win in the short term.

More importantly, it Davis can show progress throughout the year and get to a level where it appears he may fight for a starting job in 2014, then this move would have really paid off.

Keep an eye on Davis this summer. Jets fans may be seeing more of him in the years to come.

Adam Waksman is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report who writes primarily about the New York Jets and the NFL. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter to receive updates right away.

Follow @AdamWaksman

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Where Would the New England Patriots' Offensive Stars Play on Defense?

James DiMaio — Sat, 18 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

What if the stars of the New England Patriots’ prolific offense were playing...on defense?

What position would Rob Gronkowski play? Tom Brady?

Strange thought, I know.

The Patriots' OTAs are still a week away, so while we’ve survived the bulk of the slowest part of the NFL offseason (if there is such a thing), we still need to think of creative ways to satisfy our football-hungry minds.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at this fantasy scenario.

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Will the New York Jets' Nightmare Circus Ever Come to an End?

Chris Trapasso — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:45:53 -0400

There are many adjectives to describe today's New York Jets, and right now, "nightmare" and "circus" are the most appropriate.

They're a circus because, even after a humiliating 2012 campaign, the media's coverage is unjustifiably vast and incessant, and fan discussion has reached a fever pitch.

They're a nightmare because they've dealt with agonizing incidents, and those incidents have been recurring, as nightmares tend to do.

Tim Tebow was thought to be the root of all the overexposure, and the sole player behind the creation of the atmosphere. But while he was a major component of the continuous media mayhem, he wasn't the only component. Just because he's gone from Gang Green doesn't mean the circus will leave town.

Since Tebow was released on April 29, the following has transpired:

Second-round pick Geno Smith fired his agents, perpetuating the idea that he may have some diva characteristics. Those sentiments arose after Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole published a somewhat scathing article which cited sources who said Smith spent too much time on his cell phone during pre-draft team visits and questioned his leadership.

David Garrard, one of five quarterbacks on the roster, decided to retire. Knee injuries were said to be the reason why he called it quits.

Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers said Mark Sanchez "sucked" on the radio and finished by stating, "I wouldn’t let Mark Sanchez throw me a paper bag sandwich.”

First-round pick Dee Milliner fired his agents because he wasn't selected in the Top Five (per Ian Rapoport).

Running back Mike Goodson was arrested on drug and weapons charges, according to a report by Matt Ehalt of ESPN New York.

Before that, Darrelle Revis' drawn-out contract dispute ended and the prolific cornerback was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a first-round pick in the 2013 draft and a conditional selection in 2014, that, at best, can be a third-rounder.

Quite the turbulent timeline, right?

Athletes firing their agents isn't a big deal. It happens all the time. Heck, golfer Rory McIlroy recently fired his agents, who, in all likelihood, were integral in the then-23-year-old signing a $250 million deal with Nike earlier this year.

Old, battered quarterbacks retire.

Sometimes, a team is forced to trade its best player. And really, NFL general managers have made more shortsighted mistakes than trading a cornerback out of the conference who's coming off an ACL tear.

Players take shots at their opponents.

And high-paid professional athletes occasionally surround themselves with bad people and do dumb things and get arrested. Remember, Goodson didn't have a criminal background.

But in New York City, Planet Earth's news capital, when all those developments happen over a short period of time to an embarrassingly bad Jets team fresh off Tebowmania and the ButtFumble, the daily media firestorm has to materialize.

Gang Green's wounds are open. They're an easy target, a favorite target, one that's guaranteed to generate interest, give rise to some humor and almost always attract a click.

People are drawn to a disaster, and that's precisely what the Jets have become, even if some of their misfortunes aren't entirely their fault.

However, Rex Ryan's boisterous and somewhat arrogantly confident personality hasn't helped, and it's part of the reason this circus atmosphere originated.

What could be better than getting a chance to poke fun at the head coach who guaranteed Super Bowls, bragged about his defense, praised his quarterback and promised a special package for Tebow, after all those bold claims and boasts fell flat?

He was the ideal candidate to be the king of New York's football scene—loud, brash, funny, in-your-face—a real quote-machine.

But that was when he was winning and beating Tom Brady in the playoffs.

The same characteristics that made Ryan a household name have placed a huge bullseye squarely on his back, with his team now desperate and dysfunctional.

There are only two ways the Jets' circus ceases: they start winning, or Ryan is fired.

Until then, the nightmare circus will continue.

Follow @ChrisTrapasso

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Should the New England Patriots Start Looking for a Rob Gronkowski Replacement?

Gary Davenport — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:43:40 -0400

In 2011, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had one of the best seasons that a tight end ever has, catching 90 passes for 1,327 yards and an eye-popping 17 touchdowns.

However, that season ended with an ankle injury that required surgery. The 2012 campaign was cut short was a broken forearm. And now, with questions swirling around both that arm injury and Gronkowski's balky back, it's looking more and more like that 2011 season may be the best we ever see from "Gronk."

The news already wasn't especially good where Gronkowski's injured forearm was concerned. As James Walker of ESPN reports, Gronkowski is now set for a fourth operation on the arm to clean out an infection. Gronkowski originally injured the arm in Week 11 last year, and re-broke it in the Patriots' playoff victory over the Houston Texans.

