Dolphins Make AFC East A Tight Race

Miami needed a win in a bad way over the New York Jets and they got it! Coming into the game the Jets had a one game lead on the New England Patriots and two games on the Dolphins. Leaving Miami the Jets were tied with the Pats and just a game ahead of the Dolphins putting the defending AFC East Champions in striking distance.

Miami torched a Jets defense that was highly touted going into the game for 413 yards and 31 points. The Dolphins controlled the ball for 33 ½ minutes and converted nine of their fourteen third down attempts. “I used to see all those gimmicks when I was coaching back in college,” Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan said about Miami’s Wildcat offense. Well, he may have seen it but he sure couldn’t stop it!

Speaking of gimmicks, Ryan had to use two fake punts to keep two different scoring drives alive and had it not been for those and a very questionable pass interference call that put the Jets inside the 1 yard-line this game would have been very ugly.

AFC East Free Agents

Here’s a quick peek at what the teams from the AFC East have done in the free agent market to this point.

BUFFALO BILLS

Free Agents Pos. Status
Keith Ellison LB Restricted
George Wilson WR Restricted
Kirk Chambers OT Unrestricted
Angelo Crowell LB Unrestricted
Melvin Fowler C Unrestricted
Jabari Greer CB Unrestricted
Teddy Lehman LB Unrestricted
J.P. Losman QB Unrestricted
Duke Preston C Unrestricted
Jason Whittle OT Unrestricted

Re-signed Pos. Status
Dustin Fox S Agreed to a contract on Feb. 27
Gibran Hamdan QB Agreed to a contract on Feb. 27
Corey McIntyre RB Signed a two-year extension on Feb. 26
John DiGiorgio LB Signed a contract on Feb. 18
Justin Jenkins WR Signed a contract on Feb. 17

Additions Pos. Status (Old Team)
Geoff Hangartner C Signed a contract on Feb. 28 (CAR)
Ryan Fitzpatrick QB Signed a contract on Feb. 27 (CIN)
P.K. Sam WR Unrestricted on Jan. 27 (CFL Toronto Argonauts)
Marvin Philip C Unrestricted on Jan. 27 (BAL)

Subtractions Pos. Status (New Team)
Robert Royal TE Unrestricted
Derrick Dockery G Signed a five-year contract (WAS)

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Players Pos. Status
Al Johnson C Unrestricted
Tab Perry WR Unrestricted
Derek Smith LB Unrestricted

Re-signed Pos. Status
Yeremiah Bell S Signed a four-year contract on Feb. 26
Channing Crowder LB Signed a three-year contract on Feb. 25
Vernon Carey OT Signed a six-year contract extension on Feb. 20

Additions Pos. Status (Old Team)
Gibril Wilson S Agreed to terms on a contract on Feb. 27 (OAK)

Subtractions Pos. Status (New Team)
Andre' Goodman CB Signed a five-year contract (DEN)
Renaldo Hill S Signed a four-year contract (DEN)
Matt McChesney G Unrestricted (DEN)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Free Agents Pos. Status
Eric Alexander LB Restricted
Wesley Britt OT Restricted
Pierre Woods LB Restricted
Rosevelt Colvin LB Unrestricted
Heath Evans FB Unrestricted
Chris Hanson P Unrestricted
Rodney Harrison S Unrestricted
Russ Hochstein G Unrestricted
Larry Izzo LB Unrestricted
LaMont Jordan RB Unrestricted
Deltha O’Neal CB Unrestricted
Lewis Sanders CB Unrestricted
Junior Seau LB Unrestricted
Kenny Smith DT Unrestricted
Barry Stokes OT Unrestricted
Tank Williams S Unrestricted
Mike Wright DT Unrestricted

Re-signed Pos. Status
James Sanders S Signed a three-year contract on Mar. 1

Additions Pos. Status (Old Team)
Chris Baker TE Agreed to a contract on Feb. 27 (NYJ)
Fred Taylor RB Agreed to a contract on Feb. 27 (JAC)

