Showing posts with label new england patriots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new england patriots. Show all posts

Robert Kraft Helps Girlfriend Audition For Movie [VIDEO]

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is seen here helping his girlfriend audition for a Vince Vaughn movie. Ricki Lander isn't officially Kraft's girlfriend, but no 'friend' would humiliate themselves like this. I'm certain that he didn't expect this video to be public, but I'm glad it happened...I was expecting Jeff Saturday to come into the shot and hug him. #CreepyOldMan

[Video Has Been Blocked by Kraft's Lawyers]

I will be searching for another video of this audition to post.

Until then, here's a picture of Robert Kraft picking his nose.


By: TwitterButtons.com

Tom Brady singing "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen [VIDEO]

Here's a video of Tom Brady singing Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe". The editing of this video must have taken weeks. This is just amazing...thank you Kristen Radu for sharing this with me.


By: TwitterButtons.com

Who Will Sign Chad Ochocinco?

The New England Patriots released Chad Ochocinco today. He struggled with the offense last season and lacked chemistry with Tom Brady. The Patriots signed Jabar Gaffney and Donté Stallworth in the off-season, two wide receivers who have already played with Brady. Their signings made Ochocinco expendable.

Ochocinco is in great condition and is known to be all business behind the scenes. He keeps his nose clean off the field and didn't do any of his usual outlandish antics with New England.

The league is full of teams in need of a veteran receiver, which one will pull the trigger on Ochocinco?

ESPN Insider had a post earlier today about possible teams that could make a run at signing Ochocinco. They listed St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and Miami Dolphins as teams in the market for a veteran receiver. These teams are full of young receivers, but they also have young quarterbacks who need a reliable receiver as a safety net.

Out of the teams that ESPN lists, Miami would be the best fit. Not only would Ochocinco make their season of HBO's 'Hard Knocks' watchable, but he would be the best receiver on the team. The Dolphins have a short-term question at quarterback, so they have bigger issues at hand.

Ochocinco has ties to the Miami area. He went to high school in Miami Beach and he currently spends a lot of time there. He is engaged to 'Basketball Wives' Evelyn Lozada, the former partner of former NBA player Antoine Walker.
I would put money on his agent getting in contact with Miami, whether they want him is another issue. I believe Ochocinco has a year or two left on his legs. I am crossing my fingers that the Indianapolis Colts take a gamble on the veteran.
By: TwitterButtons.com

How Will The Jets Use Tim Tebow?

The biggest mystery of the upcoming season is how the New York Jets will use Tim Tebow. The team has been silent about their plans for the former Heisman trophy winner. A lot of information is being leaked out, but it is usually about Tebow and Mark Sanchez having dinner together. We all know that he is non-controversial and will not complain about being a backup to Sanchez. He is a great competitor and would love to start, but he will not admit that to the media.

New offensive coordinator, Tony Sparano, brought back the Wildcat formation when he was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Does Sparano have another innovative package to unleash in 2012?
Tim Tebow has not put on a helmet in four months, yet you hear his name everyday on ESPN. I'm sure that head coach Rex Ryan, quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh, and Sparano are getting tired of answering the same questions. It would be stupid of them to tell the media about the role that Tebow will play this season. Cavanaugh told the New York Daily News that Tebow is improving everyday. He is focused on having consistent footwork and improving his rhythm in the pocket.

In 2008, Sparano didn't even hint about his Wildcat package until it was put into action against the New England Patriots. The Dolphins used the wildcat package six times and scored five touchdowns in that formation. They went on to beat New England 38-13 and won the AFC East division by going 11-5. The formation was duplicated across the league and defenses soon figured out a way to stop its effectiveness and it died out. Sparano will need to design a package that he can morph and mold, so defenses can't catch up to it so quickly.

Last season, the Jets admitted that were missing the x-factor that Brad Smith brought to their team. He signed with the Buffalo Bills before last season. They ran an option called the "tigercat", in which he mostly ran out of the backfield. Smith rarely passed the ball out of the package, which makes having Tebow a better fit for a similar package. Safeties started to play inside the box against Smith's package, but Tebow is a better passer. The defense will not be able to predict as much, since Tebow will pass at a higher percentage and keep the defense guessing.