Now the news has gotten even worse.

According to Mike Garafalo of USA Today, an anonymous source inside the New England organization indicates that the 24-year-old recently underwent an MRI on his troublesome back and may require surgery on it as well.

Gronkowski missed his final season at Arizona due to back issues, which also caused him to miss the NFL Scouting Combine and fall to the Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft.

In fact, as Garafalo reports, at the time there was a report that Gronkowski had spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal column), but Gronkowski's agent vehemently denied that claim—and that isn't believed to be the issue here.

That's of little consolation to fans of the Patriots.

When healthy, the New England duo of Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, a pair of athletic pass-catchers at tight end who are helping to redefine how the position is played in the NFL.

Since the emergence of that duo and Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints, teams across the NFL have been scrambling to find the "next" Gronkowski.

The Patriots may want to join them, as it just might be time to start looking for an insurance policy of sorts.

The reason is simple.

As talented as Gronkowski and Hernandez are, they just can't seem to stay on the field. Hernandez has yet to play a 16-game slate in three seasons, and now Gronkowski could be on the mend well into the summer.

The Patriots do have something of a fallback plan in Jake Ballard. The third-year pro started 13 games for the New York Giants in 2011, hauling in 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns.

With that said, Ballard is no Gronkowski, and the 25-year-old has durability concerns of his own after missing the entire 2012 season with a torn ACL.

It's also not like the Patriots can just grab another Gronk off the rack. If tight ends like Gronkowski grew on trees, the rest of the league would have picked that tree clean by now.

Still, it's reaching a point where the Patriots seriously need to consider looking for a potential replacement option, or at least a player cut from a similar mold who can step in if needed without the Patriots having to make drastic changes to their play-calling.

As talented as Gronkowski and Hernandez are, they aren't much good to the Patriots watching from the sidelines, and the reality is one or the other (if not both) are doing just that as often as not lately.

Mind you, this isn't to say that it's Chicken Little time, or that the Patriots should start freaking out. As of today, there's no indication that Gronkowski won't be available to catch passes from Tom Brady in Week 1.

However, just because the sky isn't falling doesn't mean you shouldn't invest in an umbrella, and the more questions that stack up around Gronkowski's health, the more sense it makes for the Patriots to have a long-term Plan B in order.

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Rob Gronkowski Injury: Potential Back Surgery Casts Further Doubt on TE's Future

Matt Fitzgerald — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:04:23 -0400

New England Patriots superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski has battled through injuries that may have ultimately cost his team two Super Bowl trophies.

Now that he may be undergoing back surgery to repair a disc problem, the 24-year-old's NFL future seems as fragile as ever. Mike Garafolo of the USA Today reported on Friday that Gronkowski underwent an MRI to check on a disc issue in his back stemming from last season.

Back in 2009, Gronkowski had to get a different disc shaved down and missed his senior year at Arizona. That dropped him to the second round of the NFL draft where the Pats gladly took him and watched him blossom into a dynamic playmaker.

This latest revelation showed a different damaged disc, but Garafolo reports that the hope is, if surgery is necessary, the recovery period will be within the same time frame as next week's forearm procedure. If it is necessary to operate, Gronkowski will have both.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was told by a source that the back issue is considered to be minor, and someone else close to Gronkowski said it shouldn't affect him long-term:

The most concerning part about that last quote is the implication that Gronkowski himself isn't worried about the short-term.

Maybe he should be.

Far be it from me to criticize how to manage oneself in the glaring limelight of being a marquee NFL player and the scrutiny that comes with it. Gronkowski is free to do what he wants away from the field, but he's been forthcoming about his tendency to party hard.

One example of this occurred on a visit to Kansas State University in late April.

Gronkowski was there to watch his brother, Glenn, in the Wildcats' spring football game, but this image, among others, surfaced from shotofginn.com:

These are the kind of short-term decisions that Gronkowski has been making headlines with lately. Whether it's fair or not is an entirely different matter, but, again, it comes with the territory of being so willingly in the public eye.

In instances where Gronkowski's wild antics outside the white lines aren't the center of the discussion, it's his recurring pattern of physical ailments that come up. Regardless of what is causing Gronkowski to struggle staying on the field, the two can't be mutually exclusive any longer.

To be clear, Gronkowski is among the most exciting players in the league today. In fact, his honesty and transparency totally shatters the mold of the "Patriot Way" preached by New England head coach Bill Belichick.

It's refreshing to see Gronkowski show his lighter side, but that willing vulnerability off the field may be what's affecting his durability on it.

Another reason to be concerned short-term: Chances to capture the Lombardi Trophy aren't guaranteed. Who knows how much longer legendary quarterback Tom Brady will be slinging spirals Gronkowski's way?

Plus, the Miami Dolphins' revamped roster presents the Patriots with a legitimate challenge in the AFC East division.

NFL Network's Albert Breer provided his take, alluding to the six-year, $54 million contract Gronkowski signed last offseason, which is looking to be a wiser decision by the day:

Perhaps Gronkowski is right though—perhaps he shouldn't worry. There is plenty of time to recover, and based on the work he put in to build the massive, 6'6", 265-pound frame he sports, it would appear he has the chops and work ethic to get back to full strength.

