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The Broncos last week shipped out QB Tim Tebow, but appeared to have found a new backup QB for Peyton Manning.

The team has come to terms with former Bears QB Caleb Hanie. The Broncos inked Hanie to a two-year contract, to which the terms were not not disclosed.

Hanie was with Chicago the last four seasons, and completed 59-of-116 pass attempts for 679 yards with three touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 appearances.

His moment of fame was the 2010 NFC Title game at home vs Green Bay when he took over for an injured Jay Cutler, and he went 13-for-20 with a TD and 153 yards with two picks in the 21-14 loss.

Hanie struggled in four starts for an injured Cutler during the 2011 season, completing 51-of-102 pass attempts for 613 yards with three touchdowns and nine interceptions for a passer rating of 41.8.

The Bears lost all four starts and Hanie was replaced by Josh McCown, who was re-signed to a one-year contract. Chicago also signed Jason Campbell to a one-year contract, essentially ruling out a return to the Bears for Hanie.

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Cornerback Adam Jones has re-signed with the Bengals according to a report from Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Bengals have confirmed that Jones signed a one-year deal.

The defensive back formerly known as “Pacman” will be entering his third season with Cincinnati. In two previous years, he’s played in 14 games (nine starts) and racked up 46 tackles, defended nine passes and hauled in an interception Jones stepped into the starting lineup last year when Leon Hall suffered a season-ending torn Achillies.

Jones has averaged 10.0 yards in his 91 career punt returns. He has returned four punts for touchdowns in his career, but none since 2006 (28 returns). Jones will likely enter camp as the teams No. 4 cornerback behind Leon Hall, Nate Clements and free agent signee Jason Allen. He brings great value on special teams and fantastic athletic ability and depth to the Bengals secondary.

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The Bengals have come to terms with free agent safety Reggie Nelso according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Nelson is a former first round pick of the Jags back in 2007. The 28-year old put up 63 tackles, a sack and five interceptions as a rookie. Nelson’s production tailed off the next two seasons and he was traded to the Bengals before the start of the 2010 season.

In two seasons with the Bengals, Nelson has started 22 of 32 games, totaling 139 tackles, two sacks and six interceptions, most of which coming in 2011 when he intercepted four passes, returning one 75 yards for a touchdown.

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Not exactly how I envisioned starting out free agency.

I was pumped that the Seahawks made sure their run defense stays in tack reupping on some Big Red. I was glad to see Beast Mode stick around and to see they didn’t grossly overpay him for his highlight reel season, or give him an 8 year deal.

After that though the cupboard has actually been made barer. Marcus Trufant and Robert Gallery being released has put the Seahawks in the market for at least a starting guard and a nickel cornerback. Although injury-prone both are still starters in this league and now their spots need filling.

That’s all fine, everyone will say “well it makes us younger” but I think the “this team needs to get younger” mantra has run it’s course. This team is one of the youngest in the NFL after 2 seasons of wheeling and dealing and trimming roster fat and excess salaries. Now is the time to build up that core of young talent, this is when you start peppering in some veteran free agents, especially when this “great awesome team you have” still only finished 7-9 last season.

At the positions where Carroll has released former starters I have sat and watched Cortland Finnegan, Brandon Carr, Carlos Rogers, and Richard Marshall sign at cornerback. It’s even worse at guard with Carl Nicks, Ben Grubbs, Steve Hutchinson having found new homes. I’m not saying that they need a million annual cornerback with their stud secondary, but what would have been wrong with slightly upping the 3 year, million Hutchinson got from Tennessee. Robert Gallery was set to make .5 million total in 2012 and Hutchinson is set to make .3 million annually on his deal from Tennessee.

After willing to lavish Peyton Manning like a freakin god they’re reportedly not even interested in giving free agent Matt Flynn “starters money” to take the ball out of Tarvaris Jacksons hands. They apparently didn’t even attempt to try and land the defensive equivalent to Manning on the defensive side of the ball either.

Free Agency isn’t the end all but it’s what you have before the draft. Kam Chancellor, Doug Baldwin, and Richard Sherman are excellent examples of finding gems in the later rounds that forego the need to drop .5 million on Pierre Garcon or million on Brandon Carr.

