As one ends, another one begins. Draft hype is heating up and free agency is right around the corner. Who do you have?

Obviously, I have the Patriots. They went 11-5, and are adding Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, and whoever they draft in the 1st round to a team that could have defiently gone far in the playoffs. Plus, if they trade Matt Cassel for a 1st rounder, they could land a top defensive prospect to boot. But well see.

Some of the big free agents:
-On D, you got Albert Haynesworth, Julius Peppers, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Carlos Danzby,
-Arizona QB Kurt Warner-he's old, and needs wide recievers to put up numbers, but when he has them he is one of thebest.
-New York RBs Brandon Jacobs & Derrick Ward: straight up beast
-San Diego RB Darren Sproles:
-Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha-no doubt the best shutdown corner in the NFL albeit not that big a playmaker
-Cincinatti Bengals Wide Receiver T.J. Houshmanzadeh

Other stories to follow: will guys like LaDainian Tomlinson, Chad and Larry Johnson, or Willis McGahee stay put or be traded? Will Donovan McNabb finally get the wide reciever hes always wanted? What will become of Michael Vick and Plaxico Burress? How will young players like Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush (who was in the midst of a breakout season when he went down), or Rashard Mendenhall fare when they return from injuries?

And...my latest mock draft:

1. Detroit: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia: if I ran the show, theyd go left tackle. But they are the Lions, and theyll do what the Lions do, and draft a talent prsopect and make him into a bust because they throw him into a terrible situation when he isnt ready for anything.
Best case scenario NFL Comparison: Ben Roethlisberger




2. St. Louis Rams: Andre Smith, LT, Alabama: the best ot in college and heart of an offense. Orlando Pace neds a replacement. If Detroit was/is smart, ths is who they will draft. But i dont think they will.




3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forrest: Is Thigpen the answer? No idea. But he defiently preformed well enough to allow them to use the #3 overall pick on something else. They *could* go Sanchez here, and probably would go Stafford if he fell, or could trade for Pilois boy Cassel, and even with the probable departure of their 31 running back, they have to go d. Though Dorsey helped vs. north to south running, the defense was so shockingly slow that they were torched on the edges. Curry is the best defensive player in the draft.



4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: his #'s should speak for themselves. Not much to say, they need everything, hes a much better wr then anybody is running back in this years draft.
NFL Comparison: Andre Johnson



5. Cleveland Browns: Brian Orakpo, OLB, Texas: best pass rusher in the draft with the ability to contain a side of the los. This is a must for them.


6. Cincinatti Bengals: Eugene Monroe, LT, Virginia: no brainer. Though they have significant needs everywhere, oline is the most pressing.


7. Oakland Raiders: BJ Raji, DT, BC: I will go out on a limb and say Oakland does a smart move. They still need a wr, but outside of Crabtree, everybody is pretty close with Maclin at #1 of the remaining wrs and far from a sure thing to most eyes (though to to my own). Their d sucks. This is simply a must. Though I wouldnt be shocked AT ALL for Davis to trade up and snag Crabtree.


8. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss: no brainer for them after a year in which they took a huge step backwards.


9. Green Bay Packers: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, OSU: They could go Brown here for a pass rush, but Jenkins is a stuf who could be a shut down corner when Harris or Woodson soon slow.
NFL Comparison: Charles Woodson



10. San Francisco 49ers: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State: Singletary will fall in love with this guy who will be a beast in as a 3-4 pass rusher. They would def. go Raji if he falls but I dont see it.



11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State: they need a pass rush. Period. Pettigrew would be tempting but at #11 a definite reach.


12. Denver Broncos: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC: McDaniels never runs the ball when he had Maroney, Morris, Jordan, and everybody else healthy. No way he uses his 1st 1st round pick as a HC on a position he hardly ever uses. The teams d needs definite help due his versatility and football instincts, they need a natural to lead the team for years and theyve got one here.



13. Washington Redskins: Ebon Britton, OT, Arizona: they need a tackle badly.


14. New Orleans Saints: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois: their hideous secondary gets an instant starter with Champ Bailey potential. Btw Vontae is brother of Mike Singletarys bitch/San Fran tight end Vernon Davis
NFL Comparison; Asante Samuel



15. Houston Texans: Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forrest: another team that simply cant stop the pass. They have no other choice here.


