New England
Patriots Grade: A+
| Added |
Lost |
TE Kyle Brady, Jaguars
CB Eddie Jackson, Dolphins
CB Tory James, Bengals
RB Sammy Morris, Dolphins
WR Randy Moss, Raiders (trade)
WR Donte' Stallworth, Eagles
LB Adalius Thomas, Ravens
WR Kelley Washington, Bengals
WR/KR Wes Welker, Dolphins (trade)
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LB Tully Banta-Cain, 49ers
LB Don Davis (retired)
RB Corey Dillon (released)
TE Daniel Graham, Broncos
S Tebucky Jones (released)
P Todd Sauerbrun, Broncos |
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| Adalius Thomas (Getty Images) |
Re-signed: S Rashad Baker, OT Wesley Britt, WR Bam Childress, FB Heath
Evans, CB Randall Gay, LB Larry Izzo, WR Kelvin Kight, LB Corey Mays, G/C Gene Mruczkowski,
LB Junior Seau, CB Gemara Williams, DL Mike Wright, OG Billy Yates
Comments: The Patriots had a plan and executed it to perfection!
You just know Bill Bellichick was quietly seething as he watched his team's
chances to win a fourth Super Bowl in the decade disappear primarily on the
strength of three dropped passes. The Patriots quickly upgraded the position
acquiring Wes Welker from the Dolphins. I'm not sure what Miami was thinking
while breaking the unwritten rule of not trading talent within your own
division.
Donte' Stallworth adds speed to this position upgrade, and the oft injured Kelly
Washington is a marvelous athlete. As for Randy Moss, well, you know the old
saying, "if you can't say something nice about someone..."
Adalius Thomas was the Pat's big free agent prize, an established star who
upgrades the defense significantly. Daniel Graham was a key free agent loss.
The addition of former Dolphin Sammy Morris will provide second-year runner
Laurence Maroney with some breathers by a veteran back who is reliable and who
can catch the ball out of the backfield. Morris also provides some additional
talent to the Patriots' special teams, an area where he's always shined. But he
won't fully replace Corey Dillon, so if Maroney should get injured, Patriots
fans will have some anxious moments wondering whether Morris and Kevin Faulk can
carry the workload as well as Dillon could have.
New York Jets Grade: C-
| Added |
Lost |
FB Darian Barnes, Dolphins
DE David Bowens, Dolphins
DE Kenyon Coleman, Cowboys
DE Michael Haynes, Saints
DE Eric Hicks, Chiefs
RB Thomas Jones, Bears (trade)
QB Marques Tuiasosopo, Raiders
DE Andre Wadsworth |
FB B.J. Askew, Buccaneers
DE Dave Ball, Panthers
RB Kevan Barlow (released)
RB Derrick Blaylock (released)
QB Patrick Ramsey (released)
OL Trey Teague (released)
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| Thomas Jones (Getty Images) |
Re-signed: OT Ed Blanton, OT Anthony Clement, DE Bobby Hamilton,
CB Hank Poteat, TE Sean Ryan, C Wade Smith, LB Cody Spencer, LB Bryan Thomas, S Jamie
Thompson, RB Stacy Tutt, WR Wallace Wright,
Comments: Thomas Jones was a key trade acquisition since no one
emerged as a top quality back last year. Leon Washington had 650 yards rushing
while sharing carries with two other backs, but he can't carry the load for a
full season by himself. David Bowens has pass rush skills, averaging 6 sacks per
season over the past three years.
Tuiasosopo has proven only that he can't stay healthy in the pro ranks. Andre
Wadsworth … wow, a nice comeback story for a very, classy individual. This
writer will be rooting for him to beat the odds.
None of the players lost will come back and haunt the Jets, in my opinion.
Barlow was a big talented back with no heart and Ramsey--who signed with the
Broncos--has adequate throwing skills but doesn't have the foot-quickness and
pocket awareness to start in this league.
Miami Dolphins Grade: F
| Added |
Lost |
K Jay Feely,Giants
WR Az-Zahir Hakim, Chargers
CB Derrick Johnson, Falcons (waivers)
OL Chris Liwienski, Cardinals
TE David Martin, Packers
LB Joey Porter, Steelers
OT Mike Rosenthal, Vikings
FB Cory Schlesinger, Lions
S Cameron Worrell, Bears |
OG Bennie Anderson (released)
FB Darian Barnes, Jets
DE David Bowens, Jets
DE Kevin Carter (released)
OG Toniu Fonoti, Falcons
QB Joey Harrington (released)
CB Eddie Jackson, (not tendered)
OG Jeno James (released)
P Donnie Jones, Rams
PK Olindo Mare (traded Saints)
C Seth McKinney (released)
OT Damion McIntosh, Chiefs
TE Randy McMichael (released)
RB Travis Minor, Rams
RB Sammy Morris, Patriots
WR Marcus Vick (released)
WR/KR Wes Welker, Patriots (traded)
DT Manny Wright (released)
DT Jeff Zgonina, Texans
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 |
| Joey Porter (AP/Jeff Chiu) |
Re-signed: S Yeremiah Bell, LS John Denney, FB Kyle Eckel, DT Vonnie
Holliday, CB Michael Lehan, LB Donnie Spragan, S Travares Tillman, DT Keith
Traylor, DT Kevin Vickerson
Comments: While they added more players than they lost, the actual
contributing players lost are greater than those gained.
Joey Porter should add stability and leadership, but is he the Joey Porter of
'93, '94 or '95 or is he simply another addition to an aging defense? I
saw little difference in the comparative kicking stats of newly acquired kicker
Jay Feely and departed kicker Olindo Mare. Losing Wes Welker (to the Patriots no
less), may well prove to be their biggest free agent blunder. Cory Schlesinger
will provide some help in the short-yardage game.
Buffalo Bills Grade: F
| Added |
Lost |
OG Derrick Dockery, Redskins
RB Josh Scobey, Seahawks
DT Darwin Walker, Eagles (trade)
OT Langston Walker, Raiders
CB Jason Webster, Falcons
C/G Jason Whittle, Vikings |
S Matt Bowen (released)
CB Nate Clements, 49ers
WR Andre Davis, Texans
LB London Fletcher, Redskins
OG Mike Gandy, Cardinals
QB Kelly Holcomb, Eagles (trade)
RB Willis McGahee, Ravens (trade)
OG Tutan Reyes (released)
LB Takeo Spikes, Eagles (trade)
OG Chris Villarrial (released) |
 |
| Darwin Walker (Getty Images) |
Re-signed: DT Tim Anderson, CB Jabari Greer, DE Anthony
Hargrove, DE Chris Kelsay, RB Anthony Thomas, CB Kiwaukee Thomas, SS/LB Coy
Wire, RB Shaud Williams
Comments: The inability of this small-market club to retain key personnel
really put added pressure on college scouting director Tom Modrak and his staff,
and they came through with flying colors during the NFL Draft. Darwin Walker,
obtained in trade for Takeo Spikes should help inside, but overall I saw many
far more subtraction then additions to this squad. Aside from the loss of five
starters and the team's backup quarterback, the club also lost their best
special teams player in Andre Davis. Clements and Fletcher accounted for seven
of the team's 13 interceptions last year.
Last year, Buffalo finished ranked 30th offensively, yet they didn't do anything
of substance in free agency to address that situation. And while they finished
18th defensively, the team took their hardest free agency hits on that side of
the ball, so they'll really need their younger players to step up this year or
they may not finish even that high this season.
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