AFC East: Mailbag
The draft is over and free agency is all but done. We can begin looking ahead to the 2012 season.
Here is the link to send all your questions, comments and complaints on the division.
Here is a reminder to send all your questions, comments or complaints this week to our AFC East mailbag. We will address everything related to the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.
There's plenty to discuss following the draft. So let's hear it.
Who's left in free agency? Where does Tim Tebow fit in New York? What are the Miami Dolphins doing?
Feel free to send us all your questions here. You can also send your comments and complaints, although you might run the risk of being our latest "Homer of the Week."
John Bruce from Lyndhurst, N.J., writes: How good of a fit would you think safety LaRon Landry is to Rex Ryan's scheme, and what would you think the odds are of the New York Jets taking a shot at acquiring him?
James Walker: Good question, John. Landry has his strengths (size, big hitter) and weaknesses (coverage, injury-prone). He wouldn't be New York's first choice, but he's probably the best of the remaining group after several free-agent safeties were tagged last week. The diluted pool makes Landry a top target for the Jets. They can't afford to leave this offseason without at least one starting-caliber safety, maybe two. I expect the Jets to show interest. But as usual, it could come down to money and cap room.
Gabriela from Florida writes: How committed are the Buffalo Bills to Ryan Fitzpatrick? Do you think they'll draft a QB or add one in free agency?
Walker: You would be surprised how often I get this question. Fitzpatrick is the guy in Buffalo. The situation is actually pretty similar to the Jets' with Mark Sanchez. Each quarterback just received a big extension, which ensures he will be the starter for at least the next two or three seasons. Therefore, I don't see Buffalo adding a veteran quarterback. The Bills may draft a project-type in the middle or late rounds to develop.
Forrest from Tucson, Ariz., wants to know if the Miami Dolphins really want Peyton Manning.
Walker: The Dolphins want Manning bad, Forrest. They met with him Monday night. He's a guy who can instantly change the fortune of this losing franchise. The bigger question is, does Manning want Miami? The Dolphins do not have that answer at the start of free agency, which makes it tricky because they are also interested in former Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn.
Sloan from Seattle wants to know if the New England Patriots will get free-agent defensive end Mario Williams.
Walker: The Patriots are a possibility. But I think money is what doesn't make them the favorites. I expect New England to go after several solid players instead of one expensive superstar. That's usually been the Patriots' model. They have several holes to fill, including rushing the passer. But Williams is going to cost a ton -- and deservedly so. He instantly makes the defensive side of the football a lot better.
Enjoy 2012 NFL free agency, everyone, and remember to check out the AFC East blog Tuesday evening and throughout the week for constant updates and analysis.
There is a lot of ground to cover with all four teams. Free agency is about to get underway next week, and the draft is inching closer. Peyton Manning also is available and could land in the AFC East.
We will have our next weekend mailbag completed by the end of the week.
It's a slow time right now following the Super Bowl. But things are about to pick up again with the NFL combine at the end of the month and free agency in March. Also, if you agree or disagree with this week's "Walker's Fab 40," let us know.
Here's our list so far:
- 17. RB Reggie Bush, Dolphins
- 18. WR Steve Johnson, Bills
- 19. LB Cameron Wake, Dolphins
- 20. CB Vontae Davis, Dolphins
- 21. G Brian Waters, Patriots
- 22. DT Paul Soliai, Dolphins
- 23. G Andy Levitre, Bills
- 24. CB Antonio Cromartie, Jets
- 25. DT Marcell Dareus, Bills
- 26. QB Matt Moore, Dolphins
- 27. C Eric Wood, Bills
- 28. LB Jerod Mayo, Patriots
- 29. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills
- 30. TE Dustin Keller, Jets
- 31. LB Brandon Spikes, Patriots
- 32. RB C.J. Spiller, Bills
- 33. DE Mark Anderson, Patriots
- 34. QB Mark Sanchez, Jets
- 35. P Brandon Fields, Dolphins
- 36. LB Rob Ninkovich, Patriots
- 37. G Brandon Moore, Jets
- 38. P Brian Moorman, Bills
- 39. LB Kevin Burnett, Dolphins
- 40. CB Kyle Arrington, Patriots
How will the New England Patriots handle 20 free agents? Will the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets land Peyton Manning? What’s up with Steve Johnson and the Buffalo Bills? There are hot topics all over the division that need to be addressed in the coming weeks and months.
