NFL Free Agency So Far

Here is my take as I look around the constant changing NFL with players signing by the minute.

• I like the Denver move of signing Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie as now Champ as so help out in the secondary.
• Josh Cribbs leaves Cleveland for Arizona.   Like the move as it reduces Patrick Peterson special teams responsibilities and who wouldn't rather Arizona weather over Cleveland.  No one moves to Cleveland to retire.  
• Danny Amendola to the Patriots.   He once replaced Wes Welker at Texas Tech and now replaces him in New England.  If he can stay healthy  Danny is 27 and Wes will be 32 soon.
• Rashard Mendenhall from Pittsburgh to Arizona.   Can't say I love this move.   A banged up running up is a risky singing but Rashard will be only 26 when the season starts.   If healthy he can give them four good years.
• Cliff Avril to the Seattle Seahawks.   Could the Seahawks be the team to beat for the Super Bowl.  First they add Harvin and now Avirl.  Pete Carroll might know what he's doing after all.  
• Wes Welker to the Denver Broncos.  Nice pick up for the Super Bowl or bust Broncos.   It was time to move on from New England and now a former enemy is his quarterback.
• Shonn Greene to the Titans.  Bizarre move for a team with a lot bigger needs. 
• Reggie Bush coming to Detroit.   Could be a great move on that turf if they know how to use him properly.  Still has a lot of life left and on that turf with his speed if nothing else his fantasy football value is up. 
• Hoping for the best for Laurent Robinson.  My gut says he takes the year off and examines his health after a year away.    Probably only some cap strapped team like the Dallas Cowboys would roll the dice with him on an incentive laiden deal.   
• Kellen Davis cut by the Chicago Bears.  Remember the Cowboys where his second choice last year and they just lost John Phillips to the San Diego Chargers. 
• Jake Long to the Rams.  This moves gives the Rams the number one and number two picks from the 2008 NFL Draft.
• Can't help but laugh when I saw Martellus Bennett sign with the Bears.  Great talent from the neck down.
• Some more dominos to fall I'm sure in the next few days a few that make sense to me include: Dan Connor to Oakland. Solid dependable player they need more of and Nnamdi to San Francisco so they can stay out of the Revis sweepstakes.

2013 Cleveland Browns Free Agents

With a new regime a roster purge is almost a guarantee and if I were a GM of an opposing team in need of a wide receiver who can provide a boost to special teams I would keep an eye on Cleveland.   Some talent will be available if you know what you are doing.

Players:

Sheldon Brown         CB
Josh Cribbs               WR/KR
Phil Dawson              K
Scott Fujita                LB
Reggie Hodges           P
Brandon Jackson       RB
Josh Johnson             QB
Kaluka Maiava           LB
Mohamed Massquoi  WR
Juqua Parker              DL
Alex Smith                 TE
Raymond Ventrone    DB
Ben Watson               TE

Related articles

• Soon-to-be free agent Josh Cribbs is frustrated in Cleveland
• Browns release DE Frostee Rucker
• Cleveland Browns Release DE Frostee Rucker

10 Ways to Improve the NFL for Fans

The new NFL logo went into use at the 2008 draft. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am willing to bet few people look forward to the football season as much as I do. I heard a caller on the radio say that the NFL has made not just the Super Bowl an unofficial holiday, but every Sunday a holiday when football is being played. I agree wholeheartedly.

Granted, I feel that way regarding college football, too, but that's also not to say that there are some obvious and less obvious tweaks, updates, and changes that can be done to make the whole football experience even greater. Be scared, baseball!

Here are some ideas that I have had for a while. As always feel free to send me additional ones, modify these, or tell me I'm crazy. There is nothing better than discussing football with passionate fans. 

1. Rotate the NFL Draft

This is another item I have preached about for years, and hopefully, it gets addressed. Based on where I live, I have been able to attend the NFL Draft several times in New York City. It is a great event. With that said, I can't understand why it is locked into only being in New York. The NFL Draft is a ratings monster for the league, and my idea is to let some of the smaller-market cities that will never have the chance to host a Super Bowl, but could handle something like the NFL Draft, bid for it. Imagine the draft in Pittsburgh or Green Bay or Buffalo. These fans are diehards and deserve the chance to see this event up close and personal.  

