AFC East: Bubba Franks
Around the AFC East: Miami's rookies impressing
Posted by ESPN.com staff
Buffalo Bills
- A former Bills employee has been charged with stealing more than $70,000 from the team.
- What are the chances Terrell Owens remains in Buffalo for more than one season?
Miami Dolphins
- The Dolphins have come a long way since their 1-15 record in 2007.
- Miami has agreed to terms with rookie wide receiver Brian Hartline.
- Several of Miami's rookies are making positive impressions on the coaching staff.
New England Patriots
- The Boston Globe's Mike Reiss takes a snapshot look at the Patriots' receivers.
New York Jets
- Could Mark Sanchez be the key for the NFL to tap into the Hispanic market?
- Leon Washington says he's not sure if he'll show up on time for training camp. Washington: "Honestly, the situation is pretty much the same as it was in minicamp [last month]. We're at a standstill. Not a standstill, but nothing has really changed."
- A day after releasing Bubba Franks, the Jets signed tight end Richard Owens.
Around the AFC East: Jets release TE Franks
Posted by ESPN.com staff
Buffalo Bills
- BuffaloBills.com's Chris Brown wonders if Terrell Owens can post double-digit touchdown numbers this season.
- The Sporting News' Clifton Brown thinks this is all a moot point if Trent Edwards can't get the ball to T.O. because of a weak line.
- If you just can't get enough of T.O. on TV, the Bills wide receiver will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday night.
Miami Dolphins
- Dolphins guard Donald Thomas isn't sure when he'll return from the torn pectoral he suffered last May, but is planning on being ready for the start of the season.
- Dolphins CEO Mike Dee is going to make a "major announcement" at 2 p.m. Tuesday involving the team's marketing outreach in Southwest Florida.
New England Patriots
- The Boston Globe's Mike Reiss continues his "snapshot" series by looking at the Patriots' running backs.
- Also from Reiss: Breaking down Andrew Brandt's piece in the National Football Post on economics and management in the NFL and how it applies to the Patriots.
- More from Reiss: An updated look at New England's rookie contracts.
New York Jets
- Jets safety Kerry Rhodes chimes in about teammate Calvin Pace's four-game suspension, reports NJ.com's Jenny Vrentas. Rhodes: "You don't really want to talk about it too much, put too much out there as far as how he's doing, but he knows that he didn't do the right thing in that situation. You've just got to be careful what you take, he knows that."
- With Pace out, the Jets need Vernon Gholston to step up in his place, writes the N.Y. Post's Dan Martin.
- The Jets released tight end Bubba Franks on Monday, reports NJ.com's M.A. Mehta. More from Newsday's Rod Boone.
Around the AFC East: Dolphins still rebuilding
Miami Dolphins
- Miami Herald columnist Greg Cote writes the Dolphins obviously still are rebuilding because they're clearly not in "win now" mode.
- Palm Beach Post reporter Brian Biggane catches up with cornerback Will Allen about a variety of offseason topics.
Buffalo Bills
- KC Joyner of "The Fifth Down" blog is skeptical of Bills offensive coordinator Turk Schonert's philosophy to spread the ball around.
New England Patriots
- WEEI.com's Christopher Price takes a look at why the Patriots drafted long-snapper Jake Ingram.
- Boston Herald reporter Karen Guregian talks with Matthew Slater about the Patriots' need for a kick returner now that Ellis Hobbs is gone.
- Boston Globe reporter Mike Reiss is conducting a poll to find out who fans consider the NFL's best 1-2 receiver punch.
New York Jets
- The New York Post's Mark Cannizzaro reports the Jets have re-signed tight end Bubba Franks to address a shallow position.
- New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden writes "The truth is that Favre did not want to be in New York."
Jets rookie camp has been no layup for Bullock
For the first time in five years, J'Nathan Bullock pulled a helmet over his ears.
"It messed with all sorts of things," Bullock said Saturday by phone from the New York Jets facility in Florham Park, N.J.. "My neck, my vision, my timing, everything was off. I'm still getting used to it.
"Today, I woke up with a sore neck and my head was banging."
While most participants in this weekend's rookie camp can strap on their equipment as easily as most folks slip into a pair of loafers, Bullock is relearning even the simplest routines.
Bullock hasn't played football since high school. The Jets signed him as an undrafted rookie in hopes of turning him into a tight end.
Bullock was a 6-foot-5, 240-pound power forward at Cleveland State. He led the Vikings into the second round of the NCAA basketball tournament by averaging 15.2 points and 7.1 rebounds a game.