Send all your offseason questions here, and I will get to as many as I can by Saturday.
Last week's edition touched on Bill Cowher, Terrell Owens and Tim Tebow. What craziness will this week bring?
Send your questions, comments and complaints on the division to our mailbag. We will get to as many as we can.
Stop by our AFC East mailbag this week and send your questions, comments and complaints on the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.
We will get to our always entertaining mailbag on Saturday. Here was last week's edition.
It's that time again for questions and answers.
Send your questions, comments and complaints for this week to our AFC East mailbag. We will get to as many of them as we can by Saturday.
Two teams (Patriots, Bills) are on a bye week, while the Jets and Dolphins will be in action. We will hit on all the teams.
AFC East mailbag dropped on your doormat
I'd be surprised if the Chargers would make that trade. They need a running back because LaDainian Tomlinson will turn 31 years old in June and has nothing left. Jones is a year older than Tomlinson, and while Jones did roll up 1,402 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, he was worn down and banged up at the end of the year.
The Chargers would be reckless to trade the 19th overall draft choice in 2006 (an All-Pro with a league-leading 10 interceptions in 2007) for an old running back who would put the Chargers' backfield in the same spot a year from now.
Josh in Pennsylvania is trying to find out what undisclosed draft compensation the Miami Dolphins received for trading offensive linemen Andy Alleman and Ikechuku Ndukwe to the Kansas City Chiefs in August.
You've stumbled upon one of the great mysteries in the NFL, Josh. In fact, we've been able to find out more about negotiations between the league and the players association than we have the particulars of this trade. There have been reports the Dolphins obtained the Chiefs' sixth-round pick, but we can't seem to confirm it.
I reached out to the Dolphins this week to find out the answer and was told by a spokesman that the team's policy is to not reveal such information. I contacted the NFL, and a spokesman told me they will release the final draft order in April, but the Dolphins were free to tell me if they wished. AFC West blogger Bill Williamson approached the Chiefs and was rebuffed. ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton said this is the only 2009 trade particulars he doesn't have nailed down.
Paul in Lexington, Mass., takes umbrage with the notion the New England Patriots are aging, a sentiment expressed by analysts in a recent column I wrote about the Jets having a brighter future than the defending AFC East champs.
As Paul astutely points out, the Patriots have youth all over the place. More than half of the members on their roster had five or fewer seasons of NFL experience in 2009. The Patriots will have their usual bumper crop of draft picks in April. They already have four selections within the first two rounds.
Those are valid points, but the problem is the Patriots are getting older in key positions. I will buy the argument the Patriots' divisional dynasty won't die if someone can convince me they'll turn one of their many draft picks into another Tom Brady. Four-fifths of their starting offensive line was born in the 1970s. Star receiver Randy Moss turned 33 a week ago. If the Patriots re-sign Kevin Faulk, then they'll have three running backs who'll be 33 or older before training camp.
Jon in Kenmore, N.Y., wonders what the Buffalo Bills will do at nose tackle because they don't have "a single player on the roster capable of playing the most important spot" as they switch to a 3-4 defense.
Options exist through the draft and -- to a lesser degree -- free agency. How the Bills proceed will depend on how they prioritize their various needs. Will they spend their ninth overall draft choice on an offensive tackle? A quarterback? Will there be enough nose tackles available on the open market?
Let's assume nose tackle will be a main concern. And for the purpose of addressing this question, let's pretend it's their ultimate offseason prize. If they wanted to draft the best nose tackles in this year's class
, they probably can. Many draftniks rate Dan Williams of Tennessee the best of the lot. He still should be on the board at No. 9, but that might be a reach for Williams. The Bills also have the 41st selection and could take a shot at Alabama's Terrence Cody or North Carolina's Cam Thomas there.
Free agency appears lacking because nose tackles are such a commodity. The Patriots and San Francisco 49ers are expected to put franchise tags on Vince Wilfork and Aubrayo Franklin. The Pittsburgh Steelers could franchise Casey Hampton. Green Bay Packers nose tackle Ryan Pickett will be unrestricted, but he stated he wants to return -- and could be franchised anyway.