Read the rest 

Related articles

• 2013 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper -- Giants' midseason needs
• Catch Brooks & Smith on NFL Draft Tracker Podcast - NFL.com
• Kurt Mangum Akron Outside Line Backer Among Best College Football Prospects In Uncharted Territory Before the NFL Draft

Grading the draft …Seriously?

Someone needs to explain to me why the “experts” bother with grading the NFL draft especially seconds after it’s over.  Come on just because a team doesn’t grab the guy that specific expert thinks it needed the team gets bad press and their fans are depressed as their team is singled out as having a bad draft.  Let’s be honest unless you are in the war-room, work for the team or have spent time working for a team you can’t say with 100% certainty if a player will or won’t work for a team and even those people make countless mistakes.  

 Those of us that have a great passion for all things football can certainly do our due diligence and give our best educated guess but to say this team gets a D but this team gets a B because they took guys the “expert” liked over other guys the “expert” might not know is simply stupid.     I’d much rather see the experts come out and say for each team I like this pick because XYZ and I didn’t like this pick because of ABC.   No team picked all guys that are bad so a true draftnik should be able to find the value of a good picks and simply question the other picks.  

Being a Cowboys fan I don’t remember anyone giving them an A for signing Miles Austin and Tony Romo years ago and that turned out pretty well.    That’s because you don’t know how a player will adjust to the NFL.   For all the “franchise” QBs taken in round one like Ryan Leaf, Heath Shuler, Patrick Ramsey,  there are undrafted quarterbacks like Tony Romo, Jake Delhomme and Kurt Warner who come out of nowhere to lead there teams to the playoffs and sometimes the Super Bowl.  

Grading the draft…really?

Post Super Bowl Thoughts

• Is it just me but weren't you glad to see the final results Sunday. Personally, I think New England accepted all the praise and glory of their season a little too easily and started to believe they were the best team ever and just needed to show up to win. Sorry guys (and most of ESPN) you are a very talented team for the current free agency/salary cap ages but not quite in the same class with the 70's Steelers, 80's 49'ers or 90's Cowboys. Also, I find it pretty amazing that suddenly the Pats had so many injuries that no one knew about. Something tells me if they did win ...no one would still no about those injuries.

• While I am guilty of it myself, I can't help but think of how it's a little crazy to already have a mock done as free agency will change it drastically. I understand the occasional mock done for something to read and discuss during the long time we wait until the actual day but what bugs we is the guys who do 10 to 12 first round mocks then have the nerve to brag after the draft all the picks they got right. What!!!! Anyone can do that if they produce enough mocks. Anything more than one every two to three weeks is a little silly if you ask me.

• I can certainly respect Senator Specter's intention to ask the NFL what really happened to Spy Gate tapes I think it's a football matter and not a political and certainly hope as Rotoworld suggest that Comcast is his second biggest campaign contributor and everyone knows that Comcast and the NFL aren't playing well together. Let's hope it's not a self-serving pursuit by Senator Specter.

• If I'm NY Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, I take a page out of Jason Garrett's playbook and realize that I'm a coordinator one year and my team is a lot better than the team that's pursuing me for the head coach position and stay with the Giants. If the Giants have similar success next year he'll get another crack but sit tight and enjoy the Super Bowl and work at the repeat. Do you really want to work for Snyder?

• Nation Signing Day tomorrow. Isn't it awesome how much this country loves the great football. Hopefully your teams get the guys you want. One additional comment on tomorrow if I’m Terrelle Pryor, I’m headed to Michigan as you will start as a freshman and be a Heisman candidate from Day 1. (Trust me he’s as good as advertised as I saw him beat my old High School for a State Title this year).

• Some coaching moves of note: Former SMU HC Phil Bennett going to University of Pittsburgh as defensive coordinator. Nice to see him get a chance to continue his career. Don’t want to sit out too many seasons if you hope to stay in the game. Gregg Williams according to reports is the new Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator. That’s great that he lands on his feet and takes over an already great defense.

• A few random thoughts…Michael Strahan while it’s a nice idea to come back I wouldn’t risk it. Ride off into the sunset like Elway and enjoy winning the last game you’ll ever play. Nice move Matt Roth! That should get you a spot for the year in the Tuna’s doghouse. It didn’t take long for Randy Moss’s true colors to return. I’d say it is 50-50 he comes back. McNabb to Baltimore is an interesting story to watch. If I’m the Ravens I try to develop my own QB once and for all and quit taking vets to fill the spot but would make for an interesting story to watch this upcoming season.