32 Teams in 32 Days- Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals had a tough year last year. They lost starting quarterback Carson Palmer for most of the season and failed to play at the level they could’ve.

Ryan Fitzpatrick tried to be the hero, but he couldn’t do it, as he struggled most of the season.

But now, Carson Palmer is healthy and back on the field. So all that could change.

They also struggled to get their running game going until later in the season, when Cedric Benson became the starter. He did a pretty god job of it by rushing for 747 yards on 214 attempts.

But, after a 4-11 season, the Bengals knew they needed to upgrade.

 

Off-season Acquisitions

Players Added:

Laveranues Coles, WR.

Tank Johnson, DT.

Brian Leonard, RB. (Trade with Rams)

JT O’Sullivan, QB.

Roy Williams, S.

Players Lost:

Stacy Andrews, OT.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB.

Eric Ghiaciuc, C.

Orien Harris, DT. (Trade with Rams)

Glenn Holt, WR.

TJ Houshmandzadeh, WR.

Dexter Jackson, S.

Corey Mays, LB.

Levi Jones, OT.

Chris Perry, RB.

David Rayner, K.

The Bengals didn’t make too much noise in Free Agency. They mostly re-signed the players they had. But they did pick up some valuable players.

Laveranues Coles is a good receiver who will replace Houshmandzadeh at wide out. The loss of Houshmandzadeh could help out Chad Ochocinco, who will be the No. 1 receiver again.

2008 starting tackles Levi Jones and Stacy Andrews were both big losses, and I think the Bengals hould have kept one of them.

Roy Williams was a nice pickup and will be a big factor on this defense.

 

2009 Draft Picks

1(6). Andre Smith, OT. Draft Grade: A

2(6). Rey Maulaluga, LB. Draft Grade: A+

3(6). Michael Johnson, DE. Draft Grade: A

3(34) Chase Coffman, TE. Draft Grade: B

4(6). Jonathan Luigs, C. Draft Grade: C+

5(6). Kevin Huber, P. Draft Grade: B

6(6). Bernard Scott, RB. Draft Grade: B+

7(6). Fui Vakapuna, RB. Draft Grade: D+

7(40). Clinton McDonald, DE. Grade Grade: B

7(43). Freddie Brown, WR.  Draft Grade: C

• The Bengals no doubt had one of the top drafts this year. They were able to grab OT Andre Smith to replace Stacy Andrews at tackle who was listed as the top offensive tackle before the combine.
• Linebacker Rey Maulaluga was a projected first-round pick, and nobody knows why he slid as far as he did, but the Bengals are glad that he did. He’ll be a major force on this defense.
• The Bengals got another steal in the third round by selecting defensive end Michael Johnson out of Georgia Tech. He had a bit of an inconsistent senior year, but he will still be a nice player out on this defense.
• Chase Coffman was another good pick in the third. Carson Palmer will like having a tight end with receiving skills like Coffman.
• Kevin Huber was the first punter taken, and will help out this special teams unit.
• Running backs Bernard Scott and Fui Vakapuna were selecting to provide depth behind Cedric Benson. Don’t be surprised if Scott ends up being a late-round steal.
• Seventh rounders McDonald and Brown will provide depth at their respected positions.

Draft Grade: A+.

Breakout Player: Jerome Simpson, WR.

The Bengals didn’t do anything huge in free agency. They had a great draft, but that’s not what is going to make this team improve. They have Carson Palmer back, and they have grown as a team.

If Chad Ochocinco can go back to playing the way he used to, these Bengals could really be dangerous. But if he doesn’t, another star will have to arise for Carson Palmer’s go to guy. But overall, I think this team will improve.

Projected Record: 8-8.

2009 NFL Power Rankings

Every year in the NFL, every teams goal is to win the Super Bowl.

For some teams, like the Steelers and Patriots, that is a reasonable goal. With a great core of players and an outstanding coaching staff, they believe they can reach that ultimate goal.

With teams like the Browns and Lions, that seems to be more of a pipe dream, that will soon fade once the regular season starts.

For everyone between, there is hope that come February 2010, they will be standing on the stage in Miami hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Here is my list as to where the teams stand entiring the 2009 training camps and OTA’s.

A Star in the Waiting: D’Qwell Jackson

Although the Cleveland Browns had an absolutely abysmal 2008 season, there were some bright things within the disappointment. One of those things being middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson.