It’s only day 3 and the draft’s a month+ away but as it stands I am certainly not enthralled about what this team has done so far except for keeping Lynch and Bryant, which I expected anyway, what about you?

 

 

 

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1. Indianapolis Colts, QB, Andrew Luck, Stanford

The top rated QB for the last year the Colts make Luck the top pick in the draft. Despite the buzz that RG3 has been getting this is the right pick for the Colts. With the same skills and Peyotn Manning when he came out in 1998. The Colts won’t have to change the offense much to make this pick workout. 

2. Washington Redskins via trade, QB, Robert Griffin III, Baylor

The Redskins make a big move to get RG3. There’s no telling if this will pan out for either. RG3 has great physical skills, but needs time in a pro offense. Washington is just not a good place for young player to develop, let alone a quarterback. But, this a good pick for the ‘Skins for they are going to need a big play quarterback to compete in the NFC East.

3. Minnesota Vikings, T, Matt Kalil, USC

In need of help at tackle the Vikings get the best left tackle in the draft. A road grader in the running game should make Adrian Peterson happy. The quickness to block speed rushers should make Christian Ponder happy or at least upright from the blind side.

4. Cleveland Browns, WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Cleveland should be looking at what it’s in state rival Cincinnati did last year. Take a big play wide out high in the draft. Blackmon has good size and speed. What the Browns need most are his good hands. Having lots of dropped passes last year, Blackmon should make them catches this year. This pick will make Colt McCoy very happy.  

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, RB, Trent Richardson, Alabama

Most people think the Bucs will go with Morris Claiborne here. I think that could happen. But the Bucs need an every down back that can pass block along with run the ball. Legarrette Blount only plays when they are ahead, and Blount won’t pass block anything. Making him a role player, Richardson could be another Cadillac Williams.

6. St. Louis Rams Via Trade, DE, Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

Jeff Fisher is a defensive coach, and Ingram is explosive pass rusher.  With Chris Long on the other side Rams could have 10 plus sack guys for years to come. With the NFL going pass happy tackle Riley Reiff could go here too.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars, CB, Morris Claiborne, LSU

The Jags need play makers period! Well, this defensive stud falls in their lap. I can’t remember the last time if ever the Jaguars had a player this good on D. The Jags could go with a pass rusher here too. The need both, but Claiborne is too good to pass up.

8. Miami Dolphins, T, Riley Reiff, Iowa

The ‘Fins are changing defenses but with a big hole at right tackle here is the fix. This is also a spot you could see the start of reaching for quarterbacks.  I think the Dolphins will get Matt Flynn in free agency. So protecting Flynn becomes the most important thing at the start of the draft. 

9. Carolina Panthers, DE, Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Coples gets to stay home for the start of his career. The Panthers need to get after the quarterback. Which has been a struggle since Julius Peppers went to Chicago.  Coples won’t be as good as Peppers, but it’s a start.

10. Buffalo Bills DE, Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

The Bills love to reach for players. So, with that said, seeing them drafting Kendall Wright from Baylor would be no shock for me. But the Bills do get a lot out of smaller wide outs. See Lee Evans and Stevie Johnson. But they go help on the d line. A good move given that they don’t pressure the QB much. Or create turnovers like other bad NFL teams.

11. Kansas City Chiefs, T, Jonathan Martin, Stanford

Chiefs need help anywhere on the O-line. So a guard could be here too. But, I like a tackle here. This draft is rich in tackles which will push down the guards for later. The Chiefs like running the ball to the edges and right tackle was there worst potion last year. So this is an easy fix.

12. Seattle Seahawks, DT, Dontari Poe, Memphis

With a great combine, Poe’s stock has shot up. Some call Poe another Haloti Ngata, but he could be like Seahawk Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy. Big time pass rusher up the middle, and run stuffer. The ‘hawks sure could use both.

13. Arizona Cardinals, G, David DeCastro, Stanford

It’s a good time to be a Cardinal. Arizona will go offense here to protect their new QB Peyton Manning. If Manning is a not a Cardinal they could go linebacker here.  But revamping the offense is a must for coach Ken Whisenhunt is on the hot seat.

14. Dallas Cowboys, CB, Dre Kirkpatrick Alabama

The Cowboys need help at cornerback. They could get that help in free agency. If they do Dallas will go linebacker here. But this fills a bigger need for now. The 3rd horse in this race is O-line. But I don’t see that happening.