Subtractions Pos. Status (New Team)
Matt Cassel QB Traded (KC)
Mike Vrabel LB Traded (KC)
Jabar Gaffney WR Signed a four-year contract (DEN)
Lonie Paxton OL Signed a five-year contract (DEN)

NEW YORK JETS

Free Agents Pos. Status
Abram Elam S Restricted
Eric Barton LB Unrestricted
Hank Poteat CB Unrestricted
Ahmad Carroll CB Unrestricted
Jesse Chatman RB Unrestricted
Jay Feely K Unrestricted
Bubba Franks TE Unrestricted
Ty Law CB Unrestricted
C.J. Mosley DT Unrestricted
Mike Nugent K Unrestricted
J.R. Reed S Unrestricted
Cody Spencer LB

Unrestricted Re-signed Pos. Status
Brandon Moore G Signed a four-year contract on Feb. 27
Tony Richardson FB Signed a one-year contract on Feb. 28

Additions Pos. Status (Old Team)
Lito Sheppard CB Traded for a 2009 second-round pick and a 2010 conditional pick on Feb. 28 (PHI)
Bart Scott LB Signed a six-year contract on Feb. 27 (BAL)

Subtractions Pos. Status (New Team)
Chris Baker TE Agreed to a contract (NE)
Laveranues Coles WR Unrestricted
Noah Herron RB Unrestricted
David Bowens LB Unrestricted
Brad Kassell LB Unrestricted
Brett Favre Retired

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Seriously, The Pats Are This Desperate?

Junior Seau is now the official Michael Jordan of the NFL. Not that he ever sniffed being the best football player in the history of the league or won multiple championships but that he has multiple retirements and comebacks. The 39-year-old Seau came out of retirement to rejoin New England Patriots on Friday.

To say that the Pats linebacker corps has been depleted this season is a huge understatement. After Adalius Thomas went down against Buffalo things have been so bad that New England is also calling back Rosevelt Colvin. His name should sound familiar because the Patriots unloaded him in February.

Currently New England is in 3rd place in the AFC East behind the New York Jets (8-4) and the Miami Dolphins (7-5). The Pats play three of their final four games on the road.

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Coaching Carousel
Some way some how Tom Coughlin survived this season as the New York Giants head coach despite finishing the season 2-7. In fact the Giants gave Coughlin a one year extension through 2008. Is this an example of blind faith?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly very close to hiring their next head coach. In fact rumors are flying that there will be an announcement as early as tomorrow. Longtime assistant Russ Grimm has been speculated to be the leading candidate.

Who hasn’t interviewed for the Miami Dolphins head coaching position? No one can deny that Miami has done one of the most extensive searches of the off season. The number of interviewed candidates is up to 12 and the most recent big name to come up is Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

The plan is to narrow the list down to five and then two before making an offer to anyone.

The Arizona Cardinals appear to be focusing in on Houston Texans assistant head coach Mike Sherman. They are bringing the former Packers head coach in for his second interview but are also supposedly waiting to see what the Pittsburgh Steelers do with Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt. I wouldn’t eliminate Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow from the equation yet either.

The Oakland Raiders are rumored to be interested in former offensive coordinator Marc Trestman.

Browns Moving to the West Coast?
Offensively speaking of course. Cleveland is hot on the trail of former Atkanta Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp who is a West Coast offensive guy.

Harrison Out Again for Pats
The New England Patriots will be out Rodney Harrison again this weekend when they travel to play against the San Diego Chargers. This will be the second consecutive play-off game the Patriots safety will miss with a sprained knee. At this point Harrison is looking like a very bad investment for New England.

Seattle has Jackson Back
Seattle will need to use every offensive weapon in their arsenal to upset the Chicago Bears and it appears they are close to getting there. Leading receiver Darrell Jackson has been upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s game.

Divisional Play-Off Winners
Indianapolis at Baltimore – Ravens
Philadelphia at New Orleans – Saints
Seattle at Chicago – Bears
New England at San Diego – Chargers

If you are registered for the NFL Play-Offs Contest don’t forget to make your picks before kick-off of the Colts/Ravens Game on Saturday. You can make your picks here!