When he took off his football pads for the last time at Flint Northern High in Michigan, he figured it was forever.
"There weren't any thoughts about the NFL marinating," Bullock said.
Shortly after Cleveland State was eliminated from the tournament, he received queries from the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears.
That got him wondering.
"It caused some deep thought," Bullock said. "The idea resonated in my mind when actual teams started talking to me.
"I had aspirations to play in the NBA, but I took a turn. That's life."
Because Cleveland State doesn't offer football -- pro-football-reference.com lists no alumni in its database -- Bullock staged a workout for NFL scouts on the campus soccer pitch.
With visions of discovering the next Antonio Gates, a Kent State hoopster who went on to star for the San Diego Chargers, over half the league was represented at Bullock's workout. But Bullock said only the Jets sent a position coach. That won him over.
Bullock's goal is to make the 53-man roster. The Jets need help at tight end. Their depth chart consists of Dustin Keller and James Dearth, a long snapper with three catches in nine NFL seasons. The Jets released Chris Baker and haven't re-signed Bubba Franks.
The Jets didn't draft any tight ends. They brought in only Bullock, Utah State's Rob Myers and Arkansas' Andrew Davie as rookie free agents. Davie also is a long snapper. He caught eight passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns last year.
It would be interesting to see if he would clear waivers if the Jets tried to place him on their practice squad.
He insisted he isn't flippant about football, that he's not treating it as some fling before returning to the hardwood.
"Once something's on my plate, I go at it wholeheartedly," Bullock said. "I'm giving it 110 percent. I'm not going to cheat the Jets."
But Bullock admitted he had a rough time in his first two practices.
"I would want to make a better first impression because my expectations are high, probably too high," Bullock said. "I was fighting it all day [Friday]. I'm trying to learn the system and plays. It's hard to play naturally through all the mental parts.
"I haven't played up to my ability, but this is a different environment and we're at the beginning of the process."
Patriots upgrade at TE with Chris Baker
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The Patriots are expected to announce Friday they have signed Baker, who spent his first seven NFL seasons with the New York Jets.
Baker's numbers faded last year for the Jets, who drafted Dustin Keller in the first round and signed veteran Bubba Franks. Baker finished with 21 catches for 194 yards and zero touchdowns.
But Baker's previous two seasons were much more effective. In 2007, he had 41 receptions for 409 yards and three touchdowns. In 2006, he had 31 catches for 300 yards and four touchdowns.
The Patriots have wanted more contributions from their tight ends for years.
Last year's duo, Benjamin Watson and David Thomas, combined for 31 receptions, 302 yards and two touchdowns. Also on New England's roster are Tyson DeVree and Brad Listorti, prospects with no NFL receptions.
The addition of Baker and running back Fred Taylor make an already remarkable Patriots offense even more versatile. Taylor adds depth to the backfield, while Baker could be the target they hoped when they drafted Watson 32nd overall in 2004.
Watson had fine seasons in 2005 and 2006, but he has a history of injuries.
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
Throughout the day I'll post the rundowns of free agents for each AFC East club.
We'll start off with the New York Jets, who have a lot of work to do to get their roster organized for 2009.
They're already about $7 million over the projected salary cap because of an accumulation of prorated signing bonuses.
Before we get to the list of free agents, here are some of the higher cap numbers for Jets under contract. I think everybody can identify one player in particular who will alleviate a lot a lot of cap strain if he doesn't return:
- QB Brett Favre $13 million
- OLB Calvin Pace 11.8 million
- S Kerry Rhodes $10.6 million
- G Alan Faneca $7.89 million
- WR Laveranues Coles $7 million
- DE Shaun Ellis $6.875 million
- T Damien Woody $6.5 million
- NT Kris Jenkins 6.4 million
- T D'Brickashaw Ferguson $6 million
- G Brandon Moore $5.85 million
Here are the Jets whose contracts are up:
Unrestricted (free to negotiate with any team beginning Feb. 27)
- LB Eric Barton
- CB Ahmad Carroll
- RB Jesse Chatman
- K Jay Feely
- TE Bubba Franks
- CB Ty Law
- DT C.J. Mosley
- K Mike Nugent
- CB Hank Poteat
- FB Tony Richardson
- LB Cody Spencer
Restricted (Jets have right to match offer from other team)
Exclusive rights (cannot negotiate with other teams if tendered qualifying offer)
- WR David Clowney
- QB Brett Ratliff
- WR Wallace Wright
Crowder, Allen will play for Dolphins
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Greetings from balmy Giants Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins can claim the AFC East title with a victory over the New York Jets. Conditions are warm and windy, but nothing like the tornadic gusts at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
There are no surprise scratches for Sunday's showdown. The Dolphins will have both linebacker Channing Crowder and cornerback Will Allen, who missed considerable practice time this week but will dress.
