Category: NFL (Page 443 of 1282)

      Patriots sign Torry Holt, but why?

      April 20, 2010 /

      Tom Curran of WEEI reports via his Twitter page that the Patriots have agreed to terms with wide receiver Torry Holt on a one-year, $1.7 million contract. Curran doesn’t get into why they signed him, however, which is the question I have.

      The Patriots have a habit of signing aging veterans on their last or next-to-last legs (see Fred Taylor, Shawn Springs, Joey Galloway, Marcus Pollard and Kyle Brady) and who are looking for a Super Bowl ring before they exit stage left. In the case of Holt, he technically gives the Pats what they need (a receiver), but he’ll hardly be the answer.

      More than anything, New England needs to add a playmaker opposite Randy Moss. Julian Edelman can play the slot position until Wes Welker returns from the knee injury he suffered in Week 17 of last year, but Holt isn’t the answer on the other side. He was somewhat effective for the first five or six games last season in Jacksonville, but then he faded badly down the stretch.

      It’s never a bad idea to add competition to any position group, but this signing seems like a waste in my eyes. Chances are the Pats will still add a receiver in the middle rounds this weekend.


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      NFL

      Jets shopping Faneca, Ellis and Thomas?

      April 20, 2010 /

      The National Football Post is reporting that the Jets have put guard Alan Faneca, defensive end Shaun Ellis and outside linebacker Bryan Thomas on the trade block. Per Michael Lombardi, all three players may be released after the draft if New York can’t find any trade suitors.

      Faneca went to the Pro Bowl last year but he got there by name recognition only. Despite commanding a hefty salary, he wasn’t a difference maker in the running game and he played poorly as a pass blocker. It’s no wonder the Steelers didn’t want to break the bank trying to retain him a couple of years ago. Brandon Moore was by far the Jets’ best guard last season and comes significantly cheaper.

      Ellis is coming off a productive regular season but faded down the stretch and played poorly in the playoffs. He’s also 32 and becomes a free agent at the end of the 2010 season, making him unlikely to be dealt. Meanwhile, Thomas was extremely good against the run last year but struggled generating much of a pass rush from his outside linebacker position. He’s the youngest of the three players (he’s 30) and is signed through 2011, so the Jets may be able to find a suitor for him.

      That said, I don’t think the Jets will have much of a market for any of these players. All three are aging, Faneca is expensive and if teams know they might have an opportunity to acquire these players after the draft, then why would they trade for them before or during? It doesn’t seem likely that the Jets will get anything for any of these players outside of maybe a seventh round pick. Of course, the report may be bogus as well.


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      NFL, NFL Draft

      T.O. and McNabb to reunite in Washington?

      April 20, 2010 /

      According to ESPN.com’s Ed Werder, Donovan McNabb is lobbying for the Redskins to sign free agent Terrell Owens. Per Werder, Mike Shanahan says that the Skins aren’t actively pursuing Owens, but the team does want to upgrade their wide receiver corps so the possibility remains open.

      T.O. and McNabb have since reconciled their differences stemming from their days together in Philadelphia, but I’m not sure why McNabb would want to go back down that road. It’s not like Owens is a productive No. 1 receiver anymore; why take on the potential baggage?

      That said, there’s no doubt that the Redskins have to upgrade their receiving corps at some point this offseason. Santana Moss is coming off a rough year, while youngsters Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas have only shown vague flashes of potential. Owens always keeps himself in great shape and if Washington were to sign him for one year, he could at least breathe some competition into the wideout position. Plus, a lot of his struggles last year can be attributed to the fact that the Bills didn’t have a quarterback.

      Still, the Skins would be better off taking a pass on T.O. He’s a 36-year-old headache waiting to happen and there’s no telling how he and Shanahan would mesh. Washington has seven rounds to add another receiver into the mix and it just makes sense for them to go younger.


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      NFL

      Rams willing to trade out of the top spot?

      April 20, 2010 /

      With the first round of the NFL draft only two days away now, rumors about the No. 1 overall pick are starting to swirl. NBC Sports reports that the Rams are willing to trade out of the top spot for much less than the NFL’s draft trade chart would require.

      While it’s outdated, the draft trade chart suggests that the first pick in Round 1 is worth 3,000 points. So for example, if a team such as the Browns (who have the seventh overall pick) wanted to move up to the top spot, they would have to be willing to give up their first round pick (1,500 points) and three second rounders (worth 510 points apiece). But again, the chart is outdated and the Rams said they would be willing to accept less, so maybe they’d agree to the Browns’ first round pick and one second rounder. (Plus, what team would really give up their first round selection and three second rounders to move up? It’s unrealistic.)

      The more likely scenario is that the Rams will stay put and draft Sam Bradford at No. 1. It’s extremely hard to trade out of the top spot and even though they could target Jimmy Clausen later in the first round, finding a trade partner for the top pick is difficult. Plus, the Rams need a quarterback no matter what. Do they have Bradford and Clausen rated similarly? Because if they don’t, they’re not going to trade down in hopes of landing Clausen when they had a much higher grade on Bradford. The same can be said for Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, Tony Pike and any other quarterback that would be available in the middle rounds.

      If Bradford is rated first on their board, then they might as well take him at No. 1.


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      NFL, NFL Draft

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