The Bills' best option might be Jason Ferguson if the Dolphins part ways with him. Ferguson is a free agent who will turn 36 next season and is coming off a leg injury.
Edward in Caldwell, Ind., has a solution to the Pro Bowl problem. He proposes they merge it with the Hall of Fame Game and have the all-stars play the same weekend the new Hall of Fame class is inducted.
I like how you think outside the box, Edward, but I see two hitches with your suggestion.
The first problem is that it would eliminate a game (read: revenues) from the NFL menu. You can throw any two teams together for the Hall of Fame Game and it won't make a difference, so fielding two teams of all-stars would be a wasted opportunity for the NFL to make a few bucks.
The other issue that immediately comes to mind is teams wouldn't want their best players playing outside their supervision so close to the season. When someone gets hurt in the Pro Bowl in February, he has months to rest and recover. A tweaked hamstring or a pulled groin at the start of training camp would be maddening.
Ryan in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, thinks Rex Ryan's XXXL personality is a distraction for the Jets and wants to know if I agree.
Ryan's behavior has done far more good than harm for the Jets because his players respond to it. The locker room is loyal to Ryan because of he's a charismatic leader who constantly reinforces his faith in the roster. Is he too arrogant? Is he irresponsible? Perhaps, but that loose personality helped propel the Jets to within 30 minutes of the Super Bowl.
Tim Graham: The fact the San Diego Chargers play in the AFC West and this is an AFC East blog might have a little something to do with it. That would explain my lack of Chargers coverage over the past two years.
As for a lack of respect, I've gone on record as predicting the Chargers will beat the New York Jets on Sunday. So have all eight ESPN experts who pick the games, AccuScore and the SportsNation poll. Notice those 10 yellow lightning bolts all in a row? That means they're predicting a Chargers victory.
Ethan in Austin, Texas, thinks the Buffalo Bills' inability to land a coach has been "overplayed" because of his belief that Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is the only one to have turned down an interview, that Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera eventually will interview and that there have been no confirmed reports Bill Cowher is out of the mix.
TG: That's an awful lot of blind hope. In all fairness, Ethan submitted his question before Saturday's report in the Buffalo News that Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm likely won't accept the Bills' invitation to interview either. Even so, these men also spurned overtures from the Bills: Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren and Charlie Weis. Mike Shanahan interviewed and went elsewhere. That's a lot of rejection.
Interim coach Perry Fewell would rather have the New York Giants' defensive coordinator job than the possibility of the Bills' head-coaching position. That leaves one candidate we know they've interviewed and still is available, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
As for still waiting on Cowher, what are you basing that hope on? Other reports that state the Bills have been pursuing him? You can't listen only to the stories that tell you what you want to hear. ESPN's Adam Schefter and John Clayton and Sports Illustrated's Peter King all have reported Cowher isn't coming to Buffalo.
Tony in Madison, Wisc., wants to know what the Miami Dolphins should do in the draft. He mentions the defensive line, receiver and safety.
TG: Let's not forget inside linebacker. The Dolphins need to upgrade there, too. They were ready to walk away from Channing Crowder last year and let him become a free agent. Crowder gave them a discount rate to remain with the team. Otherwise, the Dolphins would have gone a different direction a while ago. Akin Ayodele hasn't been a difference-maker, either.
The Dolphins own the No. 12 selection. A receiver there would be the sexiest pick. Chad Henne could use a formidable and reliable downfield target. But if the Dolphins identify a nose tackle they like, and who projects worthy of the draft slot, then that could be the way to go. Nose tackle is critical to a 3-4 defense. Jason Ferguson is a free agent, would turn 36 next season and is coming off a leg injury that limited him to nine games. Paul Soliai was adequate in Ferguson's place, but the Dolphins probably wouldn't mind improving there.
Carlos posted a question on my Facebook wall about how the Patriots might change on the offensive line to make room for Sebastian Vollmer. (If anybody else wants to friend me on Facebook, you can get alerts on my blogs the second they're posted.)