I have kept an eye on the Jets' draft picks and free agent signings. All signs point towards the Jets using Tebow in an exaggerated option package. The biggest sign was drafting running back Terrance Ganaway in the sixth-round. His familiarity with an option-style offense he played at Baylor makes him a perfect running back to lineup in the backfield.

In Denver, Tebow was most effective in the red zone. If he was inside the ten line, he was automatic and scored touchdowns. Last year, the duo of Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson lacked the size to move piles. John Conner, aka The Terminator, is a fantastic blocking back, but he was even rendered useless in the red zone.

What would a "Tebow package" look like? The Jets have said that fans should expect Tebow to be in about 20 plays per game. Sparano has made this priority number one, so expect some elaborate plays from the Jets. Tebow could line up at either quarterback, fullback or tight end, expect the unexpected. He could benefit from playing in a triple option with Greene and Ganaway, which would take a lot of practice and precision from the offensive line to pull that off. He could even line up at a running back in a pro set. If that happens, he could flank out on a screen and be thrown a backwards pass. His down-the-field accuracy is sketchy at best, but he could get lucky and catch the secondary asleep.

We can only guess on how Tebow will be used on the Jets. He is an average quarterback, but if an offense is built around him, he could be great. The skills that he has as a quarterback are the skills that Sanchez lacks. Tebow is a strong leader and has intangibles that can turn a broken play into a first down. I'm not saying that that Jets don't follow Sanchez, but Tebow has the kind of charm and passion for the game that very few players can match. They are both handling this situation pretty well so far, so they must have something under their sleeves.

A lot has to happen in order for the Jets to pull off this Tebow experiment. I am excited to watch the Jets this season and I have never said that in my life.

Lastly, I leave you with a little eye candy for the ladies...shirtless pictures of Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. I have posted half-naked photos of Kate Upton, Brooklyn Decker, and Christina Hendricks, so I kind of owe them. (I apologize to the older demography for not posting any shirtless photos of Joe Namath)

shirtless, nude, naked
By: TwitterButtons.com

2012 NFL Draft - Underrated Draft Picks

Once the 2012 NFL Draft started, it went by in a hurry. The first-round finished in about three hours, which is less than half of the time it took just three years ago. The picks were coming in faster than a commissioner's hug and the trades were flowing like water. The top of the draft went as planned, but my mock draft barely survived the early surprise picks (Bruce Irvin). The chain reaction caused a few top prospects to fall deep into the draft.

A lot of quality players were taken later in the draft, which is where a team's scouting department earns their money. The first few rounds have a greater percentage of sticking in the league, but the later rounds is where championship are won. Every Super Bowl team has a few guys like Donald Driver, Tom Brady, or Marques Colston, who were picked in the last two rounds of the NFL draft. Who were the steals in the 2012 NFL Draft? A few of these picks might surprise you, because there were a lot of smart draft picks this year.

12. Philadelphia Eagles - DT Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State) - I know what you're thinking, "How can a Top-12 pick be a "steal?" It's due to the fact that he was there at #12 and he was the #1 guy on their board. He wasn't even the first defensive tackle taken. Kansas City drafted an untested guys from Memphis (Donatri Poe). Cox has been compared to Warren Sapp and if you can get a guy like that at #12, it's a steal.

21. New England Patriots - DE Chandler Jones (Syracuse) - The Patriots could draft an 8-year old girl in the first-round and NFL analysts would defend it with "Belichick is a genius." As much as I say that every year, I really love Jones. He reminds me of Dwight Freeney, but with the ability to be a really good OLB in a 3-4. His brother is Jon "Bones" Jones of the UFC, so you know he'll be a fighter for you.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - OG David DeCastro (Stanford) - DeCastro was a guy that I heard would be taken in the top 15, but teams didn't focus much on offensive linemen in the first-round. He could be the best guard to enter the draft since Steve Hutchinson. Pittsburgh's offensive line is old and fragile, so this was a pretty easy decision.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - RB Doug Martin (Boise State) - The Bucs were sneaky before the Draft and didn't squash the rumor that they wanted to move up for Trent Richardson. They kept their cool and ended up getting a better fit at running back at #31. Martin will be a nice complement to LeGarrette Blount. The duo reminds me of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, who had a nice run in New York.

