Josh McDaniels named Patriots Offensive Coordinator
By Gayle Saunders
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As expected the New England Patriots have made Josh McDaniels their offensive coordinator. McDaniels was originally brought in during the playoffs as an offensive assistant. After the move he was speculated to take over after offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien left for Penn State.
Belichick made it official yesterday, confirming the move just a day after suffering a super bowl loss to the New York Giants.
Just a few years back the offensive coordinator job was Josh McDaniels from 2006-08 until he left for the head coach position in Denver. McDaniels time in Denver was very brief as he only lasted just 28 games. In 2010 after starting 3-9 the Broncos let him go. This season he was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams.
Looks like Josh McDaniels has found his way back to New England a place where he;s found success in the past, lets hope that relates to the Patriots future.
Super Bowl XLVI: Most Watched Program in U.S. History
By Gayle Saunders
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Nielsen is reporting that NBC’s broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI officially scored as the most-watched television program in U.S. history and that the game became the highest-rated Super Bowl in 26 years.
According to fast national data. The game clipped last year’s mark, set by FOX, with 111.3 million average viewers (compared to 111.0 in 2011) and drew a 47.0 rating with a 71 share. Among adults 18-49, the contest scored a 40.5, the best in that demo in 16 years. In total viewers, the tight game drew a total audience of 166.8 million viewers, also a high mark.
The End of the Pro Bowl?
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is mulling an end to the Pro Bowl. Goodell took to the airwaves over the weekend, telling ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning that if the league can’t figure out how to improve the game, he would consider eliminating it. “I really didn’t think that was the kind of football that we want to be demonstrating for our fans,” he said on the show. “And you heard it from the fans. The fans were actively booing in the stands. They didn’t like what they were seeing.”
Free Agent Punters 2012
By Gayle Saunders
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Best Available:
Mat McBriar – Cowboys - Predicting which kickers will stand out year after year is something many analysts like to stay away from, but projecting the top punters isn’t nearly as difficult, thanks to consistently top-tier performers like McBriar. A foot injury hampered the two-time Pro-Bowl selection this past year, but over the course of his career, McBriar has annually ranked among the league’s best at booting the ball deep and inside opponents’ territory. In four of his last six seasons, the Hawaii product has averaged more than 45 yards per kick, and in 2009, McBriar recorded an astounding total of 38 punts inside opposing teams’ 20-yard line. His recent injury could draw concerns from some teams on the market, but overall, McBriar figures to be among the first special teams aces to find a home in free agency.
Punters
Mat McBriar
Donnie Jones
Steve Weatherford
Dave Zastudil
Nick Harris
Daniel Sepulveda
Brad Maynard
Ben Graham
Matt Turk
Free Agent Kickers 2012
By Gayle Saunders
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Best Available:
Matt Prater – Broncos - He bounced around the league just a few years ago as a veteran journeyman, but Prater has quickly established himself as one of the top placekickers in the NFL, especially when it comes to long-distance field goals. Undrafted out of Central Florida, he failed to crack the Lions’ final roster as a rookie in 2006 before briefly spending time with the Dolphins the following year. After a short stint with the Falcons, Prater began to make a name for himself in Denver during the 2008 campaign. As the replacement of Jason Elam, he kicked five field goals of over 50 yards. In a little over four seasons with the Broncos, Prater has had somewhat of an inconsistent field goal percentage, but has frequently made headlines for coming through in the clutch; perhaps his best moment came in 2011 when he connected on a 59-yard try to send his team to overtime.
Neil Rackers – Texans - Rackers, 36 in August, is getting up there in the age department, but many kickers around the league are just as seasoned as the longtime Cardinals special teamer. With the Bengals for the first three years of his lengthy career, the veteran has been with Houston since 2010, and while his leg arguably isn’t what it used to be in terms of power, Rackers remains one of the most accurate kickers in the game, posting a field goal percentage of at least 90 in two of the last three years. His record-breaking season of 40 field goals in 2005 is long behind him, but Rackers could be targeted in free agency as a stopgap solution for a contending team. Just this past year with the Texans, he connected on 32 of 38 attempts, accounting for 135 total points.