Should he continue being sidelined, though, and if this second back disc problem is more serious than initially thought, concerns will linger about Gronkowski's immediate and long-term NFL future.

Here's to hoping Gronkowski does what he needs to do to get his health right. Seeing a Gronk Spike again would be a pleasant sight.

It's a celebration that perfectly encapsulates everything about him. It captures the traditional, relative non-flash of the Patriots, the immense strength Gronkowski himself possesses and the passion and unbridled enthusiasm he appears to bring to every aspect of his life.

If Gronkowski can bring that attitude to his rehabilitation with the detailed focus he practices as a member of the Patriots, his extremely promising career has a far better chance to get back on track.

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Rob Gronkowski Injury: Updates on Patriots Star's Status

Patrick Clarke — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:45:03 -0400

New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski has a busy, challenging offseason ahead of him, as his back could potentially require surgery, per Mike Garofolo of USAToday.com. The two-time Pro Bowler is also in the midst of recovering from a broken arm. Follow along for the latest on his fourth surgery.

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Were the New England Patriots Wrong to Cut Kyle Love After Diabetes Diagnosis?

Sean Keane — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:21:34 -0400

Were the New England Patriots wrong to cut defensive tackle Kyle Love after his recent diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes?

It’s a simple question, albeit one without a simple answer.

Love’s health is, of course, paramount, and I think I speak for all of New England in wishing him the best, both medically and professionally. He’s already signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and I’m happy for him.

The simple question still gnaws at me though, and while I respect any team’s right to waive any player it so desires, I can’t help but wonder if the Patriots missed the mark this time.

For years, fans have been bludgeoned with the notion that the Patriots run their team differently than other franchises; that somehow they’re above the common off-the-field and inside-the-locker room issues that plague the NFL’s proletariat.

After all, if they consistently succeed in a way no other franchise has during the salary-cap era, they must be running things differently behind the scenes to make it so. Nobody can effectively quantify their secret to success, so we just call it the “Patriot way” as the mystique continues to build.

Players—both former and current—will tell you it’s about holding yourself accountable and putting the team first.

From where I’m sitting, the bottom line seems to be winning football games and finding players committed to that cause. It’s a great concept, and the whole “no I in team” mentality is an admirable one, but we often overlook the ruthless flip-side to that coin.

Placing the team first, by definition, makes individuals expendable. We’ve seen it before. Bill Belichick jettisoned Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel and Randy Moss, to name a few. He waived Tiquan Underwood in cold blood the day before the Super Bowl. He pushed New England’s beloved Wes Welker into archrival Peyton Manning’s open arms.

Those were all football decisions. Nobody said they were easy choices, and Belichick gets paid big bucks in part because he’s not afraid to make unpopular moves for the good of his team.

Love’s agent, Richard Kopelman, told the Boston Herald that this, however, was not a football decision. It was based purely on Love’s medical condition.

“I was assured this was pure and simple a medical decision,” Kopelman said. “I asked, ‘Was there something else at play here?’ And I was told no, it’s 100 percent a medical decision, and that’s all there is to it.”

To hear him tell it, the Patriots gave Love an ultimatum; retire, take a year off and see where things stand, or be released. Technically, Love chose to be cut, but it’s hard to blame him since he was far from guaranteed any future with the team after his “retirement.”

If this was a football decision purely based on performance and production, I’d get it, but it wasn’t. Love started 11 games in 2012 and was a productive player during his time in New England. There are no guarantees in sports, but he earned a roster spot.

Of course, there are valid concerns about whether a diabetic should be tipping the scales at 300 pounds or more, but I’m not naïve enough to think the Patriots cut Love for his own good. They’re just not that sentimental.

It’s fair to wonder if somebody with Love’s condition could not only maintain his playing weight, but also remain effective while playing one of the most physically demanding positions in all of sports. If the Patriots don’t think he can, they have every right to cut their losses and move one.

Kopelman says Love will be 100 percent in a few short weeks. I hope that’s true, but we don’t know for sure. We don’t know if he’ll be able to balance his health against the demands of his position. We don’t know if he’ll ever be as effective as he was before his diagnosis.

The only thing we do know for certain is that Love would still be a Patriot if he didn’t have diabetes. Frankly, I don’t know if that’s right.

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New England Patriots: The Patriot Way Is Dead and Gone

Michael Christina — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:06:09 -0400

The ‘Patriot Way’ is a saying that has been touted in New England for a very long time now. It has been the moniker in which the organization has built itself upon.

But it seems like that saying is just that these days. It’s just a saying.

Defensive tackle Kyle Love was released by the New England Patriots this week due to a recent diagnosis of Type-2 Diabetes. He was given two options by the organization. Love could either retire for a year or be released.

Let’s forget the fact that he was a solid player for the team and a key run-stopper next to Vince Wilfork on the defensive line. This goes beyond just letting a good player go.

This is simply sleazy. There is no way around it.

I love Bill Belichick. I credit the man fully for creating a winning culture for the team of my childhood and ultimately building one of the most successful professional sports programs this region has ever seen. He is the reason why this team is what it is today.

