For the Bengals, now is the time to win

The Cincinnati Bengals have been moving in the right direction since 2009. Marvin Lewis and his staff have drafted well over the past four years and, as usual, team owner Paul Brown hasn't gone out and over paid for free agents. Instead, he's made it a priority to sign his young impact players to contract extensions. Cinci has lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. In my opinion, the Bengals are currently the best team in the AFC North, at least on paper. The Browns aren't a threat. The Steelers, never to be taken lightly, have lost more than they've gained this year and still have a number of holes to fill on their roster. The Ravens won the Super Bowl last season and while GM Ozzie Newsome proved why he's the best in the business with another stellar offseason, the void left behind from the departure of future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed can't be filled with two rookies. The Bengals are in prime position to win their division and if they do so, they have to make it out of the first round of the playoffs; a feat the team hasn't accomplished since 1990.

With no key losses this off season the defense should rank among the best in league once again. They drafted a physical freak in Margus Hunt and add him to an already impressive defensive line. And rookie Shawn Williams should beat out the under-achiever Taylor Mays to make a formidable safety duo with Reggie Nelson. Meanwhile, they've given quarterback Andy Dalton more weapons on offense. Selecting tight end Tyler Eifert in the first round this year gives him a pass catching machine who can lineup anywhere on field. He's a red zone threat and will be Dalton's safety blanket from day one. Rookie running back Giovanni Bernard is an excellent complement to "The Law Firm" Benjarvus Green-Ellis and also provides value on special teams. And to cap it off the team re-signed right tackle Andre Smith to continue to protect Dalton. This ball club is young and talented and 2013 presents a great opportunity. Marvin Lewis's group needs to capitalize and I think they will.

Each team's best 2013 undrafted free agent signing

Every year we see players burst onto the NFL scene after not hearing their name called on draft weekend. A lot of great players weren't drafted, like Rod Smith, Warren Moon, Tony Romo, Arian Foster, Antonio Gates, and the list goes on. Here's each team's best undrafted free agent signing of 2013.