KICKERS
Matt Prater
Neil Rackers
Jay Feely
Josh Scobee
Connor Barth
Phil Dawson
Rian Lindell – Signed with Bills 4-year deal worth 11 million on 2/3/12
Dave Rayner
Mike Nugent
John Kasay
Nick Folk
Rhys Lloyd
Free Agent Safties 2012
By Gayle Saunders
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Best Available:
Tyvon Branch – Raiders - He isn’t as well known as some of his fellow free agent safeties, but in the eyes of many analysts, Branch is the top player at his position set to hit the market. A fourth-round pick out of Connecticut four years ago, he has established himself as one of Oakland’s most reliable run defenders as of late. After primarily playing a special teams role as a rookie, Branch emerged as a full-time starter at strong safety with 124 tackles and eight pass deflections in 2009. While his pass coverage has been up and down over the years, Branch consistently chips in with several turnovers and has ranked among the Raiders’ leading tacklers the last three seasons; he’s had at least 80 solo take-downs in each of his years as a starter.
LaRon Landry – Redskins - With plenty of name recognition and his status as a former first-round draft pick, Landry is expected to garner just as much, if not more, interest than Branch as a free agent this March. The one-time LSU standout has been limited to 17 games over the last two years because of a lingering Achilles injury, but proved to be one of the league’s hardest-hitting in-the-box safeties when healthy. While he’s given up his fair share of long touchdowns, Landry has excelled in short-area pass coverage and against the run, racking up 250 tackles and 23 pass deflections from 2007 to 2009. There could be some concerns about his health, but there’s little doubt a handful of teams will consider pursuing him in free agency.
Michael Griffin – Titans - Griffin, the 19th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, hasn’t been quite as physical as Landry or Branch throughout his career, but garnered a good deal of praise for his balance of skills at the back end of the secondary. While his 2011 performance was arguably so-so, Griffin has been the centerpiece of Tennessee’s typically admirable defensive backfield for the last few years, and could wind up landing a contract even larger than that of his fellow free agent safeties. In the 2008 season, the two-time Pro-Bowl selection displayed his ability to find the ball with seven interceptions and a forced fumble, but has also performed well vs. the run, topping the 75-tackle mark in four of his five years at the professional level.
Safety
Tyvon Branch
LaRon Landry
Dashon Goldson
Michael Griffin
Dwight Lowery
Thomas DeCoud
Jim Leonhard
Brandon Meriweather
Reggie Smith
Sean Jones
Mike Adams
Chris Harris
Reggie Nelson
Brodney Pool
Husain Abdullah
Tom Zbikowski
Jordan Babineaux
Madieu Williams
James Sanders
Steve Gregory
Abram Elam
Deon Grant
Tyrell Johnson
Dominique Barber
Jarrad Page
Craig Steltz
Erik Coleman
Bob Sanders
Haruki Nakamura
Anthony Smith
Jarrett Bush
Derrick Martin
Chris Hope
Craig Dahl
Atari Bigby
Corey Lynch
Gibril Wilson
Bryan Scott
Quintin Demps
Paul Oliver
Matt Giordano
Nathan Jones
James Ihedigbo
Courtney Greene
Hamza Abdullah
Antwaun Molden
Jon McGraw
Sean Considine
Sabby Piscitelli
Lito Sheppard
Randy Phillips
C.C. Brown
Myron Rolle – Signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers 2/2/12
Free Agent Cornerbacks 2012
By Gayle Saunders
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Best Available:
Brent Grimes-Falcons - Among the top free agent cornerbacks from last offseason, Grimes missed four games this past year because of a knee injury, and his production suffered as a result, but the Philadelphia native still figures to garner interest as a No. 1 CB target on the market. After working through roles on the practice squad and in the now-defunct NFL Europe as an undrafted rookie in 2006, Grimes slowly eased into a regular job in Atlanta, breaking out with six interceptions in just eight starts two seasons ago. As a full-time starter the last two years, he has remained the Falcons’ most productive cornerback, contributing primarily as a ball hawk when healthy with a combined mark of 37 pass deflections and six picks.