Miami Dolphins
- QB John Beck
- WR Ernest Wilford
- LB William Kershaw
- G Shawn Murphy
- DE Lionel Dotson
- LB Quentin Moses
- T Nate Garner
- DE Rodrique Wright
New York Jets
The Buffalo Bills on Friday officially ruled out cornerback Jabari Greer and strong safety Donte Whitner for Sunday's critical game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium.
Greer injured his knee in Monday night's loss to the Cleveland Browns. Whitner came back too soon from his separated shoulder.
The Bills also will be without Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel (foot) for the sixth straight game, and linebacker Marcus Buggs (ankle) will also be out.
The good news for the Bills is that No. 2 receiver Josh Reed likely will return after missing three consecutive games.
In the other AFC East games:
- The New England Patriots are healthy by their standards for Sunday's road game against the Miami Dolphins.
The Patriots won't have linebackers Adalius Thomas (forearm) and Eric Alexander (groin) for sure and probably will be without running back LaMont Jordan (calf) again.
Big names labeled questionable are defensive end Richard Seymour (toe), linebacker Tedy Bruschi (knee) and center Dan Koppen (elbow).
- The Dolphins list nobody on their injury report. Tight end David Martin missed practice Friday for personal reasons.
- For the New York Jets, linebacker David Harris (groin) and safety Eric Smith (head) won't play against the Tennessee Titans. Tight end Bubba Franks (hip) and linebacker Jason Trusnik (knee) are questionable.
Ty Warren out, Morris will dress for Pats
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots' defense will need to cope with more than just the loss of leading sackmaster Adalius Thomas.
Also out for Thursday night's big AFC East showdown with the New York Jets is starting defensive end Ty Warren, who has been limited all week with a groin injury and can't go on the slick Gillette Stadium turf.
Warren is second on the Patriots with 54 tackles. He also recorded both of his sacks over the past two games.
Thomas, who already had been ruled out with a forearm injury, leads the Patriots with five sacks.
But here's some good news for Patriots fans: Running back Sammy Morris is active after missing three games with a knee injury.
Here are the other inactives:New England Patriots
- QB Matt Gutierrez
- CB Terrence Wheatley
- CB Lewis Sanders
- RB LaMont Jordan
- LB Eric Alexander
- T Wesley Britt
New York Jets
Nugent or Feely? Jets have decision at kicker
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
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| Nugent | Feely |
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Perhaps the most intriguing name on the injury report for the AFC East's first-place showdown Thursday night in Gillette Stadium belongs to a kicker.
The New York Jets list Mike Nugent as questionable against the New England Patriots. A thigh injury has sidelined Nugent since the season opener.
"Nuge will travel with us," Jets coach Eric Mangini said Wednesday. "We'll make a decision tomorrow."
Mangini has said Nugent would retain his job once healthy, but replacement kicker Jay Feely has made six of his seven attempts from 40 yards or beyond, including both tries of at least 50 yards.
In last week's blowout victory over the St. Louis Rams, Feely tied a franchise record with a 55-yard field goal at the end of the first half to give the Jets a 40-0 lead. He made all four of his attempts.
Also on the Jets' injury report, tight end Bubba Franks (hip), linebacker David Harris (groin) and safety Eric Smith (head) are out. The Jets don't classify anyone as doubtful.
Patriots running back LaMont Jordan likely will miss his sixth straight game with a calf injury and is listed as doubtful along with cornerback Lewis Sanders (hamstring).
Running back Sammy Morris (knee) is questionable. He has missed three games in a row.
As expected, linebacker Adalius Thomas (forearm) and cornerback Terrence Wheatley (wrist) have been ruled out. Both are expected to land in injured reserve eventually.
Morris limited, Jordan unable to walk through
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Because the New England Patriots staged a walkthrough Tuesday afternoon, it's difficult to determine exactly what the initial injury report means for Thursday night's game against the New York Jets.
Patriots running back Sammy Morris, coming back from a knee injury, was listed under "limited participation." That's better than running back LaMont Jordan, who didn't participate at all due to his nagging calf problem.
Also not participating for the Patriots were linebacker Adalius Thomas (forearm) and cornerbacks Lewis Sanders (hamstring) and Terrence Wheatley (wrist). Thomas is expected to be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Limited for New England were guard Stephen Neal (knee), defensive end Ty Warren (groin) and linebacker Eric Alexander (hamstring).
