2003 Posted February 8, 2005 Posted February 8, 2005 This looks like a great article, but I don't have friggin' ESPN Insider! Can someone please post it... thnx...GO BILLS! Overviews: AFC East(It's on the ESPN NFL site)
HtownBillsFan Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 New England Patriots 2004 record: 14-2 (first place) The Patriots have a clearly defined philosophy for approaching the salary cap and free agency: don't overspend, concentrate on mid-level players and sign a lot of short-term deals. Just as it has been the last few years, New England will concentrate mostly on re-signing its own players. Though not a free agent, CB Ty Law isn't sure to return next season. He will be 31 in February, is coming off an injury-plagued season and is due almost $10 million in salary and incentives in 2005. The Patriots have had a chance to see their young cornerbacks in action, and are prepared to get younger and cheaper at the position. Both Law and No. 2 CB Tyrone Poole could be salary-cap casualties. New England faces some tough decisions regarding WR/DB Troy Brown and LBs Willie McGinest, Ted Johnson and Roman Phifer, whose combined salary and bonus money for 2005 totals $15.7 million. But each is realistic about being in the late stage of his career, and each appreciates his role on special teams. Restructuring across the board is likely. The team would like to work out a long-term deal with WR David Givens, a restricted free agent, and at the very least will tender him high and match any offers. Most of the team's unrestricted free agents won't command big money on the open market and probably will re-sign. However, the Patriots can't afford to let PK Adam Vinatieri hit the open market. It seems likely he will be locked up before March, allowing the team to focus on bolstering its secondary, getting younger at linebackers and adding depth. Buffalo Bills 2004 record: 9-7 (third place) The Bills took care of one piece of business during the season – locking up DE Aaron Schobel – but the team still has two more big hurdles: OT Jonas Jennings and DT Pat Williams are unrestricted free agents whom the Bills can't afford to lose. Jennings will draw considerable interest if he hits the open market, and Williams has special value to the Bills because he forms such a potent run-stuffing tandem with DT Sam Adams in their scheme. Though most of Buffalo's other free agents are roster fodder, the team would like to bring back OT Marcus Price and TE Ryan Neufeld at a reasonable cost. CB Kevin Thomas, the only restricted free agent of note, will be tendered and could get a shot as a starter with Troy Vincent moving to safety. Buffalo generally shows restraint in free agency, rarely overpays players and is mostly happy with its current roster. A few tough salary-cap decisions lie ahead in veterans Adams, QB Drew Bledsoe, OC Trey Teague and S Pierson Prioleau, but the Bills are unlikely to make wholesale changes and probably will try to keep this group together another year. Travis Henry Henry That leaves one big decision: What to do with RB Travis Henry? He wants out, and Willis McGahee clearly is the team's back of the future. Trading Henry and recouping a 2005 first-round pick would qualify as a happy ending. Whether through free agency or the draft, the team needs a pass-catching tight end, a range safety and a stud interior lineman. New York Jets 2004 record: 10-6 (second place) The Jets took care of two important needs prior to and during the 2004 season, signing QB Chad Pennington and DE Shaun Ellis to long-term contracts. But that still leaves them with a few whoppers this offseason – namely, what to do with unrestricted free agents DE John Abraham, RB LaMont Jordan and DT Jason Ferguson. John Abraham Abraham Abraham is ultra-talented, but questions about whether he babied a knee injury late in the season and the concerns that subject raises about his priorities make his return something less than a slam dunk. Still, New York likely will place its franchise tag on Abraham and never allow him to hit the open market. One scenario in which Abraham would be allowed to walk is if Jordan is franchised. The Jets definitely want Jordan back as insurance and an eventually replacement for RB Curtis Martin, but making it happen won't be easy because Jordan wants a featured role. The team also would like to hold on to OT Kareem McKenzie but will have to draw the line somewhere. New York likely is finished with TE Anthony Becht, who has been a disappointment, but probably will bring back restricted free agent Chris Baker. Safety Reggie Tongue, CB Donnie Abraham and MLB Sam Cowart – who combine for $4.7 million in pay in 2005 – could be salary-cap casualties. The Jets' priorities in free agency and the draft will be finding a pass-catching tight end, a big-play receiver and good cover personnel for the secondary. Miami Dolphins 2004 record: 4-12 (fourth place) New head coach Nick Saban will have a specific plan for free agency and will stick to it. Saban, a disciple of New England coach Bill Belichick, will follow the Patriots' model for assembling a roster – collect smart role players and avoid long-term and high-priced contracts. Under those guidelines, roster turnover will be heavy and sentiment won't cloud personnel decisions. OLB Junior Seau likely will retire and DE Jay Williams, WR Derrius Thompson, DT Tim Bowens and CBs Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain all are potential salary-cap casualties. A.J. Feeley Feeley Miami's key decisions involve the quarterback position. Can the team win with A.J. Feeley or Jay Fiedler? Do the Dolphins re-sign unrestricted free agent Sage Rosenfels or draft a quarterback? They also must address the Ricky Williams situation. Bring him back or write him off? And if they can coerce Williams to return to football, do the Dolphins trade him or try to make the marriage work? The team's group of unrestricted free agents is nothing special, with LS Ed Perry being the best of the bunch. The only other player of note is OLB Morlon Greenwood, who could draw interest from other teams but isn't likely to get top dollar from Miami. RB Travis Minor, CB Jimmy Wyrick, SS Sammy Knight and DT Bryon Robinson aren't high priorities. The Dolphins have too much money tied up in aging players on defense, and Saban knows that unit is in decline. In addition to quarterback and running back, the team has a gaping hole at left tackle. Perhaps no offseason will be more important than the first for the new regime.
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