CHAMP RETURNS TO DENVER:

Champ Bailey agreed to a 4 year deal for over $40 million to return to the Denver Broncos. Denver has now locked up one corner position, but still has a serious need at the other spot. While it is pricey this is a great deal for the Broncos, as they couldn’t afford to lose one of their few star players. The contract should also give Denver flexibility for the future as Bailey is set to make $15 million this season, meaning his remaining three years will be below market value. I like it when teams front load a veteran’s contract so he isn’t overpaid when his skills decline. While some might say that the $15 million is too much, but the franchise tag for corners is in that market, and Bailey is easily one of the top 5 corners still in this league. One interesting thing to note is the fact that Bailey cited the labor uncertainty as to why he resigned now. This could lead to a small wave of signings heading into early next week when the CBA expires. I wouldn’t expect many more big names, but some solid starters and role players might decide they want to resign now before the market is potentially flooded.

PANTHERS FRANCHISE CENTER RYAN KALIL:

In a bit of a surprise move the Carolina Panthers decided to place the franchise tag on center Ryan Kalil. Now it isn’t to say that Kalil isn’t a franchise (aka top 5 center), but rather they deemed him more valuable than either RB DeAngelo Williams or DE Charles Johnson. Now logically it makes sense to use the tag on an offensive lineman over a running back like Williams. Williams is a very talented running backs, but backs typically have shorter NFL careers, and the Panthers are still pretty well set in the backfield. The more surprising move is letting Johnson hit free agency. Johnson came out of Julius Peppers shadow quite nicely and was an elite pass rusher for the Panthers. And in fact was probably their most dominate player last season. His 11.5 sacks were 8 more than the next closest player on the Panthers, and was part of a 3-way tie for 7th in the league. Whats even more impressive is the fact that he did it on one of the worst defenses in the league, with zero help from the interior of the Panthers defensive line. The Panthers have some defensive end depth, but they weren’t able to find a consistent starter opposite Johnson, now they need to replace him? The other thing that makes placing the Franchise tag on Kalil odd is it guarantees him a top 5 offensive line salary (the average of), which includes all offensive linemen. Like it or not, centers are never viewed in the same light as tackles so now the Panthers have to pay their center tackle money. A case can be made to make Kalil the highest paid center, but to put him on par with the league’s top OT’s is a bit of an overpayment.

Here are the top needs for each team in the NFL in reverse draft order:

1. Carolina Panthers:

-Defensive Tackle: The Panthers get very good play from their defensive ends, but receive no internal penetration from their tackles. Nick Fairley makes a lot of sense at the top of the draft.

-Guard: The Panthers have solid tackles when Jeff Otah is healthy, but have very little in the way of talent at guard. An upgrade could be in order in either the 3rd or the 4th round (maybe both).

-Tight End: Carolina has not had a pass catching tight end in years, but hopefully the new coaching staff will look to upgrade Jeff King. If the Panthers had their top pick in the 2nd round, they would reunite Clausen, with Kyle Rudolph his college tight end. Look for a potential trade, or a free agent signing to fill this need.

-Wide Receiver: The Panthers lack a top notch receiver to go along with Steve Smith, and it does hinder their offensive ability. While A.J. Green is in the mix for the top spot, the Panthers have invested a lot of draft picks of late into the position, so my guess is they will take a pass. I could see them adding a receiver via free agency.

-Quarterback: While I believe the Panthers should give Jimmy Clausen a fair look this season, they need to bring in a veteran backup in case he falters or gets injured. I think Clausen will be fine, if they can just improve around him enough.

-Corner back: Richard Marshall is a free agent this season, and he is coming off his worst year as a starter, so I don’t see the Panthers resigning him. That will mean Carolina needs to address the corner back position this offseason, likely through free agency.

-*Defensive End: The Panthers top sack leader, Charles Johnson, is primed to become a free agent. If the Panthers can’t work out an agreement, this need shoots up the list. As it stands now, this is only a need for depth purposes.