For the Jets, tight end Bubba Franks (hip), linebacker David Harris (groin) and safety
Eric Smith (head) didn't practice Tuesday. Limited were receivers Laveranues Coles (thigh), Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder) and Brad Smith, linebacker Cody Spencer (shoulder) and kicker Mike Nugent (thigh).
MIAMI -- Did the New York Jets really need to trade for Brett Favre?
Maybe not.
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They had on their training-camp roster a quarterback who is playing rather well somewhere else this year.
Chad Pennington, after eight seasons with the Jets, has been posting highly efficient numbers for the Miami Dolphins, who have only one fewer victory than his old club after seven games.
Favre has been winning with performances that make Jets fans feel like they just staggered off the Tilt-A-Whirl. He threw three interceptions, including one for a touchdown, but then hit Laveranues Coles with 65 seconds left to beat the lowly Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
About 1,100 miles away, Pennington was marching all over Dolphin Stadium in a victory over the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills. He threw for 314 yards, his first 300-yard game with Miami and the sixth of his career.
Pennington has notched passer ratings of 100 or higher in four of his past five games. The one time he didn't hit triple digits he finished with a 92.0 rating. Miami is 3-2 in those games.
Then there's Favre, the first-ballot Hall of Famer the Jets just had to obtain because they weren't convinced Pennington could do the job. Pennington has had shoulder surgeries, was coming off an ankle injury and was retooling his mechanics.
Favre over his past three games has thrown three touchdown passes and seven interceptions. His passer rating has plummeted from a well over 100 to 89.5 after Sunday.
Pennington -- rag-arm reputation and all -- has thrown for more yards than Favre on fewer attempts and completions. Pennington also has more completions of 20 yards or longer and 40 yards or longer.
Favre and San Francisco 49ers journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan lead the NFL with 11 interceptions.
One more element to consider: Favre's receiving corps consists of potential game breakers Coles and Jerricho Cotchery and three viable tight ends in Chris Baker, Bubba Franks and Dustin Keller.
After Ted Ginn, a 2007 first-round draft pick who hadn't done much and recorded his first career 100-yard game Sunday, Pennington's next three receivers lately (Greg Camarillo, Davone Bess, Brandon London) weren't drafted at all. Miami does have two nice tight ends in Anthony Fasano and David Martin.
How good would the Jets be if they had kept Pennington and passed on Favre?
Here are Friday's significant updates from AFC East injury reports:
Buffalo Bills
Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Shobel (foot), starting right guard Brad Butler (knee) and reserve linebacker John DiGiorgio (knee) already have been ruled out for Sunday's road game against the Dolphins.
Center Melvin Fowler (elbow) and cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) were limited in Friday's practice and listed as questionable.
Miami Dolphins
Cornerback Michael Lehan, who had been battling an ankle injury, pulled a hamstring this week in practice. The Dolphins placed him on injured reserve Friday.
Starting nose tackle Jason Ferguson (oblique) missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. He was full go Friday and is listed as questionable for the Bills.
New England Patriots
All of the following did not practice Friday and are listed as doubtful Sunday versus the St. Louis Rams: running backs Sammy Morris (knee) and LaMont Jordan (calf), linebackers Eric Alexander (hamstring) and Shawn Crable (shin) and cornerback Lewis Sanders (hamstring).
Starting right tackle Nick Kaczur and defensive end Jarvis Green were limited with ankle injuries and are questionable.
New York Jets
Tight end Bubba Franks (hip) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Meadowlands.
Questionable are receiver Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder), tight end Chris Baker (back), right tackle Damien Woody (calf).
Receiver Laveranues Coles, coming back from a concussion, was listed as probable.
Emotion doesn't play new Pats QB Cassel
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Randy Moss, engulfed by reporters and cameras, stood in front of his locker stall and delivered a message to the world.
His New England Patriots went into the Meadowlands as underdogs on Sunday. They didn't have quarterback Tom Brady. Many observers figured the game would signal a power shift in the AFC East because the New York Jets supposedly had become the team to beat.
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| Rich Kane/US Presswire | |
| New England quarterback Matt Cassel didn't make any major mistakes in a solid first start for the Patriots. |
"I don't think there's one person in my face with a microphone that picked us to win today," Moss said with a gloating smile. "So I'm going to go ahead and end [the interview]. The Patriots, two and oh. We got one in the division. So all you haters, keep hating. We coming."
The Patriots beat the Jets 19-10 to run their regular-season streak to 21 victories. They've also beaten the Jets eight straight times in the Meadowlands. They will play host to the Miami Dolphins in Foxborough, Mass., next week.
Although the Patriots proved predictions usually are worthless in the NFL, it seems a safe bet they'll be 3-0 going into their bye week. The Dolphins are 0-2 after getting dismantled by the Arizona Cardinals.
The Patriots also have the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams among their first seven opponents. Another lopsided record should be expected heading into November.
Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel wasn't sensational, but he was good enough in his first start since high school. He completed 16 of 23 throws for 165 yards and no touchdowns. He didn't throw any interceptions. He had an 89.9 passer rating.
Cassel's teammates were unanimous in their praise of No. 16, who was unflappable all afternoon.
"He took us to the promised land in Week 2, and that's a victory," cornerback Ellis Hobbs said. "Every week you look forward to a victory. How you get there, you never know. He's a leader over there now. He's a guy we're looking toward to make plays on offense."
Said New England Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour: "You want your quarterback to play with emotion, but the emotion didn't play him."
Cassel bemoaned some missed opportunities and a few erroneous reads. But he made one less major mistake than future Hall of Famer Brett Favre did for the Jets.
"Let's hope that a lot of quarterbacks do that throughout the rest of the year," Cassel said of Favre's interception. "He's a great quarterback, and it was fun to compete against him. I remember watching him growing up. It'll be a memorable first start for me."
Favre's glaring error happened in the third quarter, with the Patriots ahead 6-3. He was intercepted by safety Brandon Meriweather at the Jets 24-yard line.
"I saw the guy," Favre said of Meriweather. "Maybe I got a little greedy."
Six plays later, the Patriots scored their only touchdown, a Sammy Morris leap into the end zone for a comfortable 13-3 lead with 6:20 left in the third quarter.
The Jets scored their only touchdown on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Favre completed all six of his passes for 51 yards, including a touch pass to a wide-open Chansi Stuckey from the 2.
But one impressive drive wasn't going to be enough. Not nearly.
The Patriots were the better team in so many ways. The Jets wasted seven points with a missed 31-yard Jay Feely field-goal attempt on the opening drive and their inability to punch the ball into the end zone after getting first-and-goal from the Patriots' 3-yard line in the second quarter. They settled for a field goal.
New England's special teams were dominant. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski not only drilled four field goals, but he also recorded five touchbacks on kickoffs.
The Jets' average start was on their 21-yard line. The Patriots' average start was on their 42.
The Patriots also were more disciplined. They had two penalties for 10 insignificant yards.
The Jets committed six penalties for 60 yards and had a couple more declined. Their costly calls included 12 men on the field, a pass from beyond scrimmage, roughing the passer and a facemask on a Cassel scramble for no gain.
"I think we as a team should see there's a lot of room for improvement," Favre said. "But we're not far off. When we'll turn that corner, I have no idea. We battled back and did some good things, but ultimately we didn't score enough points."
In the visitors locker room, the Patriots were feeling vindicated as a team and not a bunch of supporting cast members made to look good by one leading man.
They want you to know the Patriots still are the team to beat, and they'd just proved it.
"This team was going to come down and do what they did today regardless of what anybody else thinks," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "That is who they are, and that is their job.
"I don't think it really matters what you think. That's just what they are going to do, regardless."
The Jets -- and the world -- were reminded of that Sunday.
Biggest surprise: The Jets decided to keep all four of their QBs, fueling speculation in New York Kellen Clemens might be on the move. Jets coach Eric Mangini defused that talk by suggesting Clemens would be on the roster opening day as Brett Favre's primary backup. Because Brett Ratliff had performed so admirably, many observers were skeptical fifth-round draft pick Erik Ainge would stick. Ainge looked shaky throughout training camp, but he closed out the preseason with a fine performance Thursday night.
The most significant veterans dropped were eighth-year CB Hank Poteat and ninth-year LB and special-teamer Matt Chatham. Poteat was beaten out by fourth-round draft pick Dwight Lowery. Marques Murrell showed the Jets enough to bump Chatham.
No-brainers: Division I-AA record-setting WR David Ball got lost at a position that includes Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith, Chansi Stuckey and David Clowney. The same fate befell WRs Larry Brackins and Paul Raymond, who never had much of a chance.
TEs Jason Pociask and A.J. Schable were on the outside looking in at veterans Chris Baker and Bubba Franks and first-round pick Dustin Keller.
What's next: The Jets, like many other teams, will be looking for offensive line depth. They kept seven receivers and nine defensive backs, so those look like areas to trim if they find some players they like on the waiver wire.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