Jackson was drafted by the Browns 34th overall in the second-round of the 2006 NFL Draft. The pick was acquired by the New Orleans Saints in a trade.

In his rookie season, Jackson started in all of the 13 games he played in, racking 93 tackles. Nothing flashy, but Jackson got the job done when the ball carrier came near him.

In his followup sophomore season, Jackson started 13 out of the 14 games he played in, leading the team with 101 tackles, and collecting one sack and one interception. Again, nothing flashy, just good football.

In his third season, the season where he started every game, Jackson thrived. He lead not only the Browns, but the entire NFL in tackles with 154. Also last season, he had an impressive three interceptions and two sacks. Nothing flashy again, just improved numbers.

If Jackson reminded me of anybody, I would have to say Aaron Curry. They are both tackle machines who play consistent hard-nose football. They aren’t sack machines, but more of a coverage type linebacker.

One other thing that I agree on them be similar on is that they will get more sacks given the opportunity. Jackson didn’t rack up sacks because he was never asked to. The Same goes for Curry.

Either way, with a new and more aggressive defensive coordinator, Jackson could see more sacks. Shaun Rogers, Kamerion Wimbley, and Alex Hall (maybe David Veikune, too) are the Browns biggest sack threats. Blitz all of them including Jackson, and Jackson may be forgotten.

This new system is perfect for Jackson, and with another tackling machine in Eric Barton playing opposite him, Jackson will see more success. He should look for his first Pro Bowl next season.

Green Bay Packers Eyeing a “Special” 2009 Season

The 2008 Packers season has been categorized in many ways. “Special” was not one of them.

It was the start of a new Favre-less era, the year the defense became an absolute horror show, Aaron Rodgers showing he can put up top-10 quarterback numbers, the purging of the defensive coaching staff, etc.

While the defensive struggles have been talked about ad nauseam, I don’t believe the Packers’ special teams’ struggles have been emphasized enough. In the interest of fairness, let’s take a look at what happened and what’s being done about it.

First, a few fun facts about 2008 to paint a picture:

The Packers were 32nd in the NFL in Kickoff return yardage.
The Packers were 20th in the NFL in Kickoff coverage.
The Packers were 26th in the NFL in field goal percentage
The Packers were 27th in the NFL in average punting yardage
The Packers were 28th in the NFL in punt return yardage.

However you picture “awful”, that’s what you should be seeing in your mind’s eye right now.

So how does this get fixed? Well, if you’re Mike McCarthy, you start by encouraging Mike Stock, your 69-year old special teams coordinator to “retire” (just days after he told Green Bay beat reporters how he planned to be back for another year).

“Should I be looking over my shoulder? Do you know something I don’t know?” Stock kiddingly asked following the team’s Christmas Day practice. “It all depends on one thing and one thing only: How long does he (McCarthy) want me to stay? That’s what it depends on.”

Yes, after his post-season interview with Mccarthy, Stock suddenly changed his mind and decided to retire after three years with the Packers and 44 years in coaching overall. Call it a win-win.

Unlike his search for a new defensive coordinator, McCarthy did not look far from the team to fill the special teams position. On Jan. 15, four days before announcing Dom Capers’ hiring, McCarthy promoted Shawn Slocum from his special teams assistant position to Special Teams Coordinator.

Slocum had spent the last three seasons with the Packers and before that, coached 15 college seasons for four different schools. He was a special teams coordinator at both USC and Texas A&M, and was also an assistant head coach at Ole Miss.

So the Packers seem to have an experienced coach whose time has come for his first pro coordinator position.

With the coaching positions settled, the Packers now turned their attention to their roster.

Tramon Williams, a solid special teams contributor was tendered a one year offer. Free Agent Anthony Smith, who played mostly on special teams last year, was signed to the roster.

Soon after that, Jarrett Bush was re-signed and not many people would question that his positive contributions to the team have all come on special teams.

Next up was the re-signing of Michael Montgomery as some DL insurance and more special teams help. Despite missing a lot of time with injuries, Montgomery has 13 special team tackles for the Packers, including two in the 2007 playoffs.

Soon after, the Packers signed free agent Duke Preston from the Buffalo Bills. His bio on their web site describes him as “as a key player on special teams and a valuable reserve on the offensive line.” A bit surprising, but good news.