34. Indianapolis Colts - TE Coby Fleener (Stanford) - Andrew Luck isn't able to practice at the Colts practice facility until June. He is finishing up his academic quarter and he needs a familiar target to help ease him into the NFL. Fleener will also be at Stanford during this time, so it was logical that he was high on the Colts draft board. The Giants was rumored to be interested in him at #32, but ended up taking a running back instead. Fleener reminds me of Rob Gronkowski, because he can line up at tight-end or wide receiver. He has big hands and he isn't a terrible blocker.

40. Carolina Panthers - OG Amini Silatolu (Midwestern State) - I didn't know of Silatolu until I started to research some of the offensive linemen in this year's draft class. I watched some videos online and read some of the chatter about him. The video of him is ridiculous, but I had to remind myself that he was facing sub-par talent at the D-II/D-III level. He is a project for the Panthers, but he impressed me enough to think of this pick as a steal.

51. Green Bay Packers - DT Jerel Worthy (Michigan State) - Just a few weeks ago, Worthy was mentioned as a first-round grade, just behind Cox and Poe. He will come into the league with a chip on his shoulder. If the Packers ever line up at a 4-3, he would be interesting beside of B.J. Raji, but in a 3-4, he'll come in the game to spell Raji.

54. Detroit Lions - WR Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma) - Broyles was a consensus All-American in 2010 & 2011 and the NCAA FBS leader in career receptions (349). The reason that he fell into the second-round was that he tore his ACL in a November game last season. He will start out the year on the PUP list, but if the Lions are patient with him, he could be a nice bookend to Calvin Johnson.

55. Atlanta Falcons - C Peter Konz (Wisconsin) - Konz is another guy that was rumored to be picked late in the first-round. Konz fell because teams were drafting based on need instead of using the "best player available" strategy. The University of Wisconsin manufactures NFL offensive linemen and Konz will be in the league for a long time.

65. St. Louis Rams - DB Trumaine Johnson (Montana) - Montana isn't known for it's NFL talent, but seven players will end up in NFL camps. Johnson is a bit cornerback at nearly 6'2 and the kind of physical corner that Jeff Fisher loves. He will compete to the be a starter in 2012.

66. Minnesota Vikings - DB Josh Robinson (Central Florida) - The Vikings drafted the fastest guy at the NFL Combine, with a 4.29 40-yard time. I usually hate teams drafting the fastest guy high in the draft, but I like it when he's a corner. He can play man-to-man or zone and he'll instantly help Minnesota's poor pass defense.

85. Detroit Lions - DB Dwight Bentley (Louisiana Lafayette) - This is the third "steal" of a cornerback in the 3rd round. He's an aggressive guy and reminds some of Eric Berry. He will need some work to get at Berry's level, but if you can get a starting cornerback at pick #85, you're doing something right.

97. Miami Dolphins - RB Lamar Miller (Miami FL) - The Dolphins didn't have to go very far to scount Miller. He has blazing speed (4.3) and will inject some life into Miami's running attack. Some scouts had him as a Top-50 talent, but he was leapfrogged by some other running backs with higher potential.

109. Pittsburgh Steelers - DT Alameda Ta'amu (Washington) - Ta'amu received a high grade by a lot of scouts (2nd-round), but he was also hurt by a few guys being taken higher because of upside. He can fill holes on the interior with his 348 pound frame. The Steelers hope that he will be the Casey Hampton's successor.

112. Arizona Cardinals - OT Bobby Massie (Mississippi) - One of Arizona's top needs was trying to fill the vacated right-tackle position. They confused a lot of people when they didn't address this issue in the first three rounds. Massie should win the starting right-tackle job and getting him here is a steal.

143. Carolina Panthers - DB Josh Norman (Coastal Carolina) - A lot of teams take small college cornerbacks in hopes of molding them into NFL talent. If they don't pan out there, they can stick them on the special teams. Norman is a nice gamble at #143, because he has a nose for the ball. He has good size and could end up as a nickelback and get his team a few turnovers.