Denver Broncos:

-Corner back: Champ Bailey is a free agent this offseason, and even if they resign him, it is an area of weakness as the Broncos have nothing at the opposite corner. If Bailey does leave I think Denver will draft either Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamara with the 2nd pick in the draft. And if they do resign Bailey, they could still look to address their need early.

-Defensive End: While it isn’t 100% clear whether or not the Broncos will run a 3-4 (like they have been doing) or a 4-3 (which is Coach Fox’s preference), the Broncos need big time help at defensive end. If they go back to the 4-3 both Da’Quan Bowers and Robert Quinn will be targets. If they stay with the 3-4 Nick Fairley or Marcel Dareus could be the pick.

-Defensive Tackle: Again this is dependent on what system they run, but defensive tackle is a serious need for Denver. If they stay in the 3-4 a Nose Tackle in the 3rd or 4th round would make sense, and if they go 4-3 Fairley and Dareus are in play for the 2nd overall pick, this time for the inside.

-Safety: It really is hard to say what is a bigger priority, strong or free safety as they both need to be addressed. I typically lean to adding a free safety first, but Denver should look at both positions.

-Right Tackle: Ryan Harris is a free agent, and even if they do resign him he has been pretty injury prone these last few years. If he isn’t retained a starter is needed, if he is signed a good backup is a priority.

Buffalo Bills:

-Offensive Tackles: The Bills need to add a pair of  tackles this offseason after completely ignoring it last year. At this point it doesn’t matter who lines up under center, as they have no chance without a massive upgrade at the tackle spots. There isn’t any franchise tackles in this draft, so baring a trade down the Bills should consider the Free agent route. On the right side they could look at using their 2nd or 3rd round pick on bringing in an upgrade.

-Rush Linebacker: The Bills were unable to put any consistent pressure on the quarterback and it cost them dearly. If they want to run the 3-4 they need to bring in guys who can get to the quarterback. Robert Quinn should be a serious option for them at number 3 overall.

-Defensive End: The Bills need to get more push from their defensive line, so adding a talented 3-4 end like Dareus or Fairley makes a lot of sense at number 3. They could wait until the 2nd round, but it would be hard to pass up those top guys.

-Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick is a solid starter, but he’s likely not franchise material. While I don’t see the Bills grabbing a QB in round one, a 2nd or 3rd round pick could be invested into the position.

Cincinnati Bengals:

-Wide Receiver: Terrell Owens is on his way out, and it seems likely that Chad OchoCinco is about to follow him. The Bengals need to add a top flight receiver, so if A.J. Green is still on the board he won’t fall any farther in the draft.

-Defensive End: Antwan Odom has been a force at end, but over the last two seasons he his missed the majority of his games. Without him that pass rush struggles, despite the emergence of rookie Carlos Dunlap. The Bengals should consider Bowers at number 4 if Green is off the board.

-Strong Safety: The Bengals have excellent corners, but Roy Williams has been a major liability in coverage for Cincinnati and they have to find an improvement. If they can’t sign a free agent a 3rd round pick should do the trick.

-Running Back: Cedric Benson really struggled this past year, and while some of that blame is on the offensive line a lot falls on his shoulders as well. The Bengals need to address their running back need either in free agency or the draft, but it is pretty clear they will have to look outside the organization to do so.

-Quarterback: Carson Palmer had a resurgence at the end of last season, but before that he looked like he was completely done. He might have a year or two left in the tank, so the Bengals need to start looking for a replacement.

Arizona Cardinals:

-Rush Linebacker: The Cardinals had one of the most ineffective pass rushes last season and it left their secondary out high and dry. Arizona needs to look long and hard at Quinn and  Von Miller with their 5th pick if they want to improve.

-Offensive Tackle: The Cards offensive line needs a complete overhaul and that should start with the tackle position. There aren’t any great options for the top 5 in the draft, so I’m guessing they look to free agency to fill this need. For the right side a mid-round pick could suffice (and probably even start this year).

-Guard: Arizona needs to keep rebuilding their line if they want to have an effective offense again, and adding a guard in the mid-rounds (or through free agency) is a smart choice.