TG: Although receiver Julian Edelman was the biggest name at the end of the year, Vollmer was the prize of New England's 2009 rookie class. Vollmer showed he was capable of being a franchise left tackle, but the Patriots would be better off if they kept the aging-but-still-capable Matt Light through the final year of his contract and insert Vollmer on the right side for Nick Kaczur. If the Patriots wanted to cut payroll, however, then they could start Vollmer at left tackle next year with no problem.
In response to the debate about whether Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis deserved to win the AP's Defensive Player of the Year Award instead of Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson, Kevin in Menlo Park, Calif., wants to know how each player compared from a penalty standpoint.
TG: Revis was penalized four times for 20 yards. Three flags were for illegal contact. The other was for defensive holding. No pass interference calls.
Woodson was penalized eight times for 68 yards. He was called for pass interference three times, defensive holding three times and facemask twice.
Steve in Middlesex, N.J., writes in with a correction. He points out that twice I erroneously cited the Dallas Cowboys finished with a better scoring defense while, in fact, the Jets gave up fewer points.
TG: Guilty as charged. I have no explanation other than I must've looked up the stat incorrectly the first time and then committed those false numbers to memory. For the record, the Jets allowed a league-low 236 points for an average of 14.8 points per game. The Cowboys allowed 250 points for an average of 15.6 points per game.
Gene in Rochester, N.Y., writes: "Do you ever get tired putting down the Bills all the time? Its getting old."
TG: After a full decade without making the playoffs, the only way I can avoid writing anything negative about the Bills would be not to cover them at all.
Dan in New York poses an interesting hypothetical question: What if Kellen Clemens holds off Mark Sanchez in training camp and then plays like the quarterback the New York Jets thought he would be? How would the Jets handle those two quarterbacks moving forward?
Tim Graham: Clemens is entering the final year of his contract. One would assume he'll be gone in 2010. If he plays poorly or Sanchez beats him out for the job, then it's easy to say goodbye. If Clemens lights up the scoreboard, then he becomes a hot commodity in free agency. And that's where things would get interesting for the Jets. They might want to re-sign him, but Clemens and Sanchez are represented by the same agent, David Dunn. An agent is supposed to work in the best interests of his client, but keeping Clemens in a Jets uniform would not be in Sanchez's best interests.
Travis from Corvallis, Ore., wants to call me out for poking fun at a recent picture of Tom Brady tooling around on his bicycle in Boston with his son on the back and a little dog in the front basket. "Give me a break," Travis writes. "We need more images like Tom and his kid in sports!"
Tim Graham: There was a little dog in the basket, Travis.
John in Port St. Lucie, Fla., wonders if the Miami Dolphins would be interested in Plaxico Burress.
Tim Graham: While the addition of Burress would give the Dolphins the No. 1 receiver they lack, the baggage is too much for their tastes. They're not interested. Besides, Burress still might be facing prison time. The Dolphins are big on their players attending all offseason workouts, and this would be too big of an exception to make.
Joe in Atlanta is curious how I define a No. 1 receiver. This was in response to various discussions about the Dolphins and Jets being in need of one.
Tim Graham: I'm in full agreement with Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson when it comes to this. Many people simply look at the receiver with the most prolific stats for a team and label him its No. 1 receiver, suggesting every roster has one. Matt and I are among those who disagree. We view No. 1 receivers as a class of player, like franchise quarterbacks. Williamson contends there are only about a baker's dozen or so No. 1 receivers in the league right now. These are game changers that offer an uncommon combination of skills such as speed, height and hands -- guys like Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson.
Brian in Connecticut wants to know if there's any truth to reports floating around cyberspace the Buffalo Bills are interested in Michael Vick.
Tim Graham: This rumor has been gaining momentum, and I have no idea why. While there have been some speculative articles that list the Bills as a team that might be interested, I have not seen one credible report that alleges the Bills would even consider it, much less do it. Besides, I previously blogged that the Bills have absolutely zero interest.
Ryan in Tallahassee, Fla., wants to know if there are any updates to those whispers the Oakland Raiders will trade Derrick Burgess to the Patriots.