Arizona Cardinals: Tony Jefferson S, Oklahoma- Jefferson is a physical safety, not shy about making contact. He'll be battling for one of the starting safety jobs in Arizona this summer.
Atlanta Falcons: Brian Banks LB, N/A. After spending more than 5 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Banks was given back his freedom and is trying to fulfill his dream of playing pro football. The 27 year old has been training ever since his release but still has a lot of work to do to make the team. Considering the Falcons' current lack of depth at linebacker I think it's a real possibility he makes the final roster cuts.
Baltimore Ravens: Matt Furstenburg TE, Maryland- The athletic Furstenburg stays in-state and will have a chance to battle Ravens tight end Ed Dickson for the number two tight end spot behind Dennis Pitta.
Buffalo Bills: Da'Rick Rogers WR, Tennessee Tech.- Off field troubles and immaturity issues caused Rogers to go undrafted. With the talent of a first round receiver, Rogers can help Buffalo's receiving corps and potentially battle fellow rookie Robert Woods for a starting role, as long as he stays out of trouble.
Carolina Panthers: Robert Lester SS, Alabama- Lester is a big, physical, hard hitting safety that, barring an injury, will step in and be the Panthers' starting strong safety in 2013.
Chicago Bears: Mark Harrison WR, Rutgers.- Jay Cutler lacked pass catchers last season evident by Brandon Marshall's stats and targets. At 6'3" 231lbs Mark Harrison is a big receiver who should push for playing time his rookie season. His size also makes him an option as a tight end.
Cincinnati Bengals: Jayson Dimanche OLB, Southern Illinois- A good pass rusher, Dimanche is on a Bengals team that is currently set at linebacker which gives him time to develop.
Cleveland Browns: Keenan Davis WR, Iowa- The Browns got more than they expected from Josh Gordon last year after picking him in the supplemental draft. Meanwhile Greg Little drops the ball too much. Davis is a big bodied receiver who has plenty of battling to do for a roster spot.
Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Magee LB, Arizona State- At 5'11" 223lbs Magee is considered undersized for a linebacker, but there's no doubt this guy can play. Last season the Cowboys defense lost both Sean Lee and Bruce Carter to injury and the losses were key. Magee can provide depth and contribute on special teams his first year.
Denver Broncos: Lerentee McCray LB, Florida- McCray is a versatile player that the Broncos staff will find a spot for. His ability to play inside and outside give him more value and increase his likeliness of making the 53 man roster. He could challenge for the starting middle linebacker role, if he can stay healthy. That's a big "if", though.
Detroit Lions: Joseph Fauria TE, UCLA- The Lions have Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler and drafted Michael Williams late in the draft, but Joseph Fauria presents a different receiving threat than the others. At 6'7" tall, he's literally a huge threat in the red zone, too tall for any defender to beat on those 50-50 jump balls. It'll be interesting to see what noise he makes in camp this year.
Green Bay Packers: Jake Stoneburner TE, Ohio St.- The Packers lack depth at tight end and Stoneburner has good speed and athleticism for the position and could crack the lineup when the Packers want to have two receiving tight ends on the field.
Houston Texans: Johnny Adams CB, Michigan St.-  Adams may not be the biggest guy but he's competitive and confident; two traits that a player must have to play cornerback. Adams is also a very sound tackler and his ability to return punts and kickoffs make him more valuable.
Indianapolis Colts: Nigel Malone CB, Kansas St.- Malone should fit well as a nickel corner. He's a physical corner and effective blitzer. He'll likely start out his rookie year on special teams coverage.
Jacksonville Jaguars: TJ Barnes DT, Georgia Tech.- At 6'6" 369lbs Barnes is a mountain of a man. Jacksonville lost Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton during the offseason and it's possible Barnes is the behemoth who takes his place.
Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Bray QB, Tennessee- Andy Reid may have picked up his future starting quarterback in Tyler Bray. He's a bit of a project but Bray has all the tools to become an NFL quarterback.
Miami Dolphins: Jasper Collins WR, Mount Union- A very good route runner who has value in the return game as well. Dolphins traded Devone Bess to the Browns on draft day, Collins may be the guy to fill that void.
Minnesota Vikings: Rodney Smith WR, Florida St.- Smith is a tall target at 6'6" and at the least could provide a red zone target for Christian Ponder. He could push Jerome Simpson and Jarius Wright for playing time if he impresses in camp.
New England Patriots: TJ Moe WR, Missouri- This one was tough but I couldn't ignore Moe. He's a tough and quick slot receiver. And considering the injury history of Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, Moe is good insurance to have. He'll make the final roster.
New Orleans Saints: Chase Thomas LB, Stanford- I was appalled that Chase Thomas wasn't drafted. He may not be the most athletic guy but he was projected to go in the 3rd or 4th round. The Saints got a very good player who will fit in well as either an outside or inside linebacker their new 3-4 scheme. 
New York Giants: Marcus Davis WR, Virginia Tech.- The Giants are very deep at wide receiver and Marcus Davis is a big (6'3" 230lbs) and physical. He's still a bit raw but provides depth behind Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.
New York Jets: Rontez Miles CB, Cal (PA.)- Miles is a small school guy who has a chance to compete for one of the Jets' starting safety jobs.
Oakland Raiders: Connor Vernon WR, Duke- Duke isn't known for its football program but Vernon is a savvy route runner with sure hands. He's a possession receiver who doesn't have great speed. He has a chance to earn a starting job with Oakland.
Philadelphia Eagles: Miguel Maysonet RB, Stony Brook- Maysonet played at a small school but is by all means an NFL caliber back. He's a solid and well built runner at 5'9" 205lbs and could thrive in coach Chip Kelly's zone blocking scheme. He should enter the season third on the depth chart but could push Bryce Brown for the backup role.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Hubbard OL, Alabama-Birmingham- Hubbard is an athletic lineman who is light (286lbs) by lineman standards. The Steelers have seen their fair share of offensive lineman go down with injury the last few seasons so Hubbard should provide good depth while he gains weight and puts on added bulk.
San Diego Chargers: Dan Molls LB, Toledo- Molls led the nation with 166 tackles last season. He's a solid player who will contribute heavily on special teams.
San Francisco 49ers: Luke Marquardt OT, Azusa Pacific- A foot injury likely caused him to go undrafted, although he was projected to be only a 7th round pick anyways. Good athleticism due to his basketball background, will sit behind Joe Staley and Anthony Davis while he polishes his game and works on some fundamental things.
Seattle Seahawks: Alvin Bailey OG, Arkansas- Bailey is a big mauler who has experience playing both the right and left guard positions. Interestingly, Seattle currently has him listed as a tackle. Either way, he should provide depth along the offensive line.
St. Louis Rams: Ray Ray Armstrong S, Miami- Armstrong is a very big safety (6'3" 2161bs) and the Rams currently are searching for starters at both safety spots. The former Hurricane has a chance to compete for one of the starting roles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Branden Smith CB, Georgia- Smith is a solid corner who will provide depth to the Bucs. He has some work to do but who better to learn from than new teammate Darrell Revis?
Tennessee Titans: Dontel Watkins WR, Murray State- Watkins is an explosive athlete and is another target for quarterback Jake Locker. The Titans are fairly deep at receiver but Watkins is still their best undrafted free agent signing.
Washington Redskins: Xavier Nixon OT, Florida- Nixon is a bit raw and won't be thrown into a starting role in Washington, giving him time to develop and work on his game. He potentially fits well in the Redskins' zone blocking scheme.

Jets release Tim Tebow... finally

It was long overdue, but quarterback (and I use that word lightly) Tim Tebow was released by the New York Jets today after just one season with the team. Why the Jets traded for the mediocre quarterback in the first place? Probably because team owner Woody Johnson salivated at the thought of the revenue and media attention that would come along with the polarizing Tebow. What he didn't know is how it would effect the psychologically weak starting quarterback Mark Sanchez. Head coach Rex Ryan tried using Tebow on special teams and it failed miserably. Now it's only a matter of time until Tebow gets a shot with another organization.

