NFL Hot Stove

The New York Giants have announced that they have given Head Coach Tom Coughlin a 3-year contract extension. The team announced today. It begins immediately and is worth $20,000,000. He is third in Giants history with 74 wins and has changed his mind and would like to coach into his 70s. Giants Training Camp begins on July 26th and runs through August 15. Coughlin hoists the Lombardi Trophy high overhead following the Giants Superbowl XLVI victory. and finally, former Jets LB/DE, Future Hall of Famer Jason Taylor will join ESPN as an NFL analyst for the 2012 season and beyond.

Better 'Safe' Than Sorry

The Super Bowl champion Giants safeties were mediocre in 2011 and overall preformed at a low, relatively ineffective level. The G-Men need a somewhat retooled defense if they expect to repeat in 2012.

With Deon Grant expected to retire following Super Bowl XLVI, his only career Super Bowl championship in 10 seasons, the Giants must lay low and replace him with Tyler Sash. If Reese drafts a safety this year, he should be placed opposite Sash and Antrel Rolle MUST be traded immediately!

This would not only free up cap space, it would allow the G-Men to improve their defense.

NFL Free Agency

The Saint Louis Rams have signed former Giants WR Steve Smith to a 1-year deal, and former Jets TE Matthew Mulligan to a 2-year deal. Both were disappointments in 2011. The Jets have Keller and can easily find a replacement for Mulligan, and Smith will once again be forced to prove his worth if he wants a long-term contract.

Per Patriots owner Robert Kraft and ESPN Boston writer Mike Reiss, Matt Light is expected to retire from the NFL after 11 seasons, all in New England. Light won three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) and has played 152 games in his NFL career.

NFL Hot Stove

The Chicago Bears have signed RB Michael Bush to a 4-year, $14,000,000 contract ($7,000,000 guaranteed).

BenJarvus Green-Ellis has signed a 3-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. He accumulated 667 yards with 11 touchdowns in 2011.

The Buffalo Bills signed DE Mark Anderson to a 4-year, $27,000,000 deal with $8,000,000 guaranteed.

The San Francisco 49ers have re-signed QB Alex Smith to a 3-year, $16,500,000 deal.

NFL Free Agency News

The New York Jets have traded a fourth round draft pick for QB Tim Tebow. The Jets will likely have either Mark Sanchez or Tebow on the team in 2012, but not both. This seems to seal the fate of Mark Brunell, not likely to return for a third season.

The Bills have re-signed S Bryan Scott.

The National Football League and Roger Goodell have suspended Saints head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season without pay. He also took away their second round draft picks in 2012 and 2013. Payton will lose $7,500,000.

Hines Ward has announced his retirement after 14 seasons. He was released prior to the start of free agency and now awaits his Hall of Fame invitation.

Rocky Mountain High? Elway's Committment a huge one.

Well, the news is out, future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning has elected to sign with the Denver Broncos!

The Broncos, fresh off an 8-8 season which saw them advance to the AFC wild divisional round before a crushing loss to the Patriots, have made their move and will undoubtedly trade Tim Tebow, who has three years and a plethora of money left on his deal.

This is a shocker, but I feel that John Elway will enjoy having a prolific passing quarterback. Tebow WILL be a success somewhere, I know it.

Hot Stove

The San Francisco 49ers have signed former Giants WR Mario Manningham to a 2-year contract. Terms were not immediately disclosed.

The Arizona Cardinals have decided to pay Kevin Kolb his $7,000,000 roster bonus, ending their pursuit of Peyton Manning.

The New York Jets will play their luck in free agency with safeties. Jim Leonhard, Brodney Pool, and Eric Smith are all free agents.

"Tackling" the Draft: New York Jets 2012

The New York Jets had many positions that needed improvement in 2011, but perhaps none more obvious than right tackle. Wayne Hunter was re-signed to a 1-year deal after the lockout and it quickly became known that the move was a mistake. Hunter was drafted in 2008 as a projected successor to Damien Woody were he to retire, which he finally did following the 2010 season. The Jets soon realized that they did NOT have a successor prepared and now is the time to rewrite the wrong from 2008.

The Jets have the 16th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft and with it can and should select Mike Adams from Ohio State University. I truly feel he can be THE guy, the successor to Damien Woody that the Jets so desperately need to find.

However, the catch is that Hunter is guaranteed to make $2,450,000 in 2012 regardless. This is too much money to absorb and so GM Mike Tannenbaun, who made the big mistake of re-signing Hunter last season, will have to either work out some sort of trade to send Hunter out of New York, or have another player, (say, Mark Sanchez?), agree to restructure their contract to offset the balance of the cost if Gang Green is to absorb Hunter's 2012 salary.

NFL Hot Stove

The Buffalo Bills have finally signed WR Stevie Johnson to a 5-year, $36,250,000 contract. This was right on time and I commend GM Buddy Nix for his work both leading up to this deal (extending Jackson and Fitz) and during the negotiations. A new era in Buffalo is upon us!

The New York Giants have used the franchise tag on P Steve Weatherford. He will earn about $2,500,000 in 2012 if he stays under the tag, and is the third punter in NFL history to receive the tag from any team.

The Patriots have tagged WR Wes Welker.

NFL Offseason News

Once again, Fat Albert Hay Hay Haynesworth has been cut, this time by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had 25 tackles in six games as a Buck. He improved, but still needs to get better if he wants a permenant home.

ESPN announced that Ron Jaworski will NOT return to Monday Night Football in 2012 and instead will serve as an analyst (on shows such as Mike and Mike in the Morning and Sunday NFL Countdown).

Colts owner Jim Irsay said that Peyton Manning will be allowed to decide his own future in Indy.