Cortland Finnegan – Titans - Someone who might draw as much, if not more, interest than Grimes as a free agent is Finnegan, who is a year younger at age 27 and has made headlines for his physicality over the last few seasons. A little-known prospect as a seventh-round draft pick in 2006, the former safety earned a full-time starting job by the second year of his NFL career, and while his aggressive demeanor has occasionally resulted in discipline from the league, Finnegan’s performances on the field have warranted a good amount of praise. Though reportedly inconsistent in coverage, the six-year veteran has been a reliable tackler and play-maker for the Titans; in addition to two 95-tackle seasons, Finnegan has three career defensive touchdowns.
Carlos Rogers – 49ers - As a free agent last summer, Rogers was seen as well below the talent level of other unsigned corners, but turned in arguably the best performance of his career as a member of San Francisco’s dominant defense in 2011. Long regarded as a steady, albeit unspectacular defensive back during his six-year stay with the Redskins, the former first-round draft pick silenced critics of his ball-hawking skills by intercepting six passes and deflecting another 18 during this past season with the Niners. Teams looking at his entire career could be hesitant to hand Rogers a long-term, big-money career, but after an impressive 2011 campaign, he is likely to be among the most coveted players at the cornerback position.
Cornerbacks
Brent Grimes
Cortland Finnegan
Brandon Carr
Carlos Rogers
Stanford Routt
Terrell Thomas
Rashean Mathis
Aaron Ross
Eric Wright
Richard Marshall
Tracy Porter
Marcus Trufant
William Gay
Tim Jennings
Jason Allen
Kelvin Hayden
Kelly Jennings
Justin Tryon
Corey Graham
Pacman Jones
Zackary Bowman
Will Allen
Benny Sapp
Dimitri Patterson
Ronde Barber
Alan Ball
Phillip Buchanon
Patrick Lee
Jonathan Wilhite
Elbert Mack
Donald Strickland
Justin King
Michael Coe
David Jones
Reggie Corner
Roderick Hood
Travis Daniels
Cletis Gordon
Frank Walker
Will Blackmon
Brandon McDonald
Leigh Torrence
Anthony Madison
Free Agent Linebackers 2012
By Gayle Saunders
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Linebackers
Curtis Lofton
Dan Connor
D’Qwell Jackson
David Hawthorne
Anthony Spencer
Stephen Tulloch
London Fletcher
Joe Mays
Ahmad Brooks
Jarret Johnson
Philip Wheeler
Quentin Groves
Jameel McClain
Manny Lawson
Jo-Lonn Dunbar
Leroy Hill
E.J. Henderson
Barrett Ruud
Geno Hayes
Rocky McIntosh
Wesley Woodyard
Channing Crowder
Brandon Johnson
Jonathan Goff
Mario Haggan
Bryan Thomas
Ernie Sims
Kirk Morrison
Erin Henderson
Clark Haggans
Lofa Tatupu
Darryl Blackstock
Xavier Adibi
Bryan Kehl
Bobby Carpenter
Chase Blackburn
Bradie James
Reggie Torbor
Erik Walden
Chris Chamberlain
Gary Guyton
Blake Costanzo
Heath Farwell
David Vobora
Antwan Applewhite
Kevin Bentley
Keyaron Fox
Andra Davis
Ikaika Alama-Francis
Ricky Brown
Keith Brooking
Mike Peterson
Tracy White
Brady Poppinga
Marvin Mitchell
Tavares Gooden
Matt McCoy
Tim Shaw
Jordan Senn
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Patrick Bailey
Tim Dobbins
Ben Leber
Na’il Diggs
Omar Gaither
Isaiah Ekejiuba
Stephen Cooper
Free Agent Defensive Lineman 2012
By Gayle Saunders
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Best Available:
DE
Calais Campbell – Cardinals – Darnell Dockett has long been known as the dangerous member of Arizona’s defensive line, but Campbell firmly stole that title with his performance in 2011. Still relatively young at age 25 after four seasons in the league, he has been overshadowed by big-name teammates ever since he joined the Cardinals, but Campbell made a name for himself this past season, starring as the clear-cut leader of Arizona’s surprisingly competitive defensive unit. Among the team leaders with 72 tackles, he also recorded eight sacks (a total higher than most ends in a 3-4 scheme, which allows the linebackers to do most of the pass rushing) and deflected a whopping 10 passes at the line. Campbell could be in for a lucrative long-term extension.