-Corner back: Arizona’s corners got beat quite a bit last season, that it wouldn’t be shocking to see them target a top corner at number 5. Overall I think they could just look at adding better depth and focus on improving their pass rush which should, help their corner back play.

-Quarterback: There is little doubt that Arizona needs to add a quarterback, but I think it is more for a short term fix than a long term issue (don’t right John Skelton off just yet). Look for Arizona to add a veteran as they look to get at least average production from their signal caller.

Wizards Win Without Wall or Lewis: It was either an impressive win by the Wizards or an utter collapse by the Bobcats, either way Washington walks away the victor. The Wizards were without newly acquired Rashard Lewis and star rookie John Wall, yet still won by 30 points. They were helped by the Bobcats being completely inept in the 3rd quarter when they shot just 1-14 from the field and managed just 11 points. Washington scored 31 points that quarter and were helped greatly by the Bobcats 9 turnovers. Although it was a nice win without their top players, the Wizards will need both Wall and Lewis back as they try to make this a respectable season.

Bears Knockout Favre and Clinch The North: When this season began no one was giving the Bears a chance to win the NFC North, but they again showed just how good they can be last night. While the Vikings aren’t the same team, they still possess a good amount of talent, especially on defense and the Bears torched them for the 2nd time this season. Chicago is going to be a force to be reckoned with this postseason, and are looking strong with a balanced offense and a pretty good defense. This was a nice comeback game after getting crushed by the Patriots last week.

Tim Tebow Era Continues In Denver: The Broncos have already announced that Tim Tebow will be the starter this week against the Houston Texans (note to Mike Shanahan that is how you make a quarterback change). Now part of the reason given is the fact that Kyle Orton is still recovering from an injury, but the bigger reason is that Tebow showed a little promise in his first start. Everyone knew that Tebow could be a dangerous runner, but 70+ yards later including a 40 yard TD run showed just how big of a threat he could be. While Tebow’s delivery is still a bit awkward and not the most efficient, he threw the ball well in his first start. It was a very conservative game plan, but I was impressed that Tebow didn’t force the ball and throw a pick. The Texans also represent a good opportunity since their defense has been so horrible. They have one of the most inept pass defenses in the league, so Tebow should have no problem getting comfortable against them.

Red Sox Sign Bobby Jenks: Boston signed former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks to a two-year deal yesterday worth a total of $12 million. Overall it isn’t a bad deal for the Red Sox, considering most relievers are signing for 3 years this offseason. While $6 million is pretty pricey, it helps make Jon Papelbon expendable in a trade. Jenks provides another good, quailty back of the pen arm, who at times has flashed dominance. I like this deal for the Red Sox and I think they will be greatly rewarded for picking up Jenks.

Chargers Crush the 49ers: This was a big game for San Diego as they moved to within half a game of the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West Division. Considering that the Wild Cards both have a game and a half lead on San Diego, the Chargers will need to win the West to go to the playoffs. San Diego showed just how dangerous a team they can be in the post season as they beat the 49ers last night 34-7. The Chargers controlled this game from start to finish, as the 49ers defense didn’t have an answer for them. San Diego once again showed that they are basically unbeatable in December, and they look to be the Division champs when the season is over.

Tim Tebow Taking Snaps In Practice, Could Start This Week: The long awaited Tim Tebow era could begin this week in Denver as starting quarterback Kyle Orton is a bit banged up. Tebow took snaps with the first team offense yesterday, and should play a bigger role this week against the Oakland Raiders. Tebow has played in some special packages this season, but has yet to see the field for any significant game action. While Broncos fans have been clamoring for Tebow for sometime, I’d be a bit careful for what you wish for. While Orton’s number have dropped this season, quarterback play is not why this team is in last place. The Broncos offensive line woes and lack of a running game are a much bigger reason for their struggles. To say nothing of their porous defense that really hasn’t stopped anyone. Personally I doubt Tebow is ready, as I think he still needs developmental time to learn how to be a top quarterback. Broncos fans should be patient with Tebow and let him develop at his own pace.