In my opinion Tim Tebow will never be a successful quarterback in the NFL. He can't throw and he's simply not fit to play the position in the pros. He'd be a star in the Canadian Football League and there's even reports about that possibility. Other teams in the NFL will likely want Tebow to play a different position like fullback, halfback, or tight end and if he's willing to switch positions then he should have no problem finding work in the league. If he's reluctant, then I don't see him signing elsewhere.

Revis officially traded to Tampa Bay

The New York Jets traded Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in return for the Bucs 2013 first round pick and a conditional pick in 2014. Revis' contract was in the last year of his contract and has signed a six year extension with Tampa Bay worth a whopping $96 million. I know what you're thinking and I agree that it's a hell of a lot of money, especially considering he isn't a quarterback (although I do believe cornerback is the most difficult position to play in the NFL). What I found interesting, though, is that there is no guaranteed money. Very seldom does a big contract involve zero dollars of guaranteed money. This is a win win deal for both ball clubs. The Jets gain another first round pick to use in rebuilding their pathetic team and the Bucs gain the NFL's best cornerback. And as a Patriots fan I'm certainly not going to miss seeing Darrelle Revis twice a year. The Patriots will be playing the Buccaneers

The Revis trade

It's been reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Jets have granted their All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis permission to visit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and take a physical. In case you've been under rock for the past few months, the Jets placed Revis on the trade block and immediately the Bucs were all over him, and while it's taken some time to play out the trade appears imminent on the result of Revis' physical. If he passes it, he'll be a Buccaneer. If he fails it, he'll be a Jet. The latter being both teams worst nightmare. I applaud New York Jets GM John Idzik's decision to trade Revis. Is a shutdown corner? Absolutely. The best in the league when healthy. However the last time I checked, that isn't the key to winning a Super Bowl. There hasn't been a shutdown corner on a Super Bowl winning team in at least 10 years. The Jets in are rebuilding mode and they're not going to accomplish a damn thing in 2013 with or without Revis. The grounds keeper of the infamous "Revis Island" only has one year left on his contract and has stated he wants $15 million per year in his next contract and when you consider that he has a clause in his current contract prohibiting the Jets from using the franchise tag on him next off season, why wouldn't they trade him? Now, the Jets will receive multiple draft picks from the Buccaneers including their 2013 first rounder giving the Jets two first round picks at number nine and thirteen. Not a bad way to start that rebuilding process.

Steelers were right to match offer sheet for Sanders

The Pittsburgh Steelers matched the offer sheet wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders signed from the New England Patriots. The offer sheet was worth $2.5 million for one year, so New England offered just enough money to make Pittsburgh suffer regardless of their decision to retain Sanders. But, their choice of matching the offer, which reports say was made by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, was the correct one. By keeping Sanders in the black and gold Pittsburgh has denied the Patriots an  up-and-coming receiver who would thrive in their up tempo offense and instead forces Bill Belichick to try his luck at finding another target for Tom Brady in the draft (which isn't exactly his strong suit). Too many times has Belichick drafted a wide receiver in the second or third round and that player fail to make an impact: 06' Chad Jackson, Rd. 2, 09' Brandon Tate, Rd.3, and 10' Taylor Price, Rd. 3. Those are just three names that come to mind but there are a couple more. So while the Steelers may now be in a bit of a salary cap bind after keeping Sanders on the team, they have denied a conference rival the services of a young player they've groomed for the past three seasons. Smart decision, Pittsburgh. Or should I say smart decision, Ben Roethlisberger?

My 2013 NFL Mock Draft, 1st Round

We're only 21 days away from the first day of the NFL Draft! So, here is my first round mock draft. Note: Trades excluded.

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dion Jordan, DE/OLB Oregon
3. Oakland Raiders: Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Star Lotuleilei, DT, Utah
5. Detroit Lions: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
6. Cleveland Browns: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
7. Arizona Cardinals: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo Bills: Tavon Austin, WR, WVU
9. New York Jets: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU
10. Tennessee Titans: Jonathan Cooper, OG, UNC
11. San Diego Chargers: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
12. Miami Dolphins: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
13. New York Jets: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
14. Carolina Panthers: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
15. New Orleans Saints: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
16. St. Louis Rams: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida St.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
19. New York Giants: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida St.
20. Chicago Bears: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame
21. Cincinnati Bengals: DJ Fluker, OT, Alabama
22. St. Louis Rams: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
23. Minnesota Vikings: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas St.
24. Indianapolis Colts: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
25. Minnesota Vikings: Deandre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
26. Green Bay Packers: John Cyprien, S, Florida International
27. Houston Texans: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
28. Denver Broncos: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
29. New England Patriots: Datone Jones, DL, UCLA
30. Atlanta Falcons: Cornellius Carradine, DE, Florida St.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
32. Baltimore Ravens: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU