OK, I watched the draft and I watched the off season deals, trades, and free agent pick ups. And now I’m watching all the pre season games via the NFL network ( greatest channel ever). I developed a mental list of players that need to be watched, and teams that need to be watched and paid attention to this year. I’m no expert, but hell none of us are. I’m putting that mental list to cyber- paper right now…

AFC East:
1) Patriots: Super Bowl champs a dynasty why not pick them?

Veteran to watch: Deion Branch, can the super bowl mvp translate heroics into David Patten numbers during the regular season?
Free Agent to watch: Tie Chad Brown LB/Tim Dwight WR/ST..both are older, but both can fill holes in the team’s depth and Brown can fill in for beloved Teddy Bruschi, and stay healthy? Dwight can surely help in returns and has great hands and speed at a number 3 wr or special situation receiver.
Rookie to watch: Logan Mankins OG/ Nick Kaczur OG…name the New England offensive line????? They just do their jobs no one famous there except maybe Matt Light. It will be interesting to see if either of these rookies get in there by week 5 or 6 and shore up the line or even start. This will be important for Dillon and for Brady taking less hits.

Offense
Wide Receiver 87 David Givens 10 David Terrell 86 Tim Dwight
13 Brandon "Bam" Childress
Left Tackle 72 Matt Light 70 Logan Mankins 65 Victor Leyva
Left Guard 71 Russ Hochstein 70 Logan Mankins 77 Nick Kaczur
Center 67 Dan Koppen 71 Russ Hochstein 64 Gene Mruczkowski
Right Guard 61 Stephen Neal 71 Russ Hochstein 64 Gene Mruczkowski
74 Billy Yates
Right Tackle 76 Brandon Gorin 68 Tom Ashworth 77 Nick Kaczur 62 Jeff Roehl
Tight End 82 Daniel Graham 88 Christian Fauria 84 Benjamin Watson
85 Jed Weaver 47 Joel Jacobs
Wide Receiver 83 Deion Branch 80 Troy Brown 81 Bethel Johnson 14 P.K. Sam
18 Andre' Davis
Quarterback 12 Tom Brady 2 Doug Flutie 16 Matt Cassel
Running Back 28 Corey Dillon 33 Kevin Faulk 32 Kory Chapman
Fullback 35 Patrick Pass 90 Dan Klecko 39 Kyle Eckel

Defense
Denfensive End 94 Ty Warren 96 Rodney Bailey 91 Marquise Hill
Defensive Tackle 75 Vince Wilfork 90 Dan Klecko 69 Mike Wright
Defensive End 93 Richard Seymour 97 Jarvis Green
Outside Linebacker 55 Willie McGinest 59 Rosevelt Colvin 58 Matt Chatham
45 Wesly Mallard 43 Andre Torrey
Inside Linebacker 98 Chad Brown 49 Eric Alexander 53 Larry Izzo
43 Andre Torrey
Inside Linebacker 44 Monty Beisel 58 Matt Chatham 47 Ryan Claridge
51 Don Davis
Outside Linebacker 50 Mike Vrabel 98 Chad Brown 48 Tully Banta-Cain
46B Grant Steen 47 Ryan Claridge
Cornerback 21 Randall Gay 38 Tyrone Poole 27 Ellis Hobbs
Cornerback 22 Asante Samuel 23 Duane Starks 30 Chad Scott 26 Eugene Wilson
Strong Safety 37 Rodney Harrison 36 James Sanders 30 Raymond Ventrone
Free Safety 26 Eugene Wilson 29 Guss Scott 51 Don Davis


Special Teams
Place Kicker 4 Adam Vinatieri
Punter 8 Josh Miller
Long Snapper 66 Lonie Paxton


2) Buffalo Bills: The surprise team of the east. If they can beat NE once or twice they could win the division…theoretically. I won’t be sending bets to vegas though.
Veteran to watch: Obviously JP Losman, he looks really good in pre-season, but pre-season is pre-season.
Free Agent to watch: Mike Gandy OT/ Bennie Anderson OT….Buffalo needs an offensive line..they really need it, even with Losman’s ability to run a bit.
Rookie to watch: Raymond Preston C/ Justin Geisinger…Offensive line woes mean these rookies need to be able to shore up the line or hopefully be situational starters soon..real soon.