163. Green Bay Packers - OLB Terrell Manning (NC State) - Manning's draft stock took a huge hit when he had knee surgery. He was a two year starter at NC State and Green Bay need depth at linebacker. They have been riddled with injuries at that position in the past. If they are patient with him, he'll be a nice substitution or much more.

164. Atlanta Falcons - DE Jonathan Massaquoi (Troy) - Troy has produced DeMarcus Ware & Osi Umenyiora, so taking a chance on Massaquoi could have a high payout. He will add depth to the position in Atlanta. He's a project, but all the raw talent is there to be a starter.

186. Dallas Cowboys - TE James Hanna (Oklahoma) - At Oklahoma, Hanna was a red-zone target with big play potential. He will add speed to the tight-end position, but will not be a good blocker. He will be an asset in a two tight-end formation and will be hard for a linebacker to cover with his speed. Drafting Hanna at #186 is great value for Dallas with little risk.

190. Tennessee Titans - S Markelle Martin (Oklahoma State) - If Martin didn't tear his meniscus after the Senior Bowl, he would have went in the third or fourth round. He scared off some teams and he fell into the Titans' lap in the sixth round. If he recovers fully from surgery, he can add depth to their secondary, exactly what you want from a late-round pick.

194. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Marvin McNutt (Iowa) - I'm starting to notice a theme with my "draft steals"...they are all coming off late-season injuries. McNutt is currently recovering from a shoulder injury, so he fell to the sixth-round. I watch a lot of Big Ten football games. McNutt seems to have been at Iowa for a decade, but all he did there was catch poorly-thrown balls. He's a big guy and he will be an asset for Michael Vick.

205. Cleveland Browns - DT Billy Winn (Boise State) - The Browns needed help stopping the run and Winn can add depth at the defensive tackle position. He would have been a second-day pick, but once again, an injury (foot) dropped his draft stock. Winn could be one of the biggest steals in the draft if he bounces back from his injury.

219. Minnesota Vikings - DE Trevor Guyton (California) - Guyton had a third/fourth-round grade coming into the draft, but a lot of teams filled their need in the first two days of the draft. He's a nice pick for Minnesota in the 7th-round.

224. New England Patriots - DB Alfonzo Dennard (Nebraska) - He has some off-field issues, but New England can take on the risk. Their secondary was one of the worst in NFL history, so they will find a spot for Dennard.

237. San Francisco 49ers - DE Cam Johnson (Virginia) - The Niners lack depth on the defensive line and they should be glad that he fell so far in the draft. I predict that he makes the team and has a chance to develop into a nice backup in the NFL.

242. New York Jets - S Antonio Allen (South Carolina) - Allen was graded high by most of the network talking heads and I like the pick. Rex Ryan is a smart guy and he needs to be able to move some guys around in the defense. Allen has played linebacker and safety in college. He's the kind of guy that Ryan will love to coach.

250. San Diego Chargers - RB Edwin Baker (Michigan State) - I love this pick and could be my favorite of the sixth or seventh-round. Baker seemed to have peaked early in his college career, but he still had an above-average career. Ryan Mathews has had some durability issues and they needed a functional backup. Baker will be a cheap option and end up being Mike Tolbert-like goal-line back (if you subtract 40 lbs.).

What are some of your favorite picks from this year's NFL Draft?

By: TwitterButtons.com

2010 NFL Football - Week 1 Betting Picks

The 2010 season starts on Thursday with a great game. It's a rematch of the NFC Championship game when Brett Favre and the Vikings was one or two plays away from going to the Super Bowl. The Saints ended up winning the game and went on to win their first Super Bowl. The rest of the schedule is pretty loaded and should be an interesting week. Here are my betting picks against the spread for Week 1 of the 2010 NFL season.

Minnesota Vikings (+5) at New Orleans Saints (-5) - My pick is New Orleans

Brett Favre hasn't had much practice and he's still having ankle issues. The Vikings will miss Chester Taylor's pass catching ability out of the backfield and Sidney Rice as a deep threat. The Saints appear to be the same team on paper this season and I see them covering this game, because the Super Bowl champ always wins and covers the next season's opener.