Cliff Avril – Lions – Sticking with younger pass rushers who have just recently broken into the spotlight, Avril has quietly developed into one of Detroit’s top defenders and appears well on his way to being among the league’s best up-and-coming defensive ends. A third-round selection out of Purdue in 2008, he flashed potential in his first two seasons as a situational lineman for the team, but broke loose in 2010 with more than eight sacks in 13 games. This past season, Avril further boosted his numbers, lifting his sack total to 11 and forcing six fumbles, taking advantage of increased blitzing opportunities to shine in Detroit’s system. At just 25 years old, he could be both a short- and long-term solution for a needy pass rushing unit.
John Abraham – Falcons – Three years ago, Abraham likely would have been the clear-cut No. 1 free agent at his position, but at age 33 after 12 seasons at the professional level, some decline is expected from the longtime defensive end. Even so, the Falcons’ renowned blitzing specialist is likely to garner a good deal of interest if he hits the market, especially with the recent success of other older ends like Andre Carter of the Patriots. Since coming over from the Jets in 2006, Abraham has recorded a double-digit sack total three times and consistently ranked among the leaders in that category. While his numbers dropped off a bit in 2011, he remains one of the premier defensive ends in the NFL and figures to earn at least one more decent-sized contract in his career.
DT
Jason Jones – Titans - Once regarded as one of the league’s top up-and-coming interior linemen, Jones’ value has dropped off a bit in recent years, but he remains among the most successful tackles set to hit the open market after four years in Tennessee. A clear beneficiary of current Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn’s aggressive pass rushing system during his time with the Titans, the 25-year-old Jones provided his team with a disruptive presence in the trenches and was on pace for a double-digit sack total before suffering a shoulder injury in 2009. He was moved to the defensive end position this past season, but struggled to adapt to playing on the outside of the line and figures to reprise his role as a DT with whichever team shows interest in free agency.
Paul Soliai – Dolphins - A native of American Samoa who has been in the league since joining the Dolphins as a fourth-round draft pick in 2007, Soliai doesn’t boast impressive statistics and rarely cracks the highlight reel for his role in the middle of Miami’s stout defense, but heads into the 2012 free agent market as arguably the best nose tackle available. The heart of the Dolphins’ defensive line, which gave trouble to a number of high-powered rushing teams this past year, Soliai has yet to record more than 40 tackles in a single season, but is a constant presence in the backfield vs. the run and acts as a cog to his team’s other play-makers. The massive 355-pound lineman is expected to be near the top of Miami’s offseason priority list.
Sione Pouha – Jets - Regarded as nothing more than a project at the start of his career, Pouha spent his first few NFL seasons as a sparingly used reserve for the Jets, and an ACL tear in the 2006 campaign simply delayed his development. But since the departure of longtime starters like Kris Jenkins and Shaun Ellis, the nose tackle has emerged as one of the most effective run stoppers in the league. Though some teams might steer clear of his services at age 32, Pouha has proven to be a force in the middle of New York’s stout defense the last two years, starting 30 games and recording 41 solo tackles in each season, as well as six pass deflections and three sacks. On a short-term deal, Pouha could be a prized acquisition for a needy defensive line.