Offense


WR: Eric Moulds Sam Aiken George Wilson
Roscoe Parrish
LT: Mike Gandy Jason Peters Greg Jerman
LG: Bennie Anderson Justin Geisinger
C: Trey Teague Duke Preston Jasen Esposito
RG: Chris Villarrial Ross Tucker
RT: Mike Williams Dylan McFarland
TE: Mark Campbell Tim Euhus Ryan Neufeld
Rod Trafford Kevin Everett Brad Cieslak
QB J.P. Losman Kelly Holcomb Shane Matthews
Kevin Thompson
FB: Daimon Shelton Jon Goldsberry Joe Burns
Ryan Neufeld
HB: Willis McGahee Joe Burns Shaud Williams
Lionel Gates ReShard Lee
WR: Lee Evans Josh Reed Jonathan Smith
Drew Haddad

Defense
LE: Chris Kelsay Ryan Denney George Gause
LT: Sam Adams Justin Bannan Lauvale Sape
RT: Ron Edwards Tim Anderson
RE: Aaron Schobel Constantin Ritzmann
SLB: Jeff Posey Mario Haggan Wendell Hunter
MLB: London Fletcher Angelo Crowell Liam Ezekiel
WLB: Takeo Spikes Josh Stamer
LCB: Terrence McGee Jabari Greer
Lawrence Richardson
SS: Lawyer Milloy Coy Wire
FS: Troy Vincent Rashad Baker Jim Leonhard
RCB: Nate Clements Kevin Thomas Eric King
Evan Oglesby

Special Teams
K: Rian Lindell
P: Brian Moorman
KO: Rian Lindell
LS: Jon Dorenbos
H: Brian Moorman
PR: Nate Clements Jonathan Smith
KR: Terrence McGee Josh Reed



3) New York Jets: They could easily be number 2 and threaten number 1, but they normally find a way to lose early and get hot late (the exception being last year). If that changes and things stay similar to last year then things could look up for one of the most underrated head coaches in football. I have no problem thinking they could easily be no 2 in the division.
Veteran to watch: Let’s see if Chad Pennington QB can stay healthy an entire year. Then the jets can threaten for number 2 and a wildcard slot.
Free Agent to watch: Laveranues Coles WR is really important for this team. I think he has a hell of a work ethic and will undoubtedly be the no 1 receiver.
Rookie to watch: Mike “frickin’” Nugent PK. All those field goals are going to add up and win some games. People forget how important a kicker is to winning sometimes, especially when you have a great defense, and a mid range offense.

POSITION PLAYER NAME
OFFENSE
WR 87 Laveranues Coles 80 Wayne Chrebet 2 Terrence Stubbs
11 Jovan Witherspoon
WR2 81 Justin McCareins 89 Jerricho Cotchery 82 Chas Gessner
18 Harry Williams, Jr.
LT 69 Jason Fabini
LG 66 Pete Kendall 62 Michael King
C 68 Kevin Mawae 78 Jonathan Goodwin 60 Charles Missant
RG 65 Brandon Moore 61 Jason Nerys
RT 79 Adrian Jones 77 Marko Cavka 74 Mike Kracalik 72 Isaac Snell
TE 86 Chris Baker 88 Doug Jolley 85 James Dearth 83 Joel Dreessen
QB 10 Chad Pennington 9 Jay Fiedler 5 Brooks Bollinger 8 Kevin Eakin
RB 28 Curtis Martin 23 Derrick Blaylock 34 Cedric Houston 27 Terry Butler
FB 33 Jerald Sowell 35 B.J. Askew 44 Little John Flowers
40 AustineNwabuisi
DEFENSE
LE 92 Shaun Ellis 96 Joey Evans
DT 63 Dewayne Robertson 95 Tim McGill
NT 93 James Reed 70 Lance Legree 91 Sione Pouha
WILL 99 Bryan Thomas 97 Trevor Johnson 71 Radell Lockart 56 John Abraham
SLB 54 Victor Hobson 58 Ryan Myers 49 Dennis Haley
MLB 51 Jonathan Vilma 55 Mark Brown 52 Kenyatta Wright 0 James Kinney
JACK 50 Eric Barton 53 Barry Gardner
LCB 24 Ty Law 21 Derrick Strait 22 Justin Miller 39 Brandon Haw
RCB 36 David Barrett 32 Darrien Johnson 20 Atari Bigby
S 26 Erik Coleman 42 Rashad Washington
S_ 45 Oliver Celestin 25 Kerry Rhodes 0 Aaron Francisco
SPECIAL
P 7 Ben Graham
K 1 Mike Nugent
KO 1 Mike Nugent
H 7 Ben Graham
PR 22 Justin Miller 81 Justin McCareins
KOR 22 Justin Miller 89 Jerricho Cotchery
LS 85 James Dearth 83 Joel Dreessen


