The Jets spent last offseason watching from their couches or golf courses while the rival Patriots made a Super Bowl run. And everywhere you turned, the attention wasn’t just on Tom Brady or Bill Belichick. The spotlight was on tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, the dynamic duo that was such a major part of one of the NFL’s best offenses. In fact, I probably said the word “Gronkle” 800 times leading up to Super Bowl XLVI. The Jets haven’t done a ton in free agency… but what they have done appears to be with an eye toward stopping the TEs. I don’t know if it’ll work, but it seems that’s the idea. There was another example yesterday when [...]
The debate over Patriots WR Wes Welker’s future is raging. He signed his franchise tender, but then spoke out about how poorly the negotiations are going. Few don’t believe Welker is worth big money for his production now. But it’s when you get a little bit into the future when it gets dicey. Welker is, after all, 31 years old, and he has taken a lot of hits. He plays fearlessly over the middle, which may be why he’s been beat up. In discussing a possible extension, it may be instructive to look into the past. That’s what I did, examining the last two slot receivers who have starred for coach Bill Belichick — Wayne Chrebet and Troy Brown. Are [...]