But this is absolutely disgraceful. It’s almost a guarantee that he will come out at one point and say he was just doing what he thought was best for the team. Still, it feels like at this point the image of Belichick around the country that Pats fans have tried to dispute for years is non-disputable anymore.

This is the same guy that was behind Spygate. He’s the same guy that cut a kid the night before the Super Bowl. Add this recent indiscretion to the resume and the evil genius is starting to look more evil than anything else.

It’s hard to pinpoint when everything began to turn in this direction, but I’ll take an educated guess that it might have something to do with the 2007 season. Not only did Belichick’s football integrity come into question that year, but his team blew a shot at perfection and quite possibly being the greatest squad of all time. And let’s not forget that he would’ve been in the same category as Lombardi with a victory over the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

It almost feels like ever since that point he has deteriorated into a character that can only be compared to Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. He lost his precious and now he will do anything he has to in order to get it back.

There is no possible football justification for cutting a guy simply because he has diabetes. I’m sure that there will be people who will argue that Love could have possibly not been ready for the beginning of this season. There will be others that will blame Love and say he did this to himself by not properly taking care of himself.

So let’s come at it from another angle. As stated previously, Kyle Love primarily played next to Vince Wilfork. Wilfork has been praised not only for his play on the field and his leadership in the locker room, but also for his charitable work off the field and the fact that he’s fought through stiff adversity in his life to become the man he is today.

What adversity you ask? Wilfork lost both of his parents in a span of six months in 2002 during his sophomore year while attending the University of Miami. His father specifically passed away due to kidney failure after battling diabetes for many years. The love he had for his dad has resonated into a successful charity that he has put together called The Vince Wilfork Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to support diabetes research, support education and awareness, and to support organizations taking care of people with diabetes.

And you cut the guy directly playing next to this man because he’s been diagnosed with diabetes? It’s absolutely deplorable and quite frankly shameful.

Like I said before, I love Bill Belichick. But the old image of the classy and team-first organization is completely gone after this latest transgression. Teams stick with each other through good times and bad. They don’t bail on one of their own at the first sign of adversity.

With that being said, can anyone truly blame Wes Welker for trying to make a stand against this man? At a certain point it’s not about the money anymore. It’s about the principle. And quite frankly it’s hard to decipher Belichick’s principles these days. Everything is done under the umbrella of what is best for the team. But is it really? Or has this just become a heartless man’s quest to prove to the world that he is the greatest coach of all time at any cost?

Whatever the case may be, this team does not have the same feeling around it that it did when it was coming out as a team at Super Bowl XXXVI. Something has been lost along the way. And it’s a shame.

Patriots fans were proud of the organization just a few weeks ago for sending retired offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi to the 2013 NFL Draft. He was a representation of not only the city of Boston’s strength after the Marathon bombings, but a team that truly gets what it is to be a part of a community and one that carries itself with class and dignity.

And then they cut a kid with diabetes. That’s a great way to keep the good will going guys.

The ‘Patriot Way’ used to be something that fans could be proud of. It’s gone now, though. And to be honest it doesn’t look like it’s coming back anytime soon. The myth has perished and you can’t tell me otherwise. Smeagol is dead, and in his place Gollum rules. So for fans all we can do is hope that he will finally get that ring he has so desperately desired before he ultimately dives into the inferno that awaits him after football.

It’s harsh, I know. But so is cutting a guy with diabetes.

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New York Jets Quarterback Breakdown: Complete Evaluation, Depth Chart Analysis

Adam Waksman — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:47:19 -0400

The New York Jets quarterback situation will be hotly discussed this summer. While competition is the theme within the organization as we get closer to the preseason, the most crucial and most intriguing competition will naturally be a quarterback.

The Jets have five quarterbacks on their roster currently, even after the release of Tim Tebow, though that will reportedly be dropping to four now with the loss of David Garrard (via Kieran Darcy of ESPNNewYork.com). At least three of them have legitimate chances of starting as we approach the start of the preseason.

I will discuss the full depth chart and what the variables are for each of these quarterbacks in terms of what they need to do and what their abilities are.

Geno Smith

Rookie quarterback Geno Smith is arguably the most controversial of the quarterbacks currently on the Jets roster. Without a doubt, he is the most unknown and unpredictable. A highly sought after college player, Smith had a well-known and heavily discussed draft-day fall. Instead of going high in the first round, as was expected, Smith fell not only to the second round but into the middle of it, where the Jets could take him at No. 39 overall.

Smith is the youngest of the Jets quarterbacks and appears to have the highest ceiling. There is a sense in which one could say that the Jets organization hopes that he will manage to win this competition. There are limits on what aging veterans can do, and if Smith can be starting quality right away then that bodes well for his future.

In an ideal world, Smith's 2013 summer would be analogous to the summer of 2012 for star quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson went up against a well-respected veteran in Matt Flynn. Flynn was initially the favorite to win the competition, but Wilson was able to win by surprising and impressing coaches during the summer and in the preseason.

It is far from the case that Smith will get this job by default. The only way he can win the job right away for Week 1 would be for him to outperform expectations and learn the West Coast offense very quickly.