Carolina Panthers (+7) at New York Giants (-7) - My pick is Carolina

This line seems kind of off. I know that Carolina wasn't great last season and they lost Julius Peppers, but Matt Moore showed promise and they still return DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Giants had defensive issues last year and I'm not sold on either Ahmad Bradshaw or Brandon Jacobs to help make the Giants offensive attack balanced. I see the Panthers ruining the Giants home opener and not only win against the spread, but win outright.

Miami Dolphins (-3) at Buffalo Bills (+3) - My pick is Miami

The Dolphins is a darkhorse to win the AFC East this season, if they can take care of their own business. They need to win their divisional games and the rest should play itself out. The Bills lack blue chip players are nearly every position and will have trouble winning games this season, Miami should thank the scheduling Gods for not having this game in December. The Dolphins win and cover this game.

Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (+2.5) - My pick is Atlanta

This line should be higher in Atlanta's favor, but the Steelers are a "public team," so homers for the team bet blindly on their team. The Steelers are without Big Ben and trot Dennis Dixon out there to start. Dixon looked "good" in garbage time last season, but Atlanta is a good football team. The Steelers defense will have to play out of their minds to keep this one close. I am picking the Falcons to cover this game big.

Detroit Lions (+6.5) at Chicago Bears (-6.5) - My pick is Detroit

I really don't feel great that I am picking the Lions. It's not that I don't feel comfortable in doing so, but the franchise has been synonymous with losing for the last decade. The Lions have had a couple decent drafts in a row and some of their younger players are starting to turn the corner. The Bears add Mike Martz in as Offensive Coordinator, but that will a disaster if they can't get better at protecting Jay Cutler. Martz's plays take longer to develop and Cutler will end up on his back more times than any other time in his career. I see the Lions keeping this game close and winning against the spread.

Cincinnati Bengals (+4.5) at New England Patriots (-4.5) - My pick is new England

I know the Bengals made the playoffs last season and I should like them more, but the AFC Central teams didn't show up to play them last season. They swept their division and backed into the playoffs. New England does well when they have plenty of time to study their opponent. Since this game was announced months ago, I see the Patriots taking care of business at home and covering the spread.

Cleveland Browns (+3) at Tampa Buccaneers (-13.5) - My pick is Cleveland

The Browns played themselves out of a top 3 pick last season by winning their last few games of the season. Jake Delhomme steps in at QB and adds a few new weapons on offense and defense. Tampa Bay was another team that scraped the bottom of the league in 2009. Josh Freeman gained a lot of experience last season, but they have a lot of youth on their team as well. The Browns should be able to keep this close and pull out a victory and cover, if Delhomme takes care of the ball.

Denver Broncos (+2.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5) - My pick is Denver

Denver's training camp reads like a MASH unit. Everyone from Elvis Dumervil to Knowshon Moreno have been injured. The Broncos started out red hot last season, but cooled off and didn't even make the playoffs. They added some pieces, but lost Dumervil for the season with injury and traded away Brandon Marshall. The Jaguars had trouble scoring points last season and could be the last year in Jacksonville for head coach Jack Del Rio and for starter David Garrard, if they don't pull out a winning season. I see Denver winning a close game, I would pick them with the money line.

Indianapolis Colts (-2) at Houston Texans (+2) - My pick is Indianapolis

I realize that everyone picks Houston to finally make the playoffs before every season, but having the spread at only 2 points in favor of the Super Bowl runner-ups, is ridiculous. I know that Sage Rosenfels is no longer on the Texans and can't fumble away victories, but the Colts are going to cover this one big.

Oakland Raiders (+6) at Tennessee Titans (-6) - My pick is Tennessee

I realize that one of these years the Raiders will win games like this, but not in 2010. The Titans are still a dangerous team with the speed of Chris Johnson and Vince Young. The safeties have to play in the box to stop the running attack and that could leave Kenny Britt open a few extra times a game. The Titans should win and cover this game at home.

Green Bay Packers (-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (+3) - My pick is Green Bay

The Packers have looked great this preseason and I look for them to keep adding to their resumé this season and cover in Philadelphia. Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings should have big games against the Eagles secondary. Kevin Kolb looked impressive last season for the Eagles, but the Packers defense is very tough and will throw out a ton of different looks to confuse the young QB. The Packers are my pick to win the NFC this year.