Restricted free agent TE Tory Humphrey, who has nine special teams tackles in 24 games for the Packers, was re-signed to the team.

A week before the NFL draft, Ted Thompson signed his three remaining restricted free agents, Atati Bigby, John Kuhn, and Ruvell Martin. All three have seen important special teams action for the Packers.

Then along came the draft, and the special teams theme continued.

BJ Raji: OKay, so he’s the exception to the pattern I’m working on here…

Clay Matthews III – three-time special teams player of the year at USC. Need I say more?

TJ Lang – Converted from defensive line, TJ played special teams in at least his first three years at Eastern Michigan and won several “Championship special teams player of the game” awards.

Quinn Johnson – A converted linebacker, he was described this way in a CBS sports profile: “Quinn Johnson just likes to hit people whether lined up on offense, defense or special teams units.” I love guys who love to hit.

Jamon Meredith – Says Meredith,”I’ve never played special teams but if they teach me how to play it I’ll go out there, man. I’ve always thought about being a wedge-buster or a punt protector. If they ask me to be on special teams, I’ll be happy to.” While this probably won’t happen, at last he’s willing.

Jarius Wynn – Who? Impossible to find much info on this guy. Has he ever played special teams? Who knows?

Brandon Underwood – Special teams player of the year at Cincinnati. His played the all-important “gunner” position. Check.

Brad Jones – A four-year special teams player at Colorado. Says Jones, “I love special teams.” Check again.

After the draft, the Packers signed 11 undrafted free agents. For any of these guys to make the team, they will have to be impact special teams players. WR Jamarko Simmons and RB Tyrell Sutton have both been quoted as being ready to take on that role.

And finally, what about the kickers? Mason Crosby did have an off-year, but the Packers seem unconcerned and committed to him. I think there needs to be some competition in camp. Much like they’ve done with the punters.

There are three punters currently on the roster and it is a wide-open competition. May the best (and most consistent) punter win.

So I think by now, you get my point. The Packers have approached this off-season with a specific mindset; they are thinking special teams with every move they make.

It’s a good strategy and I think Packer fans can rightfully expect a big improvement in 2009. Just one more reason to be optimistic about 2009 being a “Special” year.

——————

You can find more of Jersey Al Bracco’s articles on several sports websites: NFL Touchdown, Packers Lounge, Packer Chatters , Jersey Al’s Blog and, of course, Bleacher Report.

A True “Giant” Receiver: An Inside Look at Ramses Barden

Ramses Barden was arguably the most intriguing prospect in this years NFL Draft. Being a wide receiver standing 6’6” and weighing 229 pounds, he caught everyone’s attention. Barden may look out of place lining up out wide but make no mistake, this is a wide receiver.

Barden was named after the Egyptian pharaoh—as his dad said he wanted “to give him something that would make him feel different and stand out.” Like a sore thumb, Barden sure does stand out. A “big” corner back is considered to be about 6’0” or a little bigger.

Every average fan that watches football can realize the mismatch Barden creates on the gridiron.

Out of high school, Barden didn’t garner much attention from the big college powerhouses, and decided to attend Cal-Poly. While at Cal-Poly, Barden was a two time All-American.

Barden reeled in 50 touchdowns, 206 receptions, and 4,203 total receiving yards, with a 20.4 average yard per catch. Barden is one of only three players in Division 1-AA/Football Championship Subdivision history, the great Jerry Rice being another, to catch more than 50 career touchdowns.

There are three types of people, those that make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Barden certainly falls under the category of a person that makes things happen.

Jerry Reese, the Giants General Manager, said “Small-school guys, we like them to dominate and he stuck out like a sore thumb like Kevin Boss at his level of competition.”

Being an avid fan of the NFL Draft, I wanted to call Jerry Reese myself and ask for him to select Barden. I see all the potential in the world, and Barden has a great head on his shoulders.

One major knock on Barden is that his time speed isn’t up to par with the other wide receivers in the NFL. Last time I checked, games are played in helmets and pads, not in compression shorts and skimpy t-shirts.

Another bad rap for Barden is that he played against lesser competition. Last time I checked, if you are playing down to competition, you better dominate, which he did.

Please note, up until this point I did not point out the “similarities” between Barden and Plaxico Burress. That is because Barden is Ramses Barden and not Plaxico Burress, and Barden will make a name for himself.