David Garrard

David Garrard is a veteran quarterback who has been in the league for a long time and has accomplished a great deal. As a former Pro Bowler who has seen success in the playoffs, Garrard has many positives to look back on. Nevertheless, his recent years have been somewhat disappointing. In fact, the situation he entered this year likely invoked déjà vu.

In each of the past two years, Garrard faced off in summer competitions against young first-round picks. Two years ago, in 2011, Garrard competed against first-round pick Blaine Gabbert in Jacksonville with the Jaguars. Then last year, in 2012, Garrard competed against Ryan Tannehill in Miami for the Dolphins. In each of these two years, while Garrard was arguably the favorite, a pair of injuries prevented him from playing.

While Garrard could have easily been viewed as the favorite once again this year based on his experience, he has for the third year in a row run into injury problems (as reported by Mike Garafolo of USAToday.com). According to the report, Garrard will soon be retiring. Apparently three season-ending injuries in a row was one too many, and that is understandable.

This is a tough loss for the Jets because having Garrard early in the season, even if Geno Smith were looking solid, could have allowed the Jets to avoid rushing Smith into too much pressure too early.

It is worth noting that the first game of the year happens to be against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who suddenly boast a nasty secondary that includes Darrelle Revis.

Mark Sanchez

Of course we cannot forget Mark Sanchez, the former first-round pick in 2009 who has been the primary starter for this team for the past four years. Sanchez is at a fascinating point in his career. While he has been the starter for four straight years, the only four of his career, and has not faced much serious competition, one could claim that he is not the clear front-runner anymore.

Sanchez has had some success already, especially in the playoffs where he already has four victories. However, his regular-season play has been lacking, and his performances in the last season were not near the level where he had been prior. Sanchez's massive contract, with heavy guaranteed money, essentially guarantees him a roster spot for this season. Nonetheless, it does not by any means guarantee him playing time or the starting job.

Geno Smith is viewed as the future, and if he can play as well as Sanchez (or better) then the job should be his right away. However, if a stopgap is needed for the first few weeks or even for much of the season, then Sanchez is now the logical choice with Garrard out of the picture. It would be too risky now to not have Sanchez on the roster.

Greg McElroy

Greg McElroy is yet another intriguing candidate. While McElroy is a solid backup who should be able to earn a second-string position on at least a few NFL teams, it is questionable whether or not he will even be able to lock down a roster spot this year with the Jets and their cluttered quarterback position.

McElroy has been in the NFL and with the Jets for two years now. He has served reasonably well as a backup and in this past season even started a game, although the one start did not go very well. It seems unlikely that McElroy could provide any real competition against Geno Smith or even Mark Sanchez.

If it were not for the injury to Garrard, McElroy might have found himself searching for another team. However, with Garrard set to retire, McElroy now becomes to favorite for the third spot on the depth chart.

Matt Simms

The fifth and final player on the list and likely the fourth man now on the Jets' quarterback depth chart is Matt Simms. Simms came to the Jets last year as an undrafted rookie free agent. Through no fault of his own, he might find himself needing to find a new team. With the three more experienced and more valued quarterbacks above him on the depth chart, I do not see Simms finding a way to get a roster spot this year.

If it happens that Simms does not find a roster spot elsewhere then perhaps he will remain with the Jets on the practice squad.

More news is sure to follow as the competition heats up this summer.

Adam Waksman is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report who writes primarily about the New York Jets and the NFL. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter to receive updates right away.

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Patriots Quarterback Breakdown: Complete Evaluation and Depth Chart Analysis

Marc Freshman — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:11:14 -0400

With Tom Brady inked through 2017, the Patriots have another half-decade to enjoy the services of one of the most important icons in football history. They also have a pair of talented young slingers, Ryan Mallett and Mike Kafka, sitting right behind Brady on the depth chart.

Let's take the quarterback evaluation one by one, starting with the king.

Brady was phenomenal in 2012. He threw 401 completions for 4,827 yards and 34 touchdowns, with only eight picks. He also completed his 48th straight regular-season game with a touchdown pass against the Dolphins in Week 17.

A few epic victories planted him right in the middle of the MVP race throughout the season. He steamrolled the Rams in London by 38 points, pulled out a meaningful 10-point win against Peyton Manning's Broncos, wrecked the Colts by 35 points, shut out the Dolphins in their second showdown, tore up the Jets by 30 points on Thanksgiving night and smacked down the talented Texans by 28 points. He dismantled Houston for a second time in the divisional round, throwing 344 yards and a trio of touchdowns for a 13-point victory.

He led his team to 6,846 total yards and 427.9 yards per game, with 557 total points and 34.8 points per game, leading the league in those categories. He pushed his offense to score over 40 points on five different occasions (six occasions, including the divisional round of the playoffs). They scored over 50 points twice.

Simply put, Brady was tremendous in 2012.

Brady is elite in the old-fashioned sense of the term. That's a crucial distinction to make because we're living in a time when the definition of "elite" is changing. Joe Flacco's earth-shattering deal is an example, and Tony Romo's huge deal shows that fewer and fewer marks of proven greatness are needed to achieve superstardom in the modern world.