Tim Graham: That rumor has gone cold, although there's a possibility it still could happen. Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post recently reported Oakland offered Burgess to New England for backup quarterback Kevin O'Connell and rookie tackle Sebastian Vollmer. Lombardi wrote the Patriots turned them down. But as long as the Raiders want to unload Burgess and the Patriots have interest in a pass-rusher, a deal could be struck.
Jeff in Latham, N.Y., and Will in Oregon are looking for information on what kind of compensation the Jets would receive if Brett Favre signs with another team.
Tim Graham: The Jets released Favre from the reserve-retired list, essentially tearing up his contract. The Jets will receive no compensation if Favre signs elsewhere, and they'll owe nothing more to the Green Bay Packers if he signs within the NFC North.
Jordan from Beckley, W.Va., all but guarantees Pat White will be Miami's starting quarterback because the Mountaineer scrambler simply is too explosive to suppress. Jordan points to White's passing performances in the Senior Bowl and Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Tim Graham: I'm sorry, Jordan, but I just don't see it. Not only are the Dolphins set for now with Chad Pennington and for the future with Chad Henne, but White has looked awful so far at quarterback on the practice field. As the third quarterback, White won't get enough reps to overtake anybody this year.
Gavin in the Bronx disagrees with a recent post in which I named Bills quarterback Trent Edwards the AFC East player most on the hot seat. Gavin thinks Jets outside linebacker Vernon Gholston belongs there.
Tim Graham: I won't argue that Gholston has much to prove. The Jets drafted him sixth overall last year, and he was invisible -- one solo tackle and a healthy scratch for a must-win game late in the season. But I can't bring myself to put a second-year player on any hot seat. Yes, Gholston needs to step up huge to justify his contract, but the Jets' success won't hinge on whether he emerges. If Edwards doesn't perform with the supporting cast of skill pl
ayers, Bills fans will be ready to turn the page and start looking for another quarterback.
On the same subject, Aaron in Buffalo has a bone to pick with me. I wrote that with the array of weapons around him, Edwards will have no excuses this year if the Bills don't win. Yet I've often raised questions about Buffalo's offensive line.
Tim Graham: You're right, Aaron. I guess Edwards would have an excuse if he finds himself peering out of his ear hole often enough.
Frank in Miami says he knows "damn well" the Buffalo Bills should be higher than No. 21 in ESPN.com's latest power rankings and wants to know where I had them listed.
Tim Graham: I'm sure Frank won't be pleased to know I had the Bills ranked No. 22. As I explained in my breakdown of all the AFC East clubs, the Bills have a lot to be excited about. But their offensive line will be different at each position and probably will include two rookies. There's reason to worry.
Adam from Boca Raton, Fla., wants to know if all of the teams that emerged from the AFL will wear throwback uniforms in 2009.
Tim Graham: Only the original eight teams -- Boston Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Texans (Kansas City Chiefs), Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers (Tennessee Titans), San Diego Chargers, New York Titans (Jets) and Oakland Raiders-- will wear their early uniforms for what the NFL is calling Legacy Games. The other AFL graduates will wear their current duds.
Gabriel in Miami wants to know if Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who's entering the final year of his contract, could become a Dolphin.
Tim Graham: There's no debating the Dolphins would love to have a player such as Wilfork. They also run a 3-4 defense, which largely is dictated by the soundness of its nose tackle. The Dolphins have Jason Ferguson, but he has a lot of mileage. He'll turn 35 before the end of the season. The Dolphins don't have an obvious heir.
All that said, the same reasons the Dolphins would be interested in Wilfork are the same reasons the Patriots would want to keep him. He missed last week's organized team activities, but the relationship doesn't seem broken. Unless the situation turns ugly, I foresee Wilfork remaining with the Patriots.
Kevin in Louisville says the Bills' success this year will depend on how much they improve their "anemic" pass rush and wants to know if I concur.
Tim Graham: While I see the Bills' offensive line as their most significant unit, I do agree the pass rush will unlock the defense. Only three NFL teams recorded fewer sacks than the Bills did last year. I recently put together a post of all the quarterbacks each AFC East team will face this season: Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning to name a few. If the Bills give that crew time to throw, they're done.
Eric in Fort Valley, Ga., wants to know if he's the "only person alive" who thinks the Dolphins will win the AFC East.