Burress was a seasoned veteran when the Giants acquired him in Free Agency. Barden is a young kid that has room for improvement and the Giants can groom him to be the receiver they crave.

In 2009, Barden may not be on the field every down, but you can sure bet that he will be on the field when the Giants offense gets in the “green-zone.” Coach Coughlin refers to the “red-zone” as the “green-zone” because he figures there is no reason to stop and you should go in for the touchdown.

The fade route has become a go-to-play for teams when they get inside the 20 yard line, and now the Giants possess one of the biggest receivers in the league. With his massive wingspan and leaping ability, he will be able to go up and get the ball at it’s highest point and shield the smaller corner from the ball.

As Barden gets older and more experienced, the more he works with Wide Receivers Coach Mike Sullivan, he will refine his route running ability and become a threat on every down. 84 players were drafted before Ramses Barden, and Barden could end up being one of the best players in this draft class.

When this crop of rookies is evaluated three years from now, people will wonder why did he fall so far in the draft?

Al Barden, Ramses’ father, couldn’t have picked a better fitting name for his son as Ramses is a king sized receiver that is a “Giant” among men.

CBSSports.com: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

Over the last three weeks here on Bleacher Report, I have read some of the best work I have read since I joined three months ago.  They say competition brings out the best in people, and I believe that it really did here.

I am not going to lie and say that I am not biting my nails, because I am.  I admit I have checked my e-mail about every hour waiting from an e-mail from CBSSports.  Yes, I hope and pray that I won, but now I am in the I JUST NEED TO KNOW stage. 

I waited until today to write this article for two reasons.

1.  Like CBSSports, I wanted to wait until the official close of the competition before speaking my mind.

2.  I didn’t want to possibly offend anyone at CBSSports with a semi-sarcastic article and ruin any chance of getting the job.

Starting with the preseason, I am going to do a weekly article that I have titled “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.”  This is my first version I am doing on the CBSSports.com competition, and what they have brought to the BR.

 

The Good

Fantastic Articles!

During this point of the offseason, it is hard to find any good information on your favorite sports team.  Over the last three weeks, there was plenty to go around.

CBSSports did a fantastic job at the list of articles they asked us to write.  Checking around for all of the teams, there was very interesting insight for every team.

 

New Writers.

This competition has brought some new faces here to BR.  I have become a fan of many of the new writers, not just Steelers ones.

I have tried to welcome all of them, but to those that I didn’t, Welcome! Because only one is going to be picked for each team, I hope those that don’t get it (not saying one of the new ones won’t) I hope you all stay around.

The Bad

Loss of Arguing!

Since this competition started, there have been very few articles written about how great Peyton Manning is, how great Tom Brady is, and why one is better than the other.

I only read one article fighting for the fact that Ben Roethlisberger is elite.  I have heard very little about Tony Romo and his amazing talent even though he can’t win a playoff game.

There was no smack talked about why the Ravens should kill the Steelers this year.  All of the articles written were done so well, and honestly, by most people, there wasn’t a lot of arguing to be done.

These are one of the fun reasons to be here on BR.  Because I like to argue with people.  If they aren’t saying things to argue about, because CBSSports told us what they wanted, so people didn’t have the ability to write articles you wanted to argue with.

On this note, I would like to thank Timothy Kessler, another writer here on BR.  In almost every article I wrote, Timothy found a way to bring our O-Line into the debate, and give me the fix I needed to argue.

Thanks Timothy!

 

Slide Shows.

I have never done a slide show, because that just isn’t my thing.  Tried once, and I was writing myself comments on how I wasn’t good at it.

However, there are some people here on BR that do a wonderful job at it.  It is their strong suit. 

Not many people created slide shows because they really didn’t fit into what CBSSports was asking for.

I missed them, and I am glad they will be back soon.  So, all of you that are good at it, get to work!

The Ugly!

I am going to start with myself!

Have you seen my profile picture?  When the competition started, my wife told me I needed to change my picture.

She said I looked like a goof, and CBSSports would never take me seriously.  So, I let her pick the picture, and it was worse than the first one!

In trying to change it, I realized that I have no good pictures of me.  I am either very ugly, or I am too goofy that in every picture I am making a face.

The one I have, with me on the Harley is the best one I could find.  And it came out blurry!

 

TJ Jenkins. 

I have a ton of respect for TJ.  I think he is a great writer, but one of the worst thing that could have happened for TJ was his timing.