15. Philadelphia Eagles, WR, Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

If DeSean Jackson is gone here’s the replacement.  Good size at 6’2 something that the Eagles don’t have at wide out. Not as big of a game changer as Jackson, but sometimes you take the tradeoffs. But Michael Vick should like his new bigger target.

16. New York Jets, S, Mark Barron, Alabama

The Jets need a replacement for Jim Leonhard.  Barron in the future can be someone who can get the defense line up where they need to be. Much like Leonhard does now. There will be time for Mark to grow into that roll.

17. Cincinnati Bengals, CB, Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

The Bengals need help at corner, so they draft one here. Cincinnati could go wide out here pending who’s here. But with their top corners best years behind them this is a good pick up for the Bengals.

18. San Diego Chargers, G, Cordy Glenn, Georgia

The Chargers need offense line help. Losing up to three starters from last year will turn this into an area of need.  Tackle Mike Adams Could go here too. But I think the Chargers could trade up to get some better as well.

19. Chicago Bears, WR, Kendall Wright, Baylor

Jay Cutler needs weapons! The Bears haven’t done much to get him any. Wright is small for the NFL but he should become a playmaker. His combine wasn’t what people were looking for but he should rebound at his pro day. Would be a good thing if the Bears could get Vincent Jackson in free agency too team with Wright.

20. Tennessee Titans, DT, Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State

Titans want help with the pass rush, but go for line depth. Being able to stop the run is important. That is why the Titans go with Cox over some other D lineman.

21 Cincinnati Bengals, RB, Lamar Miller, Miami Florida

The Bengals need a running back seeing as Ced Benson won’t be back. This is a bit of a reach but the Bengals can do this because they have two picks in the 1st round. But if the Bengals go WR with the first pick, this one will be for a corner.

22. Cleveland Browns, QB, Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Cleveland gets a QB. Just not the one fans want. But, they get another Texan to play QB behind Colt McCoy. They take a page out of the playbook of the Bengals with the draft a WR and a QB with your top two picks. Then it’s time will tell if the Browns can turn things around like the Bengals last year.

23. Detroit Lions, T, Mike Adams, Ohio State

Lions need help at running back but there’s none here worth the risk. So they go for help on the line. Adams is a good pick as he will be the left tackle keeping Matthew Stafford safe. Defense end could be here as well. But Stafford’s health is more important.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers, DT, Michael Brockers, LSU

A bit of a slide for Brockers, But the Steelers get their replacement for Casey Hampton with a run stuffing nose tackle. With a year to learn from Hampton this is a good spot to land.

25. Denver Broncos, TE, Coby Fleener, Stanford

The Broncos need help on offense. With them committing to Tim Tebow an athletic tight end is a good start. But an defense tackle could fit well here too.

26. Houston Texans, WR, Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

Needing a 2nd receiver to team with Andre Johnson they find there man. Hill is the best wide out in the draft left. He had a great combine which helps his stock. Hill’s potential could have him as a number one receiver as well.

27. New England Patriots, DT, Devon Still, Penn State

Needing wide outs, the Pats go with their best available player. The Patriots need D line help as well, so Still is a fit here, and it’s a good pick for them.

28. Green Bay Packers, DE Nick Perry, USC

Needing someone not named Matthews to get to the quarterback, Perry is a good pick for the Pack. If they need a center this could change the Packers minds, but the Pack is back with defense.

29. Baltimore Ravens, C, Peter Konz, Wisconsin

Needing to get younger at center the Ravens get the best center in the draft. I’m sure there are plenty of Raven fans that would want a kicker here, but there’s just not one here to make this pick workout. 

30. San Francisco 49ers, WR, Rueben Randle, LSU

49ers go all out for a wide receiver. If they don’t draft one here then it’s because they signed Mike Wallace and gave this pick up. Either way this is an upgrade for the 49ers.

31 New England Patriots, LB/DE, Andre Branch, Clemson

This guy fits what the Patriots like.  Can play multiple positions good size and is a smart player. At the end of the round he’s a steal.

32. New York Giants, TE, Dwayne Allen, Clemson

The Giants top two tight ends are on the shelf. So this is a no-brainer. Size and speed Allen will be a good fit for the World Champion G Men. 