Defensive Linemen
Calais Campbell
Mario Williams
Robert Mathis
Sione Pouha
Jason Jones
Cliff Avril
John Abraham
Paul Soliai
Mark Anderson
Kendall Langford
Jeremy Mincey
Brodrick Bunkley
Matt Roth
Andre Carter
Aubrayo Franklin
Red Bryant
Trevor Laws
Cory Redding
Israel Idonije
Jarvis Moss
Kroy Biermann
Tony Brown
Colin Cole
Marcus Thomas
Phillip Merling
Letroy Guion
Pat Sims
Antonio Garay
Derek Landri
Trevor Scott
Dave Ball
Dave Tollefson
Rocky Bernard
Shaun Rogers
Anthony Hargrove
Juqua Parker
Jamaal Anderson
Amobi Okoye
Adam Carriker
Wallace Gilberry
William Hayes
Andre Fluellen
Raheem Brock
Brandon McKinney
Jovan Haye
Tommie Harris
Howard Green
Frostee Rucker
Aaron Smith
Tim Bulman
Jason Hunter
Turk McBride
Kelly Gregg
Kedric Golston
Jimmy Kennedy
Eric Foster
Vonnie Holliday
Derrick Harvey
Eric Moore
Igor Olshansky
Gary Gibson
C.J. Mosley
Shaun Ellis
Jeff Charleston
Fred Evans
Tyler Brayton
Darrion Scott
Gerard Warren
Amon Gordon
Jonathan Fanene
Ronald Fields
Victor Adeyanju
Daniel Muir
Jimmy Wilkerson
Chris Hoke
Victor Abiamiri
Free Agent Defensive Ends 2012
| Player | Pos | Status | 2011-2012 Team | New Team | Years | Dollars | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Abraham | DE | UFA | Atlanta | TBD | – | ||
| Cliff Avril | DE | UFA | Detroit | TBD | – | ||
| Calais Campbell | DE | UFA | Arizona | TBD | – | ||
| Jason Jones | DE | UFA | Tennessee | TBD | – | ||
| Robert Mathis | DE | UFA | Indianapolis | TBD | – | ||
| Matt Roth | DE | UFA | Jacksonville | TBD | – | ||
| Mario Williams | DE | UFA | Houston | TBD | – | ||
| Victor Abiamiri | DE | UFA | Philadelphia | TBD | – | ||
| C.J. Ah You | DE | RFA | St. Louis | TBD | – | ||
| Ikaika Alama-Francis | DE | UFA | Miami | TBD | – | ||
| Jamaal Anderson | DE | UFA | Indianapolis | TBD | – | ||
| Dave Ball | DE | UFA | Tennessee | TBD | – | ||
| Kentwan Balmer | DE | UFA | Washington | TBD | – | ||
| Alex Brown | DE | UFA | New Orleans | TBD | – | ||
| Red Bryant | DE | UFA | Seattle | TBD | – | ||
| Adam Carriker | DE | UFA | Washington | TBD | – | ||
| Andre Carter | DE | UFA | Washington | TBD | – | ||
| Marques Douglas | DE | RFA | Tennessee | TBD | – | ||
| Shaun Ellis | DE | UFA | New England | TBD | – | ||
| Jonathan Fanene | DE | UFA | Cincinnati | TBD | – | ||
| Jacob Ford | DE | UFA | Tennessee | TBD | – | ||
| Clifton Geathers | DE | RFA | Dallas | TBD | – | ||
| Wallace Gilberry | DE | UFA | Kansas City | TBD | – | ||
| Quentin Groves | DE | UFA | Oakland | TBD | – | ||
| Anthony Hargrove | DE | UFA | Seattle | TBD | – | ||
| William Hayes | DE | UFA | Tennessee | TBD | – | ||
| Jason Hunter | DE | UFA | Denver | TBD | – | ||
| Jarret Johnson | DE | UFA | Baltimore | TBD | – | ||
| Kendall Langford | DE | UFA | Miami | TBD | – | ||
| Aaron Maybin | DE | UFA | New York | TBD | – | ||
| Ryan McBean | DE | RFA | Denver | TBD | – | ||
| Clinton McDonald | DE | RFA | Seattle | TBD | – | ||
| Phillip Merling | DE | UFA | Miami | TBD | – | ||
| Jarvis Moss | DE | UFA | Oakland | TBD | – | ||
| Rob Ninkovich | DE | UFA | New England | TBD | – | ||
| Igor Olshansky | DE | UFA | Miami | TBD | – | ||
| Jaqua Parker | DE | UFA | Philadelphia | TBD | – | ||
| Ropati Pitoitua | DE | UFA | New York | TBD | – | ||
| Frostee Rucker | DE | UFA | Cincinnati | TBD | – | ||
| Trevor Scott | DE | UFA | Oakland | TBD | – | ||
| Brandon Sharpe | DE | RFA | Arizona | TBD | – | ||
| Aaron Smith | DE | UFA | Pittsburgh | TBD | – | ||
| Paul Soliai | DE | UFA | Miami | TBD | – | ||
| Jason Taylor | DE | UFA | Miami | TBD | – | ||
| Dave Tollefson | DE | UFA | New York | TBD | – | ||
| Jimmy Wilkerson | DE | UFA | Seattle | TBD | – |