Tim Graham: Not at all, Eric. Always remember there are people out there who think this will be the year Adam Sandler wins his Oscar.
Mark in Champaign, Ill., writes: Tim -- With the compensatory picks now allotted, the Pats have 12 picks. In my view, there is no way BB exercises all of those picks. To do so would be tantamount to throwing assets to the wind, simply because there are not 12 openings on this, still a very deep and talented roster. My prediction: The Pats will trade some picks to move up in one or more rounds to acquire a player or players of interest, and will also trade a pick or two for (higher value) choices in future drafts. Bottom Line: Don't be surprised if the Pats acquire only 7 or 8 new players on draft day. Your thoughts?
Tim Graham: The Patriots actually own 11 draft picks at the moment. Some rundowns floating around in cyberspace haven't deducted the fifth-round selection they sent to the Eagles for Greg Lewis.
Eleven draft picks still are a lot, and the Patriots simply won't have enough room on their roster to add that many players. To use them all would be wasting assets. That's why I do agree the Patriots likely will package multiple picks to acquire a player or make trades to push some of those picks into 2010.
Tim in Goodlettsville, Tenn., writes: Tim, As a Vandy follower during the Cutler years I never saw evidence of the player criticisms being leveled. I'd be the one of the first to say to JC, "Shut up and play the game," if it were merited. I also believe that due to his college experience, Jay was better suited to early NFL success than either Young or Leinart. The Hunchback of ND could have won under center at TX and SC. Are you hearing any any positive words floating around about the issue? Thanks, Tim
Tim Graham: You probably won't like my answer, but while I was at the NFL owners' meeting last week in Dana Point, Calif., Jay Cutler might have been the most popular topic of discussion. I spoke with several owners, general managers and coaches. Nobody I talked to came to Cutler's defense. They raved about Cutler's physical ability, but the general perception was that he needed to man up and get over his wounded feelings.
Eric in New York writes: what are the odds of jay cutler reaching the jets? What would be better, to draft a qb or go after cutler?
Tim Graham: If the Jets can go into the draft certain they can land one of the top three quarterbacks -- Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman -- then they should jump on one of them. The more we learn about Cutler, the more toxic he seems. Jets safety Kerry Rhodes this week spoke out against Cutler. Rhodes doesn't respect Cutler and insisted he's not alone in his feelings.
Leroy in Atlanta writes: Do you think that Ted Ginn Jr. can ever live up to the expectations of the Miami fans and Media? I think that because of where he was drafted and because of us passing up Brady Quinn,nothing he ever does, short of being a perinial Pro bowler, will ever validate him.
Tim Graham: Any criticism of the Dolphins' decision to draft Ted Ginn ninth overall is warranted. He doesn't need to be a perennial Pro Bowler. Not even close. Lee Evans hasn't been to one Pro Bowl, yet he's a bona fide No. 1 receiver for the Bills. But Ginn does need to be significantly more productive. He had one more reception than Greg Camarillo, who played only 11 games, and two more than Davone Bess. Neither Camarillo nor Bess was drafted.
Steve in York, Pa., writes: LT Peters - I don't see how giving him more money will help with his production. He gave up 11 sacks last year in only 13 starts. His best year was in 2006, so please, as a Bills fan move on.
Tim Graham: You're not alone, Steve. A lot of Bills fans are fed up with Peters. But he still is a valuable player despite his disappointing season. If the Bills were to move on, replacing a player at such a critical position would be difficult. If I were a Bills fan, I wouldn't be so eager to see Peters split.
Don in Rye, N.H., writes: After the pre-season games .The fan and sports casters would have cut Cassel and made O'connell the Brady back up. .However BB went with Cassel when Brady went down. Why not trade Cassel and get some picks and use O'connell as the back up. He played better than Cassel in the PRE. Nobdy these days even mentions O'connell .Why did they draft him if not to use him.
Tim Graham: You bring up an interesting point that really hasn't been explored in regard to Kevin O'Connell. If Tom Brady's patched up left knee is sturdy enough, the Patriots probably will try to trade Matt Cassel. But we don't really know much about O'Connell's development after one season on the sidelines. The Patriots liked him enough to use a third-round draft choice on him, but that doesn't necessarily mean they think he's ready to take over the team if Brady's not ready.