4) Miami Dolphins: Surely a rebuilding year, and the first for Nick Saban. It will take a year for the systems to adapt and change, and who really knows if Saban can transition to the NFL. They will surely land in the no 4 slot in the division. And will Ricky help out or be a cancer in the locker room?
Veteran to watch: The entire defense. Yeah they have Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor and Sam Madison, but can the interior linemen hold their own? Will injuries continue to plague the secondary? How will Vonnie Holliday, Kevin Carter, and Junior Seau help, or are they all done? The defense will make or break a decent a season for Miami.
Free Agent to watch: I suppose it comes down to Holliday DE/DT, and his ability to be flexible at positions and staying healthy. Also Keith Traylor NT. The interior of the line needs help and it will be interesting to see how these 2 play out. Kevin Carter DE also needs to be solid and healthy. Man, this defense could be great or it could be afree agent bust/disaster.
Rookie to watch: Ronnie Brown RB, if he can be solid which I think he can then certainly the dolphins can trade Ricky, and let their crappy quarterbacks depend on the run and not be pressured to pass. Brown is the key to the offense, because I’m betting the QB position will be re-worked next year anyway.

Offense
WR 86 Marty Booker 80 David Boston
16 Maurice Mann 88 Derrius Thompson
14 Kendall Newson (inj.)
LT 77 Damion McIntosh *67 Anthony Alabi* 76 Damion Cook
LG 78 Jeno James 69 Taylor Whitley 65 Rodney Reed
62 Eric Wilson
C 68 Seth McKinney 63 Alonzo Ephraim
74 Wade Smith (inj.)
60 Jason Thomas (inj.)
RG 66 Rex Hadnot 70 John St. Clair
RT 72 Vernon Carey 73 Stockar McDougle 61 Orrin Thompson
TE 81 Randy McMichael 40 Lorenzo Diamond
*48 Alex Holmes* 85 Donald Lee
41 Jason Rader
WR 84 Chris Chambers 83 Wes Welker
15 Danny Farmer 82 Bryan Gilmore
*17 Josh Davis*
QB 11 Gus Frerotte/7 A.J. Feeley 18 Sage Rosenfels *8 BrockBerlin*
HB 34 Ricky Williams *23 Ronnie Brown*
30 Lamar Gordon 31 Sammy Morris 28 Travis Minor
*43 Kay-Jay Harris*
FB 44 Heath Evans 32 Jamar Martin


Defense
LE 93 Kevin Carter *98 Matt Roth* *65 Chris Solomona*
NT 94 Keith Traylor 95 Josh Shaw *92 Kevin Vickerson*
62 Reggie Rhodes
DT 91 Vonnie Holliday 90 Jeff Zgonina 97 Dario Romero
*75 Manuel Wright*
OE 99 Jason Taylor 96 David Bowens 71 Matt Walters
WLB 55 Junior Seau 56 Derrick Pope 57 Corey Jenkins
MLB 54 Zach Thomas *52 Channing Crowder* 51 Winston Taylor
SLB 59 Donnie Spragan 46 Jason Glenn 58 Eddie Moore
LCB 25 Reggie Howard *21 Travis Daniels* 45 Deandre Eiland
35 Billy Parker
RCB 29 Sam Madison 20 Mario Edwards 42 Kris Richard
38 Ray Green
SS 24 Tebucky Jones 47 Lance Schulters 22 Tony Bua
FS 37 Yeremiah Bell 26 Travares Tillman 49 Jack Hunt


Specialists
P 1 Matt Turk 5 Donnie Jones
K 10 Olindo Mare 83 Wes Welker
PC 89 Ed Perry *63 John Denny* 90 Jeff Zgonina
KC 89 Ed Perry *63 John Denny* 90 Jeff Zgonina
H 1 Matt Turk 11 Gus Frerotte
PR 83 Wes Welker 15 Danny Farmer *17 Josh Davis*
KR 83 Wes Welker 28 Travis Minor 82 Bryan Gilmore


*2005 Rookie*



Last edited by Pig Iron; 2005-09-02 4:04 PM.