Brady transcends the wishy-washy hoopla of all the changing definitions. He provides a window into the past, a time when elite athletes plugged away for years, a decade or more, getting dirty and bloody, collecting Super Bowl rings and MVP awards, setting records and achieving things that had previously been deemed impossible, staying healthy for crazy stretches of time and proving their superiority over and over again. How many quarterbacks can say they've done that?

Brady is the definition of greatness in any time period. That's the primary reason why New England has a great quarterback recipe cooking right now.

That recipe is sweetened by Brady's extremely intriguing backup, Ryan Mallett.

Reliable information about Mallett is scarce, through no fault of his own, simply because he hasn't played much on the professional stage.

Here's what we know.

In 2010, he threw 3,869 yards and 32 touchdowns at Arkansas. It was his second straight season throwing over 3,500 passing yards and over 30 touchdowns. The Patriots drafted him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, 74th overall. As soon as Mallett's name was announced at the draft podium, NFL Network's Rich Eisen offered his immediate analysis:

[Mallet is] a guy who is rated, just on the x's and o's on the board and also in technique, as the best prospect, pro ready, but obviously, he's not going to be playing in the pros unless something catastrophic happens to Tom Brady.

NFL Network's Draft Analyst Mike Mayock also offered his two cents:

I think the key word with Bill [Belichick] is value...What did [Belichick] do with Matt Cassel? He drafted him in the seventh round, developed him and...dealt him for value. He feels like he got great value here in the third round for a first-round kid. And if he has to develop him and deal him, he will.

After the selection, Mayock interviewed head coach Bill Belichick and asked him about the rationale behind taking Mallett. Belichick responded:

We thought there was real good value on the board there with Ryan. He had an excellent college career...won a lot of games in high school, his father was a coach, he's a football guy, comes from a football family, which I think I can relate to...We'll let him compete with our other quarterbacks on the team...and see where it all goes.

Mallett had a strong 2012 camp and a productive preseason, totaling 33 completions, 300 yards, three touchdowns and only one pick. He threw a four-yard touchdown to Jesse Holley, a three-yard touchdown to Jeremy Ebert and a seven-yard touchdown to Alex Silvestro. His performance was strong enough to advance him further up the depth chart, as the Patriots released Brian Hoyer in September and retained Mallett as their lone backup for the season.

In November 2012, Belichick commented on Mallett's progress:

Relative to last year, he's taken all of the scout team reps that last year he was basically splitting with Brian Hoyer. So, that has given him a lot more opportunity there to take snaps and also to have command of that group and run that offense on a weekly basis and the other guys that are used there.

On the opportunities that he's had to work with the regular offense and again, certainly those have been more frequent too because of his role, when he's taken plays in there for Tom [Brady] that it's just given him more experience and more opportunity to run our plays so he’s not always just running the other team’s plays which is the way it was last year.

At least this year he's getting more plays on the scout team and also plays with our offense. I think all those things have helped him. He's been out there every day, he's working hard. I guess fortunately for us he hasn’t had to play but I'm confident that if he had to, he's taken the steps he needs to be ready to go.

That's a huge boost to Mallett's credibility.

Of course, from a contrasting standpoint, there is something to be said for healthy skepticism, at least until there's some proof on the table. This is a semi-regular subject with Patriots analysts Andy Hart, Paul Perillo, Erik Scalavino and Fred Kirsch from Patriots Football Weekly (PFW) at Patriots.com. When recently asked about the post-Brady future, Hart wrote:

Every three weeks when I do the Ask PFW mailbag I'm stunned that there always seems to be at least one question about Brady’s heir/replacement...Right now, I don't believe there is a QB succession plan in place. I don't think Ryan Mallett is the answer. So the future QB is playing in college right now, or for another NFL team.

Paul Perillo, also of the PFW crew, recently fielded a similar question. A fan asked, "I think after just [Mallett's] short time with the team he is already a solid backup...I'd like to see him get real time this year. Close teams out early like Buffalo, and give the kid some time. Am I alone in this one?"

Perillo responded:

Based on the feedback we receive from fans, I'd say you are pretty much alone. Mallett has never played a meaningful snap so there's no way to know just how good he is. But the Patriots watch him every day in practice and they have an idea of his talent level.

When Brady retires the Patriots will obviously suffer a drop-off at quarterback whether it's Mallett or anyone else. If New England can get a mid-round draft pick for him, I'd say that's a trade they should make.

Picking up on the trade thread Perillo touched on, rumors about Mallett's deal-bait status have been floating around for a few months. A reporter asked Belichick about this subject at the AFC coaches breakfast. Belichick offered one of his quintessential reactions, beginning with his unique combination of pauses and shrugs. Then, in a monotone voice, he said, "I'm not gonna comment on that. I'm glad he plays for our team."

So, that's where we're at with this 24-year-old backup. He could be the future of this franchise, or perhaps he's a develop-and-deal project, as Mayock initially put forward. There simply isn't enough hard data on the table to reach a scientific conclusion.

There are, however, a few reasons to feel good about Mallett.

For one thing, he has an amazing physical makeup. In a great segment of ESPN's Sport Science, it was determined that Mallett's throwing arm is 33 inches long, with a forearm that reaches an angular velocity of 2,306 degrees per second, similar to guys like Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger. He also stands tall at 6'6" and gets the ball out an eight-foot release point, throwing at 65.4 miles per hour, which can nail a 20-yard distance in seven-tenths of a second. Good stuff.