I joked with TJ by e-mail about this, so now the competition is over, I am going to tell you all about it.

In April, TJ wrote a series of articles on Ben Roethlisberger.  A link to the first one is right here.  If you haven’t read them yet, you really should, they are great.

Had TJ waited until this competition to publish those articles, I don’t think many people would have had a chance against him.

I, at least the selfish part of me, am glad that his timing sucked on this one. It may be ugly for him, but good for the rest of us.

I hope you all liked this version of “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.”  Look for more in the near future.

Inside Enemy Territory: Buffalo Bills Signing Michael Vick Would Be a Smart Move

Michael Vick has not played a down in the NFL since 2006. Up until May 20th, Vick had been in a federal prison, and is now currently serving the rest of his sentence under house arrest. For work? Vick is a construction worker.

There is no doubt that Vick will attempt to make a comeback in the NFL. There is only man standing in his way, and at this point, he is more frightening to Vick than any linebacker he’s ever faced.

Roger Goodell.

Vick is still indefinitely suspended by the NFL, and the only way he is allowed back in is if Goodell lifts that suspension. Goodell has stated that the only way he will let Vick back into the NFL would be if Vick should genuine remorse.

While none of us will never know if Vick is genuinely remorseful for his actions, there is a good chance that he makes it back into the NFL for this upcoming season.

With that, there will be a lot of teams looking to sign Vick. There are plenty of teams out there that do not have a solid backup quarterback, or even a solid starting quarterback.

If it was not for the breakout of the Wild Cat offense, most teams would not even give Vick a look. However, Vick is an incredibly agile passer and could pose an even greater threat than Ronnie Brown did for the Dolphins last year.

It’s not a surprise that the Bills are looking to win sooner than later. They have increased their spending drastically over the last few seasons, and finally brought in a high profile player with Terrell Owens.

If the team wants to sell more tickets, than it would make sense for them to go after Michael Vick. Sure, there may be some fans upset with the decision, but there will be plenty more to scoop up their tickets.

There is no argument that Vick would be an impact player. He would obviously need training camp to get his throwing arm back, but he would not be the starting quarterback anyway. Vick’s greatest weapon for the Bills would be his speed.

The Bills could incorporate a Wild Cat-type formation using Vick and their two successful running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. Both Lynch and Jackson have different running styles. Lynch is more of a power back, while Jackson is quick on his feet.

Those styles, combined with Vick’s speed and throwing ability, could easily set up one of the toughest offensive spreads to stop.

Not to mention that Vick as a back up would encourage Trent Edwards to play better. Any quarterback with that has a former franchise quarterback as an understudy knows that his job is not safe if he messes up.

There are downsides to this as well. There is no guarantee that Vick would be able to come back and play even close to the talent level he was at pre-suspension.

Bringing in Vick could also make Edwards believe that the coaches and management do not believe that he has the talent to bring the Bills into the playoffs.

This is a tough situation for everyone involved. I honestly think that the pros outweigh the cons in this situation. All the players involved need to understand their role prior to the start of the season.

If the Bills do make an effort to sign Vick, they need to tell him he will be taking a backup role. Edwards needs to know that he’s still the number one guy, and aside from a select few plays, he is the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills.

The Wild Cat formation would have to be used sparingly as well. When the Dolphins tried using it too much, teams learned how to stop it.

If there is any team that Vick could make a comeback with, the Bills would be the right choice for him. He would be one of the most popular players on the team, and he’d also be able to keep a semi-low profile. Buffalo is not known for it’s nightlife, so it would give Vick the opportunity to stay out of trouble.

As Bills fans, we should all agree that any player that could help out the team is worth getting, even if this one is a reformed convict.

(Inside Enemy Territory is a Buffalo sports related column written by Alec Szczerbinski. If you have any questions/comments, you can email me at InsideEnemyTerritory@gmail.com. You can also follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/InEnTerritory)

Kicking in Football’s Door: The Story of the 2001 Patriots

Coming into 2001, the New England Patriots had only been to the Super Bowl twice, suffering defeat to the Bears and the Packers.

In 2001, the Patriots seemed to have no chance of making the playoffs. They had a tough fight ahead of them, battling the hot Steelers, the Raiders, and the defending champion Ravens.