16. San Diego Chargers: Chris Wells, RB, OSU: Flat out beast. He can play soft, but would be a deadly duo with Darren Sproles. Runs with power with incredible vision and burst for a man of a sized, very similar style to Adrian Peterson except more like a bull to Petersons horse. Like AD he has been injury prone in college.
NFL Comparison: OJ Simpson (youtube him, they are practically the same person)



17. New York Jets: Mark Sanchez, QB. USC: Guy could be a real star if properly coached. Hell have a decent offense as is, and this is a team that has needed a qb for a while.
NFL Comparison: Aaron Rodgers


18. Chicago Bears: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri: Maclin and Hester would be a deadly-DEADLY-combo of a speed wide recievers (imagine a double reverse). Maclin is electrifying with good hands and reads, insane burst and excellent vision. Physically, he is miles ahead of Crabtree, but right now his overall game isnt even comparable. With good coaching, Maclin could be a pro bowler as a rookie.
NFL Comparison: Chad Johnson



19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia: funny he goes here because he is a Cadillac clone in virtually everywhere, even down to the baller 1st names. Moreno is a beast with excellent vision and patience but still has home run speed and power. A real star. Moreno is a straight g.
NFL Comparison: Terrell Davis



20. Detroit: Warren Beatty, OT, Uconn: time to go oline.


21. Philadelphia Eagles: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburg: straight up beast who can take over most of the running plays while they use Westbrook as a full time recieving back ala KFaulk, who come in and provide a spark on the ground as well.
NFL Comparison: Marshawn Lynch



22. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State: this a team with no real major needs; maye this will put some fire under Jackson again.

23. New England Patriots: DJ Moore, CB, Vanderbilt: the Patriots already have the DROY in Mayo and probably most improved Safety in Brandon Meriweather to go with a great dline. Moore is a welcome replacement for Dhelta Oniel.

24. Atlanta Falcons: James Laurenatis, OLB, OSU: Team without any major needs picks a talented and proven player and leader.

25. Miami Dolphins: Williams Moore, Safety, Missouri: 1 they wont go wr, 2 Cushings has a too many flaws for Parcells and was caught juicing. Theyll go with secondary help.

26. Bmore Ravens: CB Darrius Butler, Uconn: he and Fab Wash could be the 2ndary of the future.

7. Indianapolis Colts: Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss: best available pick, and they could use the help. Steal.

28. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers: Beast. Could be a great possession guy with elusive speed to match Jacksons speed.
NFL Comparison: Braylon Edwards



29. New York Giants: Brian Cushing, LB, USC: They could go wide reciever, but Cushing is much more of a sure thing than any remaining WR.


30. Tennesse Titans: Darrius Heyward Bey, WR, Maryland: Gage could be a great #2 man and possession reciever. With Young at QB, Johnson in the backfield, and HB at wr, you have possibly the fastest offensive ever.
NFL Comparison: Any freak athlete wr...i.e. Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson


31. Arizona Cardinals: DE Michael Jonson, Georgia Tech: will be furious McCoy is taken. Go with a safe and borderline steal pick here with Mike Johnson.

32. Pittsburg Steelers: G, Duke Robinson, Oklahoma: still need to replace Faneca.

My top rbs and wr's.:

RB:
1. Chris Wells
2. Knowshon Moreno
3. Lesean McCoy
4. Shonn Greene
5. Donald Brown

WR:
2. Jeremy Maclin
3. Kenny Britt
4. Darrius Heyward Bey
5. Hakeem Nicks

Like the sig

Obviously the Pats are my predict to win the SB. I mean, their offense will only get better. The defense had so many injuries this year I'm surprised they didn't get blown out every game.

13 wins minimum.

Here's how I rank the divisions.

NFC East:
1. NY Giants (ONLY if Plax is there)
2. Dallas
3. Philly
4. Washington

NFC North:
1. Green Bay
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Detroit

NFC South:
1. New Orleans
2. Atlanta
3. Carolina
4. Tampa Bay

NFC West:
1. Arizona (ONLY is Warner is there)
2. Seattle
3. San Fran
4. St. Louis

1. New Orleans
2. Arizona
3. Green Bay
4. NY Giants
5. Atlanta
6. Minnesota

AFC East:
1. New England
2. Miami
3. Buffalo
4. NY Jets

AFC North:
1. Pitt
2. Baltimore
3. Cleveland
4. Cincy

AFC South:
1. Indy
2. Houston
3. Tennessee
4. Jacksonville

AFC West:
1. San Diego
2. Denver
3. Oakland
4. Kansas City

1. New England
2. Indy
3. Pitt
4. San Diego
5. Houston
6. Miami

NFC East:
1. Cowboys
2. Giants
3. Eagles
4. Skins

NFC North:
1. Vikings
2. Packers
3. Lions
4. Bears

NFC South:
1. Falcons
2. Panthers
3. Saints
4. Bucs

NFC West:
1. Cardinals
2. Niners
3. Rams
4. Seahawks

NFC PLAYOFF TEAMS:
1. Cowboys
2. Falcons
3. Cardinals
4. Vikings
5. Panthers
6. Giants