Saints -6.5 @ Bengals: Cincinnati may be at home, but they have no shot in this game as they are imploding fast. The Saints will need to keep pace in the NFC South so I expect them to play their best football. Saints win easily 35-20.

Bears -4.5 @ Lions: I’m really a bit fan of the Lions as they really seem to be turning the corner, but all my hope for them stops at Drew Stanton. If Matt Stafford or Shaun Hill were quarterbacking this team then I’d say they had a shot, but I don’t feel quite as confident with Drew Stanton. Bears win 27-20.

Jaguars +3 @ Titans: I never would have believed it if you told me, but the Jaguars are leading this division right now and I expect them to defend their first place standing. Tennessee needs to hope Kerry Collins can still get the job done, but he is far from a 100%. Tennessee will keep it close, but remember the Jags are actually getting three points in this game. Jacksonville wins 24-21.

Broncos +9 @ Chiefs: The last time these two teams met the Broncos ran up the score on the Chiefs, something I’m sure Kansas City hasn’t forgotten just yet. I’d look for the Chiefs to have an answer for the Broncos passing attack at home today, and I think Kansas City will put on an offensive show. The Chiefs might not be able to put up as many points since they are more of a run first team but I’d look for them to cover. Chiefs 35-17.

Redskins +7 @ Giants: Seven points is a big spread for the Redskins, who really haven’t been blown out of too many games this season, but I think it will be enough for the Giants to cover. New York’s receivers are banged up right now, but at the same time so is the Redskins secondary. Even with the Giants being without their top two receivers, I think they have a better passing attack than Washington. On top of that the Giants grade out with a better quarterback, rushing game, offensive line and overall defense. Now I think the Redskins can keep this game close despite their injuries, but I don’t see how they can consistently score against that Giants Defense. Giants win 28-17.

1. Steelers- Roethlisberger looked fine in his debut, and Pittsburgh continued to roll. Now with a passing attack to go along with their ground game and defense, I’m not sure how you stop them.

2. Jets- The Jets are 5-0 after their opening week loss to the Ravens, and are showing a tough (albeit not great) D and a strong running game. Sanchez has improved this year, but still has had some bad weeks.

3. Ravens- Baltimore might have two losses, but neither are a blow out and this team is balanced and ready to play.

4. Colts- Indy might have two losses, but they still look like one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL. Manning is having another incredible year and could lead this team back to the Super Bowl.

5. Patriots- New England might only have 1 loss, but I’m still not believing in this team sans Moss. The Patriots look okay now, but can they sustain it?

6. Saints- This isn’t last year’s Saints team, but they still have plenty of offensive firepower, the question going forward is can that defense hold up?

7. Titans- Tennessee has the running game and defense down pat, but they still need consistent performances from their quarterback.

8. Texans- Houston has some holes in their pass defense, but have a fantastic running game and passing attack.

9. Falcons- Atlanta is a very good team, but to be a contender you have got to win some tough ones on the road, and they looked over matched last week.

10. Eagles- Philly has two quarterbacks that could start for most teams in the league, and an impressive offense. The loss of Jackson hurts them though if he is out for an extended period.

11. Giants- New York is hotter than Philly right now, but the Eagles have the more talented team. Either way these two teams should be fighting for the division.

12. Chiefs- The Chiefs came extremely close to beating both the Colts and the Texans, but in the end couldn’t pull it out. Overall they are a good team but still have a few big holes.

13. Packers- Green Bay roster is beginning to look like an infirmary, but they still have Aaron Rodgers at the helm and that will keep them competitive.

14. Dolphins- Miami is 3-2 and has looked pretty good thus far. Their two losses have come to divisional foes and they almost upset the Jets. They are still a developing team, but the future looks bright.

15. Redskins- Washington is 3-3 and have done a good job of playing up to their opponents. Their defense has some major holes in it, and their offense is incomplete, but they are still in games.

16. Bears- Not addressing their offensive line issues this offseason has come back to bite the Bears hard. They have a good defense and a number of playmakers, but their o-line will hold them back.