Through week 2, the Patriots were 0-1 and facing the defensive minded Jets when Drew Bledsoe ran a scramble play that knocked him out for the season.

Everybody thought the Patriots would lose the game and not go to the playoffs until their sixth-round pick Tom Brady came into the game and led the Patriots to a spot in the playoffs with a 11-5 record.

The Patriots clinched the second seed in the playoffs with a first-round bye.

In the AFC Divisional game, the Patriots had to face the Oakland Raiders the team that was thought to be that years Super Bowl champions.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, the referee called the famous tuck play that the Patriots still had the ball because Brady’s arm was going forward. The Patriots won the game in overtime with an Adam Vinatieri field goal.

The Patriots were one step away from being in the Super Bowl but first they had to go past the Steelers. Which they did with a 24-17 victory despite a big game by Kordell Stewart.

The Patriots were in the Super Bowl facing the red hot St Louis Rams, who beat them 24-17 in week 10.

After one half of football the Patriots were up 14-3. In the fourth quarter, the Rams sparked a comeback to knot the score 17-17. But with a few seconds on the clock, Vinatieri made a field goal as time expired.

The Patriots were champions for the first time, but they had two more championships that decade to make them a dynasty.

Looking Back at Frank Gore’s Running Mates

In the last five years, there has been an increasingly common trend in the NFL; the two-headed running attack.
It makes sense from a longevity standpoint, because running backs usually have the shortest NFL careers. And when RBs reach a certain point in their careers, their production decreases dramatically.
One team that has bucked the trend is the San Francisco 49ers. Since Frank Gore emerged as the full-time starting running back in 2006, his second year in the league, Gore’s backups have been used sparingly, if at all.
Here’s a look at what Gore’s running mates have contributed to the team’s rushing attack during his four-year NFL career, and a look ahead to who should spell Gore in 2009.

That’s Right Thomas Jones, Get Your Butt Back On The Field

It’s a team game Thomas Jones, come on, I know you know that. So when your team doesn’t make the playoffs the first two seasons you belong to it, why are you asking for a raise? I guess you finally realized it wasn’t the right move.

The first season you averaged 3.6 yards per carry and crossed the goal line with the ball in your hands just once. You also started a play with the ball in your hands, and twice finished the play without it. 

More fumbles than touchdowns? Nice. The Jets were irrelevant but your paycheck wasn’t. You were originally signed to a four year, $20 million deal, and I thought THAT was a little bit of a reach. 

The season prior to your signing, with the Bears, you averaged 4.1 yards per carry with six touchdowns. Not bad. Pretty good actually. But $5 million a year after that? I guess.

And now, $13 million and two years later, you’ve averaged barely 4.1 yards per carry and seven touchdowns a year with the Jets. And oh yeah, zero playoff appearances. 

So I don’t really see any evidence that shows you’ve improved enough since your original contract to warrant a raise.

You would argue that you had no help your first season and you would be right. But are you saying that your new and improved offensive line, with a half-way decent QB, suddenly transformed you into the AFC’s leading rusher? Does that make you expendable?

You would argue that making $900,000 next year would be a downright shame after leading the AFC in rushing; I might give you that one too. 

But personally, I find it a little coincidental that the season before you’re due your lowest paid yearly salary with the Jets, you have the best season of your career. You would argue that you were in the prime of your career, and you’d be exactly right.

You’re turning 31 in August buddy, you’re headed for the dreaded down-slope.

And, come on, after this upcoming season you’ll have made roughly $14 million with New York, meaning you’re due another $6 million in the final year of your deal, right?

That’s not so bad is it?

With your sculpted yet aging body, having only shown one season of success, and failing to lead your team to the playoffs two years in a row, it’s a tough decision for your team to hook you up with a new deal.

Thomas, you realize that when you’re on the verge of 32 and scheduled to make $6 million, you better have had another big season to receive a nice, new contract, or even to avoid getting cut. And then when you’re a free agent RB at the age of 33, forget it. 

So I feel for you Thomas, you’re acting in your best interests. Seasons like you had last year are hard to come by and you’re trying to cash in. This is your time to make a move, but it’s not in the best interests of the team.

And you signed on the dotted line two years ago, that’s the bottom line. You have to honor your contract or attempt to be traded, which could be tough.

So go out there and make the Jets lock you up with another great season. Because your problem right now is that New York has the leverage and you know it, which is why you got your butt back out there.

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