San Francisco 49ers (-3) at Seattle Seahawks (+3) - My pick is San Francisco

The 49ers are the favorite to win the weak NFC West this season and Seattle looks to be in full rebuilding mode. The Seahawks don't have many blue-chip players yet and will have issues this year winning games. If Alex Smith can hit his receivers and Frank Gore stays healthy, they should have a big season. The Niners will cover this game on the road.

Arizona Cardinals (-4) at St. Louis Rams (+4) - My pick is Arizona

The Cardinals is another team in transition, but won't get much of a test during Week 1. The Rams haven't done much to improve their team in the off-season and lost their best wide receiver (Donnie Avery) to injury for the season. The Cardinals have Derek Anderson as their starting QB and some key pieces were traded or signed elsewhere in the off-season. Arizona should win this game and cover the spread against an even weaker Rams team.

Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) at Washington Redskins (+3.5) - My pick is Dallas

I struggled with this pick the most out of any of the other games on the schedule this week. The NFC East is a toss-up at this point and it will all come down to which team has a better divisional record. The Cowboys have their eyes set on the Super Bowl and the Redskins are definitely improved, but to what extent is still to be determined. This is a true rivalry game and should be intense, since it's also opening weekend. The Cowboys offense is improved and looks like a team ready to take the next step. Both teams have issues at left-tackle, so both teams should be able to pressure the quarterback. The Cowboys are a stronger team, so I am picking them to win and cover.

Baltimore Ravens (+2.5) at New York Jets (-2.5) - My pick is NY Jets

This should be one of the better games during Week 1, since both teams have been picked by experts to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this season. The Ravens improved their offense by adding receivers to a prolific rushing attack. The Jets improved their team on both sides of the ball, but adding veterans at skilled positions. If Darrelle Revis wasn't playing, I would pick the Ravens to win against the spread, but since he just ended his holdout, I will pick the Jets to cover, it will be that close of a game.

San Diego Chargers (-4.5) at Kansas City Chiefs (+4.5) - My pick is San Diego

It's been a long time since a Monday Night Football game has been played in Kansas City. I can see that energizing the Arrowhead crowd, but that can only do so much for the team. I believe KC is an improved team, but San Diego, even without Vincent Jackson, is a much better team. The Chargers should win this game big and cover this spread at halftime.

These picks are for entertainment purposes.

Did The Patriots Make A Classless Move?

If you call the New England Patriots a "class organization," you may want to refrain from using those words going forward. Richard Seymour was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a 2011 first round pick a couple days ago and he has yet to report to Oakland. He was unhappy about the trade and didn't want to play for the Raiders. Was this a classless move by the Patriots?

Richard Seymour has played his entire career in New England. They drafted him out of the University of Georgia in 2001 and he knows nothing other than playing for a winner. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and he helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl championships and a perfect regular season in 2007. He has done everything he could for the Patriots and he deserves a little more respect.

I'm not a Patriots fan, but I can respect Richard Seymour and his football ability. He has crushed the Indianapolis Colts on a few occasions and I have uttered a few curse words with Seymour's name directly involved. I hate when a football player is kicked to the curb because a team gets either a good offer, or a player who is cheaper, but can at least fill their position adequately.

As I take Seymour's side, I can see the Patriots side in this fiasco. Oakland is bad and they will probably be bad in 2010, so their 2011 first-round pick will be very high. In 2011, Seymour would be heading into his 10th season as a pro, and he has already had a few nagging injuries and they can only get worse. I do believe that the Patriots could have said no to this offer, out of respect for a player who was a cornerstone of their defenses that won Super Bowls. There is a bit of a shift-change going on in New England this season. Rodney Harrison, Junior Seau, Mike Vrabel, and Teddy Bruschi are all gone. They were an older defense last year and at times they were handled pretty easily, so a change was needed. Guys like Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork will have to step-up and become leaders on defense.

If I were Seymour, I wouldn't want to play for the Oakland Raiders either. Over the last decade, Oakland has been a place where players go to die. They have a good defense, but if you take away Nnamdi Asomugha, the defense is swiss cheese. They won't win more than five games this season and New England is expected to win at least twelve, since Tom Brady is back. I can see both sides of this situation, but if you can do that, always side with the player. I'm sure Robert Kraft could have handled being without Oakland's 2011 pick and Seymour could have contributed to their defense this year. This trade makes New England worse and I'm all for it, but Seymour got screwed.