NFL Offseason

In a shocking move, the New York Jets announced that they will NOT fire Quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh. He has one-year left on his contract. They have also hired Karl Dunbar as the new D-Line coach.

As expected, Randy Moss will return to the NFL IN 2012, if anyone signs him.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired Giants QB coach Mike Sullivan as Offensive Coordinator.

Giants RB Brandon Jacobs has announced that he is willing to restructure his contract to remain on the team. He is 5th among all-time rushing leaders in Giants history.

Free Agent Linebackers in 2012

Andra Davis: Goodbye Buffalo.

Kirk Morrison: Possibly back in Buffalo.

Reggie Torbor: Back in Buffalo in 2012.

Chase Blackburn: He will be back on a 1-year tender. Can he do it again in 2012?

Jonathan Goff: His return can be summed up in five words: Mark Herzlich and Greg Jones.

Bryan Thomas: A solid player who may return to the Jets in 2012 but whose spot is not guaranteed.

Jamaal Westerman: Probably back in 2012, but not a lock.

Aaron Maybin: Not a lock, but if he can come cheap, he is probably back.

Free Agent Defensive Linemen

Robert Matthis: Goodbye Indy!

Sione Pouha: A great nose tackle is hard to find in the NFL today, so why would the Jets get rid of one? Back in 2012 as one of the FIRST re-signings.

Andre Carter: New England's defensive woes won't hinder his return.

Shaun Ellis: I'm BEGGING you, Mr. Tannenbaum! Back in Green and White after a subpar season in 2011.

Dave Tollefson: Giants ALL THE WAY! No way he leaves.

Rocky Bernard: Gone. Adios. See ya. Giants don't need him anyway.

Jimmy Kennedy: Tom Coughlin wanted him for a reason. He will be back in 2012, believe me on that.

Notable NFL Free Agent Tight Ends in 2012

Jermichael Finley: The Packers would be idiots to let him walk, enough said.

Scott Chandler: Completely expendable. I cannot see him in Buffalo with their better free agents commanding time and money.

Jeremy Shockey: He is nearing the end, but still has some gas in the tank. He will not return to Carolina, however.

Jake Ballard (Exclusive rights free agent): Will be back in Blue come September, his ACL scaring others away.

Bear Pascoe (Restricted): Same Ballard, back in Blue.

Matthew Mulligan (restricted): Likely gone from the Jets.

Notable Free Agent Wide Receivers

Vincent Jackson: The Chargers star had a great year, his third 1,000 yard one to be exact. His injuries have kept the Chargers from signing him long-term, but the stats speak for themselves. He won't be "bolting" out of San Diego anytime soon.

Wes Welker: Butterfinger jokes aside, the Patriots receiver had another phenomenal year in 2011 except for the dropped Super Bowl pass. He will be in New England in 2012.

Reggie Wayne: The Colts star struggled like the rest of the team, but should remain in 2012, though many expect him gone.

DeSean Jackson: The Giants' foe had a strong year in 2011, but is unhappy about his current deal and wanted an extension last season. The disasterous season for Philly probably put the nail in the coffin for a DeSean-Philly return.

Stevie Johnson: The Bills extended QB Fitz and RB Freddy Jackson in part to allow them to focus solely on Stevie this offseason. He works extremely well with Fitzpatrick, but was also seeking an extention last season, but talks broke down. He CANNOT be lost in free agency!!!!

Mario Manningham: He had a quiet season save for his Tyree-esque catch in the Superbowl, partly due to injuries, but still managed a solid year. He MUST be retained! (Do you hear me Jerry?!)

Ruvell Martin and Roscoe Parrish: May return, but with the money commanded by Stevie, as well as their "expendability" as is probably seen by GM Buddy Nix, they are not locks for the 2012 roster.

Domenik Hixon: I cannot see both him and Manningham on the Giants in 2012. He is the odd man out.

Braylon Edwards: He only played half of a season (if that), but can be a solid second or third option on a contending team.

Devin Thomas: Will return to the G-Men in 2012.

Plaxico Burress: Kiss him goodbye, New York. The former Giant turned Jet will not be in New York AT ALL in 2012.

Deion Branch: The former Superbowl MVP should return to New England. He probably won't however.

Derek Hagan: Will not return to Oakland.

Steve Smith: Back in Blue? (Pretty Please, Mr. Reese?)

Jerricho Cotchery: The former Jet will not be in Pittsburgh in 2012. His window of opportunity may be closing if he can't remain healthy and put up solid numbers.

Notable Free Agent Running Backs in 2012

Ray Rice: The Ravens would be idiots to even let him talk to other teams. He will be tagged and back in 2012.

Matt Forte: I can't see the Bears letting him walk and barring any setbacks he will be getting a large contract from DA BEARS soon.

Marshawn Lynch: The former Bill had a solid year with an average of 4.5 yards per carry. A re-signing with Seattle seems imminent.

Peyton Hillis: Averaging only 3.6 yards per carry, he was not as effective as previously, but seems like a guy whom the Browns like and may return if the price is right.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis: Many teams may look into him, but the Pats RB will be back in Boston in 2012.

Arian Foster: Oft-injured in 2011, he may be nearing the end with Houston if they want him to take a pay cut.

LT: The future Hall of Famer had a solid year, but was restricted by Schotty and Rex Ryan as they tried to experiment with Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight. He will not return and may retire after all.

Ronnie Brown: The Eagles have a talented group of guys and would be fools to let Brown walk, however, their bust of a season may make GM Howie Roseman think otherwise.

NFL Hot Stove!

The New York Jets have signed WR Patrick Turner to a 1-year, $615,000 contract. He had 8 receptions for 96 yards and 1 touchdown in 15 games. He is a solid 3rd Wide Receiver and this deal works out for both sides.

Turner scores his lone touchdown of the 2011 season.