--------------------------

AFC East:
1. Dolphins
2. Pats
3. Bills
4. Jets

AFC North:
1. Ravens
2. Steelers
3. Bengals
4. Browns

AFC South:
1. Colts
2. Titans
3. Jags
4. Texans

AFC West:
1. Broncos
2. Chargers
3. Raiders
4. Chiefs

AFC PLAYOFF TEAMS:
1. Colts
2. Dolphins
3. Broncos
4. Ravens
5. Pats
6. Steelers

Take it to the bank!

NFC East:
1. Giants - 12-4 (Without Plax take off two wins)
2. Eagles - 10-6
3. Cowboys - 9-7 (Take away TO, add two wins. Take away Romo, add four)
4. Redskins - 6-10

NFC North:
1. Packers - 11-5
2. Vikings - 9-7
3. Bears - 6-10
4. Lions - 4-12

NFC South:
1. Falcons - 12-4
2. Panthers - 10-6
3. Saints - 8-8
4. Buccaneers - 5-11

NFC West:
1. Cardinals - 8-8
2. 49ers - 6-10
3. Seahawks - 4-12
4. Rams - 3-13

1. Giants
2. Falcons
3. Packers
4. Cardinals
5. Panthers
6. Eagles

AFC East:
1. New England - 14-2 (If they don't have Brady for a couple of weeks, shave off one win)
2. Miami - 8-8
3. Buffalo - 6-10
4. Jets - 5-11

AFC North:
1. Steelers - 12-4
2. Ravens - 9-7
3. Browns - 4-12
4. Bengals - 3-13

AFC South:
1. Colts - 11-5
2. Texans - 9-7
3. Titans - 8-8
4. Jaguars - 7-9

AFC West:
1. San Diego - 10-6
2. Denver - 9-7
3. Oakland - 4-12
4. Kansas City - 3-13

1. Patriots
2. Steelers
3. Colts
4. Chargers
5. Broncos
6. Texans

I think he meant SUBTRACT.

No, I meant add.

Then you're insane.

He's already on the decline. Look at his career. Each year is better than the next. He and the Cowboys have created new ways to lose. Just when you think a botched snap in the first round of the playoffs is bad against the Seahawks, he'll turn around and lose at home the next year. And just when you think it couldn't get any worse, he'll turn around the following year and lose by 30+ the following year to the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that tied the Cincinatti Bengals to miss out on the playoffs. A team that tieeeeeeeed the Bengals!

I think in Week 1 if he goes down and his arm is shattered into a million pieces, the Cowboys might be better off. Plus they wouldn't have to worry about Jessica Simpson fitting in to one of their new seats at that new stadium of their's.

I read excel's mock draft and as I've said since the beginning of the college football season, Matt Stafford is one of the most overrated QB's i've seen in a very very very long time.

Joey Harrington anyone?

I lived in detroit when they drafted him. Stafford is still more overrated.

I totally agree, but the Lions are a horrible franchise. Theyll take him "because hell do for them what matt ryan did for atlanta this year" the same darren mcfadden did for oakland what peterson did for minnesota 2 years ago

Detriot won't take the QB unless it is a trade.

I thought Brady might not play next year as well.

A couple of recent reports have said that he'll be ready for the beginning of the season.

Also, not sure if someone mentioned it earlier but the Pats franchised Cassel. No brainer there. It gives the Patriots complete control on where he goes and Cassel gets a nice payday out of it.

Cassel does get a nice payday with his salary raising from about 600 K to about 14 Million.

One thing that I thought of, you better not get hurt in that 1 year with a career ending injury, or then the tag could end up costing you about a 50 Million Contract you could have signed as a free agent.

I hope the Giants get rid of Burress and try to sign T.J. Houshmandzade

Didn't he say that he wanted to play in Philly...?

The Chiefs hire Haley for HC
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3888387
I think the Chiefs can turn things around and they will be very aggressive in FA.

Cards fire Pendergast.

That isn't a surprise their defense was crap most of the year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3909366

Marshawn Lynch arrested on gun charge.

Hooray we get another overblown story about an NFL player!

Marvin Harrison is expected to be released in the next day or two.