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2009 Off-Season - AFC Team Needs

2008 was a great season for the NFL. The entire season was filled with drama and stayed competitive until the final week of the season. Some teams came from obscurity (Dolphins) and and some teams took a step back (Patriots). Here are the needs of all 16 AFC teams for the 2009 Off-Season. Let's hope it's very active and teams get what they need in the draft and free agency.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Offensive Line - "The Steel Curtain" was back on the defensive side of the ball, but the offensive line looked like tin foil. Big Ben needs to stay upright to stay healthy and lead this team.

Cleveland Browns - Defensive End - The Browns couldn't get any pressure on the quarterback this season. They were decent on short yardage situations, but they gave up too many 3rd and long first downs.

Cincinnati Bengals - Cornerback - Teams lit up the Bengals secondary in 2008. Injuries plagued the team, but Ndukwe can't be your best defender. They need to upgrade with more than one new face covering wideouts.

Baltimore Ravens - Wide Receiver
- Baltimore took a step in the right direction last season by drafting Joe Flacco. He has a huge arm and can spread the field with long passes. They don't have any deep threats on the team currently and it would even help their running game by signing an #1 receiver.

Indianapolis Colts - Defensive Tackle
- This has been a need for the Colts for a few years. They have been taking their early draft picks on offense and taking fliers in the late rounds with DTs that don't work out. They need to lighten the run-stopping load from Bob Sanders and get a large body to plug up running lanes.

Tennessee Titans - Wide Receiver - Whomever the quaterback is in Nashville next season, they need someone better than Justin Gage catching footballs. Bo Scaife is their best receiver and he's a top-15 TE, at best.

Houston Texans - Defensive End - Mario Williams is a great pass rusher and they are very fortunate to take him over Reggie Bush and Vince Young. He is often double-teamed and they would could be a playoff team if they had a book-end pass rusher on the other side to help him out.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Defensive Tackle
- In 2007, the Jaguars had one of the best defenses in the NFL. Marcus Stroud, left via free agency, and they Jaguars couldn't stop the run. If Jacksonville is going to compete, they need a good defense. Their offense isn't built to consistently score 30 points a game.

Miami Dolphins - Wide Receiver - Chad Pennington had a good season for the Dolphins. He deserves all the credit for their success. If you step back and realize Greg Camarillo was his #1 receiver for most of the year, it's even more amazing.

Buffalo Bills - Quarterback
- I'm not sold on Trent Edwards. I think he will be a decent quarterback eventually, but he needs more grooming. Dick Jauron has one more season in Buffalo and he needs to win or he's out of there.

New England Patriots - Linebacker
- Jerod Mayo will be a great linebacker for many years. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the rest of the linebacking corps has an average age of 38. If they sign a few linebackers and stay healthy, the Patriots will be back on top of the AFC East, if not the entire conference.

New York Jets - Quarterback - Brett Favre has a 10% chance he'll be back and the Jets have to ask themselves if they even want him. Kellen Clemens is their next best option, but Matt Cassel could be a free agent and he could be a nice addition to open the new stadium.

Oakland Raiders - Offensive Line - After drafting many offensive linemen and none of them working out, Oakland has to get better fast. They spent a lot of money on JaMarcus Russell and he can't live up to his potential if he is running for his life.

Kansas City Chiefs - Linebacker - I would have mentioned quarterback for Kansas City, but Tyler Thigpen started looking like Len Dawson the last half of the season. The Chiefs have to get better at linebacker to help their young defensive line out.

San Diego Chargers - Fullback - After letter Lorenzo Neal leave last off-season, the Chargers realized his worth during the 2008 season. L.T. didn't look himself and needs a fullback to clear a path. If they sign a fullback, L.T. should go back to his normal numbers and scoring nearly 20 touchdowns a season.

Denver Broncos - Cornerback
- Dre Bly and Champ Bailey looked good on paper, but when they are together on the field, it's quite scary. The Bly/Bailey duo looked old when they faced better-than-average wideouts. If they get younger and faster at this position, it should help them out, but they clearly need much more help in a variety of areas.

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