17. Vikings- It hasn’t been pretty this year in Minnesota, but their defense has held up. The question remains is how will Favre’s arm hold up for the rest of the year?

18. Seahawks- Seattle isn’t the most impressive team in the NFL, but they have put together some nice games. And should remain in the West race.

19. Bengals- Cincinnati needs to figure out what is going wrong, because the talent is there with this team.

20. Broncos- Denver’s offense is looking good, unfortunately their defense can’t really stop anyone.

21. Cardinals- Arizona is relying on an undrafted rookie, but they have the talent around him to pile up a few wins.

22. Buccaneers- Tampa has a bright, bright future ahead of them, but that defense has not been able to stop top notch offenses.

23. Rams- St. Louis lives and dies with Bradford, as he has put together some good games, and some ugly games. They (Bradford esp.) seem to play much better at home, so it will be interesting to see how they end up with their road record for the year.

24. Cowboys- They might only have 1 win, but I wouldn’t count the Cowboys out just yet. They have so much talent, but no discipline or gameplan.

25. Chargers- San Diego’s defense is letting them down big time, and could keep them from a return trip to the playoffs.

26. Lions- Detroit lost another quarterback, but Stafford should be back now. Their defense has some issues, but that offense can score with anyone.

27. 49ers- San Francisco finally got a win, but they still aren’t playing up to their talent.

28. Browns- Cleveland is starting to show some semblance of an offense going forward, now they just need a defense to step up.

29. Jaguars- Jacksonville is 3-3, but with Garrard possibly injured for a couple of weeks (maybe less) their situation is pretty ugly.

30. Raiders- Oakland has some talent they just need to put it all together.

31. Panthers- It looks as though they rushed Clausen, hopefully it doesn’t do long term damage to the kid.

32. Bills- Why this team didn’t improve at quarterback or the offensive line this offseason is beyond me.

Phillies Retake The Lead In the East: With yesterday’s win over the Marlins and the Braves losing to the Pirates, the Phillies have reclaimed 1st place. It has not been an easy year in Philadelphia, one that has been filled with injuries to a number of their top players and questionable decisions like the trading away of Cliff Lee. But through it all the Phillies have remained in the mix and the playoff hunt. Now they need to hold off the Braves for another 22 games, to win their third straight division title, and have the chance to redeem themselves in the postseason. While the Phillies are healthier now and have a little momentum, holding off the Braves won’t be easy. And the Wild Card race will likely go down to the wire as well, so if the Phillies don’t win the East there might not be a consolation prize.

Rays Knock Off Boston, And Close the Gap on the Yanks: With last night’s shellacking of the Red Sox and the Yankees loss to the Orioles, Tampa moved within a game and a half of the A.L. East lead. Also with the win over the Red Sox and the White Sox falling to the Tigers, the Rays are comfortably in the driver’s seat for the Wild Card. The Rays now hold at least a 7 game lead over both clubs, and it is now almost a guarantee that the Wild Card will come from the loser of the Yanks-Rays fight for the A.L. East. While the Yankees have more offense, I think the Rays’ pitchers will carry them down the stretch and they will edge out New York for the title.

Broncos Get Both Good and Bad News: Finally it appears as though 1st round pick Demaryius Thomas is healthy and ready to contribute as he returned to practice yesterday. While it remains to be seen how much of an impact he can have Week 1, he has the talent and potential to be something special this year for the Broncos. He is still raw, but there isn’t much talent ahead of him on the roster, and I do expect big things from Thomas. With all his missed time it might take awhile for him to adjust to the NFL, but his return to practice, and potentially being able to play this weekend is a great sign for Denver. On the negative side it appears as though RT Ryan Harris is definitely out this Sunday, meaning that rookie Zane Beadles will start in his place. Beadles has some talent and potential so it isn’t the end of the world, but boy are the injuries piling up for Denver. This could be a rough season to overcome for the Broncos, but the AFC West is a poach-able division.

