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There have been plenty of moves since Free Agency started yesterday. Since I’m a Jets fan I’ll start there. The team brought back OLB and longest tenured Jet, Bryan Thomas on a 1 year deal. He suffered an Achilles injury early in the season and it was evident we really missed him. The Jets have been linked to a couple safeties like Reggie Nelson, and Brandon Merriweather and they are bringing in ex-Lions quarterback Drew Stanton in for a visit. Stanton played his college ball at Michigan State.
Staying in the AFC East, the Bills are said to be close to signing the best defensive free agent on the market in OLB, DE Mario Williams. Williams was the first pick taken by the Texans in the 2006 NFL Draft. They were also rumored to be close to signing New Orleans Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem, but he instead signed with the San Diego Chargers. The Miami Dolphins traded away star wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Bears in exchange for two draft picks, both believed to be 3rd round picks. You thought maybe Miami was looking to clear space for Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne, but Wayne re-signed with the Colts.
The Tampa Bay Bucs have had a huge start to free agency as they signed away wide receiver Vincent Jackson from the Chargers with a 5 year deal. Today they signed former Saint All-Pro guard Carl Nicks and signed ex-Browns CB Eric Wright.
The other big news from today is that the best wide receiver in the NFL, Calvin Johnson, received a seven year, $130 million dollar extension.
Lastly, Peyton Manning is meeting with the Titans today after visiting with the Dolphins yesterday.
In the near future, the Colts are going to make a decision on whether or not to keep Peyton Manning for next year. He's due a $28 million dollar roster bonus in early March and without knowing the extent of his injury most "experts" believe he will be let go. If Peyton Manning hits the open market, he could arguably be the most coveted free agent since the system was implemented. You could make a case that Reggie White may have been the biggest free agent as well.
We’ve heard the rumors how the New York Jets might be interested and this could intensify with ESPN’s Ron Jaworski coming out and saying how much of a perfect fit Manning would be there. As a side note, really ESPN, you couldn't keep Jaws and get rid of Gruden? Sure, a 100% healthy Manning would be great in NY, but no one knows what his physical condition is currently.
Knowing the Jets luck, they would get Peyton Manning and he would get hurt the very first game. We know this is possible especially if they keep RT Wayne Hunter on the roster. The Jets offensive line wasn’t as good last season as the previous two and you want to acquire a guy coming off neck surgery to stand behind that line? I don’t know the official count for how many hits Mark Sanchez took and that guy is mobile. Can you imagine what could happen to a statue like Peyton Manning?
How do we even know Peyton wants to play in NY? He’s played his whole career in a dome, is he really going to want to come play in the cold of NY? Does he want to play in the same town as little brother, Eli? We know how the NY Media is, how is he going to want to deal with questions on how little brother has won the big game twice and he only has one and lost another?
I understand Mark Sanchez can drive a fan insane. I’ve spent many Sundays curing his name and existence but the guy has only played 3 years of NFL football and he only started 1 season as USC. Is he wildly inaccurate, sure. Does he throw some interceptions where you just drop to the floor of your room in stunned silence, absolutely. I know a lot of Jets fans that think he’s never going to get better and we should cut our losses. I’m not one of them, yet.
Everything you hear about Mark Sanchez you heard about Eli Manning his first three seasons in NY. Manning was wildly inaccurate and he could never win in NY with his “Aw shucks” demeanor. Fast forward a few seasons and Eli now has 2 Super Bowl victories and 2 Super Bowl MVP Awards.
Am I saying Sanchez can be Eli, I don’t know. Eli even at the beginning always threw a great deep ball which Mark seems to lack. All I know is the Sanchez has gotten to two AFC Championship games and he wasn’t the reason the team lost in either. The Jets defense couldn’t stop Peyton in the first game and Rashard Mendenhall I think is still running from the Pittsburgh game. He’s already beaten Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning (rematch) and Tom Brady all on the road in playoff games.
Let’s pass on Peyton and let Mark develop. Let’s not trade any draft picks for once and re-build the offensive line and re-establish the run game. Thankfully now that Brian Schottenheimer is gone maybe we can see what a real NFL offense is supposed to look like. I mean if I have to see anymore 2 yard outs I might just lose my mind. If I haven’t done enough damage to that already.
If Mark falters this year, we can re-visit the QB situation either through the draft or free agency next year but Peyton is not the answer going into the 2012 season.
There has been good news coming out of the NFL meetings and with the schedule being released and talk of the upcoming draft I am starting to feel that football fever again. The draft is only a week away, and while it is not nearly as hyped as years past, it still should be intriguing to see where some of the big names go. The schedule also shows something to get excited about with several compelling early matchups.
The Carolina Panthers just can't seem to catch a break. They own a number one pick in next week's NFL draft that no one really envies. They are coming off an awful 2-14 season that earned them the number 1 pick and saw an end to the John Fox era in Carolina. Now, as the schedule's been released, they find out that statistically they have the hardest schedule of all teams in the upcoming 2011-2012 season. The Panthers are joined at the top of the list of hardest schedules by fellow cellar dwellers Buffalo. This is of course based off of last year's records so it could end up totally different, but nonetheless this news can't excite Panther fans.
Rodgers and the defending champs open up against the Saints
While Carolina and it's fans may not be too excited, there are certainly some intriguing matchups coming up next year. The Thursday night opener pits the Saints against the defending champs in Green Bay. Week one also will showcase the two top teams of the AFC North when the Steelers head to Baltimore to face their rivals the Ravens. Other interesting week 1 matchups include Atlanta vs. Chicago, Dallas vs. the Jets and Indy vs. Houston
If all goes as planned and the NFL starts when expected, opening weekend games will be played Sunday September 11th. Teams across the country will be remembering those lost in different ways, but the NFL has scheduled the Giants to play the Redskins as a tribute of sort to the event.
So while we're still only in April and labor talks are dragging on, actually seeing the matchups on paper has me excited for some football. Are you ready?
Raymond Mencke Jr's Blogs
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