Stevie in Indianapolis writes: Some of these questions are completely ridiculous, I feel for Tim Graham having to answer some of them. Mike Shanahan as O-coordinator in NE? Rodney Harrison and Tedi Bruschi in the HOF? Terrell Suggs going to the Jets? A Bills fan thinking that Robert Royal is the answer at TE? Ron Meeks on Dick Jauron's staff? Torry Holt, his 32 year old body, declining skills, and his $10 million contract to Buffalo? Dwayne in Ohio...you personally think the Dolphins should dump one of their starting tackles? Who would replace him? You? Their O-line played phenomenal this year (especially taking last year into account). The O-line averaged less than 2 sacks a game given up. Pretty good stuff. Here's a question for Mr. Graham. Will their be any changes to the Patriots O-line this year? They gave up the 5th most sacks this year. Is this a result of personnel or missing Tom Brady's quick release and pocket presence?
Tim Graham: Thanks for feeling my pain from last week's mailbag, Stevie.
Nobody can be sure what the Patriots plan to do because their front office guards information so well. They're also in transition. Offseason strategies probably still are being formulated with Scott Pioli's departure and Floyd Reese's arrival.
But you raise a valid point about the offensive line because there are multiple ways to buy insurance for Brady. The most talked-about method is bringing back Cassel, but shoring up the right side of the line would be a wise investment.
Rob in Palm Coast, Fla., writes: Hey Tim, my question is one more out of sentimentality, but I was wondering. What are the possibilities of Zach Thomas ending his career where he started it. I do realise the Dolphins are pretty heavy at linebacker and have a lot of money tied up there as well. But, he would make a solid backup.
Tim Graham: Bringing back Zach Thomas would be counterproductive. The Dolphins are building from a new foundation, and they already decided a year ago when they cut Thomas that he wasn't what they were looking for at linebacker. Now he's a year older. Not a good fit.
Dale in Buffalo writes: Seems to be a lot of talk about future HOF Patriots. How about some former Bills players. Do you think Reed will ever get in and does he deserve it? How about Cornelius Bennett? He was a five time pro bowl selection. Two time AFC Defensive player of the year. He played in five Super Bowls and when he retired he had the third most fumble recoveries in NFL history. All this along with nearly 1,200 tackles and 71 sacks. HOF worthy?
Tim Graham: Andre Reed will be inducted, but not this year. He deserves to get in. Cornelius Bennett won't be a Hall of Famer. You listed some impressive nuggets from Bennett's career. He was a very good player, but not elite. It can be argued he was the sixth- or seventh-best player on those Super Bowl teams. That many Bills won't get into Canton.
Mauricio from Mexico City writes: Hi Tim i love your blog, my comment is about Bruschi being a hall of famer. Why to some positions lets say like qbs, its a important matter in order to reach a hall of famer status, how many super bowls you won? If Ben R or eli keep averaging the same stats every season as they do know in my book they are not hall of famer but 2 more super bowl wins i am sure will make them hall of famers. My point is while pro bowl its a important category in reaching greatness (overrated its a popularity contest) i think the super bowl should to... and here is where bruschi is a machine he has been to 5 super bowls i bet not many players have do that, he won 3, he have been to 6 AFC championships games that is awsome if you thin about that he have a nice career. your thoughts?
Tim Graham: My thoughts are that Tedy Bruschi has enjoyed a very nice career, but he's not a Hall of Famer. This isn't a perfect comparison, but since you brought up Super Bowls ... Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood won four of them and started in six AFC Championship Games. He went to six Pro Bowls. He was an All-Pro twice. He's not in the Hall of Fame, and his credentials blow Bruschi's away. Maybe a better comparison is Ken Norton. He was a linebacker who won three straight Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers, was a three-time Pro Bowler and a one-time All Pro. There's no campaign to get Norton into the Hall of Fame.
Alex from Pennsylvania writes: Hi Tim. I'M BACK! Hehehe...never stopped reading , only posting. Now ya got me doin that again. Anyway: You get to pick if the Dolphins go with a top notch WR or a top notch need on D at #25. Who do you go with first(disregarding FA's)? Peace.
Tim Graham: Always good to hear from you, Alex. I'd go after the best inside linebacker available. Some good ones still should be available at No. 25. Channing Crowder was serviceable when it came to making tackles, but he wasn't a difference-maker. Players such as Patrick Willis, Jerod Mayo and Jon Beason have proved young linebackers can make a major impact.
STI in Danbury, Conn., writes: Tim--there seems to be some sort of disconnect between your point of view and Reese's and Lombardi's. After all, if they're claiming Cassel will get the Patriots a "high first," then that means he has to be traded *before* the draft, while you're saying they won't be able to. Have you talked to them about this? Personally, I think the bigger question is whether or not O'Connell's ready--after all, the Pats were willing to have Cassel as Brady's only backup in 2006. Also, on a minor note from your recent chat, Morten Anders
en isn't eligible for the HOF yet--he just retired in December--so his not being there says nothing about Vinatieri's chances.
Tim Graham: Thanks for reading so closely, STI. In the original story for which I interviewed Michael Lombardi and Floyd Reese about how a Cassel trade could go down, Reese explained the Patriots would be at no disadvantage waiting until training camp to make a deal.
Here is Reese's response to my question about the Patriots waiting until late summer to pull the trigger:
It's definitely a seller's market. A team like New England can sit back and bide their time.
If you take the actual number of franchise quarterbacks in the NFL, there's maybe 15. Who's Detroit's starting quarterback? You can go down a long list. All of those teams would be in the bidding.
You don't have to be in a hurry. There's always teams out there in need of a quarterback, teams who'll think "We don't like this guy. We can't win with him."
As for Morten Andersen not being eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame yet, you're absolutely correct in noting that fact, which I failed to do. The point I was trying to make, however, is that in the 90-year history of the NFL, only one pure kicker or punter is in Canton.
It's difficult to imagine a kicker floodgate opening for Adam Vinatieri. Andersen -- and Gary Anderson -- will get in before Vinatieri. Not only might that take several years, especially when they're competing with a mounting backlog of worthy position players each year, but it might not ever happen. Kickers simply haven't been valued by the Board of Selectors. There will need to be a significant philosophical shift.
John in Garner, N.C., writes: One thing I do not believe Joe Namath gets enough credit for is that he called the plays. He guarenteed victory yet saw that Baltimore could not stop Matt Snell. How many would have tried to win the game themselves? Agree or disagree?
Tim Graham: I'm sure you're responding to my ranking of the six Super Bowl MVPs from the AFC East (although I bent the definitions a little to include the Jets' landmark victory even though they still were in the AFL). I do agree with you that Namath deserves credit for running the offense in a restrained and highly efficient manner. But Snell was the best player on the field in Super Bowl III.
Mr. Anonymous from Birmingham, Ala., writes: After the whole fiasco with Mcnabb this season, and how he didn't know about a tie situation, I found myself wondering about overtime and a tie situation in the playoffs. Could you shed some light on this? And thanks for the great blog you always write. Go Pats!
Tim Graham: From the NFL rule book ...
Following a three-minute intermission after the end of the regulation game, play will be continued in 15-minute periods or until there is a score. There is a two-minute intermission between subsequent periods. The teams change goals at the start of each period. Each team has three timeouts, and all general timing provisions apply as during a regular game. Disqualified players are not allowed to return.
Stephen from Nashville writes: What Will the Patriots do with the running back situation? Will they draft another back or go into free agency .
Tim Graham: The Patriots don't need to stress about it. They have done a fine job establishing the concept of running backs as interchangeable parts. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, an undrafted rookie who was cut before the season and came off the practice squad, can run for 100 yards. But to answer your question, the Patriots probably will look to the draft and free agency. They're wily that way.
Algonquin from Parts Unknown writes: How many NFL quarterbacks have taken 2 different teams to the Super Bowl?
Tim Graham: Kurt Warner is the third quarterback to lead two franchises to the Super Bowl, joining Craig Morton (Cowboys, Broncos) and Earl Morrall (Colts, Dolphins). But Morton was the first to start both Super Bowls. Bob Griese came back from injury in time to start Super Bowl VII in place of Morrall.
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.