Yesterday’s announcement that the Broncos extended Kyle Orton for another season was both a bit surprising and exactly the right thing to do. It was surprising because Denver had brought in quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow this offseason, and invested some significant resources to do so. In addition, the hype surrounding Tebow made it seem as though this would be Orton’s last year in Denver. At the same time it was the right thing to do, because Orton is by far the team’s best quarterback, and Tebow will need some time to develop.

Tim Tebow may be the future of the Franchise, and I really do think he will reach that level, but right now playing him would be detrimental to both him and the team. This is a quarterback who is completely changing his mechanics, and learning a completely different style of football (not to mention rookie quarterbacks notoriously struggle ex. Mark Sanchez). Tebow will need time to work out all the kinks and become an NFL caliber quarterback, and this deal gives him a two year window to do so. Now I think the Broncos will develop Tebow packages where he can be a bit of a weapon, and get some real game time. I also think that maybe later in the year if the Broncos are out of it, maybe Tebow comes in relief for a half or even a start. In fact, that would be the ideal way to bring him along to ensure he isn’t rushed too early.

While the fans might not really understand it, the Broncos made a great move with the extension. One it keeps their quarterback happy, and two it gives them a lot of options for next year. If for some reason Tebow puts it all together in one year, than Orton could be traded with a very marketable 1- year 9 million dollar deal. The same could be said if Quinn shows enough to be a starting quarterback, but I wouldn’t bet on that.

Orton threw for 3,800 yards last season and kept the Broncos offense competitive all year. While they lost Brandon Marshall this offseason, they did bring in a couple impressive rookies to help take his place. Orton gives this team the best chance for a playoff run, and proved himself last year. While it seems odd and shocking Orton is a top 15 quarterback in this league, and quite the bargain compared to former Josh McDaniels protege Matt Cassel. I’ve criticized the Broncos for a lot of things over the past couple of seasons, but this was one move they got right.

The Denver Broncos made a bit of an odd move yesterday in signing RB LenDale White to a two-year contract. Now I had fully expected the Broncos to add a running back given the injuries to their top two running backs Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and Correll Buckhalter (back). Buckhalter’s injury isn’t too serious, though a back injury could easily flare up during the season. He is very much a quality backup and if needed a capable spot starter. Moreno on the other hand, is a bit more serious with a hamstring injury that will keep him out for at least the next 3 weeks. While it doesn’t sound super serious, hamstrings are extremely hard to predict and have a tendency to be a nagging injury all year. With Denver’s top two backs facing potential nagging injuries all year it was probably important for the Broncos to add a third back with some real NFL experience. I just don’t think LenDale White was the right choice.

For one thing LenDale White is facing a four game suspension to start the season so he doesn’t really help the team out if Moreno and/or Buckhalter can’t go in the first couple of weeks. So he doesn’t really fill that need, and given his history of bad attitude and work ethic, it remains to be seen if he will be worth it even after he serves the suspension. White also will take away carries in practice from whatever 3rd and 4th running backs that do make the team (at least until his suspension is over). Given the fact that right now the Broncos running options are Bruce Hall, Toney Baker, and Lance Ball I’d say they need a much practice/preseason work as possible. Also, with White’s signing, any remaining free agent running backs (Brian Westbrook), will likely find work else where, not wanting to compete for just a 4 week job. Finally, in an odd move, the Broncos decided to make room for White by releasing the one other running back with some serious game experience on their roster, Kolby Smith.

Now no one is going to confuse Kolby Smith with Chris Johnson or even Correll Buckhalter, but he has a good bit of game experience these last 3 years. Smith is no better than a third running back (and even that would be a stretch on most teams), but he has actually carried the ball in games which you would think would be a positive. Even if White was able to play week 1, I would have kept Smith around until I was confident that he could handle the role. And the team could have easily released a player from a position where they aren’t facing two major injuries. While Smith maybe would not have made the final roster, I would have at least waited until both Buckhalter and Moreno were 100% and game ready.

The Broncos further weakened their running game with this move and it is one that doesn’t really make sense to me. Denver needs to hope that both Moreno and Buckhalter don’t have any reoccurances or setbacks to their injuries, otherwise it could be a rough first couple of weeks this season.