It's also worth noting that the Patriots haven't drafted a quarterback since Mallett, despite having a few cracks at some interesting prospects. The implication of their inaction on the quarterback front is that they like what they see in Mallett, and they're pretty confident in their depth at the position.

All of this bodes well for Mallett's future.

The Patriots would be golden at quarterback with just Brady and Mallett on the roster for 2013, but they elected to add security and competition with Mike Kafka. Can't blame them for being smart.

Kafka was selected out of Northwestern in the fourth round of the 2010 draft by the Eagles. He spent most of his rookie season on the inactive list. He completed 11 passes for 107 yards with a pair of picks in 2011 and missed all of 2012 after being released by Philadelphia.

Kafka is 25 years old and projects to be last on the depth chart, behind Mallett. He's the type of player who fits as a very solid third option at quarterback, with sound fundamental skills, good field awareness, nice timing, a speedy release and thick skin. He provides effective insurance at the most important position, which is what you're looking for in a third option.

Overall, the Patriots have a great three-layer structure at quarterback. As far as starters go, you can't get better than Brady. As far as a top backup goes, you can't get more intriguing than Mallett. And, as far as a secondary backup goes, you'll get what you need from Kafka.

Tough to ask for more than that.

Final Evaluation Grade: A

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5 Ways Joe Philbin Can Take Pressure off Ryan Tannehill in 2013

Thomas Galicia — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:11:06 -0400

Taking a look at the landscape of the second year quarterbacks of 2013, the Miami Dolphins' Ryan Tannehill likely has more pressure on them than any of the others.

Tannehill's pressure will stem from the fact that to many fans and experts, he has to lead the Dolphins into the playoffs. The table was set well for him to do that as Miami went to work this offseason by making their defense younger and faster, while their offense has more weapons than they did last season.

Sure, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III will be facing some pressure of their own, but barring injuries, those three are almost guaranteed to be starters in 2014 due to their 2012 success. And at least one of them is expected to lead his team into Super Bowl contention (which would be Wilson, who does have the best team set up around him).

With Tannehill, nothing is guaranteed unless he gets into the postseason. For all of his moves, Jeff Ireland is still a potential lame duck this year, with his future hinging on the results Miami brings. If Ireland is out, a new general manager can take his place and decide that Joe Philbin isn't fit to be his head coach, and Ryan Tannehill isn't fit to be his quarterback. That might be a bit unfair, considering that both are only their second season, but it's the reality of changes to such an important part of the staff.

So what can Coach Philbin do to minimize Tannehill's pressure and allow him to play within himself and to the best of his abilities?

Begin Slideshow

Breaking Down the Buffalo Bills' New-Look Hybrid Defense Under Mike Pettine

Erik Frenz — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:00:01 -0400

Don't try to pigeon hole the Buffalo Bills as a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense.

Now that defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is pulling the strings for the Bills, expect a lot of the same that we saw from him with the Jets: a mix of both fronts, a lot of nickel packages and a game plan-specific defense (via BuffaloBills.com).

It's a situation where I think people try to compartmentalize too much, and just broad stroke it. 4-3? 3-4? What are you? And my answer that question is yes to all of the above. We are a multiple-front, attacking, pressure-style defense. We're going to play man coverage, we're going to play zone coverage. What we’re going to do defensively is take advantage of what our players do well.

[ ...]

I'm not bringing any defense here; this is going to be the Buffalo Bills defense. It's going to be built around the explosive athletes that are here, starting with the front—that's the solid foundation here—moving to the linebackers and the secondary that's stacked behind them.

The Bills spent years building toward a 3-4 defense, but switched to a 4-3 scheme last season under defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt. The result is a mix of players that can play different roles depending on the front.

Most of the players have their roots in the 4-3 defense, but some—such as linebacker Manny Lawson and nose tackle Marcell Dareus—come from, and have excelled in, a 3-4 defense. Almost every player, though, has experience in both fronts—for better or worse.

With so many players capable of doing so many different things, it's tough to project exactly who will be filling what role, but with help from Alex Miglio's template for diagramming defenses, let's take a look at what the Bills defense could look like in 2013.

4-3

This is the defense as we last saw it in 2012, with some tweaks across the board.

The linebacking corps has been overturned completely, and there is a slight competition at defensive end now between Mark Anderson and Jerry Hughes, acquired via trade for former Bills inside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard.

The Bills also added Bengals linebacker Manny Lawson as their biggest free-agent signing of the offseason, and chances are strong he'll start on the strong side this year. Nigel Bradham was the strong-side linebacker last year, but his previous experiences came both inside and on the weak side. He emerged in an unfamiliar role, and he could return to one of his more comfortable roles now that there are options for the other spots.

Kiko Alonso has the skill set to play outside or inside. He lined up all over the place for Oregon, but he was primarily an inside linebacker. His athleticism is something the Bills have sorely lacked inside, and he has the versatility to blitz or drop into coverage from that spot. One concern with Alonso is that he's not disciplined against the run, which is an absolute must for an inside linebacker.

Obviously, there's nothing too exotic here schematically, but the 4-3 could still allow for some versatility. Defensive lineman Alex Carrington is a more natural 3-4 defensive end, but could line up inside on passing downs, or maybe even on one of the ends in obvious running situations. At linebacker, perhaps Bradham lines up inside and Kiko Alonso rotates with Bryan Scott on the weak side.

Mario Williams was a right defensive end with the Texans, but moved to the left side last year because he is far better setting the edge against the run than Anderson. Mario could move back to the right side if the Bills wanted to give Carrington a try at left defensive end in four-man lines, and he could even kick inside to the 3-technique on passing downs if the Bills want to get him matched up on a guard.

3-4

There is little doubt in my mind that we'll see some elements of the 3-4 defense for the Bills in 2013. It was the predominant defensive front for Pettine in his time with the Jets. The question comes with where the players will line up.

Anderson and Hughes both have experience playing outside linebacker—Anderson at the end of the 2011 season, and Hughes with the Colts in 2012.

Anderson's move to outside linebacker for the Patriots was necessitated by an injury to defensive end Andre Carter—an injury which forced the Patriots to make wholesale changes in their defensive scheme. Hughes already has a jump-start on the learning curve of his responsibilities in the 3-4 defense, having played in former Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano's defense last year.

As mentioned earlier, Manny Lawson's roots are as a 3-4 outside linebacker with the 49ers.

He was used predominantly as an edge rusher, but he was asked to cover from time to time. His strengths are as a straight-line player, though, and that's likely how he'll be used.

The problem, however, is what to do with Mario Williams. He played 3-4 outside linebacker sparingly in 2011 as part of Texans coordinator Wade Phillips' scheme, but he suffered a torn pectoral muscle five games into the season and wasn't brought back as a free agent in the offseason.

He could play outside linebacker, or at 6'6" and 292 pounds, the Bills might consider using him as a 5-technique defensive end in a 3-4. That would certainly make sense if this is a one-gap scheme where every defensive lineman's job is to get upfield by splitting their gap and beating their man. Perhaps Mario Williams could be utilized similarly to J.J. Watt with the Texans in that respect, carrying out a little of both duties. They could also just put him on the outside and turn him loose.

Some of these ideas may seem off the wall, but if you believe in having the best players on the field, this is a good starting point.

The addition of defensive tackle Alan Branch could change things. He has experience as a 3-4 defensive end and at nose tackle, so he could be used in either spot. He could flex with Kyle Williams, who has also played nose tackle in his career.

In this instance, though, Williams lines up on the edge at right outside linebacker. This is if the Bills feel good about his abilities in space. If not, it could remain Anderson or Hughes on the edge.

5-2

If the Bills are going to convert to a 3-4 look, the 5-2 could follow. That's with five defensive linemen and two linebackers.

It borrows looks from both the 4-3 and the 3-4. The defensive line is aligned similarly, but with the Williamses and Dareus shifted to the right, making room for Lawson on the edge, as in the 3-4.

This could also be called a 4-3 "Under" front, with the defensive line shifted to the offense's weak side and the strong-side linebacker playing close to the line of scrimmage.

This could be a front to disguise pressure, with the possibility that Lawson could drop into coverage.

The Jets ran a 5-2 front at times in 2012, with Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas lined up on the edges. In that scenario, the alignment was more a result of the Jets' inability to stop the run. It may have also had to do with Pace and Thomas' ineffectiveness in space and in coverage, but here, the Bills have some versatility in that regard. Anderson and Hughes won't likely be dropping into coverage much, but Lawson could be used somewhat in that role.

Nickel

This is where things really get interesting. We have heard Mike Pettine say that the nickel defense will be the base, but which version are we talking about?

It could be a 4-2-5 nickel, the front six shown above.

Nothing differs between my vision of the 4-3 and the 4-2-5 except that presumably, one of the the top linebackers has to come off the field. Alonso and Bradham could line up at either weak- or strong-side in this package, but Lawson and Scott would likely be locked in on the strong and weak side respectively.

It could also be a 3-3-5 nickel, the front shown here.

Drawing them into specific spots on the line was difficult; will Mario Williams line up as a 5-technique as shown above, a wide-9, or will the entire line shift to the left with Kyle and Mario Williams lined up over the left and right tackles respectively?

Will the line be two-gapping to hold at the point of attack, or will they be one-gapping to shoot into the backfield? They could even run a mix, with Kyle WIlliams and Marcell Dareus two-gapping on the inside and Mario Williams and another defensive end or linebacker shooting up the field.

Mario Williams

The high-priced defensive end warrants his own section, especially with news that Pettine expects Mario Williams to line up "all over the place" for the Bills.

This really could be its own article, but Mario Williams could be used like Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware, whose position of "Joker" linebacker is indicative of his status as a wild card in the defense. Ware lines up all over the defense: inside and outside both on the line and at linebacker.

At Mario Williams' size, his most likely landing spots are on the edges or as a 5-technique in three-man lines, or in any spot on a four-man line. It wouldn't be surprising at all, however, to see Mario Williams stand up and shoot a gap on either side of the guards. He's never done that in his career,

As with the entirety of the Bills defense, the beauty of it is the versatility.

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