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If you’re a 12th Man like me this is nothing short of a fantastic update in the race for the biggest free agent to hit the open market since Reggie White.

Moments ago appearing on SportsCenter Adam Schefter reported that the media circus he encountered after landing in Miami may have turned Manning off and affected his stance on playing for the Dolphins.

Peyton Manning played his college ball in Knoxville and of course his pro ball in Indianapolis, not exactly the largest media markets around. In those places he never had to deal with the media frenzy as he would have to in an atmosphere like Miami.

One things for sure, Indianapolis and Knoxville are much more similar to say, Seattle, then Miami, and that could definitely play a factor in where he winds up.

 

 

 

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News is now leaking that Peyton Manning will have his own version of “The Decision” next week, with or without Jim Gray and the ESPN cameras.

I know he wants to get as much time in with all of his teammates, so he wants to make a quick decision. Apparently, the 12 GMs want a quick decision in hopes of using him to recruit other free agents starting Tuesday.

Miami may be trying to commission legendary Hall of Fame Dolphins QB Dan Marino to try to recruit him. Manning has thrown for the most yards of any quarterback in the time since Marino left the game in 1999. Marino has the second-most passing yards of any in NFL history with 61,361.

They were playing golf at a tournament today.

Jeff Darlington of NFL Network says that Marino claims he will not reach out to Manning, but Darlington says Manning will talk to Marino in preparation for his decision.

Follow me at: http://twitter.com/Chris_M_Bach

Hit “Like” or the Facebook share button if you think Manning and his new teammates, whoever they may be, are going to the playoffs.

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For the fifth time in eight seasons the cost of a Pittsburgh Steeler ticket will go up. According to reports from Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the cost of a ticket could go from in 2011 to 0 in 2012.  According to the report, specific details of the increase were unknown. But a letter to season-ticket holders, the Steelers explained the increase by stating that it was done to “meet the challenges of remaining competitive in the National Football League”.

The Steelers did not raise ticket prices last year. The team has had a tough offseason cutting fan favorite veteran players Hines Ward, Aaron Smith, James Farrior, and Chris Kemoeatu. The Steelers have also reworked the contracts of many players to get under the salary cap. The cost of the tickets going up will help the team pay for the bonuses in all the new contracts. But cost of the tickets will be forgotten if the Steelers continue to win.

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The Jets granted linebacker Bart Scott permission to explore trade partners. General manager Mike Tannenbaum admitted that the team spoke with the linebacker’s agent at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week regarding the veteran’s future.

“We had a good conversation with (Scott’s agent),” Tannenbaum told ESPN 1050 radio on Tuesday by way of Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “We’ll see what happens over the next couple weeks…. Bart’s under contract. He’s given us three good years since he’s been here…. We had a really good meeting where we cleared the air on a lot of things….. In large part, Bart’s frustrations came from not winning and not playing as much as he wanted to, but he’s a team-first guy and winning is important to him.”

Scott, who has three years remaining on his contract, has a fully guaranteed base salary of .2 million in 2012.

“All options are on the table,” Tannenbaum said of whether Scott could be traded. “We’re going to keep having discussions with him. We’ll see where things go.”

“He’s also an inspirational leader,” he added. “He’s a tempo setter. He plays physical. So some of his production doesn’t (always) show up on the stat sheet…. He’s still a good player and he played a lot of meaningful snaps for us.”

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The Falcons are going to do what they can to keep John Abraham, and the team and his reps are set to have a sit down Saturday or Sunday for a “do or die” negotiation at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Abraham, who was a guest on the “2 Live Stews” radio show on 790 The Zone on Wednesday afternoon, said he wanted to be paid “12 [million dollars]-plus” per season, which seems high for a guy on the verge of turning 34.

“If I was playing terrible … no question, five million,” Abraham said. “I’m not a money chaser, but at the same time I’m expecting to get paid like everybody else is getting paid. …

“Check out the five top ends. Everybody is getting 12-plus. I made eight million last year. Everybody is saying, ‘Oh, he’s so greedy.’ How am I greedy when I’m just trying to get paid the same thing they are getting paid? There are guys out there getting more money than me, but my production is the same as theirs or at least close.”

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