NFL: Around the East - New York Jets rivals' off-season moves
With Jets fans grasping at straws for every big name free agent that has seen the spotlight this offseason, here are the transactions that may have been missed. Can the Jets, even with improvement, keep up with their competitors in the AFC East?
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have been one of the quieter teams in the East, but have made some improvements on both sides of the ball.
Their most notable acquisition came just one week ago—signing former Bronco, RB Knowshon Moreno, to a one-year, $3 million deal. Moreno is a much-needed upgrade to a Dolphin run game that ranked 26th in the league in rush yards per game (90) in 2013. The Dolphins rushed by committee last season, with backs Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas combining for 1,115 yards. That won’t help your quarterback too much, but the ‘Phins look to see bolstered numbers from Moreno.
Moreno surpassed the 1,000 yard mark with the Broncos in 2013 while rushing for 10 TDs and receiving for another three.
Other Transactions
Outside of Moreno, the Miami Dolphins re-signed cornerback Brett Grimes to a four-year, $32 million deal. Grimes was ranked as the second-best CB in the NFL in ’13 by Pro Football Focus. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl. Alongside Grimes, the Dolphins went out and added CB Cortland Finnegan, who most recently played with the Rams.
In an attempt to start re-building their offensive line, the team signed OT Branden Albert, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, to a five-year contract worth $47 million.
The Dolphins also signed G Shelly Smith, OL Jason Fox, and WR Kevin Cone.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills have made a slighter larger ‘splash’ than the Dolphins, thus far in the offseason.
The Buffalo Bills haven’t signed any future Hall-of-Famers, but they have added and retained talent around second-year QB E.J. Manuel, and continue to build a strong defense, where last season’s defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine, left off.
Key Signings
Buffalo was able to steal a fellow AFC East player, LB Brandon Spikes, from the New England Patriots. The terms of his contract include $3.25 million for one year. Spikes had 86 combined tackles in 2013 and one INT. Spikes will complement the Bills’ find in LB Kiko Alonso, who was in talks for Defensive Rookie of the Year, before losing out to the Jets’ Sheldon Richardson. Running on the Bills just got a little tougher.
Just today, the Bills traded a sixth-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for WR Mike Williams. The wide receiver has had some off-the-field issues since joining the league, including recently being stabbed in the leg by his brother. Sure, we won’t blame him for that one, but Tampa Bay sought to rid themselves of a perceived ‘distraction’. The Bills, on the other hand, inherit a talented player, having just missed the 1,000 yard mark (996), in 2012. He was injured for part of last season, but should be a threat in a group that includes WR Stevie Johnson and WR Robert Woods. Williams is also reunited with his college coach, Doug Marone, and returns to his hometown, Buffalo.
The Bills re-signed kicker Dan Carpenter to a four-year deal.
Other Transactions
The Bills added RB Anthony Dixon, OL Chris Williams, CB Corey Graham and LB Keith Rivers while re-signing TE Scott Chandler, TE Mike Caussin, and DB Brandon Smith. They also released QB Kevin Kolb and LB Willie Jefferson.
New England Patriots
Ah, the evil Patriots. Have they done enough to maintain their spot as kings of the AFC East?
Pow, right in the kisser: Pats sign CB Darrelle Revis
The Patriots’ biggest off-season move will probably not be news to anyone reading this, but it hurts all the same. The talented corner hit the free agency market this off-season, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were not looking to keep his big salary on the books. The Patriots gave Revis $12 million, on a one-year basis.
Revis is a known commodity for most Jets fans, having watched him shutdown opposing number one wide receivers from 2007-2012, for Gang Green. However, Revis looked a little rusty in 2013 with the Bucs, playing in an unfamiliar zone defense, while coming off ACL surgery.
It’d be unwise to doubt his current abilities, but Revis is a Patriot now, so it’s more than okay to wish him nothing but the worst in the stat books and in the highlight reels.
But wait… there’s more
Darrelle Revis may headline the Patriots’ off-season, but he wasn’t the only big-name acquisition.
Complementing Revis will now be Super Bowl Champ, DB Brandon Browner. Browner started and played in eight games in 2013, combining for 19 tackles and recording one INT. His stats are obviously skewed due to injury, but Browner is a good move for the Pats, having been a part of a vicious Seahawks defense. Browner is set to receive $15.5 million, on a three-year deal.
The Patriots played a lot of plug-and-play ball at wide receiver and tight end last season, but did make a large improvement in that department by adding WR Brandon LaFell. As a part of their release party, the Carolina Panthers allowed the 27-year-old wideout walk, coming off his best season with 677 yards and four touchdowns. The Patriots signed LaFell to a three-year, $9 million contract.
One of their larger re-signings came in the form of WR Julian Edelman, who stepped up big in ’13, with the loss of playmakers due to injury and free agency. Edelman recorded over 1,000 yards, on 105 receptions, and 6 TDs, while playing a big role in the Patriots’ special-teams. He has the potential to receive $17 million over the next four seasons.
Other Transactions
Signed: LS Charley Hughlett, S Patrick Chung
Re-Signed: C Ryan Wendell, DT Vince Wilfork, TE Michael Hoomanawanui
Released: S Steve Gregory, DT Isaac Sopoaga, OL Markus Zusevics, DL Cory Grissom, RB Sam McGuffie, WR TJ Moe, LB Taylor Reed, S Adrian Wilson